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YOUNGSVILLE -- Against the objections of nearly an entire neighborhood, town commissioners rezoned a property that will allow for a subdivision in the middle of a homestead and mini farm community.
The 3-2 vote allows builder Brian Watts to subdivide 14 acres at 686 Fleming Road, adding nine additional homes to the lot on which he lives.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town staff and officials are set to host a grand opening for its new public works facility next week -- one of two capital projects being completed simultaneously.
But, it was timing of another sort that pushed the projects about 26 percent over budget.

Kayden Barlow, 4, helps Franklinton Police Lt. Allen Batchelor select raffle winners during the town's National Night Out festivities on Tuesday. The event is designed to bring the community together, focusing on the relationships between law enforcement, first responders, like fire and rescue personnel, and the community.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners considered making major retail a possibility in the downtown district.
But, before the board makes a change to ordinances that govern such zoning, staff said they wanted to make sure the folks that sought the change are willing to follow through.

LOUISBURG -- A Franklinton man was sentenced to between five and seven years in jail for shooting and killing an acquaintance.
Having spent nearly four years in jail, Charles Pender could be a free man in one to three years after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Franklin County Superior Court on Monday.

Blake, Logan, Cole and Heather Ezell

Let's start this week with a little one-question quiz -- and you'll need to imagine yourself in this situation.
Pretend that you're facing surgery (hopefully it's just pretending!) and the morning of your operation, the surgeon walks up to your bedside and begins talking about how hot and humid it's been outside.

More often than not, most people in the public think of a K-9 unit as a great marketing tool.
And, that's usually where it stops.
That is, unless you've got a missing loved one, or a dangerous suspect is on the loose in your neighborhood or your community is being ravaged by a drug plague.

FRANKLINTON, NC--James "Graham" Tippett, 74, of Franklinton, passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. He was born in Wake County, a son of the late Meadows Hayes and Frances (Card) Tippett. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters: Janie Faulkner and Doris Ball.

LOUISBURG, NC--Jean Wester Ellis, 76, Louisburg, NC, passed away in her rural home on August 18, 2021. Jean was the daughter of the late Charles Colson and Eva Gray Wester. In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her husband, William Earl Ellis.

FRANKLINTON -- Due to a myriad of circumstances, Franklinton was unable to line up against an opponent in a scrimmage or jamboree setting during the football preseason.
And it showed during last Friday's 42-14 home loss to a solid Corinth Holders squad in the opening prep contest of the campaign for both clubs.
Franklinton had a chance to make an early statement in the game after Corinth Holders' initial series ended with a shanked punt that went only four yards.

LOUISBURG -- Just a handful of months removed from one of the school's best-ever football seasons, the 2021 Louisburg High School campaign is in a bit of limbo.
LHS reached the Final Four of the Class 1-AA State Playoffs back in the spring -- the deepest the Warriors had ever traveled in the postseason.
With the majority of that group returning along with a busy summer of action, LHS veteran coach Dontae Lassiter seemed to have developed a foolproof scheduling plan.

BUNN -- The best-laid plans often go awry -- just ask Bunn High School football coach Dale Murphy.
Everything seemed to be trending in the right direction for the Wildcats following a strong off-season from a crew of talented, young and hungry players.
Bunn also finished the 2021 Spring campaign in solid fashion, so everyone at BHS had reason to feel positively about the fall schedule.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- After just one game last week, Franklin County high school football fans can double their pleasure this Friday with a pair of scheduled contests.
But the anticipated Triple Threat of three matchups didn't come to fruition as Louisburg's slated game against KIPP Pride at home was called off due to COVID-19 issues at KIPP.

ZEBULON - Ashton McGee hit his second grand slam of the season, Wes Clarke hit a two-run home run in the sixth, Micah Bello had three hits, Freddy Zamora scored three runs and the Carolina Mudcats walked seven times during a five-run seventh while finishing off a home baseball sweep of the visiting Augusta GreenJackets with a 15-7 victory on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

TURKEYS TAKE THE TITLE IN YOUNGSVILLE. The Burnt Barrel Disco Turkeys recently won the Youngsville Parks and Rec Adult Softball League Championship with an 11-8 victory over Nutrition on Main. Miles Sliwa caught a pop fly for the crown-clinching final out.

