Joe Anderson stared grimly at his grandson’s crypt last Friday afternoon. A shrine of sorts, which included a nativity scene, a tiny cedar tree, candles and other items, sat on flat blocks on the walkway in front of the child’s tomb at Mountlawn Memorial Park. The arrangement was there to honor Anderson’s grandson, William Joseph Anderson, 6, who died Nov. 30, 1999 after a long battled with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. Placing this and other arrangements is therapeutic for Anderson, 61, of Moravian Falls. “The people at Hospice said it would help me if I did little projects like this. I was really close to William.” But on Friday, things were awry at the Mountlawn mausoleum. Several ceramic angels, placed there by Anderson, had apparently been stolen earlier that morning. A residue of dried glue showed where the angels had been. Bending down to the arrangement, Anderson said, “I just don’t see how anyone can do this.” This wasn’t the first time angels have been taken from in front of the boy’s crypt, Anderson says. “They’ve taken 10 different angels,” he said. “It started right after we buried him.” The entire family is disturbed by the thefts.

       Tammy Bullis, William’s mother, said, “It’s really upsetting, it truly is. It’s hard to believe anyone would do that to any gravesite, much less that of a 6-year-old child.” A small sign has been taped to the corner of the boy’s crypt. It states: “Please do not steal from this little boy because he would not steal from you!!!!” This plea has apparently done no good. The previous thefts were reported to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department several months ago, but there seem to be no suspects. Anderson reported the latest theft on Friday. As of Monday, he said he hasn’t heard of any developments regarding the investigation. Friday was a troublesome day for Anderson. He said that he drove to the tomb around 3:30 a.m. after he finished his Charlotte Observer paper route. “Everything was there then,” he said. He returned around noon. First he noticed that four small angels, glued to a cinder block cap, were gone. Then he saw that an entire block, on which was glued a large angel, a small Christmas tree, an angel ornament and a small windmill were also missing. The angels seem to be the main targets for the thefts, Anderson said. “At one time, I thought it might just be kids doing this, but really, all they’re taking are angels.” He said he thinks someone may be taking the figurines to sell at flea markets or yard sales. The figurines aren’t expensive, “they only cost $2 or $3 apiece,” Anderson said. “I don’t know why they would do this.” Anderson said he has spoken with others who have family members interred at the cemetery. “There’s other people who say they’ve had things come up missing,” he said. Some of those items also include angels, he said.

       He also said that a visitor to the cemetery told him on Friday that two strange vehicles were parked near the mausoleum earlier in the day. It’s unclear if that sighting is connected with the thefts. Mountlawn Memorial Park is the largest cemetery in the county. As of Dec. 31, there were 5,127 bodies interred there, said office manager Sandra Church. There is space at the cemetery for 10,000 gravesites, she added. It’s hard to see the mausoleum from N.C. 18. The expanse of the cemetery stretches over rolling hills dotted with tombstones and wreathes. Although others have reported missing items in past months, William’s tomb was apparently the only one pilfered on Friday. “After the sheriff’s deputy came, the ground crews checked the cemetery.” Church said. Nothing else appeared to be missing. At times, wind blows flowers and wreathes from graves, Church said. Groundskeepers place any displaced items in a bin at the cemetery. “If anyone calls us, we try to match up what was lost,” Church said. With William’s tomb it’s different. Church said it’s obvious the items were purposely removed. There are metal gates at Mountlawn, but they are not locked, Church said.

       “Several years ago the gates were locked at nights, but we got some complaints so we reopened them,” she said. Anderson said he doesn’t want the gates to be locked. “I want to be able to get in here when I want to. You shouldn’t have to lock people out of a cemetery.” He doesn’t blame Mountlawn’s management for the thefts. “They’re the nicest people you’d ever want to meet,” he said. “There’s just not a whole lot they can do about it.” Church was apologetic, but said, “There’s just no way to keep someone out there 24 hours a day, watching things.” Anderson and his wife, Patricia, are frequent visitors to the cemetery. Sometimes they go there two or three times a day. Sometimes it’s in the early morning hours after they finish their paper route. The visits help their grieving, but not their anger, Anderson said. “It takes a pretty low person to steal off the grave of anyone, much less a 6-year-old boy’s,” he said. “Whoever is doing this should be punished to the full extent of the law.” But this won’t stop William’s grandfather from placing the arrangement’s. “I’m planning on fixing him one for Valentine’s Day,” Anderson said, adding that two other grandchildren help with the projects. “We always try to fix him something that he would like.”

       A settlement has been reached in the county’s Ten Commandments lawsuit. County Attorney Tony Triplett received the settlement agreement on Tuesday morning. Charles Johnson, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, had faxed it. “It’s exactly what we expected,” Triplett said. The settlement was nine months in coming. A lawsuit was filed by Lance Teague of Moravian Falls in mid-April. The suit opposed the county-sanctioned posting of wooden plaques that were engraved with the Biblical Ten Commandments. Teague, a Zen Buddhist, said the plaques violated his First Amendment Rights. Teague wasn’t aware of the developments until contacted Tuesday morning by The Record. The proposed settlement agreement states that each party will pay its own legal expenses. Triplett said that Wilkes’ legal bill for the lawsuit exceeds $10,000. Triplett had been expecting the paper work from Johnson since last month. During an interview with The Record on Jan. 2, Johnson said, “I’ve been dragging my feet” in getting the document prepared. Wilkes Superior Court Judge Michael Helms apparently felt the case had dragged on long enough. Last Thursday, Helms sent a letter to Triplett and Johnson. In the letter, Triplett said, that Helms asked that the case be settled by Tuesday or be given a reason why it wasn’t. “It might be that Judge Helms knew there was a commissioners meeting (Tuesday) and wanted the paper work to be here in time for the board to review it,” Triplett said. It didn’t take Johnson long to respond after receiving Helms’ letter.

