Medicare Deadline Approaching
Time is ticking down for senior citizens who want to enroll in Medicare. An estimated 43 million Americans qualify for the program, 90% of whom have already signed up for a drug benefit plan. However if you are in that final 10%, there are some things you might want to know. First of all if you don’t sign up by Monday and decide to change your mind later on, there will be complications. For each day that you wait, a penalty will be added to your premium, one that will stay with you as long as you’re on the Medicare plan. The longer you wait, the higher the penalty gets. As it stands now, no Medicare plan can have a deductible higher than $250 this year. But beginning May 16th, penalties will start to be added to that. Also if you wait to sign up, it will take longer for your coverage to take effect. To sign up or for more information about what plans are available, you can log on to www.medicare.gov or talk to someone at 1-800-MEDICAR.

John Wishon Named To The Top Five
The list of Top Five Finalists have been released for the Singing News Fan Awards and our own John Wishon made the list for Favorite Small Market DJ of the Year. Ballots for the final round of voting will be released in the July issue of the Singing News magazine. Then the winner for Small Market DJ and the other categories will be announced during the National Quartet Convention in Louisville Kentucky September 14th.

Thieves Break Into McGrady Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a McGrady home this week, after thieves paid a visit. The incident happened at a home on the North Ridge Road, as thieves broke in through a side door and caused over $2000 worth of damage. Walls were dented, doors were broken and almost $300 in material was stolen from the home, including a ceiling fan and the home’s water heater. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Recall Ordered For More Volvo Cars
Bad news for some Volvo owners out there, as another recall has been ordered. Volvo is calling back all of its’ XC90 cars from the 2003 to the 2006 model. The problem is that poor manufacturing on some of the SUVs can lead to a deformity in the outer tie rod ball joint. If too much weight is applied, over time the deformity can grow into a fracture for the joint, making it hard to maneuver with the vehicle. Owners can bring back the vehicle for a free repair to the dealer they got it from. Also you can call the Volvo company with any questions at 1-800-458-1552.

Vandals Target Boomer Residence
Vandals hit a home in the Boomer community this week, causing an estimated $100 in damage. The incident happened at a residence on the High Rock Road Wednesday afternoon, as deputies found someone had shattered a window and broke into his storage building. Nothing was taken in the theft and that investigation continues.

Bikes Stolen From Local Shed
Thieves broke into some property on the Hamby Mtn. Road earlier this week, running off with two mountain bikes when they left. The bikes had been stored in a shed on the property, but it hadn’t been locked up. No one in the area could recall seeing or hearing anyone near the shed on Wednesday, when the theft was noticed. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Going On Later Today
Over the past week wrecks and injuries have depleted the county’s blood supply, dropping it down near critical levels. To help solve the problem, a blood drive is going on today at the New River Behavioral Healthcare Center from 9:30am til 12:30pm. The only way to give is by appointment for this drive, so if you want to set up a time, the number to call is 838-4563. The Wilkes Red Cross asks that all donors eat well and drink plenty of fluids before coming and be sure to bring a picture ID with you.

Deer Takes Out Local Woman’s Van
A local woman’s van was totaled after an accident Wednesday night on Hwy 18 North. The incident happened at the Woodfield intersection, as a deer came running out of the woods and directly in her path. She couldn’t slow down in time and slammed into the animal, causing an estimated $1500 worth of damage. Thankfully the woman walked away without any injuries.

State News

Hunt Continues For Escaped Inmate
The hunt is on for an escaped Haywood County inmate. Michael Glen Trivette was arrested and charged on Sunday with six different offenses, including breaking & entering, assaulting an officer and possession of a stolen car. However due to a cut the man had on his arm, he was taken to the hospital, where his handcuffs were removed for the X-ray machine. When Trivette didn’t come out of the room deputies went in, only to find he had disappeared.

