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LOUISBURG -- The Ebola virus has not threatened Franklin County's population, but those trusted with its medical health are working to make sure they are ready if it does.The virus, which has experienced an outbreak in Africa, has a fatality rate ranging from 25 percent to 90 percent. Reports as late as Tuesday confirmed a case of Ebola in Spain -- the first case believed contracted outside of Africa. A man diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas had been visiting in Liberia.

FRANKLINTON -- Two weeks before early voting, the race for Franklin County sheriff appears to have hit a full-out sprint, as both candidates traded assertions and refutations during a candidate's forum Tuesday night.
The Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event at Franklinton High School, inviting federal, state and local candidates.

This young "fireman," a member of the firefighting Peoples family of Louisburg, gives a hearty thumbs up as he fantasizes about heading off on a call driving the Louisburg Fire Department's most historic vehicle, Maude. That truck, which was bought by Louisburg in 1921, is now a historical artifact that was recently returned to the town thanks to the efforts of several local firemen.

LOUISBURG -- A local police chief's association presented an inaugural award to a man who has spent his lifetime making a difference. James Williamson, who has worked with nearly every law enforcement agency in Franklin County during his 21-year police career, received a Lifetime Service Award from the Franklin County Association of Chiefs of Police (FCACP).

LOUISBURG -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Representatives of groups who help victims of abuse are aware that there is strength in numbers. Last week, members of more than a dozen different agencies and organizations met to talk about better ways they can communicate and meet the needs of those battered by domestic violence.

Louisburg HS tennis player Alana Fagan

It's been a week of strange coincidences -- first an op-ed piece draws attention to local school security shortcomings, there was a shooting on the grounds of a North Carolina high school that my daughter attended and then some apparent nutcase with a knife ran circles around the Secret Service's ring of protection. Wow. Where to start?

It's been a long, difficult, sometimes frightening period of strange events, worldwide violence, scary outbreaks of disease and a long, brutal recession that just refuses to go away. With all that in mind, is it any wonder that Americans are fearful and some doubt that their government can protect either their personal or economic safety?

As I walked up to Franklinton High School on Tuesday night, I couldn't help but notice hearing that school's band playing and, off to the side, seeing band members twirling flags.
It wasn't a Friday night, but after walking into the school's auditorium for a candidate's forum, it was clear to see that the game was on.

I was a teenager when Jeannie C. Riley's record "Harper Valley P.T.A." was toping the country charts back in 1968. Tom T. Hall, the great story teller, sure had a lot of people talking back them.
Most songs have a story behind them. That one had a lot of people worried, particularly politicians.
I could write a similar block buster story today, Franklin County NC style. Maybe I should; now wouldn't that be something? Bet it would take some of the shine off the apple for a lot of self-righteous people.

"Don't believe all the lies and misrepresentations."
That is the first sentence of a quote on the fourth page of another of those four-color glossy mailers we keep getting from Republican State Sen. Chad Barefoot.
While he may not have yet achieved the twice daily accuracy of a stopped clock, I do agree with him on that point. His mailers are the living proof!

Dear editor:
I would like to encourage boys to join Scout Troop 555 in Louisburg. I think being a Boy Scout is very important in a boy's life.

LOUISBURG - Earl Howard Tharrington, 80, of Louisburg, died Tuesday morning.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Gloria Ann Cooke, 66, who died Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at New Liberty Baptist Church, with the Rev. Cornelius Crawford officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Susie M. Alston, 84, who died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at St. Stephens Baptist Church, with the Rev. Junius Debnam officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry's Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Wilson "Captain" Williams, 74, who died Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, will be held Monday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. at Allen Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the M. H. Jones cemetery.

FRANKLINTON - Unpredictability has been the most pertinent intangible of the season to date for the Louisburg College football squad.
LC opened the campaign with three victories in a row -- but has backed that up with a trio of consecutive losses, all of which have come against Northeast Conference foes.

LOUISBURG -- When Andy Stokes scheduled a meeting with Monroe College, he knew the Lady Mustangs would arguably be the best club his Louisburg College women's soccer squad would face all season.
But Stokes didn't know that the Mustangs would travel to Louisburg on Monday poised to become the No. 1 team in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Rankings.

BUNN -- Seven years have passed since the Louisburg Lady Warriors have experienced a volleyball victory of this magnitude.
Ironically, that was when LHS reached the state finals with what will be remembered as one of the school's all-time best squads.
Louisburg blitzed through its foes that year, including a pair of victories over backyard rival Bunn.

FRANKLINTON -- Due to an earlier rainout, Franklinton and Louisburg were forced to play a girls tennis doubleheader last Thursday afternoon in the regular season finale for both squads.
LHS capped off its strong campaign by securing a sweep in the rivalry grudge match.
Scores were 5-1 and 5-0 in favor of the Lady Warriors. Doubles matches were not staged.

LOUISBURG -- Few have been the occasions this season when Louisburg High School's offense has experienced difficulty moving opposing defenses off the ball.
But it happened last Friday night during the Warriors' non-conference homecoming showdown against backyard rival Warren County.

