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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners committed to spending more than $5 million for new equipment and resources to bolster its beleaguered emergency communications system.
The fix includes the prospect of accessing VIPER, a system used essentially statewide, as well as plans to improve voice and pager service throughout the county.

Members of the Louisburg College softball team celebrate after the final out of last Saturday's victory over Pasco-Hernando in the championship round of the Region X Tournament at Springwood Park in Burlington. The Lady Hurricanes, with a 44-6 record, will travel later this month to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament in Oxford, Alabama.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners held off on updating its Unified Development Ordinance -- which includes a countywide zoning rewrite -- hoping the extra time allows them to iron out a few remaining wrinkles.
The county faces an approaching deadline to update the zoning and regulation document to comply with General Statute 160D, which is designed to combine and modernize state enabling legislation for development regulations enacted by cities and counties.

LOUISBURG -- County management has proposed a budget that lowers the tax rate, increases employee pay, raises water and sewer rates, bolsters the workforce and helps replenish some of the county's vehicle fleet.
And, while it wasn't a budget action, commissioners took action to increase spending for the county manager.

YOUNGSVILLE -- During the board's May 13 meeting, Town Administrator Phil Cordeiro presented the board with a solid budget proposal, advised that its long-awaited Main Street Improvement Project is ready for bids and the town's new public works building should be completed by the early summer.
Then, during a closed session that same night, he informed the board he was resigning to start an in-home business and spend more time with his family.

LOUISBURG -- A possible office site for a local business got the green light from the Louisburg Town Council Monday night, one of a number of projects that moved forward during a fairly brief meeting.
The council agreed to rezone two tracts along NC 56 West (north of the highway and across from the former D&J dealership) which may become a new office for Farm Bureau Insurance.

Coach Eric Lee and Family

Well, that didn't work out as planned!
Early last week I figured the over-hyped gasoline shortage would be the perfect excuse not to mow the lawn last weekend -- but by the time the weekend rolled around, there was plenty of gasoline and my excuse had evaporated.
There was a lesson or two in that mini-crisis, however.

I guess we'll find out soon if an airport issue gets some clearance and some clarity.
Back in January, long-time airport tenant Brett James spoke to the Triangle North Executive Airport Advisory Board, expressing frustration at what he alleged was an inability by the airport to address his short- and long-term hangar space needs.
At the time, he told the board that he's felt like he's been passed over when airport hangar space had become available.

Still cannot get high-quality, reliable, high-speed internet service at home? You are not alone.
In fact, more than 500,000 North Carolinians do not have access to broadband because of a lack of population density or geographic barriers that prevent internet service providers from connecting to them.

Dear editor:
As the spouse of a Vietnam War veteran, I hold a special place in my heart for the parents, siblings, spouses, and friends of those who served. I can't help but think of all the men and women who have gone to fight for this great nation and didn't return home.

BURLINGTON - One more time, and in emphatic fashion.
Heading into Saturday's championship round finale, the Louisburg College Lady Hurricanes had blitzed through their Region X softball foes this spring -- both in the regular season and the tournament.
LC hasn't even had very many close games in 2021 in league action -- let alone a loss.

BUNN -- Anyone who has followed the parallel careers of Aidan McKeithan and Jaheim Brown shouldn't have been surprised by last Thursday's pitcher's duel at the Bunn High School Baseball Field.
McKeithan (Bunn) and Brown (Louisburg) have pitched against each other in several big games through the years -- and usually the scoreboard wasn't dented too much when the talented hurlers squared off.

HENDERSON -- No pressure, right?
That's what Mike Rigsbee must have been thinking when he accepted the Kerr-Vance Academy head baseball coaching job during the off-season.
Certainly, Rigsbee has plenty of experience, dating back to his days as a player at Millbrook High School, Louisburg College and Barton College -- not to mention a five-year stint as an assistant at K-VA under legendary skipper Todd Wilkerson.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, have announced that starting pitcher, Justin Bullock, a Creedmoor native, has been named Low-A East Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on May 16.
Bullock's lone start during the last week of games was a dominating performance on May 14 at Down East where he totaled a career high 12 strikeouts over six scoreless innings.

BURLINGTON -- With his club on the cusp of winning the Region X Tournament Championship, Louisburg College softball coach Eric Lee knew who to turn to in order to finish off the job.
Carrigan Ewers.

FRANKLINTON -- Last week was a crucial one for both Franklinton and Northern Nash's baseball teams, who squared off against one another in two vital Big East Conference contests on the diamond.
Despite falling behind early in both games, it was the Northern Nash Knights who emerged victorious, using big offensive efforts en route to a 13-7 win last Tuesday, and an 8-4 decision last Thursday.

Senior Jaheim Brown was exceptional last Thursday for the Louisburg Warriors during their road baseball loss at rival Bunn in Northern Carolina Conference action.

Louisburg College's Foster Sharpe makes it in to third base during last Saturday's Region X Tournament title game.

Louisburg College's Jessica Russell (21) jumps on home plate after a homer during last Saturday's tourney finale.

FRANKLIN COUNTY STANDOUTS (L TO R) RIANNA LAYTON, CHELSEA ROBERSON AND CAROLINE WHITE

LC'S HALEIGH JOYNER ACCEPTS REGION X SOFTBALL HARDWARE

There will be high school graduations this year although they won't look quite like they did in the pre-pandemic era.
County Schools Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler unveiled the plan for graduations 2021 during Monday night's board of education meeting.
Here are the days, times and locations of the graduation ceremonies for this year's seniors:

Spring Hope police have charged Joshua Frazier, 33, with felony first degree murder as a suspect in the death of his mother, Mildred Allen Frazier, 60.
Police arrived at Ms. Frazier's home at the 308 N. Walnut Street address she shared with her son on May 12, finding her inside suffering from multiple lacerations to her upper body. Nash County EMS pronounced her dead at the scene.

FRANKLINTON -- Commissioners and staff have scheduled a work session to go over a budget proposal that's pretty status quo.
Town Manager Gregory Bethea presented the board with a $2.99 million spending plan for 2021-22 that does not raise taxes, but continues to support seven ongoing goals the board has committed to.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a man they allege was responsible for a shooting that sent a Louisburg man to the hospital last month.
Louisburg officers arrested Vernon Hicks, 26, this week, charging him with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The last time economist Michael Walden addressed Franklin County fiscal leaders, it was right before the height of the pandemic during the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments's first Regional Economic Development Summit, Focus 20/20.
During that February 2020 session, he said keeping an eye on the number of new cases and deaths attributed to COVID-19 would tell the story of how well the county, state and country would cope with the oncoming pandemic.