By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- This time last season, John Meeks wasn’t sure if his Louisburg College Hurricanes were performing at a high level heading into the most important portion of the campaign.
Meeks, however, has an opposite viewpoint of his 2009-10 club, which has been rolling through Region X foes.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
FRANKLINTON - Before this week, Franklin County had never boasted a Division I women’s college soccer signee.
Then it happened twice -- and within a 24-hour period.
And it was fitting that the signees were Franklinton teammates Amanda Knapp and Shaylyn Poppe, who have dominated opposite ends of the field during their accomplishment-filled careers with the Lady Rams.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- In hopes of finding a college home, Bunn’s Robert Preston literally went the extra mile by creating his own website -- www.recruitrobertpreston.com.
The eventual answer to Preston’s quest, however, would come much closer to home.
Wednesday at the Bunn Media Center, Preston signed a letter-of-intent to continue his football career at Morgan State University.
Last weekend’s pitiful weather has affected several scheduled high school sporting events in Franklin County.
Here’s a rundown:
• Bunn High School’s basketball teams were supposed to play this past Tuesday at Roanoke Rapids.
Instead, that event will be held Monday. The Wildcats will then close out the week (and their regular season) with a home game Tuesday against Franklinton and Thursday on the road at Northwest Halifax.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Within a 10-minute span at practice Monday, Louisburg College’s women’s basketball team lost two starters for its showdown two days later against Guilford Tech.
First, freshman forward Ariel Phelps -- the queen of the double-double this season -- suffered a slight concussion.
Moments later, wing Monique Williams, another talented frosh, slightly fractured her ankle.
BUNN -- Bunn High School’s 2010 track and field campaign will begin March 11 with a home meet against Northern Carolina Conference opponent North Johnston.
The Wildcats’ complete schedule is as follows (home meets are listed in CAPS):
HENDERSON -- The 2010 calendar year has been a good one so far for the Vance-Granville Community College men’s basketball team.
The Vanguards had a 4-7 record when December came to a close, but as of Jan. 27, the team has a winning record of 10-8 (8-3 in Region X Division II conference).
High School Basketball
MONDAY
Bunn at Roanoke Rapids 6:30 p.m.
Louisburg resident Tico Wilkins, 10, participated in the NBA Fit Regionals last month in Charlotte. Wilkins took fourth in the competition and was part of a meet-and-greet session with several Charlotte Bobcats’ players. Earlier, Tico earned first place in the 9-10 age group during local action, sponsored by the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Department. Tico is currently a fourth grader at Edward Best Elementary School.
Franklinton High School girls soccer standout Amanda Knapp signs a letter-of-intent to continue her career at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Also pictured are (back, l to r) Mike Knapp (father), FHS Athletic Director/Soccer Coach Deran Coe and FHS Principal Charles Fuller; (front) Brenda Knapp (mother).
Franklinton High School girls soccer star Shaylyn Poppe signs a letter-of-intent to continue her career at Gardner-Webb University, which is located in Boiling Springs. Also pictured are (back, l to r) FHS Athletic Director/Soccer Coach Deran Coe, FHS Principal Charles Fuller and Nichole Poppe (sister); (front, l to r) Jason Poppe (father) and Terri-Lynne Poppe (mother).
Louisburg College guard Paquita Wingate (14) fights for a rebound against Guilford Tech CC.
Louisburg College’s Jeremy Atkinson follows a shot Wednesday against Guilford Tech.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County logged its second murder in as many months after a night of drinking and drug use devolved into a deadly shooting over $10.
According to investigators, Gregory Jackson, 53, of 2377 Schloss Road admitted early Tuesday morning that he shot and killed Alton Johnson.
Johnson, 24, of Vaiden Road, was pronounced dead at the scene.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
As residents watch snow melt from this past weekend’s storm, meteorologists are keeping an eye on another weather pattern that threatens a wintry mix this coming weekend.
Forecasters say it’s too soon to be specific, but computer models suggest rain or snow arriving with a storm Thursday night through Friday morning and, perhaps, another round of the same on Saturday.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The case against a Louisburg High School student charged with killing his sister was snowed out this week.
It’s not clear when Joseph Mendez’s court appearance in Franklin County District Court will be made up, but his first-degree murder case is expected to move to a superior court docket soon.
Mendez’s attorney, Boyd Sturges, said his client would not be eligible for any bond until the District Attorney’s Office decides whether to pursue the death penalty, or not.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Commissioners and county staff will wait an extra week to get down to business.
The weekend’s snow storm and subsequent road conditions prompted officials and staff to postpone the regularly scheduled Monday meeting to next Monday, Feb. 8.
“The (cancellation and reschedule) is in keeping with what we’ve done in the past,” said County Manager Angela Harris.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Last week, the federal government announced $8 billion in stimulus funding for rail service that it called an historic commitment.
Local leaders, though, hope one planned high-speed rail project doesn’t make the towns as they know them history.
Out of the $8 billion investment, $520 million will go toward improving the rail corridor between Charlotte and Raleigh.
As expected, Franklin County’s unemployment rate changed only slightly, inching up by one-tenth of one percent.
Still, Franklin County joined 86 other counties that experienced an increase in the unemployment rate in December according to statistics released by the state’s Employment Security Commission.
Rates decreased in nine counties, and remained the same in five.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Allen de Hart will be highlighted on UNC-TV’s Trailmakers episode Thursday night, focusing on his 30 years of involvement with an ambitious project to craft a hiking trail across the state.
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a nearly 1,000-mile trail consisting of footpaths, roads, and state bike routes that stretches from Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park by the Atlantic Ocean.
Lake Royale resident Mehnissa Hartsfield
Franklin County Republican Party precinct meetings have been scheduled as follows. All Republicans are encouraged to attend their respective meetings.
Bunn Precinct: Feb. 22, 7 p.m., GOP Headquarters, 101 W. Nash St., Louisburg. Contact Glen Bradley, (919) 272-7182
Cedar Rock Precinct: Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m., GOP Headquarters, 101 W. Nash St., Louisburg. Contact Chairman Shea Neal, (919) 853-6716.
Past and current members of Franklin Regional Medical Center, including, left to right, Reggie Faulkner, FRMC’s former pharmacy director, now at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center; Certified Dietician Susan White; Dietician Program Director Julie Kephart; Education Director Wendy Blackburn; and Pharmacist Jodi People, were presented with the American Diabetes Association’s Provider of the Year Award last weekend. The hospital received the award because of their diabetes education program.
FES Principal Carol Davis snips a ribbon to officially open a new computer lab at Franklinton Elementary. The new lab features a Smart Board, data projector and 24 computers. The lab will be used for enrichment, research and other activities. Also pictured (left to right) are FCS Technology Facilitator Betsy Bryan, FES Curriculum Resource Teacher Lisa Pennington and FCS Superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram (far right).
