FRONT PAGE
Posted on:
April 30, 2010
Novant Health has decided to stop its efforts to build a new hospital in Youngsville
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
The proposal to build a new, $80 million hospital in Youngsville has been dropped.
Novant Health, which owns Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg, made that surprise announcement late Thursday, saying that officials have decided to discontinue efforts to secure state approval for the new hospital.
“We continue to be committed to making Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg an excellent community hospital,” said Jody Morris, chief operating officer of Novant Health’s facilities in the Triangle area.
The May 4 primary will feature some local races, as two candidates try to receive their party nominations for the sheriff’s office and two more fight for their party’s favor in a Senate District 7 battle.
And two other candidates have engaged in a struggle for a school board seat.
Sheriff Pat Green faces a Democratic challenge from Darryl Wright, a former sheriff’s deputy and Zebulon police officer. Whoever wins that race faces no Republican challenge in the fall.
A judge has ordered a murder suspect to undergo competency testing, which will help determine whether the case against him proceeds or not.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies arrested Christopher Steven Thomas in June 2007, almost a month after investigators allege he killed 17-year-old Bunn High student Elvira Hernandez.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Prosecutors plan to dismiss charges against a woman who was arrested for fatally beating a man.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies arrested Ruby Virginia Smith, charging her with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury following an April 1 assault on Alfredo Ortega, 53.
Ortega died from his injuries on April 5.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON Times Staff Writer
Bunn town staff is expected to update commissioners about a grant application that could help an area business expand.
Bunn Animal Hospital representatives petitioned the board last month for annexation, which includes extension of water service to their new proposed location near the Bunn Crossing shopping center.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County Commissioners are scheduled to continue their discussion regarding the Early College High School program.
It’s not clear, though, when any decision will be made.
The county’s Board of Education and Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees have both endorsed a $7 million expansion plan which would address the community college’s expected growth, as well as accommodate students fed into college courses through the Early College program.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County advocates established an endowment in the name of a former legislator who was a champion for agriculture and education.
The James D. Speed Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be awarded annually to college students based on participation in the State Fair, as well as scholarly merit.
Louisburg resident Jackson Ellis
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
The late week bombshell notice that Novant Health, which now owns Franklin Regional Medical Center, is dropping its plans to build a new hospital in Youngsville caught a lot of folks off guard.
The announcement came amid speculation — which turns out to be true — that Novant and the town of Louisburg had reached a memorandum of understanding that would clear the way for a two-hospital system in Franklin County.
Brace yourself. Here we go again.
Just when local folks were getting frustrated about what to do next regarding the long-awaited four-laning of U.S. 401 in Franklin County, along comes another Tiger.
This time the big cat from Washington is named Tiger II to distinguish it from the Tiger funds we sought unsuccessfully last summer and fall. Tiger, by the way, stands for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery.
GOOD MORNING: High temperatures in the mid 80s today and the mercury may hit 90 on Sunday? We’ll see.
ENOUGH ALREADY: Ok Novant, enough doubletalk! As one wag put it, “I find it hard to believe that a bunch of country-fried (town) council members are that much slicker than a multi-billion dollar company with a corporate jet and made over $400 million in profits last year.
OBITUARIES
LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Genatious “Jim” Debnam, 82, who died Tuesday, April 27, 2010, will be conducted at noon Monday, May 3, at Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, with Elder Howard S. Watson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
LOUISBURG – William “Bill” Odell Cash Jr., 63, died Monday morning, April 26, 2010. A memorial service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at River of Life Church in Raleigh, with the Rev. David Newell officiating.
LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Neil Raines, 88, who died Wednesday, April 28, 2010, will be held Sunday, May 2, at 1 p.m. at Richardson Funeral Home in Louisbug. Burial will follow in the Eagle Rock Cemetery.
BUNN - Ora Mae King, 77, died Sunday, April 25, 2010. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today (Saturday, May 1) at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Bunn. Burial will follow at Meeks Cemetery in Spring Hope.
WAKE FOREST - Margaret “Peg” Agnes DeLoe, 93, formerly of Sharon, Pa., and Ft. Myers, Fla., died Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh.
ZEBULON - Dorothy L. Tonnesen, 79, died Sunday, April 25, 2010. A memorial service was held Wednesday, April 28, at Grace Lutheran Church in Raleigh. A graveside service was held Thursday, April 29, at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake.
YOUNGSVILLE —Robert Lee Wilson Jr., 66, died Monday, April 26, 2010. Services will be held Sunday, May 2, at Mitchiner’s Grove Baptist Church. Viewing will be May 1 from 2-8 p.m. at Carlton L. Gray Chapel in Raleigh and Sunday, 2-2:30 p.m., prior to the service. Interment will be in Salisbury National Cemetery.
ZEBULON - Jesse Daniel, 87, died April 27, 2010. Funeral service will be today (Saturday, May 1) at 2:30 p.m. at William Toney’s Funeral Home chapel, Zebulon. Burial will be in Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.
