Fierce storm rocks North Wilkesboro

Said to be the worst since Hugo

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Vernell Rhoades was working next to a window at the front of her store on Saturday afternoon when she first heard the harsh roar of strong winds. “There was a big bolt of lighting and the sound of thunder,” Rhoades said. “There was a big pop, like a gunshot, and all of a sudden the front (of the store) came down on the sidewalk.” Rhoades, the owner and manager of Rhoades Book Store on Ninth Street in Downtown North Wilkesboro, said the storm and subsequent damage came fast. She said she wasn’t sure if lightning or wind caused the damage to the green façade of her store.

But, she said, “God sure was looking out for me.” The big plate glass windows facing the sidewalk vibrated from the wind, Rhoades said, adding that rains fell so heavily the walkway was barely visible. A lone customer, who had been in the store, left moments before the storm hit and Rhoades was there alone. Having moved away from the windows after the initial damage, Rhoades said she looked outside and up C Street and watched as two trees were toppled over. “It was scary,” she said. The storm, which emergency workers are calling the worst in more than a decade, seems to have mostly been contained to inside North Wilkesboro town limits. North Wilkesboro Fire Chief Niki Hamby said the wind damage is the worst he has seen in the town since Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989. “The wind was almost as fierce as it was then,” Hamby said. The storm hit between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Hamby and other members of the North Wilkesboro Fire Department patrolled streets. They found downed trees in Finley Park, on Elizabeth Street, Trogdon Street, J Street, Hinshaw Street and E Street. David Lovette, North Wilkesboro’s public utilities director, said five town employees are expected to be working the rest of the week to clean the downed trees and debris. “As far as how much dollar damage we have, it’s not really clear yet,” Lovette said Tuesday morning. North Wilkesboro Town Manager Hank Perkins told The Record, “I know the damage is widespread,” but said no official report had been compiled as of Tuesday. Perkins added that power at the town’s water treatment plant was out for more than an hour on Saturday. An emergency generator, however, prevented any disruption in service, he said. Mike Emlaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Blacksburg, Va., hadn’t heard about the storm until The Record contacted him on Tuesday morning. Emlaw estimated wind speeds of the storm at between 60 to 70 mph. after being given a description of the damage. Hamby and Lovette believe the storm was either a straight-line wind gust or a downburst of wind. Emlaw said there is nothing to indicate the damage was done by a funnel cloud.

Wilkes Emergency Management Director Suzanne Hamby agreed. “None of the trees were twisted off, they were just laid over,” she said. Some of the most notable damage occurred on E Street near the North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church. There, a large oak tree fell across the top of a Toyota van. Carla Pinkerton, the owner of the van, said she wasn’t aware of how much damage had been done until Sunday morning. Pinkerton said she had been bike shopping in Chapel Hill and had arrived home late Saturday night. “I saw that there was a bunch of branches on it (the van) but I really wasn’t sure what had happened,” Pinkerton said.

Around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Pinkerton said she walked across the street and saw the roof of the van had been crushed.

The downed tree also caused disruption in phone service. Regardless of the damage to the vehicle, Pinkerton says she is grateful things weren’t worse. “I’m just glad my kids weren’t in it,” she said. “I’m just glad for a lot of things.”

 

Teenage ‘dealer’ remains in custody

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

What may happen to a 14-year-old North Wilkesboro boy, who was charged in connection with dealing cocaine, remains unclear. The youth, who was arrested by North Wilkesboro Police offices on Aug. 22, remains in custody.

During a hearing in Wilkes District Court on Friday, the boy was ordered to remain in secure custody in an Alexander County facility where he has been held since his arrest, according to North Wilkesboro Police officials. A probable cause hearing for the boy was set for Sept. 8. Maplewood Mobile Home Park, near the N.C. National Guard Armory off N.C. 115 was the spot of the undercover operation that landed the youth in custody. Lt. Tim Cheek said the youth, who is also an illegal alien from Mexico, may be tried as an adult because of the severity of the charges. The boy was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana (26 grams during an Aug. 16 buy); possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and sell and deliver of cocaine (one gram during an Aug. 18 buy); trafficking cocaine by sale, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine (one ounce during an Aug. 22 buy), Cheek said.

Two men — Ramiro Borja, 44, of lot J-10 Maplewood Mobile Home Park, and Marcos Macedo Macedonio, 33, of Moravian Falls — were also arrested in connection with the undercover drug operation. Both were charged with various drug possession and trafficking charges, Cheek said. During a hearing last week, Borja’s bond was reduced to $20,000. Macedonio’s bond was set at $1 million due to previous immigration problems. It also remains unclear what role the Immigration and Naturalization Service may play in the case. Officers at the North Wilkesboro Police Department seem particularly disturbed by the arrest of the boy, who they described as “streetwise.”

“It’s a sad state of affairs,” said Police Chief Randy Rhodes. “Anytime you have someone that age doing these things and doing them so well, it really says there’s something wrong with our society. That tells me parents should pay more attention to their children and their activities.” Det. Ann Williams, a veteran DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer, has worked with North Wilkesboro’s youths for years — including the 14-year-old. “I feel sorry for a lot of them,” Williams said. “I charged the same boy with obtaining property by false pretense a while back. He and another boy were out collecting money from people, saying they were doing it for someone who was sick. They had collected $8 or $9 by the time we got to them.”

Williams said she has seen others of her former DARE students get in trouble with the law. “Most of it’s been breaking and entering and stuff like that,” she said. It’s hard to say why some children can be reached and others can’t, Williams added. “I believe everything starts at home with the parents,” she said. “If something is bad at home, I don’t believe they have much of a chance.” Williams continued, saying, “Some learn from their mistakes. I arrested one that I think will go on and do very well. But there are others that I think we’ll be putting in jail as adults. A lot of times they just get with the wrong people and that’s why they do the things they do.” For a youth to be tried as an adult, a district court judge must first issue an order, binding the offender over to superior court to be tried in this manner. Michael Helms, senior resident superior court judge for the 23^rd Judicial District (which includes Wilkes) said he wasn’t familiar with the case involving the Hispanic boy.

