FRONT PAGE
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- One of Franklin County’s most legendary coaches will be returning to the sideline this fall.
David Howle, the football coach at Bunn High School before retiring after the 2008 season, has been named BHS’ gridiron skipper for the second time.
Howle succeeds Chris Miller, who had taken over previously for Howle.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
The Franklin County Board of Education has revised the agenda for its special Thursday night meeting to include a discussion about replacing outgoing School Superintendent Eddie Ingram.
The board learned late Monday night that Dr Ingram has been hired as the new superintendent of the Darlington (SC) County School District.
Thursday night’s school board meeting was originally called to tie up financial loose ends at the end of the current fiscal year and get ready to start a new year July 1.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
What Louisburg native Maury York discovered when he returned to his roots was a “blank slate,” an intriguing challenge and a chance to pull together the region’s history and culture for this and future generations to enjoy.
York has fond memories of being a boy growing up in Louisburg and visiting Rose’s 5 & 10 downtown, enjoying the aroma of roasting peanuts while selecting the perfect piece of candy for a summer afternoon.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
YOUNGSVILLE — In the last few weeks, the town has hired a planning and design firm to help map town growth.
Staff has also secured the services of graduate interns to help develop a downtown strategic plan.
And officials have formed a Community Advancement Program — a committee set up to examine growth and development issues facing the town.
FRANKLIN COUNTY — The area will be home to Independence Day celebrations, both on July 3 and July 4.
First, in Franklin County, the town of Franklinton and American Legion Post 52 will host its annual Stand Up for America event at the old Franklinton High School on July 3.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and fireworks are slated to off at dusk, about 9 p.m.
Beverly Kegley
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
RALEIGH — The numbers of Moral Monday protestors continues to increase with each passing week, and so does the involvement of Franklin County residents.
This past Monday, two more Franklin residents, including one who is believed to have been the oldest, were arrested for civil disobedience for their role in the non-violent protest.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
NEW BERN — A Louisburg man and former dance instructor was sentenced to spend more than 22 years in federal prison on charges of child pornography.
And once released, Bruce Howard, 55, will face the remaining years of his life under supervised probation.
“This case is an excellent illustration of the strong connection between child pornography crimes and the sexual abuse of children,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Walker.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the county’s 2013-14 budget during its June 17 meeting. A story in the June 20 edition incorrectly stated that Commissioner Harry Foy was the lone dissenter. The Franklin Times regrets the error.
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
It seems my prediction in a recent column (June 13) was right on point — and I’m terribly sorry that I was right.
It would have been so much better, both from the point of view of our local government and from our educational system, if I had been way, way off base. Wrong even!
The county commissioners, without a close look or anything resembling a discussion, let alone a debate, slashed both money for school safety and local pay raises for teachers.
It’s no coincidence that three Franklin County communities are looking at ways to revitalize their once busy downtowns — and they have every reason to be making revitalization a high priority.
Unless something changes quickly, all three run the risk of further deterioration that none of them can stand.
Just last week, Louisburg released a 14-point revitalization list that council members and the mayor tossed out, asking residents to make suggestions.
Some Independence Day celebrations are jumping the gun, getting started on July 3.
However, for a lot of people, real fireworks went off this past Wednesday.
According to reports, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act — a landmark ruling for gay rights.
The 1996 law blocked federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
Moral Monday?
It may be on a Monday, but moral?
Webster defines moral as, “of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior.
Some Democrat’s that sit in high places, namely William Barber, president of the NC State Conference of the NAACP, and Congressman David Price seem to think it is right to have people that do not have jobs to openly disobey the law and then suffer the fines and convictions.
On Wednesday, April 10, I was speaker number 119 at a public hearing held by the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The topic was proposed voter ID legislation.
Unlike me, the vast majority of the speakers who preceded me were in favor of more restrictive laws.
Most of them were speaking from scripts prepared by the Voter Integrity Project of NC.
OBITUARIES
RALEIGH - Elizabeth Dolittle Masson died Saturday, June 22, 2013. She was a former resident of Lake Royale.
SPORTS
HEADING TO KNIGHTDALE. Bunn HS football coach Chris Miller has resigned to accept a teaching/coaching position at Knightdale High School.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- After three consecutive Elite Eight postseason performances, Chris Miller is moving on.
Miller, Bunn’s head football coach for the past four seasons, has resigned and is expected to be hired as a teacher and coach at Knightdale High School in Wake County.
