By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
YOUNGSVILLE -- Early on, it became almost a foregone conclusion that a talented Wendell club would hoist the championship trophy at the Tar Heel League 10-Under Softball Tournament at Luddy Park.
After all, Wendell also competes as a year-round travel team, and its roster features four pitchers that were probably better than anyone else on an opposing squad.
CHERRYVILLE -- Even after a second-round loss, the Bunn Ponytails are still alive at the Dixie Softball State 12-Under Tournament.
Bunn, coached by Jeff Davis, bounced back from that setback to defeat Rockingham County bny a 5-2 score Monday in Cherryville, which is located just west of Lincolnton.
FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School gridiron fans can get an early look at their team during a passing league showcase next Monday (July 19) at the FHS Football Field.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. In addition to the host Red Rams, other featured teams will be Southern Vance, South Granville, Rocky Mount, Wake Forest-Rolesville and Wakefield.
The Bunn Warriors, coached by Quinton Sanders, took the top prize at last weekend’s USSSA Baseball Swing Away Invitational Tournament, which was held at The Factory in Wake Forest. Bunn defeated the GCAA Wildcats by a 10-2 score to earn the title.
LOUISBURG -- Town and Country’s Stingrays took on the Winchester Waves from Raleigh on July 1 in recent swim action at the TC Pool.
The visitors came away with a 270-159 decision over the Stingrays.
JACKSON, TENN. -- Tom Cochran won his fourth straight start, while Carolina pounded out 15 hits en route to a 9-1 victory over West Tenn at Pringles Park last Saturday night in a Class AA Southern League baseball matchup.
The Mudcats (11-8) overtook sole possession of first place with their third win in four games over West Tenn (6-13).
ROCKY MOUNT -- Since 1999, North Carolina Wesleyan College has honored 45 former athletes, administrators, teams, coaches, and contributors by enshrining them in its Athletics Hall of Fame.
These individuals have created a higher standard for Battling Bishop athletics and were selected based on their outstanding accomplishments and/or contributions to the College.
Louisburg catcher Madison Murray tags out a Zebulon runner at home plate.
Louisburg’s Kaylee Saunders (right) beats a throw into third base during last Saturday’s Championship Game of the Tar Heel League 8-Under District Softball Tournament at Luddy Park in Youngsville.
Youngsville All-Star Machaela Twiss delivers a pitch during last Friday evening’s game against Knightdale at the Tar Heel League District 10-Under Softball Tournament.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Rep. John May gambled on the future of Internet Sweepstakes cafés.
He lost, and believes the economy lost, too.
After the ban on the controversial businesses sailed through the Senate with a 47-1 vote, the measure passed the House by a 86-27 vote.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A superior court judge ruled this week that a Louisburg man accused of killing his estranged girlfriend is competent enough to stand trial.
At the same time, another murder suspect, Joseph Mendez, is being sent to Raleigh to determine if he’s sane enough to stand trial.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
State Department of Transportation Rail Director Pat Simmons said earlier this week that he and his staff were preparing for every bit of input when a series of public hearings for a high-speed rail proposal begin next week.
Simmons and his staff can expect a popular refrain from Franklinton and Youngsville residents and officials — don’t cut the community in half.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Temperatures weren’t the only thing rising this week.
A food drive conducted by the United Way of Franklin County generated enough food to lift the spirits of hundreds who could otherwise go hungry.
Organizers distributed food stuffs to eleven food pantries, groups and organizations spread throughout the county on Wednesday.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Congressman Bob Etheridge and Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection Lynne Weaver told a crowd of seniors the same thing — if something sounds too good to be true, it is.
Their message came against the backdrop of a pending financial reform bill that its proponents say will curtail the practices that have created the most recent financial crisis.
Dr. Gaddy Lassiter has joined the Franklin Regional Medical Center medical staff as the medical director of the Novant Inpatient Care Specialists Franklin, NICS, also known as the hospitalist program, effective July 1.
Dr. Lassiter is nationally board-certified in family medicine.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
YOUNGSVILLE — Commissioners held off on a decision to regulate yard sales on Thursday night.
Town staff began looking into the issue last month after Commissioner Graham Stallings lamented those who abuse the ability to host yard sales — often for weeks on end.
Franklin County’s Kaylin Sanjers
By:
Amelia Harper, Special to The Times
Vandals struck Castalia’s Town Hall, two area businesses, and two Castalia homes Sunday night, apparently angered by the lack of fireworks during the Castalia Fourth of July celebration.
According to Mayor Ellene Leonard, the comments “We want fireworks!” were written amidst the obscenities scrawled on the pavement in the front of the Town Hall. The building was also egged.
Yep, it’s all the media’s fault.
Gee, every time you pick up one of these infernal newspaper things — or turn on the boob tube at the news hour — you’re likely to read another story about the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the shenanigans of another of its troopers or officers.
GOOD MORNING: News flash! Good news, in fact. Wilma Tharrington called late Wednesday to let me know that she’s back home following recent hip surgery and is getting along just fine.
Thought you’d like to know.
One more straw ... and the camel’s back is being severely bowed.
Not broken, yet, perhaps, but bowed and under enormous stress.
The “camel” in this case is, of course, the Franklin County economy which is under its greatest strain since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Dear Editor,
Is this what it has come to — politics?
I’m referring to the departure of Franklin County extension agent Ms. Crystal, because that’s the name she has answered to for the last 14 years.
FRANKLINTON - Frances Newton Bragg, 81, died July 7, 2010. She was born in Granville County, the daughter of the late Annie Mitch Munn Newton and Towns Boyd Newton. She was preceded in death by her husband Willie Henry Bragg, Jr.
She was a member of Franklinton Baptist church for many years.
