Lowes Stock Splits
Major news from the world of finances as Lowes announced a major stock split on Thursday. The news came as Lowes held a meeting of company officials. Under the plan, stockholders would get one additional share of stock for every share they hold as of June 16th. After news of the split occurred, shares of Lowes stock rose $1.44 to $62.10 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Those extra shares will be given out on June 30th. In other news from the meeting, Lowes raised its’ quarterly dividend to 10 cents a share, which will translate to 5 cents a share after the split. Those dividends will be paid out August 4th to all stockholders who hold stock as of July 21st.

Money Coming In For Wilkes Wastewater Treatment
Good news for people in the towns of Ronda, Elkin and Jonesville, as money is coming in to help with wastewater. 5th District Representative Virginia Foxx announced on Thursday that the Department of the Interior has included $750,000 in their 2007 budget, for Wilkes County. The money is designated to help consolidate the wastewater treatment needs of Elkin, Jonesville and Ronda into one facility, the new Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority. The Authority will be in charge of collecting, treating and otherwise handling the wastewater issues in the three towns, marking a change from the current situation where all three have separate treatment plants. The move is designed to help prevent any backups in the transmission or inflow systems.

Thieves Hit Construction Site On Bethel Road
Deputies were called out to a construction site on Bethel Road this week, after thieves ran off with several thousand dollars worth of equipment. Construction workers had been building a new home on the property, located at 1194 Bethel Road, leaving their tools after quitting for the day. When they returned on Monday, several thousand dollars in equipment was gone, including a table saw, air compressor, nailgun and even the radio they had kept onsite. There are no suspects in the case but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Chase Ends As Suspect Flees
A routine traffic stop earlier this week near County Square Mobile Home Park led to charges being filed. Deputies attempted to get a man to stop his vehicle near the mobile home park, but he refused, speeding off down Hwy 16 South. Deputies pursued the man to the Knollwood subdivision, where he jumped out of the car and took off running, disappearing from sight. The man’s car was towed and charges are pending against the vehicle’s owner.

DOT Offers Advice With Memorial Day Approaching
As we’re heading into Memorial Day weekend, the DOT is offering some advice for drivers. Even though construction is shut down for the holiday, drivers will be assessed a $250 penalty for speeding through a marked work zone. Even though the workers won’t be there, speeding though such places can be dangerous there could be sections with just one lane open. Also the DOT advises to leave early if you have to be somewhere, not just to get a head start but also to avoid driving at times with a lot of traffic congestion. For anyone wanting to see what road conditions are like before leaving the house, you can dial the state’s travel information line at 511 or log on to www.ncdot.org/traffictravel

Local Man Catches Would Be Thieves In The Act
A local man got a surprise when he came home early Thursday morning. Several teenagers were standing in his yard. When he asked what they were doing, the teens said they had been looking at his car & took off. Later on, an inspection of the car found the driver’s side door to be unlocked, despite the man locking it before leaving earlier. Also there were handprints found on the car and scratchmarks on the door, from where it appears a wire hanger had been inserted to unlock the door. The car’s owner was able to identify all three of the suspects and charges are pending.

Hit & Run Driver Causes Thousands In Damage
A Wilkesboro woman was the victim of a hit & run driver Wednesday night, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The incident happened on South Curtis Bridge Road, near the intersection with Woodland Boulevard. The woman was traveling down the highway when a vehicle on the other side of the road suddenly decided to pass, going over the yellow line to do so. The woman didn’t have enough time to avoid the other vehicle, who slammed into her and kept on going. No one was injured in the crash but estimated damages were placed at $1200.

Recall Ordered Of Salads & Sandwiches
Before you grab a bite to eat later today, you might want to hear this next bit of news. A recall has been ordered by the Made-Rite Sandwich company of an estimated 27,000 chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches. The products are being recalled because an error was made at the processing plant, exposing the packages to bacteria. The sandwiches have been sold in convenience & grocery stores across North Carolina and a larger 14 state region under the brand names of Great American Deli, Granny Green and Lil’ Cindys’. Company officials are asking people to toss out the sandwiches, even if they don’t appear rotten or smell spoiled. Customers can return their package to the place they bought it from for a full refund and anyone with questions can call Made-Rite Sandwich Company at 1-800-343-1327.

Wilkesboro Man Falls Victim To Hit & Run
A Wilkesboro man fell prey to a hit & run driver Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened on Hwy 421 near the Kennedy Street intersection, as the man was in the turn lane. A vehicle coming from the other direction suddenly did a quick turn, attempting to get across to another lane. The driver failed however, slamming into the Wilkesboro man’s car and then speeding off. An estimated $5000 in damage was done and EMS was called out to the scene, but the man refused treatment.

Vandals Target Car While Couple Sleeps
A North Wilkesboro couple were woke up earlier this week by a popping noise outside. By the time they went out to check, one of the brakelights had been shattered on the husband’s Dodge Ram, causing an estimated $53 in damage. There are suspects in the case however the owner asked that no further action be taken.

Regional News

Body Of Decomposed Man Identified
Officials in Alleghany County have identified the body of a man found back on May 6th. The body was discovered by residents living on Chevy Lane, just off of NC Hwy 18, after a strong odor started to drift through the area. He’s since been identified as 21-yr-old Jose Castro Lopez and already sheriff’s deputies have a suspect in his murder. Lopez was found shot to death from what officials say was a small-caliber handgun and now 33-yr-old Lonnie Dale Love of Pine Swamp Road has been arrested for the crime. In addition, a second warrant has been issued in the case, but the name of that suspect was not released.

