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LOUISBURG -- Downtown Louisburg will soon be home to a huge example of public art that its artist-designer hopes will bring the county closer together in unity.
The project began last fall when Louisburg College President Dr. Mark La Branche challenged art professor Will Hinton to design, create and install a piece of art that "would speak to the connection and growth of our college, our community and our county."

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners tasked staff with figuring out a plan to overhaul Youngsville Town Hall.
During the board's April 9 meeting, Town Administrator Bill Tatum told commissioners that a leak on the backside of the building is causing trouble.
Basically, he said, roofs on both town hall and the Youngsville Police Department are "rotting," and estimates have been placed at between $30,000 to $40,000 to replace them.

RALEIGH -- Bills in the General Assembly and interactions on gritty streets could combine to make police body cameras a reality in the near future.
Last week, legislators began discussing two bills that would help pay for half of the state's officers to be equipped with body cameras.

Kids say -- and do -- the darnedest things.
Two 10-year-old buddies did something over the weekend that left folks scratching their heads in amazement at their generosity.
The two boys, Davis Ellis and Charlie Grant, attended the Embers music concert at Louisburg College Friday evening -- and were "drafted" into helping with a drawing for prize money.

Emma Brown and Angelina Brown

Ever notice how some things that sound like a great idea at first blush don't seem so rosy after a little consideration?
When someone in the General Assembly suggested a new way to divvy up state sales tax dollars so rural areas get more of the money, that sounded like a perfectly reasonable solution to the problem of the lingering rural recession.
The idea was that all sales tax collected should be distributed according to population, regardless of where the sales tax was collected.

"It just feels right."
That's one way that Louisburg College art professor Will Hinton explained how he determined his vision for a public art display in downtown Louisburg was the right one.
As you read on Page 1 of this edition, he's creating a large ceramic tile mosaic that features three words: Esse Quam Videri.

If I was coming up today -- and lived in Maryland, I guess -- my parents and grandparents might have had a police record a mile long.
And they were hardworking, church-going people.
According to a story I read recently, a couple in Silver Spring has come under scrutiny for child abuse.

I have had the opportunity to interact with several Franklin County law enforcement officers. I have found them all to be professionals striving to do their job conscientiously.
North Carolina Republican State Sen. Ronald Rabin and Jeff Tarte filed SB 708, which is currently sitting in the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate. Its short title is the wonderful sounding, Homeland Security Patriot Act.

Dear editor:
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Colleges and universities and other organizations are joining in what must become an all-out "war" against sexual assault.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Dorothy Ann Fogg, 60, who died Monday, April 13, 2015, will be held at noon Saturday, April 18, at Walnut Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Timothy Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

FRANKLINTON - Funeral services for Maurice "Twink" Perry, 61, who died Monday, April 13, 2015, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Mitchiner's Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Melvin Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

BAILEY - Funeral services for Walter "Doug" Armstrong, 71, who died Tuesday, April 14, 2015, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Haywood Baptist Church, with Bishop Stanley Hicks officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- One of two scenarios was destined to play out Sunday when Louisburg College hosted long-time rival Spartanburg Methodist in a key Region X fast-pitch softball matchup at Sheilah R. Cotten Field.
The clubs had split a twinbill the day before, which meant the finale was going to determine whether LC could remain in the race for the regular season league crown -- or Spartanburg would flex its muscles as a pre-tourney favorite.

FRANKLINTON - Following a long layoff for Spring Break, the North Carolina School of Science and Math Lady Unicorns weren't exactly the team the Franklinton Lady Rams wanted to see first when their schedule resumed Monday evening.
After all, NCSSM is one of the most technically sound squads in the Northern Carolina Conference, and the Unicorns currently hold down the top spot in the league.

LOUISBURG -- In what may very well be a Class 1-A State Playoff preview, Louisburg dropped a tough boys home tennis match Monday against Franklin Academy.
LHS had topped the Patriots earlier in the year, but FA returned the favor with a 5-4 decision at the LHS Courts.
It was the first loss of the season for the Warriors, who are now 11-1 overall under veteran head coach Johnathan Waugh.

LOUISBURG -- As a third generation hoops skipper, it's safe to assume that Michael Sheldon was literally born to coach.
Sheldon's grandfather and father both coached the sport, and his father, Rob, is a member of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
So it was a bit of a surprise a few years ago when Sheldon stepped down from his successful boys hoops position at Bunn Middle School in order to move into administration.

