FRONT PAGE
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The lawsuit against Franklin County which alleged they, along with about a dozen other entities, were responsible for the injuries of an Ingleside man has been settled for $1 million.
Attorney William King served as a special master in the case and helped attorneys reach a settlement over the summer.
Superior Court Judge Ripley Rand approved the settlement in July.
The settlement applies to Franklin County, Franklin County EMS, paramedics Katherine Lamell and Paul Kilmer, only.
By:
GARY CUNARD, Times Publisher
For the second time in recent months, the Franklin County Board of Education received good news when bids for construction projects were opened -- a savings of about $1.1 million.
Calling the 15 bids received “really competitive,” architect Jon D. Long told the board it stands to save about 16 percent of the projected cost of the work.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
A former county employee who alleges she was retaliated against for pursuing a sexual harassment charge hopes a federal lawsuit filed against the county brings about justice.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on Friday, alleging that county staff violated Karen Dorrans’ civil rights by failing to abide by their own policies regarding sexual harassment complaints.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Lake Royale is building a tradition as it sets to host its third annual triathlon on Saturday.
Hundreds of athletes, sponsors, volunteers and spectators will descend upon the lake community on Saturday to take part in the Lake Royale Sprint Triathlon.
The event features a 500-meter open water swim, a 15-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run.
Shearon
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Franklin County was well represented last week as two officials and one staff member took three of five awards handed out during a regional banquet.
The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments held its annual awards banquet on Thursday in Timberlake.
Louisburg Council member Joe Shearon received the Outstanding Region K Council of Governments’s Board Member award.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The town of Franklinton received a grant this week that puts an economic development project on the fast track while cutting out significant debt.
Town staff, officials, engineers, Hardee’s representatives and town property owners have been planning a sewer line to run on the west side of U.S. 1 from Pocomoke Road to N.C. 56 and, this week, Congressmen Bob Etheridge announced that the town will receive a $75,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to complete the project.
By:
CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
The Franklin County Tourism Development Authority is looking for two good men, or women.
The authority lost a member more than a year ago when Rajni Patel sold his motel business and resigned his post, leaving only two members from the hospitality community on the board.
This summer, Realtor Danny Pearce resigned his post.
Franklinton High School student Ashley Boeye
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
Consistency counts.
And the county’s “slips” are showing!
Let’s start with the negative, the county issues, and end with something positive.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that, like it or not -- and you probably won’t -- the county is going to have to face up to a stark reality.
GOOD MORNING: If you’ve got anything you’ve absolutely got to get done during the month of September 2009, you’d better get it done before midnight tonight (Wednesday) ‘cause after then September 2009 will be history.
IT’S HERE: Any doubts that Fall had indeed arrived were quickly erased when I stepped outside to retrieve the morning paper early Tuesday morning. Not only was everything pretty much wrapped up with leaves and pine needles that had fallen during the night. it was downright chilly to boot.
In the next few weeks, Franklin County residents will get a chance to get up close and personal with candidates interested in representing the public in all sorts of matters that should be important to every person that takes a breath in Franklin County.
Let’s hope people show up to not only hear what candidates have to say, but answer important questions.
First, Franklinton’s Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate’s forum on Oct. 6 at Franklinton High School, which begins at 7 p.m.
Last Week’s Poll
Increase fee percentage?
Do you feel Franklin County’s economic development leadership (i.e. EDC, Committee of 100) has the taxpayer’s best interests at heart?
Dear Editor:
Mr. Berry’s letter proved “some people can be fooled all of the time.” Let me use words familiar to FOX fans. “I find it curious” that criticizing a Republican president is unpatriotic, but a Democratic president can be constantly vilified.
Dear Editor:
Because of an experience I had the past few weeks, I found a piece of the puzzle I was missing in the hospital situation.
I smell a rat and the stench is horrible. It is not helping our hospital (FRMC), the people of the county, or helping to keep the hospital in a central location in the county.
The Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 14th at Bunn High School. Refreshments will be served at 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria, with the forum beginning at 9 a.m. in the auditorium. Nathan Moreschi, Public Information Officer with Franklin County Schools, will serve as moderator. There will be no charge for the event.