LOUISBURG - Rachel Frances Bates Johnson, 78, died Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Britthaven Nursing Home in Louisburg. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Kittrell. The Rev. Fred McGhee will preside.
LOUISBURG – Lucille May Romero, 83, of Louisburg, died Friday morning at her home. Mrs. Romero was a daughter of the late Willie Elias and Eleanor Shearin May and was preceded in death by her husband, Maj. Paul V. Romero; sister, Doris M. Dickerson; and brother, James May.
LOUISBURG – Adell Cash Gupton, 87, of the White Level Community, died Wednesday afternoon.
SPORTS
FLIGHT FOLLOWER. Louisburg High’s Patrick Riddick watches this shot during Thursday’s prep golf match against Northern Nash at Bull Creek GC.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School has been blessed with some outstanding golfers through the years -- and Patrick Riddick is right up there with some of the best.
Riddick competed in his final home match Thursday, and he made it count as the Warriors hosted Northern Nash for a non-conference event at Bull Creek Golf and Country Club.
PLAYING CATCH-UP. Southern Nash’s Karen Orduna (center) tries to get past Louisburg’s H-Wang Eban during Thursday afternoon’s non-conference girls soccer showdown on the SNHS campus in Stanhope.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
STANHOPE -- Both Louisburg and Southern Nash entered Thursday’s girls soccer showdown with the thought that it was a winnable match.
Nothing happened in the first half to dispel that notion, as the clubs went to intermission engaged in a scoreless tie.
But host Southern Nash delivered three goals as part of a strong second-half performance, and the Ladybirds would go on to post a 3-0 victory in the non-conference event at the SNHS Soccer Field.
AIR BALL. (L to R) Franklinton’s Sam Arendt and Bunn’s Erica Levinson try to gain possession of the ball during Wednesday evening’s soccer match.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Opponents intent on limiting Franklinton scoring machine Amanda Knapp may be in for a rude awakening when the Class 2-A Girls Soccer State Playoffs begin in two weeks.
For the majority of her career, Knapp has handled the brunt of the offensive responsibilities for FHS -- so much so that she has earned a scholarship to continue her career at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.
KENLY -- The undefeated run for Bunn’s boys and girls teams continued Tuesday at the Northern Carolina Conference Track and Field Meet, which was held at North Johnston High School.
The Ladycats, coached by David Howle, roared to first place with 176 points to close regular season action with a 16-0 mark.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Jacksonville’s Vinny Rottino hit a two-run homer in the third inning of action to break a 1-1 tie, and Carolina could not overcome in falling for the 10th straight game 3-1 at the Baseball Grounds on Wednesday afternoon in a Class AA Southern League baseball showdown.
Rottino connected against Alexander Smit (L, 0-2) against the left field foul pole with a man aboard to lead the Suns (13-6) to their ninth straight victory.
High School Baseball
TUESDAY
Franklinton at Bunn 7 p.m.
Louisburg at Warren County 6 p.m.
BUNN -- One week after signing with Sandhills Community College, Michael Collins had another big event Thursday at the Bunn Dome.
Collins, a senior basketball player at Bunn High School, was honored as a winner of the WTVD-11 Student-Athlete Award.
Collins was interviewed by WTVD sportscaster Kerith Burke. The clip ran Friday evening and will also be available on the WTVD website.
Louisburg’s Devin Herring sends a shot toward the fifth hole at Bull Creek GC during Thursday’s prep links showdown against Northern Nash.
Louisburg High School’s Jordan Harrell (left) prepares to send a kick past Southern Nash’s Karen Orduna during Thursday afternoon’s prep soccer match in Stanhope.
Franklinton’s Gillberto Pannunzio won the Singles Title this week at the Northern Carolina Conference Tennis Tournament, which was held at Roanoke Rapids.
Louisburg High School infielder Lindsay Johnson comes up with a grounder for the Lady Warriors during Thursday’s fast-pitch softball game against Oxford Webb.
LIFESTYLES
What a wonderful program for our local children and youth. This is an opportunity that families should take advantage of and support wholeheartedly. There are many activity leaders, including Angelia Higgs, Thomas Madison, Faye Weiner, and Unit Director Shamequa Wilkerson, who are working very hard to keep this program going.
UDC RECEPTION. Pictured at the UDC reception, held April 10 in the Maple Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, are Velvet Satterwhite (in period dress) and Russell Pergerson.
The Joseph J. Davis Chapter 537, United Daughters of the Confederacy, held a Bestowal of Military Awards Ceremony on April 10 at Maple Springs Baptist Church, Louisburg.
Russell Pergerson was presented the following medals posthumous:
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
Here is the honor roll for the third nine-week grading period at Terrell Lane Middle School:
Tuesday, May 4, will be a late arrival day for all Franklin County Schools students. Students should report to school two hours late on May 4.
Teachers and staff will report at the regular time. May 4 is the Primary election day and many schools within FCS are used as voting sites. As a result of this change, May 6 will no longer be an early release day.
