FRONT PAGE
HOUSE FIRE. Bunn, Youngsville and Rolesville firefighters battled this blaze on Thursday, which was made more difficult by whipping winds. (Times photo by Carey Johnson)
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County’s fire marshal is investigating a blaze in a subdivision near Youngsville that might have claimed the life of a pet.
Bunn firefighters, with mutual aid assistance from Youngsville and Rolesville, responded to 70 Turtle Court — off Darius Pearce Road — to find the home engulfed in flames.
A woman who was the only person inside, was able to get out, but one of her pets, a cat, was not accounted for.
TRASH COLLECTION. Residents who live by this mobile home on Bartholomew Park Way have complained to the county about the refuse. The property’s owner has vowed that it will be cleaned. (Times photo by Carey Johnson)
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
While one man’s trash might be another man’s treasure, residents near Bartholomew Park Way said they find nothing redeeming about a pile of junk that sits in, behind, and around one mobile home.
Some residents even accuse the tenant of using the property as a dumping ground.
The property is owned and being rented out by County Planning Board Member Willie Frank Bartholomew.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The state approved a request last month that will allow Novant Health to build a free-standing ambulatory surgery center on a small piece of property that the hospital’s former owners planned to use to relocate Franklin Regional Medical Center.
Before it assumed ownership of Franklin Regional Medical Center and other hospitals owned by Health Management Associates, Novant submitted an application to the state, requesting approval to build the center.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. Newly-elected Commissioner Cat Redd, left, with the aid of Town Administrator Brenda Robbins, right, takes her first oath of office during the board’s meeting on Thursday. (Times photo by Carey Johnson)
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
YOUNGSVILLE — The town’s Board of Commissioners said goodbye to some members of the old guard Thursday night, while welcoming a new member to its governing board.
Police Chief Larry Pritchett announced in August that he would retire as police chief at the end of this year.
Staff had a dinner in his honor earlier this month and presented him with a plaque on Thursday night — his last meeting as police chief.
The Franklin County School District has been awarded a $140,000 dropout prevention grant from the state to fund an Evening High School.
The school will be housed at the Creative Education Center in Louisburg on the Riverside Campus. The program is designed to offer an alternative time for students who are seeking course credit to get back on track with their studies or who are within a few credits of high school graduation and have dropped out of school. Middle school students who have fallen behind in their studies are also eligible.
HISTORY. Author David Hursh (left) discusses Mrs. Joe Person’s remedy with Libby and Wyatt McGhee of Franklinton. The McGhees live in the house where Mrs. Person prepared her remedy in the 19th Century. (Times photo by Gary Cunard)
By:
Gary Cunard, Times Publisher
Tales about one of Franklin County’s most fascinating characters from another era echoed through the Person Place home on the campus of Louisburg College Thursday night as part of the annual meeting of the Person Place Preservation Society.
Featured guest was David W. Hursh, whose recently completed book Good Music and Good Medicine is a biography of Mrs. Joe Person.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The N.C. Center for Missing Persons canceled a Silver Alert that it issued back in September in hope that it would help locate a missing Franklin County man.
Roger Wade Ayscue’s family and friends reported him missing this past summer after not hearing from him or seeing him before The Independence Day holiday.
Louisburg High student Lauren Joyner
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
Louisburg College is accredited.
Again!
And that’s great news, not only for the school but also for Louisburg and Franklin County.
The school has been facing issues regarding its financial resources and stability for the last few years and it’s not the only smaller college to face such challenges.
GOOD MORNING: To say that this past Wednesday got off to a wet start would likely be the understatement of the year. I don’t have a handle on actual rainfall amounts, having upended my dime-store rain gauge days earlier on account of freezing temperatures, but it must have been considerable judging by the water standing in my backyard and the lower part of my driveway.
Gee, talk about rushing the season!
