FRONT PAGE
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The county’s top law enforcement officer switched political parties this week.
But if you ask Sheriff Jerry Jones, he said the party switched on him, supporting stances and values, such as same-sex marriage, that he doesn’t.
“This is something I’ve thought about and discussed for a good while ... for a long time,” Jones said this week, after filing the paperwork to switch party affiliation from Democrat to Republican on Wednesday.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The county’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has narrowed its list for a new county park down to five.
Their next goal will be deciding whether they present commissioners with three options or one definitive site for a park that would fulfill a dying man’s request for recreation.
In January 2010, Edgar Owens’ estate left the county nearly $1 million to build a park, with a pond if possible, and use the remainder of the money to help maintain the facility.
If interest expressed by industries looking at Franklin County is any indication, the economy may be looking up a little.
“It’s looking good as far as activity goes,” said Ronnie Goswick, Franklin County’s Economic Developer, as he spoke to the county Economic Development Commission Thursday morning.
A farm girl’s work is never done and little Hailey Privette, 2 and a half, of Pearce’s was working away at her chores during the Justice Tractor Show last weekend. Under the watchful eye of her dad, Chris, she thought shelling corn was fun, something her ancestors might have disagreed with her about. Nearly perfect weather and vintage equipment of all kinds made the annual show a success.
Elvira’s Garden was created on the Bunn High School Campus
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
BUNN — On what had been a patch of grass and dirt at Bunn High, Elvira’s Garden sprouted up, its floral beauty matching the spirit of its namesake.
Elvira Hernandez was killed five years ago when her estranged boyfriend, Christopher Thomas shot her as she got off the school bus and headed to her Ferrells Bridge home.
Four-year-old Jakayla Leonard
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
GOOD MORNING: The weather today, Saturday, looks to be partly cloudy and mild with temperatures reaching the low 80’s and only a 10 percent chance of rain. Sunday is expected to be a bit cooler and there’s a 50 percent chance rain and even cooler weather beginning Monday.
Here’s a switch!
A county department that’s taking its problems and solutions to the public and making it all work out.
As you read in our mid-week edition, drastic changes at Franklin County Animal Control were not only drastic, they seem to be working.
And they seem to be working not only for county residents but also for the animals.
To quote Asher, if you owed someone a good day and they wouldn’t take any of the last several in payment, they’d be out of luck.
To say the weather has been nearly picture-perfect would be an understatement. Even the frequent rains of the last several weeks have slowed and since the nighttime temperatures are dropping, even the grass, which has seemed to grow before your eyes recently, has slowed down.
OBITUARIES
LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Sgt. Major Oliver S.J. Davis, 76, who died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Richardson Funeral Home in Louisburg, with the Rev. J. Eric Morgan officiating.
LOUISBURG —Anthony Dale White, 55, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Flat Rock Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Gary McNair officiating.
ZEBULON - Bobbie Lou Massey, 78, daughter of the late Prentiss Mitchell and Leo B. Cole Sr., died at her home Wednesday morning, Sept. 12, 2012. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 14, at Massey Funeral Home, Zebulon. Committal service followed at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
WAKE FOREST - Margaret Helen Barham Miller, 86, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 at Hillside Nursing Center. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Randy Bridges officiating.
LOUISBURG - At 6:45 PM on September 11, 2012, Marsha Alcorn Bartholomew answered the call of the Lord to walk just a little closer to Him. A wife, mother, and sister, Marsha always put others before herself in everything she did. With a passion for family, faith, flowers, and fashion, she always knew the right thing to say and do to put a smile on another’s face. She had a zeal for life and a love of God that was evident throughout everything she did. May the light of the Lord shine on her as she looks down upon her loved ones.
SPORTS
CORY IN THE CLUTCH. Franklinton’s Cory Halterman (right) controls the ball for the Red Rams during Wednesday’s home boys soccer match against Northern Carolina Conference rival Roanoke Rapids.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton’s boys soccer squad has taken on many challenges in the early portion of the season -- and few were greater than Wednesday’s Northern Carolina Conference showdown against perennial powerhouse Roanoke Rapids.
