Archives

LOUISBURG -- A superior court judge has set a hearing to determine if Superior Court Clerk of Court Patricia Chastain should be removed from office.
Louisburg attorney Jeffrey Scott Thompson, who petitioned the court to take action, said he hopes that Chastain takes the decision out of the judge's hands.
"... I hope she does the right thing and ... resigns or steps down," Thompson said the day after he filed his petition on July 13.

LOUISBURG -- "We are committed to doing this the right way. I'm committed personally to it," said Franklin County Schools Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler Monday night as the Board of Education discussed how schools may open in a few weeks.
Her comments came toward the end of a meeting which mostly focused on concerns about the growing COVID-19 pandemic which has sent school leaders across North Carolina scrambling for answers.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has recorded its first COVID-19-related death in more than a month as cases continue to rise.
An outbreak has been reported at Franklin Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and a cluster of cases have been reported at ABC Adventures Preschool and Child Care.
The new death, though, came from the community at large, said Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners gave management authority to negotiate a lease agreement that would move several county services into the old Walmart building.
The action was taken following a closed session during the board's June 4 meeting.
"The county," Commission Chair Sidney Dunston said upon re-entering open session, "is seeking space for departments."

Don Mitchell took the oath of office on Tuesday as he was sworn in to fill the unexpired term of Charlene Clay, who stepped down in April after moving out of Bunn. In early 2011, the board chose Mitchell to fill the unexpired term of Carolyn Files, which expired that fall. Mitchell then sought and won the fall 2011 election, but opted not to seek re-election in 2015. Town Clerk Pamela Perry, right, held the Bible while Mayor Marsha Strawbridge recited the oath.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A domestic dispute thought to be resolved dissolved into a murder suicide over the weekend.
Authorities allege Albert Crudup shot and killed Lamien Moore before turning the gun on himself late Sunday inside their apartment on Wolfpack Lane.
Youngsville officers responded to a 911 hangup at the residence just before 10 p.m. on July 12.

Louisburg High School assistant football coach Mike Epps

There was a little good news and some bad news on the public information front locally in the last few days.
First the good news. Gov. Roy Cooper came to his senses and vetoed the ill-advised piece of legislation that sailed through a late-night session of the legislature and which would have banned your access to public records concerning death investigations.

Most often, it's firefighters who are running to the aid of their community.
Now, they're looking for the community to come to their rescue.
The Youngsville Fire Department has secured a grant through state and international fire associations designed to help recruit and retain volunteers.

RALEIGH--Elaine Gibbs Mangum, 88, of Raleigh departed this earthly life on Monday, July 6, 2020. She was born on October 17, 1931 to the late Rufus H. and Becky Pearce Gibbs. In addition to her parents, Elaine was preceded in death by her son, Mike Mangum; her daughter, Susan Pillsbury; and her sister, Margaret G. Mitchell.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Deaconess Lucy McKnight Eaton, 93, who died Tuesday, July 14, 2020, will be held Tuesday, July 21, at 11 a.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with the Rev. Michael Alston officiating.

FRANKLINTON--Rupert Perry, 75, died Wednesday, July 8, at his home. Memorial services will be private.

LOUISBURG--Timothy Allen Fuller, 44, of Louisburg died Monday, July 13, 2020 from injuries sustained from an automobile accident. A graveside service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Lancaster Memorial Park, with the Rev. Dale Eatmon officiating.

HOLLISTER--Funeral services for Velma R. Silver, 69, who died Monday, July 13, 2020, will be held Saturday, July 18, at 11 a.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Robert Hedgepeth officiating.

HOLLISTER--Funeral services for Velus Roscoe Lynch, 77, who died Saturday, July 11, 2020, will be held Friday, July 17, at 11 a.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Chapel Memorial Garden cemetery.

RALEIGH -- Whitney Bolton has been a smash hit at Meredith College -- both on the volleyball court and in the classroom.
Bolton, a rising junior, prepped at Louisburg High School and led the Lady Warriors to the Class 1-A State Finals in 2016.
The outstanding hitter signed a letter-of-intent to join the program at Meredith, and was an instant contributor from Day One.

LOUISBURG -- Under normal circumstances, area high school coaches and athletic directors would be coming together this coming week at the North Carolina Coaches Association's annual meetings and East-West All-Star Games.
The week-long festivities allow coaches to get caught up on rules changes, exchange ideas with other professionals across the state and exhale a bit before the hectic fall sports schedule begins.

LOUISBURG -- A total of 24 student-athletes from Louisburg College have been recognized for their hard work on and off the field during the 2019-20 school year.
Those Hurricanes were recently named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic Teams.
Students picked for the First Team earned a cumulative grade-point average of 4.0.

LOUISBURG -- After months of uncertainty, a bit of clarity seems to be coming -- hopefully -- to the athletics scene at Louisburg College.
Change first came to LC back in March when the spring sports season was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
LC coaches continued to recruit over the spring and summer with the hope that athletics would resume for the 2020-21 school year.

GREENVILLE -- The East Carolina University Board of Trustees last Thursday approved a contract extension for head baseball coach Cliff Godwin.
In addition to securing Godwin's position through June 30, 2025, the new agreement also includes increased performance incentives.
During his six years at the helm of the program, Godwin has guided ECU to four NCAA Regional berths, two Super Regional appearances, the 2019 American Athletic Conference regular season title, a pair of AAC Tournament crowns, three 40-plus win seasons and a 214-113-1 (.654) overall record.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina State University sophomore and Southern Nash alum Zonovan Knight has earned some preseason football recognition on the Phil Steele Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team.
Knight, who was tabbed for the fourth team, was one of seven NC State players to claim the honor from the annual magazine.

The Franklin County Board of Education approved the hiring of both a principal and an assistant principal at Monday night's meeting.
Dr. David C. Westbrook was named principal of Royal Elementary School, and Demarcus Jones, was selected as assistant principal of Franklinton Middle School.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Westbrook and Mr. Jones to their new leadership positions within our district," said Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, superintendent of Franklin County Schools.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town management informed commissioners that progress has been made on two town projects.
First, work continues to progress on a new town public works building and the town has already hired a fleet mechanic.
Next, said Town Administrator Phil Cordeiro, the town continues efforts to expedite its Main Street Improvement project.

LOUISBURG -- A Franklin County man was killed when the car he was riding in crashed into a tree.
Timothy A. Fuller, 44, died as a result of his injuries.
According to a report by Trooper D.J. Ball, Jackie Parker was driving a Pontiac G6 east on Alert Road just past Pete Smith Road when she crossed the center line and ran off the road to the left just after midnight on July 13.