A Bunn alum, Miller came back to BHS five years ago and served one season as an assistant to David Howle before becoming the school’s head coach.
JUST BEAT IT. Youngsville Nationals’ player Chris Wertz beats out an infield single as Bunn’s Cody Rice readies for the throw during Monday’s championship game of the Dixie Youth Coach-Pitch District Tournament.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
OXFORD - With a berth in the states already secured by both teams, just one score remained to be settled when the Youngsville Nationals tangled with Bunn on Tuesday in the championship of the Dixie Youth Coach-Pitch Baseball Tournament.
Coming in, Bunn needed to win twice to claim the title against the Nationals, who entered the final day of competition without a loss.
ELUSIVE BALL. Bunn shortstop Isaiah Ortega (left) tries to come up with a relay throw off a Broughton steal attempt during Monday evening’s scholastic league contest at the Bunn High School Baseball Field.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Patience is the most important keyword for the coaches of Bunn’s Summer League Baseball Teams.
A perfect example of that came during Monday’s Junior League home contest against Broughton.
Featuring a roster that will mostly comprise Bunn’s junior varsity squad next spring, the BHS coaches watched the Wildcats make several mistakes that eventually added up to a 5-3 setback against the Caps from Raleigh.
ROCKY MOUNT -- Louisburg and Bunn will field teams in the upcoming 2013 Junior Division District 6 All-Star Baseball Tournament.
The event, which is for players ages 13-14, will be held July 10-13 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex (600 Independence Drive).
A double-elimination format will be utilized.
LOCAL DIAMOND LEGENDS. (L to R) Greg Clifton (assistant) and Leonard Allen (head coach) served on the staff for the Region 3 Team during the Powerade North Carolina State Baseball Games, which were held last week near Charlotte.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Christian Sledge made the most of his one chance to shine at the Powerade North Carolina Baseball State Games, which were held last weekend near Charlotte.
Sledge, a rising senior hurler at Bunn High School, made the Region 3 Team during tryouts for the second straight year and worked one game for the club, which eventually claimed the bronze medal.
CHAPEL HILL -- Wells Fargo, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, has announced the final standings in the Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 2012-13 academic year.
The award recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classifications. The Cup program is in its 34th year.
ZEBULON -- Luigi Rodriguez made sure the Carolina Mudcats’ losing streak would not continue on Monday night as he singled home the winning run in a 3-2 thriller against the Frederick Keys at Five County Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball showdown.
The walk-off was Carolina’s second of the year, and marked the sixth time the club has won a one-run decision.
SWIM STAR. Jessica Weathers is a strong performer in the pool for the Town and Country Stingray’s swim squad this summer.
LOUISBURG -- With a whopping 83 youngsters on the roster, the Town and Country Stingrays began their 2013 summer swim season on June 20 with a 361-46 home decision over an upstart Franklinton Frogs’ program.
TC, coached by Jamie Cash, will return to the pool today for a road meeting in Raleigh versus Stone Creek.
Town and Country’s complete remaining schedule is as follows, with home events listed in CAPS:
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Bunn High School Principal Robin Faulkner didn’t waste much time in her search for a new baseball coach.
Just a few hours, as a matter of fact.
Leonard Allen, who spent the past four years at BHS, announced his resignation Tuesday morning to accept the head coaching position at Northern Nash High School.
DISTRICT COACH-PITCH CHAMPIONS. The Youngsville Nationals took the title at the Dixie Youth District 10 Coach-Pitch Tournament. Pictured are (back row, l to r) Coaches Wayne Glover, Ken Witcher, Jeremy Phan and Joe Johnson; (third row, l to r) Joey Bierly, Caelan Witcher, Jake Phan, Gavin Johnson and Rhett Johnson; (second row, l to r) Hunter Glover, Brandon Moran, Caleb Ayers and Cameron Hathaway; (front row, l to r) Ethan LeBlanc, Chris Wertz and Connor Hathaway.
DUNK-A-THON. Coaches for the Youngsville Nationals receive an unexpected bath after the Nationals won first place at the Dixie Youth District 10 Coach-Pitch Tournament in Granville County.
OMAHA, NEB -- North Carolina State University’s first trip to the College World Series since 1968 came to an end last Thursday at TD Ameritrade Park, following a 7-0 loss to top-seeded North Carolina.
