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LOUISBURG -- Municipal elections are set -- in each town.
Two Bunn candidates filed a day before the July 19 deadline, preventing the county's Board of Elections from having to extend the filing period or rely upon write-in candidates to determine who will serve as municipal leaders in the fall election.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Youngsville and a Wake Forest-based baseball association are exploring a partnership that would bolster parks and recreation options in town.
The North Wake County Baseball Association has called the North Wake Baseball Factory Ballpark home for the past 40 years.
But, their lease expires at the end of 2020 and they're looking for new digs for their youth baseball leagues.

WENDELL -- Donal Gooch grew up on a tobacco farm, but when the golden leaf industry did its best to buck the smaller farmer, Gooch dusted himself off, got up and looked for the next challenge.
For about the last 13 years, bull riders and jockeys at his Gooch Sports Arena have been doing the same thing.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners agreed to move forward with a rail project that, ultimately, could provide a recreational link to Louisburg.
Louisburg completed its bike trail, from Depot Hill to Vance-Granville Community College in the spring of 2007.
The goal was to eventually extend that trail all the way to Franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- Motorists had a key connection to Wake County open back up late last week.
A portion of U.S. 401 just north of the Wake County line was washed out when a June 8 storm crumpled a culvert and cut off the thoroughfare.
Initially, State Department of Transportation officials estimated that the road wouldn't be repaired until early August or the end of July.

Bunn High student Lance Williams

Joking with a friend last week, I suggested she ought to be in a good mood because at least it wasn't snowing outside.
After hanging up the phone, it suddenly dawned on me that a brief chill and even a light dusting of the white stuff might feel pretty good -- for a few moments at least.

For the past 12 years, Martha Hunter, her family and allies have organized and held a summer camp, giving kids hot meals and something to do with their time during the doldrums of summer.
The two-week long camp in June was the last summer camp that Hunter will host, resident Annette Young told town commissioners during a board meeting last month.

Dear editor:
Some recent dates and events have stirred quite different emotions in me.
May 27, Memorial Day, honors the service men and women that paid the ultimate price of their lives to give us the freedom we have today.

FRANKLINTON--David Earl Eaton Sr., 69, died Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Transition Life Care of Raleigh. Services were held June 16, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Franklinton, with the Rev. André Johnson officiating.

FRANKLINTON--Jackie Winston Stroud, 80, of Franklinton, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, July 22, 2019. He was born in Franklin County on December 14, 1938 to the late Jack and Nellie Lane Stroud. In addition to his parents, Jackie was preceded in death by a son, Brian Keith Stroud; and his sister, Linda Marshall Stroud.

ABERDEEN -- A heartbreaking first-round loss put the Youngsville All-Stars into a hole they could not climb out of at last weekend's Statewide Athletics Committee Coach-Pich State Tournament.
Fresh off its district title performance one week earlier in Nash County, Youngsville was sharp for the majority of its state opener last Saturday -- despite temperatures that hovered around 100 degrees.

GREENSBORO -- Steve Green developed a reputation as a jack-of-all-trades performer during his gridiron career at Franklinton High School.
Green displayed that distinction last Wednesday as the Louisburg College signee stood out for the East Team during the annual North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Football Game at Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Greensboro Grimsley High School.

LOUISBURG -- After winning the first two games, Franklin County Post 105 seemed to be in complete control of its American League Baseball best-of-five playoff series against the Post 116 Fuquay-Varina Nationals.
But a lack of available pitchers proved to be Post 105's undoing as the club returned to legion action this summer after a two-decade hiatus -- and qualified for the league playoffs.

ZEBULON -- Brice Turang scored the game winner in the ninth inning on a walk-off single from Mario Feliciano as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats earned a series tying 5-4 victory against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday afternoon at picturesque Five County Stadium.
Turang went 3-for-5 with a triple and Eddie Silva went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a triple and two runs in the game for Carolina.