More Changes Requested In Lottery Spending
Groups are coming out of the woodwork to request money from the state’s new education lottery. In addition to public schools, officials from charter schools around the state are asking for a share of the proceeds. Currently there are 97 charter schools in North Carolina, all of which are controlled by independent groups instead of school districts. Under the current guidelines, each of these schools get state funding on a per student basis, but they want that to change with the lottery money coming in.

Jobs And Money On The Way To Burlington
Some good news for workers at one Burlington plant. While in most parts of the state, textiles are suffering, Special I Hosiery Mills has just landed a major contract. The company signed a deal this week with the Department of Defense worth an estimated $7 million, to provide the troops with special socks and boots that can protect against microbacteria.

North Rowan Teacher Resigns
Charges are pending against a North Rowan High School teacher, as he stands accused of supplying alcohol to teens after the prom. Paul Edgar, a social studies teacher at the school, was arrested for driving while impaired on Sunday, with a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit. According to parents, several teens were invited over to Edgar’s home after the prom, where he supplied the alcohol. Edgar has resigned this week as the investigation was made public. Salisbury police say they expect to have charges brought in the next few days.

TB Found In Mecklenburg County
Officials in Mecklenburg County are dealing with a case of tuberculosis today, after the local health department confirmed that a student had the disease. One of the students at Mountain Island Elementary has tested positive for TB, causing the county to order testing on all the school’s students. That’s set to go on next Tuesday and in the meantime parents are being asked to keep a close eye on the kids for any symptoms.

Minutemen Have To Cancel Rally
The Minuteman Project had to cancel their rally on Wednesday night, which was set to be held in Greensboro. The reason was they couldn’t find a location that would allow them to come in. The group, which organizes patrols at the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants, wanted to start a North Carolina chapter. If and when the rally is rescheduled, some protestors are already guaranteeing to be there. The western North Carolina chapter of the International Socialist Organization has announced plans to protest, saying they want the Minutemen to know the people don’t want them here.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene, a new conference champion was crowned last night in varsity baseball. West Wilkes beat East Surry 8-4 in the Northwest 1-A conference championship. Blackhawk pitchers kept East Surry off balance all night, only giving up 5 hits in route to the win. With the win, West wraps up this part of the season with a 21-4 record, heading into the state playoffs.

Changes Coming For High Schools
In other high school sports, some changes will be coming next season in the way playoff teams are decided. North Carolina’s High School Athletic Association approved some changes we first told you about last month on the Sportsdesk. In their meeting last week, the association agreed to expand the playoff brackets in baseball, basketball and softball along with volleyball. Also there will be a change in the way wildcard teams are selected, as it will be based on just the team’s conference record, and not their overall schedule. All of these changes will take effect in the fall.

Sidney Lowe Filling Out His Staff
Taking a look at the college scene, new NC State men’s basketball coach Sidney Lowe is wasting no time in putting together his staff. Lowe welcomed back assistant coach Larry Harris, who had been part of Herb Sendek’s staff for the past ten years. In addition, Quentin Jackson, a former point guard for the Wolfpack, will take over as director of basketball operations. Since ending his playing career with the Harlem Globetrotters, Jackson has worked as a coach for Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh and also the Raleigh Elite AAU team.

Appalachian Football Team Honored
Switching to college football, members of the Appalachian State football team were honored this week by North Carolina lawmakers. The House & Senate invited the team to come out for a special joint session, where they passed a resolution in honor of Applachian’s first ever national championship.

Date And Time Set For Car Care Bowl
The date and time has been set for at least one of the postseason bowl games. The Meineke Car Care Bowl, which is played here in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, will be held this year on Saturday December 30th. Thanks to recent sellouts the bowl is gaining attention, as it’s averaged just under 64,000 people the last four years. This year ESPN will be on hand as well, broadcasting the event. Until this season, the lower watched ESPN2 had been the station covering the matchup. Kickoff will be a little later in the day as well, scheduled for 1pm.

