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LOUISBURG -- Nearly 30 farmers, residents and agricultural entities met last week to talk about the feasibility of bringing a new farmers market to Franklin County.
It was the first of at least three meetings designed to gauge the interest in creating a new place for farmers to sell their goods and for residents to pick over the best produce.
"... We're looking to explore our options as far as a [new] market and what's best for our county," said Cooperative Extension Director Charles Mitchell.

FRANKLINTON -- When the town decided to bring back its parks and recreation program, Linda Kozak arrived with a sign-up fee for her son, her share of the proceeds from a 50-50 raffle and a hunger to do more.
Police Chief John Green, who has helped oversee the program's resurgence, found just the job -- running the program's concession stand.
A successful concession stand means a successful program, Green said, and he couldn't think of anyone better to rely upon.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners agreed to get an early jump on a late fiscal year calamity.
The quick trigger, said Franklin County Emergency Services Director Jeff Lewis, could save the county nearly $66,000.
During Monday night's board meeting, commissioners agreed to spend $248,000 to purchase two new ambulances from Southeastern Specialty Vehicles -- a company with which the county entered into a cooperative purchasing agreement in September for savings purposes.

FRANKLINTON -- If you're reading this on Thursday, then, Annie Jr. is just a day away.
Beginning on Friday, the Franklinton Area Community Theatre (FACT) will begin its three-day run of Annie Jr., a shortened version of the popular Broadway musical, Annie, performed by local kids in the program.
"What will make this show exciting? The kids!" said Windy Edwards, the program's musical director.

Last Friday, Bunn High School senior Chris Bumpers planned a surprise '80s-themed prom proposal for his senior classmate and long-time friend, Grace Cottrell, who is also a senior at the school. Just before school began, Chris surprised Grace with her favorite song from the era, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," by Whitney Houston, and Grace's dream of going to prom came true. According to Chris, the two have been friends since sixth grade where they came up with a secret handshake that they've exchanged every day since.

Bunn Middle teacher Kandar Artis

Dear Mr. President:
Forgive me for being blunt, especially to a guy whose skin is as thin as yours when someone points out that you are not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.
But, sir, you don't know squat about coal -- and you really need to learn something and stop making promises you'll never be able to keep.
Don't take my word for it, Mr. President, consider the words of Robert Murray, chief executive of this nation's largest privately held coal-mining company who was commenting on your promises to bring coal jobs back.

Congratulations, you -- actually, all of us -- just became pawns that will be used to make money for the big corporations without our permission or knowledge.
We have the U.S. Congress to thank for this opportunity to share our most vital and private information so that others can profit from it.
Gee, how can we ever thank our U.S. Rep. George Holding for casting his vote to help make us victims?
Congress just blocked important privacy regulations that will allow your Internet service provider to collect all your data and sell it to the highest bidder without asking you first.

There are some things I've missed in life that it feels strange to admit, out loud.
Up until a few years ago, I'd never gone to a water park (I can't swim), I'd never seen The Godfather (I don't have that kind of patience) and I'd never admitted I was the one who cracked the oil pan on my car (I don't like the prospect of being on punishment).
As of now, though, I've rectified all of those things.

LOUISBURG -- Gov. Roy Cooper declared March as Women's History Month in North Carolina, with the theme being Honoring Trailblazing Women in Leadership and Business.
"Women have helped shape North Carolina in every discipline and industry, from manufacturing, medicine, and law to business, the arts, and sciences," Cooper said.

YOUNGSVILLE--Doris Jean Pearce, 84, of Youngsville, passed away on April 4, 2017. She was born on January 13, 1933 to the late William Person Pearce, Sr. and Lena Davis Pearce. In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her "Aunt Vada" Davis.

WARRENTON­­--Funeral services for Earnest Alston, 78, who died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, will be held Sunday, April 9, at 2 p.m. at the St. Stephen's Missionary Baptist Church in Warrenton. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

RICHMOND, Va.-- Funeral services for Edward Lee "Red" Richardson, 67, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Louisburg, who died Sunday, April 2, 2017, will be held Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Hollister, with the Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church cemetery.

