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LOUISBURG -- Meeting in its first-ever virtual session, the Louisburg Town Council Monday night wasted no time in taking the first steps toward expanding and improving its industrial park.
The current "park" is a 40-acre tract at the corner of West River and T. Kemp roads that has none of the utilities and other attributes that industries are likely to want.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's COVID-19 death toll continues to rise.
This week, Franklin County Health Department staff more deaths at Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, bringing the county's reported deaths to 13.
During the County Board of Commissioner's Monday night meeting, Health Director Scott LaVigne said residents should expect even that number to rise.

At least school during a virus pandemic that has changed a lot about what you thought you knew about public education in North Carolina. For example, masked teachers. Or, social distancing of staff. Or, how about a total absence of students. All those are examples of how Franklin County schools are operating these days. To keep students and staff safe, remote learning is the byword -- and that means parents must bring their kids' work to school and then pick up future assignments.

LOUISBURG -- The number of sick and dead continued to rise amongst the most vulnerable population in the county -- the infirm and elderly.
Susan Peoples led a parade of residents to three elderly care facilities, hoping to raise their spirits.
"... I just had it in my heart to help," said Peoples, Franklin County's emergency coordinator for Baptists on Mission -- a group which provides support and resources for a number of efforts.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to extend the deadline by which a communications company was given to fix a much-maligned radio system.
Commissioners talked about whether they needed to keep, eliminate or extend a curfew designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These and other topics were discussed during a virtual meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Monday night.

LOUISBURG -- First responders have always been essential personnel.
And, social distancing is not an option.
Not business as usual
"The communications center is our first big change that people will realize," said Franklin County Interim Emergency Services Director Jeff Bright.

Anna and Sidney Parrish

The Louisburg Planning Board literally zoomed its way into the 21st Century last week -- and it was a relatively smooth ride.
The Planning Board, following various guidelines about meeting during this pandemic, used a computer platform called Zoom that allowed them to meet virtually, conducting business face to face, sort of, while also keeping safe.
This was the first time that a Louisburg board held such a meeting and it came off pretty much without a hitch.

One of my favorite Seinfeld jokes is the one he made about Star Trek.
In essence, his joke is that his perfect living room would be the bridge of the starship Enterprise.
You've got a comfortable chair, a big screen and remote control -- a comfortable fantasy.
Apparently, that could have been the draw to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night.

Dear editor:
A disease far more dangerous and deadlier than COVID-19 is consuming America.
That disease is the stupidvirus. At least 90 percent of Americans seem to be infected with the stupidvirus.

Dear editor:
Although Senator Sanders has dropped out of the Presidential race for the Democrat party, he is still espousing his famous line "the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer." I would think he must say this every morning before breakfast. He insinuates that this has only been the case in recent times.

LOUISBURG--Cindy Gray Brock, 59, died Monday, April 20, 2020.

Mr. Harold Edward Baker, age 82, formerly of Franklinton, died Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Washington. Per his request, no services will be held.

LOUISBURG--Robert Perry Edwards, 85, of Louisburg passed away on April 20, 2020. He was born on September 6, 1934 to the late Zeddie Omega and Violet Naff Edwards. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Edwards.

LOUISBURG -- When meeting with the softball coaching staff at East Carolina University, it didn't take long for Ragan Holloman to discover some instant chemistry.
"I had been to a couple of camps (at ECU) and really liked the atmosphere and the coaches,'' Holloman said. "Their beliefs matched up with mine. I always look for that when I go to camps -- it is very important to me.''

LOUISBURG -- Drew Camp made the most of his nearly two seasons at Louisburg College, while Jack Dragum's brief tenure was over almost before it had even started.
However, both LC baseball standouts have found the same next-level, Division I path, albeit by completely different journeys.
Camp, a corner infielder, will continue his career at the University of South Carolina-Upstate under former LC diamond skipper Mike McGuire.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School boasts a rich recent tradition of sending quality women's soccer players to Louisburg College.
That's a trend SN senior Brisa Sevilla plans to continue after she recently announced her intentions to join the pitch program at LC.
"I really liked the way I was treated when I went to Louisburg for a visit,'' Sevilla said.

LOUISBURG -- With only seven players on his club's roster this past season, Louisburg High School girls basketball coach Chris Baker desperately needed someone to step up and be a true leader for a young, depth-challenged club.
But Baker figured he already had an in-house candidate in Madi Leonard -- and she did not disappoint.

CHARLOTTE -- The NASCAR Hall of Fame has launched SPARK!, an online education platform that offers weekly racing-themed lesson plans and project-based learning experiences for students in elementary through high school.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is not only a top attraction in Charlotte, but also an important educational resource for schools, hosting thousands of students a year for field trips.

FRANKLINTON -- Bunn High School's boys and girls track and field teams fared well at the Red Ram Invitational Meet, which was held at Franklinton High School just before the spring sports season was postponed.
Bunn's top results from the prestigious event at the Franklinton High School Football Field were as follows:

LOUISBURG -- School and college leaders are slated to appear before county commissioners next month to give them a lesson on the early college high school.
During the board's April 20 meeting, County Manager Angela Harris updated commissioners on the latest progress being made at the campus -- specifically, the early stages of a plan that would allow the county to move its Early College High School program onto Vance-Granville Community College's campus in Louisburg.

Terrell Lane teacher Jackie Arnold delivers assignments safely!

Bunn Elementary School students rock,
says Cheryl Dunston's sign

Behind the mask is teacher Sandy Cabe delivering homework

Terrell Lane Principal Eric Betheil was ready to greet students