Forum is Thursday for sheriff candidates

The Record will host a Wilkes County sheriff candidates’ forum on Thursday, April 15.

The event will start at 6 p.m. at the upper level of the Wilkes County Public Library on 10^th Street in North Wilkesboro.

The six candidates who have filed to run for the post – Republicans Chris Shew, Zach Henderson, Sharon Call-Diaz, Tony R. Combs, Willie Tharpe and Democrat David Pendry - will participate.

Each candidate will be allowed a two-minute opening statement and a two-minute closing statement. Questions asked of the candidates during the forum will be submitted by readers of The Record. These questions will be drawn at random by WKBC Radio News Director Ed Racey, who will serve as moderator.

Candidates will be limited to one minute per answer.  Each candidate will have a chance to answer each question. No one-candidate questions will be allowed in the forum and no candidates will see the questions prior to the event. The order in which responses are given will be rotated.

Any one who has questions they would like to submit for the forum can email them to lankford@therecordofwilkes.com, fax them to 336-667-6694 or call Jerry Lankford at 336-667-0134.

 

Event set for county commissioner candidates

Wilkes Vision 20/20 is hosting a Candidate’s Forum at the Wilkes Heritage Museum on Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.

All candidates for the position of county commissioner, have been invited to participate in this free public event

The forum’s moderator, Bill Hurd, will ask each candidate to respond to three to four questions developed by public service employees and members of Wilkes Vision 20/20.

Candidates will have three minutes to respond to each question, and time will be monitored and communicated. The following Wilkes Vision 20/20 topics will be the focus of the event: poverty/unemployment, education, county fund balance, health and wellness, affordable housing, and land preservation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W. Kerr Scott Reservoir: Before and After

By GRETTA A. ELLER

West Wilkes High School

Through the past two years I have been conducting extensive research on the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and its surrounding properties.

 I have analyzed and reviewed the archaeological documentation for the reservoir and river basin conducted by the UNC anthropology department in the mid 1900’s along with other various independent archaeological teams. My research has covered years ranging from the late 1800’s pre flood to the present day (2010) and the hydro-electric plans for the current dam. The flood was one of the mountains most devastating natural disasters. The floods plagued the southeastern mountain of the United States for many years. The information included below has been taken from memories of the citizens of Wilkes, news papers, and several other sources.

Wilkes County is riddled with small creeks and streams that run under roads, round properties, and most of them eventually run into the Yadkin River. Three major streams in various spots in Wilkes are the Reddies River, Roaring River and Mulberry Creek. These rather large streams all flow in to the Yadkin River causing common flash flooding in the spring months due to the fair amount of precipitations we, in Wilkes, are use to. In late July of 1916, a catastrophic flood took place due to the immense amount of rail that fell as a result of the continuous cycles of tropical storms off the Atlantic and Gulf coast. The second major flood in Wilkes county history came along in the year 1940. This flood was cause by many smaller events such as runoff from heavy snow melting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and that following spring brought bad storms and heavy rains. Seeing that the town of North Wilkesboro had only been established since March 4, 1891, a disaster of this scale was unheard of.  After the 1916 and the 1940 floods hit North Wilkesboro with such a force, people must have thought it to be the end of the then young town of North Wilkesboro, and possibly the whole county economically.

Industrial plants and agricultural crops were extensively damaged and several bridges were swept away in the flood. The crops along the Yadkin River were totally submerged underwater and once the water subsided the sand washed on the banks rendered parts of the land completely useless for farming or commercial development. One railroad in particular that’s usual path traveled through Wilkes was heavily damaged during the flood. Several railroad cars in North Wilkesboro were lifted from their track and turned over. Aside from the damage to the rail cars, the residual debris left on the tracks took weeks to clear. It was estimated that the flood caused $5,000,000 in damages and over 150 homes businesses were lost.

