Archives

RALEIGH -- The request from Wake Preparatory Academy -- a charter school -- to move into Franklin County was approved by the North Carolina Board of Education last Thursday.
The approval came on a unanimous vote and with virtually no public discussion of Wake Prep's proposal or credentials or of the opposition and questions raised by Franklin County school officials.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners approved a $95.7 million budget that drops the tax rate, axed a proposed new sheriff's office supervisor position, raises water and sewer rates and provides better pay for employees.
While cutting the lieutenant position in the sheriff's office drew concerns from at least three commissioners, the budget was approved by unanimous decision.

LOUISBURG -- By split vote, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners updated its Unified Development Ordinance -- which includes a countywide zoning rewrite.
The county was facing a deadline to update the zoning and regulation document to comply with General Statute 160D, which is designed to combine and modernize state enabling legislation for development regulations enacted by cities and counties.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg man had his initial day in court last week, facing federal drug charges.
Jermaine Carlton Jones is next slated to appear in Franklin County District Court later this month to face dozens of related drug charges.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Jones on June 1, executing a federal warrant taken out against Jones stemming from a January 27 arrest.

LOUISBURG -- One of Safe Space's biggest fundraisers is a call to spring.
But, when COVID-19 shuttered most everything, directors of the organization that works to stamp out domestic and sexual violence decided to call upon the community, instead.

LOUISBURG -- Senior Resident Superior Court Judge John Dunlow set a trial date for a nearly four-year-old murder case.
However, either a Hyde County double murder case or an ability by attorneys to resolve the matter outside of a trial could affect the timeline.
Charles Pender has been in jail since Sept. 5, 2017, a day after Franklin County investigators allege he shot and killed 28-year-old Montral Kearney outside a home on Marlless Drive near Franklinton.

Lawson Edward Lewis

Let's try something a bit different this week -- and it's a new concept for me, so have pity and don't be shy about offering to help out a little. Or a lot.
I may need it.
The goal will be to take a load off the minds of a couple of our county commissioners who, according to news stories, are very concerned about some unusual and weighty issues they are facing.

If you're not a Star Trek nerd, I ask that you bear with me.
In the very first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, a godlike being blipped into the lives of the protagonists and informed them that humanity was being placed on trial to determine if it was still a dangerous, savage, child race.
Of course, our protagonists did their dogged best to prove him wrong.

Last Friday was the final day of the 2020-21 school year for Franklin County Schools' students. I've been in public education in North Carolina for 28 years now, and each one has been different. But I can honestly say, without exaggeration, that 2020-21 has been unprecedented for our district, and for districts across the state and nation.
When Covid-19 emerged last spring, the original plan at the state level was that we would be sent home for two weeks.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Arnetta Crudup Jones, 83, Franklinton, died June 2, 2021. Born February 1, 1938 in Franklinton, NC, she was daughter of the late Theodore Blacknall and Julia Lee Crudup Kelly.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Catherine Woodard, age 97, who died on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, will be held on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 12 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Francis Emil Nowak, 64, of Youngsville, passed away on June 4, 2021. He was born in Union County New Jersey on Jan. 12, 1957 to Henrietta Blazinski Nowak and the late Matthew Nowak.

Youngsville -- Julie Ellen Jones, 61, of Youngsville, North Carolina, passed away at her home surrounded by loved ones on Monday June 7, 2021. She was born in Alexandria, Virginia on November 6, 1959 a daughter of the late Samuel and Floy (Cannon) Jones. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Carol and Sandy Jones.

BUNN -- Bunn picked the most inopportune time to be bitten by the injury bug.
Taking out undefeated Roanoke Rapids in two consecutive games would have been a difficult proposition for the Wildcats, but the challenge was made even more difficult by the absence of injured BHS standout veterans Aidan McKeithan and Colton Holbrook.

FRANKLINTON -- Southern Nash lived up to its coach's first name with a sterling performance at Monday's Big East Conference Track and Field Championships.
The Firebirds, under the direction of Sterling Leonard, capped off their season-long domination of the Big East by taking the top spot in the boys team standings at the annual event, which was held at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

LOUISBURG -- Eric Lee knew that Brianna Tucker was an elite-level talent when he recruited her to join the Louisburg College softball program before the 2021 season.
But Tucker exceeded all expectations as part of an incredible campaign as the shortstop helped LC win the Region X Tournament Championship en route to finishing in third place in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College enjoyed a tremendous 2021 baseball season -- one that featured a 28-10 overall record and a solid third-place finish at the annual Region X Tournament in South Carolina.
LC boasted plenty of individual talent to go with its team successes -- led by sophomore outfielder Trendon Craig.

ZEBULON - Joe Gray Jr. hit his league-best 10th home run while extending his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games, Gabe Holt ran his hit streak to 13 straight and Felix Valerio doubled and homered, but the homestanding Carolina Mudcats fell 15-7 in the final game of a five-game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

STANHOPE -- Just like Frank Sinatra, Brian Foster did it his way -- from a humble beginning in 1997 to his team farewell speech Monday afternoon.
Foster's amazing ride as Southern Nash's football coach came to an end earlier this week when the legendary skipper announced his retirement.
Foster spoke to his players and assistant coaches during an emotional meeting before a press release was issued to the media.

Bunn's TC Davis (left) awaits the throw as Roanoke Rapids' Austin Geary slides during Tuesday evening's Northern Carolina Conference baseball showdown on the BHS campus.

Franklinton High School's Shamari Holden sails over the bar during a successful attempt in the Girls High Jump at Monday's Big East Conference Track and Field Championships at the FHS Football Field.

FIVE GENERATIONS. Willie Frank Jones of Louisburg, pictured in center, is proud to share this photo of the five generations.

This logging truck was turned on its side Tuesday afternoon after the driver lost control of the load. According to a report by Trooper C.R. Lanham, the driver was heading east on Dyking Road toward Louisburg after noon when one of his tires slipped off the two-lane road to the right in a driveway. That caused the trailer to shift its load of logs and pull the cab over. The driver was stuck in the cab for a short period of time, but he was able to get free from the wreck.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The State Highway Patrol is investigating two fatal accidents that happened in the span of three days last week.
The names of the decedents had not been released at press time.
The first accident was reported the evening of June 4 just after 6 p.m.

ZEBULON -- A Franklin County man charged with attempted second degree murder made his initial court appearance this week.
The case against Michael Halston Fitzpatrick remains pending, though.
According to authorities, Fitzpatrick and several friends were fishing at a pond in the 5700 block of Pearces Road just before 2 a.m. on June 4 when Fitzpatrick allegedly struck the victim with a beer bottle on the back of the head and allegedly held his head under water in the pond.