Lenna Harris Lewis, 72, lived the life of a Good Samaritan. That’s how she died, caring for her sickly brother at his North Wilkesboro home last week. A hail of 9-mm pistol bullets reportedly fired by her brother’s foster son killed Lewis. Her sister, Rhoda Rouseau, 86, was wounded in the chest and hand during the shooting spree. James Lewis Millsaps, 41, of 152 Mimosa Lane, North Wilkesboro, was charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident. Wilkes County sheriff’s deputies arrested the man near his foster father’s home near N.C. 115 shortly after the Thursday morning shooting.

   On Monday, Rouseau was listed in critical condition at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Lewis’ family gathered to grieve at her home on Friday. Her minister, Bishop Cecil Reid, was there to comfort them. Reid called Lewis a long time friend. “She was an extraordinary person.” Lewis’ faith was a major part of her life, Reid said. In 1964, she was one of the founding members of the Wings of Healing Tabernacle on N.C. 115. There, Lewis was an associate minister, secretary-treasurer, president of the missionary department and a choir member. Reid described Lewis as a caring person “who was always trying to help everyone.” That included her elderly brother, Harold Harris. Lewis and Rouseau had gone to Harris’ home to help tend to him on Thursday morning. Harris had recently been discharged from a Veteran’s Administration hospital, then a nursing home.

   Reid said Millsaps apparently resented the women’s help. The morning of the shootings, Lewis had gone into her brother’s home and gotten him up. “They needed some trash bags,” Reid said. “A nephew was supposed to have gone to the store to pick some up. Mrs. Lewis said she had some in the car and went out to get them.” As she did, Millsaps reportedly approached her from behind. “He said, ‘Everybody’s going to die,’” Reid said. Lewis tried reasoning with Millsaps, according to Reid. “She pleaded with him, but he fired on her anyway,” he said. Millsaps reportedly headed into the house.

   Harris was sitting in a wheelchair when he heard the gunshots. Then he saw his sister fall to the floor. “He pointed the gun at me,” Harris said during a Friday evening interview. “When he did that, I said, ‘Fire it.’ He said, ‘I can’t do it.’” Harris said that Millsaps was 3 when he came to live with his family. “We did everything we could for that boy,” he said. “He did a bad thing. He’s ruined his life forever.” Wednesday, Lewis’ family and friends planned to assemble at the church she helped start for a final farewell. For her, the tabernacle was an inspiration. It was also a springboard for missionary trips to Israel, Barbados, Europe and Hawaii. Those trips personified what Lewis was all about, Reid said. “She was a missionary at heart,” he said. “She was just a good person.”

   How the town should purchase its gasoline has fueled controversy between North Wilkesboro commissioners. A proposition from Fuelman, a nationwide fuel vender that monitors sales with detailed computer reports, is at the center of the debate. Some commissioners say a switch would hurt the profit margin for local gas stations and take sales away from local fuel distributors. Others contend that promised savings should be enough to effect the switch. Some sources say that politics is behind the proposed. The town currently buys gasoline and other fuels from local service stations. Commissioners began contemplating a new system while searching for savings in fuel expenses. Fuelman officials say their system can save the town at least 10 percent on its fuel cost. That could mean savings of $6,000 to $8,000 annually, says Commissioner Philip Keener. Last month the town board voted to give Fuelman a 90-day trial to analyze its savings. North Wilkesboro was ready to convert to Fuelman last week. The company had issued credit cards for town employees and the system was in place at one gas station inside town limits. During a meeting last Tuesday night, however, the decision was rescinded with a 3-2 vote.

   Commissioners Mary Cashion, Faye Cox and Steve Foster voted to delay the conversion. They say they want more in-town stations to have a chance to go on-line with Fuelman before a change is made. “We decided to table this thing for a while to get more stations involved,” Cashion said. “I hadn’t really studied this thing,” Cox said. “As it turned out, only one station in city limits was available. Another was about seven miles out of town. I felt like we wouldn’t be saving a lot of money if we had to go that far to buy gas.” Foster, the newest member of the town board, and the lone Republican commissioner, made a motion to postpone the switch. Fuelman representatives were given a “lead” on at least one other station inside town, which apparently wasn’t acted upon, Foster added. “They (employees at the gas station) tried to get in touch with people at Fuelman. As of our last meeting, they hadn’t got back with them,” Foster said. “That just tells me they don’t want our business too bad.” Cashion, Cox and Foster say they would have no problem with the fuel purchasing conversion if more North Wilkesboro gas stations become Fuelman compatible. That entails installation of computers at station pumps.

