FRONT PAGE
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
An internal probe into allegations of wrongdoing by Youngsville employees could be concluded soon.
The town has scheduled an executive session on Monday night to discuss personnel matters.
The meeting comes three weeks after officials placed Town Administrator Brenda Robbins on leave with pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
LAST PLEA. Steven Cairns, with the Bunn Rescue Squad, pled with county commissioners to retain funding for the southern Franklin County crew.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County commissioners adopted a budget this week that adds back overtime for public safety, and adds a new position in the tax office — at a time when six people will be fired, employees are taking a pay cut and departments were cut by at least 5 percent.
That was tough for one commissioner to swallow as Penny McGhee cast the lone dissenting vote against the $66.6 million spending plan for 2011-12.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Legislators from Raleigh to Wilmington hosted a public hearing on redistricting Thursday and they all got the same message — the new maps need to be scrapped.
House and Senate Redistricting committees unveiled newly drawn maps that were designed to create 10 majority-black districts in the Senate and 24 in the House.
STALLINGS
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Authorities took out warrants this week on a Franklin County woman accused of animal abuse.
Franklin County Animal Control staff, with the aid of agents from The Humane Society of the United States, responded to 916 Carlyle Road on June 6 to investigate allegations of animal abuse and neglect.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Commissioners approved a $2.7 million budget in a split vote.
However, the board agreed that a disputed water contract with Franklin County that blistered revenues is at the heart of a budget that raises taxes, cuts employee hours and hikes utility fees.
The board voted 3-2 to approve the budget, with Commissioners Anita Fuller and Al Barbour opposing the financial plan.
DEDICATED SERVICE. Franklinton Police Chief John Green Jr. presents School Resource Officer Doris Hinton with a plaque, recognizing her nine years of service to the town.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Town officials adopted a utility disconnection policy they say should spur residents to pay their water bills and cut down on staff headaches.
During the year, Public Works Director Raymond Bragg routinely presents commissioners with a monthly report highlighting the increasing numbers of water customers on the cut-off list.
Franklinton resident MacKenzie Oakley
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
By:
Jay Lamm, Times Editorial Cartoonist
They bet big on a potential payoff yet we can’t help but wonder if such a payoff even exists.
But they’d better be right because this year — especially this year — voters will have a long memory.
As you read elsewhere in the paper, the Franklin County commissioners adopted their much-discussed budget this week, but a couple of provisions are rather interesting.
One addition really stands out — and will be long remembered.
GOOD MORNING: Let me get this straight. Kelevra says: “The county wants to save money by cutting the fat. As a county we are letting Ronnie, Ritchie and their secretary have over 500 thousand – half a million dollars – 200 thousand in salaries alone, for what’s called economic development, but they haven’t done anything constructive in years. That’s how you cut the fat in Franklin County?
Here’s a little suggestion that may leave you scratching your head in confusion, but it’ll make some sense eventually.
The suggestion is that you pay attention to statewide redistricting as we move forward — but not get too concerned for some weeks.
RALEIGH – I’ve been writing a column about North Carolina politics for nearly 25 years. During that time, I’ve had occasion to criticize the policies of four different governors – Jim Martin, Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, and Beverly Perdue.
None has seen fit to order me flogged. An ancestor of mine, William Pendley, wasn’t so lucky.
In three weeks our legislature returns to Raleigh to draw new maps for Congressional and Legislative districts as required by the 2010 census. Decisions made in redistricting will set the stage for the 2012 elections.
OBITUARIES
BOYDTON, Va. - Ernest Holt Weaver, Jr., 69, died Wednesday, June 22, 2011 in Community Memorial Healthcenter. A memorial service will be conducted today (Saturday, June 25) at 11:00 a.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church in Palmer Springs, Va., with American Legion Military Honors.
WAKE FOREST - Michael Eugene Kelsey, 62, died Saturday, June 18, 2011 at his home in Wake Forest. No local services are planned.
RALEIGH - Funeral services for Floretta “Flo” Jones Thomas, 59, who died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, will be held at 3 p.m. today (Saturday, June 25) at Jones Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Quinton Alston officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
FRANKLINTON - Lois Wheeler Edwards, 79, died Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at Rex Hospital. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. today (Saturday, June 25) in the chapel of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Franklinton, with the Rev. Carl Hunter officiating. A private burial will be held at a later date.
ZEBULON - Anna Bryant Tant, 94, died Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Funeral services were held Friday, June 24, at Strickland Funeral Home in Wendell. Burial followed in the Rocky Cross Baptist Church cemetery.
ZEBULON - Lawrence Wesley Liles Sr., 78, died Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today (Saturday, June 25) at Zebulon United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Zebulon Town Cemetery.
FRANKLINTON - Rosa B. Fogg, 77, died Friday, June 17, 2011. Arrangements by Cutchins Funeral Home, Franklinton.
DURHAM - Funeral services for Christine Nicholson Isler, 78, who died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
SPORTS
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Little did the school know it at the time, but Louisburg College’s quest for a new women’s basketball coach was destined to be a worldwide search.
And when the interview process concluded. LC Athletic Director Mike Holloman was confident that he had located the right candidate in Brett Vana.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Things worked out pretty well for Louisburg College’s last softball signee from the tradition-rich program at North Johnston High School.
By the time she concluded her amazing two-year stint at LC, former NJ standout Amber Weaver had received a pair of Region X Player of the Year Awards -- and she will continue her career in the fall at nearby Barton College in Wilson.
Pairings have been finalized for both the upcoming Dixie Youth Baseball Minor League and Major League District Tournaments.
