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FRANKLINTON — A majority of speakers Tuesday night asked commissioners to reverse course on plans to sell the town’s water system to Franklin County, but the board did not shift its stance.
However, some accusations by the public may have had at least one commissioner shifting in his seat.
Some residents, including a former town commissioner, asserted that the board’s decision to sell to the county was due, in part, to a conflict of interest by a town official, Commissioner Ray Gilliam.

LOUISBURG — Justice and the emergency responding community was in mourning this week after a firefighter was killed in the line of duty.
According to authorities, Justice Firefighters John Gupton and Kyle Horton were responding to a fire call at Lake Royale at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday when the tanker they were riding in rounded a curve on Sykes Road.

LOUISBURG — Although Franklin County commissioners said they didn’t want to get in the golf course business, its advisory board doesn’t want to dismiss such a possibility out of hand.
Last month, commissioners agreed to move forward with plans to purchase Bull Creek Golf and Country Club and turn it into a county park.

From left, Cylearia Whitley, Da’Shawn Mc’Cullers and Koreyon Covington enjoy time on a ride during the Tar River Festival on Sept. 13 in downtown Louisburg. Organizers say the event drew about 3,000 people.

The Louisburg town council met its newest “employee” Monday night and approved a couple of simple requests during a brief, routine meeting.
The new “employee” is a four-legged one, a yellow Labrador retriever named Justice, who has joined the town’s Police Department.

YOUNGSVILLE — Commissioners approved a process to green-light community events.
Last month, commissioners talked about a wealth of community events and festivals slated for the same day — and the strains they can place on traffic and law enforcement responsibility.
During that meeting, the board talked about the best way to plan for such activities in advance and the idea for special-events permits came up.

April Alston, Wiley Harris and Sa’Nyia Harris

The “canary” that monitors our local economy is gasping for breath, wheezing and is about to keel over — yet it appears that no one in power is listening.
The latest example of problems in our economy has been the actions by Novant Health, the company that owns our local hospital and several physician practices.

More than a little bit of reality has slipped into the normal Sunday afternoon — and evening, and Monday night and now Thursday night — fantasy time in many American homes.
Those are, for the most part, times when many televisions are tuned to a National Football League game, pre-game or post-game show — and the pressures and stresses of the real world are shut out for a little while.
Not recently, however.
Not by a long shot.

In my last column, I wrote about a courthouse roof repair job and, tongue firmly planted in cheek, talked about how a 186-year-old bell had been placed in the Witness Protection program.
It all played out like a script for a movie.
There was a phone call tip.
There was an action sequence involving the removing of the bell.

I am a Democrat, I am a Republican, I am a liberal, or I am a conservative. These are labels we identify with. In large part, others then define us to their advantage by these labels.
To many, it is an all sum game, you have to neatly fit in the defined box. Game really is the most descriptive word. For most politics is just a game to acquire power, money and privilege; nothing more.

Today’s article is going to be a feel good one.
I’m going to get to write some nice things about people I don’t normally say complimentary things about.
The reason is simple: on Sept. 11, people came together on the Courthouse steps in Louisburg to honor the 9/11 victims and first responders in a non-partisan fashion.

Dear editor:
I wanted to let you know that your blatant attempt to hide the article “Ex-Youngsville Officials Indicted for Alleged Fraud” on page 9B was shameful.

YOUNGSVILLE - Eric Todd May, 22, of Youngsville, died Wednesday morning at his home.

LOUISBURG - John Derek Gupton, 24, died tragically Tuesday evening while responding to a fire call with the Justice Volunteer Fire Department.

SPRING HOPE - Funeral services for Richard Evans Sr., 59, who died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Earnest Foster officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Trent Mandal Sanders, 43, of Raleigh, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. Funeral services were be held 1 p.m.on Monday, Sept. 15 at Greater Felton Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Apex, N.C. Burial was in the Wake Chapel Memorial Gardens in Fuquay-Varina, NC.

BUNN -- During the week of preparation, Bunn coach David Howle wondered if his club’s defense would be able to slow down the high-powered Corinth Holders Pirates.
Howle’s worries proved to be founded as the Pirates, utilizing a spread offense, racked up 502 total yards during a 61-27 triumph over the Wildcats last Friday night at the BHS Football Field.

BUNN - The tenacious DNA of the Bunn High School boys soccer team is such that, if you let the Wildcats hang around, they have the potential to upset a more-talented opponent.
For 40 minutes last Wednesday, Franklinton did exactly that as the Red Rams found themselves in a scoreless tie with Bunn at intermission.

BUNN -- Bunn had never lost to Franklinton in a volleyball match at the Bunn Dome until the Lady Rams broke through two seasons ago en route to posting the best on-court record in the Northern Carolina Conference.
BHS has started a new home-court streak against Franklinton since then, including a victory Tuesday night in a key NCC showdown.

BUNN -- Bunn has enjoyed its share of success against Nash County boys soccer foes this fall -- including a victory against Rocky Mount and a near-miss versus Southern Nash.
But Northern Nash wasn’t about to fall into the Wildcats’ smaller-school trap during last Thursday’s non-conference meeting at the BHS Soccer Complex.

High School Football
FRIDAY
Southern Vance at Louisburg 7:30 p.m.
Franklinton at Granville Central 7:30 p.m.
Northampton County at Bunn 7:30 p.m.

