COMMUNITY NEWS

YOUNGSVILLE -- After hearing and seeing how dangerous downtown side streets have become, commissioners agreed to lower the speed limit on essentially every downtown street to 15 mph.
After half a dozen residents shared stories -- and video footage -- of speeders, stop-sign runners and cantankerous drivers, officials agreed to take action to limit conflicts with cars and pedestrians on its side streets.

Abigail Grace Shaeffer, 17 of Granville County is the winner of this year's James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship which is presented to a junior beef exhibitor, age 14 to 18, in the Junior Market Steer and/or Junior Beef Heifer competition at the NC State Fair. She is the daughter of Greg and April Shaeffer. The Franklin County Cattlemen's Association honored the late State Sen. Speed by establishing the academic scholarship in his memory. This year, the scholarship was increased to $1,500 and this year's winner was selected by a committee of Franklin County cattle producers and was announced at the state fair.

LOUISBURG -- Dillon Piper's defense attorney said his client has grown and matured in the nearly two years since he played a role in the death of Hamilton Woods.
Special Prosecutor Lisa Coltrain said Piper's involvement -- when compared to the trigger man, Gavin Miller -- warranted lesser punishment.
Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson apparently agreed with them both when he sentenced Piper to a year of supervised probation, determining that the 15 months Piper has already spent in jail was suitable punishment.

The efforts of the Franklin County Interfaith Council's campaign against hunger and homelessness was honored last week by the Louisburg Town Council, which passed a resolution proclaiming November 2024 Franklin County Hunger and Homeless Awareness month.

A complex, multi-tier Freedom of Information request apparently seeking to uncover the relationship between Franklin County officials, specifically Sheriff Kevin White, with a Florida public relations firm was filed this week.
The request, which contains 35 specific and detailed questions that demand information, was sent to the county, all of the county commissioners, the sheriff, this newspaper and others by Youngsville attorney Doug Berger.

LOUISBURG -- The case against a Wake Forest woman accused of drinking and driving and killing a Franklin County man -- and the Raleigh establishment that served her -- continues in civil superior court.
Wake Forest police arrested Kristen Hellier on Dec. 28, 2023 after she crashed head-on into Waleed Mohamed Abdelsattar while driving the wrong way along Capital Boulevard near Club Villas Drive -- about a mile south of the Franklin County line.

SERVICE. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners recognized Commissioners Danny Pearce and Kelli London for their service to the board. Both were elected to the board in 2024 when Pearce won the at-large District 7 seat and London won the District 1 seat. When redistricting occurred, London was double-bunked into District 3 with Commissioner Mark Speed. Both Pearce and London opted not to seek re-election. Above, Commission Chair Harry Foy, left, presented Pearce with a plaque and recognized Pearce for his service.