The following personnel changes were approved by the Franklin County School Board during its Monday night meeting.
Wake Electric has awarded 17 college scholarships equaling a total of $22,000.
The $2,000 Fred M. Alford Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Nicholas Savage of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School.
The Touchstone Energy Scholarship winners are: Erin Boltz and Gary Wayne Byrd, both of South Granville High School; Megan Camille Crayton of Bunn High School; Betsy Dickerson of N.C. State University;
It has been 61 years since the Edward Best High School Class of 1949 graduated. They held their annual reunion Saturday, April 24, in Raleigh. Eleven were able to attend. In remembrance of deceased classmates, photos were exhibited and candles lit for each. After lunch, plans were made for the reunion again in Raleigh next year. Pictured on the front row (left to right) are Weldon Rice, Iris Stewart, Miriam Blake, Nellie Boone, Jewel Griffin and Bob Daniels; second row: Hester Jones, Bob Pearce, Curtis Boone, James Wheless and Lee McGregor.
By:
Nathan Moreschi, Franklin County Schools
Crashing into a telephone pole at 55 miles per hour can kill a driver in less than a second. The pain from that fraction of a second can haunt parents, friends and loved ones for a lifetime.
With high school prom season at its peak, one organization is making sure high school juniors and seniors realize the potential dangers when driving under the influence of alcohol or with distractions, including cell phones.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Durham man, charging him with the an April 1 armed home invasion.
Investigators allege that Donnie Hayes Jr. of Durham attempted to break into the Youngsville-area home of Michael Kearney.
According to investigators, Hayes knocked on the door of a house at 429 John Mitchell Road at about 10:15 p.m.
When Kearney answered the door, the suspect, dressed in a grey hooded sweatshirt, stuck a revolver into the home.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The battle for the Democratic nomination for Senate Seat 7 appears to be a battle of experience versus experience.
Challenger Ronald Alligood has 18 years of experience serving as a Granville County Commissioner.
Incumbent Senator Doug Berger from Youngsville is seeking his fourth term in the legislature.
• Granville County Commissioner serving my eighteenth year.
• Married: Linda S. Alligood
• One son, Ron R. Alligood, II; one grandson, Ronald R. Alligood,III
Previous Public Service:
Retired State Law Enforcement Officer, 32 years; Twenty-two years as a state trooper; Ten years as director of the Butner Public Safety Division, entire career was in the Butner, South Granville Area.
• Occupation: Attorney
• Married: Wife, Annie
• Children: Celia 26; Justus 22
Previous public service:
Three-term Senator for 7th District 2004-2010; Democratic nominee for Labor Commissioner 2000
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
On the last day of the primary, Sheriff Pat Green learned he would face a challenge to earn the Democratic Party nod to retain his elected office.
It came in the form of Darryl Wright, a former deputy under Green who wants to try his hand at leadership.
Wright said a primary goal would be building bridges into the community to affect law enforcement efforts.
• Occupation: Career law enforcement officer
• Marital status: Widowed
• Children: Kacy, 22, Kyle, 16
Previous public service:
White Level Fire Department Board of Directors, Franklin Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, White Level Lions Club, Louisburg Moose Lodge, Cypress Creek Civitan, White Level Baptist Church
• Occupation: Self-employed
•Marital status: Divorced
• Children: 5
Community service or involvement:
Head Coach for Louisburg High School JV Basketball and assistant coach for Louisburg High School Varsity Basketball and Masonic Lodge, Bunn.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
When John May resigned his District 3 School Board seat and went to Raleigh, he left behind a post that two educators are vying to fill.
Former Democratic Party Chairwoman and current education administrator with the state Department of Corrections Bobbie Richardson and former Franklin Times Editor and current United Way Executive Director Kathy Harrelson are both mounting write-in campaigns for the post.
• Occupation: Currently serving as the executive director of the United Way of Franklin County
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in business administration: N.C. Wesleyan College; Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA): Campbell University
Community Service and Public Involvement: United Way; Boys and Girls Clubs in Pitt, New Hanover and Franklin counties; Communities in Schools, Nash County, tutoring/mentoring; Newspapers in Education, Nash, Wilson and New Hanover counties; Adolescent Pregnancy Center mentoring, Nash County; Volunteering in rest homes;
• Occupation: Educator
•Marital status: Divorced
• Children: 3, one son-in-law, and daughter-in law and two grandsons.
Previous public service: Chairperson of Franklin County Democratic Party; 1st Vice President of Franklin County Democratic Women, and Secretary of FC Senior Democrats, member of the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee, and member of the African American Caucus
BUSINESS
Union Bank and Trust, a community bank based in Oxford, showed earnings of $641,466 for the first quarter ending March 31.
Union Bank posted a return on equity of 13.75 percent and a return on assets of 1.47 percent along with an efficiency ratio of 60.84 percent. The financial results of the first quarter occurred due to a combination of factors that included outstanding asset quality, reduction of interest expenses, increased non-interest income and the maintaining control of non-interest expenses incurred by the bank.
