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LOUISBURG -- The last two months gave Franklin County "historically low" COVID-19 numbers over the course of the pandemic.
But numbers are starting to rise, health officials note, at the same time as desires for the vaccine continue to cool.
"... About two weeks ago, the positivity rate started wildly fluctuating," said Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne, noting there were days with no tests and zero percent positivity rate, then there would be other days with eight to nine percent positivity rates.

LOUISBURG -- Maria Parham's "reinvention" of medical care does not include a relocation of services to Henderson, the health care provider said.
During a July 8 meeting of the Franklin County Economic Development Commission, Maria Parham Chief Operating Officer Antoine Ransom said the health care provider was "looking to kind of reinvent [its primary care and multispecialty clinic] service lines by relocating the Multispecialty clinic to a new site that's adjacent to the Duke Primary Care Clinic."

FRANKLINTON -- COVID-19 caused cancer fighters to turn its annual Relay for Life into a drive-through event last year.
Last Friday, the event got back on track, literally and figuratively.
Cancer survivors, caregivers and others returned to the Franklinton High School track for the Franklin County Relay for Life -- the county's signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

FRANKLINTON -- Last Tuesday, the Franklinton Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of the property that is east of 203-325 S. Chavis Street - a property that has a possibility to become a soccer complex, which would in turn give the youth of Franklinton an official venue to enjoy an extracurricular pastime.
The Franklin Wake Soccer Club is the organization that filed the application to rezone the property.

The Franklin County Cooperative Extension Horse Farm Tour is back for the 25th year, with stops at a variety of horse operations across the county. Above, Amara Jensen shows off Rivas, a horse she boards at Hidden Pond Farm in Youngsville, the first stop on the tour. The Aug. 6 tour then proceeds to Two Grey Farm in Franklinton, LT Stables in the Zebulon area and Old Mule Hay & Feed Facility in the Zebulon area, as well.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners have set a public hearing to annex a 14 acre lot, the first step toward a possible rezoning that's being opposed by nearby residents.
In May, Brian Watts of Youngsville-based B.W. Watts Construction petitioned the board to rezone 14 acres along Fleming Road -- inside the zoning district, but outside the town's corporate limits -- from Agriculture to Single Family Residential.

Newborn Emery Caroline Lee

There is an old saying that if you don't learn from your mistakes you are destined to repeat them.
Given recent reports, it would appear that Franklin County officials would be well advised to take a realistic look at their history and then do their best not to repeat what has happened in the recent past.
The latest issue is the effort to bring broadband service to northeastern Franklin County, among other areas.

A host of Franklin County organizations are coming together to host three Mobile Fun Camps to reach students who otherwise may miss out on summer learning and fun.
United Way, Safe Space, Smart Start, Novozymes, the Franklin County Library system and the Franklin County Health Department will host the summer camps, which will feature science, technology, engineering, arts and math [STEAM].

FRANKLIN COUNTY - Each of Franklin County's three prep volleyball teams boasted young groups last season -- meaning the future was looking bright for all of the programs.
Heading into the 2021 campaign, the future is now -- and it will involve the trio of schools reuniting to be in the same league.

LOUISBURG -- A return to normalcy is the greatest hope this coming school year for the Louisburg College Athletic Department.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, LC was forced to jumble and shorten schedules in several sports in 2020-21 -- and some seasons were even moved around.
Still, the Hurricanes enjoyed a strong overall campaign, including trips to national tournaments in softball and men's soccer.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Football Coaches Poll is one of the highlights of the annual Big East Conference Preseason Meeting, but simple introductions were more the order of the day during the event, which was held Tuesday at Southern Nash High School.
The Big East is undertaking a dramatic shift for the next four years following the latest realignment by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

ZEBULON -- Gabe Holt had four hits, including three doubles, and both Ashton McGee and Darrien Miller hit two-run home runs as the host Carolina Mudcats clinched a baseball series win with a 9-4 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
The first-place Mudcats won four of seven in the series and moved to 5.0 games ahead of Down East in the Low-A East Central standings.

RALEIGH -- A trio of players from the North Carolina State University Wolfpack were named to the 2021 preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Football Team, as voted on recently by the league's media and announced by the conference.
All three from NC State led their position groups in votes.

The Louisburg and Franklinton Senior Centers have recently reopened since the pandemic. They are open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. They offer congregate nutrition, billiards, exercise classes, line dance, Tai Chi, pinochle, bridge, among other things. Visit their facebook page at: Franklin County Senior Services Department of Aging. If you have questions about upcoming events or schedules, call Louisburg Senior Center at 919-496-1131 and Franklinton Senior Center at 919-494-5611.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners approved a special use permit and variance request that clears the way for a new veterinarian's office in town.
Dr. Aleksander Besermenji, who operates the Kittrell Animal Hospital, petitioned the town's Board of Adjustment for a special use permit -- a process necessary to deal with kennel operations for a vet clinic.
To be clear, said Town Zoning and Planning Administrator Steven Oatey, there would be no kennel services at the clinic.

Tricia Preston and Cynthia Richardson get their t-shirts and sign in for the Franklin County Relay for Life.

Georgia Young carries the banner to honor caregivers during the Relay for Life survivors and caregivers lap to start the fundraising event.