Recent Articles

By the time you're reading this, the GOPers will be wrapping up their big show in Cleveland -- and since I don't have a crystal ball, I won't even attempt to predict what will or even might happen during that shindig.
I expect it will be either entertaining or infuriating, depending on your personal preferences but, like all conventions, it probably will be more about smoke and mirrors than light and information.

At a time when a bit of good news is more than welcome, that positive information came last week as part of a report from a school board meeting.
The report, presented by School Superintendent Pascal Mubenga, indicated that about 70 percent of this year's high school graduates are planning on attending college.
Interestingly, that percentage, give or take a point or two, was remarkably consistent across all three public high schools in the county.

A community forum in Bunn highlighted exactly what law enforcement agencies are up against.
They deal with drug dealers who operate like ghosts: They come into a neighborhood, set up shop, peddle drugs and when police arrive, they scatter -- only to move to the next neighborhood of the next community.
They compete against gangs, which can entice kids with the promise of quick cash, a sense of belonging and the thrill of being an outlaw.

Last week (Thursday), a blurb came across my automobile radio stating that only eight states had a higher infant mortality rate than North Carolina.
After suppressing my urge to vomit, I resolved to research that report when I got home.
The basis of the news item is a well-researched report by Laila A. Bell of NCChild, whose work will be widely utilized in this article.
While there are several factors influencing high infant mortality, premature birth and low birth weight have the greatest impact.

The first Edwina Rooker Commemorative Concert will be held at Cherry Hill Plantation on at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31.
The Three Triangle Tenors will present "Summer Rhapsody" as a tribute to the longtime supporter of the Cherry Hill Historic Foundation and former Warrenton resident, Edwina Rooker.
Ms. Rooker, a fan of the Cherry Hill Concert Series, was also a devotee of jazz, beach music, Broadway and Hollywood themes, and popular music of her youth.

Vance-Granville Community College's Franklin County Campus will offer an information session at 6 p.m. Monday, July 25, in Room F-1204, focused on the Medical Office Administration program, including a new opportunity to train for careers in Medical Coding.
VGCC is offering the first course that students traditionally take as part of the Medical Coding Specialist certificate program on a new eight-week evening schedule at the Franklin Campus. Medical Terminology I (OST 141) is scheduled for Monday evenings from 6 until 7:50 p.m. in Louisburg, from Aug. 15 through Oct. 3.

Chris and Jessica Baker are excited to welcome Luke Alan to their family.  Luke was born on June 11, 2016. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long.
Luke is the maternal grandson of Brad and Bonnie Person of Louisburg and the paternal grandson of Alan and Yvette Baker of Harkers Island, NC.  

WENDELL -- Louisburg's All-Stars didn't take long to encounter adversity at the annual Tar Heel Girls Coach-Pitch 8-Under District Softball Tournament last week in Wake County.
During Louisburg's opening contest with host Wendell, the All-Stars saw their foes score the maximum five runs in the first inning -- and tack on four more in the second -- last Wednesday at the Carver Elementary School Fields.

LOUISBURG -- During his effective tenure as Louisburg College's women's soccer coach, Andy Stokes has worked hard to build a strong local recruiting base.
For Stokes, that base stretches into Nash County -- and it's a strategy that continues to pay dividends for his Lady Hurricanes' program.
Former Nash Central High School soccer star Abigail Ross enjoyed a solid two-year career in net for Louisburg College -- and was tabbed as the Region X Keeper of the Year on both occasions.

BUNN -- Even after the conclusion of the season, the hits keep on coming for the Bunn High School baseball program.
BHS head coach Chris Cullom recently announced that a pair of his standouts -- Spencer Brickhouse and Davie Morgan -- have been selected to the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association's Class 2-A All-State Team.
Brickhouse, a senior who will attend East Carolina University, finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting -- just a few points behind conference rival Justin Bullock from South Granville.

