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Page 4B Louisburg, NC, Thursday, January 30, 2020

January well additional pay. Franklinton Middle was the only school in the county system Franklin County quickly got into the “spirits” of 2019 when the first edition of The denoted as low performing in the most recent state grading period. The state graded Franklin Times featured a story on the pending opening of Carolina Country Distillery the school with a “D” and that it was designated as “low performing.” The key to in Louisburg. The venture was a project of Randy Moore and his partner, Lucy Monks, the district’s approach is to attract the best teachers to the school — and reward them and is part of an effort to revitalize downtown Louisburg. accordingly. In recent years, administrators have lamented that the teacher turnover at •Newly elected Superior Court Judge Cindy King Sturges was sworn in and FMS has been excessive and placed some of the responsibility for student performance replaced retiring Judge Robert Hob- on the frequent changes in teaching staff. good. Witnessing the swearing in was •Franklin County Schools were ready to ask county commissioners for a $3,451,738 Judge Sturges’s husband, Boyd, and increase in local current expense funding for the 2019-20 school year, which begins on their daughter Olivia. July 1 and that total did not include capital expense projections of $2 million, maintain- •After more than a half century, ing last year’s funding levels in this area. Roughly $2 million would be earmarked Franklin County Schools got out from for raises for all of the district’s “classified” employees, which includes non-teaching under much of a federal court desegre- and other non-certified employees. In addition, $55,000 would be used to upgrade gation order, although the district will the salary structure for assistant principals; $60,000 would be used for a pilot, teacher face some restrictions through at least incentive program for select Franklinton Middle School teachers; and the remaining 2020. The federal court case where these nearly $1.3 million would be used to handle other increasing operating expenses. Also desegregation rules began started more included in the school budget is about $2,545,332 that will “flow through” the tradi- than 50 years ago when the late Harold tional public schools’ budget to 31 charter schools that Franklin County students now D. Coppedge sued the county school attend. board in an effort to fully integrate HONORED FIREFIGHTERS. Two vet- •Phillip Cordeiro was sworn in as Youngsville’s new administrator shortly after county schools and ensure that African- eran local firefighters were honored last town officials adopted an ordinance that gives him the powers of a town manager. American students got equal access to January by the Firefighters Association. Cordeiro said town officials and residents could look forward to hard work and com- educational opportunities. In the photo above, Louisburg fireman mitment from him. “... The trust that your board of commissioners has vested in me •The Franklin County Fire Associa- William “Bill” Bailey (right) receives will be taken seriously,” he said. tion awarded two veteran firefighters his award from Franklin County Fire •In a long-awaited scene, Louisburg Mayor Karl Pernell and a crowd of onlookers their coveted ‘Fireman of the Year’ Association President Tommy Lloyd. In helped re-light the V.A. Peoples Bridge over the Tar River. The lights, visible on both award. Saluted were long-time Louis- the photo below, Lloyd presents Justice sides of the bridge, are part of a downtown revitalization effort. burg fireman William “Bill” Bailey and Fire Chief Kelly Harris (right) the same Justice Fire Department Chief Kelly award. Harris. March • When Franklinton’s Martin Luther •Aviation investigators were working to find out what caused a plane crash that King Jr. Committee held its 13th annual killed three people but warned it could take months before they had a final report. A Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance single-engine plane piloted by Brian Sjostedt crashed shortly after takeoff from Frank- service, it was the first time it began lin County airport en route to Hilton Head, S.C., killing the pilot and two passengers, with a ceremonial march from Martin Jessica Kenny and Allison Forsythe. The plane took off from Triangle North Executive Luther King Jr. Boulevard to First Bap- Airport and crashed shortly after takeoff two miles southwest of the airport. tist Church. “We now have a Martin Lu- •Efforts were renewed to get one of Louisburg’s most famous “ladies” back home ther King Jr. Boulevard,” Alvin Holden, after she spent a long, long time in a “spa” in an effort to return her to the way she a