ELON -- Former Bunn High School standout Tarik Cohen had a career-best night last Saturday while helping the North Carolina A&T Aggies secure a road football victory at Elon.
Elon’s John Gallagher booted four field goals, but a fourth-quarter touchdown run by North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen proved to be the difference as the Phoenix dropped a 17-12 decision in its home opener at Rhodes Stadium.

FRANKLINTON -- Football wasn’t the top priority for the Franklinton Red Rams when they took the field last Friday for a non-conference meeting with Northwest Halifax.
That morning, members of the Franklinton High School community were stunned by the news that long-time teacher/coach Trent Sanders had passed away in his sleep.

LOUISBURG -- Last season’s Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference volleyball championship came down to a joust between Granville Central and Louisburg.
LHS was able to gain the edge by taking the TRAC Tournament crown.
This year, the LHS-Granville Central winner is once again expected to earn TRAC supremacy -- and the Lady Warriors took a key first step on Tuesday.

DURHAM -- Franklinton and North Carolina School of Science and Math played for the Northern Carolina Conference boys soccer championship on the final day of the 2013 season, with the Unicorns coming up with the key victory.
Nothing has happened to date in NCC action to dispel the notion that those two clubs will once again be in contention for league supremacy this fall.

HENDERSON -- Christopher Young of Youngsville has been named the head coach for the women’s volleyball team at Vance-Granville Community College.
A native of Croswell, Michigan, Young attended Croswell-Lexington High School, where he played golf, baseball, ice hockey, and track and field.

LOUISBURG -- It hasn’t taken long for Louisburg College’s first-year cross country program to make an impact.
After finishing second in their initial meet two weeks ago, the Hurricanes’ men were once again sharp last Friday at the Bulldog Invite, which was hosted by Barton College in Wilson.
Louisburg took second as a team with 58 points, finishing only behind the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

BUNN -- Surprise! Surprise!
That was the feeling that came over members of the Bunn High School girls tennis team when they saw the Louisburg bus driving down toward the BHS Courts.
Seems that BHS didn’t have the non-conference matchup on its schedule, while the Lady Warriors did.

Bunn’s Paige Timberlake (right) sends down a tip during Tuesday’s win against Franklinton.

Franklinton’s Andres Sanchez (left) sends the ball out of harm’s way during Monday evening’s road soccer event against North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

Franklinton’s Josh Ortiz (left) protects the ball for his club during last Wednesday’s boys road soccer decision against rival Bunn.

Tori Reynolds takes to the net for Louisburg.

On Sept. 5, 1954 Russell W. Frazier and Clara Wright promised to love, honor and cherish each other in Franklinton Baptist Church, and they are still working on those vows 60 years later. The Fraziers reside on the family farm in Franklin County and are the parents of one son, Russell W. II (Rusty) Frazier of Wake Forest.

Brittany Janise Alexander and Danté Latrell Walker were united in marriage on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 5 p.m. at Freedom Life Church of God in Henderson. The ceremony was officiated by Pastor Jeff Brewer.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at The Brick, which is located beside the church.
The bride is the daughter of James and Partesar Alexander of Henderson.

Louisburg College’s Office of Spiritual Life is co-sponsoring a ‘Teach-In’ today, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. in Benson Chapel.
The event will discuss education in North Carolina (past, present and future), and will feature speakers from Louisburg College, Duke, N.C. State and Democracy NC.
It is sponsored by Sponsored by the college’s Office of Spiritual Life.

YOUNGSVILLE — Authorities have arrested four Wake County residents they allege were responsible for a multi-county vehicle theft and vehicle break-in spree.
At least one more suspect remains on the loose, Franklin County investigators said.
“This was a big operation,” said Franklin County Sheriff’s Capt. E.H. Smith. “They stole three cars out of Wake Forest.

Franklin County Board of Election Chair Thomas Bregger has been certified by state elections staff.
The State Board of Election presented Bregger with the documentation during its August conference.
Bregger is the first board member to attain the certification.
“I wanted to do this because our board wants to do as professional a job as we can,” Bregger said. “Besides that, it was a challenge.

The Youngsville Woman’s Club will host a gospel singing on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. at The Youngsville Museum of History, located at 120 W. Franklin Street.
The gospel group featured is The Grindstaff Family.

Authorities evacuated Franklinton Middle School in response to a bomb threat.
Franklinton Police and Franklin County sheriff’s deputies got everyone out of the school after 9 a.m. on Wednesday after the threat came in.
Within an hour, according to authorities, law enforcement agents notified school administration that the building was clear of any potential threats.

Jazmine Jones of Franklinton was recently selected to participate in the 2014 Miss Pre-Teen Raleigh pageant competition that will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Jazmine learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced their selections following interviewing in the local Raleigh area.

Franklin County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a handful of break-ins.
A Kittrell woman reported the afternoon of Sept. 11 that someone broke into a property in the 1300 block of Sims Bridge Road.
According to the report by Dep. G. Stanly, several items were missing, including two televisions, $200, three bicycles, jewelry and a digital device.

State and town officials joined the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, along with staff at Zaxby’s, for a ribbon cutting to open the restaurant in Louisburg this week. The restaurant, an alternative to fast food, offers prepared-at-order chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads.