Warrants issued in shooting

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

The man shot in the much talked-about Sunday night shooting at Walmart appears to be recovering.

Jesse Richard Gilmore Holt, 22, of Dehart Road, North Wilkesboro, who was shot in the upper torso in an incident that occurred near the electronics department of the store at 7:29 p.m. Sunday, was released from the hospital several hours after the shooting, according to Wilkesboro Police Major Steve Dowell.

On Monday evening, warrants were issued for Franklin Jerome Carlton, Jr. of Moravian Falls, for assault with deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, possession of firearm by felon, carrying a concealed weapon, and discharging a weapon within city limits, Dowell said.

Franklin Jerome Carlton Jr. turned himself into Wilkesboro authorities Tuesday evening at the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office Intake Center . He was processed and placed under a $50,000 bond before being taken to the Wilkes County Jail pending court appearances.

 

According to witnesses, one shot was fired during the incident. After Holt was hit, he fell to the floor. He was first taken to Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro then to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

 

 

 

From Woodstock to Wilkes

Hendrix percussionist recalls musical era

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

August 1969, the Summer of Love.

Woodstock – 400,000 people. The last act of the iconic festival prepares to perform.

Jimi Hendrix, bends and shakes the strings of his white Fender Stratocaster. His delivery of now classic songs, like Purple Haze, Voodoo Child and the instantly famous and controversial version of the Star Spangled Banner carried listeners into a new, unexplored realm of musical experience.

Hendrix’s band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, were on the canopied stage, too. His longtime drummer Mitch Mitchell behind the kit, thrashing. Billy Cox was on bass; Larry Lee on rhythm guitar and Jerry Velez and Juma Sultan on percussions.

This was to become one of the most memorable moments in rock and roll history.

***

The offices of The Record and Thursday Printing reminds one more of an antique store or curiosity shop than a newspaper office or print shop. It draws many unsuspecting, unknowing visitors off Main Street in North Wilkesboro just to look around.

On Saturday afternoon, one such visitor walked through the door. He wasn’t here long before being asked where he was from and what brought him to Wilkes.

Music he said.

As the man told about his musical background, various well known acts like Country Joe and the Fish, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Paul Butterfield came up. He had either known or played music with them or both.

But all those musical endeavors were trumped by one performance – that landmark rock memory.

The visitor was Juma Sultan – and he vividly remembers his friend, Jimi Hendrix.

***

Sultan, 68, of Woodstock, N.Y., was in Wilkes visiting his musician friend Thom Buchanan. The two were scheduled to play spiritual music at the Bassment Jazz Club in North Wilkesboro and at Morning Star Church. The two have been performing for some time in the band Suns of Thunder. Buchanan moved here from Florida a couple of years ago and helps oversee the music at Morning Star Church.

And, this wasn’t a one time trip to Wilkes for Sultan. He plans to return soon and play more music with Buchanan.

“Our vision is to settle in one spot and work on music,” he said.

When asked to detail his life in music, Sultan told how he started playing baritone horn when he was in the second grade. He later began playing upright bass, African percussion instruments and the flute.

“I was influenced during my college years by folk music,” Sultan said. “I played guitar and sang the blues the whole time I was going to UCLA.”

Eventually he was introduced to jazz and that’s when he started playing upright bass. But, his prowess with such mixture of instruments opened plenty of doors. He knew Janice Joplin, Jerry Garcia and other members of the Grateful Dead and many others.

But the friendship he came to form with Hendrix was truly a strong one, he said.

“I was familiar with Jimi after he came from Seattle,” Sultan said. “That was after he played with Little Richard and the Isley Brothers.”

The two met in New York before Hendrix shook up things in the Greenwich Village music scene and before the guitar great traveled to England where he was “discovered” by the music industry.

Hendrix’s initial band – a three-piece - was the Jimi Hendrix Experience – which included Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding on bass. But, eventually Hendrix’s constant musical evolution drew him to other various lineups.

When asked what it was like to play music with Hendrix, Sultan said, “In music you have innovators and you have imitators. Jimi was at the forefront of creating new forms in the expression of music. Coming from a jazz background, I could really appreciate playing with him. It was just a wonderful experience in growth all in the concept of extending perimeters. At that time, with all the aspects of our lives, we were reaching for higher ground.”

When Hendrix unsuspectingly died in London in September of 1970, Sultan was sharing a New York apartment with the musician. News of his death deeply troubled Sultan.

“He was my friend,” he said.

But Sultan smiled when the discussion returned to that day at Woodstock.

“It was an experience of a lifetime,” he said. “Having the experience of playing in front of that many people …there was nothing like the massiveness of reception. It was a like a sea of people.”

Then pausing, he smiled again, and said, “To have the opportunity to be the final act at an event like is just beyond description. I can’t express how it felt. The experience was beyond description.”

 

 

 

Tri-County Heart of a Sportsman benefit banquet held

By REBECCA TRIPLETT-JOHNSON

For The Record

The Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and the Tri-County Ridge Runners chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) presented a night of food, fun and fellowship while raising funds and awareness for the Wheelin' Sportsman Program.

Keith Hutchison, church member and NWTF chapter member, was the catalyst for the event that was held at the Ronda-Clingman Community Center.  Hutchison and fellow church members prepared roast beef and all the trimmings for the more than 330 guests who attended the Saturday night event.

