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LOUISBURG -- Maria Parham is expanding its medical offerings locally and is seeing an uptick in patient volumes, its brass told commissioners this month.
But, Maria Parham Franklin's new Executive Director of Operations Emilee Johnson also noted that COVID-19 and its complications had taken a toll on emergency room visits, the number of outpatient diagnostics performed and behavioral health admissions.

LOUISBURG -- The Cooperative Extension kicked off Small Farms Week, celebrating the end of MAE Farm's reign as Small Farm of the Year.
The nearly-day long start to festivities recently included discussions about the future of agriculture, including panelist Mike Jones of MAE Farm, a State of Agriculture address by Franklin County Cooperative Extension Director Charles Mitchell, and a locally sourced lunch at Amazing Graze Barn -- an event space at First Fruits Farm, operated by Jason and Tay Brown.

Volunteers took part in the Greater Youngsville Cleanup Day last Saturday, clearing trash and debris from roadways in and around Youngsville. Above, from left to right, Laura Wetherell, Ron Cole, Toni Calabrese, Trudy McBride (obscured), Rachel and Rob Hohlefelder pick up trash along N.C. 96. It was the second litter sweep effort conducted by volunteers in and around the town.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners endorsed a Youngsville technology company's plans to secure a grant that would help them deploy fiber-to-the home service to about 5,000 customers.
If successful, the partnership would require nearly $1 million in county funds.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The Youngsville ABC Board is soliciting input for the location of its downtown store.
"We've been able to operate in downtown Youngsville with a store for the past 50 years," said ABC Board Chair Rick Houser. "I have no doubt the community will support [a new] ABC store."

The past several weeks have focused on preparing students for academic outcomes that will translate into future success in career, college and the world outside of the classroom.
In order to provide students with a solid academic foundation, it is essential that they feel safe and nurtured in the school environment.

Former LC hoops standout Buddy Williams

It's hard to believe it's the end of March -- don't know where the month went.
Of course, Mother Nature isn't helping much with downright chilly nights and, especially, mornings.
But April is in the air and it won't be long until the weather outside agrees with the calendar.

Legitimately, roadside litter is crap.
It's been crap for a long time.
But, every now and then, we're truly reminded of just how crappy it is.

Dear editor,
What happened to United Nation, NATO, America and Free World Resolve for Freedom?
Daily on TV I see Ukraine people fighting for their freedom with many killed, their women and children fleeing to save their lives after their cities and homes were destroyed by Russian Army soldiers.

Dear editor:
Conventional wisdom would attribute ignorance to a lack of intelligence. In my opinion, that does not seem to be the case with the elites in Washington. This group of elites includes elected officials, bureaucrats, lobbyist, and the national news media.

Carole Ann Cronk Vetter, 77, of Louisburg, N.C. passed away Sunday, March 27, 2022. A native of Dutchess Co., New York, she was the daughter of the late Clinton Everett Cronk and Caroline White Cronk. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles Vetter and Ronald Cronk; daugter, Maryann Casucci and grandson, Landon Bruce and brother, Harry Cronk.

WARRENTON, NC -- Funeral services for Pamela "Naye Naye" Jones, age 45, who died on Thursday, March 24, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2022 from the Jones Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Hosie Starr officiating. Burial will follow in the Jones Chapel Church Cemetery.

KITTRELL, NC -- Funeral services for Pattie Person Taylor, age 77, who died on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2022 from the Serupta Missionary Baptist Church in Warrenton with Pastor Quincy Wilkins, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON -- For veteran coach Clennie Wilkins, Franklinton's annual T Sanders Invitational Track and Field Meet has always been about family -- a fitting way to maintain the legacy and memory of FHS former great skipper Trent Sanders.
The family ties took on an enhanced meaning this spring as four of Wilkins' fellow schools in the Big East Conference also participated.

WAKE FOREST -- With the off-season departure of Wilson County schools Fike and Hunt, the boys golf throne in the Big East Conference is suddenly up for grabs -- and competition has been fierce and evenly matched to date this spring.
The league now features eight schools instead of the previous six, and long-time powerhouse Wilson Fike has moved on to another conference.

FRANKLINTON -- Overpowering pitching, a veteran presence, tablesetting speedsters at the top of the lineup and big-time bats up and down the order.
Those have key intangibles of Southern Nash's recent dominance of the Big East Conference softball scene.
But some of those hallmarks are no longer in place for the Ladybirds -- at least this season.

FRANKLINTON -- Undefeated and on a roll -- that's the story to date of the Southern Nash High School 2022 varsity baseball season.
The Firebirds expected to contend for one of the top spots in the Big East Conference heading into the campaign -- and they had done that and more through 10 games.

FRANKLINON -- It took extra innings, but Northern Nash was able to rally past homestanding Franklinton for a 5-3 victory Monday in Big East Conference baseball action.
With the clutch win, NN finished off the season sweep of the Red Rams. The Knights also used a comeback decision to defeat Franklinton last week in Red Oak.

Franklinton High School's Balin Chiari watches a shot during Monday's Big East Conference golf match.

Bunn's Keagan Osika sails to a successful high jump clear during last Saturday's T Sanders Invitational Track and Field Meet at Franklinton High School. Osika, a senior, recently set the BHS school record in the girls high jump -- surpassing the long-time mark that was previously held by the legendary Nakisha Stewart.

Franklinton's Will Young clears this height in the Boys High Jump during last Saturday's T Sanders Invitational Track and Field Meet at the FHS Football Field.

BIG DAY. Reverend John Williams, of the Wood, NC community, celebrated his 80th birthday at Henderson Country Club, in Henderson, NC, Saturday, March 12, 2022, with many family, friends and church members. Rev. Williams serves as pastor of Lettuce Hall Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC. He has been married to First Lady Lucy Williams for 55 years and they have two adult sons, John A. Williams and Danny Ray Williams, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Youngsville man on sex assault charges.
Mark L. Lynch, 36, of Hidden Stream Drive, was charged with sexual battery.
He is next slated to appear in Franklin County District Court on April 21.

LOUISBURG -- Agents with the State Department of Insurance arrested two Franklin County men on fraud charges.
John Edward Hight, 57, of Louisburg, and Ernest Broughton Tharrington Jr. 44, of Franklinton, were both charged with two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense and two misdemeanor counts of setting up mobile homes without a license.

Joseph B. Cutchins Jr., CFSP, a funeral director with Cutchins Family Mortuary & Cremations in Franklinton, has recently qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs and "CFSP" is funeral service's national individual recognition.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested five juveniles, accusing them of a vandalism spree.
Between March 18 and March 21, representatives at A to Z Bail Bonds, the Franklin County Courthouse and St. Paul Presbyterian Church reported property damage.
This week, Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott said authorities arrested 5 teens, ages 13 to 17, in connection with the crimes.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the developers of its Owens park.
In August 2018, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners agreed to award a $695,000 contract to Raleigh-based Cadet Construction Company to complete Phase 1 of Owens Park.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a suspect in a drive-by shooting.
No injuries were reported.
Authorities allege a man drove by a home on Highland Way in Franklinton on Wednesday morning and opened fire.

FRANKLINTON -- The United Way hosted its second nonprofit roundtable, hoping that groups charged with meeting the communities social services needs can strengthen their collaborative efforts.
Representatives from nearly two dozen nonprofit organizations and groups or service agencies met inside Novozymes' Conference Room to talk about their goals, needs and how they might help fill each others gaps.