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"We recognize that this is an evolving situation. The Franklin County Schools Board of Education is committed to creating a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We will continue to monitor state and local data closely and are prepared to hold a special meeting in the event that we need to revisit our current guidance to either loosen up or tighten up restrictions."

-- Franklin County Board of Education

LOUISBURG -- Face masks were a hot-button issue for about two dozen parents who attended the Franklin County Board of Education meeting Monday night to urge that masks not be required when schools reopen in a couple of weeks.
However, later in the session, the board decided on a split, 4-to-2-vote that masks will be required until COVID-19 conditions show improvement. (See related story above.)

LOUISBURG -- It took 26 years, but Cooperative Extension pulled off its 25th annual Franklin County Horse Farm Tour.
"I know they missed last year's event because of COVID-19, but they sure made up for it this year," said Franklin County Commissioner Harry Foy, who has made it a habit to provide welcome remarks to the horse enthusiasts and advocates who take part in the annual tour.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Fleming Forest residents sit more than a mile outside the town's corporate limits, but they plan to make their faces seen and voices heard during the next town commissioner meeting.
Residents in the homestead and mini farm community say a rezoning decision that would allow more dense development in the heart of their neighborhood would jeopardize the decades of tranquility they've created and paid for.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested one man in a sweepstakes cafe armed robbery that ended in a high-speed chase where the suspect crashed through a fence at the high school football field before crashing his vehicle on highway 39.
And, they are looking for more suspects in two separate sweepstakes cafe armed robberies that happened during the early morning hours of Aug. 6 and just before midnight on Aug. 8.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County authorities lodged additional child sex charges against a Nash County man.
With aid from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Franklin County investigators issued a warrant for the arrest of Valeriano Silverio Perez on July 15, charging him with seven counts of felony first degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one felony count of disseminating obscenities to a minor.

Louisburg spiker Taylor Leonard

Here's a little news bulletin that will surprise absolutely no one!
I'm sick of masks.
You're sick of masks.
Everyone, everywhere is sick of masks.
Period!

In June 2019, Franklin, Granville and Vance counties entered into a partnership with Open Broadband -- banking that the Waxhaw-based company could bring reliable Internet service to the area, focusing on unserved and underserved pockets of the county.
Things started out rosy as one could imagine.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Annie "Patty" (Perry) Nowell, 81, of Franklinton, passed away in Raleigh on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

HOLLISTER, NC -- Funeral services for Corine Richardson, age 86, who died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Linda Tayborn officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.

HENDERSON, NC--Florence "Sis" Phelps, 71, of Henderson, died at home Saturday, August 7, 2021. She was born in Vance County on November 24, 1949, a daughter of the late Fred and Tiny (Harris) Satterwhite. Along with her parents, she was also predeceased by her sister, Deloris Kay Satterwhite.

RALEIGH, NC -- Funeral services for Michael "Big Mike" Mann, age 57, who died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 15, 2021 from the New Greater Life Ministries in Franklinton with Bishop Richard Petaway officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Delight UCC Church Cemetery.

Wilhelmina R. Hawkins, the daughter of the late Julia Cooley Robinson was born on November 8, 1926, in Louisburg, North Carolina. She departed this life and entered eternal rest on July 31, 2021.

LOUISBURG - Put together a list of the top Louisburg High School football players over the past 25 years, and the names of Lakeem Perry and Donte' Strickland would have to be included.
Following their prolific careers as defensive standouts at LHS, both Perry (Catawba) and Strickland (Carson-Newman) went on to enjoy sterling careers at Division II colleges -- Perry as a linebacker and Strickland as a hybrid lineman.

LOUISBURG -- On paper, the Louisburg High School volleyball squad appears to be a veteran-dominated group with a total of seven seniors on its team roster.
But looks can be deceiving as long-time LHS head coach Erica Wammock has her club set up for success for the next several years.
Of course, that is nothing new to the Lady Warriors' spike program, which has reached the state finals three times over the past 24 years.

RED OAK -- At the beginning of Monday's practice session, Northern Nash football coach Andrew Farriss gathered his team into a circle for a discussion.
Under normal circumstances, Farriss would engage in a Lombardiesque speech designed to help his players get motivated and find the strength to make it through a practice in 92-degree heat.

FRANKLINTON -- In the final year of the Big East Conference in its latest incarnation, the winner of the league's annual Wells Fargo Conference Cup standings was Wilson Fike High School. The Golden Demons secured 153.5 total points to edge the 149 registered by the Southern Nash Firebirds.
Wilson Fike claimed league championships in boys tennis, wrestling, girls cross country, girls gold and boys soccer.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Roanoke Rapids made the most of its final year in the Northern Carolina Conference.
The Yellow Jackets were the winners of the 2020-21 Wells Fargo Conference Cup for the Class 1/2-A NCC.
RR finished with 57.5 points thanks to league championships in baseball, girls soccer, girls basketball and football, along with a first-place tie in boys soccer.

LOUISBURG -- After taking the Fall 2020 campaign off due to COVID-19 concerns, the Louisburg College football team is set to return to the field.
After two scrimmages, the Hurricanes will kick off their schedule September 4 with a road game against Myrtle Beach Collegiate in South Carolina.
Louisburg College, coached by Chris Tolbert, will play home games October 2 and October 30 on the campus of Louisburg High School.

ZEBULON - Felix Valerio matched a franchise record with four doubles, Mike Wilson hit a two-run home run and Zavier Warren, Noah Campbell and Darrien Miller each had three hits as the Carolina Mudcats' offense exploded for 20 hits in a 13-1 baseball series finale victory versus the Cannon Ballers on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

Former Louisburg High School and Carson-Newman College great Donte' Strickland understands a thing or two about football -- and he is putting that knowledge to good use as an assistant coach for the Warriors.

Kid's Corner Childcare held its 2021 graduation at the center recently.

ROCKY MOUNT -- A Franklin County student was named to Nash Community College's Dean List.
Heather May, of Epsom, achieved the honor following the college's spring 2021 semester.

RALEIGH -- A man accused of a harrowing crime spree, including killing a Franklin County man, was sentenced to life in prison.
Authorities arrested Kendrick Keyanti Gregory in September 2015 after they allege he robbed and assaulted a 27-year-old Raleigh man, shooting him in the back and taking his wallet.