OBITUARIES
YOUNGSVILLE—Anthony Kevin “Tony” Long, 52, died Thursday morning, Sept. 24, 2009. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Casual dress is requested. The family will receive friends following the service at the Long home.
LOUISBURG—Betty Jane Radford Burnette, 85, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 in Nash Rehab & Nursing Center. Graveside services were held Sunday, Sept. 27, at Centerville Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Keith Campbell officiating.
LOUISBURG – William Larry Cooke, 66, died Friday morning, Sept. 25, 2009. A graveside service was conducted Monday, Sept. 28, at Cedar Rock First Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Gary Murray officiating.
LOUISBURG - Clemon Edwin Nelms, 86, of Centerville, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. Funeral services were Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Red Bud Baptist Church, Castalia. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
WAKE FOREST —Rosa Bell Pulley, 91, died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at Rex Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, Sept. 30) at New Life Church, with the Rev. Ron Brissom officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
GRAHAM - Harvey Pearce Jr., 78, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at the Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Burlington. Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday, Sept. 30) at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington, with the Rev. Denny Wall, pastor of Hico Baptist Church, and Dr. Tommy Willis, pastor of Andrews Memorial Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Alamance Memorial Park.
ZEBULON - Johnny Ebert Bailey Sr., 85, died Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at his home. Entombment service was conducted Monday, Sept. 28, at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Zebulon.
ZEBULON - Eva Ellen Funkhouser Richards, 91, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 at Laurels of Forest Glen in Garner. Funeral services were Sunday, Sept. 27, at Union Chapel Baptist Church, Zebulon. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Easter Star Rites.
Jacob and Ethan came into this world earlier than expected on September 13th, 2009. They were born at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Jacob, born at 1 lb., 3 oz., lived very briefly after he was born, and his brother, Ethan, only 12 oz. and the smallest baby to make it past birth at Bethesda, fought for 36 hours in the NICU before returning to heaven. They touched the lives of everyone they encountered in their short time and were greatly loved by their mother and father.
SPORTS
TIP DRILL. Louisburg College wide receiver D.J. McFadden (right) and ASA Institute defensive back Kendrick Butler (left) reach for a ball during Sunday afternoon’s gridiron contest at Patterson Field. The pass attempt by LC fell incomplete.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG - During the week heading up to the contest, Louisburg College football coach John Sala indicated that his club’s pending showdown with ASA Institute would be its toughest to date of the season.
Sala’s assessment proved to be correct -- in more ways than one.
Sunday’s showdown proved to be a duel of titans, as the teams seemed to be intent on matching the other’s physicality and intensity.
DRAWING A CROWD. Nash Central High School senior quarterback Dominique Holloway (with ball) is surrounded by several Bunn defenders during last Friday night’s prep football contest in Franklin County.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
BUNN -- Both Bunn and Nash Central almost drowned in a sea of mistakes during last Friday’s non-conference showdown at the BHS Football Field.
Bunn, however, managed to stay afloat long enough to secure a 19-13 decision over the Bulldogs in a game plagued by penalties and turnovers.
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Northern Carolina Conference boys soccer schedule kicked off for only a moment in some places -- and not at all in others -- during a poor-weather Monday evening.
With thunder, lightning and heavy rain prevalent in the area, only one contest involving a local team was played -- in what was supposed to be an otherwise-busy night of pitch action.
From high schools to colleges to the NFL, here are a few thoughts off the top of my head following another wild football weekend:
• Today’s bandwagon alert comes from Chapel Hill, where the Tar Heels are coming off a spanking at the hands of Georgia Tech.
Check the numbers, and you can easily figure out that this defeat wasn’t a fluke.
Carolina couldn’t run the ball, and the couldn’t stop the run, either.
AURELIAN SPRINGS -- Franklinton picked a perfect time to earn its first shutout of Clark Harrell’s two-year tenure as the school’s head football coach.
In their Northern Carolina Conference opener, the ferocious Red Rams’ defense limited host Northwest Halifax to a meager 16 total yards last Friday during a 14-0 decision at the NWH Football Field.
