News bulletin

Rankin named new North Wilkesboro police chief

Joseph R. Rankin, Jr. has been chosen to be the next police chief for the Town of North Wilkesboro . Rankin will serve as Interim Chief until Chief Randy Rhodes ' retirement in May..

Rankin has been in law enforcement for more than 28 years; with 25 of those years being stationed in Wilkes County with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Town officials made the announcement on Friday afternoon.

He retired from the Highway Patrol in December 2009 as a Master Trooper. He has completed 3,545 training hours throughout his career and obtained an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. Mr. Rankin holds numerous certifications and has been a Basic Law Enforcement Training Instructor at Wilkes Community College since 1998.

 

 

MerleFest 2010 shaping up

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

MerleFest 2010 has promoters optimistic.

Ticket sales for the four-day Americana music event are looking good and several key acts are creating a buzz. The festival will be held April 29 through May 2 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro.

“Things are shaping up really good,” said Festival Director Ted Hagaman. “We’re pleased with how things seem to be looking. Everything is really falling into place and we are really encouraged.”

Some of the acts attracting attention at this year’s festival include Steve Martin, the Zac Brown Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Elvis Costello, the Avett Brothers, Little Feat and Taj Mahal.

MerleFest 2010 is presented by Lowe’s.

An array of other artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of “traditional-plus” music—a term Doc coined to describe the unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, “plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.”

Musical acts will include: Richard Watson, Susana and Timmy Abell, Alberti Flea Circus, Jim Avett , Balsam Range, Shana Banana , The Banknotes, Bearfoot, The Belleville Outfit, Roy Book Binder, Brave Combo, Buffalo Barfield, Sam Bush Band, Cadillac Sky, T. Michael Coleman, John Cowan Band, Dailey & Vincent, Dehlia Low, Donna The Buffalo, Jerry Douglas, The Duhks, Eleanor Ellis, Alice Gerrard, The Gibson Brothers, Great Big Sea, The Greencards, Buddy Greene, Mitch Greenhill, George Hamilton IV, John Hammond, Wayne, Henderson, David Holt, Phil Jamison, Jeni & Billy, The Kruger Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, Jack Lawrence, The Lee Boys, Jeff Little, The Local Boys, The Lovell Sisters, Harry Manx, Bill Mathis, Andy May, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Nation Beat, The Neighbors, Ben Prestage, Missy Raines and The New Hip, Red Molly, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan,  Scythian, Anne and Pete Sibley, Joe Smothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tut Taylor, Happy Traum, The Travelin’ McCourys, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, The Waybacks, Lightnin’ Wells, Pete and Joan Wernick , Shannon Whitworth, The Wilders, Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society, Tony Williamson, W.P.A., Wylie and The Wild West and the Zephyr Lightning Bolts.

Last week, festival producers announced the additions of Dierks Bentley featuring the Travelin’ McCourys and Joey + Rory to the lineup for Friday night, April 30.  The award-winning country chart-topper Bentley will perform with the Travelin’ McCourys on the Watson Stage, and acclaimed husband-wife duo Joey + Rory will perform on the Cabin Stage.

“We look forward to welcoming Dierks and Joey + Rory to their first MerleFest performances,” Hagaman said, “and The Travelin’ McCourys have been a favorite here for several years.  I am continually impressed with the great variety of talent that fills all of the MerleFest stages. There’s truly something here for all music fans.”

In addition to providing the full line-up, the festival’s website, www.merlefest.org, is a complete source of information on all aspects of the event. Festival fans are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the MerleFest e-newsletter or register as a volunteer. Fans can also follow the latest MerleFest developments on Facebook and Twitter.

Ticket purchases can be made on the web at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857.

 

It’s tick time

County and state health officials urge caution as spring arrives

With spring here, folks are spending more time outdoors.

But, there are risks.

There have already been recently confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the state – one in Wilkes County. The ailment is spread via tick bites.

Beth Lovette, director of the Wilkes County Health Department, and State Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies, urge residents to take precautions to stave off the disease.

