The Fra^teth Times
<?Tl
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday, J ? * Serving All Of Franklin County
(Six Pages Today)
Louisburg, N. C., Tuesday, January 7, 1969
Ten Cents
99th Year- Number 93.
"They Crowned Kerr And Mary's Boy Friday"
They crowned Kerr and Mary's
boy last Friday. Young Robert was
made Governor of all of North Caro
lina . . . including Hardee country.
That top ha> they crowned him with
didn't do much for him . . . but
through it all. most folks were looking
at his little daughter Jan anyway.
Them that missed seeing young Robert
in the smokestack, needn't bother to
go -back for a look . . . Jessie Ray has
done burned that thing up now.
Robert wanted to make a milking
stool out of it. It'd been good for that.
Robert rode down to Raleigh in
one of them shiny, silver Patrol cars.
The driver even opened and closed the
door for him as if big and rugged
you ng Robert was -aome"knni~of"tlfeip
less or something. He'd been used to
opening his own doors in Hawfields.
But when'you're about to be crowned
there's certain things you have to put
up with. It's a sure bet nobody stop
ped that wagon to check driver's
licenses.
Robert and Jessie Ray had to put
up with a whole lot of carryings-on the
night before. They had to dance in
front a whole bunch of folks . . . bat
they made out just fine. Son Kerr did
the best. He had to start the thing.
Better watch that youngin. In about
twenty years from now he might
iuend to the throne. Of course, this
might not work out. Pat Tayloi; might
not have his boy ready by then.
At the big 'doing. Miss Mary sat on
the front row with her grandchildren.
She showed more sense than'the whole
bunch put together when she rode in a
convertible with the top up. And she
flatly refused to sit out in the cold to
watch a bunch of fatigued-clad
soldiers. Don't think she was much
interested in all them short-suited
majoretttS,~Silher~ j
Of course, it coulda been thgt she
was sick to death of her boy's new
sideburns. We didn't like them either
Hut ih?t don't matter. He ain't
Mostly they 'were wheels there . . . and .
.a few newsmen 'and several hundred
photographers. I'd have loved to had
the fi]m con<*ssK>n. Lawrence Woffard
auditorium was full.
walked around looking important.
He's with the News and Observer . .
and that makes him different fromo
everybody else. A. C. Snow looked as
mean as ever and that's pretty meaa
Could help wondering what'd happen
if these two ever spoke to anybody
Frank Count
not employed by the Danieles.
Sam- Beard was there to keep the N
and 0 boys honest. There was all kinds
(of dignitaries. If you didn't know
them , . . they looked like people. One
lady left, her purse On the chair up op
the stage. This showed some of them
acted like people, too.
We do more swearing in a new
county e'OIWttissioner than was done
for the members of the Council of
State. They just got up, were sworn,
and sat down again. The least some
body could have done was to have
played Dixie for Thad Eure.
There was a bunch of governors
there. South Carolina sent one. Vir
ginia sent one. Delaware sent a half
governor and Tennessee sent a Com
missioner of something. North Caro
lina was the best represented. Luther ,
was there and so was Terry and Dan
. . . and naturally Robert. We could
have near-bout staffed the whole
South with-governors. Might have been
a improvement, too. Terry was the
only, one that didn't wear a hat. He
was the only one just getting over
pneumonia. He must Have enjoyed it.
They told everybody |o stay in the
Auditorium until they vgot through
shooting the Governor . .V 19 times,
they said they were^guing to fire at
him. The wheels didn't think they
meant them ... so they left. The
newsmen knew they didn't mean them
... so they left. The only one who
stayed inside was Earl Vaughn and he's
the one that suggested it in the first
place.
Outside . . . when that cold air hit
us . . . we all wished we'de listened to
him. The newly-sworn were loaded in
convertibles s . . . with the tops down.
T.. at took real planning. They ought
to lock up the nut that planned open
convertibles for a day such as that in
January. He's dangerous. He might
plan something else like it. Get him
first, we always say.
The wheels were having * bit of
trouble remembering everybody's first
name as several thpusands stopped by
the can. It was easy. There they at
. wedged in the back seat with the top
down. There won't nothing they could
do but smile . . . and 1 guarantee you
there was a whole lot of frozen tonsils.
Everybody rushed north up Fayet
teville Street. You couldn't go south.
Nobody wanted to. All the action was
up north.
A drill teanv from State College
threw rifles at each other while waiting
for young Robert to arrive. Nobody
seen them. Mainly because there was a
handfull of majorettes jumping up and
down nearby. Some -folks thought
they were jumping to keep up with the
band. This wasn't exactly true. They
See CROWNED Page 6
'OMPany
Monday Coldest Of Year
Monday was the coldest day since February 12, 1968, according to records here
at The Times office, supplied by Louisburg weatherman G. 0. Kennedy. The
thermometer read six degrees Monday morning. Last February it went down to five
degrees. ' < ?
Sunday's reading of nine degrees was the~~previous low for this year and for this
winter. Today's low reading is a torrid 24 degrees.
