Tag Archive for: #franklincountynews

Scott Riley Joins Maria Parham Orthopaedics Team

Maria Parham Health has announced that Scott F. Riley, PA-C, has joined the Maria Parham Orthopaedics team and will be seeing patients at 120 Charles Rollins Road in Henderson.

“We are excited to continue growing orthopedic access in the communities we serve with the addition of Scott,”said Maria Parham Health Market CEO Bert Beard. “He, Dr. Darius Divina and Dr. Mark Messmer (joining Maria Parham Orthopaedics in August) will ensure patients’ orthopedic needs can be met close to home in Franklin, Vance and Person counties.”

Riley earned his Master of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine in December 2021. He also has completed numerous clinical rotations, including orthopedic medicine, surgical medicine and emergency medicine.

For more information about Maria Parham’s orthopedic services, visit MariaParham.com/orthopedics.

To schedule an appointment with Scott Riley, PA-C, call 800.424.DOCS.

 

 

Take Kerr-Tar COG Survey By Aug. 19 To Weigh In On Economic Development

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is asking for help from all those who live or work in the region – Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin, Person – as it gathers information to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

The CEDS team has created an online survey that is open now through Aug. 19 which seeks input about the region’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. Data from the survey will be used to inform policymakers across the regions about what is going well, what needs improvement and ways to guide focus areas over the next five years.

Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the Kerr-Tar region is encouraged to take part in the online survey.

In addition to the survey, the Kerr-Tar COG has scheduled in-person meetings to gather comments and opinions. The Vance, Franklin and Warren meetings were held earlier this week, and the Granville and Person meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 26, according to iformation on the Kerr-Tar COG webpage. The Granville meeting will be held at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center, 4185 U.S. Hwy. 15 in Oxford between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon; the Person County meeting will be held in the Person County office building auditorium, 304 S. Morgan St., Roxboro between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org/ to access a link to the survey, or simply click the link here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/survey-taken/?sm=fOW9Nqb_2BYpcyo73LmBCJHylTUVcNu_2BdTkwHeMJJTE7uFIIVtxeK2Pr3Zt_2BS2TjVcmEgkHM4BUUAyp0bavgB9TMZlZl_2BfCFp0WhBOvhzEAn8_3D

Keep Pets’ Safety In Mind – Never Leave Them In Vehicles

  -information courtesy of American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region

The excessive heat that has been reported all across the country is not to be taken lightly, and the American Red Cross urges everyone to take precautions to avoid dangerous – and sometimes deadly – situations.

Pet owners are especially encouraged to keep their pets’ best interests at heart by never leaving them in vehicles, even for just a few minutes while running errands.

“It’s critical that you don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. “The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees in minutes, even with the windows cracked open.”

The advice for humans is to stay inside and out of the heat, if possible, and to stay hydrated to prevent medical emergencies like heat stroke. The same is true for pets – keep them inside, out of the heat, and make sure they have access to cool, fresh water all day long, according to advice from the Red Cross.

And just like humans, animal also can suffer heat stroke. Animals can suffer heat stroke in warmer weather. Dogs especially vulnerable are those breeds with short noses or snouts – think boxers and bulldogs – as well as overweight animals, or those with an extremely thick coat or who have been diagnosed with other upper respiratory problems.

Some of the signs of heat stroke to watch for:

  • Heavy panting and inability to calm down, even when lying down
  • Brick-red gum color
  • Fast pulse rate
  • Unable to get up

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

RESOURCES Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, toxic substances, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. You can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps.

You can also take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so that you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. Access the course on your desktop or tablet and go through the content at your own pace.

The interactive course includes:

  • How to determine a pet’s normal vital signs so owners can notice if there are any irregularities
  • Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure; and information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet’s well-being.

Find more information about pets and their safety during warm weather here.

The Local Skinny! Around Old Granville: Place Names In Warren And Franklin Counties

In a continuing discussion of local communities with odd names or curious origins, Bill Harris and Mark Pace Thursday again shone the spotlight on Franklin and Warren counties in the Around Old Granville segment of The Local Skinny!

Harris had been studying a 1911 map that Rand McNally had published and tested Pace’s knowledge about communities, some of which would no longer make the cut to be included in current maps of the area.

There’s Union Hill, for one, which was in the vicinity of Rocky Ford down in Franklin County. It had a post office from around 1834-38, Pace said.

Then there’s Brookston, named for the Brooks family, which originally was in Warren County but got redrawn at some point into what is now Vance County.

Jack, in Warren County near Littleton, was named for Jack Johnson, postmaster for the short-lived post office there. It’s just one of numerous areas that sported the first names of prominent or affluent people of the day, Pace said.

He mentioned others, including Margaret, Catesville and Drewry.

Have you ever heard of Lumdsen, an area between the Tar River bridge and Kittrell in Vance County? Pace said his research has turned up no family with that surname in Census records, but he said the name could have come from someone who worked for the railroad that came through the area.

In cases where there were no stations for the trains to stop, “people would literally tie a white handkerchief to a tree” to indicate that the conductor needed to stop and pick up passengers. The area known as Lumsden could have been named to honor a rail official, he added.