town commissioner and deacon at looked nearly 100 years ago. The “lady” was Maude, a vintage fire truck that once bat- First Baptist Church said of the road, tled fires in and around Louisburg and is the county’s first motorized fire truck. Maude the first in Franklin County named in is a 1921 American La France type 75 fire engine — and she’d had been away for many honor of the slain civil rights icon and months undergoing unveiled last April. a detailed restora- •Animal rescuers asked county com- tion designed to missioners to increase staffing at the county’s animal shelter to get more animals fos- make her shine like tered and adopted, rather than euthanized. she did on her first •Ron Cox, who has been instrumental in helping to revitalize downtown Louisburg, day in town. was named the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. • The family of a Cox’s efforts have led to events like the Friday Nights on the Tar concert series, the woman decapitated town’s Strategic Economic Development Plan and an annual Christmas Tree lighting by her psychotic son ceremony. has filed a lawsuit •Local Civil Rights icon Rosanell Eaton was remembered following her death about against the doctor a month earlier at the age of 97. Eaton was one of the first African-Americans to earn who discharged the right to vote in Franklin County, helped register more than 4,000 voters in her life- the teenager less time, and was a lead plaintiff in a 2013 lawsuit against what courts ultimately deemed than a week before were efforts to suppress minority voters. the murder. Late •Franklinton commissioners approved a rezoning that paved the way for a 100- the previous year, THREE KILLED. Three persons died when this single-en- unit apartment complex and town officials struggled to lure commercial development. Oliver Machada gine aircraft crashed near Franklin County Airport in early Town officials also learned that the first section of the Sterling Cotton Millapart- was found not March. The crash was still under investigation as this edi- ments were nearing complete and there also was a a 46-unit town house development guilty of killing tion went to press about l0 months after the crash. planned near the Burlington Mill site at Oak Ridge Road. Yesenia Funez by reason of insanity and was committed to a state mental health facility — where he will more than likely February spend the rest of his life. The case began March 6, 2017, when Franklin County sher- •Police arrested one suspect and looked for another man they allege shot and killed iff’s deputies responded to the family’s Morgan Drive home, finding Machada with a a Franklinton man. But they still didn’t know why Clarence Person Jr. was killed by a butcher knife in one hand and his mother’s head in the other. single gunshot wound on Jan. 18. Franklinton police found the 49-year-old man and •Franklinton commissioners selected Gregory Bethea as town manager and the vet- investigators allege two men entered the home and fired a single shot, killing him. eran public servant said his goal was to establish policies, practices and procedures •Authorities arrested a Henderson man at gunpoint on Bickett Boulevard and then that would help the town and its next manager direct growth that’s coming its way. “I charged him with more than 50 drug violations, most stemming from an undercover really appreciate the opportunity to serve the community,” Bethea said. drug investigation that ran for several weeks. A heavily armed tactical response team •Youngsville Town Administrator Phillip Cordeiro presented commissioners with surrounded Jhi’Tay Thomas but he fled authorities during a staged drug buy. Thomas, an outline of his 2019-20 budget that included a drop in taxes and an increase in fees, who was first approached by police in the Sheetz gas station parking lot, slammed his employee pay and other resources needed to bolster town services. vehicle into reverse, leaving the parking lot and managing to drive backward a short •Residents in northeast Franklin County figure it’ll take exposure and funds to distance north on Bickett Boulevard just before 1 p.m. before being surrounded and revitalize their portion of the county and the Northeast Franklin Revitalization Com- stopped at gunpoint. mittee decided a signature event or festival could do the trick. Such an event could •Franklin County Schools took a step into relatively uncharted territory, unani- either raise money for what they want to do, bolster agritourism and spur business mously agreeing with a proposal from school administrators that is designed to attract and residential growth in the area, or raise awareness about how they’re going about and keep the best teachers at the school — and to offer those who stay and perform trying to do that.

