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RALEIGH -- Legislation aimed at lowering electricity costs in Louisburg and over much of Eastern North Carolina has cleared the General Assembly, been signed by Gov. Pat McCrory and the deal appears headed toward a July 1 closing.
However, local officials say its effect is likely to be significantly less than what state politicians have been implying.
The deal involves Duke Energy purchasing the generating capacity of ElectriCities, the agency that supplies power to much of the northeastern region of the state including Louisburg.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners are expected to consider a resolution that would provide more revenue for the have-nots.
Onslow County Sen. Harry Brown introduced legislation last month that, if passed, would change how sales tax revenue goes back to local governments.

LOUISBURG -- An employer's growing restrictions on working at home and a desire for a less frenetic lifestyle sparked the preservation of an important Louisburg home that will be among those showcased in this month's Historic Homes and Gardens Tour.
About a decade ago, Paul and Bryn Berlacher were growing tired of the pressure-filled lifestyle of their native California.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners took two actions on Monday night that all but wrapped up a years-long battle over water and sewer with Franklinton.
On Tuesday night, Franklinton commissioners returned the favor. Both boards approved an amendment to the asset purchase agreement that will facilitate Franklin County closing on the utility system.

Louisburg College baseball player Juan Reyes

It's official. Our tiny feathered friends have confirmed it.
Spring is here. The hummingbirds have arrived from their long winter vacation.
That's the word from Shirley Shearin who lives on Stone Southerland Road near Louisburg.
She called us Easter Sunday afternoon to report that she got her first sighting of one of the tiny feathered visitors as she was leaving home for church about 9:40 a.m. Sunday.

It would be difficult to imagine a more picture-perfect Easter weekend than the one we just enjoyed here in Franklin County.
If the weather wasn't absolutely perfect, finding fault with it would be the meteorological equivalent of nit-picking.
Well, okay, there was one slight problem.
We could have gotten by with a little less of that yellow pine tree pollen.

It would not be terribly illuminating to note that criminals are not the brightest folks in the world.
But at least they are consistent.
I've often filled many a crime brief section or police blotter with arrests that, to a great degree, had more to do with a suspect's decisions in other matters than it had to do with an actual crime.
Well, I have a few more additions to this column.

174 - 5! That disparity in numbers struck me the other day. Most of my articles are political in nature and often point a finger.
Today's topic is social, sans figure pointing, but no less shocking.
During a recent month, 174 people came to Safe Space seeking help because of what they alleged to be a domestic violence issue.

Have you ever wondered how it is even possible that outrageously stupid things happen at every level of government?
I am using the word stupid, because "stupid" by Webster's definition is the perfect word for it. Reflecting the meaning as: not intelligent; having or showing a lack of ability to learn and understand things; not sensible or logical.
In simple terms, I feel it is because over time, we have been conditioned to accept things no one with common sense would accept.

JAMESTOWN - For the second consecutive weekend, the Louisburg College Hurricanes were primed to secure their first Region X series victory of the baseball season.
But each time, LC has dropped the finale and settled for a split -- including last weekend's four-game road set at Guilford Tech.

LOUISBURG -- With a deep pitching staff and a talented group of bats, the Louisburg College softball team has already eclipsed the 20-victory mark -- but isn't about to stop there.
LC will carry a 22-9 record into this weekend's key Region X home series against Spartanburg Methodist College.
First place in the league will be at stake in the Hurricanes final series of the campaign at Sheilah R. Cotten Field.

RED OAK -- There's something about playing the Bunn Ladycats that brings out the best in the Northern Nash girls soccer team -- at least during the second half of action.
Earlier in the season, Northern broke open a tight game with an effective second-half flurry and went on to defeat Bunn.
During last Thursday's rematch at the NNHS Soccer Complex, a similar fate was repeated as the score was tied at halftime.

FOUR OAKS -- In a season filled with otherwise memorable moments, one of the low points of Bunn's 2014 baseball campaign came when the Wildcats couldn't finish the job in the championship game of the Johnston County Easter Invitational.
Instead, Bunn fell victim to a seventh-inning rally, much to the disappointment of head coach Chris Cullom.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton split a dual track and field meet last Wednesday with the Kinston Vikings at the FHS Football Field.
FHS was a 93-50 winner in boys action, while the Kinston girls earned a tight 65-62 decision.
Winners from the event were as follows:

BUNN -- Building relationships with local high schools has been a priority for Trevor Highfield since he took over as Louisburg College's head football coach two months ago.
That intangible has already proven to be beneficial for all parties involved as Highfield has been in the process of signing several area recruits.