It is rare, however, for youths the boy’s age to be tried as adults. Typically the cases where youths face adult punishment involve violent crimes, such as murder, Helms said. “In my fives years on the superior court bench, I haven’t seen it,” he said.

 

Wilkes Quilters drawing attention

Show set for this weekend

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

In the five years since the Wilkes County Quilters Guild formed, the group has attracted plenty of attention.

With the guild’s annual show set for Friday and Saturday, people from across the country have show interest in what the Wilkes members are doing. Joan Scorof, co-chairman of Wilkes Quilts 2003, which will be held at the Wilkesboro Civic Center, expects more than 100 guild-made quilts to be on display. There are 55 members in the Wilkes County Quilters Guild. Scorof, a past president of the group, says events like the upcoming show help boost interest and membership. “We’ve drawn the attention of people who already know how to quilt and those who want to learn how,” Scorof said. “It’s more enjoyable to share your work with other people who enjoy it.” Guild members have been busy promoting the upcoming show. Bright pink flyers have been left as far away as the North Carolina Welcome Center south of Charlotte, Kentucky and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The show has also been listed in the calendar of events in several national quilting magazines. “We’re expecting bunches of people,” Scorof said. “The community will benefit from the people coming here for this show.” Although quilting is the fabric that holds the group together, their mission is more than simple sewing. To date, Scorof said, guild members have donated about 240 quilts to charitable organizations in Wilkes — mostly baby quilts. One guild member, Alta Jones, has also knitted dozens of pairs of baby booties. Members have also made walker bags for senior citizens, she said. The money raised from quilt shows goes to purchase materials for the baby quilts and walker bags, Scorof added.

These funds are raised from sells at boutiques, which are at each show. There homemade items such as small folded fabric Christmas trees, tote bags, cushions, pillow slips, needle cases, small wall hangings, quilting books, magazines on quilting and needle art crafts, Santa Claus figures and other items are sold. Scorof said the community has responded favorably to the group. “A remark was made once that, ‘If you want something done, call the Quilters Guild,’” she said. The guild holds exhibits throughout the year. This year those have included displays of finely made quilts at Benton Hall, both Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro town halls and the Wilkes County Public Library. Other exhibits have been at Benton Hall during Dooley, North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro town halls, the Wilkes County Public Library. The group also plans to exhibit pieces of work at the Wilkes Art Gallery later this month as a part of the Cloth and Clay exhibit. Scorof said that the quilts will serve as multicolored backdrops for the Seagrove pottery, which will also be displayed. During the annual show at the Wilkesboro Civic Center, Scorof there will be a fashion show of “wearable art,” Scorof said. “All of these will be items made by guild members. They will be modeled by guild members and members of the community.”

Exhibits at the show will include dolls, tote bags, baby quilts. There will also be several silent auction items. Entries in the Red, White and Blue Challenge (a contest among guild members, where they used red, white and blue materials to make small wall hangings) will also be on display. The winner of the contest will be named this weekend along with the presentation of viewers’ choice awards for quilts and wall hangings. An “Opportunity Quilt,” which is a churn dash pattern, will also be given to the person holding the lucky ticket. “I think it’s going to be a super show,” Scorof said. “It’s going to be a fantastic display of variety. We invite the community to come and join us in this celebration of quilting.” For more information call Joan Scorof at 984-4008.

 

Wilkes School’s public relations specialist knows the system

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Laura Papsun wants Wilkes residents to be more aware of what’s going on with their children’s education.

As Wilkes County Schools’ public relations specialist, she’s off to a good start. Papsun hit the ground running when she started the job on July 1. She attends school board meetings, visits schools and strives to become more familiar with the needs of teachers and students. Part of that she already knows, having taught seventh and eighth grade language arts and social studies. “I believe that brings credibility to the job,” Papsun said. “I know what teachers and students go through on a day-to-day basis.” She also knows the “buzz words” and acronyms commonly used by educators. “I can help decipher that information and help the public understand better what we do.”

A big part of Papsun’s job is working with the media. As a former newspaper reporter (with the Reidsville Review), she knows what editors look for in a news release and can identify with deadlines. The ideology behind Papsun’s position is not new. She replaces Robert Brown, who recently retired from Wilkes County Schools. But, the job has been redefined and revamped, putting Papsun more on the front lines with the public. She has been working with the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce in its Wilkes Leadership Program. So far, that work has mostly dealt with helping shape an upcoming public relations campaign, which will use billboards to spotlight various successful graduates of Wilkes schools. The goal of the campaign is to inspire community youths and increase Wilkes graduation rates, Papsun said.

She’s also been working with United Way of Wilkes, putting together media packets and becoming more familiar with the organization’s agencies. Aside from getting information to area newspapers, Papsun also helped devise a weekly radio program on WKBC AM. The “In the Classroom” program is hosted by radio personality Steve Handy and features someone from Wilkes schools each Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

“I want the community to have a sense of ownership in our schools,” she said. A Wilkes native, Papsun graduated from North Wilkes High School. Having moved away, she said it’s been interesting to become reacquainted with her home county. That’s particularly true when meeting former teachers and principals, she said, “It’s been a unique experience redefining our relationships.” When asked what’s been the most challenging part of the job, Papsun stopped to think. “That’s a hard questions,” she said. “I’ve just really enjoyed everything I’ve do so far. All of it has been an exciting challenge.”