The Wolfpack (50-16) wrapped up its first 50-win season in program history after falling behind 1-0 in the top of the fourth.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Bunn High School will begin its 2013 volleyball schedule on Aug. 19 with a home contest against the Nash Central Lady Bulldogs.
Bunn, coached by Henry Jones, will open Northern Carolina Conference play Aug. 27 at home versus league newcomer Southern Vance.
FCPR 12-OVER ACES. (Back, l to r) Coach Jason, Jennifer Kagarise, Jodie Summerlin, Kallie Bowers and Coach Dylan; (front, l to r) Harley Foster, Madison Johnson, Savannah Wilkerson and Alex Cardwell.
FCPR 12-OVER QUEENS OF THE COURT. (Back, l to r) Coach Audra Gupton, Taylor Vitale, Sarah Foster, Melissa Ayscue, Maddie Ayscue and Coach Sondra Ayscue; (front, l to r) Madison Richardson, Lilli Gupton, Lucy Ketterer and Abigale Gupton.
Members of the Youngsville Nationals Baseball Team celebrate after receiving the first-place trophy at the Dixie Youth District 10 Coach-Pitch Tournament, which concluded Monday evening at the Oxford Webb HS Softball Field.
Bunn’s Justin Hicks rips a single during Monday evening’s meeting against the Youngsville Nationals.
Addison Jones gets some help from Coach Dillan Phillps for the Town and Country Stingrays.
Youngsville’s Caelan Witcher speeds home with the winning run during Monday’s title game of the Dixie Youth Coach-Pitch District Tournament at the Oxford Webb High School Softball Field.
LIFESTYLES
Emily Sutton and Alex Taylor were married on Dec. 31, 2012 in Jones Chapel at Meredith College in Raleigh. The wedding was officiated by the Rev. Earl Dulaney.
The bride is the daughter of Roy and Ivey Sutton of Louisburg. She is a graduate of NCSU and is employed at Brierwood Equestrian Center in Apex.
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.*
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
Zoe Hinton
GREENVILLE — Two recent high school graduates who call Franklin County home are among 19 incoming freshmen selected for the prestigious EC Scholars program at East Carolina University.
Zoe Hinton of Louisburg and Katerina Koloustroubis of Youngsville received the merit scholarship, which recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills.
The following Awards, Scholarships and Honors were presented recently at Louisburg High School.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies are looking for suspects in a strong arm robbery.
Brandon Fitzgibbon reported the afternoon of June 22 that he was entertaining a friend that had just gotten out of jail and another man he didn’t know when the unknown man attacked him.
According to the report by Dep. Kevin Perry, the trio were at Fitzgibbon’s Herbert Drive home when the two visitors were about to leave.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Louisburg man accused of breaking into a home and robbing a man at gunpoint.
A second assailant remains at large.
Joseph A. Fowler, 24, was charged with first degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon on June 19 — two days after the crime was reported.
HOT TIMES. Above, Franklinton and Bunn legends, left to right, Lester Wilder and Kent Winstead, served as coaches for a multitude of activities that took place during the free summer camp hosted by Bridges of Hope Outreach Ministry and a host of church and civic groups.
A worker with Raynor Builders works on the front of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Building in downtown Louisburg. Contractors are fixing some brick work, as well as windows as part of the renovation project.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
LOUISBURG — Two Youngsville businessmen have continued their legal fight against Franklin County, asking a judge to overturn a decision that’s denied them a gun range.
Eric Coombs and Aaron Byrd applied in December for a special use permit to operate a gun range on a 171-acre tract on Dunn Road.
Deputies arrested two teens charged with stealing golf carts and damaging greens.
A third suspect has yet to be charged.
James Stiller reported the morning of June 22 that someone broke into the golf cart storage building and the shop building at Bull Creek Golf and Country Club on Massenburg-Baker Road.
Two different law enforcement agencies are investigating the thefts of concrete benches, one from a cemetery and another at a church.
The afternoon of June 15, Dannie Hyde reported to Franklinton police that a concrete bench was missing from Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton.
The Franklin County Arts Council will dedicate the Quilt Trails of the Tar River on Saturday, June 29, at the Bunn Depot on Railroad Street in Bunn in conjunction with Bunn’s Centennial Celebration.
The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 4 p.m, with the official ribbon cutting at 11 a.m.
It has been almost three years since artists Theresa Brown and Steve Filarsky brought the idea of a quilt trail to the Franklin County Arts Council.