       At deadline Tuesday, Triplett told The Record that he planned to present the proposed settlement to county commissioner that night. “I’ll recommend accepting the proposed settlement agreement,” Triplett said. “I feel pretty confident that this will put an end to it.” The county removed five Ten Commandments plaques from the County Office Building and courthouse in June. The plaques were replaced with historic displays, which include the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence and other documents. “The settlement agreement explicitly recognizes that the historical display is Constitutional,” Triplett said. The proposed settlement states that the ACLU finds nothing unconstitutional about the displays, Triplett said. The proposed settlement also requires that the county not repost the Ten Commandment plaques or any similar plaques.

       “We have certainly agreed that we will not repost the plaques of the Ten Commandments and there are no plans to post anything other than the historic displays that have already gone up,” Triplett said. “So, I will recommend the board of commissioners that we approve the settlement agreement.” Triplett says he’s glad to see the case resolved. “I’m very happy to see this case concluded,” he said. “I think it’s best for the parties involved and for the entire community that we were able to resolve the matter like we did.” Teague agreed. “I’m ready to become anonymous again,” Teague said. “I’m glad its over. I’m glad it’s done with. I hope it never happens again.”

The Wilkes County Public Library Chess Club continues to meet Saturdays from Noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Meeting Room. If you are interested in a good game of chess and meeting other players from this area, stop by for an hour or two. Chess boards will be provided, and the club is free and open to all levels of players.

There will be an educational seminar for individual investors at Wilkes Senior Center, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, January 2, 9, 16, and 23 (four-week session) taught by Carla Cooksey, sponsored by Edward Jones Investment. To register, call 838-1700.

The Wilkes County Public Library Book Club will meet Thursday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss "Gertrude and Claudius" by John Updike. For more information, call the Reference Department at 838-2818.

Poetry Readings will be held on Thursday, January 18 at 7 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Meeting Room.

T.O.P.S. Take off pounds sensibly. Join us every Monday at 5 p.m. at St. John’s Church Education Building located on C.C. Wright School Road. For more information, call Jane at 696-4874 or Margaret at 696-2442.

The Heart of the Problem - A small group community Bible study for everyone, especially those individuals who are struggling with depression, addictions, interpersonal relationships, or desire to know God in a personal way, know God more intimately, or those who are simply sick and tired of being sick and tired. Come and join us for study, fellowship, and a hot cup of coffee. Dress is casual so come as you are each Thursday evening at 7 p.m. beginning January 11 at HIS Auto Sales Office, 5169 Boone Trail, Millers Creek (in front of the Wilkes Rescue Station #2). It will be led by Rev. Joe A. Owings, President, Kerusso Ministries, Inc. The Bible study is free. (Text and optional work books will be available for a $20 donation per set). For more information, call Kerusso Ministries, Inc. at 903-8978, Joe Owings at 927-2727 or email at ProclaimH@aol.com.

Blue Ridge Oppportunity Commission (BROC) will hold its Executive Committee Meeting, January 11, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. at the BROC Office Conference Room in Wilkes 1203 A School Street, Wilkesboro. Please call Wilkes Office at 667-7174, Ashe Office at 384-4543 or Alleghany Office at 372-7584 for additional information.

Peter Jackson, a Celtic harpist, will perform at the Library on January 30 at 6:30 p.m. In the Friends of the Library Meeting Room.

The Yadkin Valley Astronomy Club will have their monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 15 in the Friends of the Library Meeting Room.

A mime will be performing at the Wilkes County Library on Tuesday, January 23 at 6 p.m. on the Library’s upper level. This program is sponsored by the Wilkes Arts Council.

The Wilkes Genealogy Society will meet on Monday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Meeting Room.

The North Wilkesboro Moose Lodge is having a benefit chicken-que this Saturday, January 13 for the Donald Roberts family, who lost their 3 year old son and their home in a fire. Donald was severely burned trying to rescue his young son. Plates are $5 with free delivery of 5 or more plates. There will be free livers\gizzards with pick-up orders. The lodge will also accept cash or clothing donations on Saturday. Clothes sizes are: Donald- large shirt 36x32 pants; his wife-7/8 clothes w\large shirt; his daughter-14/16 junior pants large shirt; his son- medium shirt and 31x31 pants. Call 838-3451 to order delivery or for more information.

There will be a singing this Sunday, January 14 during the 11 a.m. service at Shew Ridge Mission featuring the Bates Family from Virginia. The public is invited.

Wilkes County sponsored food drive will start Monday, January 8 and continue through January 31. Cosponsored by Quality Furniture and Quality Car Wash, Wilkesboro. The drop off barrels will be at Quality Car Wash, West Main Street, Wilkesboro (across from the Board of Education.) All non-perishable donations are welcome.

Troop 333 30th Anniversary Dinner will be having their 30th anniversary dinner January 13, 2001 at the Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. All past and present Eagle Scouts, Assistant Scoutmasters, Scoutmasters, and parents are invited to attend. All past Scoutmasters, please contact to verify your and your families’ attendance. If you have any memorabilia you would like for the troop to use, please contact Bunny Adams (696-9030), Randy Huffman (667-8747), or Judy Harrold (667-3448).

The Wilkes Diamonds AAU Girls Basketball Program will be holding tryouts on Saturday, January 13 at Wilkes Community College. 10 year old tryouts are at noon, followed by 11 and 12 year old tryouts at 1:30 p.m. The cut off date for determining age was January 1, 2001. For more information, contact Bradley Stokes at 838-5339, Jason Pegg at 973-3538, or Annette Newman at 874-3087.