   Commissioners Keener and Joe Ware were ready to convert to the system last week. They, like the other three commissioners, say they want to do as much business as possible with town taxpayers. But, “This was an opportunity to save the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money,” Ware said. Ware was quick to add that he understands the sentiments of other commissioners. “I think they were a little concerned that Fuelman didn’t move quick enough. But a lot of this happened over Christmas.” Town Manager Gail Harris and her staff had worked to effect the change in time for last week’s meeting. “Gail had worked so hard on this and we didn’t even give it a chance…I feel kind of bad about that,” Ware said. Fuelman did get a short-lived test. “We used it one day and the reports were great,” Harris said. “There were more details on the report. It lists the type of vehicle, the person driving and the amount of fuel purchased.” Fuelman reports also give information on gas mileage of each vehicle and when it is due servicing, she said.

   No contract is needed to use the company, Keener said. “It doesn’t cost the town anything.” Detailed data on vehicle use isn’t the only thing attractive about Fuelman. Subscribers to the service can purchase fuel at any station set up with company. A conversion to Fuelman would eliminate some paperwork for town employees. The company also applies for returns on federal and state taxes paid on fuels. The system also forbids the purchase of non-vehicle-related items like, soft drinks, cigarettes and food. Although commissioners say there have been no reports of abuse to the current system, they agree Fuelman could decrease the chance of that occurring. Most town fuel is bought at local BP stations. The town supplies credit cards to those stations. Town vehicles frequent North Wilkesboro BP, at the corner of 9th and D streets. Police cars, trash trucks and pickups can be seen filling up there often. Junior Bauguess, the manager of the station, says a switch to Fuelman would hurt his business. Bauguess said Fuelman would pay his distributor, Tar Heel Oil of North Wilkesboro, 3.5 cents per gallon for selling fuel on its system. “We’d have to split that,” Bauguess said. “There’s no money in it. You’d have to pump a $1,000-worth of gas to make $10. It wouldn’t be worth pumping it for that.” Bauguess said he doesn’t want his station to go on-line with Fuelman. “I think it’s wrong. It’s taking money out of the town.” Political revenge, not savings, is the reason some commissioners want to make the change, Bauguess said. “I think it’s political,” Bauguess said. “What else can it be?” Bauguess said some commissioners are “mad at me” because of whom he supported in the November elections. He declined to say whom he supported, but said, “I have campaigned for people. Mostly, I’ve supported Democrats.” Other sources say that commissioners changed their minds because Bauguess has political clout and they don’t want to hurt his business.

   Commissioners deny this. “There’s nothing political to this,” Cashion said. “Is this political? No,” Foster said. “Fuelman is just not right for this town. We live and work in North Wilkesboro and our money needs to stay here.” Cox said she has no “proof” that political agendas are at play regarding the issue. “I wouldn’t say that. Not really.” She added that Bauguess has been “very accommodating to the town. He’s opened up his station at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning for us when we’ve needed him.” Police Chief David Pendry said his officers buy 50- to 60-percent of their fuel at Bauguess’ station. He says he tries to split up the fuel purchasing among stations around town. Pendry declined to say if he thought politics was involved in the Fuelman proposal. Ted Hall, owner of Tar Heel Oil, the local BP distributor, also steered clear of political speculations. “I don’t want to get involved in that,” he said. Hall said he plans to meet with Fuelman representatives from the regional franchise in Gastonia this week about the possibility of hooking onto their system. He said profit margins should also be discussed then.