State News

State Senate Approves Budget
North Carolina came one step closer to having a budget established for next year, after it passed through the State Senate on Thursday. The vote was 34 to 14 in favor of the $18.8 billion budget, which among other things will increase the state’s minimum wage. Under the new budget, North Carolina’s minimum wage will be set at $6.15 an hour and also the gas tax will be capped at 29.9 cents, unable to be raised higher during the next fiscal year. The highest tax bracket will also see a cut, from 8.25% to a flat 8% on income tax, a move that officials said would help small business owners to grow. The state sales tax will drop as well, from 7% to 6.75%. Both changes in the tax will take effect in January. Public school teachers will get an 8% raise, while community college & university workers will see a 6% hike. All other state employees will get a 5% raise in pay. The bill now goes to the State House for its’ approval with a vote expected within the next three weeks.

Republicans Up In Arms Over Budget
Not everyone is happy however with the new budget. Several Senate Republicans are warning that it will lead to new financial problems for North Carolina. Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger from Rockingham County says he believes the only way to keep things at their current level long term is to increase taxes, not decrease them. To do otherwise he advises is a “down payment for a future fiscal crisis”.

State Convention Makes Its’ Stand Clear On Gays
The North Carolina Baptist State Convention made its’ stance clear on gays this week, as the group’s board of directors met in Asheboro. It will now be against the convention’s rules to ordain any gay clergy, make statements in public supporting homosexuality or taking in homosexual members. If any churches violate this policy, their membership in the convention may be revoked. This was partially aimed at the liberal Alliance of Baptists, a group out of Washington that invites gays to join the church body. 21 churches across North Carolina are associated with both the Alliance and the state convention. The new rules will be presented to the entire convention for ratification in its’ annual meeting this November.

Man Arrested In Mercury Spill
Officials in Durham have arrested a man in connection with the mercury spill that happened Tuesday night. 21-yr-old Carlos Guerra, an air conditioning technician, is facing a charge of misdemeanor larceny for taking the mercury out of an unlocked container at a job site he was at. Guerra then gave out the mercury to four kids last Friday night at Iglesia de Restauracion, a church in Durham. The kids went on to put the mercury in water guns and bring it to school on Tuesday, spraying their classmates and exposing an estimated 60 children to the toxin. No reason was mentioned as to why Guerra gave out the mercury. One child had to be taken to the hospital with mercury poisoning.

State Banking Commission Agrees To Shut Down Company
North Carolina’s Banking Commission upheld an earlier decision, ruling to shut down the company Advance America. Back in December, the commission ruled that Advance had violated state consumer finance laws, by charging annual interest rates over 400%. The decision means that the 117 offices Advance America has in North Carolina will be shut down effective immediately

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Central Set To Hold Basketball Camps
With summer on the way time’s ticking down til the annual Wilkes Central Boys & Girls Basketball Camps. For girls in first through ninth grade, their camp will go on June 5th-8th from 8-11am at Wilkes Central High School. You can register early for a fee of $50 or pay $60 at the start of camp. For more information you can call Coach Waugh at 927-4077. On the boys side, camp starts for guys in grades 5th-9th June 12th and runs til June 15th, also from 8 til 11am each day. The cost is the same as with the girls and for more information you can call Coach Hagaman at 984-1571 for more information.

Fishing Clinics Coming Up
For any kids out there looking to become champion fishermen, the Wildlife Resource Commission wants to help. Fishing clinics will be going on over the next two weeks across the state. The closest ones to Wilkes County will be on June 3rd and June 10th, when clinics are held in Alexander and Surry Counties. The clinic in Alexander County be going on June 3rd from 9am til 1pm at the Ellendale Community Center Pond for kids ages 1-17. You can register at the Sporting Goods Department of the Taylorsville Wal-Mart or by calling 1-828-632-4176. Over in Surry County, the fishing clinic will go on June 10th at the Yadkin River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park from 10am til 2pm. All kids ages 16 and younger are welcome and you can pre-register by calling Pilot Mountain State Park at 336-325-2355. Across the state, prizes will given out through a drawing with gifts donated by Bass Pro Shops. The grand prize in the statewide clinics are three lifetime comprehensive fishing licenses, with an estimated value of $250 each.

Carolina Panthers Rookies Raking Up Awards
While the NFL season is still a few months away, the minor league of NFL Europe is just now wrapping up its’ season. The Carolina Panthers have several former draft picks in the minor league and two of them are picking up awards. Defensive tackle Tony Brown was named the Co-Defensive MVP of the league, after a minor league season that saw him record 40 tackles, four sacks, one fumble, one interception and block two field goals. In addition, offensive guard Chad Beasley was named to the All-NFL Europe first team.

NASCAR Qualifying
Scotty Riggs won qualifying last night for the Coca-Cola 600. Jeremy Mayfield was second and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top three. Drivers will start their engines Sunday afternoon at the Lowes Motor Speedway.

Wilkes Veterans At Risk For ID Theft
Any Wilkes County veteran who was discharged after 1975 could be at risk of having their personal information exposed. Back on May 3rd, computer files that contained the information for over 26 million vets was stolen from the home of a Veterans Affairs official. It’s unclear why the records were on the man’s computer in the first place and he’s been put on administrative leave while the investigation continues. However that still leaves millions of vets at risk of falling prey to ID theft. Included in the files were the names of vets, their date of birth, social security numbers and possibly medical information, if they had applied for benefits. What can local vets do to prevent becoming a victim? The Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that you keep a close eye on your bank statements and check your account regularly. Be sure to let officials at your bank know if you notice any irregularities. In addition, vets can call 1-800-333-4636 for more information or if you think your ID is compromised, there are other steps you can take. You can call one of the major credit bureaus and check to make sure your information is secure, either by calling Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742 or TransUnion at 1-800-680-7298.