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April raise her and husband Bruce’s three sons •A motion that would have had commissioners vote on whether or not to start •County staff and officials, along with parks and recreation advocates, marked a Youth Advisory Board died for lack of a second, apparently spelling the end to the soft opening of a new county park with a ribbon cutting. A grand opening for the innovative idea of getting teens involved in county government. However, the Owens Park was slated for later in the year. “[Almost] 10 years and counting, but we Youngsville teenager who has consistently pressed the county to establish the board are finally opening,” said Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Jack Edg- said he’s not giving up. “I’m going to keep on fighting,” said Logan Harrison. erton, welcoming visitors to the site on Massenburg Baker Road — about six miles •The Robbins Library at Louisburg College announced the completion of the digi- east of downtown Louisburg. It was the dream that Edgar Owens had in a will that tization of many historic issues of The Franklin Times, making them available online was crafted on Jan. 25, 1987. for viewing by the public. •Crosscreek Charter School broke ground on a new building, starting the clock •The Franklin County school system requested $22,349,831 to fully fund the on plans to move into a new facility. According to the school, the construction loan county schools for the 2019-20 school year following a unanimous vote by the Board was finalized in April and work on the 20-acre site on East River Road was ready to of Education. That request included an increase of $3,451,738 in operating funds. In begin. When completed, the site will be home to 360 students, all on one campus. addition to the operating funds, the school district requested $2 million in capital •Franklin County was planning to go live with yet another radio system upgrade expense funding, about what it received in the previous fiscal year. Combined, the for the long-troubled system. It’s also expected to alleviate communication issues request totaled the largest, single year increase in local funds by the school district that sprung up when the county overhauled its entire system nearly seven years in several years ago. In the fall of 2012, Franklin County switched over to a roughly $11 million •A man authorities allege killed three people over a $2,200 debt was ordered to emergency radio system intended to address the county’s notorious issue with radio spend the rest of his life in jail. Superior Court Judge James E. Hardin Jr. handed dead spots experienced by first responders and law enforcement officers. From the down the sentence after Darius R. Robinson entered an Alford plea — which doesn’t beginning, though, the new system has experienced issues with dropped calls and admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have enough evidence to prove their case. garbled audio. Sheriff’s investigators allege Robinson entered Keisha Wilder Livingston’s Harris •Octavious Jermaine “Smokey” Yarborough drowned in Louisburg’s Riverbend Road home the morning of March 26, 2016, killing the 36-year-old and two other Park. The 40-year-old was out with friends when he attempted to swim from one occupants, Diana Marie Edgerton, 23, both of Louisburg, and Shamare Malik Harris, bank to another across the Tar River. He made it about halfway across and went 18, of LaGrange. under, briefly, but was able to continue a bit further before going under •Youngsville town staff presented commissioners with a $2.9 million budget that a final time. His body was found a short time later. lowered the tax rate, provided more pay and resources for employees and raised some fees. Commissioners set the public hearing date during a fast-moving meeting June on April 11 that included an introduction of the budget and updates to the town’s •After listening to pleas from educators and school employees, Franklin County relationship with its ABC Board. commissioners approved a budget that calls for no tax increase and fully funded •This region was a vastly different place in the very early days of this nation when the board of education’s request. It left out some new vehicles, delayed start dates Capt. Daniel Jones came home from service in the Third Continental Army and for some employees, dropped three new positions, cut some health department ser- selected a spot along what is now the Epsom-Rocky Ford Road for his new, Geor- vices and pulled money from the county’s savings account to do it. The trims to the gian style home. In April 2019, that home and several others were to be included in budget, County Manager Angela Harris told commissioners during a work session the annual Historic Homes Tour planned by the Preservation Society. prior to the board’s regular meeting on