   “I think the town needs to do whatever they think is best for the town,” Hall said. “If Fuelman is the best deal for them, that’s what they should go with.” Commissioner Cashion’s daughter-in-law is a part owner of Tar Heel Oil. North Wilkesboro Town Attorney John Logsdon says that connection represents no conflict of interest as long as Commissioner Cashion does not directly profit from the fuel sales. When asked, Cashion said, “Absolutely not. I don’t benefit from it all. I don’t even get a family discount.” Wilkes County Government switched to Fuelman in September. The county, however, still uses its own gas pumps. County Manager Gary Page said Y2K problems with fuel monitoring software helped prompt the change. “We still use our tanks, but it’s Fuelman’s responsibility, when the tanks get low, to fill them up,” he said. The Town of Wilkesboro and Wilkes Transportation Authority also use the county tanks, Page said. Fuelman computers monitor fuel levels in the tanks, Page added. County employees can also use Fuelman cards to purchase gas at any station on-line with the service. “If a deputy needs to go to Raleigh, for example, and he needs to get fuel, there are a lot of places he can stop and fill up.” North Wilkesboro had also considered installing its own pumps. After Harris found out it could cost up to $80,000, she asked Page if North Wilkesboro could also use the county pumps. That’s when Page told her about the Fuelman system. Fuelman is headquartered in New Orleans. As of last week, 661 stations in 229 North Carolina cities and towns were on line with the company. Barbara Mitchell, Fuelman fleet consultant for western North Carolina, is hopeful that North Wilkesboro will be added to the list. “We really want North Wilkesboro’s business,” she said Tuesday. “We’re trying to meet the town’s criteria.” Ware says he believes the new system would be good for the town. “I really and truly believe if we give it a shot we’d be pleased with it,” he said.

Chair bottoming with Lyle Wheeler Monday, January 24, 1 - 4 PM. $10 per person. Call Wilkes Senior Center at 670-2644 to register.

Free help with tax forms for all seniors provided through AARP. Call Wilkes Senior Center at 670-2644 for more information.

January Tutor Training Session - Volunteers of Wilkes Literacy Offices will be holding evening classes Thursday, January 20, Tuesday, January 25 and Thursday, January 27 at 6:30 PM to 9 PM to train to help teach people whose basic skills are below par and teach English as a second language. Anyone who can read, has patience, and is available 1 or 2 hours per week, call for more information at 336-838-8238. All four classes are required for certification. Training and all books are free. There is no charge. Light refreshments will be served.

The Libertarian Party, Regional Group, will meet 7 PM, Jan. 20 at Ryan’s Steak House. The guest speaker will be Essie Hayes. Libertarian meetings are open to the public. For more information contact: Pat Kingsbury (336) 838-1398 or Tomm Tomlinson (336) 667-2009.

CC Wright Fun Times will be February 15 at 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the Media Center. Please bring your child’s birth certificate, Social Security number and shot records. This is for any child who will be five by October 16, 2000.

There will be a Southern Gospel Concert at the Power Outreach Christian Center on the Balls Mill Rd. Sunday, January 30 at 3 p.m. The Anointed Voices, The Griffins and the Missionaries will be the singers. Everyone is invited.

Fibromyalgia meeting for Jan. 25 is canceled. The next meeting will be Feb. 27. For more information call Ann at 667-1743.

Newcomers To Wilkes - Are you new to Wilkes County? Newcomers To Wilkes is having a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Newcomers To Wilkes is a group established to introduce newcomers to each other and to provide information on Wilkes County. We will be touring the new Wilkes County Library. We will meet first at Wilkesboro Baptist Church. A free nursery is provided for children up to 5 years of age. Please call 667-1271 by Monday, Jan. 24 to register for the nursery or for more information.

The Millennium Club will have its first meeting on January 29 at 2:30 PM at the Wilkes County Public Library. What do you do in the Millennium Club? 1. Have fun. 2. Make scrapbooks, take pictures, collect "stuff" that will go in a time capsule. Club members will decide when and how often to meet, choose what should be in the capsule and when it will be opened. This club is open to anyone aged 11 to 16. Call the Children's Room at 838-2818 for more information. First 50 club members to sign up on Jan. 29th will receive a Millennium Club book bag.

There will be a gospel singing at 421 Gospel Tabernacle on Fishing Creek Rd. Sunday morning at 11 AM, January 23. Singing will be Larry Burton from Winston-Salem.

Astronomy Club forming in Wilkes/ Surry area. No equipment or astronomy background necessary. All ages welcome. An organizational meeting will be held at a yet to be determined date in February. If interested, please contact Mark at 957-2139 for more information.

There will be a gospel singing and revival with the Easter Brothers Thursday-Sunday, January 20-23 at 7 PM at the Penticostal Church of Living God on Hwy 16 in Millers Creek. For more information call Roy Wyatt at 973-5321. Everyone welcome.