Some of the biggest names in hunting and outdoor sports showcased the event.  Speakers included Wilkes County's own Grand National Turkey Calling Champion, Mitchell Johnston; Alex Rutledge, who has appeared on ESPN and The Outdoor Channel and member of Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame [LOHM]; Eddie Salter, LOHM member, who has appeared on ESPN, ABC's 20/20 and the Outdoor Channel; Bryan Sloan, NWTF World Wild Turkey Still Target Champion and Lee Freeman, NWTF chapter president.

Freeman, and regional director, Scott Martin, worked with Hutchison in planning the event which raised $7500.00 for the Wheelin' Sportsman Program [WSP]. The WSP, a division of the NWTF, provides people with disabilities the opportunity to become educated on outdoor sports and enables them to participate in outdoor activities when coupled with able partners.

Upon hearing of the WSP, Southern Style Taxidermy of Hays donated services for free mounting of one of last year's participant's trophy as well as discounts for all WSP customers.  Buddy Mastin of Mastin Archery donated the form for the mount.

 A silent auction was held along with multiple raffles.  Donavan Beavers was winner of a Youth Hunt give away with personal guide, Mitchell Johnson.  The hunt will take place on April 3.

 "Last night was an unforgettable experience for everyone," said Hutchison. "It might possibly be the only time that many were able to see such an outstanding gathering of hunting and outdoorsman legends while helping to raise awareness and money for such a worthwhile cause.  We appreciate all of the hard work and donations that came together to make this event a success." 

Sponsors included  Koltz Plumbing, D&D Service, Happy Tails Grooming, Mike's Outdoors, Justin White and Kevin Hawks. Door prize donors included Accell Tire, Hamby's Taxedermy, Tony Harris Calls and ASAT Cammo.

 For more information on the NTWF and Wheelin' Sportsmen contact 1-800-THE-NTWF, www.NWTF.org, www.wheelinsportsmen.org.

 

 

 

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Community

 

Springfield Baptist Church on Cabin Creek Road in Hays will have a signing at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 21 featuring The Servants. All are welcome.

 

The Humane Society of Wilkes will hold a Pet Adoption Fair at Hollywood Video, 1902 W US Highway 421, Wilkesboro, on Saturday, March 20th from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm.  Dogs, puppies, cats and kittens will be available for adoption.  Adoption fees include vet exam, worming, rabies shot and spay or neuter.  Pet related items will be for sale.  For more information, visit www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org or call 336-984-0227. (WEATHER PERMITTING!) 

 

The Humane Society of Wilkes offers a low cost Spay/Neuter Clinic through the SNIP Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic in Hickory NC. Your pet will be transported from the Wilkes County Animal Control location to the clinic, have their surgery, be monitored overnight and returned the next day. Pre-registration is required. Registration is held every Tuesday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at the Wilkes County Regional Library. Payment for services is due at registration. Please call 336-984-0227 if you have questions.

 

The Wilkes Toastmasters will meet each Thursday at 6:00 pm at the Addison Inn in Wilkesboro. All local residents are invited to attend and learn what Toastmasters is all about.  For additional information, email WilkesToastmasters@gmail.com.

 

Spring cleaning? Donate those items to the annual VFW Yard Sale.  Receiving donations at the VFW Hall on the following dates and times: Thursday, March 25 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; Friday, March 26, the same hours, Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.; Monday, March 29 from 10 a.m. until 6 and Tuesday, March 30, the same hours, and Wednesday, March 31 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.  Sale dates are Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3.

 

The 5^th Annual INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL for Central District families from around the world will be held in the Central Wilkes Middle School Cafeteria on Sunday, March 28, 2010 from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm.   This year’s festival will include door prizes, games for the children, and a talent show.  Students must be accompanied by parents.  Parents need to bring covered dishes of food- enough for their family and to share.  The talent show will begin promptly at 3:00 pm.  Join us in the FREE food (while it lasts) and fun activities.  Come and meet new people from your own culture and cultures from around the world.  For questions, donations, or comments, E-mail baileyge@wilkes.k12.nc.us

 

An auction and bingo benefit will be held for Mikki Bryan at East Wilkes High School on Saturday, March 20 at 5 p.m.  All proceeds go to the family of Mikki Bryan who has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease.)  Donations may also be made to any State Employees Credit Union. For more information, call Melanie at 336.981.4284.

 

Moravian Falls Cemetery will have a cleanup/decoration day on Saturday, March 27 at 1 p.m. Out-dated flowers will be removed at this time, and donations for extra flowers will be accepted for the undecorated graves. Donations will also be accepted for the up-keep of the grounds. Inclement weather date is April 3.

 

Hilltop Baptist Church will have a Spring Revival beginning on Monday, April 5 through Wednesday, April 7. Prayer room opens at 7:15 and services begin at 7:30 each night.  Rev. Gary Miller will be the guest speaker. Special singing will be featured nightly. The church is located at 161 Fairplains Road (beside CVS Pharmacy) in North Wilkesboro.  Are all invited to attend.

 

You are invited to hear “Deliverance” in concert on Sunday night, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Millers Creek.  Pastor Keith Lyon and the church family would like to invite everyone to attend.