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LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council agreed Monday night to spend $57,472 more to stabilize the controversial Depot Hill project and protect it from the weather before "mothballing" the project to determine how -- and whether -- to proceed with the $2.1 million rehabilitation project.
The action came during a tense, sometimes confrontational 90-minute special meeting where the only topic was the Depot Hill property.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed Monday night to support two companies' efforts to expand Internet service in Franklin County, even if one of the shows of support was more symbolic than financial.
The deadline to apply for the next round of GREAT Grant funding expired on Wednesday, prompting representatives from Charter Communications, better known as Spectrum, and Virginia-based ZiTEL, to ask commissioners to financially support their plans to rollout service in unserved and under-served areas of the county.

LOUISBURG -- It's a familiar building with a critical purpose that's located centrally in Louisburg -- but now it has a new name.
Once called the Louisburg Police and Fire Training Center, the structure has been named the Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex in honor of a man who has given 65 years of service to the community -- and who says he's still ready to help if he's needed.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners have scheduled a third budget session next week.
Essentially, it's where the rubber meets the road.
Commissioners discussed requested expenses during an April 28 meeting and talked about revenues during a May 2 session.
The board next meets on May 12.

FRANKLINTON -- Two women were killed Sunday in a fiery wreck.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Teresa Rhodes, 61, of Franklinton, and her passenger, Susie Gupton, 59, were traveling along Timberlake Road near the county landfill at about 6 p.m. when the accident occurred.

Volunteer Emilee Johnson directs cancer survivors to the Franklin County Relay for Life Cancer Survivor Drive-thru Dinner Saturday. The Franklin County Relay for Life Event is 6-10 p.m., Friday, May 6, at the Bunn High School football stadium. For more information, see Section B of this edition.

Relay for Life's Danette Cheatham

Remember the old saying that if you want something done right, do it yourself?
That's largely the tactic that one Franklin County organization is using to tackle a problem that has perplexed rural communities for decades -- economic development.

I'm not so informed that, before I started writing this column, I could tell you how paramedics determine which hospital they'll take you to.
And, I'm not so flippant that I'd suggest the patient has total control of their destination -- because, I mean, if I've got a choice, drop me off at Zoe
Saldaña's front door because, I'm betting you, I'd start to feel better immediately.

Dear editor:
I feel it is interesting that there appears to be no one in the group of Washington elites that wants to know why many people in rural America voted for our past President. There must be a valid reason these folks voted for an arrogant, big mouth, big city Yankee. Politicians, lobbyists, and bureaucrats are dismissing this phenomenon. They blame ignorant, poorly informed citizens.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Bernice P. Harris, age 87, who died on Monday, May 2, 2022, will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, May 12, from the St. Paul Presbyterian Church in Louisburg with Dr. Felecia Hardy officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

TROY, NC--Betty Jo Green McIntyre, 70, of Troy passed away on Thursday, April 29, 2022. She was born on November 3, 1951 to the late George Bruton and Emily Robertson Green. In addition to her parents, Betty Jo was predeceased by her brother, George Green, Jr.

Franklinton, NC--Christopher Michael Hatley, 46, of Franklinton passed away on May 2, 2022. He was born on December 10, 1975, to Steve Hatley and the late Paulette Burkhard Hatley.

WILMINGTON -- COVID-19 ruined Rebekah Smith's chances of repeating as a state champion -- but it didn't end her prolific high jumping career.
Instead, Smith is excelling in her sophomore campaign as a member of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Track and Field Team.
The Franklinton High school alum is tied for the top Girls High Jump height this season for the Seahawks as she went 5-3 during the Duke Invitational on April 19 in Durham.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Big East Conference held its final 18-hole boys golf match of the season on April 25 at Northgreen GC -- and the event served as a coronation for the new links kings in the league.
That would be Roanoke Rapids High School, which was competing in its initial campaign in the Big East after moving up from the Northern Carolina Conference.

RALEIGH -- Athletics has always been a family affair for the Bibbys, so it was no surprise that Fred Bibby was on hand to accept one of the most prestigious awards his brother, Henry, has ever earned -- and there have been plenty of them.
Franklinton's Bibby made the improbable journey from his family's farm to play basketball across the continent for the greatest dynasty of all-time -- and then continued his success by playing for a decade in the National Basketball Association and was part of the NBA champion New York Knicks in 1972.

STANHOPE -- Franklinton High School came up with one of its biggest softball victories of the 2022 season last Thursday as the Lady Rams secured a clutch 1-0 road decision over long-time Big East Conference powerhouse Southern Nash.
The key win pushed the Lady Rams to a 9-6 overall record to go with an 8-6 worksheet in the Big East.

KINSTON - Eduardo Garcia and Jesus Chirinos both had two hits and starter Ryne Moore totaled a career high nine strikeouts, but the Carolina Mudcats were shut out for the first time this season as the Down East Wood Ducks took last Thursday's game 2-0 at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.
Down East (8-9) scored a run in the first and one more in the second while defeating the Mudcats (8-9) for the first time this season. The Thursday night victory for the Wood Ducks also tied the current series at a game apiece (1-1).

LOUISBURG -- With a young team and a new coach, it wasn't a surprise that Louisburg High School experienced a rebuilding phase during the 2022 baseball campaign.
First-year skipper Juan Lopez certainly inherited an underclassman-dominated squad this spring -- one that featured just one senior.

Bunn native Emily Winstead (left) has been exceptional as a freshman pitching ace this spring for the UNC-Wilmington softball squad.

Louisburg High School's Jodus Leonard takes a pitch for the Warriors during last week's road matchup against Big East Conference opponent Nash Central.

UNC-Wilmington high jumper Rebekah Smith won the state championship in that event during her time at Franklinton High School.

The Cherry Hill Historical Foundation will open its concert season with a performance by Lyricosa Quartet on Sunday, May 8, with the performance to begin at 3 p.m.
The string quartet features violinist Carol Chung, concertmaster of the North Carolina Opera. Chung also plays regularly with the North Carolina Symphony, teaches violin, and serves on the faculty of the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute.

This time each year we celebrate "Teacher Appreciation Week." There are lots of posts online recognizing teachers, and doughnuts, biscuits, and chocolate galore at schools as administration and parents join forces to say "Thanks!" to our teachers for the work that they do throughout the year to educate our children.
Our teachers deserve appreciation for their efforts, and these celebrations are important. It is also important that we recognize that what teachers do each day should be valued and respected each day- not just once a year.

CASTALIA -- Authorities have arrested a Franklin County man they allege is responsible for a toddler's death.
Authorities allege James Waymon Williams, 33, was operating a skid steer machine the afternoon of April 1 when he ran over one-year-old Miles Ray Vick in the yard at 960 Collins Mill Road.

FRANKLINTON -- For the past two years, COVID-19 had proven to be too tough of a competitor for the Special Olympics, halting the event.
Recently, though, dozens of athletes with mental and physical disabilities showed up at Franklinton High School's track and field to demonstrate just what they could do.
"[It] was a stressful week leading up to the event," said Franklin County Parks and Recreation Director, and Special Olympics Local Coordinator Oliver Greene.