Local Man Arrested For Growing Marijuana
A domestic dispute led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies this week. A woman on the Crews Road got her husband evicted from the mobile home they had rented and asked the landlord to change the locks. When she went inside to remove her husband’s stuff, she came across some plants he had told her were tomatoes. The landlord informed her that they were marijuana plants and sheriff’s deputies were called out. 20-yr-old Jeremy Settle was arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana.

State Transportation Board Gives Money To Wilkes
Wilkes County will be getting some extra funds from the state, thanks to a recent decision by the NC Board of Transportation. As part of a larger $4.5 million award given out to a ten county area, the Wilkes Transportation Authority will get $10,024 in state funding to go along with $160,399 in federal funding for administrative issues. Also the county will receive $80901 in federal & state funding for future transportation projects, although no details were given as to what those would be.

Thieves Break In To Steal Washer
Thieves apparently were in a hurry to get clean earlier this week, as they broke into a Millers Creek storage building to get a pressure washer. Someone cut the lock on the building and came inside, leaving with a pressure washer estimated at $2500. That investigation is ongoing.

4-Wheeler Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he arrived home Monday night, as someone had stolen his 4-wheeler. The incident happened at a residence on Brookcrest Circle, as the homeowner returned to find his vehicle missing. Despite the theft, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone around the property. However there is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Focus On Food
When you think of a healthy diet, chocolate and lemonade don’t exactly come to mind. But as it turns out, studies have shown both have healing properties for your body. So what exactly is a healthy diet? Coming up on today's Focus on the Foothills Cynthia Sass from the American Dietary Association will be Brian's guest, discussing fact and fiction about eating healthy.
That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Car Stolen From Millers Creek Home
A Millers Creek woman walked outside Tuesday morning to find her car was missing. Sometime during the night thieves pulled up to the home on Hacketts Road, driving off with her 1990 Chevy Lumina. There is a suspect in the case and information including the license plate number was turned over to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Wilkes Open Forum To Deal With Immigrant Issues
With illegal immigration such a hot topic in the news, it’s important to get all the information you can about the subject. Coming up tonight at the Wilkes Open Forum, the issue will be “Latinos in Wilkes: Understanding the Growing Community”. Tony Marin from the Wake Forest School of Medicine and Ada Jones, a teacher at Wilkes Central High will be speaking at the 6pm meeting. They hope to discuss topics such as the history between the U.S. and Latin America, also Latino culture, immigration and the struggle to learn English, among other things. That will go on tonight at 6pm at the Friends of the Library Meeting Room in the Wilkes Public Library.

Cars Hit While Traveling On Hwy 16
Several vehicles became the target of vandals this week while traveling on Hwy 16. Two drivers told deputies they were heading towards Millers Creek on 16 when both were passed by a grey Buick LeSabre. As the Buick passed, someone rolled down a window and started throwing beer bottles at the cars behind. One of the drivers was able to write down the license plate and turned that over to deputies. All total, an estimated $550 worth of damage was done and that investigation continues.

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.

State News

Three Injured In Factory Explosion
It’s believed that an employee accidentally ignited the fire which destroyed parts of a High Point factory on Tuesday. Investigators found that a worker was cutting pipe with a torch when the explosion happened. Apparently vapors had seeped out from the area where foam was being produced and once they hit the torch’s flame, it triggered an explosion. Three workers were taken to the hospital, two of which were later released from High Point Regional. However the third had to be taken to Baptist Medical Center to treat burns covering parts of his upper body.

Jobs Leaving High Point
Some more bad news for people in High Point, as jobs are leaving the area. Claude Gable Company has shut down operations, leaving the furniture business after 34 years. Company officials said they tried to keep operating for as long as possible, but competing with overseas imports put them in debt. All of the remaining furniture and other assets will be sold off to pay the company’s creditors. An estimated 200 people were put on the unemployment line by the move.

Chemical Spill Shuts Down Durham School
A chemical spill at one Durham elementary school gave students an early taste of summer vacation on Wednesday. An air conditioning technician gave out vials of mercury to kids at a local church, who then took the poison to school in water guns and started spraying the hands of other children. In addition, a local church and several nearby homes were closed off while officials decontaminated the area.

Deer Causes Accident On Hwy 64
Hazmat crews were called out to a section of Highway 64 in Wake County Wednesday morning, to clean up after a tractor-trailer flipped. The incident happened just before 1am Wednesday, as a deer jumped out into the road and the truck driver swerved to miss it. He ended up hitting the animal as the trailer overturned, spilling fuel out across the road. It took Highway Patrol officers and hazmat crews over four hours to get things back to normal. Thankfully however the truck driver walked away without a scratch.

Charlotte Boy In Hospital After Being Shot
A Charlotte boy is in the hospital today, after being gunned down Tuesday night. The 14-yr-old was riding his bike around 9pm near West Boulevard when gunshots rang out and he was hit in the thigh. He was rushed to the hospital, where he had to undergo surgery that night but is expected to survive. At this time officials say they don’t know if the boy was a target or just in the wrong place.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Baseball
In American Legion baseball last night, it went just under four hours but the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots couldn’t pull out a win. They lost to Statesville 19-15, falling to 0-2 on the young season. Up next for the team will be a game against Montgomery County this Saturday. Gametime is set for 7pm at Wilkes Central.

Wilkes Central Girls Soccer
Around the high school scene, the Lady Eagles are moving on to the state championship in soccer. Wilkes Central beat Albemarle 4-0, to become the Western Division champion. Now the Lady Eagles are heading to Cary North Carolina, for the title game. Their opponents will be Swansboro, the Eastern Division champions. The game is set for this Saturday May 27th at 2pm at the SAS Soccer Park in Cary.

NHL Playoffs: Hurricanes vs. Sabres
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes lost Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, falling to Buffalo 4-3. With the win, the Sabres take a 2-1 lead in the series with Game Four set for Friday night.

