Musical Legend Doc Watson Died Tuesday

Father of Merle and Founder of Merlefest, music legend Doc Watson, died at age 89 on Tuesday at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.  Blind since age 1, Doc Watson became a Grammy-award winning folk musician known around the world for his flatpicking guitar playing.  Arthel “Doc” Watson was born March 3, 1923 in Deep Gap, N.C.  He married his wife Rosa Lee in 1947.  Watson began his musical career in the 50’s but was discovered in 1960 when he recorded the first of 60 albums.  Doc Watson's son Merle began recording and touring with him in 1964.   Sadly, Merle Watson died at age 36 in a 1985 tractor accident, sending Doc Watson into depression and causing him to consider retirement.  Instead, he kept playing and started Merlefest, an annual local musical event in Wilkesboro, N.C., that is a fund-raiser for Wilkes Community College.  Dr. Gordon Burns, president of Wilkes Community College, has ordered the WCC campus flag be flown at half staff beginning today through the time of Doc Watson's funeral. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Fight in Wilkes Sends One to Baptist with Stab Wounds

One was airlifted to Baptist, and the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department was called after a stabbing on the Little Elkin Church Road early yesterday morning.  Just after 1am Tuesday, the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department was called to Hugh Chatham Hospital in Elkin regarding the stabbing of a 34-year-old white male.  Apparently, the assault was the result of a fight.  The incident happened on Little Elkin Church Road, and the victim reportedly was stabbed multiple times in the back and abdomen.  Before Sheriff’s Officials could interview the victim, he was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem due to the severity of his injuries.  There is a suspect in this stabbing and charges are pending.

Thieves Seen on Video at Business Break-In

Local law enforcement are on the lookout for two white males that broke in and stole from a local business.  Early Saturday morning, Wilkesboro Police were called to an alarm at The Welding Company on Old Hwy 421.  The 911 Comm Center had also received a call from a person passing by regarding two suspicious people in the area.  When Police arrived that found a door to the business open.  Officers conducted a search of the building but found no one.  The business owner was called to check for anything stolen.  It was determined a black case containing a Stihl saw was stolen.  The saw was valued at 1000 dollars.  Surveillance video showed two white males around the building at the time of the break-in.  Both men were wearing shorts and t-shirts.  Police found tracks leading from the business which they followed but were unable to find the suspects.  Evidence is still being gathered from the scene as the investigation is still underway.  

Missing Deposit from Local Restaurant

A 2100 dollar deposit is missing from a local restaurant and a former employee is being questioned.  Wilkesboro Police received a call from the Bojangles on Curtis Bridge Road in Wilkesboro.  The restaurant manager said that a deposit of $2152. 84 was unaccounted for.  A former employee who was recently fired for another money related matter was the suspect.  The former employee was contacted by police.  She met with the store manager and with police.  The employee said she had 3 deposits in a bag on her desk but left them unsecured while she attended a meeting.  The bag with the deposits was then taken to the bank.  Police are trying to determine if the former employee took the deposit or if someone else removed it from her desk.  Written statements have been taken and the investigation is still underway.

Fraudulent Credit Card Use

Wilkesboro Police are currently working with Kohl’s Credit Card Services to determine who used a victim’s card to make purchases.  The victim, who is also an employee at the store, has recently discovered a 610 dollar balance on his card.  He believes the number was obtained by someone and the purchases made without his permission or knowledge.  Police do have a suspect in the fraud case and charges are pending further investigation.  The Better Business Bureau and law enforcement agencies regularly warn people to keep a check on their banking and credit card accounts to monitor for unauthorized purchases which can ruin your credit.  Also be sure to keep all personal information and bank cards in a secure location.

Felony DWI

A Ferguson man was arrested over the holiday weekend for habitual DWI.  According to the Wilkesboro Officer’s report, he observed a car traveling 70 in a 35 mph zone on Hwy 268 West.  The Officer initiated a traffic stop.  The suspect nearly hit the police car by putting his car in reverse instead of park.  The suspect, Radford Hendrix, blew a .14 which is nearly twice the legal limit.  His license was already revoked from previous offenses.  Hendrix was arrested for Felony Habitual DWI and driving with license revoked.  His car was impounded and he was taken to jail with a 1000 dollar bond.

Alarm at Business But No Break-In

Wilkes County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a burglar alarm at a business in Moravian Falls late Monday night.  When Deputies arrived at Justin’s Pot of Gold on NC Hwy 16, they did not find anyone at the scene.  It was obvious that someone had tampered with a window possibly in an attempt to break-in the business.  However, entrance was not gained inside the store and nothing was reported stolen.  It seems the burglar alarm scared off the would-be thief before Sheriff’s Deputies arrived.  There are no suspects.

No Texting, Just Driving

Colonel Michael Gilchrist, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has announced the No Texting, Just Driving educational awareness campaign. The new campaign is a safety initiative designed to educate the motoring public on the dangers distracted driving.  Although focused on all drivers, the campaign is especially focused on teenage drivers. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured.  In addition, younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years of old have the highest portion of distracted-related fatal collisions. Sadly, in 2011, 120 teenagers were killed in traffic related collisions investigated by the Highway Patrol.  The Highway Patrol has designated June as the official “No Texting Just Driving” educational awareness month but enforcement and education emphasis will continue indefinitely.  It is currently a violation of North Carolina law to text while operating a motor vehicle on the highway. A conviction could result in a $100 fine and court costs.

NC Hurricane Preparedness Week

Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed May 27 – June 2 as Hurricane Preparedness Week and is urging North Carolinians to develop family emergency plans and supplies kits. Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs through November.  The Atlantic coast has already seen its first tropical storm this year and hurricane season has not yet officially begun.  Perdue urged families, businesses, and local governments to assemble emergency supply kits and to make plans for what to do if a hurricane threatens.  Residents are encouraged to review and update their homeowners' insurance policies now to make sure they have coverage for accidental damage and natural disasters and, if necessary, flood insurance.  Families should have an emergency plan and emergency supplies kit ready at all times. The kit should contain enough non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person per day to last three to seven days.  Stay informed during a storm by keeping a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information and know evacuation routes in your community. For more information, visit www.ReadyNC.org. 

Stolen Stacks of Cash

Could it be that someone knew the victim had some stacks of money around the house or did a thief just get really lucky?  Many people in today’s society do not trust banks anymore, but there has to be a better way to store hundreds of dollars in cash then the method used by a man living in Wilkes.  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department, a homeowner in Ferguson said he had several stacks of money in various locations in his house.  The stacks of cash were held together by a rubber band.  Last week, the man returned home and found that someone had entered his house apparently to make a withdrawal.  The victim told Sheriff’s Deputies that their house was entered and 5500 dollars in cash were taken.  The house was not forcibly entered and it is possible the doors were not locked at the time of the theft.  No other property was reported stolen from the residence.  There are, however, some suspects in this theft and charges are pending.