Monday night, were maneuvers that depart- ment heads “can live with.” May •U.S. 401 has withstood a number of hurricanes, but a torrential downpour in •County officials learned it would cost more than $22 million to fund the capi- June sent rushing water downstream, buckled a culvert and dropped a roughly tal improvements outlined in its latest parks and recreation comprehensive master 40-foot section of the two-lane highway into the Little River near the Franklin-Wake plan. But Alfred Benesch and Company Senior Project Manager Jon Wood wanted County line. Department of Transportation officials anticipate it wouldn’t reopen to county commissioners to know: 1) There are funds available to help; 2) Ultimately, through traffic until the end of July or early August. it would be up to commissioners, parks and recreation staff and its advisory board •More than 600 students from the county’s three high schools crossed stages, to determine when, and if, it would implement the recommendations laid out in the earning the right to call themselves high school graduates. 10-year plan. •With a snip of the ribbon supporters •Novozymes, which operates a pro- unveiled a new entrance into Louisburg duction plant near Franklinton, marked College’s Frazier Field, a field its 40th anniversary in Franklin County. named for veteran coach Russell Frazier In 1979, Novozymes opened its first who mentored the team for 40 years offi- production facility and administration cially -- and more than that unofficially. buildings in what was a hay field in The new gateway was a project of the Franklinton. The $15 million investment Golden Anniversary Club which selected resulted in the hiring of 15 employees and then raised the money for this project. in a county of just under 30,000 people. •Nearly drowned out by whirring Forty years later, Franklin County has propellers and aviation engines, dozens more than doubled its population, that were on hand to hear of the impact that field in Franklinton has long been Novo- former airport director Stephen Merritt zymes’ North American headquarters had on Triangle North Executive Air- and the company has invested nearly port. That was fitting, ceremony organiz- half a billion dollars in the operation. ers said, as Merritt was key to generating •March and April came and went the kind of stir that was demonstrated without an agreement by a vendor to by plenty of aviation activity at the coun- provide better broadband service in ty’s airport. “Look around the airport Franklin County. But, those close to the and you see Steve’s fingerprints every- matter said bringing better connectivity where,” said Airport Advisory Board to Franklin County and the region was Chair John Allers. Merritt served as the still on track. county’s airport director from January •As a 14-year-old teenager, Carol Seal 2010 until his death in December 2017. went on a mission trip to Arizona and •When Bunn turned 100 back in 2013, discovered a great deal about herself. town officials gave birth to an idea that She also began a journey that shaped her culminated in June with the grand open- life and the lives of countless others. In ing of a new town park. With swings, May, Carol Seal — now Carol Forrest — slides, musical instruments and monkey was named Franklin County’s Teacher of bars, the young and the young at heart the Year for 2019 during a dinner presen- now have a place in town for recreation. tation at First Fruits Farm in the Marga- “This park has been a dream of mine for ret Community. Forrest is in her second TOP TEACHER. Carol Seal Forrest (left) was named Franklin many years,” said Mayor Marsha Straw- year of teaching at Long Mill Elementary County Schools’ Teacher of the Year during a ceremony in May. She bridge, addressing the crowd that turned School but she has been teaching since out for the ribbon cutting and unveiling 1977 — with a break along the way to is shown here with Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuhler. of the park right next to town hall.

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July • Franklin County officials approved the $6.65 million Louis- burg High School athletic complex. They broke ground on the property in August. The first phase includes a football field with eight-lane track, lighting for the field, a scoreboard, access road and parking lot, rest rooms, bleachers, concession facilities, a press box and other amenities. The work is slated to be done by the fall of 2020. In coming years, the next phase of the project will include baseball and soccer field redevelopment, rework- ing the existing baseball field into a new field, lighting for all the new fields, new scoreboards for soft- ball, baseball and soccer and paving parking lots. • Franklin County celebrated the opening of its newest park, the V.E. and Leila Owens Park, with the unveiling of a