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Wilkes man charged with murder of wife
RONDA — A Wilkes County man is in jail after his wife’s body was found in a creek over the weekend. On Saturday morning the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and Elkin Police Department responded to 187 Hilltop Circle, Ronda, in reference to an unknown problem with a man who was knocking on doors in the area. Upon arrival, deputies located David Andrew Cheek, age 42 of Luffman Road, Ronda, talking about his wife being dead. After further investigation and a diligent search effort deputies and officers on scene located Leslie Marie Cheek, age 44 of Ronda, deceased in Little Elkin Creek behind Hilltop Circle. Cheek has been arrested and charged with murder and is in the Wilkes County Jail under no bond. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations.
North Carolina man charged with wife’s murder after her body was found in creek
WILKES COUNTY, N.C. — A man is charged with murder after his wife’s body was found in a creek. The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call Saturday morning about a man who was knocking on doors in the area of Hilltop Circle in Ronda. Deputies said they later found David Andrew Cheek, 42, of Luffman Road who was talking about his wife being dead.
More than just a mountain, town of Pilot Mountain rebranding
PILOT MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Pilot Mountain Mayor Evan Cockerham has seen a lot of change in the town since he become involved 8 years ago, but He says there’s more to be done. “There’s a lot of new things coming to the town that will not only improve the business aspect of the community but also sort of a civic pride aspect as well,” said Mayor Evan Cockerham.
Wilkes County man arrested for wife's alleged murder, held without bond
WILKES COUNTY, N.C. — Wilkes County man David Cheek has been arrested on the alleged murder of his wife. Wilkes County Sheriff's Deputies were called to his house in Ronda on Saturday, and found his wife's body in Little Elkin Creed. Cheek was taken in as a suspect following...
Kenny Michael Mitchell
Kenny Michael Mitchell, 73, of Union Grove, N.C., passed away July 18, 2024, at Gordon Hospice House after a lengthy illness. The son of Kenneth and Alda Prevette Mitchell, he was born in Iredell County on August 4, 1950. He worked for many years at Fort Dobbs Historic Site before...
Gary Douglas Bond, 73
Gary Douglas Bond, 73, of Fries, Va., passed away July 16, 2024. He was born on March 18, 1951, in Galax, Va., to the late Douglas Simpson Bond and Dorothy Hazel Anders Bond. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Fair-Banks. He is survived...
Blue Devil players on All-State tennis team
INDEPENDENCE — The Virginia High School League announced its 2024 all-state boys’ tennis team, which includes two players from Grayson County High School as semifinalists. Keyshawn Phipps was a semifinalist for the Class 2 Boys Singles all-state team. Phipps and Kolby Hawks were both semifinalists for the Class 2 Boys Doubles all-state team.
Governor recommends $50K grant for Rex Theater
The Rex Theater in Galax might get more funding for renovations and improvements if an official recommendation goes through. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that he is recommending 13 projects for funding by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), totaling $7.4 million in grants. ARC will finalize approval of these project awards later this year.
Smoke on the Mountain barbecue contest begins Friday
Thousands of people will go hog wild for a taste of authentic barbecue and a chance to see a professional cooking competition up close at Smoke on the Mountain this weekend in downtown Galax. This event on July 26-27, sanctioned by both the Memphis Barbecue Network and the Kansas City...
County-Pilot Mountain squabble spills onto social media
In what has become almost commonplace in the modern political environment, a squabble between the Surry County Board of Education and the Pilot Mountain Board of Commissioners has spilled onto social media. The bickering this time is over the absence of a School Resource Officer at Pilot Mountain Elementary School — or more specifically, whose fault it is that no such officer is budgeted for the upcoming school year. In...
Amy's Apricots wins tomato tasting contest
Amy’s Apricots, a sweet cherry (snacking) tomato, was chosen the winner in the annual tomato taste test competition Saturday at the Wilkes County Farmers Market in North Wilkesboro’s Yadkin Valley Market Place. Kevin Foster of Gypsy’s Ridge Honey in Wilkesboro entered Amy’s Apricot, a variety introduced by Southern...
Museum hosts signing for new Rash novel
The Wilkes Heritage Museum will host a book signing for award-winning author Ron Rash and his newest novel, “The Caretaker,” at 6 p.m., Aug. 6. Set in Blowing Rock in 1951, “The Caretaker” is a “breathtaking love story and searing examination of the acts we seek to justify in the name of duty, family, honor and love,” stated a press release. It “brilliantly depicts the human capacity for delusion and destruction all too often justified as acts of love.”
Man charged after wife found dead in creek
The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office charged an eastern Wilkes County man with first-degree murder Saturday after his wife was found deceased in a creek earlier that day. David Andrew “Drew” Cheek, 42, of Luffman Road, Ronda, was in the Wilkes County Jail with no bond Monday. He is charged with murder in the death of his wife, Leslie Marie Cheek, 44. She had the same address as Drew Cheek.
Velma Eller Edmiston
Velma Eller Edmiston, 89, of North Wilkesboro passed away Monday, July 15, 2024, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center. To plant a tree in memory of Velma Edmiston as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Academic achievements
Several students from Wilkes County were named to spring semester academic honors lists at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs. Cody Allen Call and Amanda Rose Gravely of North Wilkesboro were named to the Gardner Webb president’s list. To make this list, students must be enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of courses and have at least a 4.0 grade point average.
Middle Cross wax museum features Christian heroes
Middle Cross Baptist Church at 2305 Rock Creek Road, North Wilkesboro, announced that it will have a wax museum featuring images of heroes of the Christian faith July 31 to Aug. 3. It’s open to the public starting at 6 p.m. July 31 to Aug. 2 and at noon on...
Ronda board to continue talks on noise, junk cars
The Ronda Board of Commissioners discussed but didn’t act on proposed new ordinances addressing noise problems and junked cars during a special meeting on July 19. The commissioners agreed to continue these discussions during a scheduled work session on Aug. 8. That meeting starts at 5 p.m. It was...
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