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LOUISBURG -- Interested parties will have another chance, and quite possibly their last opportunity, to weigh in on the county's budget.
Franklin County Manager Kim Denton has recommended a $122 million budget that slightly raises the tax rate above revenue neutral, increases utility rates, adds 13 new full-time positions, adds 23 new vehicles to the county's fleet and allots $1.4 million to bolster employee pay.

FRANKLINTON -- When Ethan Perez was sharing how he learned to balance academics and a social life, a surge of electricity from a fast-moving storm zapped power and killed the microphone -- forcing the Early College High School grad to improvise for a bit, belting out his remarks to an auditorium full of family, friends and well wishers.
Generators kept the power on and mics and speakers were quickly restored.

FRANKLINTON -- On Saturday, American Legion Post members and volunteers placed more than 700 flags on graves of veterans.
And, on Sunday, they held their annual Memorial Day celebration.
Both events honor the military dead. And, they serve as reminders to the living to never forget their sacrifices.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council all but finalized its 2024-25 fiscal year budget during a Tuesday evening meeting, although a projected $22 million challenge caused mostly by growth pressures has yet to be addressed.
The town's proposed general fund is balanced at $16,304,532 with about $4.8 million of that in the general fund.

FRANKLINTON -- Two residents with roots on S. Chavis Street urged town officials and staff to continue efforts to improve safety on that road.
In March, town commissioners agreed to petition the state to reduce the speed limit on S. Chavis Street from 35 mph to 25 mph.
The action was in response to concerns residents have expressed about the narrow, two-lane road off Mason Street/N.C. 56 since at least 2021.

Selma Hobson during the Mother's Day tea at the Franklinton Senior Center

Since my late Mom somehow managed to teach me a few manners, please allow me to apologize in advance for what I'm about to write.
Yes, I know it's rude to say "I told you so," but I can't help it! I told you so in a previous column -- and please accept my apology for starting off this week saying that.
Exactly as I predicted, local governments are using the recently completed property tax revaluation as a cover to raise the taxes you will be paying while trying to hide behind the fact that tax rates might be lower because valuations have skyrocketed!

For some time, I've valued using this space to relay to readers of this newspaper the opportunities that are available to volunteer in the community, in many ways, opportunities to do more than complain -- taking actual measure to make Franklin County better.
I also certainly relish using this space to draw attention to folks who do just that.
During the May 20 meeting of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners meeting, Charles Mitchell, Franklin County's Cooperative Extension director...

The county manager's May 20 budget recommendation for 2024-25 proposes a funding increase that represents a fraction of what is needed to sustain successful operations of Franklin County Schools.
The recommendation allocates only $1.3 million of the $5.2 million requested for current expenses, which includes the statutorily required appropriation for charter schools.

Dear editor:
Two things were very apparent to me in the county commission meeting with school officials recently.
No one addressed the question of why so many parents are opting out of pubic schools if the FC public schools are doing such a great job?

Dear editor: Greetings from Florida. I am writing this letter to offer vociferous support for retaining the Librarian positions throughout Franklin County Schools' elementary, middle, and high school campuses now subject to budget cuts.
As a former newspaper editor, I sat through more county commission budget sessions and more board of education budget sessions than I care to remember.

Dear Franklin County Board of Commissioners:
As duly elected members of the Franklin County Board of Education, we have worked to serve children well, make responsible use of taxpayers' dollars, and collaborate with the Board of Commissioners to support the advancement of Franklin County.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Dorothy Ann Perry Hoyle, 88, of Franklinton passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024. She was born on March 16, 1936, the daughter of the late Otha and Beatrice Ross Perry.

Franklinton, NC--Frances Annette Freeman passed away peacefully in her home in Franklinton, NC on May 26, 2024. Annette was born on July 9, 1938, in Oxford, NC to the late Vernon H. and Mable Harris Freeman. In addition to her parents, Annette was predeceased by her sisters, Geraldine Freeman and Phyllis F. Pearce; and a nephew, Richard Bray.

WARRENTON, NC -- Kenneth Earl Pernell, 77, of Warrenton, died Friday, May 25, 2024.

