COMMUNITY NEWS

FRANKLINTON -- On Saturday, the community will dedicate its "Welcome to Franklinton" signs that recognize a trio of brothers who made a name for themselves far beyond the small town in western Franklin County.
Just as important as it is to recognize the Bibby brothers -- Jim, who won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Henry, who spent nearly a decade in the National Basketball Association, and Fred, a college basketball legend at Fayetteville State University...

FRANKLINTON -- A death last month attributed to a fatal reaction to fire ant bites has health department officials re-emphasizing the danger the tiny insects can cause.
According to reports, Floyd Edwards was cutting some overgrown brush when his blade got stuck on wire.
When he got out from under the mower, he complained of shortness of breath and his tongue began to swell -- signs of an allergic reaction.

In a move that reportedly caught many by surprise -- especially parents and grandparents, the trustees of Vance Granville community College voted recently to close the school's vaunted Five Star-rated Child Care Center on the Franklin County campus.
The school will keep the child care center on its Vance County campus and, reportedly, move some of the staff and equipment from Franklin County to that site.

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE. In remembrance of Sept. 11 attacks and in honor of law enforcement, fire and rescue departments, Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center of Louisburg held a special 9/11 breakfast. In attendance, Animal Control Director Lynn Bowling and Animal Control Officer Dannie Howard in meal line.

LOUISBURG -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Louisburg man on 15 felony drug and gun charges.
Scottie Maurice Gallatin was charged with four counts of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, five counts of selling cocaine, five counts of maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of selling cocaine, possession of a firearm by felon, and possessing for sale alcoholic beverages without obtaining an ABC permit, an Alcohol Law Enforcement charge.

BUNN -- There are certain tools a farmer can't do without.
A hoe comes to mind. So do shovels. A tractor, sprayer, cultivator, seeder or tiller can make much easier the backbreaking work familiar to farmers.
Last week, Annie Baggett said, hopefully, a smartphone will become just as important a farming implement as the backhoe.

A live-burn demonstration sent flames high into the sky.

Zoey Webber focuses on the painted face of Sarah Robinson.

Lila and Liam Page get ready for a ride in a fire truck.

Above, 4-H Agent Meg Wyatt, right, presented the 4-H VOY Award to AgCarolina's Elizabeth McAuslan. Coworker Scott Reece accepted for her.

From left, Tay Brown, Analee Thornburg, Patricia Hill and Julie Gupton received the Cooperative Extension's Ag Volunteer of the Year Award for their business efforts to secure a mobile poultry processing unit, using it to aid small farmers and educate others about food safety.