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LOUISBURG -- A former Franklin County inmate is suing Franklin County, the sheriff, the jail's health care provider and everyone else connected to what he alleges was negligence that led to a heart attack.
Attorneys for Charles Phelps filed a lawsuit in Franklin County Civil Superior Court on Aug. 17 alleging that indifference amongst Southern Health Partners and jail staff led to Phelps not receiving the prescribed aspirin he needed to combat heart disease.

WHITE LEVEL -- Some say farming gets into your blood -- but for White Level's Billy Wood, farming seems to be built into his DNA and he's passing it along to future generations.
Billy, who will turn 79 later this month, has been farming since he was a youngster helping out his dad, Bryant Wood, on a farm growing mostly tobacco.

Raising money to fight the scourge of cancer is serious business ... very serious business. But there is no reason those involved can't have a little fun along the way. The COVID-19 restricted annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Survivors' Dinner was a drive-in event this year and that gave Linda Frederickson, Relay co-chair and survivor at right, a chance to joke around with her mother, Dorothy Wester, one of those survivors.

LOUISBURG -- The State Department of Health and Human Services reported a COVID-19 cluster at a prison facility in Franklin County.
No deaths have been attributed to the outbreak at Franklin Correctional Center.
The state began efforts to mass test inmates at prison facilities in June, at a cost of $3.3 million.

Frances Freeman, Relay for Life volunteer and Relay team captain for White Level Baptist Church

A couple of stories and a handful of photos in last week's edition were a stark reminder of just how different 2020 has been from a normal year -- and just how numb we have come to the reality we're dealing with.
Normally at this time of the year, community newspapers like this one are writing stories and taking photos focused on the annual "back to school" rite that marks the end of summer for kids.

In July, the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Department held its first virtual run/walk challenge.
And, this October, they plan to conduct a second challenge.
This time, folks will be able to participate in a run or walk challenge, or, if they have the equipment, people can compete in challenges on a treadmill or elliptical machine or on a bicycle.

You may have never heard the term "news desert," - and I hope you don't. Trust me, you don't want to become familiar with what it truly means to the well being of YOUR community.
A news desert refers to a community that is no longer covered by a newspaper. Doesn't sound too devastating - until you experience what happens when there is no unbiased coverage of what your local governments are doing.

WENDELL -- Ida Mae King Raybon, 81, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 at her home. As per her wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at Calvary's Cross Baptist Church on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m.

As a personal injury and civil litigation attorney, Ben Brodish often relishes his role in helping an 'underdog' client against a formidable opponent.
"I have always kind of liked that David vs. Goliath situation,'' Brodish said. "I like helping a person who does not have the ability or cannot have their voice heard when they have been wrongly injured. I find myself drawn to those issues.''

LOUISBURG -- Eric Lee's preference for recruiting local talent to his Louisburg College softball program received an unexpected push last week.
That's when Lee received a phone call from Virginia Wesleyan College Coach Brandon Elliott, saying that former Bunn pitching star Caroline White wanted to be closer to home.

RALEIGH -- In conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference office, North Carolina State University and Virginia Tech have agreed to move their previously scheduled football season opener to a common bye week.
The contest, originally scheduled for Sept. 12 in Blacksburg, Va. will now be played on Sept. 26.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College held a Pinning Ceremony for 22 students in the Practical Nursing Class of 2020.
Students successfully completed the program in the summer semester and took part in the recent ceremony via Zoom.
Family and friends were able to watch the ceremony live, and the recorded ceremony can be viewed on Youtube using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO9cFSz74sU.

GOODY, GOODY. Franklinton High School administrators and staff wanted to make sure seniors got off to a good start, especially as COVID-19 has prompted remote learning and isolation for students, by hosting a parade at the school last week. Above, teacher Sandra Wiggins gives a goodie bag to Jayden Graham.

Students decorated their vehicles for the parade. In the photo above, Alia Lewis and Jabari Montague are picture perfect seniors.

LOUISBURG -- A trio of Ohio residents are slated to appear in court next week on drug charges.
The Franklin County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Group arrested Sivad Xavier Boykin, Cadiz Jon Harper, and Jerron Smith on multiple drug charges after executing a search warrant on their hotel room at the Days Inn on Aug. 25.

LOUISBURG -- A Youngsville man is slated to appear in court later this month on drug charges resulting from a vehicle wreck investigation.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Grey Harris Winn on Aug. 28, charging him with two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver drugs, felony possession of drugs, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of isolated THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed weapon and simple possession of scheduled six controlled substance.

HENDERSON -- An organization tasked with promoting regional development agreed to use disaster relief funds to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
The Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments received $1.2 million through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act to be used through its revolving loan fund -- which helps existing or new businesses secure financing when more traditional channels prove difficult.

LOUISBURG -- The latest suspect in an August gas station shooting in Louisburg is slated to appear in court.
On Aug. 26, Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested 24-year-old Monterious Leroy Williams, charging the Louisburg resident with aggravated assault, possession of firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into a moving vehicle, and discharging a firearm in the town limits.

HENDERSON -- The State Highway Patrol released an accident report last week detailing a crash that killed a Louisburg man.
According to the report by Trooper R.M. Goodacre, Joshua Wheeler was traveling east on West River Road approaching a curve when he crossed the center line and ran off the road to the left at about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 near Ballard Pruitt Road.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A Monday night storm caused a sewage spill.
Heavy rains overwhelmed the Youngsville Regional pump station, county public utilities staff said, causing the discharge of 11,560 gallons of untreated wastewater.
About 6,200 gallons made its way into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek, which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin.

That's local farmer Billy Wood checking out his cucumber crop in a greenhouse that helps him get his product to market early each spring. This photo was taken a few years ago ,but cucumbers, especially the English variety have long been a popular item at Wood's Produce.