BUNN -- After some time off for Spring Break, Bunn's softball squad returned to the field Tuesday with a 9-1 home victory against Northern Carolina Conference foe Warren County.
BHS was 8-0 overall heading into Wednesday's scheduled meeting with fellow Franklin County fast-pitch titan Louisburg.
The Ladycats and Lady Eagles were tied at 1-1 on Tuesday before Bunn erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth stanza of action.

LOUISBURG -- It took awhile, but Dr. Feelgood finally made an appearance at Frazier Field this spring.
Certainly, the Louisburg College baseball squad had plenty of reason to celebrate on Sunday as the Hurricanes came through with a season-highlight doubleheader sweep against Region X opponent University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
After dropping both games last Saturday, Louisburg bounced back by earning a pair of tight wins.

JOB WELL DONE BY THE BULLS. The Franklin County Bulls 10th Grade Travel Basketball Team recently took first place at the Ninth Annual Starburst Invitational in High Point. With the victory, the team earned a free entry into the National Explosion Tournament in June (also in High Point).

LOUISBURG -- Jennifer Allison and Darren Doyle have been honored with Louisburg College's top student-athlete award for the 2014-15 school year.
Allison, who starred in volleyball and softball, was selected as LC's Outstanding Female Athlete.
Allison was an All-Region X pick last season in softball and also captained the Lady Hurricanes' spike squad.

ZEBULON -- Eric Garcia drove in pinch runner Connor Oliver from second with a game-winning single to deep left in the ninth and the Carolina Mudcats walked off the visiting Blue Rocks 4-3 at Five County Stadium on Monday night.
The Mudcats have won four straight game since their opening-night loss.
Garcia was 2-for-4 in the game and has now driven in runs in each of his last two games.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College's 31st Annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament will be held at the Henderson Country Club on May 5.
All event proceeds support the mission of the college, the Endowment Fund and student scholarships.
With the support of numerous golfers and sponsors, the annual event has raised more than $550,000 since its inception in 1985.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School is hoping to start a new tradition this Saturday with the Warrior Pride 5-K Scholarship Run.
The course will begin at the LHS campus and will run through Louisburg College and portions of Downtown Louisburg.
Check-in will be at 8 a.m., followed by the race at 9 a.m.

Franklinton's Marissa Davis (left) tries to gain possession of a ball in the air during Monday evening's home soccer loss to North Carolina School of Science and Math.

Louisburg College's Charlie Carter (batting) attempts to execute a sacrifice bunt.

Louisburg High's Alejandro Rivera sends a shot back over the net during Monday's team tennis contest against the Franklin Academy Patriots.

Louisburg's Christian Rowe returns a shot Monday afternoon against tennis foe Franklin Academy.

Louisburg College's Ryann Kostandin (sliding) was ruled safe at second base during this play as part of Sunday's home twinbill against Spartanburg Methodist College.

Born on the 19th of March, Oliver is the name of the newest family member of Alpaca Dreams Farm, on Schloss Road, around the corner from Centerville.
These precious alpacas as well as the llamas are very dear to my heart since they remind me of my early years in South America. Of the camelid family, these two animals have been domesticated in many places, leaving the guanacos and vicunas still out in the wild.

Dramatic fluctuations in temperature can wreak havoc on automobiles. While cars and trucks are designed to be reliable under various conditions, sometimes the weather can get the best of even the most reliable vehicle.
Many people associate car troubles with cold weather. However, cars are susceptible to breakdowns when it is hot outside. Extreme heat adds to an already high temperature under the hood, requiring ventilation and cooling systems to work that much harder.

Few drivers will be fortunate enough to go their entire driving lives without encountering at least one flat tire. Flat tires range from the inconvenient flats, which may interrupt a road trip or make drivers late for work or an appointment, to more dangerous blowouts, which can compromise the safety of drivers, their passengers and anyone else on the road when the tire gives out.

Motorists routinely check their tires for proper inflation, top off engine fluid levels and maintain oil change schedules. But some drivers do not understand the importance of keeping engine air filters clean.
Engine air filters are a relatively inexpensive vehicle part, but they perform a very important job. For every gallon of gas a car burns, it uses the equivalent of 12,000 gallons of air, and that air must be filtered to help keep an engine clean.

