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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's emergency crews got some backup this week.
In response to a state Emergency Management Agency request for more help, the federal government agreed to provide 25 ambulances and crews to areas in need -- including two units that began this week in Franklin County.
"I think a lot of places are in the situation we're in," said Franklin County Manager Kim Denton.

LOUISBURG -- Everyone has heard the advice that when life deals you lemons, make lemonade.
But when life dealt Tara Williamson some of the worst lemons possible, she not only made lemonade -- pink lemonade at that -- she found a new career calling and is using that to help others who are facing the same challenges she faced.

Salene Miller with Magic By Dave paints the face of seven-year-old Marla Mueller during Youngsville's annual Fall Festival last Saturday. The event featured a car show, craft vendors, food and children's games.

CENTERVILLE -- Fire crews extinguished a fire that ripped through the home of a Laurel Mill family.
In the days after, Laurel Mill Elementary School ignited a spark to help.
The community has come together to fan the flames of assistance.

FRANKLINTON -- County public utilities staff, engineers and officials broke ground on a sewer system upgrade that will bolster and expand its capabilities.
"... Things are very, very busy in Franklin County," said County Manager Kim Denton, who attended the groundbreaking event at the Franklinton plant off Lane Store Road.
"This is a very significant event in the history of Franklin County," Denton said.

BUNN -- For decades, Willie Arnold has been known for stops and starts.
If a vehicle is broken down, the service station he started with his dad is the place to go to get it started again.
And, for 20 years, if there was a wreck or fire, he was part of the Bunn Fire Department crew that stopped to lend a hand.

Bunn's Sadie LaRoque

If I've learned anything during decades in the newspaper business, it's that you never know what you'll be dealing with next!
If you read last week's edition, you can surmise that one of the more interesting topics lately has been a long discussion with retired Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Johnny Binkley, who recently became a Franklin County resident.
He just authored a book called Moonshiners & Revenuers and much of it focuses on his exploits and adventures in good old Franklin County.

By the time you read this, we'll be just about a month away from the fall 2021 municipal election day.
If that doesn't let you know that we're in the short rows for some contested municipal races, especially in Louisburg and Franklinton, then know this: One Stop/Early Voting begins Oct. 14 and ends the day before Halloween.
I know; spooky, right?!?

Dear editor:
This is in response to a letter to the editor printed in the Sept. 23 edition.
1 - Regarding the KeystoneXL pipeline and cause of current and continued price increases at the pump - Net U.S. petroleum product exports in 2021 will average 3.5 million barrels per day and 3.9 mbpd projected for 2022.

Dear editor:
The amount of Federal tax dollars noted at $13,000,000 provided to Franklin County for COVID pandemic funds is outrageous.
The approximate number of Franklin County citizens age appropriate that are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine +or- 55,000 adults and children over 7 years of age.

FRANKLINTON -- It didn't take too long into the Big East Conference boys soccer schedule to determine that the two matchups between Southern Nash and Franklinton would probably determine the league's regular season champion.
Certainly, FHS and Southern seemed a cut above the rest of the league, and their recent rivalry was destined to continue this fall with a pair of hotly contested events.

RED OAK -- In an instant -- and by mere inches -- the complexion of last Friday's Big East Conference football game between host Northern Nash and Bunn changed permanently in the third period of action.
To that point, the contest had been competitive, and BHS had used a defensive touchdown to claw back to within six points of the favored Knights.

RED OAK -- The competitive Big East Conference volleyball scene has featured an upside-down scenario during the 2021 campaign.
Under normal circumstances, the higher-classification schools usually control the proceedings when a split league is formed -- such was what happened in the off-season to the newfangled Class 2/3-A Big East.

FRANKLINTON -- As an understudy of the legendary B.W. Holt, Chris Lee has been known to pull out one of his mentor's plays at the most opportune time.
Such was the case last Friday as Lee -- the former head coach at Louisburg High School -- brought his Bulldogs to Franklinton for a key Big East Conference football contest.

ZEBULON -- Carolina Mudcats baseball fans can now begin making their plans for next season as the Mudcats, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, have announced their 2022 regular-season schedule, beginning on April 8 against the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats will open at home for the second consecutive season when they host the Wood Ducks for Opening Night 2022 on April 8.

LOUISBURG -- One of the craziest matches of the 2015 volleyball season came when visiting Louisburg, down by two sets and having to overcome eight match points, somehow rallied to defeat rival Bunn in five sets. History repeated itself last Tuesday, albeit with the roles being reversed.

(L to R) Franklinton's Landon Heller and Southern Nash's Sam Wheaton elevate for possession during Monday's key Big East Conference boys soccer matchup.

HIGHEST HONOR. Josh Mullen, 17, great grandson of Katherine Robbins of Bunn, earned his Eagle Scout in August 2021. Josh has belonged to Troop No. 346 of the Occoneechee Council since he was six years old. He is a senior honor student at Enloe High School in Raleigh. His parents are Eric Mullen and Stephanie Flowe. Josh is the grandson of Charles Mullen and Trudy Robbins, Bunn alumni of 1966.

FALL FUN. Vivian Knox slides into fall.

NEWLYWEDS. Antwone Burgess of Louisburg and Donna Brown of Talladega, Ala. were married August 21, 2021 at White Dove Chapel, Wendell. The couple will reside in Knightdale.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College is continuing to remove barriers to education and promote student success.
The college recently cleared the unpaid balances for 261 students who attended the college between the Spring 2020 and the Summer 2021 semesters.
By utilizing institutional funds from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Vance-Granville cleared a total of $153,332.14 in outstanding student balances.

LOUISBURG -- A superior court judge dismissed a Franklin County man's lawsuit he filed to reclaim more than $20,000 worth of personal belongings he alleges were taken by an estranged girlfriend he tried to kill.
The decision came a month after Gary Normand was released from custody, having served just more than 10 years in jail on charges that he tried to kill Chloe Reynolds.

BUNN -- Gov. Roy Cooper signed sweeping changes to the state's Alcohol Beverage Control Commission Laws, including one for which a Bunn businessman and restaurateur wants to take a shot.
Part 14 of the Sept. 10 omnibus bill changes the requirements that need to be met for a small town to hold a mixed beverage election, commonly referred to as liquor by the drink.

HENDERSON -- Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. has announced two recent hires. Uriah Ford will serve as coordinator of the NC Cares program. Ariel Williams will serve as public information coordinator and community education director for the agency.
Ford is a 2016 graduate of Vance County Early College. He graduated UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree in public policy and a minor in Spanish for the medical professions.

HENDERSON -- VGCC student Jenae Burk demonstrates the success of women in welding
According to the American Welding Society, women make up roughly five percent of the welding profession in the United States.
This situation provides ample opportunity for women to join this in-demand field.