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LOUISBURG -- As the Board of Equalization and Review, Franklin County commissioners said they will hold assessment appeals open until the end of October.
That decision came over the objections of Franklinton management, officials and staff.
Earlier in Monday's meeting, they argued that such an extension puts their 2024-25 spending plan in jeopardy -- including their ability to count on revenues and make new police payrolls.

FRANKLINTON -- Two states.
Four cities.
Five schools.
Forty-seven teachers.
That was the path that Valedictorian Valeria Inciarte took to grace the stage at Franklinton High School's graduation.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to pay $200,000 for just over 2 acres and $150,000 for just under a half acre for two separate public service projects.
Officials said the projects are needed and the negotiated price is a sign of the times.
First, the board authorized county management to move forward with purchasing 2.01 acres from the May family so that the county can build a new EMS station to serve Bunn along N.C. 39 -- next to Bunn Middle School.

FRANKLINTON -- After some adjustments, town commissioners agreed to move forward with a townhome development that didn't gain any traction the first time it was considered by the board.
During the board's April meeting, Franklinton-based Lilium Homes Inc. presented commissioners and residents with their plans to build a 48-unit townhome development at 15 and 17 Communication Drive.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Commissioners agreed to negotiate an easement with a developer that could serve as the linchpin for sidewalks connecting to downtown.
Holden Village developers need a temporary construction easement to complete a 120-unit townhome development along the southside of Holden Road, just west of Porter Hill Drive.
In exchange for that, Youngsville staff and officials want the developer, Eastwood Homes, to at least grade the area along Holden Road, essentially paving the way for the town to lay concrete for a sidewalk later.

FHS's MacKenzie Allred

If a long career writing about government has taught me anything, it is that touching the brakes to slow down government action is often a good thing because you never know what you may learn with a little more investigation.
Last week, a number of folks spoke at a school board meeting about the pending request to the federal courts to lift oversight of two aspects of Franklin County schools.

Okay, I'm going to peal back the onion just a little bit.
Truth be known, I don't know everything.
Part of my job is to know how things are supposed to work.
And, whether things turn out like they're supposed to or turn into a disaster, my job as a reporter, is to help folks understand why either outcome came to fruition.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Annie Mae Wilder Stukes, age 77, who died on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, were held 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, from the Castalia Missionary Baptist Church in Castalia with Pastor Victor Fenner officiating. Burial followed in the Castalia Baptist Church Cemetery.

Macon, NC -- Funeral services for Harmony "Hummingbird" Copeland age 31, who died on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, were held 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Robert Hedgepeth officiating. Burial followed in the Richardson Family Cemetery.

Franklinton, NC-- Funeral services for Rose Harris, age 84, who died on Friday, June 14, 2024, will be held 12 p.m., Thursday, June 20, from the Faith Missionary Church in Louisburg with Pastor K. G. Hall officiating. Burial followed in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Memorial services for Thomas Callaway Towns, age 64, who died on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, will be held 1 p.m., Sunday, June 23, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The potential was always there for Alex Edwards to develop into an outstanding college softball player -- it was simply a matter of realizing it.
And that's exactly what has happened the past two years for Edwards, who just completed her junior campaign as a member of the Methodist University softball squad in Fayetteville.

LOUISBURG -- The Laine Train continues to be on the fast track for the Lipscomb University softball team.
And the conductor of that train is former Louisburg High School superstar Laine Barefoot, who just completed a strong junior year for LU -- a Division I program located in Nashville, Tennessee.
Barefoot, a flame-throwing righty, appeared in 28 contests for the Bisons this spring, starting 23 of them.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- It's not far away -- high school football will kick off in Franklin County on August 23 with a pair of games as Franklinton will host Apex and Bunn will be on the road at Whiteville in non-conference matchups.
FHS' contest will be the first for new coach Michael Justice, while Andre' Davis' second campaign at Bunn will begin with a tough road challenge.

LOUISBURG -- Talk about saving your best for last -- that's the story of William Dement's prolific career as a member of the Louisburg High School boys golf squad.
In what was going to be the final round of his career, Dement delivered the highlight of his LHS tenure -- a 68 at the Class 2-A State Championships.
That was the top round of the day at the two-day event and vaulted Dement to a fourth-place overall finish as a freshman and Northern Lakes Athletic Conference as a senior).

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Carolina Mudcats have earned a spot in the Carolina League playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Carolina earned the berth after clinching the North Division Championship for the first half, after beating the Columbia Fireflies, 3-2 in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday night.
Carolina (39-23) took the lead in the last of the eighth inning on back-to-back RBI hits from Daniel Guilarte and Cooper Pratt to give the Mudcats a 3-1 advantage.

Ham radio operators from the FCARC (Franklin County Amateur Radio Club) in Franklin County will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2 p.m. Saturday until 2 p.m. Sunday, at 6605 Moores Pond Road, Wake Forest.
The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States.

The 1955 Class of Bunn High School gathered recently to celebrate its 68th reunion.
Classmates and guests met at the Pine Ridge Baptist Church, in Zebulon, for a catered meal and hours of fellowship. Class members expressed their most memorable experiences while attending Bunn High School, in addition to enjoying conversation about the last 68 years.
Attendees included class members, spouses, and friends.

Blueberries are a wonderful addition to landscapes and gardens. They have delicate white or pink flowers in the spring, the summer fruit has an attractive sky blue color, and the fall foliage adds great red and yellow colors to the landscape. With the right species and proper soil modifications, blueberries can be grown anywhere in North Carolina.
The rabbiteye types of blueberries are more drought and heat resistant, and will tolerate a wider range of soil types than highbush blueberries.

Franklinton High Principal Russell Holloman hands a diploma to Rylan Ball.

Graduate Tiana Alston is joined by, from left, Dana and Tamia Alston.

Dana Almonte Rosario leads graduates to the field.

Brothers Mykell Burrell and Christopher Burrell Jr. show off their diplomas.

LOUISBURG -- A grease and root blockage caused a roughly 3,000 gallon sewage spill.
According to Franklin County Public Utilities staff, the discharge of untreated wastewater came from a sanitary sewer line along an outfall between Franklinton and Youngsville.
The June 18 discharge, staff said, was the result of grease and root blockage.

Several Franklin County students were honored by the county school system Monday for being the best examples of "courage and determination" during May and June.
Here are the honored students:

LOUISBURG -- Following a closed session, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners agreed to front an airport project.
Back in February, commissioners agreed to move forward with Project Flight, which includes expansion of the existing airplane ramp, landside access to the corporate area, and landside access for fuel trucks from the existing fuel farm, to also include environmental analysis, erosion control, grading, airfield electrical and utilities.

FRANKLINTON - The Franklin County Home Builders Association (FCHBA) has its first-ever permanent home.
A ribbon cutting officially opened the facility at 16 South Main Street in Franklinton on Thursday, June 13. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a brief recap of the association's origin, as well as delectable fare from local Franklinton restaurants.
"Our new home is in the heart of the fast-growing area of downtown Franklinton," said Sara Kusan, FCHBA executive officer.

BIDDING ADIEU. Franklin County Economic Development Administrative Specialist Lori Duke, center, was the center of attention as county and state leaders celebrated her retirement -- which takes effect on June 28.