No, this isn’t about retailers who start peddling Christmas goodies before the Halloween candy goes on sale, this is about the folks who mail the seed catalogs.
Shoot, I just pulled out the last of my chili pepper plants on Nov. 30 after harvesting one last peck or so, ending what has been a bumper crop season for peppers out our way.
RALEIGH – For as long as there have been state treasurers managing state pension funds, there have been attempts by political insiders to scam some of the money with promises of “creating jobs.” They’ve always been, properly, rebuffed.
Until now.
As Governor Beverly Perdue’s first year comes to a close, it is appropriate to evaluate the job she has done. If asked to assign a letter grade, it would be difficult to give better than a “C.” There are no major failings but neither have there been big successes.
OBITUARIES
ZEBULON - Elbert Reginald Lewis, 83, an Army veteran of WW II, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. Funeral service was Thursday, Dec. 10, at Pilot Baptist Church. Burial followed in Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.
LOUISBURG - Joe Edward Cash Sr., 69, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 9, 2009 at his home. A graveside service was conducted Friday, Dec. 11, at Bunn Memorial Gardens.
WILLOW SPRING - Newton Henry Burgess Jr., 68, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today (Saturday, Dec. 12) in the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home chapel, Garner. The family will receive friends for an hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home.
FRANKLINTON —Funeral services for Gloria Jean Dunston, 44, who died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, will be held at 1 p.m. today (Saturday, Dec. 12) at New Life Outreach Ministries, with the Rev. Donathan Muldrow officiating. Burial will follow in the Church of the Risen Christ cemetery.
ZEBULON - Gavin William Boyd Westover, 16, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today (Saturday, Dec. 12) at Strickland Funeral Home, 211 W. Third St., Wendell.
YOUNGSVILLE —Judge Grady “Jiggs” Perry, 75, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 at Rex Hospital. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery.
LOUISBURG – Jennie Lewis Martinez, 49, died Friday morning, Dec. 11, 2009. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at White Level Baptist Church, with the Rev. Henry Stamper officiating. The family will receive friends immediately after the service and other times at the home.
SPORTS
DRIVING FORCE. Franklinton’s Mecca Hicks (with ball) drives past Ravenscroft’s Hillary Margolis during Tuesday’s girls high school basketball matchup, which was held at the FHS Gymnasium. The visiting Lady Ravens were 44-17 winners.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Increasing offensive productivity has been an off-season priority for Franklinton High School girls basketball coach Lester Wilder.
The plan worked in the first game of the year, as FHS rolled to an easy victory at Northern Vance.
But Franklinton struggled in its half-court set Tuesday night, and it didn’t help matters that the Lady Rams were tangling with a quality opponent in Ravenscroft School from North Raleigh.
TIGHT DEFENSE. KIPP Pride’s Courtney Small (with ball) is guarded by Louisburg’s Lindsay Johnson during Tuesday night’s basketball game at the LHS Gymnasium. (Times photo by Geoff Neville)
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Head coach Ericka Wilkins didn’t consider it to be a masterpiece performance, but the result was what she was looking for.
Louisburg’s girls used some clutch play down the stretch to take a 40-37 home victory over KIPP Pride in a non-conference girls basketball game at the LHS Gymnasium.
The surging Lady Warriors are now 2-1 for the campaign.
CORNER TURNER. Ravenscroft’s Andrew Fraz (with ball) drives the baseline during the Ravens’ road victory Tuesday night against the Franklinton Red Rams in a non-league boys basketball game. (Times photo by Geoff Neville)
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswiter
FRANKLINTON -- Even with senior standout Dustin Newton, the Franklinton Red Rams would probably have experienced an uphill struggle Tuesday against a deep, talented Ravenscroft club.
But with Newton sidelined with a back injury, the Red Rams were no match for the Ravens, who soared ahead early and went on to defeat Franklinton by a convincing 90-49 score in a non-league boys basketball contest at the FHS Gymnasium.