The Minor League event will be staged at the Oxford Webb High School Softball Field, while the Major League showdown is scheduled to be play at the Bunn Elementary School Field.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Following their sweep through the regular season, the Roanoke Rapids Lady Jackets were once again without equal when the Northern Carolina Conference released its 2011 Girls All-League Team.
Roanoke Rapids, which went 10-0 in the NCC this spring (and 18-2 overall), featured seven all-league performers, including Player of the Year Jessie Scales.
Princeton High School pitcher Traci Bridgers (front, second from right) signs a letter-of-intent to join the softball program at Louisburg College.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- The Town of Louisburg will host the upcoming Tar Heel 8-Under and 10-Under District Softball Tournaments in July.
The 8-Under event will be held July 5-9 at the Louisburg High School Softball Field.
The 10-Under tourney is slated for July 7-10 at Sheilah R. Cotten Field on the campus of Louisburg College.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Ten years had passed since the Bunn Wildcats had last won a Northern Carolina Conference Golf Championship -- but that changed in resounding fashion this spring.
Bunn, coached by Michael Grover, controlled the links proceedings in the NCC in 2011, and the Wildcats went on to win the league title over long-time powerhouse Roanoke Rapids.
RALEIGH -- The National Hockey League has announced the 2011-12 regular-season schedules for its 30 member clubs.
The Carolina Hurricanes will open the season at the RBC Center on Oct. 7, with a 7 p.m. game against Southeast Division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College’s 2011 volleyball season will begin Aug. 17 with a pair of matches at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst.
LC will meet host Sandhills at p.m., followed by a contest against Johnson & Wales at 7 p.m.
LC’s first home event will be Aug. 26 against area rival Vance-Granville Community College. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
FRANKLINTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT T-BALL TEDDY WRIGHT BAIL BONDS. Roster members are (in no particular order) Coaches Sam Jordan, Walter Shannon and R.J. Horne; players Braxton Bowers, Noah Wilder, Roland Brogden, Trent Horne, Mitchell Sutton, Lauyren Brummell, Natalie Greene, Nicholas Duke, Mackenzie Jordan, Emory Sutton, Matthew Terry, Zyquez Crudup and Ward Brogden.
FRANKLINTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT COACH-PITCH PRIVETTE’S BARBER SHOP AND BEAUTY SALON. Roster members are (back, l to r) Coaches Aaron Douherty, Hillary Andrews, Leah Privette, Jay Strother and David Taylor; (middle, l to r) Bryce Andrews, Gavin Boz, Luke Dunham, Rebecca Ayscue, Camden Santos and Dylan Strother; (front, l to r) MacKenzie Crawford, Jenna Andrews, Baylee Smith, Cody O’Neal, Jacob Taylor, Anthony Privette and Matthew Green.
ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats extended their late first-half momentum, defeating the Huntsville Stars 3-2 at Five County Stadium before 3,629 fans in the opener of the second half.
The Mudcats (1-0), who finished the season’s first 70 games with the worst record in the minor leagues (23-47), claimed four of five games to end the first half over the contending Jackson Generals.
LIFESTYLES
Studying abroad is a valuable experience that is very hard to beat. The direct contact with the culture and language of another country does something to people. It actually changes their outlook on life as they experience firsthand another culture as a whole.
Some young students have had the opportunity to do just that.
Maple Springs Baptist Church honored Mary H. Williams with a reception for her 100th birthday on Sunday afternoon, June 12, in the fellowship hall. Earlier during the worship hour, she was presented a plaque by Pastor Jason Havens for her life of dedication to God and service to her church. The reception was sponsored by the Hospitality Committee and special church friends.
By:
Charles Mitchell, Franklin County Cooperative Extension Director
Sharing the knowledge generated through research remains the goal of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
The organization’s mission is to help individuals, families and communities put research-based knowledge to work for economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and an improved quality of life.
By:
Martha Mobley, Franklin County Cooperative Extension Agent
The NC Cooperative Extension and several goat and sheep producer associations in North Carolina are partnering to hold the “NC Goat & Sheep Producers Roundup IV” on Thursday and Friday, July 21 & 22, at the Lenior County Cooperative Extension Center located at 1791 Hwy. 11/55 in Kinston.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
The Cypress Creek Civitan Club participated in Awards Day at Bunn High School by presenting Connor Starling with a plaque and certificate representing a $500 college scholarship. This scholarship has been created for a Junior Civitan who has demonstrated leadership using the high principles of the Civitan Creed and who actively participates in sponsored community service projects, while maintaining high academic standards.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies are looking for suspects who broke into a middle school.
Wayne Champion reported on June 15 that someone had broken into all three of the school’s utility buildings where sports equipment is stored.
Champion is president of the Cedar Creek Middle School’s sports booster club.
The Edward Best High School Class of 1951 met on May 28 for their 60th class reunion.
Former students of Perry’s High School honored teacher James L. Nicholson at an appreciation service held at Perry’s School on Saturday, June 4. He taught English and French at Perry’s from 1949-1962.
The program began with the processional of Mr. Nicholson, escorted by his surrogate daughter, Emma Brown Robertson. Music, “We’ve Come This Far By Faith,” was sung by the Rev. Bernice Richardson and her sister, Vernice R. Harris.
If you believe that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly denied farm loan benefits to you between 1981 and 2000 because you are Hispanic, or because you are female, you may be eligible to apply for compensation. You may be eligible if:
BUSINESS
The Bunn community got another new business this week when Common Grounds, a coffee and fun house, opened at 20 Cheves Road (behind Sister’s Cafe). The business offers hot and cold coffee, smoothies, blended drinks, teas, frappes, bottled drinks and snacks — and there is a plan to add sandwiches and bagels beginning next month.