Another NC Football Player Signs With NFL Team
Around the NFL, another football player with ties to North Carolina has signed a free agent deal. NC A&T offensive lineman Walter Stith went undrafted in April, but has come to terms on a contract with the Cleveland Browns. Stith impressed team officials during their first minicamp last week after a college season that saw him ranked in the top 15% at his position. The 6’8 ft. 320 lb. Stith will fight for a spot in the starting lineup when training camp begins later this summer.

Families Struggling To Pay Living Expenses
Despite what politicians may say, things aren't looking good for families both here in Wilkes and across North Carolina. According to a study released by the N.C. Budget and Tax Center, almost half of the families with children here in the state can't afford to pay for basic living expenses with what they earn from their paychecks. That includes being able to pay for child care, food, healthcare, housing, transportation and taxes. Research showed that it would take earnings of $44,256 for a two parent, two child family to survive without assistance in a city. That number was reduced to $39,264 when dealing with rural areas such as here in Wilkes County. For single parent families, it would take $33,072 to survive on their own in a city and $27732 in a rural area. 49.1% of families here in the state are given some form of assistance because their earnings don't meet those levels.

Local Man Arrested After Assault
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to an Elkin residence on Tuesday, with reports of a disturbance. When they arrived at the home on Byrd Curve Road, a shouting match could be heard and looking inside a window, saw a man holding a knife to the throat of a woman. The deputies entered the house with weapons drawn and ordered the man to give up the knife and get down on the floor, which he did. 47-yr-old Randall Smoot was then arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Foxx Bill Passes House
A bill sponsored by 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx may soon make planning for life after the military easier for our troops. The Heroes Earned Retirement Opportunities Act, HR 1499, changes the IRS code to allow soldiers to put some of their hazard pay into IRA accounts. Previously because hazard pay isn’t taxed income, troops didn’t make enough to qualify for most IRA plans. Under the new bill, combat pay earned in 2004 and 2005 will also be eligible to be put into IRA accounts.

Affects Of The Drought Part II
Yesterday 3WC News aired a conversation with Matt Millen from the Wilkes Cooperative Extension, discussing effects Wilkes County has suffered from the drought. But the news isn’t all bad, as it turns out the dry weather has actually helped in one circumstance. Wilkes and the surrounding counties should be almost mosquito free for the next month, according to officials from the American Mosquito Control Association. The western part of North Carolina is harassed each year by 25 different types of mosquitos, but without standing water puddles to breed in, the bug population is lower than normal. And you can expect it to stay that way, according to Association officials. They say that even if Wilkes has several inches of rain over the next month, the ground won’t be wet enough for the bugs to return.

3WC Techwatch: Keeping An Eye On Credit
Keeping track of your credit report is a good way to avoid being a victim of ID theft. But as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch, you need to be careful. Now more than ever it’s important to keep up with your credit cards and make sure no one’s using your name. However free credit report scams are popping up, as hackers change with the technology. Everyone is eligible to order one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies as of September of last year. But hackers have set up several dummy websites that for all intents and purposes appear to be the real thing. The only difference is that once your information is entered, you get locked out while the information is used to ruin your credit. The Federal Trade Commission has located 130 imposter sites over the last year alone. To solve the problem, you can get a free credit report by going through the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov. You can follow the directions on the site to one of the three credit reporting companies and guarantee that your information is secure. Or if you’re not comfortable using the internet, then request the information over the phone by calling 1-877-322-8228. After all, it’s better to deal with this now instead of finding out later.

Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as it can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is helping to solve that by taking applications for their financial assistance program. The program is open to anyone who can demonstrate a need for help paying utility or rent bills. However before going out, please remember that you can only be seen with an appointment, during either Tuesday or Thursday from 1-5pm. Also there is a limited amount of money available to help, given out on a need based approach. The Salvation Army is located in the Wilkes United Way office building, at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information or to set up an appointment you can call 651-7800.

Regional News

Body Found In Alleghany County
Alleghany County authorities are trying to piece together what happened to a man found dead on a local road over the weekend. A person living in the area just off of Chevy Lane near Sparta found the body after trying to discover the source of a strange smell. Officials still don’t know how the man died, as the body was severely decomposed and the sheriff’s department believe it had been in the area for at least a month.