SAVE MAKER. Louisburg College keeper Grace Purnell (with ball) works her way through a maze of players to come up with a save during Sunday’s home women’s soccer contest against Harford Community College at Cameron Field.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- The coach may be new, but the ultimate goal remains the same for the Louisburg College women’s soccer squad.
To win the Region X Tournament championship.
That’s been an elusive goal in recent campaigns for the Lady Hurricanes, who defeated league rival Cape Fear twice last fall in regular season action -- but were topped by CFCC in the region tournament finals.
LC MEN’S SOCCER MATCH ACTION. LC keeper R.J. Esque (center) flies high in an attempt to stop a corner kick from Georgia Perimeter during Sunday’s showdown at Ronald May Field. (Times photo by Geoff Neville)
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
LOUISBURG -- David Sexton has never shied away from high-level competition during his storied career as the Louisburg College men’s soccer coach.
Never was that more evident than last week, when the Hurricanes, ranked seventh nationally, hosted the Nos. 2 (Mercer Community College) and 3 (Georgia Perimeter College) squads during weekend competition at Ronald May Field.
ROCKY MOUNT -- The Battling Bishop football team of North Carolina Wesleyan College invites all area youth to attend its upcoming football game this Saturday, October 3, against Ferrum College as NCWC hosts its Second Annual “Take a Kid to the Game” day at the Northern Nash Football Complex.
Kids 12-under will be admitted free and will have the opportunity to experience the excitement of a college football game firsthand.
ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Louisburg came within one yard of extending its unbeaten streak last Friday night.
But it wasn’t meant to be for the Warriors, who were stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the first overtime of Friday’s Northern Carolina Conference opener at Roanoke Rapids.
The host Jackets then stopped LHS again in the second OT before scoring the winner to cap off a 27-21 conquest over the Warriors, who lost for the first time in 2008 -- and under head coach Chris Lee.
Two area sporting legends were in attendance last Friday night at the Nash Central-Bunn prep football game. Janette Arrington starred in basketball at Northern Nash High School, helping the Lady Knights to the 1998 Class 4-A State Championship under Coach Grover Battle. Janette later went on to star at Louisburg College (under Mike Holloman) and Winthrop University. She is currently a social worker in Rock Hill, S.C. J.J. Arrington, Janette’s brother, also prepped at Northern Nash and is the all-time leading rusher at the University of California-Berkeley. J.J. enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime earlier this year when he played in the Super Bowl as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
COMMUNITY NEWS
By:
The United Way Of Franklin County
It is all on track and gaining speed.
That’s the description given Monday and Tuesday during meetings of the United Way of Franklin County’s 2009 campaign — Now More Than Ever … Your Community Matters.
Campaign Co-Chairs Dr. Mark LaBranche and Angela Harris, now leading the agency into the peak of its Pacesetters round and planning for several big community fund-raisers and events, said the campaign has gotten its first big boost by the county school system, with most of those pledges in.
During the month of October, Safe Space, Inc. will be sponsoring its 6th Annual Men for Change fundraiser. This event allows the community to recognize the men in their lives who are willing to stand together against domestic violence and pledge to help end the cycle of violence.
BAM on Wheelz hosted “Cruisin & Kickball for a Cause” on September 12, 2009.
BAM on Wheelz, “Beautifully Admired Mommas” (BAM), is a motorcycle club headquartered in Franklin County.
BAM on Wheelz’s mission is to improve the awareness of women in the community as positive role models to young women while riding safely as an organization. The organization also strives to give back to the community and surrounding area through volunteer hours and monetary donations.
BUSINESS
The president of Kubota Tractor Corp., Dr. Satoshi Iida, visited Franklin County recently on a fact-finding mission.
Dr. Iida was visiting some of the top Kubota dealerships in the U.S., asking for ideas and suggestions about how to make his company’s product better.
On the trip, he visited Louisburg Tractor on U.S. 401 just south of Louisburg where he met with James Bumpass and Jackie Vick, who have been Kubota dealers for a little over one year.
