Archives

LOUISBURG -- The dispute between Franklin County Schools and a for-profit group promoting a proposed Wake Preparatory Academy could become even more confrontational in the near future if the North Carolina Board of Education approves the new charter school, and that could happen as early as this week.
The state school board is expected to make a decision soon about the proposed 1,600 student charter school, which organizers are proposing to build just inside Franklin County along the west side of U.S. 1.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County public schools began the first of a procession of public graduations last week when dozens of Franklin County Early College High School students received high school diplomas and college degrees.
The milestone and ability to celebrate together was not lost on Principal Dr. Erica Shoulders-Royster.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's funding for public education remains the same, but the face of education is changing.
During the board's first budget work session, commissioners, particularly Chairman Michael Schriver, wondered whether the school system needed a new plan of action.

LOUISBURG -- Town residents are likely to find a lot to like if the new fiscal year's budget passes as it was first presented to town council members late last week.
The budget, which is scheduled for adoption on June 21, includes no tax increase and no increases in other town fees as well.
The budget was presented during a special meeting last Thursday evening by town administrator Jonathan Franklin who noted that the new budget will total just over $15 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Inclement weather and higher-than-expected winds caused a few issues, but some hot air balloons were able to take flight during the inaugural First Fruits Farms Memorial Day Balloon Festival, which started last Friday and wrapped up on Memorial Day. The event featured balloons, music and solemn remembrances.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County Commissioners got their first chance to put pencil and eraser to a proposed 2021-22 budget.
Commissioners Danny Pearce and Harry Foy set their sights on two proposed positions -- a $70,000-plus lieutenant's position in the sheriff's office and a nearly $84,000 a year public information officer/grants administrator in the county manager's office.

Early College High School grad Bethany Lee

Suddenly it's summer!
Well, okay, not officially if you want to be technical about it.
But ask any school kid -- except maybe those on year-round schedules -- and they'll likely tell you in no uncertain terms that it IS summer.
And most will add, "and it's about time!" Remember those days?

In the words of longtime Franklin County Commissioner Harry Foy, Franklin County should have a "big, fat undesignated fund balance" for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The question is, though, what exactly should be done with it?
According to county finance staff, as of June 30, the county is expected to have $40.1 million in its fund balance, which, in reporter terms, is their savings account.

STANHOPE -- It took 16 months, but Big East Conference wrestlers were finally able to shine on the league's biggest stage last Friday.
That's when the Big East Conference Wrestling Championships were held at the Southern Nash High School Gymnasium after a long absence due to COVID-19 concerns.

LOUISBURG -- It wasn't just Eric Lee's trademark confidence shining through in the preseason when he declared that his Louisburg College softball team had a chance to compete for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championship.
Lee had plenty of stats, assessments and recent history on his side when he made the claim -- which turned out to be quite prophetic.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Louisburg High School enjoyed a banner campaign on the football field this spring as the Warriors reached the Final Four of the Class 1-AA State Playoffs for the first time in school history.
So it was no surprise when the Warriors boasted four players on the All-Northern Carolina Conference Football Team for the 2021 season.

STANHOPE -- Add another talented name to the rich history between the women's soccer programs at Louisburg College and Southern Nash High School.
When he took over the LC head coaching position several months ago, Chris Fresco accentuated area recruiting as a cornerstone in the rebuilding process of the once-proud program.

CHARLOTTE -- The No. 15-ranked North Carolina State University baseball team (30-17) came up short in a tightly-contested Atlantic Coast Conference Championship title game with Duke (32-20), 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Truist Field Downtown Charlotte.
The loss snapped a 67-game streak of the Wolfpack suffering a shutout, as the last time came on May 24, 2019 against Florida State in the ACC Championship (11-0 result).

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Some things never change in the Northern Carolina Conference -- such as South Granville's long-time perch atop the league's softball standings.
The Lady Vikings were strong once again this spring, rolling to the NCC championship and eventually registering a state runner-up finish.

MARIETTA, OHIO -- The 17th-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan College baseball team saw its terrific 33-win season come to an end last Saturday afternoon as the Bishops dropped their second game of the NCAA Regional 7-3 to 6th-seeded Penn State-Behrend in the Buckeye State.
Behrend, out of Erie, Pa., got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the first off Bishop starter CJ DiBenedetto (5-3).

ZEBULON - The Carolina Mudcats capped a six-game sweep of the visiting Kannapolis Cannon Ballers after taking both games of Sunday's diamond doubleheader 5-0 and 9-5 at Five County Stadium.
Brendan Murphy tossed a complete game shutout in game one and Joe Gray Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam while homering in both games as the Mudcats won their sixth straight contest.

Franklinton High School's William Bell (top) took second place in his weight classification at the Big East Conference Wrestling Championships last Friday at the Southern Nash HS Gymnasium in Stanhope.

Southern Nash High School's Jada Zimmerman (front, right) is joined by family members, coaches and administrators as she signs a letter-of-intent to continue her soccer career at Louisburg College under first-year Head Coach Chris Fresco (top right).

Franklinton's Will Germann (right) claimed first place in his weight class at the Big East Conference Wrestling Championships last Friday.

Franklin County Early College High School students, their family, friends and staff gathered in the Franklinton High School gymnasium to celebrate. In the background, Principal Erica Shoulders-Royster offers words of encouragement as graduates head off into the next chapter of their lives.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners and staff discussed a nearly $3 million spending plan that reflects the town's commitment to services, particularly bolstering public safety.
The budget includes $50,000 to lease a surveillance system that would place about 20 cameras in strategic locations downtown and at key intersections.

SPRING HOPE -- A Nash County man surrendered himself to authorities, ending a search for a suspect considered armed and dangerous.
William David Williams, 46, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a female/domestic violence, communicating threats, first degree kidnapping, felony breaking and entering, and operating a motor vehicle while attempt to elude law enforcement.

ZEBULON -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Zebulon man on breaking and entering charges.
Cpl. D. Joyner arrested William John Thomas on May 28.
The 40-year-old was charged with two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of larceny after breaking and entering.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sheriff's deputies are looking for a suspect they allege assaulted someone by pointing a gun at them.
The incident was reported the afternoon of May 28 on Pearce Wood Court in the Youngsville area.
The incident remains under investigation.

ZEBULON -- Sheriff's deputies are looking for suspects involved in a break-in in southern Franklin County.
The incident was reported the evening of May 28 in the 100 block of Adna Pearce Road.
The matter remains under investigation.

ABC Adventures Preschool and Childcare, located on Industrial Drive in Louisburg, NC, celebrated their 25th anniversary on May 17. The Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to mark the occasion.
Owner Valerie Weston purchased what was Youth University from Gerald and Barbara Eury on May 24, 1996. ABC Adventures Preschool and Childcare opened on May 27, 1996.