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LOUISBURG -- A motion that would have had commissioners vote on whether or not to start a Youth Advisory Board died for lack of a second.
However, the Youngsville teenager who has consistently pressed the county to establish the board said he's not giving up.
"I'm going to keep on fighting," said Logan Harrison.

WARRENTON -- A Franklin County schools' employee is slated to appear in court in just more than a week on child sex charges.
Jeremy Ward Crawford surrendered to authorities at the Warren County Sheriff's Office on March 29 after Franklin County sheriff's deputies and agents with the State Bureau of Investigation issued a warrant for his arrest on 10 counts of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

The Franklinton Area Community Theatre is putting on three performances of "Junie B. Jones The Musical Jr." Above, from left, Tessa Kavanaugh, Eliza Huffman, Whitley Lynn, Ellie Wilkins, Alyssa Gupton, and Aryanna Brown practice a portion of the play during a dress rehearsal last week. The group will begin three shows at Franklinton High School's auditorium, starting on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

LOUISBURG -- Inclement weather forced folks inside, but the high school and college students, Special Olympics representatives and school administrators who gathered inside for games and camaraderie said they can imagine a day when their message of inclusion reaches beyond the walls of Louisburg College's Norris Theater.

The Robbins Library at Louisburg College has announced the completion of the digitization of many historic issues of The Franklin Times.
These are now available online for viewing by the public. These issues have been digitized through a partnership with the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center and the State Library of North Carolina.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Projects designed to improve mobility and aesthetics in downtown Youngsville could be expected to snarl traffic when construction takes place.
Town officials and staff hope to use that disruption as a rallying cry to the State Department of Transportation to remove 18-wheeler traffic off the corridor that runs through the heart of town.

Rita Cox and Mark Stevens

Attention all human readers of this column -- as well as those who may have a human as a spouse or have human children living under your roof!
You must wake up and pay attention -- immediately -- because the bureaucrats in Washington are going to start tinkering with our health insurance coverage -- again -- and if history is any indication, the end result may not be pretty.

Americans deserve the whole truth and nothing but the truth -- at least as far as the Mueller report is concerned.
We've been hearing, reading and talking about this secret report for two years.
We paid for this report with our hard-earned tax dollars.

Franklin County switched over to its new, nearly $11 million 911 system last week.
And while the system is an upgrade over a system that has been cited for flaws for decades, there are still some bugs to work out.
"There are some hiccups and blind spots in the county," a local police chief told his town commissioners, updating them on the system's launch.

Dear editor: A waste disposal site would normally be the last place one would expect to encounter a morality lesson in progress. One exception was the Mitchiner's Crossroads Convenience site between 1997 and 2013.

FRANKLINTON--David Michael "Dave Micah" Perry, 66, died Sunday, March 17, 2019 at WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh.

LOUISBURG--Dennis "Denny" R. White 50, of Louisburg, and formerly of Erie, PA, died from lung cancer on Friday, March 29, 2019 at Maria Parham Health. A memorial service, conducted by the Rev. Frank Sossamon, will be held Sunday, April 7, at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 119 South Main Street, Creedmoor.

LOUISBURG--Lillie Jacquelyn "Jackie" Shearin Moss, 75, of Louisburg died Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Graveside service were held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Cedar Rock First Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Kaiden Williamson officiating.

CENTERVILLE - Jessie Duke Radford, 95, of the Centerville Community, died Wednesday morning, April 3, 2019 at her home. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Centerville Baptist Church, with the Rev. Doug Moore officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service and other times at the home. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

BUNN -- The River Golf Course at Lake Royale in Franklin County always provides a challenging test to high school golfers -- and last Wednesday's Big East Conference match proved to be no different.
Only one league links competitor broke 80 -- and that was defending state champion Jake Herring.

LOUISBURG - Louisburg High School's softball success formula -- one that got the Lady Warriors all the way to the state finals last year -- is on display once again this season.
It's a simple but effective process -- ride the pitching of Laine Barefoot, along with some clutch and timely hitting, to yet another victory.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College flashed its depth -- and overcame some adversity in the process -- as part of a three-game softball sweep last weekend against Region X opponent Paul D. Camp Community College.
With ace pitcher Mary Anna Clement unavailable due to an injury, homestanding LC utilized a trio of other pitchers while scoring a combined 40 runs as part of the impressive performance at Sheilah R. Cotten Field.

LOUISBURG -- Elijah Jamison's game continues to grow -- and so does his status as one of the area's top boys high school basketball players.
Jamison, who just completed his sophomore season at Louisburg High School, was recently selected for the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association's All-District 6 First Team.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School has enjoyed a successful two-year stretch in the Big East Conference girls basketball season after joining the league before the 2017-18 campaign.
But FHS head coach Matthew Hockaday is looking for even bigger things next year as the Lady Rams will return several key performers from a club that once again qualified for the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

LOUISBURG -- South Granville picked up its first road win of the season, snapped a two game losing streak, and handed the Louisburg Warriors their first loss of the year in a 2-0 victory last Friday in Northern Carolina Conference baseball action at Warrior Field.
Bryson Lambert (2-1) was the winning pitcher, starting and going for five shut out innings.