Frankllinton High School's Damon Miller makes a key stop for the Red Rams during last Friday night's regular season gridiron opener against Corinth Holders at the FHS Football Field.

The Cherry Hill Board of Directors will present tenor Tyrone Chambers and pianist Jonathan Levin in a program of American music on Sunday, Aug. 29. The performance will begin at 3 p.m. and admissions will be taken at the door. Adult admission is $10, students at $5, and children 12 and younger admitted at no charge.

The Louisburg and Franklinton Senior Centers are open! Hours are Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. They offer congregate nutrition, billiards, exercise classes, line dance, Tai Chi, pinochle, bridge, among other things. Visit their facebook page at: Franklin County Senior Services Department of Aging. If you have questions about upcoming events or schedules, call Louisburg Senior Center at 919-496-1131 and Franklinton Senior Center at 919-494-5611.

One thing that I have always loved about working in public schools is the ability to begin anew.
Each year is a unique journey filled with twists and turns. Summertime always provides the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, and to look ahead at the necessary work going forward in support of our students' social and emotional growth and academic development.

If a typical school morning sees your family rushing around and out the door with nary a moment to spare, only to be left feeling like you ran a marathon by 9 am, a new approach to your routine might be necessary.
Mornings, especially in households in which parents who work outside of the home and have one or two kids requiring drop-off at their respective schools, can often be hectic.

It's that time of year when the school bus lights are flashing and the bells are ringing.
It's Back to School Time! New students, new teachers and lots of excitement! If your student takes lunch to school provide your child with the energy boost they will need mid-day by packing a healthy lunchbox that will provide the vitamins and nutrients they need to make it through the remainder of the school day.

Back to school means new teachers, subjects, and classmates, as well as a chance for kids to start fresh after a restful summer off. And while the start of any school year can provoke a level of anxiety for students, the return to in-person learning after over a year of virtual or hybrid schooling models can be nerve-wracking or expose signs of separation anxiety.

1- Seat belts should always be worn, even on the bus. Never get out of your seat while the bus is moving.
2- Always look both ways before crossing the street and always use the crosswalks.
3- Find a safe place away from the road to wait for the school bus.

• Make sure you know your full name, street address and phone number including area code. If you can't remember all of these things, carry them on a piece of paper.
•Never get into anyone's car without your parents' permission.
•Always tell your parents if you are going somewhere after school.

High school students have a lot on their plates. Today's parents often lament that kids' schedules are far more hectic than their own schedules were when they were teenagers. But for many high school students, a familiar foe their parents have no doubt encountered is proving a considerable source of stress.
Homework has long been the bane of high schoolers' existence. Studies regarding just how much homework is being assigned to teenagers are somewhat outdated, which makes it difficult to determine just how much work kids are being asked to do after school lets out.

LOUISBURG -- In a very brief special meeting Wednesday morning, the Louisburg Town Council agreed to support the efforts of Impact Healthcare in securing a $100,000 building reuse grant.
The company, which is located in Franklin Plaza Shopping Center on Bickett Boulevard, is seeing to expand its operation -- and add up to 10 full-time jobs in Louisburg.

Above, Tiara Sills adds some mustard to her hot dog, all part of the free festivities provided by the town of Franklinton during its National Night Out event on the Town Hall lawn on Tuesday night.

LOUISBURG -- There was no resolution or official action taken during the board's Aug. 16 meeting, but two county commissioners put it on record that they are against forced masking and vaccinations.
Commissioner Danny Pearce said such actions are Communist in nature.

LOUISBURG -- A Raleigh man is slated to appear in court next week on drug charges.
On. Aug. 11, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Unit, with assistance from the Granville County Sheriffs Office Community Resource Team, arrested Lawrence Terrell Rogers on felony drug and weapons charges.