Shocco Springs in Warren County had a post office from the early 1830’s to 1866. This area became known as Lickskillet, an amusing name for an area that, before the Civil War, counted among its residents some of the most prominent and affluent families around.

Communities sometimes got named by wealthy landowners that lived nearby, like Odell in Warren County – named by the Alston family as an homage to the family castle in England.

But oftentimes, it was a post office in a particular area that helped communities get their names.

One spot in Warren County was Mountain View, Pace said. Situated between Macon and Vaughan, the Riggan family provided a half dozen or so of Mountain View’s postmasters between 1879 and 1929.

At one time, there were 32 post offices sprinkled throughout Warren County. This would have been before the introduction of rural free delivery, when people had to go to a central spot to pick up their mail. Often, that local spot was inside a country store, he added.

Franklinton has one the oldest, continually used post offices in the area, Pace noted.

 

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TownTalk: Place Names In Franklin And Warren Counties

Did you ever wonder how some towns, communities or crossroads get their names? For the very curious, there’s always an online search to ferret out tidbits of useful information. Folks in this area, however, have Mark Pace and Bill Harris!

The two local history buffs talked Thursday about how some communities in Franklin and Warren counties came by their unique names like Pokomoke, Alert (say it AY-lert), Wise and Axtell.

Of course, many names are derived from prominent families in the area at the time, like Bunn, Wood and Youngsville.

But naming a town for a prominent athlete who lived near the turn of the 19th century?

The athlete, as it turns out, was a young stallion who shattered the record for 3-year-old trotters back in 1889. His name was Axtell, and there’s a little community in Warren County that bears his name. After he completed the 1-mile race in a blazing 2:12 time, Axtell was sold to a consortium for the “most outrageously expensive price for a horse” at the time – $105,000, Pace said.

There was a period when it was in vogue to give towns names that had a positive spin, and Axtell could have been an example. Wise, Pacific (now Youngsville) and Alert are other examples, he added.

Louisburg, the county seat of Franklin County, was named for the King of France, Louis XVI. If you remember your Revolutionary War history, France was an ally of the Colonies in its fight for independence from British rule.

Warren County is named for Joseph Warren, a physician and Patriot during the early days of the American Revolution. He was killed during the Battle of Bunker Hill. His brutal death at the hands of British soldiers “really fired up the Patriot cause,” Pace said, and, consequently, naming the county in North Carolina serves as a homage. No doubt, had Warren lived, he would have gone on to be one of the great Patriots, alongside the likes of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Pace said.

It’s probably safe to say that there’s not another place on Earth called Norlina, Pace said. This town at the Vance/Warren border had been a water and coal stop for the Raleigh & Gaston railroad. Norlina was where that rail line came together with Seaboard and “a community quickly developed there,” Pace observed. In 1913, the town of Norlina was incorporated.

But what about the origin of Embro and Bambro?

As for Embro, Pace said he’d done some research on the subject. The Mitchell family, he said, came from Scotland  – Edinburgh, to be precise – and settled in the general area. If you put a Southern twist on the Scottish town, he said, you might just come up with Embro.

And Ridgeway? Pace said that was where the railroad track was laid for the Raleigh & Gaston line – “it was laid along the ridge way,” he said.

 

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Find A Blood Drive And Donate In July To Help Avoid Summer Shortage

There are several blood drives scheduled for the area, and the American Red Cross could use your help. June’s donations were down by 12 percent, and donations are desperately needed to prevent a blood shortage this summer, according to information from Cally Edwards, regional communications director for the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina.

Following is a list of upcoming blood drives in the four-county area:

Vance

Thursday, July 21

  • 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.,Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 3892 Raleigh Rd., Henderson
  • 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Rd., Henderson

Granville

Friday, July 22

  • 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Creedmoor United Methodist Church, 214 Park Ave., Creedmoor

Warren

Friday, July 22

  • 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Norlina Fire Department, 102 Center St., Norlina

Franklin

Saturday, July 23

  • 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Maple Springs Baptist Church, 1938 NC Hwy 56 E, Louisburg

 

There are several ways to register to give blood, Edwards said in a press release. Donors can download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit http://RedCrossBlood.org  or call 1.800.REDCROSS (800.733.2767).

Save time at the appointment by completing the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online. Before you arrive. Visit

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/manage-my-donations/rapidpass.html

or use the blood donor app to complete the pre-donation checklist.

Individuals who donate blood during the month of July are entered into a chance to win a Shark Week merchandise package, thanks to a partnership with Discovery. The package includes a beach bike, smokeless portable fire pit, paddle board, kayak and a $500 gift card to put toward additional accessories.

All donors who come in between July 21-24 get a Shark Week t-shirt while supplies last, she said.

Franklin County Cancels Independence Day Fireworks Event

– press release – 

Louisburg, N.C. – Because of unforeseen events, Franklin County is issuing the below statement in regard to the annual Independence Day fireworks:

“Franklin County is saddened by the loss of life from the fire in Lenoir County last week which resulted in several injuries to firefighters fighting a fire which also included the detonation of commercial-grade fireworks in a storage container.

