22 Arrested in Wilkes on Drug Charges

At least 22 have been arrested and charged in the latest drug roundup.  According to Craig Dancy of the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, they conducted a 3 ½ month undercover investigation which resulted in multiple arrests mostly from selling prescription medication and cocaine.  Dancy said the only difference this time, people were selling their own prescriptions; there was no Florida or Georgia prescription drug connection.  Arrests ranged from one count of conspiracy to multiple counts of possession and selling drugs.  Donnie Blevins of North Wilkesboro worked with two others from Millers Creek.  Blevins was charged with 3 counts of selling prescriptions and conspiracy.  The other two, Dwayne and Willa Church, were charged with conspiracy to sell prescriptions.  Casey Johnson age 29 of North Wilkesboro was arrested and charged with 4 counts of selling cocaine, 4 counts of conspiracy to sell, and 2 counts of selling prescriptions.  Clifton Williams of North Wilkesboro teamed up with Andrew Smith of Wilkesboro.  Both were charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine.  Williams was also charged with conspiracy and Smith was also charged with resisting arrest.  Elizabeth Burchette of Elkin and Ashley Davis of Jonesville conspired together.  Burchette was charged with 5 counts of selling cocaine and two counts of conspiracy to sell.  Davis was charged with conspiracy to sell cocaine.  Roland Wilfong of Wilkesboro was charged with 4 counts of selling cocaine, 4 counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver, and conspiracy.  Many of the other 22 arrested were charged with one count of selling prescriptions, selling meth, and selling cocaine.  One man from Traphill, Brady Spicer, was charged with possession of weapon of mass destruction and possession non-tax paid liquor.  The roundup of the 22 arrested was conducted this week.  Some are still in jail, but many have been released on bail and are awaiting upcoming court appearances.

Wilkes Voices Opinion on New ABC Store

Through phone calls and Facebook messages, 3WC Radio has been asked to encourage listeners to call and oppose another ABC Store in Wilkes.  Currently, The Town of Wilkesboro’s ABC board is negotiating a lease for a second ABC store on U.S. 421 at the intersection of  N.C. 16. The 3,500 square foot storefront, owned by J.C. Faw, is located next to the Tobacco Warehouse. The application for the store was submitted by the town ABC board in late January.  According to the County Manager’s Office, residents who want to oppose the new ABC store need to call the ABC store on Curtis Bridge Road with their comments.  The law requires that calls be logged and presented to the State ABC Board.  Those wanting to call in comments and/or opposition to the new ABC store should call 667-7501 by Monday, February 27.  The license for a second location has to be approved by the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control board.  

Old Tires at the Landfill

Changing where Wilkes takes old tires was on the agenda this week at the County Commissioner’s Meeting.  As it was explained to the Board by County Attorney Tony Triplett and Solid Waste Director Kent Brandon, State law requires the disposal of scrap tires at the landfill.  One method is to haul the tires to an approved disposal facility.  For a number of years, tires from the Wilkes Landfill were hauled to US Tire in Concord for approved disposal.  However, since last summer, the old tires have been hauled to New River Tire Recycling in Hillsville, Virginia.  New River offered the same approved disposal at a lower cost to the county.  Commissioners were asked to approve a 3 year contract to lock in the lower price of 60 dollars a ton with New River.  Last year, the Wilkes Landfill received 1163 tons of old tires.  The county does get money from the state to help with the cost of tire disposal.  County Commissioners approved the contract with the Hillsville Company.

Bus Transfer from County to Town

Yes, you can have the bus.  Wilkes County Commissioners considered at this week’s meeting a request sent by letter from the Town of Wilkesboro.  The Town of Wilkesboro operates a campground in conjunction with MerleFest every spring.  Wilkesboro was in need of another reliable school bus to help with transportation between the campground and the festival.  The County had a 1984 International School Bus that was not being used by the County.  Wilkesboro Town Manager Ken Noland sent a letter requesting that the County consider transferring the title of that bus to the Town.  Commissioners granted the Town’s request and will be transferring ownership of the school bus to Wilkesboro.

What WCC Students Are Cooking Up

Soups, sauces, baking and management are subjects students expect to cover in the culinary program at Wilkes Community College. However, culinary students this semester are also enhancing the lives of students in the Central American country of Panama. WCC culinary students began recipe development for school cooks in Panama. This included a lesson in understanding childhood nutrition in third world countries and testing the recipes on the tables of the WCC culinary lab.  For two years, the Culinary Program has held a fundraiser to help feed children in rural Panama.  The lead instructor for the program, Chef Kimrey Jordan, contacted a charity that delivers food to local Panamanian schools in need and helps build simple kitchens for schools. The charity works to make sure that students living in poverty are provided adequate nutrition at school.  Recently, WCC students have been working on a recipe of pre-packaged food provided by the Panama Government.  All of this helps WCC students understand what makes a good chef is not simply learning how to cook.

