LOUISBURG - Constance “Connie” Marie Ransdell, 58, died Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at her home. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, June 21, at Ransdell Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Thomas Harrison officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
LOUISBURG - James T. “J.T.” Smith, 88, died Thursday, June 21, 2007. Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m. today (Saturday, June 23) at Oakwood Cemetery, with the Rev. Reggie Rushing officiating.
ZEBULON - Linda Whitley Jones, 45, died Monday, June 18, 2007 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, June 21, at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service Chapel, Knightdale, with the Rev. Phillip Lyon and the Rev. Raeford Wiggins officiating. Burial will follow in Beulah Christian Baptist Church cemetery, Zebulon.
HAMPTON, Va. - Leon “Bro” F. Mizelle of Hampton, Va., formerly of Robersonville, N.C., died Tuesday, June 19, at Veteran’s Hospital in Hampton, Va. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Belmont Missionary Baptist Church, Crossroads Community, Robersonville. Burial will follow in the Mizelle family cemetery, Robersonville.
LOUISBURG - Mary Blackmond, 92, died Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Funeral services will be conducted at noon today (Saturday, June 23) at Rocky Chapel Baptist Church, Louisburg. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
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By CAREY JOHNSON / Times Staff Writer
FRANKLINTON — Town officials have planned a public hearing next month to consider adopting an ordinance to eliminate gang graffiti. During a meeting last month, school officials and town and county law enforcement officers talked about the prevalence of gang activity in town — mostly visible through gang graffiti.
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By CAREY JOHNSON / Times Staff Writer
Youngsville Police Chief Larry Pritchett used a vehicle known for hot pursuit to catch a suspect who led police on a two-county chase last week. Pritchett was responding to an emergency call at about 12:30 p.m. on June 14 when a firefighter called to tell him he witnessed a man stealing a power washer.
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By JADE BIGGIO / Louisburg College
Forensic science is a field that has recently attracted a lot of attention. Perhaps it is thanks to today’s popular television dramas. However, there is science behind the drama, and Louisburg College faculty members Dr. Tara Hamilton and Dr. Diane Cook will help students investigate this science during summer camp at LC.
Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester and year homestay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families. According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange Executive Director John Doty, the students are all between the ages of 15 and 18, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families. PIE currently has programs to match almost every family’s needs, ranging in length from a semester to a full academic year, where the students attend local high schools.
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By Geoff Neville / Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG — Already holding a 2-1 advantage in the season series, the Express needed a victory Thursday over the Ironbirds to wra up the Louisburg Recreation Department’s Major League regular season title. Early on, the Express appeared to be on a quick road toward that goal. But the Ironbirds rallied to make things interesting before falling by an 18-16 margin in the season finale at Sheilah R. Cotten Field on the campus of Louisburg College.
BUNN -- Experience shouldn’t be a problem when the Bunn Angels head to Shallotte next weekend for the State 9-10 Softball Tournament. Six Angels return from last year’s team, which reached the states in Lincolnton. Five more performers have moved up from the Darlings level and were part of a contingent that, in 2006, won the State Tournament en route to competing in the national event in Dyersburg, Tenn.
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Geoff Neville / Sports Column
After fielding scholarship offers from 25 Division I colleges, Bunn High football star Brandon Barnes has narrowed his list down to six potential suitors.
Barnes, a defensive back/running back, will choose between Clemson, Auburn, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Florida and Michigan.
“Actually, I think Brandon will get down to three or four before the season starts,’’ said BHS head coach David Howle.
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By Geoff Neville / Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- An annual Franklin County tradition was staged this week on the Bunn High School campus. Over 80 children attended the BHS Football Camp, which was overseen by Wildcats’ head coach David Howle.
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By Geoff Neville / Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Two years ago, several members of the current Bunn Ponytails All-Star team earned a second-place finish at the Dixie Softball Angels State Tournament. This time around, the players would like to take the next step and claim a state crown.
BUNN -- Following another title effort in District 5 action, the Bunn Darlings will now seek to defend their state championship.
The Darlings, coached by Melissa Bell, will chase their second consecutive title at the Dixie Softball State Tournament in Shallotte.
BUNN -- The Bunn United Wildcats Under-18 boys soccer team recently completed its second consecutive successful season in the Capital Area Soccer League, which is based in Wake County.
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By Geoff Neville / Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College’s men’s basketball recruiting process has resembled a family affair this season. First, LC head coach Aaron Denton signed D.H. Conley stalwarts Chris Smith and James Daniels, who played at Conley under former Louisburg College student Rob Maloney.
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Pairings have been finalized for the upcoming Dixie Youth Baseball District 5 Major League and Minor League Tournaments.
The Minor League event will be staged June 29-July 4 at the Oxford Webb High School Softball Field.
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By MASON RIZZO, Times Intern
A Youngsville man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing another man to death.
Randy Mose Baker, 46 of 1848 Moores Pond Road, reportedly stabbed Ernest Jon Bradshaw IV with a kitchen knife during a fight around 11:45 p.m. at 837 East Wait Ave. on June 15, according to Wake Forest Police Department Lt. Trent Coleman.
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By JOHN BENNING, Times Intern
The Louisburg Town Council unanimously approved water and wastewater capacity fees for new development Monday night and also approved the town’s 2007/2008 budget.
GAVIN THE COWBOY. It’s hard work being a cowboy, and Gavin Bullock, above, had to stay hydrated Saturday evening at the Pilot Lions Club Mid-Atlantic Championship Rodeo. The 14th annual rodeo was Friday and Saturday nights at the Pilot Lions Club Park. See more photos, story inside.
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By MASON RIZZO, Times Intern
The crime rate in Franklin County has dropped for the third straight year.
The 2006 statistics, released June 14 by the state Department of Justice, indicate the total number of crimes from 2005, which was 1,213 incidents, dropped to 1,152 incidents in 2006.
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By CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklinton Mayor Jenny Edwards will not seek re-election in November.
In a news release sent out this week, Edwards, who has had the position since running unopposed in 2003, said she won’t run to retain the seat this November.
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By CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A room full of school staff, administrators, officials, teachers and coaches urged commissioners to increase funding for education this year.
The Franklin County school system had asked for $969,000 more than the $10.6 million commissioners approved for operational expenses in 2006-07.
County Manager Chris Coudriet recommended increasing that amount by $599,000, leaving the school system $370,000 short of its full funding request.
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By CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A defense attorney has less than a month to decide if he’ll appeal a jury decision that could result in his client spending nearly 30 years in jail.
Superior Court Judge Carl Fox sentenced Linwood Hinton Perry to spend between 28 years and just more than 34 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of first-degree rape and kidnapping on Friday afternoon.
