Hearing focuses on downtown project
The controversy between the town of Louisburg and Franklin County over the closing of Johnson Street west of Main Street will be topic of a public hearing slated for 7 p.m. Monday, April 29, in the Karl Pernell Public Safety Complex, 104 Wade Avenue, Louisburg.
The county recently announced that it wants to build a new Judicial Complex featuring five new courtrooms in downtown but the project will require closing that portion of Johnson Street to provide more parking.
In March, after a notice from the Department of Transportation that it was planning to close the street, the Louisburg Town Council went on record opposing the closing -- and even vowed to fight it all the way to the governor's office if necessary.
In addition, town officials are upset that county officials have never come to a town board meeting to explain the plans for the complex and the reasons for the road closing which, they note, will impair access to Riverbend Park and isolate a town-owned lot that overlooks the Tar River and the park.
County officials have been invited to the hearing to explain their plans.

Relay for Life inside at TLMS
Franklin County Relay for Life will hold its main Relay event Friday, April 26 from 6 - 10 p.m. at Terrell Lane Middle School, in Louisburg, in the gym.
The theme this year is "Give Cancer the Boot," or "Disco for a Cure,"- a 70's theme, since it was such a hit last year. The survivor walk is 6:15 p.m.
To donate or for team information, contact Danette Cheatham at (919) 906-5002.

White Level BBQ
White Level Fire Department will have its Pork or Chicken BBQ, 11 a.m. until sold out, Saturday, April 27. Eat-in or take-out at the White Level Fire Department, 2465 White Level Road, Louisburg; or take-out only at the old D&J in Louisburg, Hwy. 56. There will be live music beginning at 11 a.m., and the auction begins at 2 p.m.

Wheat Field Day planned
Franklin Wheat Field Day, presented by Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service, will be Tuesday, May 7, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at N&N Farms, 1769 NC 39 Hwy., Louisburg. Lunch will be provided.
Registration is required and must be done by 5 p.m. Friday, May 3. Register at go.ncsu.edu/franklin-wheat-field-day, or contact the office at 919-496-3344 to register.
For more information, contact Franklin County Cooperative Extension, 919-496-3344 or email Matthew
Place, matthew_place@ncsu.edu.

Library closed temporarily
The Youngsville Library will be temporarily closed for renovations in April and into May.
The book drop will also be closed and due dates for all materials checked out from Youngsville have been extended to June 4.
The branch is still expected to host an early voting site for the upcoming second primary.
The main branch in Louisburg and the Franklinton and Bunn branches are open according to their normal schedules.

Community forum slated by Democrats
The LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is hosting a community forum on SB49. Join Hope for Teens as they break down the harmful effects of this bill and educate community members on ways they can help youth.
Teachers and parents are welcome. Event will be held at the Democratic party headquarters, 108 E Nash St. in Louisburg, at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27. A brunch will be served.
Contact lgbtqdemsfranklinco@gmail.com or visit linktr.ee/lgbtqdemsfrcnc for more details.

Sheep shearing day
The annual sheep shearing day in Franklin County will be Saturday, April 27. Shearer John Nelson from West Virginia will be visiting to shear the county's sheep, alpaca and goats.
Call the Cooperative Extension office, 919-496-3344 or email Martha Mobley, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu, to participate this year.
For more details, visit the Extension's website, https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/.

American Legion provides U.S. Flag disposal
The American Legion Post 52, located at 40 American Legion Rd., Franklinton, has installed a U.S. Flag drop box for the community to respectfully discard unserviceable U.S. Flags.
The drop-box is located in the parking lot at the start of the sidewalk. Simply fold up your flag and put it in the drop-box opening. They collect unserviceable flags throughout the year and hold a disposal ceremony in June.
The American Flag stands for freedom and sacrifice. The American Legion continues this time-honored tradition to show respect for what it stands for.

Farmers Market opening day
The Franklin County Farmer's Market, 137 Shannon Village Shopping Center, Louisburg is opening Friday, April 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Strawberries are coming in and homemade strawberry ice cream will be available. A drawing will take place every 15 minutes for a free quart of strawberries.
In addition to the strawberry event, there will be spring crafts, decorative homemade soaps, vegetable and flower transplants for your garden and yard available. Also for sale will be fresh early spring produce, local honey, grass-fed beef, and farm-fresh eggs, fresh baked goods, jellies, and pickles along with canned tomatoes.

Community food drive
Franklin County 4-H will be participating in a food drive until Friday, June 14. Franklin County 4-H is partnering with Community Cares to provide food for needy Franklin County students with Extended Break Food Bags over the summer.
This food drive desires to have food bags containing a variety of balanced items that target breakfast, lunch and dinner for one week. Please start collecting and dropping off donations at the Franklin County Extension Center office,103 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg.
Contact Meg Wyatt, Franklin County 4 H Youth Development Agent, 919-496-3344, or email meg_wyatt@ncsu.edu with any questions.

Women in Ag local foods farm tour
The annual Women in Ag Local Foods Farm Tour will be held Sunday, May 12 (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Seven countywide farms will be open to the public during this event, that is dedicated to the Franklin County Women in Ag group and its promotion of agritourism in Franklin County. Visit local food and fiber farms in Franklin County.
For more information about the tour, visit https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/, call 919-496-3344, or email Martha Mobley, Agricultural Extension Agent, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.

Small farm bootcamp series
Area beef producers are invited to join N.C. Cooperative Extension for the Small Farm Bootcamp series, to be held Thursdays, May 16 and May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Franklin Plaza conference room, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg, for a spring learning series that will include discussions of various topics about beef cattle production.
The May 16 program topics include: Basic Infrastructure for Beef Production, Reproductive Management for Beef Cattle, Managing Health and Animal Welfare for Beef Cattle. Registration is required. Deadline to register is May 14. The $23 fee includes a beef dinner. Register at go.ncsu.edu/smallfarmbootcamppart1.
The May 23 program topics include: Basics of Nutrition for Beef Cattle, Forage Systems for Beef Cattle, Genetics for Beef Cattle, Direct Marketing Your Beef: In's and Out's. Register at go.ncsu.edu/smallfarmbootcamppart2 by May 21. The $23 fee includes a beef dinner.
For more information, visit https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/, call 919-496-3344, or email Martha Mobley, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.

Perry's School reunion
The Perry's School Reunion will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Terrell Lane Middle School in Louisburg. The class of 1965 is in charge of the program and there will be singing, speaking, food and fellowship.
The reunion fee is $25 per person and the money can be mailed to Perry's School Alumni, P.O. Box 105, Louisburg, NC 27549 -- or you can pay at the door. All graduate, attendees or friends of Perry's School are invited.
The goal of the Perry's Alumni Association is to convert the former Perry's High School into a community center. The school is a Rosenwald School and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has a 501c(3) and donations are welcome.
For further information, contact Berry Brown at 252-767-5817 or Glenn Bullock at 919-496-4776.