MESH Important Role in Wilkes

MESH (Mobile Expanded School Health) plays an important role in children’s health in Wilkes.  Tomorrow wraps up what Governor Beverly Purdue proclaimed as North Carolina School Community Health Alliance week.  Recent research confirmed the obvious: poor health affects educational achievement. But, it also showed that school-based health care can provide a solution.  Three facts to consider:  1-Students who visit school-based health centers two times a semester are a third less likely to drop out of school; 2- Students who use school-based health centers have higher grade point averages and attendance compared to students who don’t use them; and 3-High school students had a 50% decrease in absenteeism and 25% decrease in tardiness two months after receiving school-based mental health counseling.  According to Ann Absher, Health Director of Wilkes County Health Department, “The future of our community depends on having healthy and successful students – and MESH plays an important role in that.”  MESH visits all the high schools on a weekly basis in Wilkes County. The staff sees on average 13-18 students per day. By caring for these students on-site at the school, students do not miss valuable classroom time. MESH provides services to approximately 1300 students per school year.

Two Injured in Wednesday Night Head-On Collision

Two were taken to Baptist following a head-on collision last night on Hwy 268 East in Roaring River.  According to Trooper Walker, a small SUV driven by Cynthia Lawrence of Roaring River was traveling East on Hwy 268 when she attempted to turn left onto Cottontail Lane.  Dean Tiger of State Road was driving a Nissan car and traveling West on Hwy 268 when Lawrence turned into his path and the two vehicles hit head-on.  Mr. Tiger, who was pinned in his vehicle, was air-lifted to Baptist Hospital with critical injuries.  Lawrence was also taken to Baptist by Wilkes EMS.  Lawrence was charged in the wreck with careless and reckless driving.  Trooper Walker said Wilkes Rescue and Roaring River Fire Department did an excellent job getting the victims from the vehicles and setting up a landing zone for AirCare.

Jobs Added to the Wilkes Economy

It’s a total of 254 new jobs and 11.9 million dollars in capital investments.  The Wilkes County Commissioners held their regular meeting this week with several items on the agenda including an update from the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation or EDC.  Wilkes EDC President Jeff Garstka told Commissioners that Manzella Worldwide is still on track to add 93 new jobs, retain 75 jobs, and invest 3.2 million dollars.  The purchase of the old Golden Needles building was completed last month.  They are already moving in equipment, are hiring, and should be up and running in 30 to 60 days.  Manzella has also changed their name to Worldwide Protective Products.  Garstka said that Darden Restaurants is working on their site and should be ready to open by 2013.  Darden plans to add 90 new jobs and invest 3.5 million dollars.  According to the EDC report, Certainteed has almost completed their renovations, they are installing equipment, and will be hiring by April.  Certainteed will add 29 new jobs and invest 2.7 million dollars.  Reportedly, two other companies—Carolina Properties Wood Products and Hinson and Hale Medical Technologies will each add 15 new jobs.  A third entity known as Project Worm will add 12 new jobs.  In all the companies are providing a total of 254 new jobs and 11.9 million in capital investments to the Wilkes economy.

Good Financial Report at Commissioners Meeting

Collections are better than last year and the County’s General Fund is in good shape.  The Wilkes County Commissioners held their regular meeting this week with several items on the agenda including an update from Jerry Shepherd the Wilkes Finance Officer.  Shepherd reported that there is currently 26.4 million dollars in the General Fund.  For the fiscal year through January 31, Property Tax Collections are at 31 million dollars which is over 671,000 dollars more than this time last year.  As for Sales Tax—910,000 dollars was collected in December which is 303,000 more than November and is 9.3 percent more than this time last year.  The additional quarter cent sales tax has brought in over 560,000 dollars.  One of the hot topics of discussion over the past few years has been housing inmates in other facilities due to the overcrowding at the Wilkes County Jail.  So far this fiscal year, 204,000 dollars has been spent on housing inmates at jails in other counties.  Overall the news given to Commissioners about county finances is good with the General Fund collecting 10.8 million more than was spent.

Stealing All the Metal

They took just about everything that was made of metal.  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department this week, a man called to report theft of several things from an unoccupied house he owns.  The house located on Statesville Road in North Wilkesboro was the old homeplace of his parents and no one currently lives there.  The man checked on the property this week and found that someone had stolen almost anything made of metal including an old lawn mower.  The victim is currently making a detailed list of all the things stolen from the house.  The exact date of the theft is unknown as the victim had not checked on the house since the first of the year.  There is no word on suspects; the Sheriff’s Department is investigating.