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LOUISBURG -- COVID-19 cases, mostly because of the Omicron variant, are spiraling upward across the nation and North Carolina -- and unfortunately Franklin County is no exception.
On Tuesday, North Carolina reached 20,000 deaths from the virus with the number expected to climb, although vaccines and booster shots have significantly reduced the death rate, according to health department officials.

Free COVID testing is now available daily, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, in Louisburg. The rapid tests are available at the former D&J auto dealership at the intersection of NC 56 West and U.S. 401. No appointment is needed.

LOUISBURG -- Franklinton has been granted more time to respond to a lawsuit that challenges the governing board's approval of a 600-home, 250-acre mixed use development.
During an Oct. 19 meeting, commissioners agreed to annex and rezone 252 acres, making way for the development over the objections of residents in the nearby Beechwood Hills Subdivision, who argued the development would create environmental, noise and other issues for the larger-tract residents.

MLK DAY. Residents gathered in Franklinton on Saturday for the annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Organizers held the entire event outside, a precaution against rising COVID-19 cases. Above, the Rev. Donathan Muldrow reads a scripture as part of the ceremony.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sitting as the Board of Adjustment, commissioners said they had no choice but to deny a variance that a businessman and his neighbors all agree could ease tensions created by a vibrant business located 30 feet from a resident's bedroom window.
In a month or so, those same officials -- sitting as the board of commissioners -- could have the flexibility to approve a solution that makes everyone happy.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners and staff met during a retreat last week to set priorities for 2022 and beyond.
Those priorities include bolstering the police department with staff and vehicles, securing its own facilities for parks and recreation, enhancing its public/private partnerships, looking at expanding its ABC store and, eventually, finding the town manager who will lead those endeavors into the future.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to move forward with a 15-year financing agreement to pull their public utilities department into the future.
Public Utilities Director Chris Doherty and county consultant Adam Kiker with LKC Engineering presented the board with plans to install an automated meter reading system for all the county's water and sewer customers.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Authorities are considering charging a Raleigh man with second degree murder, alleging he was driving at twice the legal alcohol limit when he caused a head-on collision last weekend that killed a Youngsville mother.
According to Trooper C.I. Hundley, Salvador Sanchez Aguilar was driving west on U.S. 1-A -- between Hampton Village Apartments and the county's convenience center site -- when he crossed the center line just after 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.

Bunn legends Kandar Artis, Tisha Bolden

Don't you just hate it when the experts are right?
Especially when right means the exact opposite of what you would prefer?
But say what you will, the experts predicted that this Omicron variant of COVID-19 would roll across the country like dense fog -- and darn it they were absolutely correct.

For a county its size, Franklin County should be proud of the way it celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For the past 16 years, the Franklinton community has held a memorial celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Save for a couple of scheduling hiccups, folks in and around the town of Louisburg have hosted a ceremony recognizing the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was well.

Dear editor:
As I read the front page story about the Franklin County schools continued mask mandate, I didn't see anything about any parents speaking up, again, at the board meeting.

HOLLISTER, NC -- Funeral services for Arnie M. Richardson, age 89, who died on Monday, January 17, 2022, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2022 at from the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Warren County, NC, with Pastor Willie D. Silver officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Bethel Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC-- Mary Dunston died January 15, 2022.

LOUISBURG -- Few people, if any, have been involved with the Louisburg High School athletics program longer than Al Bolton.
Back when he was a youngster -- over 50 years ago -- Bolton was a fixture at games coached by his father, Ivey.
Bolton went on to become an athlete himself at LHS -- and returned home after college to become a teacher and coach for the Warriors.

LOUISBURG -- Both Bunn and Louisburg had difficulty with ballhandling mistakes and brick-laying free throw issues down the stretch of Tuesday's key Big East Conference boys basketball event at the historic LHS Gymnasium.
But when it mattered the most, it was the silky-soft fingertips of Bunn's Jay'von Perry that made the difference.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg's full-court pressure defense proved to be too much for rival Bunn during Tuesday's Big East Conference boys junior varsity basketball game at the LHS Gymnasium.
Louisburg never trailed after the midpoint of the first quarter and went on to pull away from the Wildcats by a 52-36 margin.

LOUISBURG -- Will yet another Region X Championship -- and a national tournament appearance -- be in the cards this spring for the Louisburg College Lady Hurricanes?
In 2021, LC, coached by legendary skipper Eric Lee, won the Region X regular season and tourney crowns before heading to the nationals, where the Lady Hurricanes posted a fine third-place performance.

GREENVILLE -- The East Carolina University baseball program earned its third preseason national ranking of the 2022 season after being tabbed No. 12 by D1Baseball the publication announced Tuesday morning.
The Pirates, who were picked as the preseason favorite to win the American Athletic Conference by the leagues head coaches, also have been ranked No. 8 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 13 by Perfect Game.

DURHAM -- The partnership between the famed university and the home of the Durham Bulls began in 2010 as Duke would play select home games at the Triple-A stadium throughout their season.
Prior to the 2016 season the partnership was strengthened when a new agreement was formed to allow the ACC school to play a majority of their games in downtown Durham.

Bunn High School senior veteran Jay'von Perry (right) came through with the game-winning tip-in for the Wildcats during Tuesday's evening's key Big East Conference boys basketball meeting against homestanding Louisburg at the historic LHS Gymnasium.

Louisburg High School's Peyton Faulkner (with ball) tries to evade the Bunn defense during Tuesday's junior varsity boys basketball contest.

Franklin County Arts Council's Writers Guild will host its annual Writers Retreat from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. April 23 at Rolling View State Park's Community Building and writers of all stages of writing experience are encouraged to attend.
The writers' guild will host David Halperin, author of the popular book Journal of a UFO Investigator, as guest speaker. He will open a full day of writing, networking, and fellowship with a presentation on what led him to writing about UFOs.

Ensign Reagan C. Bracknell, of Philadelphia, was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy on Sept. 24, 2021 at Fort Monroe, Virginia. She is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Modern Middle East Studies and is fluent in Arabic and French. She has entered the Information Warfare training pipeline in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and, upon graduation from training, will be assigned to a U.S. Navy activity in Naples, Italy.

LOUISBURG -- January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the county's agency that's dedicated to fighting domestic violence and sexual assault is helping shed light on the issue.
And, they're looking for help in their battle against the problem.

FRANKLINTON ­-- Franklinton police have identified three suspects accused of firing a pellet gun at downtown patrons.
According to authorities, a sport utility vehicle was spotted in the downtown area on Jan. 14 and video footage showed projectiles being fired from a type of pellet gun into two downtown businesses, striking at least one person.

The Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was held Dec. 5-7 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, NC. Franklin County Farm Bureau President Steve Nelms was recognized among his peers at the Presidents' and Agents' Luncheon. Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding presented each winning County President with a limited edition Case knife. Each county's agency force worked hard to qualify their county president for this recognition. Special plaques were also presented to the agents and agencies whose production was superior during the contest period.