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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County reported its first COVID-19-related death in weeks, but health officials say the congregate care facilities where outbreaks were reported were well on their way to being out of danger.
Overall, though, positive coronavirus case numbers are increasing as restrictions on movement and gatherings have lessened.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Health Department has begun offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing, giving residents another avenue to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Beginning on June 2, the health department began offering the tests -- by appointment only -- on Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m.
For an appointment, call 919-496-2533.

LOUISBURG -- Discord prompted by the most recent incident of police brutality in Minneapolis has flamed protests around the world -- prompting two protests in Louisburg streets early this week.
No damage or arrests were reported, but passions were high.
Minneapolis police officers arrested 46-year-old George Floyd on May 25 after responding to a call that a man used a counterfeit $20 at a deli.

FRANKLINTON -- In the current fiscal year, officials bought a new town hall, began a $1 million paving program and bought new vehicles and equipment.
Because of that, Town Manager Gregory Bethea presented commissioners with a 2020-21 $2.1 million budget that's about $1.5 million less than the current spending plan.
"This is quite a reduction from [the current fiscal year]," Bethea told board members during a special called meeting on Tuesday.

BUNN -- Under an overcast sky, officials got their first look at a $1.28 million spending plan that pretty much maintains the status quo.
Town finance staff presented commissioners with a 2020-21 budget that maintains the tax rate of 64 cents per $100 of valuation, keeps water and sewer rates static and provides full-time employees with a two-percent raise.

Louisburg High School senior Laine Barefoot

Suddenly, unbelievably, it's June. The sun is mostly out, the temperatures are mild but warming up and, given all the rain, the grass, gardens, flowers and, of course, the weeds are growing rapidly.
And yet still there is a major dark cloud out there, a virus that has taken a horrific toll in this country already -- and it's far from done.
By last week, the death toll from COVID-19 had topped 100,000 Americans.

When Franklin County adopted an abbreviated agenda at its March 16 meeting -- the last in-person meeting before commissioners began having virtual meetings to maintain social distance -- there were about a dozen water allocation and extension requests that didn't make the cut.
Almost three months later, a Morrisville home building company wants to know what's the holdup.

Dear editor:
As I have watched our governor and have been interested in the response to the Corona virus, I really would like to know where our Governor is getting his haircut.
Instead of our news media asking questions about a virus that we honestly know extraordinarily little about, maybe one of these folks could find out how he has maintained his coiffure.

ASHEBORO--Gail Annette Morris, age 75, of Asheboro passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at Randolph Hospice House.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Gloria Mae "Poochie" Wilkins, 71, who died Monday, June 1, 2020, will be Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at God's Vision Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, with the Rev. Sidney Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

HENDERSON--Linda W. Fuller, 72, of Henderson, passed away in Henderson on May 29, 2020. She was born July 26, 1947, in Franklin County, a daughter of the late Eugene and Minnie (Harris) Wilder.

BUNN -- Two conference championships, two conference Most Valuable Player Awards and a pair of conference Coach of the Year honors.
Certainly, it was a solid overall sports year at Bunn High School until the proceedings were derailed by the cancellation of spring sports in March due to COVID-19 concerns.
For Bunn, the high-level highlights began in the fall when the girls tennis team claimed its first-ever league crown in the Northern Carolina Conference.

Louisburg High School's annual Athletic Awards Ceremony is always one of the spring's most-anticipated events -- and this year would prove to be no different.
Of course, things weren't the same due to COVID-19, but LHS decided to go on with the ceremony in a virtual online setting.
Each coach provided a speech for his or her team and relayed the names of the award recipients.

LITTLETON -- At 10:21 p.m. last Saturday, a green flag dropped for the first time, and for those in attendance, things were -- for at least a few hours -- normal.
Traveling over the river and through the woods, located just off NC 561, leads to the 3/10-mile Halifax Motor Speedway near Brinkleyville.
Formerly known as Clary's Speedway, the "Red Clay Bullring" opened the 2020 racing season last Saturday night, becoming one of the first local sporting events to host fans, ranging from the recreation to professional levels, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

LOUISBURG -- Here is a complete list of winters from the annual Louisburg High School Athletic Awards Ceremony, which was presented online recently:

GREENSBORO -- It is with great regret that the North Carolina Coaches Association's Board of Directors and staff have decided to cancel this year's East-West All-Star Games and on-site Coaching clinic.
The board vote was unanimous.

Three local officials knelt with demonstrators in downtown Louisburg Tuesday night, including Louisburg Town Councilman Christopher Neal (grey shirt in front), Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott to his right; and Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead, (in the light shirt to Abbott's right).

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to disburse funds to the corporation that markets and promotes industrial hubsites in the region, a small financial windfall for Franklin, Warren, Granville and Vance county governments that have invested in the economic development program.
Beyond that, county commissioners also adopted a Comprehensive Development Plan that could guide how the county grows in the next 20 years.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklinton woman on assault and terrorizing charges.
Nytazia Smith, 19, was charged with breaking and entering with intent to terrorize or injure, assault and battery and misdemeanor stalking.
According to Youngsville authorities, Smith forced her way into the McDonald's on U.S. 1 after closing time on May 27 and started fighting with two employees.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Salisbury and Seagrove pair on drug charges.
Vincent M. Kotarsky, 43, and Jessica A. Chriscoe, 33, were charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If you have an interest, either personal or professional, in the future of transportation in Franklin County, the Capital Area Metropolitican Planning Organization (CAMPO) would like your participation in a study.
The group is updating the North East Area Study that covers part of the southwestern area of Franklin County.
"Feedback and participation is vital to the success of the study," said Brandon Watson, project manager.

FRANKLINTON -- The town of Franklinton is looking for a new assistant clerk.
Town Manager Gregory Bethea confirmed last week that May 26 was Christie Tant's last day as assistant town clerk.
Bethea said personnel laws prevented him from revealing whether Tant was terminated or resigned.