FHS’ difficult schedule continued versus the Jackets, and first-year head coach Isaac Welker saw his Red Rams go toe-to-toe with Roanoke Rapids for 100 minutes.
IRIS IN ACTION. Louisburg College sophomore midfielder Iris Cruz (left) enjoyed an impressive performance for the Lady Hurricanes during Wednesday’s home soccer victory against Wake Tech Community College.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College gave up just one shot on goal over the first 18 minutes of Wednesday’s Region X women’s soccer matchup against backyard rival Wake Tech Community College.
But LC trailed as the visiting Lady Eagles made the most of their lone opportunity to that point.
That was a source of consternation for veteran LC head coach Andy Stokes, who had seen his club dominate from a territorial aspect -- while watching Wake Tech score on its only rush up the field.
GENEROUS TIPPER. Louisburg’s Shardae Alexander (right) tries to send a tip past Bunn’s Haley Dickerson during Thursday’s volleyball matchup.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- For most of the season, Bunn coach Henry Jones has tried a variety of methods to motivate his young Ladycats’ volleyball squad.
BHS has been uncharacteristically inconsistent for much of the campaign, leaving Jones to wonder if the Ladycats will be able to successfully repeat as the Northern Carolina Conference regular season and tournament champions.
Louisburg’s own ‘Red Man’ (aka Lamont Richardson) will be part of a huge wrestling card slated for Sept. 29 at the Louisburg Boys and Girls Club (53 West River Road).
Red Man and several of the other top standouts from the Impact Championship Wrestling organization will be in action at the ‘September To Dismember’ event.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Even without standout senior middle hitter Jessica Harris, the Franklinton Lady Rams were able to sail through two Northern Carolina Conference volleyball matchups this week.
Tuesday, Franklinton tangled with Corinth Holders, which is expected to be a top-tier NCC club in 2012.
The Lady Rams dropped one game, but were still able to secure a 25-21, 25-14, 21-25 and 25-23 decision over the Lady Pirates.
HENDERSON -- The 2012 Vance-Granville Community College women’s volleyball season has started.
The Vanguards began their season on Sept. 1 with a tri-match hosted by Johnston Community College in Smithfield.
In the first match, the Sandhills Community College Flyers defeated the VGCC squad, three sets to none.
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College hosted North Carolina Wesleyan College and Surry Community College on Sept. 7 in fall golf season action at Bull Creek Golf Club.
NC Wesleyan from Rocky Mount claimed first place in the team standings at the Louisburg Confab Invite. The Bishops finished with 304 strokes to edge LC by just three shots.
High School Football
FRIDAY
Louisburg at Franklinton 7:30 p.m.
Bunn at Roanoke Rapids 7:30 p.m.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College has released its schedule for the 2012-13 men’s basketball season.
The Hurricanes are the three-time defending tournament champions in Region X.
They will kick off this year’s slate Nov. 1 with a home game against Vance-Granville, which is coached by the legendary Mike Rotolo.
Sophomore defender Ashley Beck (left) was outstanding for the Louisburg College Lady Hurricanes during Wednesday’s victory versus Wake Tech CC.
8-11 SUMMER LEAGUE LADY HEELS. (Back, l to r) Coach Brad Turner, Abbi Collier, Ava Berlacher, Marlee Sykes and Coach Scottie Martin; (front, l to r) Claire Berlacher, Emily Bowden, Hannah Martin and Kaylee Turner. Not pictured is Sophia Simmons. (Photo Submitted)
Louisburg’s Zoe Hinton (right) goes up for a kill for the Lady Warriors during Thursday’s Northern Carolina Conference spike contest against rival Bunn at the LHS Gymnasium.
LIFESTYLES
Franklin County 4-H has announced that the 2012 Four County 4-H Livestock Show will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21 at the Granville County Expo Center (formerly Southern Livestock Center) in Oxford.
Youth from Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties will participate in the show and exhibit sheep, goats, hogs, and cattle. Many of the 40 youth participants will go on to the North Carolina State Fair in October.