Bunn is the lone Franklin County school that will be competing in a Pre-Christmas Holiday Basketball Tournament.
While Franklinton and Louisburg will be in holiday action in Johnston County following Santa Claus’ trip down the chimney, the Wildcats will play in the Clayton High School Tournament on Dec. 21-22.
Bunn has a history at the Clayton event, including a pair of boys titles. But the tourney wasn’t held last year, so the Wildcats participated in the Nash County Tournament instead.
High School Basketball
TUESDAY
Roanoke Rapids at Franklinton 6:30 p.m.
Bunn at Southern Nash 6:30 p.m.
Louisburg at North Johnston 6 p.m.
RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that the team has activated goaltender Cam Ward from the long-term injured list.
Ward had missed the Hurricanes’ last 13 games after being cut on his leg by a skate in Carolina’s game at Columbus on Nov. 7.
He played in the Hurricanes’ game at New Jersey on Wednesday, which was won 3-2 by the Devils.
Chase Davis, 9, shot his first deer -- an 8-pointer -- during a hunting expedition on Nov. 30 in the White Level Community. Chase used a .410 shotgun. (Photo Submitted)
Austin Medlin, 11, of Zebulon, harvested this 8-point buck on Dec. 7 while hunting with his father (Rodney Medlin) on a private farm in Franklin County. This is Austin’s second deer -- the first was a 9-pointer he shot last December while hunting with his Papa. (Photo Submitted)
Franklinton’s Lauren Wilder (with ball) tries to escape a pair of Ravenscroft defenders Tuesday night.
LIFESTYLES
Wayne Champion, center, the primary organizer for the Coats for Christmas effort, stands with Village Cleaners owner Chinh Nguyen, right, and employee Liza Johnson. The group is collecting coats to be cleaned and then distributed to those in need. Champion said the area Jaycees began the effort years ago, but the project got put on the back burner. The effort, though, has been picked up in recent years. Coats can be dropped off at Village Cleaners on Bickett Boulevard in Louisburg, at Farm Bureau Insurance on Redwood Lane in Louisburg and at the Youngsville Library.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
Robin Faulkner, principal of Bunn High School, has announced the Honor Roll for the second six-weeks grading period.
To be named to the A Honor Roll, a student must make no grade lower than 93. To be named to the A-B Honor Roll, a student must make no grade lower than 85.
COMMUNITY NEWS
On Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., the Rex Blood Services Bloodmobile will be parked at the entrance to Lake Royale. Blood donations are especially critical during the holiday months. About 1 in 5 people entering a hospital will require a blood transfusion during their stay. Each year, 4.5 million Americans are saved by blood transfusions.
On Friday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m., Louisburg College’s Allen de Hart Concert Series will present “The Concert Singers of Cary.” This choral ensemble is a community of vocal artists who gather to share the joy of music and to pursue performance excellence. Since their 1991 debut, Artistic Director Lawrence Speakman has planned concerts providing a wide-open perspective for music lovers. The evening’s performance will feature the Advent/ Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah.
On Thursday, Dec. 3, the Allen de Hart Concert Series presented The New Sigmund Romberg Orchestra as they performed “A Viennese Christmas.”
The evening’s festivities began with members of the Jones family lighting an 18-foot Christmas tree in the lobby of the Seby B. Jones Performing Arts Center. The facility was officially dedicated just before the orchestra played.
The Louisburg Lions Club welcomed Steve Bryant, owner of the Carolina Mudcats baseball team, at a recent meeting. The Smithfield native and NCSU graduate explained his lifelong passion for baseball that led him to the 1989 purchase of the team. The Mudcats are a minor league Double-A team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. Bryant informed the club that this upcoming season will mark the 20th anniversary for the Mudcats at Five County Stadium in Zebulon and invited all Franklin County residents to come on out to the games. Pictured above are Lions Program Chairman Darrell Smith (left) and Steve Bryant.
