Franklin County indirectly got a little good news just before the Christmas holiday, although just how good the news actually will be remains to be determined.
When the state Department of Transportation opened bids for four-laning 3.695 miles of U.S. 401 from the Neuse River north to almost Rolesville, they got a pleasant surprise.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
During its most recent meeting, the county’s Tourism Development Authority committed itself to improving a website designed to lure visitors to Franklin County.
The committee’s website, www.visitfranklincountync.com, remains outdated and due to the contract under which it was created, authority members have limited ability to update it themselves.
Louisburg resident Jalissa Southerland
By:
Contributed by the United Way of Franklin County
When it comes to getting the numbers right, Debra Poleo has been someone to count on.
The Louisburg accountant was recognized last week during the December board meeting for four years of volunteer service to the United Way of Franklin County as a board member and treasurer, seeing the agency through several executive director changes and helping manage the organization through an historic economic time that has challenged all non-profit agencies.
Rep. Lucy Allen (D-49) presented FES with a new state flag that was flown over the Capital.
Jericka Brodie and Domonique Yarborough were crowned the 2009 Little Miss and Master Justice winners. Jericka is 8 years old and is in the third grade at Louisburg Elementary School. She is the daughter of Ericka and Jermaine Brodie of Louisburg. Domonique is 10 years old and he is in the fourth grade at Edward Best Elementary School. He is the son of Lakesha Yarborough of Louisburg.
Franklinton Elementary Principal Carol Davis, left, presents Princess Richardson with the educators scholarship given annually by Gamma Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Princess is currently a teacher’s assistant at Franklinton Elementary. The money was used to purchase a laptop computer.
Check before you write one.
That’s the advice that Elaine Marshall, North Carolina’s Secretary of State, is handing out during this holiday season -- and the rest of the year as well.
It’s pretty darn good advice, if you ask us!
As this year winds to a close, I’m thankful for many things -- but perhaps most especially that the H1N1 flu (better known as swine flu) wasn’t the long-predicted, deadly flu pandemic that was first feared.
If it had been, the death toll would have been horrific because government response at all levels has been confused, bumbling and incompetent in the face of a pandemic that was clearly predicted.
GOOD MORNING: ‘Tis the day after Christmas, but other than that, there’s very little I can say about the Christmas Holiday just yet seeing as how today’s edition was put to bed, as the saying goes, and actually printed a day before Christmas.
But the advance weather forecast looked anything but bright, I might add. While temperatures locally were expected to be somewhat on the mild side for this time of the year, the weatherman was calling for an 80% chance of rain on Christmas Day and a 70% chance Saturday.
An arrest on an outstanding assault warrant led to additional drug charges for Louisburg police.
According to a report by Officer Travis Lincoln, officers located Thomas Lee Hicks, 28, at the corner of Cooper Street and S. Main Street.
According to police, Hicks was a suspect in an assault that occurred on Dec. 16 and faced a charge of assault inflicting serious injury.
By:
Martha Mobley, Extension Agent, Franklin County
Franklin County is in the process of researching, developing, and drafting a new “Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan.” To reach the agricultural community for open discussion concerning preserving our farmland, two community meetings have been scheduled; one on Jan. 5 in Louisburg at the Extension Center’s Annex meeting room and a second meeting on Jan. 12 in Bunn at Bunn High School’s Agricultural Building. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. with refreshments served. Consultants Andrew Branan and Gerry Cohn will be leading the discussion and will be drafting the county’s plan.
WAKE FOREST - Richard Alan Kuryla, 65, formerly of Lafayette, N.Y., died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 at his home. A Mass of Christian burial was held Wednesday, Dec. 23, at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church, with Father Philip Tighe officiating.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG - Their first conference game in four years was one to remember for Franklinton and Louisburg.
Once fierce league rivals, the clubs were separated in 2005 when FHS moved up to the Class 2-A level, while Louisburg remained in Class 1-A.
Certainly, the clubs still met twice a year, but without league implications, a tinge of the intensity was missing between the backyard foes.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Franklinton’s girls basketball team has long since established an inside presence, most notably in the form of sophomore standout Jalissa Debnam.
The thinking has always been, of course, that the Lady Rams could do considerable damage in the Northern Carolina Conference -- if they can find a consistent outside game to complement their solid post players.
Here’s a few sporting notions as we celebrate the Christmas Season:
• It was good seeing Thurman Jordan the other day at the Clayton Holiday Basketball Tournament.
Jordan, who enjoyed plenty of success during his tenure at Franklinton, is now the head coach at Holly Springs, which defeated Bunn in the opening round of the tourney.
Thurman is a class act, and we wish him only the best in the future.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
CLAYTON -- An old friend welcomed Bunn to the Clayton Holiday Tournament on Monday afternoon.
Former Franklinton head coach Thurman Jordan, now at Holly Springs, saw his Hawks take on the Wildcats in the first round of the event at Clayton High School.
Using their size and athleticism, the Hawks pressed their way to a 56-46 decision over Bunn to advance to the finals on Tuesday.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
CLAYTON -- Things certainly didn’t start the way they wanted for the Bunn Ladycats at the Clayton Holiday Basketball Tournament.
But the ending was a sweet one for BHS, which earned a third-place finish Tuesday with a 53-47 decision over long-time rival Southern Vance at the Clayton High School Gymnasium.
FRANKLINTON -- The Franklinton Red Rams will begin their 2010 baseball schedule on March 2 with a road game at Southern Nash High School in Stanhope.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Franklinton’s complete diamond ledger is as follows (home games are listed in CAPS):
Franklinton’s Kevin Williams (left) soars for two more points for the Red Rams during their double-overtime boys basketball conquest Tuesday night against the Louisburg Warriors at the LHS Gymnasium.
Franklinton’s Dustin Newton (with ball) tries to take the baseline while being defended by Louisburg’s Rommaine Gobourne during Tuesday’s contest at the LHS Gymnasium.
Bunn’s Michael Collins connects on a 3-pointer for the Wildcats during Monday’s tourney meeting against Holly Springs High School.
Two Franklin County youth recently received the second installment of their $1,000 college scholarships during the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association Christmas meeting on Dec. 10. Left to right: Gilbert Wheeler, son of Ed and Laurel Wheeler near Franklinton, and Matt Cooke, son of Keith and Connie Cooke in the White Level Community, are given checks for the upcoming semester from Greg Wheeler, president of the Cattlemen’s Association. Gilbert is attending NC State University in the Agriculture Institute Program and Matt is attending Vance-Granville Community College. The scholarships are awarded by the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association.
Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments in U.S. Agriculture. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) provides specific opportunities for organic producers and those transitioning to organic farming. North Carolina farmers who are transitioning to organic or who are currently certified organic can now apply to receive assistance under the Organic Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