The lowest temperatures in recent years is one - degree recorded here on
December 13. 1960 and February 1, 1965. The lowest on record here at The Times
office occurred in the winter of 1917-18 when the thermometer dipped to ten
degrees below zero. The lowest recorded in recent years was the one below on
December 1 1 , 1958 when the area received 7 "2 inches of snow.
Other recent lows as reported by Kennedy include three degrees on January 11,
1963. and January 29, 1963; four degtees on January 22, 1961; five degrees on
January 18, 1965 and six degrees on January 16, 1964 and January 31, 1966.
Two County Youths Get
Air Academy Appointments
BILLY JOHNSON
1
Congressman L. H. Fountain an
nounced last week the nomination of
two franklin County y outfit to com
pete for admission to the Air Force
Acad* my. The youngsters are William
(Billy) Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.
Sidney Johnson of Franklinton and.
Stephen Boyce Medlin. son of Mrs.
Winnie C. Medlin. Rt. 2, Uiuisburg.
Johnson, a senior at Franklinton
High School, is a former student at
Louttburg High School, attending here
until 1961. He has played basketball
and football at Franklinton for three
years and played baseball two years.
He Is presently serving on the staff
of the school annual and the school
newspaper. 'The Charger". He Is sec
retary of the Beta Club, both at
' Franklinton and in the county organi
sation. He was recipient of the Chem
istry Award last year and also served as
a marshal. He is a member of the
Franklinton Methodist Church where
he serve* dk president of the MYF.
Medlin. \ senior at Edward Best
High School, was a member the
basketball team and the baseball team
(.for three years. He is secretary
treasurer of the Beta Chi 6 and has
- STEPHEN MEDLIN
- 'served as president of hit freshman
class and vice president of hit sopho
more class. He it a member of the
Library^ Club and hat terved at
Librarian. He it ? member of the
Monogram Club, the Glee Club and
served as Chief Marshal last year.
Medijn. 17, it pretident of the
Student-Teacher's Co-Operative Asso
elation and hat terved as secretary of
the unit. He received an award for his
-outstanding performance on hit NEDT
test in 196& and 1966. He it the ton of
the late W7H. Medlln. Jr., who Wat a "
veteran of World War II. He it a
member of the White Level Baptist
Church where he tervet at an uther.
Banking To
Be Discussed
"Banking is a business home makers
need tt> know more about," says Mrs.
? Berntce S. Harris, Associate Home
Economics Extension Agent. This is
the purpose of the meeting to be held
January 8, 1969, at 7:30 p.m. in the
auditorium of the Agricultural Build
ing in Louisburg.
LHS Senior
.Gets Award
Phyllis Kerley of Louisburg High
School has been cited as one of the
outstanding high school students of
English In the country. The National
Council of Teachers of English has
named her a 1968 national runner-up
in its annual Achievement Awards
competition.
Last spring a committee of English
teachers from the high school nomi
nated Miss Kerley to represent Louis
burg High School in the competition.
The nation's schools nominated almost
8,500 students for the NCTE citation.
Of that number, only 800 finalists
were chosen. They represent over 600
schools from 50 states,- the District of
Columbia, and American Preparatory
Schools abroad.
In announcing the winners, Robert
F. Hogan, Executive Secretary of the
National Council of Teachers of Eng
lish, stated that the Council recom
mends these students for college scho
larships in 1969. The names of these
students are sent to every college and
university admissions officer in the
country. In previous years 99% of,the
Awards winners entered the college of
their choice. Approximately 80% of
those applying for scholarships receiv
ed financial aid.
The NCTE sends to all winners and
runners-up scrolls of recognition and it
honors their high school English de
partment with certificates of merit.
Mrs. Rena C. Bland and Mrs. Jewel
Bartholomew have been Phyllis' Eng
lish instructors at Louisburg High
School. Phyllis' parents are Mr. and
Mrs. Philip W Kerley of Route 1,
Louisburg. Mrs. Kerley teaches science
at Edward Best.
Phyllis presently plans to study
medicine at Duke University, upon
graduation from high school.
Bunn To Vote !
On Water Bonds
The Franklin County Industrial De
velopment Commission announced to
day that at the Bunn Town Council
meeting held last night, the bond
ordinance and election resolution for
the Bunn Municipal water project was
approved.
The following is a calendar of the
various steps to be taken up to, and
inrlnrtlng lh> gloftinn l.nnin, 8 and -
16th -^Publication of the bond ordi
nance and notice of flection. January
18 - Opening of the registration books.
February 1 ? CIndng of the rpgi?tr?tlnn
books. February 6 ? Challenge Day.
February 15 -^Election Day. February
17 - Canvassing of election returns by
the Board of Commissioners
When a favorable vote is received
by the electorate of Bunn. the final
hurdle will have been scaled towards
qualifying for the Economic Develop
ment Admlnlstra^on loan and grant
for this project.