butterfly garden named after former Commissioner John May. • The town of Louisburg accepted a gift of 2.8 acres fronting the Tar River that they anticipate will bolster efforts to develop local parks and the Depot Hill project. The land is across from the West River Road campus of Franklin County Schools and is near the Depot Hill project under development. ROAD REPAIRED. This short section of paired and reopened to traffic in July, much to • The State Bureau of Investigation U.S. 401 washed out during a thunderstorm the relief of many motorists who must travel uncovered evidence in a murder case in June, cutting out the vital highway artery the busy highway daily. (Times photo by Carey that prompted prosecutors to drop its case against Octavian Dortch of for more than a month. But the road was re- Johnson) Youngsville. Shortly after Franklinton officers agreed to move forward with a rail lin County, focusing on underserved not seek re-election. He’s served on found Clarence Person Jr. dead inside project that could connect Franklin- and unserved customers. the board since 2004, the last couple his Fairlane Avenue home in January ton to a trail in Louisburg. The agreement requires Franklin of years as the board’s chair. 2019, authorities identified Dortch A state grant would help fund the County to provide Open Broadband Johnnie Clifton Sr. and Kelli London as a person of interest and a suspect project, that would allow the trail to with $188,000 a year for the first four have both filed for the Democratic prior to his arrest. follow a rail bed from Franklinton to years, helping the Waxhaw-based party’s nomination for the District 1 The SBI, though, revealed evi- Louisburg. company with its rollout, as well as seat. dence to the prosecutor’s office that • A section of U.S. 401 near the providing the county with wi-fi hot- • Henry Bibby and his family prompted District Attorney Mike Wake County line reopened to traf- spots and service to several county returned to Franklinton to host the Waters to dismiss the case against fic in July after a storm washed out departments. first of, what is hoped to become an Dortch in July. a culvert, collapsing the highway the Rollout of the service is expected in annual camp in Franklin- The case remains under investi- previous month. in the summer. ton. gation, but no other arrest has been • Franklin County finalized an August • It was announced that funding made. agreement with Open Broadband to • Franklin County Commissioner problems within the State Depart- • Franklinton commissioners bring better Internet service to Frank- Sidney Dunston announced he would ment of Transportation would delay the start of construction for Section D of U.S. 401 — from Royal into Louis- burg. Right-of-way acquisition was slated for the 2022 fiscal year and construc- tion was slated to begin in the 2024 fiscal year. Now, DOT officials said those dates look more like 2026 and 2029, respec- tively. • Franklin County management announced that the county had received a $5 million grant that will help build a new emergency com- munications building adjacent to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. September • The DOT worked out an arrange- ment with contractors to immediately begin bridge repair work on Pete Smith Road, a decision that eased IN MEMORIAM. A Butterfly Garden dedicated to the memory of community leader John May the concerns of motorists and first was added to Franklin County’s new V. E. and Leila Owens Park, which opened in 2019 responders. Established in 1982 Established in 1982 Established in 1983 Established in 1988 Wammock Utility Buildings www.wammockutilitybuildings.com Celebrating 3832 Years! RENT-TO-OWN OPEN 7 a.m.-7 p.m. • 7 DAYS A WEEK MOSS FOODS 218 South Hayes Auto 812 S. Bickett Blvd., Main Street, Service Louisburg, NC 401 Kenmore Ave., Louisburg Louisburg NC 919-496-2061 919-496-3696 919-496-6931 wwwmossfoodsinc.commossfoodsinc.com We Deliver 496-2253 1550 US 401 Hwy. S., Louisburg

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Initially, plans called for portions November of Person and Pete Smith roads to • The county chose Bo Carson to be closed at the same time — as become the permanent airport direc- the bridge on Pete Smith Road was tor for Triangle North Executive Air- deemed too dangerous to cross port. and repairs were being planned for Carson was hired in 2016 as the Person Road. county’s Existing Industries Coor- The decision allows Person Road dinator within the Franklin County to remain open while repairs at Pete Economic Development Office. Smith Road take place first. The He was tabbed as interim direc- decision means that one of the two tor shortly after the December 2017 north/south roads in that section of death of the previous director, Ste- the county remain open to motorists phen Merritt. and responders. Consultants