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Weather
Continued warm today with a
chance of afternoon showers.
Friday, warm and fair. Low
today, 60; high, 87.
The Franklin Times
I [
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday - ^ Serv.no Air Of FranUlin Countv
Serving A i f Of Franklin County
Comment
The proper me thodl of reform
ing the world Is by reforming
yourself, not your "neighbors.
Tel QY 6-3283
Vi .
(Ten Cents)
Louisburg. N C . Thursday, June^16. 1966
(Eight Pages Today)
/
This Is 1 V. C. 56
iVos/l County
WEST
*
This Is ,\. (.. 56
In
Franklin Counts
______ Vol! Photo. by n.ot Full.,
Rid^OiwN.C. 56 Boats Itollcr < o;isl<'r
? / , An Editorial
Many have spent far oiore, riding the roller-coaster at fairs and resorts and received less bumps, bounces, jerks
and butter fly stomaches, than one gets by traveling N C 56 from Louisburg to the Nash Qounty line in Franklin
County.
As one truck-driver, who works the strip regularly puts it. "At fifty miles an hour. 56 would throw me out of
the truck " The Honda riders like it. but after this group, there is no one to be found who will agree that this
highway is as it should be.
Untold numbers of commuters, living along N C. 56 and working in Louisburg or other sections requiring travel
along this route, have long since ' 'cut through" state rural rofds and are traveling miles out of then way on N C.
561. 1
Why are these people riding several miles farther to and from work? The answer is simple, if you have ridden
N. C. 56 lately. It is far less dangerous to "cut through" and even though this process places more miles on
one's car, it presents far less wear and tear on the vehicle, to say nothing about the driver and passengers
How many people, living along N C 56 in Franklin County, take the smooth, newly paved, wide, blacktop high
way into Nashville instead of Louisburg to do their shopping is unknown What is known, however is the fact, there
is absolutely no comparison of the two highways.
Who is responsible7 The N C State Highway Commission is the agency charged with road improvements. They
have the answer as to why Nash County has a well paved N C. 56 and Franklin County does not They have the
answer why nothing has been done to Franklin County primary roads in over a decadel They have the answer as to
why improvements on N. C. 56 are being withheld after ten years of promises.
Let's see what the Commission or its spokesmen have said about N. C. 56 in the past few years.
Jan. 1, 1963: (From The Franklin Times) "Wake and Durham Counties received 96bo of all primary highway
funds spent in the last fiscal year. (Wake, $5,639,865; Durham, $1,532,620; Franklin, $0,000,901 ($901 00)"
Jan. 22, 1963: (From The Franklin Times) "Fifth Division Highway Commissioner Clifton Benson of Raleigh
promised some "relief real soon' ' on N. C 56. according to County Commission Chairman Norwood Faulkner "
April 2, 1963: (From The Franklin Times) "Governor Sanford has indicated that the State Highway C.om
mission wuld officially approve a project calling for widening and improving N C Highway 56 from Louisburg to
the Nash County line at its meeting scheduled Thursday."
September 10, 1963 (From The Franklin Times) "County Coimmssionei Norwood Faulkner said Monday that
he had been informed by Distiict Highway Commissioner Clifton Benson that preliminary worfc on rebuilding N C ?
Highway 56 had gotten underway "
January 14. 1964 (From The Franklin Times) "Wake Gets Millions, Franklin Gets "Promise Wake County re
ceived S6 141 244; Durham County, $2,074,736; Franklin None Only a repeated promise of improvements to N C
56 from Louisburg to Nash' County Line "
August 24. 1964 (From a letter to The Franklin Times fiom Roger R Jackson PublicfgfiJ'Mions Director,
State Highway Commission) "The Highway Commission's schedule calls foi the proiect ( N C 56 improvements)
to be let to contract, in Septembei or October. 1965 I would hazard a guess that the proiect could be completed
within four to"5ix months " Note The article appearing m The Times stated, "According to Jackson's state
merit, the project should be completed by April, 1966."