As a result of the destruction of the fireworks – which would have been used in this year’s celebration – and the lack of time to find replacements, the county will have to cancel this year’s Independence Day fireworks and accompanying festivities.”

Please visit our website – www.franklincountync.gov – for further updates and the opportunity to sign up for email updates.

Town Talk: First Fruits Farms Balloon Festival

Jason Brown’s faith has led him to do some interesting things since he retired from his NFL football career and he and his family have used their farm in Franklin County to do everything from growing and giving away produce to transforming an old dairy barn into a wedding venue.

And on Memorial Day weekend, visitors will have a chance to cast their eyes to the skies for the second annual Memorial Balloon Festival at First Fruits Farm.

The Vance County native said there could be as many as 35,000 to 40,000 people in attendance during the four-day event, which kicks off on Friday, May 27 and ends on May 30. He spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk about what’s in store at the farm, located at 2805 E. River Rd. in Louisburg.

The festival is a way to honor veterans and those who served in the military, and Brown said the event has special meaning for him. His brother, Lunsford, was killed while deployed to Iraq in 2003. And again this year, Brown said there will be a Gold Star reception for families like his who have lost a loved one. More than 100 Gold Star families attended last year’s event. “There is comfort and strength” for the families to be together, “to share love and their experience with one another,” Brown said.

Visit https://ncmemorialballoonfest.com/the-venue/ to purchase tickets and see a complete schedule of events for the weekend festival. There will be fireworks displays, balloon rides and tethered balloon rides and family fun for everyone.

“It’s an opportunity to bring the community together at a time when there’s so much divisiveness,” he said. The festival will provide a time for fellowship, as well as food and some good entertainment. Brown said some folks spend more than one day at the festival so they can take their time and soak in all the activities and performances.

Brown said God pointed him to farming and agriculture, something he said his time on the football field didn’t exactly prepare him for. “As long as there’s faith – that’s what’s most important.”

It’s a long way – literally and figuratively – from the football fields of the NFL to the sweet potato fields of Franklin County, but Brown said God continued to order his steps to make his dream a reality.

That reality has become a hybrid of sorts – growing produce that he gives away with the help of hundreds of volunteers each season. He said “some of the most awesome people give up a Saturday morning” to dig, collect and distribute the hundreds of thousands of pounds of sweet potatoes that provide a healthy food to those in need. “They truly are the salt of the earth,” he added.

Volunteers are vital during harvest time, and Brown said there’s room for additional volunteers to help at the balloon festival, too. Visit the webpage to learn how to register, but Brown said in exchange for four hours of service, volunteers will get free admission and parking to the festival. And a cool t-shirt.

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Mail Carriers’ ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Event May 14

Postal carriers deliver all sorts of mail to boxes near and far every day. But there’s a special-delivery postcard that found its way into area mailboxes recently to promote the “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign, which takes place the second Saturday in May.

That day is THIS Saturday, May 14.

The request is simple: Leave healthy, non-perishable food items by your mailbox and the person who delivers your mail will pick up your donation.

Since 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers, along with various national partners, has worked to collect food items that are donated to local food pantries.

Visit www.stampouthungerfooddrive.us to learn more.

TownTalk: Step Back In Time Event To Be Held At Hudson Manor

Looking for a fun family activity this weekend? The Hudson Manor in Franklin County is the site for a daylong event called Step Back in Time that has something for everyone – but especially for local history enthusiasts.

The stately home, with its sprawling grounds, has been a wedding venue for the past 18 years, and owner/operator Melissa Cogliati said she’s ready for Saturday’s activities, rain or shine. The hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and there will be food trucks, workshops and demonstrations throughout the day, live music, folklorists and much more.

Cogliati is working with the Franklin County Historic Preservation Commission to host the event, which was organized to raise money to publish a book on the county’s historic architecture.

“It seems now the weather will hold out at least until the afternoon,” Cogliati said. Vendors, musicians, and others will be located in the home’s large ballroom and protected from the elements, she noted.

She spoke with Bill Harris, who chairs the historic preservation commission, and local historian Mark Pace on Thursday’s tri-weekly history program on Town Talk.

“Rain or shine, it’s going on,” Harris said. “There are a lot of things going on.”

An architectural survey has been completed, and the commission hopes to raise the necessary funds to publish the book, which would contain information about the local architecture as well as more than 800 photos.

This ambitious project would be the first of its kind in more than 40 years, Harris said. The project lost a little momentum – and associated funding – during the pandemic and the Saturday event hopes to make up the gap in funding.

Cogliati said Hudson Manor, located at 908 Moulton Rd., Louisburg, is included in the architectural survey, and she said Step Back in Time will provide entertainment for the whole family while raising money for a good cause. She works with the county’s planning advisory board and the local tourism development authority and said she is happy to provide a spot where “we can meet our neighbors and have a little community spirit.”

Visit www.thehudsonmanor.com to learn more.