FRONT PAGE
INTO POSITION. Fred Smith Company contract workers lower some box culverts into place while working on the U.S. 401 access road that will lead from the two-lane highway to the county’s industrial site. (Submitted photo)
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
When construction began on a 7,000-foot access road, economic developers hoped it would lead the region to economic prosperity.
While that prospect may be far down the road, a company that is playing a key role in the project is only a few miles down the road.
The early voting period began on Thursday, giving Franklin County voters their first chance to cast a ballot in some primary battles.
Filing in February created some competition in the primary at the county level, where there is a primary battle for Democrats for commissioner in District 1 and District 3.
Raleigh’s Mark Morrow was one of the first performers on Friday as the International Whistlers Convention continues through the weekend. On Saturday morning, finalists will compete for classical, popular and allied arts awards at Louisburg College’s auditorium. Admission is free.
Louisburg businessman Raymond “Ray” B. Hodges died early Friday after a brief illness. He was 57.
Hodges was perhaps best known as the president of Hodges Insurance Agency, Inc., of Louisburg, a business which was started by his father, John H. Hodges. He also was a long-time trustee of Louisburg College.
Ray Hodges and his wife, Arlene, had two daughters, Allison and Emily.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — From the late 1800s until 1991, the old Sterling Cotton Mill was at the core of the town’s economic engine.
By unanimous decision on Tuesday night, town commissioners approved a request that it hopes will bring about that kind of prosperity again.
County resident Susan Peoples
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
The question is whether Franklinton town officials should run out and buy some lottery tickets while their hand is “hot” or resist that urge because they have already just won?
In any case, a Franklinton celebration appears to be in order since it appears likely that not only will the historic Sterling Cotton Mill be saved but it will be rehabilitated and put back into productive service.
GOOD MORNING: Speaking of azaleas, Wilmington has nothing on us. I’ve got to tell you, folks. Momma Jean and I have a yard full of absolutely beautiful red, white and pink azaleas in full bloom underneath those tall pine trees at our place on Terrell Lane just east of Louisburg, some of them in huge clumps that are well over six feet in height.
A rather off-hand comment during the debate held by Democratic gubernatorial candidates this week put the focus on a topic that needs further discussion, at least in my opinion.
And it’s something that’s been stuck in my craw for many, many years.
It came into the open when Bob Etheridge mentioned on Monday that his grandchild’s first-grade class was being asked to raise $17 per child to help pay for a new teacher.
Dear editor:
When President Obama took office three and a half years ago, the average price for a gallon of gasoline was $1.83. Today the average price is $3.87 a gallon. Charles Krauthammer, one of the sharpest political minds around, wrote in the Washington Post that “presidents have no direct control over gas prices,” and he is exactly right with that statement.
OBITUARIES
LOUISBURG - Raymond “Ray” B. Hodges, 57, died Friday, April 20, 2012.
WAKE FOREST - Richard Addison Mitchell Sr., 80, died Monday, April 16, 2012 at his home. Funeral services were held Thursday morning, April 19, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Tom Ravan and the Rev. Julian Motley officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
ZEBULON - Joseph Howard Freeman, 70, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Rex Hospital. Funeral services were held Friday, April 20, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial followed in Raleigh Memorial Park.
ZEBULON - Jeannette Babbitt Cook, 60, died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at her home. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service Chapel, 944 Old Knight Road, Knightdale. The family will receive relatives and friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.
WAKE FOREST - Kenneth Wayne Wilson, 50, of Youngsville, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Services will be held in West Virginia at a later date.
LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Robert Pernell “Sleepy” Jacobs, 60, who died Wednesday, April 18, 2012, will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Ambassadors For Christ Ministries, with the Rev. Rebecca Leonard officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.
LOUISBURG - Rhonda Evans, 73, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Arrangements by Carlton L. Gray F.C., Raleigh.
FRANKLINTON - Diane Pendleton Marks, 57, of Franklinton, died Thursday morning, April 12, 2012 at WakeMed Raleigh.
LOUISBURG - Kerina Hobaugh, 55, passed away at Duke University Medical Center on April 13, 2012 after a 12 year battle with leukemia. She was born June 27, 1956 in Osaka, Japan where her father was stationed with the USAF. In 1975, she moved with her parents to Raleigh and began a 30-year career with the Dept. of Human Resources where she worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist.
NASHVILLE - Roger Lee Phillips, 74, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2012. He was born July 20, 1937 in Greene County, NC. Roger was the son of the late Roger V. and Leona Manning Phillips. He was a retired CPA and was in the U.S. Navy. Roger was a member of Nashville United Methodist Church, American Legion, and United Methodist Men. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Roger was preceded in death by his sister, Lois Boyette of Warsaw, NC, and daughter-in-law, Angela S. Phillips.
SPORTS
PUTTING A STRAIN ON NORTH JOHNSTON. Franklinton High School’s Krista Strain (right) gains possession for the Lady Rams during Wednesday evening’s Northern Carolina Conference road girls soccer conquest at North Johnston.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
KENLY -- A single Franklinton fan made the journey to North Johnston on Wednesday for a key Northern Carolina Conference girls soccer showdown.
The rest of the usually ardent FHS faithful missed the Lady Rams’ top performance of the season.
Franklinton had lost at home earlier in the campaign to NJ, but the Lady Rams returned the favor with a 2-1 decision.