From Raleigh this week, Wake County Human Services and N.C. Division of Public Health surveillance investigations have confirmed that two residents of Wake County were diagnosed in 2009 with laboratory-confirmed early Lyme disease, with no reported history of travel out of the county in the month before they became ill.   Four other counties, Wilkes, Wilson, Pitt, and Carteret, also reported one case each of Lyme disease in 2009 in patients who had not traveled out of their county in the month before becoming ill.

 “We want to take this opportunity to continue to encourage clinicians in North Carolina to consider the diagnosis of Lyme disease, and to test and treat presumptively patients presenting with signs and symptoms compatible with Lyme disease, regardless of county of residence and of travel history,” said Dr. Davies.

Lyme’s Disease presents as a rash that is characterized by a bull’s-eye type lesion(s).  Other symptoms may include body aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, and joint and muscle pain.  These symptoms may present weeks to months after the lesions have appeared.  Diagnosis of Lyme’s Disease can be made by a physician’s examination and blood work.  Lyme’s Disease is usually thought to be carried by a small type of tick known as a deer tick.  “It is very important that you check yourself and your children, especially after you have been outside where ticks are enjoying the warm weather as well,” said Wilkes Health Director, Beth Lovette. Treatment for Lyme’s Disease is a simple antibiotic prescribed by a physician.

Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever is another common tick borne illness that is seen here in North Carolina.  Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, fatigue, deep muscle pain, and a severe headache.  Patients with RMSF may or may not have a rash.  If a rash appears, it will normally begin on the palms of the hands and/or the bottoms of the feet.  Symptoms may occur three to thirteen days after contact with the tick.  Physicians can diagnose RMSF through lab work and a physical examination.  In rare occasions, the physician may choose to do a skin biopsy.  North Carolina and Oklahoma have the highest number of incidents of RMSF per season.  Ticks that cause RMSF are a type of dog tick. Treatment for RMSF is an antibiotic that is prescribed by a physician. 

Lovette and Davies urge residents to take the following steps to reduce the likelihood of infection with these diseases:

Use insect repellent containing 20 percent to 30 percent DEET. Follow package instructions. Do not apply under clothing or to children under two months of age;

Apply permethrin to clothing per package instructions;

Wear light-colored clothing and tuck long pants into the socks to help keep them off of your skin. Also, wear close-toed shoes;

Do thorough tick checks of yourself, your children and pets. Completely remove any ticks found. Ticks attached to skin for less than 24 hours are unlikely to transmit Lyme disease;

Research has found that bathing within two hours after being exposed to tick habitat may also reduce the risk of Lyme disease transmission.

The following outlines the proper way to remove a tick:

Using tweezers, grasp the tick mouthparts as close to the skin as possible, and pull the tick out with steady pressure. Do not yank the tick out.

Wash the area with soap and water, then dry and apply a topical antiseptic.

Do not use a hot match, nail polish remover, petroleum jelly or other substances to remove ticks.

Mark the spot where the tick was removed and mark the date on your calendar. Watch during the next several weeks for early signs of illness.

Consider keeping the tick to be able to show your physician in the event that you start to become ill.

Contact your physician if you feel you are developing early symptoms of a tickborne illness.

Landscape management is another cure for avoiding such ailments.

Residents should

Keep grass mowed. Remove leaf litter, brush, and tall weeds from around the home and at the lawn’s edge.

Use plantings that do not attract deer or exclude deer through various types of fencing.

Pet owners should minimize time that dogs and cats spend outdoors and have access to areas with leaf litter, brush, and tall weeds. This may help reduce the number of ticks brought back into the home.

 

 

 

 

 

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Community Happenings

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

Union United Methodist Church, located above the Animal Hospital on the left, will sponsor a chickenque on Saturday, March 27 beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Each plate consists of BBQ Chicken, slaw, green beans, roll and homemade pound cake.  Plates are $7.00 each. Curbside will be provided.