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Archived
May 26, 2006
Group home employee charged
with alleged castration attempt
By Jerry Sena
jtsena@wataugademocrat.com
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office is investigating a bizarre assault on a patient at a local residential care home, according to Sheriff Mark Shook.
Steven Neal Rodriguez, 29, of 423 Silverleaf Rd., Zionville, was arrested May 23 on felony charges of assault on the handicapped and malicious castration.
Rodriguez, a caretaker at the RHA Health Services group home on Wildcat Road, in Deep Gap, is accused of mutilating the genitals of a 35-year-old mentally and physically disabled man on May 15.
"This is a very unusual case," Shook said. "In my 20 years in law enforcement, I've never seen anything like this."
The victim was named in court documents as Choe Wilborn. He was taken for treatment to the Watauga Medical Center where he is reportedly recovering from his injuries.
Shook declined to comment on a motive for the assault.
Gordon J. Simmons, CEO of RHA Health Services, said Rodriguez had worked as a habitation technician at the home for about five years.
"We were shocked," Simmons said of the allegations against Rodriguez. "We'd never had any trouble from him before now."
Simmons said Wilborn's injuries were discovered "best guess, about 15 to 20 minutes" after being inflicted. He said Wilborn had been transported to the medical center immediately after.
Managers with the care home, which is one of 10 facilities the company operates in Watauga County, called the Sheriff's Office when they began to suspect the wounds might not be self-inflicted.
Simmons said his company is also conducting an investigation into the incident.
Rodriguez was being held Friday at the Watauga County Detention Center pending a $500,000 secured bond.
He is scheduled to appear June 28 in District Court.
See the Monday edition of the Watauga Democrat for more details.
Proposal adds $400K; county budget grows?
After two work sessions and a public hearing, the Watauga County board of commissioners is now considering an additional $400,000 in funding requests for the next fiscal year.
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$30-plus million? Two WHS offers discussed
The Watauga County school board and commissioners discussed two offers for the high school property and set a date of June 5 to formally accept one of them, triggering an upset bid process.
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News briefs: Man injured in ATV crash
A Watauga County man who flipped his four-wheeler (all-terrain vehicle) Wednesday afternoon was air-lifted to Johnson Medical Center with head injuries, according to local authorities.
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More PCs heading south
With three shipments of computers and parts having been sent to Uruguay, Olga Jensen is gearing up for yet another.
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Brookshire project rolling
The Watauga County commissioners received an update on development of the Brookshire property and approved funds for more engineering work as well as helping a skatepark at Tuesday’s meeting.
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How does their garden grow?
The Leola Street Community Garden may grow a unique variety of greenhouse. If all goes as planned, the garden could soon feature a passive solar greenhouse, allowing crops to flourish during the winter months.
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U.S. Rep. Foxx’s first bill becomes law
After nearly a year and a half in office, Fifth District U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-Watauga) became the first legislator in her freshman congressional class to see a policy bill adopted into law.
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May 24, 2006
Council: Making Boone pedestrian friendly
“This town is made for walking and that’s what it could do.” The Boone Greenway-Alternative Transportation Committee requested authorization from the Boone Town Council to develop a pedestrian-friendly program last week.
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Gas prices not expected to change travel
While Memorial Day traditionally launches the start of the summer vacation season, Watauga County’s tourism base is still at least six weeks away from peaking.
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Sheriff’s reports:
May 12 — Michael Wade Norris, 29, of 533 Fairground Lane, Mountain City, Tenn.,was arrested on a warrant alleging failure to appear on three misdemeanors, including making a harassing phone call, possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed under a $16,000 secured bond and scheduled to appear May 30 in District Court.
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A summer under construction
The growing season is well under way — especially for Appalachian State University. With several projects nearing completion, others are finding their way off the drawing board and onto campus.
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Boone water use spikes
Boone Public Utilities’ monthly report on the town’s water use was anything but watered down.
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May 22, 2006
High school sale clears next hurdle
Based on overwhelming public support and conformity to the town of Boone comprehensive plan, the Boone Town Council approved a request from the Watauga County Board of Education to rezone the Watauga High School property.
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Shipley inducted into agriculture hall of fame
Robert Shipley of Vilas has deep roots in the region’s agriculture, and 
now has been acknowledged on a wider level. Shipley, 93, was inducted into the Western North Carolina Agriculture Hall of Fame on Wednesday, the first Watauga resident to be so honored. He accepted the award at a ceremony in Asheville after hearing words of praise heaped onto his life and career.
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Does Ridge Law apply to windmills?
The Watauga County Planning Board ventured into new territory in recommending an ordinance to regulate windmills during last Monday’s meeting.
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Net phone connects with E-911
Internet phone service provider Vonage has added Watauga County subscribers to its growing list of callers who can now use their service to access 911 emergency operators as easily as land-based telephone users.
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Vote will determine agricultural assessment
Local consumers of fertilizer or animal feed have a chance to weigh in for agricultural research during the “Nickels For Know-How” campaign this week.
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Both sides discuss dispute over elk shooting
A full-page newspaper ad purchased by a Bethel elk rancher has revived a controversy over official efforts to contain a potentially devastating disease among the state’s wild elk and deer herds.
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Council reviews moratorium
With the town of Boone’s moratorium on multi-family housing developments of more than 24 units set to expire May 29, the Boone Town Council may soon set another in its place.
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