Tapscott Resigning
The Charlotte Bobcats aren’t even three years old and already they’re having to restructure the organization. Team president Ed Tapscott announced his resignation on Wednesday, although no reason was given. Effective immediately, Tapscott will leave his job as both President and Chief Executive Officer of Bobcats Sports & Entertainment. He’ll be replaced by Van Sinclair, who has worked as the team’s representative with the NBA Board of Governors.

Bickerstaff To Stay
Some good news however for the Bobcats, as their head coach is sticking around. Bernie Bickerstaff had been considering a change, giving up his coaching job to focus on his duties as the team’s general manager but announced this week he’ll be staying on the bench for one more season. The 61-yr-old Bickerstaff said after the injury plagued season the Bobcats just went through, the team needed continuity.

Yates General Manager Out
A major shakeup in the world of NASCAR this week, as Eddie D’Hondt is gone from Robert Yates Racing. D’Hondt had served as the general manager for the company since 2003 but Robert Yates said his release was part of a later re-evaluation of how they do business. He and his son Doug Yates also indicated that they’ll be taking a more active role, re-asserting themselves as managers of the business. Yates is running the No. 38 Ford driven by Elliot Sadler and the No. 88 Ford, driven by Dale Jarrett in the NASCAR circuit. However a replacement will have to be found next year for Jarrett, as he’s jumping ship to join Toyota. It’s unknown if that move played any part in the reshuffling.

Money & Ice Cream Stolen From Local Church
Sheriff’s deputies were called out Sunday night to Charity Methodist Church after thieves paid a visit. A man was seen pulling up to the church, then going inside the kitchen and putting things inside a brown shopping bag. As he came out, the man also had a container of ice cream in his hand. Witnesses gave a description of the man and his vehicle, also informing deputies where he went. Church officials were alerted and found $30 missing from inside, along with 3 plates, 2 boxes of ice cream cones and one container of ice cream. Deputies went to the house the witnesses pointed out to investigate, finding a vehicle and a suspect that matched the description. The homeowner told deputies he hadn’t been anywhere near a church, despite the fact the plates, boxes of ice cream cones and ice cream were all in plain sight, sitting on a table. 34-yr-old James Anderson Kuhn was arrested and charged with breaking into a house of worship and felony larceny.

Pre Holiday Planning
As we’re counting down to the holiday weekend, there are some things you need to be aware of before setting out for that Memorial Day road trip. Make sure and do a basic check of oil, transmission fluid, windshield wash and tire pressure on your car. Also you need to test the strength of your battery, as the warm weather can wreck havok on a car’s internal system. Be sure to also take a look at all belts and hoses to make sure there are no tears or cracks that would cause it to pop off on the highway. While most of that might seem to be common sense, the majority of breakdowns on the highway are caused by things a little planning could have avoided. Finally make sure you have an emergency kit, full of band aids and other medical aids, along with a tool box just in case your vehicle breaks down. Otherwise drive safely, watch out for some of those crazy people on the road and have a great trip.

Cheeks Market Falls Victim To Thieves
Deputies were called out to Cheeks Market Monday morning, after thieves dropped by the business. When the store’s owner came in that morning, she found over a thousand dollars worth of merchandise had disappeared from inside. It appears the thieves climbed in through a window at the back of the business, then stored the items in trash bags so they could carry them out. Taken from inside were 25 cartons of cigarettes, several boxes of Goody Powders, over 20 bags of Doritos chips, several cases of beer and $500 from the register. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Recall Ordered Of Salad
Before you eat that salad tonight, you might want to hear this next bit of news, especially if it was prepackaged. House of Thaller Inc. is ordering a recall of an estimated 160,000 lbs. of its’ Ham Salad, Chicken Salad, Turkey Salad, Tuna Salad, Seafood Salad, Seafood Salad Mix, Pea Salad Mix, Shrimp Salad, Artichoke Shrimp Dip, Crab Dip and Cajun Crab Dip. These items have been sold & repackaged in some occasions under different brand names. Those brands involved are House of Thaller, Kroger Brand, Mrs. Gerry’s, Dairy Fresh, The Fresh Market, Southern Gourmet and Southern Style. The problem comes from an issue at the processing plant, as some of the packages weren’t processed correctly and as a result a strain of bacteria could get inside. Customers are being asked to throw out the packages, even if they don’t appear spoiled or smell rotten. All 7.5 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz containers with a sell by date of June 2006 are included, along with all 5 lb., 10 lb. & 20 lb. bags of the products. For more information, people can call House of Thaller at 1-800-462-3365.

Health Department Offering Car Seat Help
85% of child safety seats across Wilkes County are not installed correctly, according to the local SafeKids organization. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it’s still high enough for concern. However if you’re still trying to figure out what the right way to install one is, you don’t have to wait until the next safety check. The Wilkes Health Department is partnering with SafeKids to help show parents the right way to install the seats. You can contact the Health Department and make an appointment anytime during the week by calling Jean Edwards at 651-7478.

Three-Wheeler Driven Off From State Road Home
Be careful where you park your vehicles. That’s what a State Road man learned this week. He had parked his three-wheeler in the front yard, before leaving to run some errands Sunday night. When he returned, the vehicle was missing. Nothing else was taken from inside the home and there was no damage done to the property. That investigation is ongoing.

Thieves Run Off With Chain Saw
Thieves broke into a North Wilkesboro home on Monday, running off with several tools. Taken from the home on Roten Hollow Drive was an air compressor, a radial arm saw and a chainsaw, totaling just under $2000 in value. It’s unclear exactly how the thieves managed to get inside, as there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Samaritan’s Ministry Needs Help
It’s hard at times to put food on the table and also pay your bills. Here in Wilkes, several organizations reach out and help people who are struggling through hard times, including Samaritan’s Christian Ministry. Now however the organization finds itself needing some help of its’ own. So many people have been by in recent weeks that the shelves are almost empty and there aren’t enough workers to prepare meals on the weekends. If you can set aside thirty minutes or three hours, whatever you can spare, please give the Kitchen a call at 838-5331.