LOUISBURG, NC--Marie Murray Poole, 91, of the Schloss Community, died Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Franklinton, NC-- Funeral services for Pauline Carter Burk, age 93, who died on Sunday, May 26, 2024, will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, June 2, from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Gwendolyn Starr officiating. Burial will follow in the Jones Chapel Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC--Rebecca Wilder Wells, 91, died Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Raleigh, NC--Funeral services for Rickey E. Arrington, age 60, who died on Friday, May 24, 2024, will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Tamara Peiffer, 59, passed away on May 27, 2024 at her home in Franklinton, NC.

BUNN -- Pardon members of the Johnston Community College coaching staff for feeling like they got one of the steals of the area high school basketball recruiting season when they recently signed Bunn senior standout Jameir Strickland. Strickland, for whatever reason, was overlooked by numerous collegiate scouts, but the Johnston CC coaches recognized his abilities to compete on the next level.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklinton made a huge upward leap in the Big East Conference girls soccer standings this spring -- and the best might still be to come for the Lady Rams.
FHS tied for third place in the strong league and eventually reached the second round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs under the direction of second-year head coach Bri Folds.

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Caleb Garcia of Castalia, a student from Kenny Buffaloe's Kyokushin Karate Class at STUDIO 10 in Roanoke Rapids, recently won 1st place in the "2023 North Carolina Kyokushin Karate Inter-Dojo Kumite(Fighting) Competition" held May 25th in Roanoke Rapids.
The competition featured many competitors from 4 Kyokushin Karate Dojos (Schools) -- Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Essex, and Clarksville, Va.

ZEBULON -- Reece Walling blasted his second home run of the year over the right field wall in the bottom of the eighth to lift the homestanding Carolina Mudcats past the Delmarva Shorebirds 6-5 on Tuesday night in minor league baseball action at historic Five County Stadium.
Carolina (27-17) trailed 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning and pulled to within one run thanks to a two-run triple from Juan Baez and a sacrifice fly from David Garcia.

BUNN -- Bunn High School celebrated a strong competitive year at its recent Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony at the BHS Auditorium.
Bunn was effective in several sports in 2023-24, winning or sharing Big East Conference championships in boys wrestling, girls wrestling and baseball.
BHS also claimed the Class 2-A portion of the Big East crown in boys tennis and boys soccer -- and made deep playoff runs in both of those endeavors.
Choosing the school's Athletes of the Year was difficult, but the winners were Jameir Strickland for boys and Abi Miller for girls.

Blackberries are considered a superfood that packs a major nutritional punch along with bright flavor and intense color.
Blackberries contain beneficial compounds that may help protect against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Blackberries are a source of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which can protect cells from free radicals. Their deep purple hue increases their antioxidant power.
Blackberries are also an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and manganese.

LOUISBURG -- More than 100 Louisburg College students celebrated their graduation.
During the May 18 commencement, family, friends, faculty and staff watched 106 students receive their degrees inside the JPAC.
This year's ceremony included gifting of multiple medals and awards to faculty, staff, and students.

Above, proud Dad Henry Alexander takes a selfie with his daughter, Alaija Alexander, following the May 23 graduation of 50 Franklin County Early College High School students.

Franklin County Early College High School grads turned their tassels, one of the last ceremonial elements of graduation.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A "major" wreck near Youngsville prompted emergency crews to reportedly dispatch a helicopter.
According to public radio scanner traffic and Franklin County Emergency Management, a major wreck was reported at Mays Crossroads Road and Salem Lane at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

LOUISBURG -- The restoration of a vintage machine that spent its working "life" protecting the Louisburg area has received a Certificate of Recognition from the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus and its old Dominion Historical Fire Society Chapter.
The certificate recognizes the Louisburg Fire Department and the Louisburg Fire Museum for the restoration of the 921 American La France fire engine and the establishment of a town fire museum to preserve the department's history.

ATTENDS CONFERENCE. Franklin County 4-H'er Meredith Potter had the privilege of attending the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. through a NC 4-H teen program called AIRE (Application, Interview, Resume, Essay). While in D.C., she got to meet with the Senate Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. She and other NC 4-H'ers were able to discuss how important rural agricultural and youth development is in our country.