SIDE BY SIDE. (L to R) Franklinton’s Luis Guillen and Dominique Williams compete in the Boys 800 during Tuesday’s track and field event at FHS.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON -- With multi-event talent Mecca Hicks unavailable for the season due to an injury, it was unsure if Franklinton High School’s girls track and field squad could attain its pre-campaign goal as being a major player in the race for the Northern Carolina Conference Championship.
After all, Hicks is a veteran, state-level performer who racked up points in a multitude of ways for the Lady Rams during her career.
COLLISION COURSE. (L to R) Louisburg’s Kelsey Harris and Southern Nash’s Tori Parker race for possession during Thursday evening’s non-conference girls matchup at the SN Soccer Complex in Stanhope.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
STANHOPE -- Just before halftime, a linesman asked Southern Nash head coach John Matthews if this was a conference match.
League girls soccer events utilize an overtime format to determine a possible winner, while non-conference matches usually end in regulation if the score is tied at the conclusion of time.
LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg College Lady Hurricane softball team played its final home date of the 2012 season on Tuesday evening and split a non-conference doubleheader with Patrick Henry Community College from Virginia.
The Patriots took the first game 5-2, but the Canes bounced back with a 9-0 shutout win in the nightcap.
High School Baseball
MONDAY
Warren County at Bunn 7 p.m.
North Johnston at Louisburg 6 p.m.
BUNN -- Whether it be the softball field or the baseball diamond a few hundred yards away, Bunn poured on the offense to sweep Northern Carolina Conference and backyard rival Franklinton.
In softball action, the Ladycats were 14-4 winners in a game that was stopped by the 10-run rule after BHS delivered four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
WILMINGTON, DEL. -- Mike Rayl and the Carolina Mudcats shut out the Wilmington Blue Rocks 1-0 in front of 3,012 on Wednesday afternoon at Frawley Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball event.
Carolina (6-6) avoided the diamond sweep with the victory, and drops Wilmington to 5-7.
Rayl (1-2) earned his first win by tossing six-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball.
GREAT CATCH. Landon Pearce, the son of Todd and Jeannine Pearce, hauled in this prize during a recent fishing expedition at a private pond belonging to a friend of the family.
HENDERSON -- NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick will appear at this coming Wednesday’s grand opening for Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Henderson.
Ollie’s will open its doors at 9 a.m. The new Ollie’s is located at 1520 Dabney Drive in the former Winn-Dixie building behind Bojangles.
Franklinton’s Torrell Williams qualified for the region event in the Boys High Jump with this clear of 6-0 on Tuesday afternoon at the FHS Football Field.
Franklinton’s Jessica Woodburn leads the pack during this distance race on Tuesday afternoon.
Franklinton’s Hannah Rayman (right) tries to escape the defense of North Johnston’s Katlyn Hunter during Wednesday’s girls soccer matchup in Kenly.
LIFESTYLES
By:
Tracy Perry, Franklin County Cooperative Extension Agricultural Technician
It seems as though a lot of people that live in Franklin County do not know that we have a county Farmers’ Market.
So, I thought that I would take this opportunity to provide some history and key information concerning the Farmers Market. First of all the Market is located in the Shannon Village Shopping Center at the end of the parking lot.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
RALEIGH – Jordan Isaiah Wright of Louisburg participated in the Governor’s Page Program in Raleigh. Wright spent a week gaining valuable life experience and providing administrative support as a page for the Department of Transportation for the week of April 9-13.
Students in the band program at Terrell Lane Middle School in Louisburg (including the seventh-grade band, pictured here), under the direction of Tracie Winstead, presented a concert in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus recently as part of an afternoon during which the students learned more about the college.
COMMUNITY NEWS
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Town commissioners welcomed a new business downtown, even if to some degree, they didn’t want to.
Those who petitioned the board for a new Internet sweepstakes cafe, though, said the town will get a revenue generator that won’t be a drain or blight on the community.
Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Megan R. Helvey graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
The Louisburg Lions Club recently enjoyed an entertaining program when WRAL-TV anchor/reporter Renee Chou visited the club. She shared videos and memories of some the most interesting stories she has covered since joining WRAL in 2004.
Police arrested two Franklinton High School students on drug charges.
According to a report by Franklinton Police Officer A.J. Bishop, he was patrolling Layton Street just after midnight on April 14 when he came upon an older model Honda sitting in an area known for drug use.
When he tried to turn around to get behind the vehicle, the driver pulled off but later stopped at N.C. 56 and West Street.
Workers had to use ladders to scale the box culverts put together by Stay-Right Precast Inc. The 30,000 pound pieces will carry drainage along the 7,000-foot access road from U.S. 401 to an industrial site.
Franklin County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) (Louisburg) Executive Director Lindsay Driver is reminding producers that the 2012 deadline to enroll in the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) program is Friday, June 1.
“Franklin County producers interested in DCP should visit the USDA Service Center where their farm is administered and sign up,” said Driver.
BUSINESS
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A Louisburg grocer plans to move across the street — and change its name.
Lowes Foods, though, doesn’t plan to change its commitment to its customers.
Winston-Salem based Lowes Foods announced this week that it would be closing its store on Wade Avenue, moving a few hundred feet to the old Farmer’s Foods (Winn-Dixie) location on Bickett Boulevard.
Verizon Wireless in Louisburg recently received a national sales award for customer growth in 2011 at a conference held in Charleston, S.C. This is the fourth consecutive year that Verizon Wireless in Louisburg has earned this prestigious award. Louisburg Verizon Wireless is a joint venture with Verizon Communications and is managed/operated by Jeremy May, center.
