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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County looks to be coming under new management.
On Tuesday night, County Manager Angela Harris announced her intent to retire -- effective Nov. 1.
It will conclude more than 30 years of public service.
Harris, who began working for the county as a social worker in September 1989, said serving as county manager was always her dream job.

LOUISBURG -- Reduced restrictions and a long holiday weekend, health officials said, could be a recipe for increased COVID-19 numbers in a couple of weeks.
Already, Franklin County has more than 1,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, contributing to 30 deaths.
"Previous announcements [of less restrictive phases] prior to long weekends, such as Memorial Day and July 4, resulted in huge spikes in cases, two to three weeks later," County Health Director Scott LaVigne told county commissioners during their board meeting on Tuesday night.

LOUISBURG -- Wayne Kabat and other veterans received a cold shoulder when they returned from the Vietnam War -- an unpopular conflict.
This past weekend, a chapter of the national Quilts of Valor Foundation provided Kabat and two other veterans with handmade quilts and a warm reception, recognizing their service to the country.
"It's always an honor for us to honor our veterans," said Sharon Bormann, group leader of the Grateful Quilters of Mooresville.

LOUISBURG -- The clerk of court has asked that two judges recuse themselves from hearing a case that could determine whether or not she keeps her job.
A hearing on the matter is set for Sept. 10.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge John Dunlow suspended Patricia Chastain from her position on July 13 after Louisburg attorney Jeffrey Scott Thompson petitioned for the move, alleging, among other things, that Chastain overstepped her authority on a number of occasions, ran an office that had questionable financial accountability and suggested her erratic behavior might be attributed to substance abuse.

YOUNGSVILLLE -- Town commissioners have expanded the time limits for amplified sounds, giving the town's nightlife a shot in the arm.
By a 3-2 vote last month, the board agreed to extend to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, the time that amplified sound is allowed beyond a certain decibel level.

Dylan Terry, 9

Hate to admit it, but I'm jealous -- and of somebody in Nebraska, of all places.
More specifically, I'm jealous of the reporter who covered a recent town council meeting in some place called Lincoln.
Town council meetings -- as you know if you've attended many -- are not the place you go for five-star entertainment.
Reporters are usually day-dreaming of something more exciting happening, like maybe the chance to watch paint dry or grass grow.

COVID-19 has claimed another casualty.
According to the History Channel's website, 19 terrorists hijacked four airplanes, carrying out suicide attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York.
A third plane hit the Pentagon, just outside the Nation's Capitol.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Helen Marie Cooper, 71, who died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, were held Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial followed in the Walnut Grove Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG--James Larry Grice, 79, of Louisburg died Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 at Wake Medical Center. A memorial service was held Sunday, Sept. 6, at Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, 804 N. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg, with Pastor Jerry Fuller officiating.

LOUISBURG--Joan Marie Grissom Murray, 79, of Louisburg left us to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Autumn Care. She was born on May 27, 1941 to the late Baldy Henry and Polly Stevenson Grissom. Joan was a classy lady and always took pride in looking her best. She was a member of Duke Memorial Baptist Church and taught 2nd grade at Laurel Mill Elementary School until her retirement. After her retirement, she enjoyed the social aspect of working the polls, she loved children and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and family.

ZEBULON--Katherine Scott Bell Moore, 78, of Zebulon died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 at Duke Medical Center. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services Chapel, with Father Marcos Leon officiating. Burial followed in the Mills Family Cemetery, 808 N. NC Hwy 581, Spring Hope.

LOUISBURG--Kevin-Edward Kenneth Matthews, 21, of Stroud Township, returned to God on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

RALEIGH -- His own health has proven to be Ricky Person Jr.'s greatest adversary during his football career at North Carolina State University.
Person, a junior running back, has missed portions of each of his first two seasons at NC State due to injuries -- but has still managed to make a significant impact for Head Coach Dave Doeren's club.

RALEIGH -- During the COVID-19 epidemic, especially in lockdown phases, it would have been easy for North Carolina State University running back Zonovan 'Bam' Knight to kick back and rest a bit on his lofty freshman laurels.
After all, Knight quickly established himself as an elite-level runner in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a true freshman.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- What will happen next?
In the uncertain current COVID-19 world, that is what Franklin County athletic directors and coaches are wondering as classes are being taken virtually -- but the school playing fields are still empty.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association recently released a plan outlining the new dates and possible return times for each of its member sports.

ROCKY MOUNT -- In line with recent actions regarding fall sports, combined with a continued focus on the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletics staffs, the Presidents of the USA South Athletic Conference have voted unanimously to postpone all men's and women's basketball conference competition until the spring 2021 semester.

Southern Nash High School's Zonovan 'Bam' Knight is one of the greatest football players in recent memory in the always-strong Big East Conference.

Ricky Person Jr. was exceptional as a freshman and sophomore in high school for the Franklinton Red Rams under the direction of former coach Jeremy Buck.

UPCOMING MATRIMONY. Camdyn Gilliam would like to announce the approaching marriage of her mother, Lerin Gilliam of Louisburg, to Brad Harris, also of Louisburg. The bride-elect is the daughter of Pamela W. Gilliam of Louisburg and the late Larry Gilliam. The groom-elect's parents are William and Angela L. Harris of Louisburg. An October, 2020 wedding is planned to be held in Henderson.

Artists in all disciplines are eligible to apply for grants to support their professional and artistic development through a partnership of the North Carolina Arts Council and the Franklin County Arts Council, Vance County Arts Council, Halifax County Arts Council, and Warren County Arts Council.
Artist Support Grants will be distributed to eligible applicants by the Franklin County Arts Council in the following counties: Warren, Vance, Halifax, Northampton, Granville, and Franklin counties.

LOUISBURG -- The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Louisburg College as a 2019 Tree Campus USA® for its commitment to tree management and green initiatives.
This is the third consecutive year the college has received the designation.
"Our campus is enriched by our incredible green spaces and landscapes," said Nathan Biegenzahn, Associate Vice President of Facilities at Louisburg College.

LOUISBURG -- The county airport's advisory board met Tuesday for the first time in six months, hearing from its director about the continued growth and expansion opportunities ahead.
That growth will pose challenges, as pointed out in the first draft of a master layout plan designed to guide Triangle North Executive Airport's growth over the next two decades.

FRANKLINTON -- Police are looking for a suspect in a Friday night shooting.
The injuries to the 44-year-old victim were not life-threatening.
According to authorities, the victim pulled up to the In & Out gas station on N.C. 56 in Franklinton at about 9:40 p.m. on Aug. 4 and began talking with someone outside the store.