Wreck On 421 Totals Two
Two cars were totaled after an accident Monday morning on Hwy 421. The incident happened just before 8am, right at the intersection with Kennedy Street. A Wilkesboro man was slowing down, as the car in front of him was turning off. However the driver behind him, a Mount Airy woman, didn’t see his brake lights come on before it was too late to stop. Estimated damages were placed at $7000 and the woman refused treatment by Wilkes EMS.

Vandals Strike Local Woman’s Car
A North Wilkesboro woman got a surprise when she walked out of her house earlier on Sunday morning. Someone had scratched her car, all the way from one side to the other. Estimated damages were placed at $250 and despite the vandalism, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the night. That investigation is ongoing.

Regional News

Murder In Alexander County
Officials in Alexander County are trying to determine who killed a local man in his home Monday night. The incident happened just after 10pm on Monday, as a couple heard a knock on their door. The husband went to answer it and a man was standing outside, asking if he could borrow some gasoline. The husband agreed and went to the house’s basement to get some, followed by the stranger. Minutes later gunshots rang out and the wife came down to find her husband, 84-yr-old Buster Stikeleather (as it sounds) dead. Sheriff’s deputies are asking anyone with information to call 1-828-632-4658.

State News

NC Schools Given Millions
More money is coming to the North Carolina school system, courtesy of Bill Gates. The billionaire has donated $10.4 million to the state, to help in developing better public schools. The money comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and contains $9 million to add in the creation of new schools.

Illegals Arrested At NC State
A search for clues in a highway accident led to some illegal immigrants being uncovered at NC State on Tuesday. Highway Patrol officers had asked Immigration to get involved as they investigated a wreck Monday morning on I-40. A man driving a 1993 red Toyota slammed into a Chevy van close to the Durham-Wake county line, then fled the scene. Immigration and Highway Patrol officers came to the construction site at NC State’s football stadium, looking for anyone who might have information about the driver. Instead as the agents entered the area, several construction workers took off running, fleeing from the stadium area. INS agents were able to track down and detain the workers, as they attempt to determine if they’re here in the country illegally.

Warrants Issued For Two NC Pharmacies
Two North Carolina pharmacies have come under fire from both the DEA and the SBI this week, accused of illegally selling drugs over the internet. The pharmacies in Mooresville and Denver are both part of the Woody’s store chain. SBI agents have served warrants on both businesses, as evidence has come to light indicating they were filling prescriptions online. No details have been released, except officials from the NC Board of Pharmacy said that there was sufficient evidence for them to cooperate in the case.

Meeting Held To Impeach Bush
A group in Chatham County held a meeting last night with one goal in mind, to impeach the president. The NC Grassroots Impeachment Movement has been working over the past few months to grow in size and support. Earlier this year they helped the town of Chapel Hill to pass a resolution, demanding Bush be impeached and removed from office. Several local pastors, civil rights leaders and congressional candidates from the area came out to a meeting held last night at the Chatham County courthouse. Group officials say they plan to grow and get support from across the state, in hopes of convincing state lawmakers to pass a similar resolution.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Broadcast Season Starts Tonight
The season has started for Wilkes Post 31 baseball and we’re going to be on hand to bring you the action. The 3WC Sports Team will be heading up the road to Moravian Falls, as Post 31 takes on Statesville tonight. The game is going to be held at Wilkes Central and the first pitch is set for 7pm. We’ll go on the air with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45pm and then turn things over to Ken Byrd for the play by play.

Central Girls In Action Tonight
Post 31 baseball isn’t the only local team in action tonight. The Wilkes Central Lady Eagles are moving on in soccer, looking to advance to the championship. They’ll be facing off tonight against Albemarle, who brings in a record of 20-4 to face the 24-2 Lady Eagles. Gametime is set for 7pm at Wilkes Central.

UNC Pitcher Set To Become #1
As the UNC Tarheels continue their run to the College World Series, a member of the pitching staff is raking in awards. Andrew Miller received the ACC’s Pitcher of the Year award this week, after putting up an 11-1 record in the regular season and recording 98 strikeouts in 89 innings of work. Miller could also be seeing big bucks, as he’s expected to be the first pick in next month’s MLB draft, going to the Kansas City Royals.

NBA Draft Lottery
The NBA held their annual draft lottery last night and the end result was good news for Charlotte Bobcats fans. The team landed the third selection in this year's draft, which will be held at the end of June. Teams will have a loaded field to select from, including Duke's Shelton Williams & J.J. Redick, along with Tyrus Thomas of LSU and Adam Morrison of Gonzaga.

Former Panthers Announcer Now NFL Voice
A man who most people know as the voice of the Carolina Panthers will now be taking his talent around the country. For the team’s entire existence, Bill Rosinski was the radio voice of the Carolina Panthers, until he was fired before the start of the 2005 season. Now Rosinski is back on the air and will be broadcasting NFL games again this fall, after signing a deal with Westwood One. Rosinski agreed to become the play by play announcer for 16 NFL games this season, to be broadcast over CBS Radio, in addition to the annual Thanksgiving Day on the network.

Time To Vaccinate Horses Against West Nile
With the weather getting warmer and rain in the forecast, some unwelcome visitors will soon be making their way back to Wilkes County. It’s becoming mosquito season again and for horse owners here in Wilkes, that means it’s also time to get your animal vaccinated. Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (in-se-fill-i-tis) and the West Nile Virus are two diseases that have become a recurring problem for horse owners here in the state. Both vaccines require two shots, each taken 30 days apart and must be done by a local vet. Also, the vaccine won’t take effect until both shots have been injected, so it’s best to vaccinate before mosquito season begins. To get some more information about the diseases or where you can get a vaccine, you can contact Wilkes Animal Control at 903-7688.