ZEBULON -- Braxton Davidson hit a grand slam and Sal Giardina hit a two-run home run in a six-run Carolina sixth inning and the Mudcats won game two of Sunday's doubleheader against the Frederick Keys 7-5 at Five County Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball showdown.
Davidson's grand slam in the sixth gave the Mudcats (38-55, 9-14) their first lead of the game at 5-3 and was the first grand slam of his professional career.
It was also Carolina's first grand slam of the season and Davidson's team-best ninth home run.

YOUNGSVILLE -- With four impressive victories, Youngsville's All-Stars marched through the competition in convincing style to take the championship last week at the Pony 10-Under Piedmont District Tournament at the West Raleigh Baseball Complex.
Youngsville wrapped up its crown with an 8-6 comeback decision over Davidson County in the championship showdown.
Youngsville trailed early but was able to claw back and move ahead in support of pitcher Garrett Hayes, who earned the mound victory with a strong complete-game performance.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College's defense of its National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championship will begin Sept. 3 at home against Region X opponent University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie.
First kick will be at 3 p.m. at Ronald May Field for the Hurricanes, who are coming off their first national title in school history.
LC's complete schedule is as follows, with home events listed in CAPS:

ROCKY MOUNT -- Since 1999, North Carolina Wesleyan College has honored 64 former athletes, administrators, and coaches by enshrining them in its Hall of Fame.
These individuals have created a higher standard for Bishop athletics and were selected based on their outstanding accomplishments.
This year's class meets these same standards and will comprise the 18th group of honorees.
The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics has announce that the 1999 National Champion Baseball Team, along with veteran coaches Charlie Long and Ernie Jones, have been chosen to comprise its 2016 Hall of Fame class.

The Louisburg All-Stars took second place at last week's Tar Heel Girls Coach-Pitch District Tournament at Carver Elementary School in Wendell. Roster members were (back, l to r) Coach Casey Lundy, Coach Marcus Durham, Coach Jason Wood and Coach Deney Buchanan; (middle, l to r) Payton Wood, Summer Weber, Jasmine Durham, Kherington Bryant, Natalie Edwards and Savannah Norris; (front, l to r) Layla Perry, Jasmine Ingraham, Paige Lundy and Maycey Buchanan.

Layla Perry rips a single for Louisburg as part of last week's appearance at the Tar Heel Girls Coach-Pitch District Tournament at Carver Elementary in Wendell.

Anderson University's Jessica Harris was an exceptional defender at the net at Franklinton High School -- and she has continued that success in college.

FRANKLINTON -- It was nearly a year ago that Tracy Williams was gunned down by her estranged boyfriend.
In that time, said Safe Space Executive Director Monica Kearney, some things have changed.
Nationally, laws have been passed that impact gun ownership by perpetrators of domestic violence.
Locally, law enforcement agencies in all corners of the county are working to implement a standard response to domestic violence calls that immediately refers those in grave risk to Safe Space's crisis hotline.

HENDERSON -- The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees selected Danny W. Wright of Henderson as its next chair, succeeding Deborah Brown.
Herb Gregory of Oxford was re-elected as vice chair, while Brown, a Henderson resident, was elected secretary of the board, succeeding Dr. Doris Terry Williams.
Wright first served as a trustee in 2011-2013, having been appointed by N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue, and then returned to the VGCC board in January 2015 as an appointee of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.

FRANKLINTON - Patricia Ann Ross, 69, died Friday, July 15, 2016. The family will have a memorial service at a later date. She was born in Durham County to the late Marshall David and Pearl Rose Garris.

FRANKLINTON - Lillie Mae McKinney, 95, died Monday, July 11, 2016 at her home. Funeral services were held Sunday, July 17, at First United Church of Christ in Franklinton, with the Rev. Douglas Wooten officiating. Interment followed in Fairview Cemetery, Franklinton.

FRANKLINTON-- Charles F. "Frankie" Johnson Jr., 48, died Thursday, July 14, 2016 at Levine & Dickson Hospice House of Huntersville. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 19, in the Franklinton High School Auditorium in Franklinton, with the Rev. Douglas Wooten officiating. Interment followed in the Manasseh Baptist Church cemetery, Franklinton.