The cost of fuel dipped in 2014, but drivers are still looking for ways to spend less at the pump. For many drivers, that means driving less. Driving less will save money, and doing so also reduces fuel consumption and contributes to fewer emissions entering the air, both of which can benefit the environment.
But many drivers are unable to drive less, as commitments to work and family require them to get behind the wheel more often than they might prefer.

Few drivers start thinking about resale value when driving a new car off of the dealership lot for the first time. But it's never too early to start protecting a vehicle's resale value. The following are some ways motorists can protect the resale value of their vehicles.

BIRTHDAY MILESTONE. The Franklin County Adult Day Program celebrated the 99th birthday of Rachel Yarborough on March 17. Mrs. Yarborough is surrounded by the 90's club members. Their ages range from 93 to 99. Pictured, left to right, (standing) are LaVerne Neff, Willie Brodie, Earl Strickland, Zella Knight; seated is Rachel Yarborough.

The Franklin County Board of Education handled several personnel matters at the end of a very uneventful meeting Monday night.
The school board also saw a robotics demonstration from "Franklinbots," the school system's robotics team of students that meets after school to design and build robots.

Nash Community College student, Anna Inscoe of Louisburg, knows with certainty where she wants her future to take her. When she graduated from Bunn High School in 2010, she was unsure of a field she might find interesting.
She decided to try her hand at graphic design and realized she enjoyed every minute of it.
Anna did not want to start her academic journey at a large university and wanted to stay closer to home.

BROOKLYN -- A Youngsville resident made the President's List at one of the country's top art, design and architectural schools.
Franklin Academy graduate Julia Sawyer was among 1,000 students who made the list during the fall 2014 semester.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, Kristen King, handed over her gavel, ending a year of service as president of the North Carolina Association of County Clerks to the Boards of County Commissioners (NCACC).
King began her service as clerk in April 2006. Since that time, she has represented the county by serving the NCACC as director, treasurer, secretary, vice president and most recently president of the professional organization.

Sometimes it's surprising what intrepid people collect.
And what those collections lead to is often a gold mine of ancillary information.
A case in point; on March 25, Franklin County's Rev. P. Burt contributed a trove of carefully collected funeral programs to the county library's genealogy collection.

LOUISBURG -- During a ceremony last week, Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead took two steps to showcase what's going on.
First, he recognized a citizen and officer who both rescued people from peril.
Then he unveiled a new sheriff's office website that would put law enforcement information at people's fingertips.

LOUISBURG -- Dr. Kyron Tamar, a general and vascular surgeon, has joined Novant Health and will lead Novant Health Franklin General & Vascular Surgery.
Tamar is board-certified in general surgery and can provide a wide range of outpatient surgical services including breast surgery, endoscopy, gall balder surgery, head and neck surgery, hernia repair, skin procedures and wound care.

Franklin County Arts Council Writers Guild has extended the deadline for its annual Spring Writers Day-Retreat and will be taking applications until April 24.
The Spring Writers Day Retreat will be from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Rolling View Community Building at Falls of the Neuse State Park.

The Franklin County Fun 4-H Livestock Show is slated for April 24, giving seasoned livestock presenters and newbies, as well, the chance to learn the ins and outs of animal showcasing. It will take place at the Double D Equestrian Center at 733 Egypt Church Road and feature kids, like Gabrielle Kennedy, above, showing off all kinds of animals. It starts at 9 a.m. and the public is encouraged to attend.

BUNN -- Town commissioners had yet to pull the trigger on a new chief of police by press time.
Former chief, Kent Winstead, was elected sheriff in November and Lt. Joe King has served the town as its top law enforcement officer on an interim basis since.
The board has met in a handful of closed sessions to discuss the hiring of its next chief -- including April 6 -- but commissioners did not select a permanent replacement for Winstead.

LOUISBURG -- A state department charged with using the state's cultural resources to, in part, improve the state's fiscal bottom line, continued its efforts last week to build support for restoring historic tax credits they say spurs economic development.
The General Assembly allowed the state's Historic Tax Credit program to sunset at the end of 2014.

Farm Bureau Insurance District Manager Victor Williford Jr. (center) presents Farm Bureau Insurance agents Chris Slack (left) and Wayne Champion (right) with their Master Agent awards. The announcement was made during Farm Bureau's statewide meeting in Greensboro. Slack and Champion were named Master Agents based on their outstanding production for 2014.