State News

Fight Over State Budget Begins
Less than two days after the state budget was released and already members of both parties have introduced bills to spend part of the money. Two bills have been introduced in the General Assembly, one which would create an amendment to the state constitution, guaranteeing that profits from the lottery would go directly to state school systems. The second bill would redirect some of that money, making it so that larger school districts would get a bigger piece of the pie. In addition, House Speaker Jim Black said that Gov. Easley’s proposed sales tax cut was a possibly, but not something that he wanted to commit to. The sales tax was raised to 7% as a temporary move back in 2001, in order to help cover deficits in the state budget.

Jobs Coming To Rockingham County
Good news for people job hunting in Rockingham County, as another company is set to relocate there. Bridgestone Aircraft Tire announced plans this week to build a new plant in Mayodan, bringing 95 jobs to a struggling economy. In addition, the company will be investing $13.5 million over the next three years, as it moves operations from its’ current plant in Miami. Officials say they want to have all of the 95 positions filled by the end of
2007.

New Gas Plan Could Soon Be In Place
If a North Carolina congressman has his way, gas prices could soon be a lot cheaper. 8th District Congressman Robin Hayes has introduced a bill known as the E-85 Investment Act of 2006. The bill is named after E-85 gas, an alternative fuel developed from 85% ethanol and only 15% gasoline. It’s cheaper to produce than regular gas and is also safer for the environment. In the bill, any company who makes E-85 available would receive a 75% tax credit up to $30,000.

DMV Office In Marion Shut Down
North Carolina has one less DMV office today, after state officials shut down the license tag office in Marion. SBI agents have also been brought in to investigate a case of embezzlement at the office, to the tune of $134,000. A Department of Transportation spokesman said that it’s believed the money was stolen over the last three years, beginning in November of 2003 and the office manager was not involved.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene, conference tournaments are in full swing. Wilkes Central lost a heartbreaker in the Mountain Valley Conference semifinals, being beat by North Surry 14-7. The news was better however for the West Wilkes Blackhawks, as they pulled off the 3-2 victory over Bishop McGuiness. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Corey Taylor hit a bases clearing double to win the game for the Blackhawks. If the weather cooperates, they'll play in the conference championship at 7pm.

Tarheel Baseball Team Sets A Record
Switching gears to talk college baseball, a record was set this week by the UNC Tarheels. The Heels baseball team beat Campbell on Tuesday night 6-3, recording their 40th win on the season. With the victory, the Heels become the first team in the nation to get 40 wins and also set a school record, as this marks 5 straight years the UNC team has gotten 40 wins or more.

Possible Problems For MLB Baseball
In the major leagues, a hidden clause in the labor contract could make all of these steroid allegations pointless. According to the deal, which expires after this season, if a new contract hasn’t been reached by August 1st, the players’ union has the option of terminating the drug testing policy. If that happens, next season drug testing would be done under the old rules. The news has caught the attention of the House Government Reform Committee, which sent a letter this week to baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union president Donald Fehr, saying that it raised concerns. Negotiations are continuing with the deal set to expire on December 19th.

Chris Paul Named Rookie Of The Year
A former ACC player was named Rookie of the Year by the NBA this week. On Wednesday, the league announced that Chris Paul had won almost unanimously, with all but one vote, marking the largest margin of victory in 16 years. After leaving Wake Forest for the New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul led all rookies in scoring with 16 points a game, assists with 7.8, steals with 2.2 a game and minutes played at 36.4 a night. Deron Williams from Utah received the only other vote in the balloting.

NHL PLayoffs: Hurricanes Take Game Three
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes won Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals 3-2 over the New Jersey Devils. Hurricanes forward Rod Brind'Amor scored the game winning goal, as Carolina goes up in the series 3 games to 0. Game Four is set for Friday night.

