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LOUISBURG -- Operators of Maria Parham Franklin have unveiled the latest addition to health care services at their Louisburg campus.
Duke Lifepoint and Maria Parham officials broke ground on a new, 20-bed behavioral health unit in November 2018 and, last Thursday, officials cut a ribbon at the facility and offered tours -- just a few weeks before they'll begin taking on patients.

Just when many Franklin Countians were feeling just a hint of spring fever, Mother Nature threw a curve ball last week and sprinkled the county with about two to two and a half inches of wet, sticky snow. The snow created a winter wonderland but caused few problems since little of it stuck to warm roadways. The trees and shrubs, however, captured the white stuff perfectly and, for a short time, it was a photographer's dream.

CASTALIA -- Nashville's Tim Fisher knows there are still treasures to be found in the Portis Gold Mine, which runs through both Franklin and Nash counties.
Members of the Northeast Franklin County Revitalization Committee hope their efforts to turn the mine into tourism gold is just as successful.
Six years ago, Fisher and his son, Ross, bought 14 acres of, essentially, swamp land, on the gold mine property in Nash County -- right at the Franklin County line.

HENDERSON -- Those charged with driving economic development throughout the region met last week to reset their gaze.
The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments hosted its inaugural Regional Economic Development Summit, Focus 20/20 -- hearing from a host of stakeholders about the ways to bolster business, industry and job opportunities in Franklin, Vance, Granville, Warren and Person counties.

The sight of a bright red fire truck zipping through Louisburg, lights flashing and sirens screaming, is not an unusual sight, but is that all there is to a fire department?
Did you know that the Louisburg Fire Department's annual budget is a tad over $655,000 -- and that it has five full-time, career firefighters just as it's had for the last 45 years?

Steven Burton Sr. and Jr.

Well, it is February -- at least for a few more days.
And you can tell simply by the weather that has ranged from fairly warm sunshine to oodles of rain to a touch of snow and ice that, if snow can be pretty was pretty, all of which have complicated our lives in recent days.

So, last week, I felt I was back in the classroom ... or, should I say, I felt like I was back in four classrooms.
Last week, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments hosted its first Regional Economic Development Summit, Focus 20/20.
It featured economic development professionals from across the region, state and world, sharing the tools, techniques, resources and information necessary to spur business, industrial and financial growth.

Dear editor:
The recent Democratic debate included Mike Bloomberg and I have to say I agreed with one statement he made the next day "The real winner of the debate last night was Donald Trump". I really feel that Trump is batting 1,000. There are probably others on the stage that agree with Bloomberg.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Randolph "Pee Wee" Wood, 53, who died Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, will be held Saturday, Feb. 29, at 2 p.m. at Haywood Baptist Church in Louisburg, with Elder James Henderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church cemetery.

GREENSBORO -- Just making the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's State Wrestling Championships is a prestigious honor in itself.
But that doesn't mean that a loss at the states doesn't sting -- especially when it comes in heartbreaking fashion.
Franklinton sent four performers to the Greensboro Coliseum last weekend for the annual Class 3-A portion of the state event -- and none of them were able to secure an opening-round conquest last Friday.

GREENSBORO -- Louisburg and Bunn had hoped for better things during last Friday's opening-round action at the North Carolina High School Atheltic Association State Wrestling Championships -- but it wasn't meant to be.
Instead, BHS and LHS combined to go a disappointing 0-5 overall in the first round of the prestigious event at the Greensboro Coliseum.

OXFORD -- Bunn High School's girls basketball season appeared to be in peril when freshman star Kaitlyn Adams went down with a leg injury in the second period of last Wednesday's meeting with Roanoke Rapids in the semifinals of the Northern Carolina Conference Tournament at Oxford Webb.
At the time, the Ladycats were tangled in a close game with the Jackets, but Adams' presence would be missed, and she would be unable to return to the matchup.

LOUISBURG -- Inconsistency and injuries were two of the biggest factors in Louisburg High School's quirky 2019-20 boys basketball campaign.
The Warriors, led by junior superstar Elijah Jamison, came up with some huge victories during the season, including a final-week stunner on the road at powerhouse Granville Central.

FRANKLINTON -- After an up-and-down regular season, the Franklinton Lady Rams still found themselves in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Girls Basketball State Playoffs -- and facing a familiar opponent.
Certainly, there was not much of a disguise factor as Franklinton and Hunt had already met twice during the regular season in the always-competitive Big East Conference standings.

ZEBULON -- Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Carolina Mudcats have announced that the club's job fair originally scheduled for February 20 has been postponed to today (February 27).
The newly rescheduled job fair will take place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. inside Cattails Restaurant at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

FRANKLINTON -- With her mild-mannered demeanor and immense talent, Rebekah Smith seems to be immune to pressure.
Time and time again, Smith has displayed those key intangibles during her prolific multi-sport career at Franklinton High School.
One of those moments came last spring when Smith won the Girls High Jump at the Class 3-A Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Ninth-grader Alexis Perry (with ball) has been exceptional at the guard position this season for the Bunn High School girls basketball squad under Coach Matt Keith.

Jackson Lusk, a potential-filled freshman at Franklinton High School, gained some valuable experience last weekend by taking part in the annual Class 3-A State Wrestling Championships at the historic Greensboro Coliseum.

Franklinton High School's Nadim Qazizada (right) was one of four Red Rams to participate in the annual NCHSAA Class 3-A State Wrestling Championships at the historic Greensboro Coliseum.

Senior Games is a holistic approach to keeping the body, mind and spirit fit while enjoying the company of friends, family, spectators and volunteers.
The opening ceremony to kick off this year's event will be Tuesday, March 27, at 9 a.m. in Warren County.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. A January birthday recognition celebration was held at Louisburg Senior Center. Pictured left to right: Dorothy Bullock, Beatrice Davis and Emma Richardson.

The Louisburg Senior Center held African Apparel Day Feb. 6. In group photo, above center, pictured left to right: Dyann Williams; Katrina Williams, Activities Specialist; Olivia Gupton; Phyllis Williams; Marie Mortan and Lenora Bohler.

LOUISBURG -- A Tennessee man accused of swindling a relative is slated to appear in court next month.
Kevin Anthony Strickland was arrested in Cookeville, Tenn. and extradited to Franklin County on 27 charges of exploitation of a disabled/elderly person's trust.
He was placed in the Franklin County jail in lieu of a $350,000 secured bond.

LOUISBURG -- Airport advisors agreed to work out a plan to deal with derelict planes on the airport.
Back in August, Airport Manager Bo Carson asked the board for guidance on how it wanted to deal with what he described as derelict planes, particularly those that are tied down on the airfield -- the most visible crafts to visitors.

LOUISBURG -- Essentially, county Board of Elections members welcomed two new faces -- a week before the March 3 primary.
Elections Director Michelle Chavis swore in Angela Pearce as the board's new Republican representative.
She joins Board Chair Sonravea Privette, Mary Rose Gill and Barry Gupton, who represent the Democratic Party, and Harry Barrick III, who represents the Republican Party.