December 31, 1964 (From The Franklin Times) Report of right oT way hearing here, attended by an estimated
150 persons "There was no open opposition. Local officials voiced confidence that the leases would be signed
and that the work would not be delayed County "Commissioner Chairman George Harris said the Board has been
working lo get tljis road improvement for ten years "
October 25. |965: ([From a letter to The Franklin Times from State Highway Commission Chairman Joseph M
Hunt) "It (N C 56, improvement project) is now in the process of design and in the not too distant future should
go out for acquisition of rights of way I can assure? you this project will become a reality and that it is moving
along on schedule " .* -
Now these are the promises Who among^js is so naive to believe that we are going to get N C 56 or any other
road improvement unless something changes7 Sitti ng idly by and watching others get the gravy has gained us
absolutely nothing We dare say, Franklin County: though it has not caused the Highway Commission any lost
sleep in the past years, is not held in any higher esteem because ot this
Perhaps Franklin County citizens might wish to attend th&next Commission meeting Perhaps they might re
quest some answers to these questions It may be the Commission- ,tias forgotten ut This sounds reasonable since
they have been unusually busy with our neighboring counties Perhaps a little reminder might be in order Say a
couple thousand citizens'
College Gets Grant
Second Congressional Repre
sentativeVL. H. Fountain an
nounced Wednesday that a
$2,000 gram for Lonlsburg Col
lege. has b?en approved by the
Office of Education In Wash
ington. The grant, according
to Rep. Fountifn*^ announce
ment Is to - be used for
acquisition of ^laboratory and
other special equipment and
materials.
Dr. Cecil W. Robblns, Presi
dent of the College, .reported
tha: the money Is on a matching
fui)d tjasis and is to be used in
the shorthand laboratory, a part
of the business department of
the College.
A report released Tuesday by
Dean John B. Yofk reveals that
the official registration for the
first session of Summer Sfrhool
for 1966 closed with a total of
215 enrolled. The first session
will continue through July~2Q,
with the second session be
ginning on Jilly 22 and con
tinuing through August 26
West Gets O.E.S. Post
George M. West, Worthy
Patron of the William B. Bar
row Chapter No. 39, O. E. S.,
was elected as Associate Grand
Patron of the Grand Chapter of
North Carolina, Ordfr of the
Eastern Star, at the three-day
meeting of Grand Chapter held
In Raleigh this week.
Tl\e position Is the second
highest held by a man In the
state\ organization. West Is
presently serving as Master of
the local Masonic Lodge in ad
dition to heading the O. E, S.
The election, hefd Wednesday
In Raleigh's Memorial Audi
torlum, was attended by over
1500 delegates from throughout
the state.
Mrs. Irene Stone Walker of
Salisbury was Installed as the
? new Worthy Grand Matron and
James B Soesbee of Lake Ju
Inaluska was elevated to Worthy
Grand Patron. ?
West, who held three Grand
Chapter committee appoint
ments this- past year, has also
served the state Grand Chapter
as a District Deputy Grand
GEORGE M WEST
Patron.
A graduate of V. N. C,, West
Is tn the real estate business In
Loulsburg, active In churchand
civic work and Is married to the
former Kathryn Joyner of
Loulsburg. They have three
children.
It '
County Boasts Successful Industrial
Development Program
\ ? _ \ By Clint Fuller \ . ' '
One of the greatest contributors to the ecortpmlc growth of
Franklin County In recent years has been the Industrial develop
ment program. Led by a ten^-member Industrial Development
Commission, a Director and secretary, the program has
brought seven manufacturing plants Into being In the county since
Its Inception In 1961.
Allen DeHart It Chairman oi the Commission and J. Harold
Taltotv Is vice-chairman. W. J. Benton, who was at one time
head of the Commission and a former Loulsburg Mayor, Is fhf
Director. Mrs. Lycllle Romero is secretary Members of the
Commission are Lloyd West, Commission Secretary; James
T. (Joe) Moss; Frank Collins; Joe Denton; Simon Collie; K. G
Weldon; Macon Morris and Jackson Dean. Members are Thosen
from different districts of the county.
While Industrial development had been talked In th? area for
a number of years, nothing concrete was done until about 1956.