and the State Depart- The contracts were worked out in ment of Transportation unveiled pre- October. liminary plans they say will improve • The state’s 2018-19 accountabil- traffic flow and improve safety along ity results revealed that the Franklin Bickett Boulevard. County school district had no low Essentially, the plan calls for either performing schools in the ranking creating a super-highway design — the only area school district in the focusing on preventing left turns, or region to achieve that level of perfor- relying upon roundabouts. mance. Either plan would require DOT to In addition, 12 of the 16 Frank- acquire right-of-way that could limit lin County Schools -- including all the use of business property along eight elementary schools — met or the main thoroughfare or take said exceeded expectations. property, outright. • Youngsville residents got their The next public meeting on the first chance to meet candidates for matter — giving time for DOT to the town’s chief of police position. infuse suggestions made during Ultimately, Greg Whitley was November’s public hearing — is chosen to lead the department and expected to take place either this was sworn in to begin duties in summer or fall. December. • Franklinton American Legion • A jail inmate supplemented a Post 52 celebrated 100 years. federal lawsuit he filed against the • Franklin County sheriff’s depu- sheriff and treatment he received in ties began investigating allegations the jail. that a home invader was killed by Jonathan Posner, among other his own gun. things, alleged the sheriff was respon- Authorities said Richard Knott sible for lax security that led to a jail- entered a home in the 1200 block of house beating that caused lingering Bethlehem Church Road and got into optical issues. VOLUNTEER HONORED. Mrs. Martha Hunter was presented the Eliza- an altercation with people inside. The case remains pending. beth May Service Award in September during a brief ceremony in front of His gun fell out during the scuffle, • Martha Hunter was presented the Franklinton Middle School, a presentation that was witnessed by her was recovered by someone in the with the Elizabeth May Service friends, family, fellow church members and officials of the Willie B. Rob- home and they shot him five times, Award — an honor bestowed upon ertson and Kay Robertson Memorial Foundation which presents the award. authorities allege. community stalwarts by the Willie Mrs. Hunter is perhaps best known for creating and operating the Helping No charges have been filed in the B. Robertson and Kay Robertson Hands Summer Camp in Franklinton, a three-week camp for local children matter. Memorial Foundation. ages 5 to 18. She is shown here at the ceremony with her husband, William. • Animal care advocates flooded Hunter is perhaps best known for a Franklin County County Commis- having created and operated the sioner meeting, asking the board to Helping Hands Summer Camp in support changes at the animal con- Franklinton, a three-week camp for trol shelter to reduce the number of local children ages 5 to 18. animals that are euthanized. Some improvements have already October been made while another, rebooting the county’s animal control advisory • A superior court judge entered a board, remains a work in progress. $26 million judgement against a local cattle company — Franklin Livestock Inc — accused of fraud and deceit. December Midwestern company, J&K Cattle, • Franklinton-based PRTI agreed accused Franklin Livestock billed to sell a majority stake in the firm to them for cattle purchases they never Malta-based Energen Global. made, services they never performed The move gives PRTI a large influx and essentially lied about cattle of cash and could lead to a “blitz dying. scaling kind of moment,” company • The Franklin County Board of officials said. Commissioners agreed to boost •Louisburg officials approved County Manager Angela Harris’ pay rezoning that could lead the way to by $20,000 — a 17 percent raise. a 147-single-family development at • Franklin County got a shakeup in the Louisburg Country Club prop- leadership. erty. Jeff Lewis was placed on admin- The primary developer is Winslow istrative leave as the county’s emer- Homes of Youngsville and Matthew gency services director. He eventually Winslow said the project will include retired from his position. a mixture of housing types and is Mattie Woodard abruptly ten- being designed to take advantage of dered her resignation, retiring from its proximity to the Tar River, which a department she had been at since runs along the back edge of the prop- 1987 and served as its leader since erty. 2009. Winslow said plans call for keep- Cindy Jones was named as the ing but renovating the existing club department’s director in January. IN THE NEWS A SECOND TIME. Earlier in 2019 Carol Forrest was named house building, the