Rites Held For
George Weaver -
Funeral services were held today at
11 A.M. for George W. Weaver, 75,
prominent retired Louisburg salesman,
who died Sunday. Services were con
ducted from Lancaster Funeral Home
Chapel by Rev. Norwood Jones, pastor
of the Louiaburg Methodist Church.
Burial followed in Oik wood cemetery
here.
Mr. Weaver is survived by his wife,
Mr*. Louise Taylor Weaver; one son.
Dr. George K. Weaver of Concord and
four grandchBd?en. _ >
Hospital Requests Curtailment Of Visitors
County Staggers Under
Impact Of Flu Epidemic
Franklin County staggers today un
der what his been termed a "very
definite epidemic"'?!' the Hong Kong
flu. Dr. J. B. Wheless, County Health
Director, reported "tHTs morning that
the bug continues to "rage" in the
county. "If anything, it's getting
worse," he said.
Meanwhile, M. M. Person, ad
ministrator of Franklin Me
morial Hospital, issues a plea for
all visitors to stay away from the
, hospital except In extreme emer
gencies. He said the local medi
cal facility is completely filled
and that the steady flow of
visitors is endangering not only
the patient's welfare and that of
the visitor, but has become a
threat to the health of the hospi
tal personnel. He pointed out
that a number of hospital em
ployees are absent, suffering
from the flu.
Person also said that if volunteer
curtailment of visitations is not made,
more Intense action will be necessary.
He indicated that he is hesitant to ban
all visitors, although he stressed the
urgency of the public staying away
from the hospital during this'tlme.
Or. Wheless .reported that his
information indicates that the
"peak" will not be reached until
around the 15th of- February.
Asked what advice he had for
those trying to avoid the bug, he
replied, "Stay away from
crowds. Stay at home as much as
possible"
Local doctors are reporting at least
a double patient load every day. One
said. "Everybody walking In has the
Hong Kong flu." Dr. Wheless stated ,
there is no vaccine available In the ,
?ntlre county and Mid medical offl
cials are estimating that some 30 mil
lion Americans will have had the dis
ease before it's over.
Superintendent of Schools Warren ->
Smith reports that of slx achools "spot
checked" Monday. 550 students were
absent, most suffering with the flu. He
said that 14 percent of the students in
the schools checked were absent and
that It is assumed the absences are due
to the flu virus. If this figure Is
projected to the some 5300 students
In the system, there were over 700
children stricken Monday. Smith also
reported that nine teachers were ab
sent in the six schools.
The bug has apparently let up
in the schools today, however.
Smith's office report of five
schools spot checked early this
morning shows a decline. At
Loulsburg High School, 150 stu
dents were absent Monday and
103 are absent today. Edward
Best High School had 71 out
i Monday and only 48 today.
Gold Sand High School reported
69 out Monday and 57 today.
Bunn dropped from 123 Mon
day to 77 today. Epsom had 70
absent Monday and Gold Sand
Elementary reported 31 out to
day.
Teachers, too, have been liar* hit.
Nine were reported out of the six '
schools checked Monday and seven are
absent today^ In thf^five checked.
Louisburg had seven teachers abs^fit
last Friday, three Monday and two
today.
One local tractor dealership report
ed four absentees Monday, all suffer
Ing from the flu, and many other
businesses are stricken j*itb_4h6en
teeism during this period.
Three of the five members of the
Board of County Commissioners are
ill. Two have what is believed to be the
flu.
Across the country, over 3,600
?persons have died with what was term
ed flu complications. A number of
local people have had pneumonia, but
thus far, no deiths have been reported
in the county as a direct result of the
flu bug. "
Flu Hampers Board Meeting
Two County Commissioners were
absent for the regular session here
Monday and a third asked that the
meeting be adjourned so that he could
enter the hospital with what he de
scribed as the flu. County Commis
sioner E. M. Sykes was reported suf
fering with the bug. Commissioner
George Harris was kept in with a
lingering illness and Commissioner
Brooks Young, acting chairman; called
the meeting to a halt Monday after
noon saying he thought he had the flu.
The Board received the ? host of
regular monthly reports and approved
the payment of bills in the morning
session and heard a report from the
engineers on a study made of a water
plan for the county in the afternoon
session.
Hospital administrator M. M. Per
son presented Board members copies
of the annual hospital audit and said
he was pleased to report the institu
tion was operating on a financially
sound basis at present.
Several orders of business were
postponed until the full Board could
be present and another meeting was
set for Friday afternoon at 2 P.M.1
Receives Award
Mrs. Lucille Ford of the local Farmer* Horn Administration office la shown
above a? she received a Certificate of Appreciation Incentive Award here I tat week.
Making the presentation is Mr. Paul Parks. FHA District Superviaer. Mrs. Ford has
been with the agency for 32 years and the citation was presented for "sustained
superior work during the period July 1. 1965 through November 14, 1968"; A rash
award waaalao made to Mrs. Ford. * staff Photo by Clint Fuller
\' 4 ? ? U#Si?|L ' v, ' '
* V