During that time the late Stuart Davis campaigned vigorously
for some type of committee to seek Industry In the county
As a result of his efforts, Clint Fuller, President of the Louls
burg Rotary Club at the time, appointed Davis and present
Director W. J. Benton to form a committee: The first attempt
was made on a county-wide basis with several meetings re
sulting, but little really accomplished. However, Davis con
tinued to work as long ,as his health allowed and Benton con
tinued his efforts along with several others In the area
In 1961, mostly through the efforts of Benton and his jjroup.
a bond issue was approved by a vote of the people almost? .to 1
to tax themselves 5$ on the'jlOOvaluatlonto support a fullllme
Industrial Development program.
Since Its beginning In 1961, seven manufacturing plants( have
located In Franklin County (this is In contrast to the fact that
no manufacturing plants located inthe county from 1948 to 1962).
These seven new plants (Loulsburg Sportswear, Justice Manu
.tacturlng. Company, Gay Products, Inc., M. E. Joyner Manufac
turing Co., Dlailt, Inc., Ben-Bar Electronics, and Tre' Jay, Inc.)
have created approximately 1250 new Job opportunities, with a
total annual payroll eventually exceeding four million-dollars.
CVer 95% of those employed are residents of Franklin County.
Based on U, S. Chamber of Commerce figures that payrolls turn
over 5 times before leaving a community, this would release a
buying power approximating $20,000,000 per year. '
In addition to the seven new plants mentioned above, four .
manufacturing plants have announced or begun Apanslo'nsdur
ing the period 61 1964 to 1966.
Benton, who has served as Director for the past 2 1/2 years,
says that several Industries are now considering the area for
plant locations. H?* adds, "During the period of time that I
have done Industrial work, one of the greatest changes I have
noted has been In the type of meeting I attend. It used to be
that a meeting pointed out why we needed an industrial program
and a full time director, but meetings now are about what we
are doing, what we plan to do, and how we are working out
some particular project." He is the first to admit that it take's
a lot of cooperation from a lot of people--"and this," he says',
"has been splendid." "Members of the County Board of Com
missioners, members of the various town boards, and Indivi
dual citizens have all cooperated to the fullest, and when called
upon have been ready and willing to do more than their part,"
he continued
"One of the reasons Franklin County was recently removed
from the poverty list by the Federal Government was a result
of work done by the Franklin County Industrial Development
D f . . See COUNTY Page 4
DUIIII ruillli
Lions Club
A group o? Bunn men have
formed the Bunn Lions Club,
it was announced this week,
under sponsorship of the Ze
bwlpn Lions Club.
In their organizational meet
ing, held recently, Gene Mullen
was named President of the new
club. Other 'officers named to
head the organization until the
new Lions' year starts July 1,
1966 are: Declmo Gay, Secre
tary; Wllhu? Green, Tall
Twister and W. H. Kelly, Lion
Tamer.
The group plans Charter Night
for Saturday, June 25 at 7:30
p. m. In the Bunn School cafe
teria. This Is to be a Joint
meeting of the Bunn Club and
the Zebulon Club. The public
U Invited and tickets for'the
banquet and meeting are being
handled by members of the Bunn
Club.
Four Injured In
Tuesday Accident V
Four young people, two ^irls
from i tOuisbui g and lw< 4
from Franklinton, were Injured
(Tuesday night around 7:30 p.m.
[when the late mode? car in which
they were riding ran out of con
trol ;in9 overturned in a deep
culvert on U. S. 401 south of
Loulsburg.
Carlyle Breedlove, w/rn/21
of Franklinton, owner <^f the
1963 Chevrolet and reportedly
the driver at the time of the
accident was admitted to.
Franklin Memorial hospital
Tuesday night. Diane ^ Arnojd^
w/f/18, Kenmorq Ave., Louis
burg was also admitted to the
local hospital followingMhe
accident. The extent of their
injuries were not disclosed.
Robert Harris, Jr. w/m 18
of Franklinton and Audrey
Hockaday, w/f/19 of Loulsburg
were treated at the hospital
but had not been admitted late
Tuesday night. Their injuries
werp also not disclosed.
The accident occurred about
half a mile south of Royal on
the Raleigh Road, some eight
and a half miles South of Louis
burg The car left the right
$ide of U. S*. 401, Jumped a
creek and hit head on Into an
See. ACCIDENT Page 4
The 1963 Chevrolet shown above was termed a complete loss, following a crash on U. S. 401
south of Royal Tuesday nl^ht. Four young people were Injured. --Staff photo by Clint Fuller.
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