Thieves Looking For Cold Relief
Apparently a trip to the doctor cost too much for some Wilkes County residents. Thieves walked into Neighbors’ Store late Sunday night, running off with some Tylenol PM and a pack of beer. Employees inside gave a description of both the thieves and their vehicle, which was turned over to Wilkes deputies. Deputies soon tracked down the vehicle, whose driver had a revoked license. In addition, the stolen bottles of Tylenol were found in his pockets. 22-yr-old Dustin Steven Perkins was arrested and charged with driving without a license , damage to property and larceny.

Lowes Earnings Up For the First Quarter
Good news for any Lowes stockholders out there, as the company reported a sizable increase in profits for the first quarter. Profits rose 44% for the first quarter of 2006, bringing it to $841 million for the period ending May 5th. That translates into $1.06 a share, up from 73 cents a share at this same time last year and slightly above the 94 cents a share analysts predicted. The company says repair work from the storms of 2005 are partially to thank, as revenues shot up over 20% during the first five months of this year.

Silverware Stolen From Local Home
No good deed goes unpunished, as a Traphill woman found out over the weekend. A young woman had been allowed to stay in a home she owned, but when she went to go check on the property this weekend, found over a thousand dollars in merchandise missing. 20 blue plates, a tea pot, iron kettle and several other items were taken from inside. Descriptions of the suspects were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: Chocolate Good For Blood Pressure
Researchers have found that dark chocolate can actually help lower your blood pressure, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. In an article published by the American Heart Association, researchers from a university in Italy found that dark chocolate has compounds in it called flavonoids (flav-o-noids), which help ease the strain on blood vessels. A study was done with 10 men and 10 women, all of which had high blood pressure. For 15 days, 10 of the group ate 100 grams a day of dark chocolate, while the others ate the same amount of white chocolate. White chocolate was used because it doesn’t have the favonoid compound, but contains all the other ingredients found in the dark version. Those who ate the dark chocolate found their systolic pressure dropped 12 mms, or millimeters of mercury while the diastolic dropped 9. No such changes were found in the group that ate the white chocolate. The dark chocolate also appeared to help the body use insulin better, while reducing bad cholesterol by about 10%. Now the reason most Americans aren’t experiencing lower blood pressure after eating chocolate is because most of the time, we eat milk chocolate, which doesn’t have enough of the flavonoids to help much. And if you want to practice a little restraint and not eat the chocolate, there are some other foods also high in flavonoids. Apples and oranges have the compound, as do tangerines, grapefruits, onions and green tea.

Thieves Load Up To Go Deer Hunting
Some people in Wilkes County apparently wanted to get a jump on deer season by stealing what they need. A Statesville man came back to check on some property he owned in Wilkes County, only to find that thieves had paid him a visit. The man’s deer feeder had been stolen and someone had tore down the cattle gate keeping the property secure. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
With summer on the way, a drought of a different kind is looming for Wilkes County. Traditionally the summer months are the worst times for the local blood supply, as people leave for vacation and turnouts at blood drives are slim. However the situation is slightly worse this year, as turnouts have been poor for the past several months. A drive is going on later today at the Wilkesboro Civic Center from 2-6:30pm. With the blood supply just above critical levels, the Red Cross is asking anyone who’s able to come out and give. To set up an appointment the number to call is 838-4563.

One Person Hospitalized After 421 Wreck
An accident Sunday night totaled two vehicles and sent one person to the hospital. The incident happened just past 4pm Sunday afternoon on Hwy 421 next to Belks. A North Wilkesboro woman went to merge back onto the main highway as she thought the vehicle approaching was getting set to turn off. Instead the two cars collided, causing an estimated $14,000 in damage. The second driver, a Millers Creek man, had to be taken to the hospital by EMS to get checked out.

Just Came In For A Look
Thieves broke into a home on the Mertie Road this week, apparently just wanting to have a look around. Nothing was taken from inside and no damage was done, except for the front door, which was totaled. The former resident now resides in a nursing home and no one else had been allowed on the property. That investigation continues.

Regional News

Local Teen Drowns In Caldwell County
One boy drowned after a swimming accident Sunday night in Caldwell County. The incident happened at Water Plant Park in Lake Rhodhiss (Rod-hiss), as a group of boys decided to go into a section of the lake where swimming is banned. One of the boys didn’t make it out, as the 15-yr-old went under and his body washed ashore later that night. Officials plant to increase the patrols in the area, to make sure such an event doesn’t happen again.

State News

Jobless Rate Falls Across North Carolina
Good news for North Carolina, as the state’s jobless rate fell by the end of April to 4.3%. That continues a trend started back in February, when the jobless rate was 4.6%. Since then the rate has been continually dropping as more people are finding work. According to the state’s Employment Security Commission, 22688 people found jobs in April, bringing the total to 4.2 million currently employed across the state.

All America Week Held At Ft. Bragg
Members of the military stationed at Fort Bragg are gathering together for their version of the Olympics this week. All American Week is held each year the week before Memorial Day, as retired members of the 82nd Airborne Division are welcomed back to take part in competitions such as Monday’s four mile run. Other events held this week include football, basketball and volleyball tournaments, along with boxing matches and a 10 mile run. The events will continue until Sunday.

Judicial Candidate Forced To Remove Endorsement
A candidate for the State Supreme Court is having to apologize to a national icon today, after her website mistakenly gave the impression he had endorsed her. Candidate Rachel Hunter had her picture taken at the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame banquet with legendary coach Dean Smith. When the picture was put on her website, it was followed by a brief message that read “as a loyal Democrat to another loyal Democrat. Win Rachel Win!”. Representatives for Coach Smith have said that he has not issued an endorsement for anyone in the race and asked that the message be taken down. Hunter is competing against current Associate Justice Mark Martin for the next eight year term on the bench.