Bunn's T.J. Jones signs a letter-of-intent to join the football program at Louisburg College. Also pictured are (back, l to r) BHS head coach David Howle, BHS assistant coach Chris Lewis, family friends (l to r) Kelli, Dylan and Daryl Timberlake, BHS assistant principal Jessica Perry and LC head coach Trevor Highfield; (front, l to r) parents Shawanda Baker and Thomas Jones.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg High School Warriors boys baseball team defeated the KIPP Pride Panthers 18-8 last Thursday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Jacob Wood hit a three-run triple in the bottom of the fourth inning to crack open a close 10-8 contest, giving the Warriors a 14-8 advantage. Wood scored on the play courtesy of a throwing error.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Listed are the Northern Carolina Conference's Boys and Girls Basketball Teams for the 2014-15 campaign:

LOUISBURG -- A new head coach won't be the only change this season for the Louisburg College football program.
Louisburg has opted to leave the Northeast Conference -- a league the Hurricanes have been a member of for the past several years.
In order to compete in the Northeast, the Hurricanes had to make at least two substantial road trips every campaign.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Whitney Bunn's amazing sophomore season at Furman University was culminated with her selection to the 2015 Southern Conference Women's Basketball Team.
Bunn, a guard from Bunn High School, was one of only five league performers tabbed for the squad. She was joined by teammate Brittany Hodges.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Here are the final results from The Franklin Times NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Pool:

Louisburg College's (l to r) Ryann Kostandin and Brooke Fletcher attempt to grab a pop fly during last Friday's home softball doubleheader against USC-Salkehatchie.

Louisburg College's Frank Sturek (left) dives back into first base to avert a pickoff attempt during last Saturday's Region X road doubleheader against Guilford Tech. The clubs split the four-game series in Jamestown.

Logan Jackson was the starter and winning pitcher Tuesday night for the Bunn Wildcats.

Jimmy and Linda Cottrell of Louisburg announce the engagement of their daughter, Lisa Cottrell, of Louisburg, to Michael Mosley, also of Louisburg. A private ceremony will be held May 2, 2015.

Audience favorite, pianist Thomas Pandolfi, will perform at Cherry Hill on April 19. Pandolfi returns for his third appearance at the 1850's concert venue with a program of European masters and American classics.
Pandolfi is a graduate of The Julliard School, earning both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees as a scholarship student. He has been touring internationally since 2008, appearing in concert halls in China, Canada, Germany, Eastern Europe, Wales and many locations in the United States.

Participants in this year's Franklin County Historic Homes and Gardens Tour, sponsored by the Person Place Preservation Society (April 18-19, 2015), will have the opportunity to visit the home of Anne Pauline Smith, a pioneer home extension agent in North Carolina.
The home and grounds reflect Ms. Smith's long-term professional interest in home beautification and landscape design.
Anne Pauline was born in Franklin County in 1890, the daughter of Cleora Hale and Edward Barrett Smith.

The retirements of three teachers were among the personnel actions made by the Franklin County Board of Education recently.
Retiring are Jackie Coyne, Franklinton Middle School teacher; Connie Midyette, Bunn Elementary teacher; and Patricia Richardson, Edward Best Elementary teacher.

LOUISBURG -- Town officials and residents will have a chance to petition for the restoration of historic tax credits as Susan Kluttz, secretary of the State Department of Cultural Resources, continues her tour across the state.
Since 1998, more than 2,400 historic tax credit projects have been completed statewide, accounting for more than $ 1.6 billion of private investment in the state, helping to preserve communities' historic character.

For the third year in a row, the Louisburg Band program is hosting a mattress sale to raise money for instruments.
This year's sale is Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the high school auditorium on Allen Lane. Cash, credit, or checks can be used. There is even a lay-away program.
Band director Brian Miller said that "we are always in need of new school-owned instruments to replace aging equipment.

Franklin County Relay For Life will be holding their annual cancer survivor dinner at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 12 at Cedar Creek Middle School, 2228 Cedar Creek Road, Youngsville.
Please RSVP to Linda Frederickson by April 18 by emailing: Frederickson.linda@yahoo.com or calling (919) 556-4981.

LOUISBURG -- A Warrenton man is slated to appear in court next month on charges that he kidnapped his estranged girlfriend and one-year-old daughter at gunpoint.
Louisburg police, and Franklin and Warren county deputies used a tactical approach to take Paris Henderson into custody and retrieve the Louisburg woman and child unharmed.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Police used a taser to arrest a Youngsville man who, on two occasions, allegedly threatened people with a gun and knife.
Officers had to use three cycles of a taser to subdue Joseph B. Logue Jr., but no one else was injured.
According to a report by Officer A. Allen, authorities were dispatched to the Wilco Hess just before midnight on April 5 after getting a report of an armed robbery in progress.

SPRING! The Franklin County Arts Council held its first art stroll of the season last Thursday in Franklinton. Featured was an Easter egg hunt and various activities in the downtown. Left, featured artist Jackie Dove-Miller displayed her work. The council is planning bi-monthly Art Strolls to reach out to the community and support economic development in the county.