KERNERSVILLE, NC - Eveline Holmes Medlin, 86, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017 at the Kerner Ridge Assisted Living Center in Kernersville, NC, surrounded by family.

CLARKSVILLE, Va. --James Venable "Rusty" Massingill, 75, of Clarksville, VA, died Tuesday, April 4. A service is being held at St. Timothy's Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8.

YOUNGSVILLE--Timothy Edward "Jimmy" McDowell, 34, died Saturday, April 1, 2017 at his home. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 5, at Gospel Independent Baptist Church, 4061 Stagecoach Road, Oxford, with Pastor Robert Greene officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- Even though the boys season has been over for six months, a Husinko continues to light up the soccer scoreboard at Bunn High School.
During last year's boys campaign, Brian Husinko delivered a whopping 49 goals while earning all-state honors -- and leading the Wildcats to the Northern Carolina Conference championship.
Huskino's younger sister, Alex, is now hard at work for the Ladycats as she has scored over 15 goals to date this season -- including a hat trick during last Thursday's road contest against backyard rival Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON - Recent trends continued to hold true last Saturday at the annual Franklin County Track and Field Championships.
Host Franklinton was the boys and girls high school team champion for the seventh consecutive season.
The Red Rams collected 98 points to take the boys title in runaway fashion. Bunn was second at 32 points, followed by Louisburg with 29 markers.
The Lady Rams ran away with the crown with 104 points -- far ahead of runner-up Bunn (22) and third-place Louisburg (20).

LOUISBURG -- The final chapter doesn't tell the true tale of Louisburg College's thriller of a men's basketball season in 2016-17.
The Hurricanes enjoyed unprecedented success during the campaign, rolling to a 30-5 record en route to making their first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament Championship Game.
Louisburg ran out of steam in the second half of the finale and was defeated by Southwestern Community College out of Iowa.

LOUISBURG -- One of the least suspenseful storylines in area prep softball circles is the annual quest for the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference championship.
With Louisburg and Granville Central head and shoulders above other league competitors, it's a given that the winner of the two-game series between the clubs will eventually earn the TRAC title.

STANHOPE -- Even though the rivalry is of the non-conference variety, the Southern Nash-Bunn softball showdown always brings energy and intensity.
That was once again the case last Wednesday as Southern entertained Bunn for the first meeting of the season between the long-time backyard foes.
This year's renewal is featuring a different plot twist as both clubs are relying on freshman pitchers -- Southern Nash with Carrigan Ewers and Bunn with Caroline White.

BUNN -- Last Thursday proved to be a memorable day, both for the Bunn Wildcats and an excited group of Franklin County youngsters.
The Bunn baseball squad hosted the Miracle League of Franklin County as part of pre-game festivities before the Wildcats hosted North Carolina School of Science and Math for a key Northern Carolina Conference diamond showdown.
Miracle League players took part in an exhibition contest on the BHS Baseball Field, with Wildcats serving as official buddies.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats, the new Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, have unveiled their initial, prospect-rich roster for the 2017 season.
Carolina's first roster of the Milwaukee era features eight players ranked on MLB.com's list of top 30 Brewers prospects; with three of the eight ranked in the top 10.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College's 33rd Annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, will be held at the Henderson Country Club on May 2.
All event proceeds support the mission of the college, the Endowment Fund and student scholarships.
With the support of numerous golfers and sponsors, the annual event has raised more than $750,000 since its inception in 1985.

LOUISBURG -- On the 15-year anniversary of its last World Series qualifier, Louisburg College hosted an Alumni Day last Saturday as part of a home baseball doubleheader against Florence-Darlington Tech.
The idea for the event was spearheaded by members of that 2002 squad, and several of them were in attendance -- and were introduced as part of a pre-game ceremony.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Listed are this year's final standings for the annual The Franklin Times NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket Pool Contest:

(L to R) Louisburg's Haley Ayscue and Bunn's Rachel Alford joust for possession during last Thursday's girls soccer match at historic Patterson Field.

Louisburg College's Josh Bougher drives for two points in the national men's basketball tournament semifinals.