Wilkes Income Standard Smaller Than Most Around

More economic problems for Wilkes, as new reports find the county on the lower end of the financial spectrum. The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center has released a report, detailing the income standard for each of the state's 100 counties. In 2005, the income standard here in Wilkes was $25,404, that's good enough to rank 57th in the state. Also Wilkes falls short in the immediate area, as only three out of the eight counties that surround it have a lower income. Those counties are Alleghany, Ashe and Surry, all with standards of $25,068. Watauga is the highest in the region, with an income standard of $30,876. Alexander and Caldwell County both come in just slightly above at $26,664, while Iredell has a standard of $28,704 and Yadkin is at $30,012. Overall across the state, Orange County has the highest income standard at $37,512 while Edgecombe County is dead last at $24,804. Coming up tomorrow in the news we take a look at other information released by the Budget and Tax Center, including how the county ranks in regards to fighting poverty.

3WC Healthwatch: Weight Watchers

There’s a new reason for people to watch their weight, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A study has been released from the University of California at San Francisco, which found that there’s a major link between obesity and kidney failure. The study found that even moderately overweight people have a higher risk of kidney failure, but for those seriously overweight, the risk was 700% higher. The study, which was done over a period of 26 years, used over 300,000 people of different sizes. Out of that number, 1471 suffered kidney failure. The only tested and proven way researchers found to try and ward off kidney failure for anyone in the same situation is to work at losing the weight.

Thieves Target Paper Racks For Spare Change

Several more newspaper racks have been stolen over the last three days at local businesses. Thieves hit both the Little Market Basket on Hwy 268 and Mike’s Bait & Tackle, in each case running off with the paper rack outside. Nothing else was taken or even disturbed at the businesses and that investigation continues.

Newest Protection Against Fraud

With summer on the way, this is a busy time of year for thieves, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information is a major target. But people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. The Identity Theft Protection Act, a new law that went into effect last December allows you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. However confusion has sprung up over the last four months, due to some technical details in the program. While thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.

Officials Launch Truck Safety Program

It’s going to be a little more expensive to drive a truck and not wear your seat belt, thanks to the Highway Patrol. A new “Buckle Up In Your Truck” program has been created, kicking off this past Monday and continuing until May 21^st. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 71% of those killed in pickup truck crashes in the Southeast weren’t wearing seat belts. In North Carolina alone, 62% of those killed had left their seat belt off.

Checkpoints are going to be set up over the next two weeks across Wilkes and the rest of North Carolina, in hopes of getting people to wear their seat belts.

Thieves Hit Local Business

The high price of gas apparently caused a break-in at a local business this week. When employees came in to open up at Cars “R” Us Monday morning, they found several items missing. Taken in the theft was 40 gallons of gas and 2 car batteries, however there was no damage done and no indication as to how the thieves got inside. There is however a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Regional News

National Guard Holds Appreciation Day

Spouses of National Guard troops are being honored today in Winston Salem. From 8am til 5pm today at the JC Penny Salon, wives of National Guardsmen from anywhere in the state will be given their choice of a free facial, shampoo or a manicure & pedicure. That’s taking place at the JC Penny Salon in Hanes Mall, at 3320 Silas Creek Parkway in Winston Salem. JC Penny officials said they wanted to hold a day expressing their appreciation for everything the wives do for their families and communities.

State News

Easley Unveils Budget Plans

Gov. Mike Easley presented his plans for the state’s new budget on Tuesday, setting forth $18.9 billion in spending. Under the proposal, teachers would see an 8% raise in pay to help bring them above the national average by 2008. In addition, state employees would also see a 4% raise and spending in general would increase for the public school system to the tune of an extra $864 million. That’s in addition to $425 million expected to be given to schools from the lottery. Extra money will also be set aside to cover the cost of an gas increases for school buses, with $37 million put in for that. Easley also wants to lower the sales tax by ¼ of a cent, which will drop it down from 7% to 6.75%, costing the state $200 million a year in revenue. Easley also wants the state’s gas tax capped at 29.9 cents per gallon, guaranteeing that it can’t be increased in the future. Minimum wage workers will see a bonus in the new budget as well, with their salary increasing from $5.15 to $6 an hour. There is however one department that will see a drop in salary due to the budget. The Department of Health and Human Services will have a budget $55 million lower than the one already approved.