High School Football
FRIDAY
Warren County at Franklinton 7:30 p.m.
Bunn at Roanoke Rapids 7:30 p.m.
Louisburg at KIPP Pride 7:30 p.m.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School hosted the latest Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference cross country meet last Wednesday on the LHS campus.
Louisburg took second in the boys standings with 47 points, while Southeast Halifax was the overall winner at 28 points.
KIPP Pride (74) nudged Granville Central (75) for the No. 3 position.

HENDERSON -- In recent back-to-back contests at home, the performances by three members of the Vance-Granville Community College women's volleyball squad stood out.
Kara Reese of Henderson, Caitlyn Robins of Creedmoor and Rachel Thomas of Louisburg have proven to be key team leaders.

WENDELL -- The toughest test to date for Franklinton's early-season undefeated surge was destined to occur last Friday night against the high-powered Corinth Holders Pirates.
Corinth Holders scored on its first three possessions and went on to give the Red Rams their first loss by a 38-0 margin in a non-conference football meeting.

LOUISBURG -- Ever since the season began, the Louisburg College Hurricanes have been climbing up the National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Soccer National Rankings.
LC's ascent continues as the Hurricanes have been red-hot in recent weeks -- both against Region X foes and non-league opponents.

ELON -- The Elon University Phoenix football team was handed a tough task in its first-ever CAA Football game as the fourth-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats visited Rhodes Stadium last Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats spoiled the maroon and gold's league debut by claiming a 48-14 victory despite a strong effort from former Bunn High School standout Andre Davis, a junior wide receiver.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton's most important boys soccer match of the season took place Wednesday, when the Red Rams had a rematch with North Carolina School of Science and Math -- with first place at stake in the Northern Carolina Conference.
The clubs tied last month in Durham, and neither squad has experienced a conference glitch since then.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Moose Lodge 2256 will host its annual golf tournament on Oct. 17 at The River Golf and Country Club.
A four-person superball format will be utilized.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 11 a.m.

Franklinton's Marissa Davis delivers a forehand.

Louisburg's Whitney Bolton (4) and Phoenix Spivey (10) try to block Bunn's Bernadette Cooke during last Wednesday's volleyball matchup.

Louisburg College's Kenia Roa (right) heads the ball toward the midfield during Monday's match.

Louisburg College's Bruce Walker (1) tries to recover a fumble last Saturday against Monroe.

Louisburg's Malik Sidibeh tries to lunge for a first down last Friday versus Warren County.

Imagine for a moment, you - at your healthiest. You are active daily, eating healthy meals, your clothes fit right, not tight, and your doctor says your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other lab test results all look great.
In fact, since you are at a healthy weight, you have committed to engaging in 40 minutes of moderate exercise every single day to keep the weight off and keep your body moving.

Kim Stewart of Wood announces the upcoming marriage of her daughter, Lauren Stewart, to Chris Sullivan of Wilson. The groom-elect is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Sullivan of Wilson. An Oct. 11, 2014 wedding is planned.

The Oct. 19 concert at Cherry Hill in Warren County will feature violinist Hye-Jin Kim, who will be accompanied by pianist Thomas Sauer. The concert will include works by Mozart, Ravel, Rorem, and Saint-Saens. Both performers are highly sought after for recitals and concerts throughout the United States and around the world. Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim began violin study at the age of 8. She is a winner of the Philadelphia Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Virtuosos of the 21st Century in Moscow, and many other awards.

The old Franklin County jail on East Nash Street in Louisburg was completed in 1875, a year after an event that shook the county.
At 11 p.m. on the evening of January 7, 1874, the bell in the Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg awakened the town to an unfolding tragedy.

Halifax County deputies are investigating a series of break-ins and thefts from Nash Brick Company, in Hollister. There are two male suspects and investigators are asking for help in the thefts, which occurred near the Franklin County line. Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 252-583-8201.

Wake Electric, along with other electric co-ops in North Carolina, is warning consumers that thieves posing as Duke Energy employees are trying to steal money and personal information, according to a Wake Electric spokesman. The scammers are calling customers and saying they are "with Duke Energy in Wilmington," and that they're handling remote disconnections for cooperatives and other utilities.

South Main in downtown Franklinton was bustling with activity last Thursday night. The parking places were all filled up and people were everywhere. It was Art Stroll night, an event started in June by the Franklin County Arts Council. The Art Stroll occurs every other month on the first Thursday.
Joe Barta IV, FCAC board member, summed it up, "in true small town spirit, the Art Stroll in Franklinton made for a delightful evening.

More than 132 backpacks were given out to students of Franklin County on Aug. 23 at Franklinton Elementary School. We Are One Community Outreach (WAOCO), a local non-profit organization, was the facilitator of this event. Jermel Thomas and Stephanie Malone (a native of Franklinton) were the coordinators.

LOUISBURG -- A man accused of breaking into a home on several occasions while working for a local telephone company is facing criminal and civil charges.
His employer faces a date in court, too.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Jonathan Wayne Edwards in February on four counts of breaking and entering and larceny.