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LOUISBURG -- The merging of two of the nation's top healthcare providers will mean a healthy bottom line for the parent company of Duke Lifepoint -- the healthcare company preparing to re-open a Franklin County hospital.
And, the change, said Duke Lifepoint officials, doesn't and won't change their plans or commitment to bring healthcare back to Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- The case against a man accused of killing his estranged girlfriend was expected to be in the hands of the jury by press time for this edition at mid-afternoon on Wednesday.
After about two weeks in court, defense attorneys began making closing statements on Wednesday morning, arguing, among other things, how Tracy Williams' actions leading up to and the day of July 26, 2015 mitigated the actions of Garry Yarborough.

THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE. Bunn High School's football program couldn't ask for a better tutor for its young kickers than former Wildcat star Freeman Jones, who is now the starting placekicker for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Jones returned to his alma mater Tuesday to help out at practice before returning to Chapel Hill for his senior campaign.

BUNN -- It wasn't exactly Christmas in July, but town officials have begun looking at a gift, in a sense -- a new town hall.
During the board's July 30 meeting, commissioners and staff updated the community about their efforts to secure funding, potentially, for a new town hall.
"They have always talked about a new town hall and trying to find money for it," Town Clerk Pamela Perry said of the board's discussion about replacing a building that dates back to 1930.

LOUISBURG -- Back in January, Cary police and neighborhood stakeholders told Franklin County leaders about how they "chopped it up" during informal barbershop chat sessions that have strengthened relationships between law enforcement and the community.
Last week, Franklin County law enforcement and members of the community got a chance to cut right to the heart of community policing when the organizer of Cary's diversity training program -- COHORT (Community Organizers Helping Officers Restore Trust) -- put dozens of officers and community members through it...

Greyson Ricks Lee, Born July 23

I'll take the dollar burger ... hold the fries and I'll drink water. Even if the bun is stale and the patty is the same mystery meat they used to serve in my elementary school cafeteria, it may be of more use than how some money is being spent today.
In case you've forgotten, in last week's paper staffer Carey Johnson said that commissioners could have given away dollar hamburgers, a single item at the dollar store or maybe even some kind of lottery ticket -- OR they could spend money on a study of recreation opportunities in Franklin County.

Editor's Note: There has been much discussion about the effect of the Trump tariffs on grain prices and their pending effects on other items that Americans use. But there has been little focus on the tariffs Trump has levied against Canadian newsprint -- the actual paper which is used for every American newspaper.
Here is a discussion of the issue from a veteran publisher who knows the topic and its effects:

As a reporter and someone whose job is to basically stick my nose into things that some people wish I didn't, I have been called a lot of things.
However, in a little over a month, people will be able to call me something they haven't been able to before -- a Franklin County resident.
More specifically, they can call me a resident of Youngsville.

Dear editor: Just read Steve Trubilla's column titled "Don't like Trump?" You still have no right to threaten! It is very well written. You make very valid points about respecting the President. Also about his being bullied.

ANNAPOLIS, MD.--Retired Colonel Benard Sharb Pergerson, Jr., 85, of Annapolis, Maryland, formerly of Franklinton, died March 3, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benard Pergerson, Sr. and Louise Gupton Pergerson; brother, Franklin Baer (FB) Pergerson; and sister, Barbara Pergerson Hudson. He honorably retired from the US Army, having served as an Infantry Officer and Aviator. He completed tours in Vietnam and received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Air Medal.

BUNN -- When the Bunn Wildcats needed some expert training advice for new kicker Justin Guzman, only one phone call was necessary.
Former Wildcat superstar Freeman Jones was happy to help out before he headed to Chapel Hill to begin his senior season as the starting placekicker for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

LOUISBURG -- The Town and Country Stingrays stayed close with long-time rival Winchester during a July 19 league swim meet at the TC Pool.
But in the end, the Stingrays, who were missing several vacationing swimmers, were edged 194-166 by the Waves for their first setback of the 2018 summer campaign.

