By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Head coach Chris Davis thinks his Louisburg High School boys basketball team sometimes makes life more difficult than necessary.
And he wonders why his Warriors rarely blow out an opponent -- even an overmatched one.
But as long as the victories continue to pile up -- especially in Northern Carolina Conference action -- Davis will remain happy.
The annual Middle Athletic Conference Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments will conclude Thursday at the Bunn Middle School Gymnasium.
But the chances of a Franklin County team being in the finals dwindled considerably during Monday’s first-round action.
Terrell Lane’s boys, which were seeded first, were defeated in stunning fashion by Butner-Stem.
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Only one unbeaten team remains in the Northern Carolina Conference girls basketball standings -- and it’s the Bunn Ladycats.
Despite their unblemished mark, the Ladycats knew they would get the best challenge that Louisburg had to offer last Saturday in front of a huge crowd at the Bunn Dome.
JAMESTOWN -- Louisburg College came up one point short in possibly its biggest game of the season to date.
In a duel of nationally ranked teams, the eighth-ranked Hurricanes fell 71-70 at ninth-ranked Guilford Tech in a key Region X showdown last Saturday afternoon at the Jamestown YMCA Gymnasium.
Despite committing an uncharacteristic 30 turnovers, the Hurricanes were in the game late, only to see Guilford Tech come out on top.
North Johnston High’s Gabe Pate (with ball) is defended in the paint by Louisburg’s Dante Walker during last Friday’s boys basketball game at LHS.
Franklinton’s Hunter Holliman (right) prepares to get into position to record a pinfall for the Red Rams during last Friday night’s home wrestling match versus Wilson Hunt.
Area authorities are looking for a Bunn High School student reported missing on Monday.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Cpl. Kenny Harp said Joshua Daniel Perry, 17, is not believed to be endangered, but he is engaging the assistance of national resources.
Harp was working to have Perry listed with the national Center for Missing and Exploited Kids.
RALEIGH – To the extent U.S. Senators from Massachusetts have ever played much of a role in North Carolina politics, it’s been as useful foils for Republicans. Ted Kennedy certainly showed up in more than his share of fundraising mailings by Jesse Helms and other conservative candidates. John Kerry picked John Edwards as his running mate in 2004 in an attempt to compete for Carolinian and Southern votes, a tactic that ended embarrassingly for all concerned. The GOP loved it.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County jailers are keeping watch over a murder suspect who expressed suicidal thoughts.
Deputies arrested Joseph Mendez early Tuesday, charging him with killing his sister, 14-year-old Julianna Matthews, and critically injuring his mother, Lydia Etanislao, during an apparent fit of rage.
Since his arrest and first appearance in court on Wednesday, Sheriff Pat Green said Mendez exhibited signs of mental instability and shared suicidal thoughts.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
If in doubt, don’t cut it out.
That was the gist of a new email retention policy that commissioners adopted on Tuesday night.
Information Technology Director Coy Floyd brought the matter before commissioners, giving them and county staff written instructions for how to handle electronic information transactions which are considered public record.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
Both the Louisburg town council and the town’s planning board got a first-hand look at a draft of a new transportation improvement plan for the Louisburg area on Monday night, the first update in the plan since 1988.
The most notable change was the location of a long-debated western bypass around Louisburg -- this time moved much further to the west.
This map shows where NC DOT engineers believe bike paths should be improved or added -- and also shows where such paths now exist.
This map indicates where NC DOT engineers believe public transportation might be effective in Louisburg if bus service is ever offered in the town.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Rosemary Champion had a short walk from her seat to the podium.
But it was a trail her mother blazed some time ago that led her to receive the Greater Franklin County Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award for 2009.
Champion received the honor Thursday night during the organization’s annual banquet and meeting sponsored by Franklin Regional Medical Center.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The Franklin County Airport Commission hired a director this week with an intimate knowledge of airplanes, airports and the agency that helps fund their operations.
Stephen Merritt was most recently an aviation program director with the state Department of Transportation’s Aviation division and president of a flight instruction company.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
After getting an update on transportation planning Monday night (see related story), the Louisburg town council tackled a number of relatively routine business items, including revamping the town’s Historical District Commission and once again endorsing efforts to speed the four-laning of U.S. 401 in the county.
The town board unanimously approved changes to the historical commission as presented by Mayor Karl Pernell.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County Commissioners left a two-day retreat this week with handful of goals they hope can spur economic development.
With the aid of facilitators, the board, county staff, educators and and town staff worked to develop a multi-faceted economic development strategic plan.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The attrition continues at the Franklin County Arts Council after its secretary resigned his post in frustration.
In email correspondence, Bobby Cooper resigned his position on the Arts Council’s executive board, citing growing frustrations with how the group operates and what he called subversive maneuvering to remove him from office.
The board accepted his resignation by unanimous decision on Thursday night. In his email, Cooper claims that the transparency being touted by the group’s leadership is a mirage.
Louisburg resident Jaylen Brown, 4 years old
When first presented with the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award, Rosemary Champion said she was speechless.
Then she wasn’t.
What followed were words to live by.
So-o-o-o, Louisburg’s western bypass will be moved further to the west.
Louisburg bypass?
What Louisburg bypass?
The one that was in the planning document carefully adopted some 22 years ago right here in the county seat of Franklin County.
The same one that has never been built by the North Carolina Department of Transportation -- but which is now being moved well to the west.
GOOD MORNING: Only a 10 percent chance of rain today (Saturday), but it looks like we’re in for somewhat warmer weather and an increased chance for more rain Sunday and again on Monday.
NO HELP, BUT NO HURT, EITHER: Second District Congressman Bob Etheridge’s candidacy for reelection brings to mind the following tale about a couple of old-timers who were discussing an upcoming election.
YOUNGSVILLE —Ashley Ann Six, 24, died Monday Jan. 18, 2010. A memorial service honoring her life will be held 11 a.m. today (Saturday, Jan. 23) in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with Harold Woodlief officiating.
LOUISBURG – Edgar “Ed” Hart Owens, 80, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. Graveside service will be 11 a.m. today (Saturday, Jan. 23) at Lancaster Memorial Park, with the Rev. Earl Dulaney officiating.
