GOOD MORNING: It’s Christmas Eve and in the words of my father, the late Times editor-publisher Asher F. Johnson, Sr., back when I was a kid, “Christmas Eve Gift – Give It To Me!”
It was during the Great Depression back in the 1930’s and times were tough, but we were thankful for what we had. Dad would kindle a roaring fire in the living-room fireplace, before awakening us with the holiday greeting.
Dear Santa Claus:
I’m a fifth grader in Louisburg Elementary School.
My name is Isaiah and all I want for Christmas is for you to get in your sleigh and go to Afghanistan and bring the U.S. soldiers home for Christmas and forever. They deserve to be home because they have been fighting from 2001 to the present year and that’s about 10 years now since 2001.
Dear Editor:
The tragic events of the past week have reinforced what we see on a daily basis. The attempted murder/suicide in Bunn and the murder/suicide in Louisburg illustrate just how prevalent domestic violence is in Franklin County. Every day we receive calls from frightened people that feel helpless against the violence they are going through or expect to happen at any moment.
RALEIGH – Cattle, sheep, and other herd animals lack the ability to chew, swallow, and digest their food the way we do. They regurgitate solids from their stomach in the form of a cud, to be further chewed and broken down before digestion.
You know, we adults always think that we learn something valuable only from someone our age or older. Well, last Sunday at Louisburg United Methodist Church, we had the service conducted by our young college-age people. I was truly impressed with their maturity and talents.
To begin with, we have many talented young folks in our congregation, and we are proud of them.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies helped a Texas man track down his aircraft.
According to a report by Dep. Tim Joyner, Jeff Akhtar got involved in an aircraft sale that apparently got shaky and nearly cost him his $300,000 craft.
On Dec. 16, aircraft dealer Patrick Dennison told authorities that he was trying to broker a deal between his client, Akhtar, and a local man, Brandon Scott.
The Franklin County Library has been awarded a $32,710.00 grant to be used for the Library’s migration to NC Cardinal that will soon serve the citizens of the county. These Library Services and Technology Act funds have been awarded and are made possible through funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
The Victorian Carolers, based in Louisburg, returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. where they performed at the White House on Dec. 6. The group, which includes Paula and Johnny Walters, Jo Ann Fish and Hanna-Joy Bowden of Louisburg, Brian Fergerson and Laura Cashwell of Wake Forest, Rick King and Matt Lewis of Zebulon, and Jody Rollins of Raleigh, didn’t perform for President Obama, but the trip was the group’s grandest audience to date.
LOUISBURG – Bobby Ray Young, 74, died Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 21, 2011. A graveside service was held Friday, Dec. 23, at Oakwood Cemetery, with the Rev. Bob Mosher officiating.
LOUISBURG – Kenneth Vernon McCurry, 88, of Louisburg, passed away Tuesday night.
The Nu Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority, Inc. held its annual Miss Nu Epsilon Cotillion on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Interdenominational Headquarters Building in Franklinton. There was a reception beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the Cotillion at 6 p.m.
Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start, Inc. is a non-profit organization led by local volunteers who design and provide programs and services for families with children ages 0-5 in Franklin, Granville, and Vance counties. Each year at this time, FGV Smart Start staff chooses a local agency to assist during the holiday season.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Full-court pressure defense has been a staple of Lester Wilder’s glorious tenure as the girls basketball coach at Franklinton High School.
Wilder’s teams have gained a statewide reputation for delivering 94 feet of defensive intensity -- especially during FHS’ numerous deep postseason runs in the 1990s.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- Free-throw shooting in pressure situations has been a long-time issue for the Louisburg High School boys basketball team -- even going back to when current head coach Dontae Lassiter was a player for the Warriors.
But the Warriors enjoyed plenty of charity-stripe success Tuesday, and the result was a clutch victory over host Franklinton in a key Northern Carolina Conference matchup at the new FHS Gymnasium.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
AURELIAN SPRINGS -- Bunn continued its early-season undefeated streak with a Northern Carolina Conference boys basketball victory Tuesday night against the homestanding Northwest Halifax Vikings.
BHS was not outscored during any period stop, but the Vikings were still tough to put away.
“It was a close game all the way through,’’ said BHS head coach Gerald Melton. “We were finally able to get some distance there in the end.’’
Former Louisburg College pitcher Paul Clemens continues to work his way up the Minor League system -- and may be appearing in a Major League stadium near you much sooner than later.
Clemens, a native of Burke, Va., has earned a spot on the 40-man roster for the Houston Astros heading into the 2012 campaign.
High School Wrestling
FRIDAY
FHS at Northern Durham Tourney 9 a.m.
BHS at C.B. Aycock Tourney TBA
AURELIAN SPRINGS -- Talk about tall tasks -- the Louisburg Lady Warriors tangled with a pair of undefeated clubs on back-to-back nights this week.
Tuesday, Louisburg traveled to unbeaten Franklinton for a key Northern Carolina Conference matchup, and the Lady Rams earned a 36-22 home decision.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Bunn High School, coached by Leonard Allen, will begin its 2012 baseball schedule with a road game on Feb. 28 at Nash Central.
Bunn’s first five games will all come against Class 3-A foes from Nash County. In addition to Central, the Wildcats will also tangle with Northern Nash and Southern Nash.
Louisburg’s Sedalia Seda (with ball) heads upcourt while being defended by Franklinton’s Mecca Hicks during Tuesday night’s girls basketball contest at FHS.
Franklinton’s Delonte Perry (with ball) goes up for a shot while being defended by Louisburg’s Marcus Davis during Tuesday night’s boys basketball event, which was staged at the FHS Gymnasium.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Staff got an update from those responsible for engineering a high-speed rail project that could cut the town in half.
Monday’s meeting was an opportunity for town officials and staff to continue dialogue about the Southeast High Speed Rail project and reiterate their call to prevent the project from closing major East-West thoroughfares to accommodate the train project.
Police arrested a Louisburg man they allege had a role in a murder-suicide.
Investigators on Tuesday afternoon charged Ryan Reynolds, 21, with accessory before the fact and aiding and abetting a felonious breaking and entering.
According to Louisburg Police Chief Rick Lassiter, Reynolds had gone to an apartment in Franklin Court Apartments the morning of Dec. 14 with the intent of helping Gregory Hicks get inside.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
When allegations surfaced that former sheriff Pat Green illegally dipped into Shop with a Sheriff funds, a cloud hung over the program.
But Sheriff Jerry Jones, the United Way and others who donate to the program wanted to make sure that deserving children wake up Christmas morning with beaming smiles instead.
Geoffrey Hawthorne, assistant principal at Cedar Creek Middle School, has been named the 2012 Franklin County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year.
Hawthorne began his teaching career at Cedar Creek Middle School in 2005, teaching eighth grade social studies for four years.