swimming pool Brian Haynesworth resigned his Franklin County Teacher of the Year but just before Christmas she also was and converting the existing post as the county’s solid waste direc- selected as the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Regional Teacher of the Year. courts to multi-use courts of some tor, taking a post in Georgia. “She teaches all students, regardless of their ability level,” reigning Bur- type, although that hasn’t been final- Lee Bodenhamer was hired to lead roughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year Mariah Morris ized. the department in December. said about Forrest. She believes in each one of her students,” Morris said dur- One major attribute to the devel- Architects presented county com- ing the assembly, that drew students, teachers and central office staff. “She opment will be easy access to the missioners with a $63 million, 12-year sees the potential and she doesn’t overlook anyone’s capability,” Morris said. Tar River and both a picnic area and plan to address their facilities needs. “Parents, students, and other teachers love her for everything that she gives some hiking trails are planned for a The biggest chunk — nearly $22 and all of her heart that she pours out into your school.” Forrest, who has piece of the property that will join million — is for a new county admin- taught for 42 years, said the brilliance of education is that you can always the club house and the Tar River. istration complex proposed to sit learn. As a Regional Teacher of the Year, part of her job will be going around Winslow, who is partnering in the right behind the Franklin County and spreading the importance of education and, just as importantly, “spread- development with Mike Moss of Courthouse Annex. ing all of the good news of what students are doing here, what the teachers Wake Forest, said the idea is to hit Long story short, there has yet been are doing here and what the central office is providing to your community,” a price point of $200,000 to $300,000 no financial commitment to the plan. Morris noted. Forrest said that is something she is most excited about. for the homes, adding that there will be price ranges within those totals depending on what individual Established in 2005 Established in 2013 Established in 2013 owners want their home to include. •Long Mill Elementary School exceptional children’s teacher Carol Forrest — the county’s reigning teacher of the year — was named the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Regional Teacher of the Year. • The NC Wildlife Resource Com- Johnny mission stocked the V.E. Owens Fish- ing Hole at the county’s newest park. • U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Bull’s Biggs temporarily blocked the Off Bickett Blvd. requirement that voters provide ID to cast a ballot. Heating & Air • Refrigeration • Electrical Behind Bojangles The future of the decision is not known, but through the spring pri- 919-496-7250 • 919-215-4090 919-496-3800 1968 NC 58 Hwy. 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Page 8B Louisburg, NC, Thursday, January 30, 2020

AnotherFranklin Excellent Year athletes excelled By GEOFF NEVILLE Times Sportswriter

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Individual and team suc- cesses -- on all competitive levels -- were on display as part of yet another outstand- ing sports year in Franklin County. Here is a look at the Top-10 sports stories from the county during 2019: 10. CCMS Hoops Few programs, regardless of the level, have enjoyed more consistent success in recent years than the Cedar Creek Middle School boys and girls basketball squads. CCMS has dominated the Middle Athletic Conference for the past several cam- paigns -- a trend that con- tinued in February as the Jags and Lady Jags swept the MAC-10 Tournament at Bunn Middle School. The Lady Jaguars defeated Northern Granville for their DAY TO REMEMBER. Franklinton High School’s Rebekah Smith won the North Carolina High School Athletic Associa- third title in a row, while the tion’s Girls Class 3-A State High Jump championships at historic Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. (Photo Submitted) Jaguars topped Hawley in 1970s since Franklinton had the finals to keep their two- boasted a performer in the year undefeated streak alive. North Carolina East-West 9. TLMS Fall Sports All-Star Football Game -- Terrell Lane claimed a pair but that changed in July at of crowns in Middle Athletic the annual event at historic Conference action during the Jamieson Stadium in Greens- Fall of 2019 schedule. boro. The TLMS boys football FHS was represented by squad went unbeaten and two players -- wide receiver capped off a spectacular year Steve Green and running by winning the league title back Kendall Harris -- on the with a hard-fought victory East team at the prestigious