Having fun on a sunny day are left to right Juan Benitez, Araceli Benitez and Evelyn Sarpong. March 20-26 marks the celebration of National Boys and Girls Club Week. Many local activities are scheduled. See page 2 for more photos and details about the Boys and Girls Club.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County’s Grand Old Party Convention on Friday evening was about paths.
It was about the path that Republican party members said they blazed in 2010, sweeping to victories and majorities in state and federal government.
YOUNGSVILLE - Betty Daniel Timberlake, 85, died Tuesday morning, March 15, 2011 at her residence.
WENDELL - Debra Ann “Debbie” Scarboro Ayscue, 56, died Tuesday, March 15, 2011. At Debbie’s request, there will be no formal service. Visitation for friends and family was at the home on Thursday, March 17.
LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Mary Bell Wilkins, 86, who died Thursday, March 17, 2011, will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Nelson Chapel Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
FRANKLINTON - Vera Hight Parham died on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Franklinton Chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Franklinton Chapel from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM. Family will meet at other times at the home of Howard and Donna Parham in Franklinton.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
A restitution check totaling $6,040 is on its way to Franklin County coffers in the wake of the controversy surrounding former Sheriff Pat Green.
Green’s attorney, Johnny Williamson of Louisburg, issued the check this week from the trust account of his firm, Jolly, Williamson & Williamson and sent it to Louisburg attorney Boyd Sturges in his capacity as attorney for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
County staff confirmed they have received more than a dozen letters from folks seeking the sheriff’s post.
The county manager, though, has declined to release the names.
Based on those who have recently run for the office or publicly expressed interest, The Franklin Times, had compiiled a list of nine people who confirmed their interest in the post.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Sheriff’s deputies charged a Youngsville man with attempted first-degree murder, alleging he tried to kill his girlfriend.
Deputies arrested Gary Otto Normand, 57, on March 9 — four days after they allege he tried to set Chloe Reynolds on fire.
Normand was not successful, but he did set fire to their 20 Deerfield Court home.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Thursday morning was a day of smiles as the United Way recognized residents who generated a record amount of giving.
The 2010-11 United Way campaign raised $131,104, exceeding its $120,000 goal.
Those responsible for the effort were recognized during the United Way Community Celebration at Louisburg College’s Seby Jones Center for the Performing Arts.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
One young man will be whistling for the future of his struggling nation -- and another young lad will be representing Franklin County youngsters as the youngest whistler to enter the competition this year.
They will be among the young whistlers who will be on the program about 9 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Louisburg College as part of the 38th International Whistling Convention.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A Wake County health provider that once partnered with former Franklin Regional Medical Center owners to relocate that hospital to Youngsville is now asking residents to support its expansion at their Wakefield campus.
And Rex Healthcare is also in a battle with the current owners of Franklin Regional Medical Center to locate a new hospital in Holly Springs.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
YOUNGSVILLE — There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt.
Neither Paige or Scott Smith subscribe to that.
The proprietors of two area businesses joined about 40 other vendors on Thursday evening, building networks and relationships they figure will breed business.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Rep. Glen Bradley introduced legislation last week asking the General Assembly to establish a committee to look at alternative currency.
And he’s drafting a bill referencing the U.S. Constitution and the state’s ability to use gold and silver as payment for debts.
Bunn resident Shaneeta Thomas
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Town officials rejected an official proposal by the county to take over its water plant, which included a rate structure that would have dropped rates across the board.
Commissioners said they felt squeezed by the county’s request that a decision be made by its next board meeting — Monday night — which would not give them enough time to determine the value of the plant and whether the county’s offer is fiscally responsible.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — An hour-long question and answer session drew a capacity crowd to the Town Hall Annex on Tuesday night.
And by a show of hands, a majority of them wanted the town to hold on to its water plant.
Following that outpouring of public comment and after debating a county proposal for more than an hour in closed session, town commissioners decided they would reject the county’s offer to take over the plant.
Wayne Champion, Franklin County agent for North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, was named among the Top 75 Agents for 2010, by Steven D. Carroll, CPCU, executive vice president and general manager.
Champion was selected for this honor based on his outstanding sales and service record for multi lines of insurance during 2010. North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Company has more than 850 agents across the state.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a suspect in a hit and run.
Dennis Mills reported on March 13 that someone hit a 2001 Cadillac Deville that he had parked in the Old Liberty Baptist Church parking lot on Flat Rock Church Road.
By:
Jay Lamm, Times Editorial Cartoonist
Wayne Champion was named the Franklin County United Way’s Volunteer of the year this week.
Champion, a local insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance, is well known around the county for a wide variety of volunteer activities from Coats for Christmas, to various athletic events to Cow Chip Bingo.
Champion was presented the award at Louisburg College by last year’s winner — and the man for whom the award is named — Wayne Stallings.
GOOD MORNING: Congratulations and thanks to all involved in this year’s record-breaking $131,104 United Way fund drive.
It was clear to all attending the UW Community Celebration at the Louisburg College Auditorium Thursday morning that this was indeed a countywide effort that everyone can and should be proud of.
It has not been a good week for the “home team” but it’s been made interesting by questions and semantic games.
First, the really tough question.
Our state public records law, such as it is, says we (and that means you!) have no right to know who is interested in being appointed Franklin County sheriff.
Dear Editor:
I was happy to learn that Franklin Regional Medical Center was seeking a CON for a geriatric psychiatry unit at the hospital. This will probably be a good venture for the hospital and certainly will be good for the community.
Organizers looking to bring a field of miracles to Franklin County gained more momentum earlier this month.
The Miracle League of Franklin County held its first dinner/auction on March 5, raising more than $11,000.
The money will be used to build a special T-ball-sized field for children with physical and mental disabilities.
