News Briefs

Severe storms down power lines in Wilkes

Severe storms downed several trees leading to massive power outages and some property damage in Yadkin and Wilkes counties Wednesday.
According to published reports, an 80-foot tree fell in a Wilkes County man’s yard.
Several trees were reported down in the Ravenwood subdivision in Wilkesboro (pictured above).
Wilkes officials reported 30 trees down.
More than 5,000 people in Yadkin County were without power; Duke Energy officials said about 1,200 residents in Wilkes County lost power as of 11 p.m. Wednesday night —however most lines had been restored by Thursday morning.

Castle

S.C. man arrested in alleged auto fraud

Boone Police arrested a South Carolina man last week on a charge of obtaining money by false pretense.
Gregory Scott Castle, 38, of Clover, was arrested in connection to an independent transaction for the purchase

of a vehicle in Boone. Castle is alleged to have accepted money for the car, but not to have delivered the vehicle to the victim.
He was arrested in York County, S.C. where he was picked up and transported to the Watauga County magistrate’s office by BPD officers. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 15 in lieu of a secured $3,000 bond.
While in custody, Castle has also been served with a fugitive-from-justice warrant out of Brentwood, Tenn., on a felony theft charge. A secured $10,000 bond was assigned. Castle will be picked up by Brentwood officers to face that charge.

— Melanie Marshall

Watauga County Sheriff's Report

July 25
Officers were called to a residence on the 200 block of Mabel School Road in Zionville. The homeowner reported a person shot fireworks at the house.
Charity Maranda Miller, 21, of 409 Willowdale Church Road, Vilas, was served with a warrant on a charge of misdemeanor larceny. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 28 in lieu of a written promise bond.
July 26
A simple non-physical assault was reported on the 3700 block of U.S. 321 South in Blowing Rock. The victim reported a person stalking him/her.
July 27
Walter Leroy Edmisten, 49, of 470 Walter Edmisten Road, Deep Gap, was served with a warrant for arrest on a charge of communicating threats. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 15 in lieu of a secured $1,000.
July 28
Breaking and entering, larceny and the possession/concealment of stolen property was reported at a residence on the 11000 block of N.C. 105 in Banner Elk. The victim reported multiple tools stolen from outside and inside the house.
Jonathan Bradley Smith, 20, of 1165 Brock Shell Road, Elk Park, was arrested on view on charges of felony breaking breaking and entering, felony larceny, felony possession/concealment of stolen property, misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor possession/concealment of stolen property. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 15 in lieu of a secured $7,500 bond.

— Melanie Marshall