Charges Coming In Lobbyist Investigation
Charges have been brought against three people with ties to both North Carolina lawmakers and the lottery this week. At the top of the list is Meredith Norris, former political director for House Speaker Jim Black. While she was working for the Speaker, Norris was also taking money as a lobbyist for Scientific Games, a gambling company that wanted to run the state lottery. However Norris violated state law by not registering herself as a lobbyist for the company, despite setting up dinners, arranging meetings and making presentations on the company’s behalf. Former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings is also in hot water, as he too refused to divulge the fact that he was involved with Scientific Games. Finally former Scientific Games Vice President Alan Middleton is also up on charges of violating the lobby laws, for failing to register as a lobbyist while in the employ of the company. All three will appear in court next month.

Sports Headlines

Sign Up For Sertoma Football
Football season is still a few months away, but for kids here in Wilkes County, the signups begin today. The Wilkes Central Sertoma Football League is holding signups tonight for any rising 3rd through 8th grade boys and girls, in football and cheerleading. The signups will start at Central Wilkes Middle School beginning at 6pm.

UNC & State Add Recruits
On the college football field, even though the 2006 season hasn’t started yet, teams are already looking ahead to 2007. NC State and North Carolina both landed recruits this week for the 2007 class. For the Tarheels, Jay Wooten from Scotland County High School committed to the team. Wooten, a 6’3 ft. 190 lb. junior is his team’s punter, kickoff specialist and field goal kicker, acing 8 out of the 13 field goals he tied last year. In addition, he averaged 36 yards on punts and put 75% of his kickoffs into the endzone for a touchback. Wooten turned down offers from Clemson & LSU to join the Heels, becoming the fourth commitment in the 2007 class. Down the road in Raleigh, NC State got help of a different kind. Looking to replace defensive end Mario Williams, who left for the NFL, State got a commitment from Linwan Euwell, a defensive end from Southwest Edgecombe High. The 6’3 ft. 210 lb. Euwell was named high school defensive player of the year by several newspaper and turned down an offer from East Carolina to join the Wolfpack.

Former Wolfpack QB Getting His Shot
On the pro scene, a former member of the NC State Wolfpack is getting his shot at becoming an NFL quarterback. Jay Davis saw his career at NC State come to a close after just six games last season, when sophomore Marcus Stone took over the reins. After graduating, Davis went undrafted and expected to get back into the college game as a coach. However on a whim he attended tryout camp for both the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, impressing Bucs head coach John Gruden, who’s considering offering Davis an invitation to training camp. Still Davis isn’t getting his hopes up and says he’ll be happy if a team picks him up and sends him to the minor leagues of NFL Europe. If that doesn’t work out however, he plans to go back to college and lack on an a graduate assistant, hoping to some day become an offensive coordinator.
Bobcats Get Shot At Number One Tonight
While the 2006 season is over for the Charlotte Bobcats, the road to next year begins tonight as the NBA holds its’ draft lottery. The Bobcats are guaranteed no worse than the 6th pick in the draft and could go as high as number one depending on how the lottery goes tonight. Most scouts believe that Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, LSU forward Tyrus Thomas or Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge will go first in the draft this season. Draft coverage will start tonight on ESPN beginning at 7:30pm.

Wilkes Soldier Found Guilty On All Charges
Guilty on all counts. That was the verdict handed down in the trial of a Wilkes County native over the weekend in Washington State. Specialist Brandon Bare was found guilty of premeditated murder in the death of his wife Nabila and also on two counts of indecent acts for desecrating her body. It took four hours of deliberation for the jury to come back with a verdict, causing the trial to stretch into early Saturday morning. 18-yr-old Nabila Bare was stabbed 71 times in the couple's home at Fort Lewis Washington July 12th of lst year. Her husband Brandon confessed to the crime, which his defense team portrayed as a act of rage in which he suddenly snapped, angry over his wife's affair with a fellow soldier. Prosecutors meanwhile presented evidence demonstrating Bare's interest in serial killers, including his own statement to police as he explained that he was imitating the tactics of 1980s serial killer Richard Ramirez. Bare was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. In addition, he was dishonorably discharged from the service and will forfeit all pay that was coming to him.

Local Kids Receive Scholarship
For five Wilkes County teens, the cost of going to college got a little bit cheaper last week. All five were selected to receive scholarships by the Wilkes Veterans Service Office, full four year awards to the school of their choice. Those getting the scholarship are Andrea Brown, an East Wilkes senior who will be attending Surry Community College, Kayla Mathis, also from East Wilkes, who will be attending Catawba Valley Community College and Jennifer Craighead, who will attend Wake Technical Community College after graduating from West Wilkes. Also Justin Hale, another West Wilkes senior who will be starting at Wilkes Community College and James Dellinger, a Wilkes Central senior who will be attending Western Carolina University. Only the children of veterans in the county were eligible for the scholarship.

Foxx Bill Goes To President
Soldiers from Wilkes County and across the U.S. can now put money aside for their retirement, as a change has been made to the tax code. The House & Senate passed H.R. 1499 last week, designated as the Heroes Earned Retirement Opportunities Act. The bill, which was sponsored by 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, will allow soldiers to put money earned as hazard pay into IRA accounts. Previously that was illegal, as the money was tax free and uneligible to be put into retirement accounts. Under the bill, combat pay earned as far back as 2004 can also be put into IRA accounts. The bill will now go to the President for his signature.