Franklin County Arts Council is a supporter of literary artists and boasts a number of published authors, freelance writers and spoken word artists among its membership.
Those members have come together forming the FCAC Writers Guild.
LOUISBURG SENIOR CENTER
Telephone: 496-1131 • Meals Daily: 11:30 a.m.
* Exercise Room: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon. - Fri.*
*Billiards: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.*
Cassie Len Wester and Kyle Nelson Joyner were married April 7, 2012 at the home of the bride’s parents during a private double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Len Wester of Louisburg. Parents of the groom are Mr. and Mrs. Dean Joyner of Spring Hope. Following the ceremony, family and friends joined the couple at a reception held at the home of the bride’s parents.
David and Tanya Brewer of Louisburg announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Meagan Brewer, to Elliott Harley Coker. The groom-elect is the son of Louis and the late Mary Alice Coker of Creedmoor. An October 2012 wedding is planned.
The Interdenominational Ushers Association of North Carolina met recently at at the Ushers Headquarters Building on US #1 Highway in Franklinton and New Liberty Baptist Church.
State President, the Rev. Lawrence T. Wilkerson Sr. of Roxboro, welcomed everyone to the 87th Annual Session.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
The Franklin County Board of Education handled a number of personnel items Monday night, including:
Crystal A. Bolden is a Molecular and Celluar Biosciences (MCB) Ph.D. candidate at Wake Forest University.
She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in May 2011. Mid-way through a one-year internship (with benefits) at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, she accepted a full scholarship with Wake Forest University.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Although it looks like a trophy watermelon, it’s actually made of cast iron — and it spins. Plus, it sits over a large tray and is built sturdy enough to withstand. . .oh, say a large hog rubbing against it. It’s also the latest fascination of Janie Kemp (shown here) whose husband, Abe, says she has gone “hog wild for the devices, some of which are round and others which come in a variety of shapes.
Musicians Meghanne Nadeau, right, and Alexis Perez, playing the guitar, provide music during a dedication ceremony held at Bunn High School on Wednesday. Students, faculty and the family of Elvira Hernandez were on hand to witness the unveiling of Elvira’s Garden, a floral space at the school done in honor of Hernandez, who was killed in 2007.
Franklin County native Patrick L. Crudup has been promoted to Lieutenant in the Asheville Fire and Rescue Department. He has received numerous commendations and credentials since joining the department in 2002.
Lt. Crudup’s service includes vice president of the Asheville Firemen’s Union, a Swat medic for the Asheville Police Department, and an Army Reserve veteran sergeant.
Safe Space representatives Lin Rudloph, left, and Renale Giles accept a donation on behalf of students and faculty at Bunn High School. The donation was on behalf of Elvira Hernandez, who was killed in a domestic violence episode.
IN SERVICE - Bunn High School graduate Christopher Watson graduated from U.S. Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island, S. C. on June 8. He has since graduated from Marine Combat Training and is currently in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He recently received orders to Okinawa, Japan, and that will be his permanent unit. Christopher is a motor transport operator.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County commissioners will get a chance to weigh in on three heavily studied issues, from lake protection to highway development to economic development.
First, board members will be asked to consider a text amendment designed to better protect Lake Royale’s waterway from development.
A Louisburg man nearly took out a utility pole after he fled the scene of a hit and run.
According to an accident report by Officer Dennis Benson, Alphonso Kingsberry was driving a 1995 Cadillac in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant on Bickett Boulevard the afternoon of Sept. 8 when he hit a woman’s car.
PREP FOOTBALL
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Through three games, Bunn coach Chris Miller felt like his club hadn’t reached its potential on offense.
But following a bye week for extra preparation, the Wildcats piled up 69 points -- scoring in just about every fashion -- to roll past North Johnston on Friday at home in the Northern Carolina Conference gridiron opener for both squads.
WENDELL -- Franklinton’s penchant for earning clutch victories has now spanned four straight victories -- including Friday’s 34-21 decision over the host Corinth Holders Pirates in the Red Rams’ opener in the Northern Carolina Conference.
Corinth Holders entered the contest with a winless mark, albeit against a tough schedule.
