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LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County school system is requesting $22,349,831 to fully fund the county schools for the 2019-20 school year following a unanimous vote by the Board of Education Monday night.
That request, which includes an increase of $3,451,738 in operating funds, was to be presented to the board this week, although no decision by county commissioners is expected until May. The request represents a roughly 18 percent increase in operating funds over the current year funding level.

LOUISBURG -- The trial against a triple homicide suspect has been set for May, but Darius Robinson is slated to appear during a trial court session set for next week.
It was not immediately clear what the hearing would entail.

Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start held a "Slime Walk" on Saturday, raising funds as well as awareness for the types of programs that help and support young people. Above, walkers were blasted with slime once every hour as part of the festivities during the fundraising event at Franklinton High School. For more information about Smart Start, visit: www.fgvpartnership.org.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town ABC board members said they have no desire to fully pull away from the town, financially.
In fact, their goal is to flood the town's coffers with even more cash.
During a town commissioner retreat on March 22, officials and staff discussed the prospect that its ABC board could opt to become more fiscally independent -- meaning they would remit to the town the minimum amount of gross profits and retain the rest for current and future capital projects.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners used the second half of their retreat to develop a plan of action for projects ranging from a facilities master plan, to equitable pay for its employees to policing its own social media account.
Commissioners met during a morning retreat on March 22 to discuss a number of topics, primarily its budget expectations and traffic issues.

Louisburg Warrior Ethan Wood

At least there can't be any doubt. Spring has arrived, bringing with it clouds of yellow pine pollen that cover up almost everything for a couple of weeks this time of the year.
At least the rainfall we had early in the week alleviated the problem temporarily -- but it'll be back, so we just have to get used to it.
Consider dealing with clouds of pollen just the price of finally getting to enjoy springtime a little.

The fact that Franklin County commissioners turned down free help seems a head-scratcher until you realize all the uncomfortable situations that could arise.
The commissioners were presented with an opportunity to have a group of bright, motivated teenagers form an advisory council to help improve the county.
That would bring an entirely new perspective to a county where the current vision -- trying to be kind here -- is stodgy, old-fashioned and pretty much totally out of touch with the needs and challenges of 21st century America.

Apologies to all those who suffer from pollen allergies, but the yellow stuff isn't the only thing flying around this weekend.
Starting this Friday, people will be flying around, too ... well, at least people trying to catch all of the festivities and activities planned this Friday and Saturday.
Because of the Easter holiday, organizers of Friday Nights on the Tar have moved up their street festival in downtown Louisburg by one week.

HENDERSON--Funeral services for Willie Howard Neal, 77, who died Wednesday, April 10, 2019, will be held Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

SPRING HOPE --Zuria Bissette Dickerson, 87, died at her home Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Visitation will be Saturday, April 13, at Spring Hope Funeral Home, 10:30-11:30 a.m., with graveside service following at Bailey Town Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Collie will officiate the service. Friends may visit other times at the home.

LOUISBURG -- After one of the greatest comebacks in school history, Louisburg now finds itself alone atop the Northern Carolina Conference baseball standings.
That scenario was made possible Tuesday when the Warriors, trailing by six runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning, rallied in miraculous fashion to edge Granville Central by a 13-12 margin in a thriller that was played at Louisburg College's Frazier Field.

STANHOPE -- The weather cooperated -- barely -- for Southern Nash and Franklinton to play their Big East Conference girls soccer showdown last Friday on the SNHS campus.
While most other area events were postponed, the SN and Franklinton pressed on and played a memorable contest that went to overtime before it was finally decided.

FRANKLINTON -- Destiny apparently didn't want the Franklinton-Northern Nash boys tennis series to finish this season.
The clubs had tried to play their Big East Conference matches on several occasions -- only to be thwarted by poor weather.
Finally, Northern Nash and FHS met last Thursday at the NN Courts, with the homestanding Knights securing a 7-2 victory despite being shorthanded for the event.

KINSTON -- Louisburg College took a weekend off from Region X baseball action -- but the Hurricanes were still in action Sunday for a twinbill at Lenoir Community College.
LC rode a pair of strong pitching efforts to secure victories by scores of 4-0 in the opener and 4-3 in the finale.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College's prolific offense continues to put up amazing numbers during the 2019 softball season.
Last weekend, the Lady Hurricanes plated 44 runs during a three-game home series against Region X opponent Bryant & Stratton at Sheilah R. Cotten Field.
Louisburg swept last Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 15-7 and 16-0 before finishing things off Sunday with a single-game victory by a tally of 13-4.

BUNN -- Bunn got off to a quick start during last Wednesday's key Northern Carolina Conference baseball contest at home against Granville Central.
But the ending of the outing didn't go the Wildcats' way as they were shocked by the Panthers by a 9-8 margin at the BHS Baseball Field.
GC finished off the sweep of the Wildcats later last week with a one-run triumph in Stem.

KINSTON -- Carolina's starter Dylan File retired nine straight and had six strikeouts over the first three innings on Sunday, but ended up allowing four runs and four hits in the fourth while taking the loss as the Wood Ducks defeated the Mudcats 7-1 on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium in Class A Carolina League baseball action.

Collin Daniel competes at No. 2 Singles for Franklinton during Monday's home tennis matchup.

Senior midfielder Rachel Black (right) was outstanding for the Franklinton Lady Rams during last Friday's road soccer contest against Southern Nash.

Bunn's Ryan Richardson executes a sacrifice bunt last Wednesday against Granville Central.

The Person Place Preservation Society's biennial homes tour, scheduled for Saturday, April 27, will feature a number of historic houses situated along the old post road that ran between Fayetteville and Richmond -- a route that in the early nineteenth century provided Louisburg and Warrenton with regular north-south mail service and coach traffic.

LOUISBURG -- Police are still looking for the second suspect in a January homicide in Franklinton.
Next week, though, the state will inform the courts whether or not it intends to seek the death penalty for the one suspect they have in custody.
Octavian Dortch surrendered to authorities on Feb. 2, two weeks after Franklinton investigators allege he killed Clarence Person Jr. inside his Fairlane Avenue home.

LOUISBURG -- Police were dealing with the aftermath of two threats made at separate schools last week.
In one matter, police were expected to confer with prosecutors about how to deal with a student who made a threat against Louisburg High school via social media.
A matter at Terrell Lane Middle School has more questions than answers, though.

RALEIGH -- A Franklinton man was sentenced to more than 17 years in jail on child sex charges.
Andrew David Phillips, 28, pled guilty to distribution of child pornography in March 2018.
According to authorities, he used a computer to store more than 2,200 images of child pornography.

LOUISBURG -- A Kittrell man died in a single vehicle wreck near the Vance County line the evening of April 4.
According to a report by Trooper B.C. Oser, Cornelius Williams was traveling south on Walter Grissom Road at about 9 p.m. when the 1999 Ford he was driving ran off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, overturned and hit a tree.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County chool system administration have changed the nature of a Franklinton High employee's suspension.
Jeremy Ward Crawford is now suspended without pay.
School system attorney Boyd Sturges confirmed on Tuesday that the school system's administration decided to suspend Crawford without pay.