GOOD MORNING: That was quite a sound and light show we experienced out my way early Thursday night. The best part about it was the sound of rain that measured right at one-inch.
LOCAL NEWS: Two stories on the front page of our midweek edition got me all wound up like an eight-day clock Wednesday. They were the stories by Times reporter Carey Johnson regarding the high-speed rail meeting that was to be held in Franklinton the following night, and the search for a new County Extension Director.
It started as a convenient teaching moment for our little boy, Nick.
Long fascinated by trains, Nick recently learned about subways and cities so when we found ourselves taking a couple of “mental health days” in Virginia, the opportunity was too easy to pass up.
We figured we’d treat Nick to his first subway experience and an introduction to a big city all in one day.
He was thrilled.
Dear Editor,
Not only am I having a difficult time understanding why the position remains vacant, I am baffled by the lackadaisical attitude of key decision makers. I am shocked that they seem to think this is ok. I’m not sure what kind of political back scratching is going on, or why the decision continues to be delayed.
Dear Editor,
My wife and I were in Louisburg last week visiting relatives. As always, we went to Oakwood Cemetery to pay our respects to many generations of our ancestors. Oakwood Cemetery has always been a welcoming place, with more historic and unique character than any other cemetery I have visited.
RALEIGH – Gov. Beverly Perdue remains one of the most unpopular governors in recent North Carolina history. But lately she’s been toying publicly with some ideas that could help boost her political bottom line a bit – while also boosting the state’s fiscal position.
OXFORD - Mrs. Ruby Jones Allen, 98, died Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Funeral service will be conducted Sunday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Ray A. Allsberry, assisted by the Revs. Mack Timberlake Sr., Lennis Thorpe, Joel Norwood and George Bullock. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
LOUISBURG - Dollie W. Williams, 67, died Monday, July 26, 2010 at her residence. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 29, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bill Spence officiating. Burial followed in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
RICHMOND, VA. - Jane Fuller Howard, 89, died Thursday, July 29, 2010 in Richmond, Va. There will be a memorial service at Bliley’s - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, Va., at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2. Interment will be a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery in Louisburg, at 3 p.m. Monday.
YOUNGSVILLE - Nathaniel R. Alston, 52, died July 25, 2010 at Duke Raleigh Hospital. Funeral service will be today (Saturday, July 31) at 1 p.m. at the Louisburg High School Auditorium. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.
RALEIGH - James Marshall Hill, 85, Died July 27, 2010. A funeral service was Thursday, July 29 in the Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was at Raleigh Memorial Park.
WAGRAM - Paul J. Duffy, 74, died Saturday, July 24, 2010 at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. A Christian Mass memorial service was Thursday, July 29 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Laurinburg. Entombment was at Hillside Memorial Park.
LOUISBURG - Lila Mae Qualls Wheeler, 79, of Louisburg died Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at Britthaven of Louisburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Earl Wheeler; her son, Robert Earl Wheeler; and her sister, Peggy Austin Reese. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Hickory Rock Baptist Church, with the Rev. Luke Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Lancaster Memorial Park.
Have you ever heard of an “Iron Man”? Well, these guys have to swim, run, and ride a bicycle, achieving enormous distances. It is incredible what they have to do in order to get to be called “Iron Man.”
My husband and I were talking about our organist Phyllis Ihrie’s son-in-law, who does that type of challenging sport. His name is Matthew Kirkendall, husband of Olivia, and he is very good at what he does.
The Board of Directors of the Franklin County Community Foundation is hosting a charity fishing tournament, called Take a Kid Fishin’, on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Harris Lake, 243 Mort Harris Road in Louisburg.
The tournament will take place rain or shine.
The Hilliard/Strickland Family held a reunion on July 3 at the Interdenominational Building in Franklinton. About 150 people gathered to celebrate and reminisce about the family history.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
YOUNGSVILLE -- Campers were supposed to display the widest smiles at the 56ers Youth Basketball Camp.
But while each of the 47 youngsters at the camp enjoyed a tremendous time, their glee just may well have been topped by the happiness of the instructors themselves.
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College’s home football schedule has been finalized for this fall, and the Hurricanes will take to the field at each Franklin County high school.
LC, coached by John Sala, has been playing its games exclusively at Patterson Field on the campus of Louisburg High School.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The county’s three area high schools will get busy with their respective fall sports seasons beginning Monday.
That will be the first official day for workouts according to North Carolina High School Athletic Association rules.
Other than his time spent at Methodist University, Dontae Lassiter has been involved with the Franklin County sports scene since he was a youngster.
That lifelong trend will continue as Lassiter has been selected to be the new boys basketball coach at Louisburg High School.
Pictured are the instructors and campers from the Youngsville 56ers Basketball Camp, which was held Monday through Thursday at Long Mill Elementary School.
(L to R) Youngsters Tavion Jefferies and David Craft try to track down a loose ball as part of a drill at the Youngsville 56ers Youth Basketball Camp, which concluded Thursday afternoon at the Long Mill Elementary School Gymnasium.
ZEBULON -- Jose Castro banged a single off the right field wall capping a two-run ninth inning rally as the Carolina Mudcats rallied to defeat the Jacksonville Suns 3-2 on Thursday night at Five County Stadium in a Class AA Southern League baseball showdown.
Michael Bennett, who at 11 has been described as a “young Mozart,” will be featured in a free Student Recital at Cherry Hill in the Warren County community of Inez at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Bennett entered the Curtis Institute of Music’s organ program at age 11 and won the National Music Teachers Association Composition Contest at age 11 as well.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
After the first decline in a decade, Franklin County’s foreclosure activity is expected to spike by the end of the year.
From January until June, according to the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, Franklin County has recorded 285 foreclosure starts, a 58 percent increase over the same time period last year.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- A life less ordinary ended much too soon last Friday with the passing of Kaye Young Cowher.
One of Franklin County’s most beloved native daughters, Cowher, 54, died of skin cancer in Raleigh.
A pioneer in women’s athletics — at Bunn High School, North Carolina State University and beyond — Cowher is survived by her husband, former Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach Bill Cowher, and three children.