Hundreds In Damage Done At Local Home
Thieves targeted a local man's apartment late last week, causing hundreds of dollars in damage. The incident happened at a residence on Oak Towers Drive, as thieves broke in through the door and also damaged the ceiling tiles.Taken from inside was the man's 20" TV and a DVD player however neighbors had to report the crime as the renter himself is in jail. That incident is still under investigation.

3WC Techwatch: Out With The Old
Your computer could soon be replacing your phone as a way of keeping in touch, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. With personal communication becoming big business, companies are working on new ways of carrying on a conversation. Lycos is preparing to release a new program for the Windows system, that allows a user to make free calls to outside phone lines, by using the computer’s microphone. The only catch is that in order to receive free minutes, you have to sign up for a promotional offer with one of their partner companies. Otherwise people will be charged one cent a minute with the program. In addition, the new Lycos Phone will have movie previews and video calling, so two people can talk face to face over the computer.

Thieves Hit Foster's Grocery
Deputies were called out to Foster's Grocery late last week after thieves hit the business. A man paid for his purchases and then pocketed two candy bars. When asked about it, the man said his money ws out in the vehicle and took off running. A description of the man, his vehicle and the car's license plate was all turned over to sheriff's deputies. That investigation continues.

Recall Ordered Of Reebok Bracelets
This next bit of information is for anyone who’s recently bought some new shoes for their children. A recall has been ordered from Reebok International of an estimated 300,000 promotional charm bracelets. The items were included as gifts when certain styles of children’s shoes were bought. The shoes themselves are fine, however one child has already died due to lead poisoning from the metal bracelets. The bracelets are eight inches long with a heart shaped charm that has Reebok written on it. Parents are being asked to dispose of the charm bracelets, due to the high lead content.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A routine traffic stop led to a drug bust for sheriff's deputies late last week. When deputies pulled over the car for having a busted tail light, they witnessed the driver trying to shove something into her mouth and chew it. She was asked to spit out the item, which turned out to less than a gram of crack cocaine. 29-yr-old Samantha Combs was arrested and charged with drug possession.

Regional News

Body Of Missing Girl Found
The search has ended for a missing Burke Ccounty girl. Sheriff's deputies found the body of 17-yr-old Olivia Seals over the weekend, buried in the backyard of a friend. Seals had disappeared on May 9th, after she was supposedly dropped off at her driveway by a friend. Police searched the home of that same friend, 19-yr-old Phillip Blankenship and found a blood trail leading from the house to a pile of trash in the woods nearby. They found Olivia's body buried underneath and autopsy results showed that she was killed by a blow to the head. Phillip Blankenship has been charged with murder and is being held without bond in the Burke County jail.

State News

Arsonist Busted In Charlotte
An investigation five months in the making came to an end over the weekend, as Charlotte police arrested an arsonist. Over $800,000 in damage has been done since December in the Dilworth community, thanks to a series of fires police believed were intentionally set. Now it turns out that the arsonist was living in the same community she set afire. Susan Elaine Davidson was arrested by Mecklenburg police and faces charges for burning down the homes of two of her neighbors, along with an abandoned building on the same block. No motive has been given for the crime and up to 15 other charges could be pending in the case.

Edwards To Possibly Re-Enter Politics
A former North Carolina senator may be entering the race for President next year. John Edwards, former Democratic candidate for Vice President and a former North Carolina Senator, was a guest on ABC's "This Week" program Sunday morning. He said that he would only consider running for president if his wife's health continued to improve. Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and has been undergoing treatment for the sickness ever since. The former senator also said that he's not sure if it's the right time to run, as he's still working on getting the Anti-Poverty Center he runs off the ground.

Early Sunday Crash In Hickory Kills One
Hickory officials are searching for the driver in a hit & run accident over the weekend. Early Sunday morning, two cars collided at a Hickory intersection, killing one of the drivers. According to officials, 49-yr-old Grover Cleveland Denton ran a red light and slammed into the other car, killing the 36-yr-old driver before speeding away. He's wanted on charges of death by vehicle, felony hit & run and failure to stay at a crash.

Sports Headlines

Season Ends For West Wilkes Baseball
Taking a look at the high school scoreboard, the season ended Friday night for West Wilkes’ varsity baseball team. They lost in second round action to Chatham Central 5-2, seeing their year come to a close with a record of 24-5. Lack of control from the Blackhawks pitching staff helped to seal the loss, with the team giving up 9 walks on the night.

Central Girls Advance To Next Round
In high school soccer, the Wilkes Central Lady Eagles advanced to the semifinals of the state playoffs after beating Shelby Saturday night. In overtime, Central pulled out the 3-2 winand moves on to play the winner of North Stanley and Albemarle.

ACC Wanting To Change Bowl Selection
Switching gears to college football, the way bowl bids are decided for ACC schools could be changing. After meeting this week, the conference announced that they plan to establish guidelines to make sure the best teams get on the field. Concerns were raised after last season, which saw an 8-3 Boston College team left out of the "big" Meineke Car Care Bowl, which went to 6-5 NC State. Instead, the Eagles had to make the trip up to Idaho for the MPC Computers Bowl as a consolation prize.

Former Appalachian Stars Continue Careers
Several former college football players are getting a chance at continuing their careers, just not in the NFL. Appalachian State star quarterback Richie Williams signed a deal this week with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, a team in the Canadian Football League. Williams, the Southern Conference offensive player of the year in 2005, has a two year contract with an option for a third. He’s the third member of Appalachian’s team to suit up for the Cats, as wide receiver Davon Fowlkes and Wayne Smith are both on the team. Training camp in the CFL starts today with the first game set for June 2nd.

Johnson Wins All Star Race
On the NASCAR circuit, it was Jimmie Johnson once again pulling into victory lane as he won the All Star Challenge. Kevin Harvick was second and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top three. Drivers will return to Charlotte this Sunday for the Coca-Cola 600.