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LOUISBURG -- The Delta variant, low vaccination numbers and mask-less folks continue to raise the county's COVID-19 cases.
As of press time, there were 8,113 total reported cases and 55 deaths attributed to COVID-19 during the history of the pandemic.
In the last two weeks, there were 498 total local cases reported -- and at least one more death.
"The cases have increased, dramatically, said Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Construction delays have postponed the town's plans to host an open house for its public works building.
A combination of variables has already pushed that construction project and renovations to the town administration building over budget.
A year ago, town commissioners budgeted $2.7 million to build a new public works facility on South College Street and renovate the back half of the town administration building.

Members of Cub Scout Pack 510 hosted a Raingutter Regatta last Saturday at Riverbend Park in Louisburg. The event allowed scouts to design a styrofoam boat and use windpower to race them down a rain gutter for the win and bragging rights. Above, a stylish boat sits and waits for an operator to power it.

LOUISBURG -- Attorneys for Lake Royale's Property Owners Association and governing board members have been granted more time to respond to allegations that they created and fostered a work environment that was toxic enough to force its general manager to quit.
Attorneys for Tracy Clay filed suit in Franklin County Civil Superior Court on July 2, alleging that "various tortuous and malicious actions of the defendants created a hostile and abusive work environment," the lawsuit states.

LOUISBURG -- The state was not expected to seek the death penalty as punishment for a Cary man who killed a Franklin County woman.
Jefferson County, Mo. authorities arrested Bradley Hines on June 27, days after Franklin County authorities found the body of Heather Guild inside a Gilcrest Farm Road home owned by Hines.

Well, yes and no. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been happening for more than a year and a half, in the minds of some, the effects it has brought, especially to the most vulnerable among us, has been somewhat forgotten. But these three men were among several who gathered last Saturday morning at the Justice Volunteer Fire Department to make sure their neighbors, even those they didn't know, got access to some healthy food.

Bunn HS football player LB Bolden

Don't look now, but Labor Day is almost upon us -- and after that very brief respite, the political craziness will begin in earnest.
Here's the question you need to keep in mind over the next several weeks.
Ask yourself if you want to pick your politicians or if you want the politicians to pick their voters.
It's quite simple, really.

It was about two months ago, essentially at the start of hurricane season, that I used this column space to remind folks that it was past time that they prepared themselves for the crippling chaos that a nasty, natural disaster can bring.
As catastrophe has reached out and grabbed Louisiana, now, again, seems like the right time to remind folks of the need to make preparations.
At press time, Hurricane Ida was responsible for one confirmed death in the Gulf Coast state, but its governor "expect[ed] the death toll to rise."

Dear editor: What has happened to this country?
We lost thirteen of America's finest at the Kabul Airport last week due to a suicide bomber. Not to mention all the other casualties. Before the names of those service people were known, our national news pundits and talking heads were asking how this would affect mid-term elections.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Monroe "Pete" Alston, age 64, who died on Saturday, August 28, 2021, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 5, 2021 from the St. Stevens Missionary Baptist Church in Warrenton with Pastor John D. Joyner officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Stephens Church Cemetery.

STEM - Even though a malfunction prevented the scoreboard from operating, there was no question which team was controlling the proceedings during Bunn's season-opening road football matchup last Friday at Granville Central.
The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions and continued to surge the rest of the way en route to a impressive 34-0 decision over the Panthers in non-conference gridiron action.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Listed are the 2021 schedules for area college football teams:

CREEDMOOR -- Regardless of the circumstance, Franklinton High School volleyball coach Tom Harris has never shied away from a tough opponent.
Actually, Harris embraces the opportunity to test his squad against a formidable foe -- and that's exactly what happened last Friday when the Lady Rams traveled to Creedmoor to tangle with the Falls Lake Academy Firebirds.

DURHAM -- Franklinton's never-quit Red Rams made a late push, but came up short last Friday night during a 25-23 road football setback against non-conference opponent Northern Durham High School.
The Red Rams, under the direction of veteran head coach Jimmy Williams, dropped to 0-2 overall, while Northern Durham evened its mark at 1-1.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. -- The Carolina Mudcats snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory versus the Fredericksburg Nationals at FredNats Ballpark on Sunday night.
Ernesto Martinez went 4-for-5 with a RBI double while extending his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games, Zach Mort earned his third victory and James Meeker struck out four batters in the ninth and five overall while earning his third save as Carolina earned a victory in the final game of the series.

This early third-down catch from Jacob Herron led to the Bunn Wildcats' first touchdown of the game -- and the season -- last Friday night on the road against the Granville Central Panthers.

Franklinton High School's Ava Shane (3) sends a lofty kill over a pair of Falls Lake Academy defenders during last Friday's non-conference volleyball meeting in Creedmoor. The host Firebirds won in three sets.

The Franklin County Board of Education has named Pachette S. Dunn as the new principal of Long Mill Elementary School.
She most recently was employed in Durham County Schools, where she served as assistant principal of Hope Valley Elementary School.
"I am very excited to join Franklin County Schools as the principal of Long Mill Elementary," Dunn said.

LOUISBURG -- After a year that imposed never-before-seen challenges on students and teachers, UScellular donated $38,700 towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) resources for North Carolina teachers and their students.
Through a donation to DonorsChoose, an education non-profit organization that connects public school teachers with interested donors, UScellular provided funding for 251 projects submitted by North Carolina teachers.

For about the last year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously challenged just about everything and everyone!
Locally, one of the most obvious effects has been food uncertainty caused by people being out of work, ill or in quarantine.
But where there is a need in a rural community, there usually are volunteers ready to step up and do their part to alleviate the problem.

LOUISBURG -- Two men accused of leading authorities on a chase following an allegedly armed domestic matter are slated to appear in court over the next two months.
The morning of Aug. 26, authorities arrested Samuel O'Bryan Wilkins, 28, and John Robert Henry, 37, both of Louisburg, following a chase that prompted a lockdown at Louisburg Elementary School.

LOUISBURG -- The case of the missing COVID tents has been solved.
Apparently, Impact Healthcare has tents set up behind its offices in Franklin Plaza along Bickett Boulevard and the tents had recently gone missing.
Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott said the matter was not reported to police, however, the tents were found on a sewer line behind the shopping center.

LOUISBURG -- Authorities arrested a Henderson woman on drug charges.
Jessica Englebright, 27, was charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of up to a half ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia
According to the sheriff's log, the arrest took place Aug. 30 at the intersection of N.C. 39 and Lake View Road.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies are investigating a computer invasion.
According to authorities, a woman in the 1100 block of U.S. 1 reported the afternoon of Aug. 30 that someone hacked into her Facebook account.