ZEBULON -- The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the initial roster for the Carolina Mudcats in advance of the 2019 season. The new roster features 13 players returning from the 2018 team and top organizational prospects including outfielder Tristen Lutz and catchers Payton Henry and Mario Feliciano.

UNION, S.C. -- Louisburg College made an upward move in the Region X standings by taking three of four contests last weekend at the University of South Carolina-Union.
Last Saturday's doubleheader was a profitable one for LC as the Hurricanes swept the proceedings by scores of 5-2 and 11-4.

STRONG SEASON. Former Louisburg HS and Louisburg College softball standout catcher Summer Phillips is batting .444 at North Carolina Wesleyan with one home run to go with eight RBI.

HENDERSON -- Rare are the occasions when Bunn High School encounters a two-game losing streak in softball, but that's exactly what the Ladycats faced after dropping contests last week to area powerhouses South Granville and Louisburg.
BHS, however, responded in fine fashion on Monday as the Ladycats secured a 10-6 decision at Vance County in Northern Carolina Conference action.

Kaylee Saunders' clutch home run gave Louisburg some insurance last Friday night versus Bunn.

Franklinton's Cameron Whitaker sends a drive toward the fairway during last week's action.

Louisburg College freshman sensation Haleigh Joyner (left) is greeted at home plate after delivering a home run during last Friday afternoon's Region X home softball contest versus Paul D. Camp Community College.

Above, Aubrey Mullen, William Grenier, Jeramy Wilson as "Herb" and Madilynn Sanders as "Junie B," get their performances down pat. The first show is at 7 p.m. Friday at Franklinton High School auditorium, with one on April 6 at 7 p.m. and April 7 at 3 p.m. For more information, visit https://factnc.org/junie-b-jones-jr. Photos by Teri Hanna, F.A.C.T. photographer.

LOUISBURG -- The 2019 Third Friday with the Artist series kicks off on April 12 with local artist Diana Johnson at the Gallery On Main located at 118-B North Main Street.
Third Friday is on April 12 this year due to the Easter holiday and will return to the actual Third Friday in May.

They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all-time. Now on their ninth national tour, The Midtown Men are bringing their magic to the Seby B. Jones Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 12.
This production reunites stars from the Original Broadway Cast of "Jersey Boys." Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the '60s.

"All Aboard" commands and train whistles used to be common sounds in Franklin County. The Raleigh Gaston Railroad, the first railroad in North Carolina, was founded in 1840 and ran through what are now the towns of Youngsville and Franklinton. A local history presentation about the railroad as it chugged through Franklin County bringing significant economic and cultural changes is planned next week.

Members of the Democratic Women of Franklin County presented Our Lady of the Rosary food bank operator Vince Concannon with donated food items and a check after learning that items at the Louisburg food bank came up missing. With Concannon are, from left, Evelyn Blackwell, Irma Bailey, Armenta Eaton, Alitha Palich and Jenny Edwards. The food bank feeds hundreds of people. Anyone wishing to donate should call (910) 271-8790.

Safe Space is hosting the first of two events on April 5, educating adults about ways to prevent, recognize and react to child abuse and child sexual abuse.
The prevention training program is from 10 a.m. - noon at the Louisburg Police Training Center, 104 Wade Avenue.
It's designed for individuals and organizations that serve children and youth. Educational credit hours are available for day care providers/teachers, school teachers, counselor social workers, nurses and sheriff's deputies.

LOUISBURG -- A family's lawsuit which alleges improper medical care led to a gruesome murder remains pending in Durham County Civil Superior Court.
Recently, a spokesman for Dr. Brian Robbins' employer stood behind their services.
"We cannot comment on specific patients or pending litigation," said UNC Health Care Media Manager Alan Wolf.

A family celebrated milestone birthdays, as four brothers and sisters marked their 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays, all within a five-month period. From left, Janice Pender Davis turned 70 in September. Twins Jewell Pender Holden and Newell Pender turned 60 in January. And, in February, Stanley Pender turned 50. They have six other siblings and grew up in Franklinton. They are the children of Frank and Lucy Pender.

FRANKLINTON -- A student faced discipline for having a weapon on school grounds.
According to authorities, a 5th-grade student brought a BB gun to school.
Although no threat was made to staff or students, the child did show it to some classmates and speak about it to others, Principal Monica Headan said in a letter to parents and guardians.

LOUISBURG -- A judge is slated to hear arguments later this month that could determine the fate of a wrongful termination case filed against Lake Royale and its general manager.
Former officer Herbert Lee Williams filed a lawsuit in Franklin County Civil Superior Court in July, alleging that Lake Royale POA General Manager Tracy Clay fired him in June 2017 for failing to enforce what he called a violation of a Lake regulation -- an act plaintiffs allege would have been beyond his statutory authority.

How do you use a few old tobacco sticks to help children? If you're Donnie Eatmon of the Pilot Community you craft them into large stars that can be used in a wide variety of decorations and then offer them for sale. With assistance from his wife, Linda, Eatmon has been making them to raise much-appreciated funds for the Baptist Childrens' Home in Kinston.

FRANKLINTON -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklinton man on drug charges.
Pernell Davis, 46, of Peach Street, was arrested on April 1 and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and also cited for a felony probation violation.