Complaints Already Out For Easley Budget

Groups are already coming out to attack Gov. Easley’s budget, in disagreements that amount to little more than a few percentage points. In the new budget, Easley had set aside money for a 4% pay raise for state employees, but apparently that’s not good enough. Officials from the State Employees Association are calling for a veto of the budget, unless they get a 5% increase, saying they believe that’s what’s fair. Also some state Republicans are calling for a deeper cut in the sales tax, requesting that a half cent be trimmed off instead of the ¼ currently proposed. Meanwhile state Democrats are also attacking the governor’s plan, because there was no income tax reduction for the top bracket, for the wealthiest citizens of North Carolina.

Wake County Teacher Under Investigation

Officials in Wake County are investigating a middle school teacher today. Reports have come in from parents of the students that one of the teachers, Christine Wolfe, has been hitting an autistic student. According to the parents, this wasn’t a one time thing and the 13-yr-old has been hit several times during the semester at Carnage Middle School. However as of Tuesday night, no charges have been filed in the case.

Catawba County Employee Arrested For Embezzlement

One former North Carolina resident is in jail today, facing charges of embezzlement. Officials in Newton have arrested 40-yr-old Iris Riddle, a former Catawba County employee who stands accused of stealing over $15,000 from her job. Riddle worked as an administrative assistant in the county’s planning department for several years, before an audit discovered that $15,361 had gone missing. The missing money was traced to a county credit card that Riddle had access to.

Sports Headlines

NC State Recruit Wants Meeting

Some good news could be on the way for the NC State Wolfpack, who have seen recruits leave and questions be raised as they searched for a head coach. Now that Sidney Lowe has taken the job, at least one of the State’s commitments is changing his mind about leaving. 6’7 ft. Dennis Horner, a forward from Holy Spirit High School in New Jersey, had considered turning down his scholarship offer to State, but now says that he wants to meet with new coach Sidney Lowe before making any decision. Horner was recruited by State for his great three-point shooting ability and skills to handle the ball, which remind some people of former State star Julius Hodge.

State Player Given Extension

The news was also good for another member of the Wolfpack, who gets to stay in the country at least temporarily. Immigration officials had accused NC State player Gavin Grant of entering the country illegally back in 1994 at the age of 9. The 21-yr-old Grant was given an extension of six weeks by an immigration judge, allowing his legal team to track down documents proving he immigrated legally. As a sophomore for State this season, the 6’7 ft. Grant averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Gerald Wallace In Top Ten For Defense

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons walked away with the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award this week, but another Wallace also made the list. Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace was one of the top ten vote getters, finishing 9^th in the balloting after a season where he averaged 2 blocks and 2 steals a game, the only player in the league to do that.

Hurricanes In Running For Awards

As the Carolina Hurricanes get set for the playoff semifinals, two members of the team are in the running for some awards. Center Rod Brind’Amour is of the top three finalists for the Selke Trophy, handed out each year to the best defensive forward in the NHL. The Hurricanes’ coach, Peter Laviolette is in the hunt for coach of the year honors. The nominations mark the first time in three years that a member of the Carolina team has been in the running for an award.

New Baseball League In The Works

For any baseball fans out there, a new league is in the works for 2007. Several former major league players have helped to design the Continental Baseball League, which is set to begin in May of next year. Under the rules of the new league, there’s virtually no chance of a blowout. In the seventh inning, if the losing team hits a home run, it’s worth double the points. For example if the player hits a grand slam, it’ll automatically be worth eight points instead of four. An estimated 10 teams are expected to be part of the league, in towns across the Southeast. No official deals have been reached as of yet.