LOUISBURG -- Following a championship performance at the Tar Heel District Tournament, the Louisburg 13-14 All-Stars will return to action today at the state event in Johnston County.
The All-Stars, coached by Troy Musselman, will play today at 6 p.m. in an opening-round matchup at Smithfield Park, which is located adjacent to Smithfield-Selma High School.

WENDELL -- A young Louisburg team took part in the recent Tar Heel District 5 Coach-Pitch Baseball Tournament at Carver Elementary School in Wake County.
After getting over some opening-game jitters, the All-Stars rebounded with a much better showing in the second contest of the double-elimination format.
Louisburg dropped its first outing to Garner Baseball by a 19-3 margin, but came back the next day with a strong performance against the Rolesville All-Stars.

Youngsville's Grayson Hodges (right) tries to make a tag at home plate.

Post 105 first baseman Cale Bolton registers an out last Friday versus Post 116.

Youngsville shortstop Luke Parrott (left) registers a force play during last Saturday's tourney action.

Post 105's Ben Hester takes a look at a pitch during last Friday night's home playoff game against the Post 116 Nationals at Louisburg College's Frazier Field.

Youngsville's Luke McConnell (right) makes it safely into second base during last Saturday's state tournament showdown against Sandhills.

The Franklin County Arts Council is planning an August Mingle at the Gallery On Main, 118-B North Main Street, Louisburg, on Saturday, Aug., 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. Easy listening folk Americana performed by Alice Osborn will be featuring during the event. Also, Arts Council members will be available to provide a tour of the Gallery On Main.

Mamie Dickens valued farm life, religion, and education, and her long life demonstrated her willingness to serve others through volunteer work in these areas.
The daughter of Jones Menton and Maria Perry Dickens, she was born near Franklinton on February 8, 1891. She was graduated from Franklinton High School in 1908 and completed studies at Louisburg Female College three years later. She attended the University of North Carolina in 1914.

Franklin County native Haleigh Jo Baker captured the title of Princess America National Teen 2019 in Orlando, Fla., on July 13. She competed as the representative for North Carolina alongside 20 other state representatives. The Princess America Pageant celebrated its 25th year at this year's competition and is a stepping-stone to other pageant systems, including Miss Teen USA and Miss America's Outstanding Teen.

The Kid's Corner in Louisburg recently held its graduation at the center. Daycare director is Joni Peoples and the owner is Amy Merritt. Lead Teacher is Tina Holden and Assistant Teacher Barbara Coons.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Phi Zeta Chapter Amicette Youth Group closed out the year with a celebration of growth and accomplishments with Warren County NASA SEMAA. Amicettes enjoyed fellowship with STEM activities and a cookout.

BUNN -- Officers respond to numerous calls where someone has been robbed.
It's usually stuff; belongings. It may take some doing, but law enforcement is generally equipped to help residents get those things back.
Officers, first responders and others, though, can be at a loss when they respond to a call involving a person who suffers from dementia -- a disease that robs people of their memory, their mental faculties and their ability to communicate and their judgement.

LOUISBURG -- A Wake County man surrendered to authorities earlier this week on child sex offense charges.
Franklin County investigators issued an arrest warrant for John Claude Benson III in June on charges of felony statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult and three counts of felony indecent liberties with a child.

FRANKLINTON -- Police arrested a Franklinton man they allege was responsible for a hit and run.
No injuries were reported in the July 20 incident.
According to an incident report, officers responded to the In and Out convenience store where the hit and run was reported at about 6:15 p.m.

BIG SMILES. Rock Spring Baptist Church 2019 Bible Drill Team members included (from the left) Meredith Potter, 6th grade; Kayla Pernell, 3rd grade; and Carlton, Pernell, 6th grade. These children passed the Church Drill and participated in the Association Level Drill. Meredith Potter went to State Level of Children's Bible Drill at Holly Springs Batist Church in Broadway, NC. She received State Winner recognition at the State Drill.