After it was decided that a dam would be put in place to regulate the Yadkin River, then the county had to begin acquiring land for this project. The valley where the lake is now was previously a residential part of the Wilkesboro community. The land for the lake and reservoir was obtained through Eminent Domain. Eminent Domain is the power of the government to take private real or personal property for public use. This is justified by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  The Taking Clause in the Fifth Amendment says “No private property shall be taken for public use without just compensation.” The residents were compensated for their property and the land was cleared for construction. Two acts were passed allowing the dam to be built. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 allowed a dam to be built on the Yadkin River, but the Flood Control Act of 1946 put the project for the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in motion. Very few people notice the smaller dam built at the entrance to the greenway on D Street in North Wilkesboro. The Flood Control Act funded the project in 1960, construction started in 1962, and the Reservoir was completed and opened to the public in 1963.

The W. Kerr Scott Reservoir required a lot of litigation, but over all had a positive outcome. It is a major asset to Wilkes County. The Reservoir possesses so many purposes, such as water supply, wildlife preservation, and recreation. These purposes have become a crucial part of the Wilkes County economic status. Even the archaeological sites hold great historical value. The W. Kerr Scott Reservoir holds so much history and incredible facts that most Wilkes County natives will never know.

 

 

 

 

 

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Community Happenings

The Chapel Hill AME Zion Church will be holding a chicken-que at Memorial Park in North Wilkesboro from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, April 16. All plates are $6.

 

The annual Letter Carriers’ food drive will be held Saturday, May 8.  Put your nonperishable food items into a bag by your mailbox and they will be delivered to a local food bank.

 

Please join us at Baptist Home Church, Highway 18 North, for the Second Annual Gospel Music Benefit for the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council.  Date and time is May 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. with Phil Barker, The Servants Quartet and The Faith Trio. Refreshments will be available at half time.  There is no admittance charge, but everyone will be given the opportunity to make a donation.  Hope to see you there!

 

The Humane Society of Wilkes will hold a Pet Adoption Fair at the Ronda-Round-About Celebration, Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., highway 268-E in Ronda, NC.  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.

 

Faith Harvest Ministries will have a chicken-que at Memorial Park on Saturday, April 17. Pick up time for all pre-sold plates is from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

 

Wilkesboro United Methodist Church will sponsor pork BBQ on Friday, April 16 from 11:00-1:00. Carry out or dine in for $6.00.  Whole pork roasts will also be available at $4.50 per pound which requires a $25 deposit and the remainder to be paid at pick up. A pint of BBQ can be purchases for $6.00. Call 336-838-2921 to place an order.  Proceeds benefit pre and after school programs.

 

Revival services will be held at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Millers Creek beginning Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. each night.  Prayer room opens at 6:45. Brother Gary Byrd will be the guest preacher and special singing will be performed nightly. All are welcome.

 

Relay for Life Team, Circle of Friends, has planned a Game Night with door prizes and finger foods. There is no charge although donations will be accepted.  Event will be held April 17, 2010 at 6:30 pm at
Millers Creek United Methodist Church on Hwy l6. Also, a chicken salad croissant lunch (cost -$6) will be held April 23, 2010. Delivery is available upon request.  Place your order with Avante at 838-4141.  And lastly, a pancake breakfast will he held at Applebee's (cost- $7 per person, children under 6, $2) Tickets must be purchased before the day of the event on May 1, 2010 from 7-10 am. For more information about these events, contact the church at 838-8047.

There will be a Lia Sophia Jewelry Fundraising Benefit for American Cancer Society, Relay for Life will be held at the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse on Monday, April 19, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  Open to the Public. Door prizes and food will be available. 

 Wilkes Toastmasters is an interactive workshop to improve your communication and leadership skills.  Meetings are held every Thursday 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm at the Addison Inn on Hwy 421 N in Wilkesboro.  For additional information, email wilkestoastmasters@gmail.com or visit Toastmasters.org.

 

Take a Kid Fishing Day will be held on the premises of Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir on Saturday, April 17 from 1 until 3 p.m.  To register, call Chad Eller at 336-921-3390.  Space is limited for the first 100 children.  Registration ends April 10.  Bring rod and reel. Gear, bait, and refreshments will be provided.

More details can be found at www.friendsofthelake.org.

 

Wilkes 42 Order of the Eastern Star will hold a fundraiser Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee’s, Highway 421, on Saturday, April 17 from 7-10 a.m. Cost is $7.00 per person.  Come and enjoy a good breakfast!