Jarrett Crew Chief Suspended

Taking a look a the NASCAR scene, Dale Jarrett’s team will be going through changes over the next few weeks. Crew chief Richard Slugger Labbe has been suspended for four races by NASCAR, after officials found some violations on the No. 88 Ford. The violations were discovered right before the Crown Royal 400 on Saturday. Officials said that Labbe used car parts, components and/or equipment that didn’t conform to NASCAR rules. Jarett was also hit with a penalty, losing 25 points in the Chase for the Cup. Yates Racing said they plan to appeal.

Preparing For The Bird Flu

Every day we hear more talk about the bird flu and how the United States isn’t prepared for it to spread this way. However what some people may not know is that a strain of the bird flu has already been in North Carolina before and members of the State Cooperation Extension are working on measures to protect against infection. For anyone wanting more information about the bird flu and how it could affect North Carolina, a special public hearing will be going on May 18^th at the Kulynych Family Life Center here in Wilkesboro. That’s located just across from the new county courthouse. The program starts at 3pm and continues until 5pm but you must come before 3pm to register.

Wilkes County Loses Beloved Doctor

A doctor loved throughout Wilkes County has passed away. Dr. Nicholas Cirillo died Saturday at his home, due to heart problems. The family will hold a receiving at Reins Sturdivant Friday night from 5pm until. Funeral services will be this coming Saturday at 11am at St. John’s Catholic Church. Dr. Cirillo was 46.

Gas Thieves Hit Neighbors’ Store

Gas thieves hit another business in the Wilkes County area over the weekend, targeting Neighbors’ Store in Elkin. An older man pulled up to the store Friday afternoon in a yellow Nissan Maxima, pumped $15 worth of gas and then took off down the road. Employees inside were able to give sheriff’s deputies a description of both the man and his vehicle and that investigation continues.

Insurance Rates To Drop

Some good news for all car owners in Wilkes County. Your insurance bill soon won’t cost as much. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long issued an order earlier this year requiring all companies in the state to drop their private passenger auto rates by 2.5%. In addition, all motorcycle liability rates must be dropped by 6%. Long said that after taking a look at current numbers, not only did he decline the insurance bureau’s request for an increase, but he felt that the rates should go down. All total, this will save North Carolina car owners an estimated $404 million in premiums. Each year on February 1^st, the Insurance Commissioner sets premium rates for the next 365 days. This new decrease will take effect next Monday May 15^th.

Tag Stolen From North Wilkesboro Car

Over the weekend, a North Wilkesboro woman parked her car at the Clingman Pitstop and carpooled with friends out of town. When she returned to the vehicle late Saturday night, the car’s tag had been ripped off. Nothing else was damaged or missing from the vehicle and that investigation continues.

Mailbox Vandals Strike Again

Yet another homeowner in Wilkes fell victim to mailbox vandals over the weekend. The latest incident happened at a residence on Hollygreen Drive, as a man came outside Friday night to find damage had been done. An estimated $40 worth of damage was caused, as it appeared the boxes had been hit with some type of vehicle. No one in the area however could recall hearing or seeing anyone pull up during the day. Deputies are continuing that investigation.

Recall Ordered Of Chrysler Vehicles

Bad news for owners of some Chrysler vehicles out there, as the car manufacturer has ordered a recall. An estimated 44,000 cars are being called back, including all 2006 models of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum. The reason is due to a potential malfunction in the brake system. In some of the vehicles, the brake tube wasn’t built far enough away from the exhaust recirculation tube. After an extended period, the two can make contact, causing a leak in the brake fluid and potentially a fire in the engine. Owners can return the vehicles for a free repair and if you have questions a hotline has been set up at 1-800-853-1403.