LOUISBURG -- Extensive experience with winning often brings about two distinct outcomes -- complacency and self-satisfaction or a desire to continue to maintain a high level of success.
Several members of Louisburg High School's current senior class have enjoyed an array of excellence through the years -- both in volleyball and softball.

FRANKLINTON -- Keeping the spirit and memory of Wade Halford alive is the chief goal of the annual boys soccer showcase at Franklinton High School.
That event, known as the Wade Halford Jamboree, will be held this Saturday on the FHS campus.
Action will begin at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:40 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with proceeds going to the Wade Halford Scholarship Fund.

WOODBRIDGE, VA. -- Starter Alec Bettinger allowed eight runs and nine hits while pitching into the second and the host Potomac Nationals totaled 14 hits in a sweep-clinching 10-1 victory versus the Carolina Mudcats in Sunday's series final at Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium in Northern Virginia.
Bettinger, in his first Carolina League start in his hometown of Woodbridge, took the loss for Carolina (19-17, 53-53) after allowing eight runs and nine hits over just an inning and 1/3. He also struck out two and threw 61 pitches (44 strikes) while leaving the game with one out in the second inning.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School will host a football jamboree on Aug. 8 on the FHS campus.
In addition to the Red Rams, other participating schools will be Warren County, Wakefield and Carrboro.
The event will run from 6-8 p.m.

FRANKLINTON -- Just weeks after hiring Jimmy Williams as its head football coach, Franklinton High School has once again dipped into the East Wake pipeline.
FHS' next boys basketball skipper will be Darrin Stinson. Like Williams, Stinson has head coaching experience at East Wake High School.
Recently, Stinson has served as a boys basketball assistant at Knightdale HS under the legendary Anthony Byrd.

Bunn's Jaylen Perry (right) tries to shed a block during a drill as part of Tuesday's grid practice session.

Bunn assistant coach Chris Lewis instructs a player on the correct way to hold the ball.

LAKE ROYALE -- Two historically black high school alumni associations joined forces for a golf tourney with proceeds going to academic scholarships.
Members of the Perry's High School and the Franklin County Training School/Riverside Union High School alumni associations came together for the golf tourney back in June.
The event, at The River Golf and Country Club, drew more than 40 players from the area, including players Charlotte, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Virginia Beach, Va.

Every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning.
Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.
Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. Children four years old and younger are at the highest risk for drowning.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- A majority of the 10 suspects arrested in a drug sting are slated to appear in court later this month.
The Franklin County sheriff's office teamed up with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the state alcohol law enforcement branch of the State Bureau of Investigation and officers with Louisburg and Henderson police departments to arrest suspects from Louisburg, Franklinton, Youngsville and the areas of Kittrell, Zebulon and Wake Forest.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Louisburg man on drug charges.
Martin Guerrero Jr., 28, of Dupree Drive, was arrested on July 31 and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to manufacture sell and deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a 39-year-old woman on drug charges.
Jillian L. Davis, of N.C. 96, was charged with possession of heroin, felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Davis, who was arrested on July 31, is slated to next appear in court on Sept. 25.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a man on drug charges during a stop.
Toby L. Gibson, 45, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, selling and delivering cocaine and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for the sale of a controlled substance.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners have scheduled a work session to figure out if and how they'll aid a couple's plan to build a business around helping the disabled.
Stan and LeaAnne Hahnel approached the town in the spring of 2015 about helping them acquire a $40,000 building reuse grant to turn the old Henderson Pharmacy building across from Franklinton Middle School into a store akin to a Goodwill.

LOUISBURG -- Authorities continue to look for one final suspect they allege initiated a police chase that resulted in an injury to a K-9 officer.
Meanwhile, Franklinton Police Officer Terry Pearce continued to recover from a deeply sprained ankle.
Louisburg police responded to reports of a fight at Franklin Court Apartments on Second Street just before 8 p.m. on July 21.