Franklinton High School's Brandon Reese competes in the long jump at last Saturday's Franklin County Track and Field Championships.

(L to R) Franklinton's Baretta Exley and Shea Seward were the High School MVPs at the Franklin County Track and Field Championships.

Bunn High School's Alli Davis throws out a Southern Nash runner during last Thursday's non-conference girls softball showdown.

(L to R) Terrell Lane's Jada Branch and Cedar Creek's Joseph Murphy were the Middle School MVPs at last Saturday's Franklin County Track and Field Championships, which were staged at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

(L to R) Terrell Lane's Alexandra Edwards and Bunn Middle's Keagan Osika pace together during a middle school distance event at last Saturday's Franklin County Track and Field Championships, which were held at Franklinton High School.

Fraklinton High School's Rebekah Smith clears the bar in the girls high school high jump competition.

A pair of Bunn High School teammates execute a baton handoff during the high school boys 800 Relay event last Saturday.

Malakai Morrow was the winning pitcher last Thursday for the Bunn High School baseball squad.

FACT players, Jazlyn Montague, Lynn, Edwards and Zach Jones and a group of orphans perform the closing song.

FACT players, Abby Suzik, Micah Jones and Lily Salyer strut their stuff.

On Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m., The Embers will return to Louisburg College to perform their smooth blend of beach music, R & B, and old-time Rock and Roll. This classic band has solidified its position as a thriving musical entity, leaving its mark on listeners for decades. The Embers laid the groundwork for what has become known as "Beach Music" in the Carolinas, Virginia, the Gulf Coast of North America and every beach in between.

Kerr-Vance Academy fourth grade students carried on the school's annual tradition of the wax museum recently at the school. Students portrayed famous people from North Carolina. From Louisburg, Tanner Rigsbee was coach Russ Frazier, former Louisburg College baseball coach.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College has named student Paul Caroline of Louisburg as its recipient of the North Carolina Community College System's Academic Excellence Award for 2017.
One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year.
Caroline will be officially recognized at Commencement in May, when he is scheduled to graduate from the college with both an Associate in Arts degree and an Associate in Science degree.

CHAPEL HILL -- Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most honored college honorary society, has inducted 137 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students as new members.
Molly Hendricks Boutwell of Louisburg is among those honored -- one of 90 students from North Carolina.

Ten students from Boston University spent a recent week supporting Terrell Lane Middle School as part of the university's Alternative Spring Break Program. The program, which has served the Louisburg community and Terrell Lane Middle School students for more than 10 years, is focused on providing volunteer support and community service to rural and low-income areas across the country.
During their visit, the student volunteers worked to provide various forms of instructional support to the school.

ORLANDO -- Ursula Kennedy of Louisburg has received her Master of Science in Nursing - Leadership and Management from Western Governors University (WGU).

The university held its 32nd semi-annual commencement ceremony at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando and celebrated the graduation of more than 11,000 graduates.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklinton area man, seizing drugs and guns from his Gordon Moore Road home.
Authorities charged Thomas A. Dickerson, 20, with felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for the sale of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Officers also seized an undisclosed amount of money and weapons during the April 3 arrest.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A Bunn High graduate and Barton College freshman died last month, the result of an all-terrain vehicle accident.
Miranda Wheeler was 18.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Wheeler was a passenger on the ATV on a private driveway near Clifton Pond and M.C. Wilder roads when it overturned just before 10 p.m. on March 24.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sheriff's deputies are looking for suspects in a handful of vehicle break-ins reported in a neighborhood in the Youngsville area. Three residents on Vauxhall Court and one resident on E. Hackberry Lane reported the morning of April 2 that someone broke into their vehicles.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Deputies arrested two Wake Forest men they allege tried to elude police during an attempted speeding stop. According to authorities, a deputy was on stationary patrol at the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 1-A during the early morning hours of April 1 when two motorcycles came by at a high rate of speed.

A Franklin County man was found guilty of statutory rape in superior court on Tuesday. A jury found Omahd R. Coppedge guilty, of that charge, as well indecent liberties.