One Car Totaled After Wreck On 421

Two cars were damaged and one was totaled after an accident Sunday on Hwy 421. A Virginia woman was at the intersection of 421 and Addison Avenue, getting set to turn left. However at the last minute she changed her mind and also changed direction, attempting to swerve into another lane. What she didn’t see however was the car in that other lane, driven by a North Wilkesboro woman. The two cars collided, causing an estimated $1600 in damage and totaling the North Wilkesboro woman’s vehicle. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

State News

Gov. Easley Puts Forth Money For Spending Gaps

Gov. Easley has requested that state lawmakers add another $47.7 million to this year’s budget, in order to cover spending gaps currently in place. Easley pointed the finger at Washington, saying that federal lawmakers were taking away money needed to protect North Carolina. As an example he cited $2.9 million in federal funds that has been given out each year to states, for use in upgrading security measures. That money is set to expire this June. As part of his new budget, which will be unveiled later today, Easley called for $1.9 million to upgrade the state’s fingerprint monitoring system, $5.1 million to hire 90 assistant D.A. to lighten the caseloads across North Carolina and $13.1 million to upgrade the state’s computer system, including adding a GPS or global positioning device to the state’s sex offender tracking system.

Students Get One Final Wake Up Call Before Exams

Students preparing for finals at UNC Charlotte got a surprise Sunday night, as smoke started filling the air and fire alarms went off. The Cypress Hall dormitory was evacuated late Sunday night and firefighters were called to the scene, to deal with what turned out to be a prank gone wrong. Someone had set a fire in one of the dorm’s trash cans, which spread and started filling the area with smoke. No one was injured and smoke damage was minimal.

Asheville Planning To Send In The Bugs

Who do you call for a bug problem? Instead of pest control, the city of Asheville is bringing in some four legged fighters of their own. City officials are spending $10,000 to buy some specially bred predator beetles, which will help eliminate the woolly adelgid (A-dell-gid). The woolly bugs eat the sap produced from hemlock needles and can destroy an entire forest within ten years. 5000 predator bugs have already been released to deal with the problem.

Civil War Cemetery Vandalized

Officials in the Charlotte community are investigating a case of graveyard vandalism today. Over the weekend, someone broke into the history Elmwood-Pinewood Cemetery, one of the oldest in the state. Heads were knocked off some of the statues and grave markers were turned over in some of the oldest parts of the area, where Confederate soldiers and some even predating the Civil War are laid to rest. The cemetery has been the focus of vandals recently, with over $300 worth of damage done this year alone.

Sports Headlines

Duke Lands Late Recruit

We’re less than six months away from the beginning of college basketball season, but the Duke Blue Devils have landed another recruit. High school senior Lance Thomas, ranked as the 16^th best player in the nation, has announced he is going to Duke. The 6’8 ft. 200 lb. Thomas turned down offers from Louisville, Florida and his hometown university of Rutgers to join the Blue Devils, where he’ll be part of a freshman class that has three other players in the nation’s Top 50. Thomas joins 15^th ranked guard Gerald Henderson, 20^th ranked guard Jon Scheyer and 38^th ranked Brian Zoubek, a 7’2 ft. center.

Changes Coming For NCAA Division II

The next two years are shaping up to be a time of change for college athletics, at least for schools in NCAA Division II. The NCAA has put together a plan breaking all Division II schools into eight regions. As for the teams’ nonconference schedule, they’ll only be allowed to play games against teams in their region. For example if Lenior Rhyne wanted to schedule a game against Colorado College, they wouldn’t be able to under the new agreement. NCAA officials said the change was designed to help schools cut travel costs and keep students from missing classes while on the road for games.

NHL Playoffs: Hurricanes vs. Devils

NASCAR Standings

Taking a look at the NASCAR standings after this weekend’s race, it’s Jimmie Johnson in first place, 55 points ahead of Tony Stewart. Matt Kenseth sits in third place, 99 points behind Johnson while Mark Martin has fallen 176 points behind, good enough for fourth place. Rounding out the top five is Kevin Harvick, 208 points behind the leader.

US Gearing Up For 2016

America’s quest to bring back the Olympic Games got another shot in the arm this week. Members of the U.S. Olympic Committee are planning to look at several locations including Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, LA and San Francisco over the next two weeks, to select a finalist to bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Around the world, it’s believed that America will have the best chance to claim the 2016 Games, as most of the other contenders in South America and Africa don’t expect to be ready for presentation until the next go around in 2020.