over Bunn Middle. game. In action, the Both performers saw sig- Lady Tornadoes also rolled nificant playing time for the through the regular season East. before meeting Cedar Creek 6. Tennis Champs in a tough finale at Northern History was made at Bunn Granville Middle School in this past fall as the Ladycats Oxford. won the school’s first-ever Momentum in the match Northern Carolina Confer- swung back and forth before ence girls tennis champion- the Lady Tornadoes won the ship. match -- and the tournament Bunn, under the direction championship. of veteran coach Allen White, Cedar Creek continued its went undefeated in the regu- solid recent run with its sec- POIGNANT MOMENT. Franklinton High School’s Rebekah Smith sheds a tear and shares a lar season and eventually ond-place finish, and Bunn hug after winning the Girls High Jump event at the Class 3-A State Track and Field Cham- reached the Class 2-A State reached the tourney semifi- pionships back in May at North Carolina A&T State University. (Photo Submitted) Playoffs, where the Ladycats nals. hosted a first-round match. impact professionally. The Lady Hurricanes ence regular season champi- 8. Spike Heroics For his efforts, White was Former Franklinton quar- would qualify for the onship with Roanoke Rapids Franklin County is known saluted as the NCC Coach of terback Daquan Neal starred National Junior College Ath- before embarking on a tre- for its volleyball excellence, the Year. for the Iowa Barnstorm- letic Association Division II mendous playoff run. and that reputation contin- 5. Pro Stars ers of the Indoor Football National Tournament and The Wildcats would even- ued to build in 2019. Former Bunn High School League and was selected as would reach the Elite Eight. tually reach the Elite Eight Franklinton, under the legend excelled the league’s Most Valuable LC also earned a national of the Class 2-A State Play- direction of new coach Tom tourney berth in men’s soccer offs before falling to a tough in his third season as a Player. Harris, shared the Big East after Coach Ted Awana Randleman squad. member of the 4. LC Titles regular season champion- guided the Hurricanes to Bunn would go 20-7 after Eric Lee has made a huge ship and reached the second in the National Football a 15-1-1 overall record that its trio of playoff wins, and impact in his brief tenure as round of the Class 3-A State League. featured Region X regular Trent Simmons (NCC Player Playoffs. A running back, Cohen the Louisburg College soft- season and tourney crowns. of the Year) and Patrick Louisburg and Bunn also caught 79 passes for 456 ball coach -- and his suc- Louisburg would go 2-1 Warren (NCC Coach of the reached the postseason out yards and three touchdowns cesses continued last spring at the NJCAA Division I Year) earned top conference of the competitive Northern in addition to rushing for 213 as the Lady Hurricanes won National Tournament in honors. Carolina Conference. yards. the Region X regular season Tyler, Texas, to cap off the 1. Smith Sparkles 7. East-West Game Cohen wasn’t the only and tournament champion- outstanding campaign. Franklin County has It had been since the county resident to make an ships. 3. Brick In The Pros boasted a rich recent his- After finishing off an excep- tory of gold medalists at the tional career at East Carolina North Carolina High School University, Bunn’s Spencer Athletic Association’s State Brickhouse was selected by Track and Field Champion- the Arizona Diamondbacks ships -- and the 2019 event in the 7th Round of the Major would prove to be no differ- League Baseball Draft. ent. Brickhouse spent his first During the Class 3-A pro season on the Class A Championships in Greens- level with Missoula in Mon- boro, Franklinton High tana and batted .272 with six School junior star Rebekah home runs and 34 RBI. Smith fulfilled her career- Brickhouse closed out his long potential by winning time at ECU by being named the Girls High Jump. as the school’s Male Student- Smith became the second Athlete of the Year. Lady Rams over the past six Former Louisburg Col- years to win the event, with lege standouts Jason Parker Charity Snelling earlier earn- (Cincinnati) and Seth John- ing a first-place spot at the son (Tampa Bay) were also states. selected in the draft. The talented Smith is 2. Bunn Baseball a multi-sport athlete at Speaking of Bunn Baseball, Franklinton who also excels Brickhouse’s alma mater in basketball and volleyball, MVP. Bunn High School junior pitching/hitting star Trent Simmons was saluted as the enjoyed a historic season and she hopes to defend her Northern Carolina Conference’s Most Valuable Player during the 2019 baseball season. as the Wildcats tied for the high jump crown at the states The Wildcats reached the Elite Eight of the state playoffs. (Times photo by Geoff Neville) Northern Carolina Confer- in May of 2020.