Marty McGee

2 weeks ago | journalpatriot.com | Marty McGee

Mitchell Johnston of Purlear teamed up with Wilkes County native Jon Miller to win the two-man team World Championship Turkey Calling Contest in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday. It was the sixth world title for Johnston and the second for Miller, formerly of Millers Creek and now a resident of Morganton.

2 weeks ago | journalpatriot.com | Marty McGee

In case you missed it, the high school student-athletes in Wilkes County had a good spring. In fact, it was a very, very good spring — historic, even. In the span of just over two weeks, Wilkes had an individual state champion crowned, and two teams — albeit two quite different teams — brought home prep state titles. That type of rapid-fire success hadn’t ever been seen before in the annals of Wilkes prep sports history, best I can tell.

3 weeks ago | journalpatriot.com | Marty McGee

The Wilkesboro Town Council took no action Monday on approving the town’s 2025-26 budget and tax rate, instead calling for a special meeting on June 16 to again discuss the matters. The council was indecisive on leaving the tax rate unchanged at 48 cents per $100 of property valuation for the eighth straight fiscal year, or lowering it to remain “revenue neutral” in response to a recent Wilkes County property revaluation that grew the county tax base by 75-80%.

3 weeks ago | journalpatriot.com | Marty McGee

The West Wilkes softball team held off North Lenoir, 3-2, in Greensboro on Saturday, sweeping the best-of-three 2A title series and winning the program’s first state championship since 2013. The Blackhawks, under the direction of Michael Woodruff, finished the season 27-3 and won their last 21 games. Woodruff was also at the helm of the 2013 team that won the 1A crown.

4 weeks ago | journalpatriot.com | Marty McGee

The West Wilkes softball team held off North Lenoir, 3-2, in Greensboro on Saturday, sweeping the best-of-three 2A title series and winning the program's first state championship since 2013. The Blackhawks, under the direction of Michael Woodruff, finished the season 27-3 and won their last 21 games. Woodruff was also at the helm of the 2013 team that won the 1A crown.