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LOUISBURG -- A huge new multi-use development -- probably the largest of its type ever proposed in Franklin County's history -- was to be brought before the Louisburg Planning Board Thursday night after this edition of The Franklin Times went to press.
If the project is approved and built as the plans now indicate, it would represent an investment of about $112 million in Louisburg, increasing the town's property tax valuation by roughly 30 percent or about $506,000 in additional property taxes per year.

LOUISBURG -- The sheriff's office has scheduled a memorial for a canine killed in the line of duty.
K-9 Major was shot and killed this past weekend in Granville County while trying to help authorities apprehend an armed robber in the Antioch Community of Granville County.
"It's been a traumatic incident in the agency and the department," said Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Terry Wright.

Claydon and Brielle Cody grab some colorful Easter eggs from a station set up at the Youngsville Easter Egg Hunt last Saturday at Luddy Park. Volunteer Alysa McLaughlin helps the youngsters. Town Parks and Recreation staff, volunteers and others set up egg hunt stations around the park, given children the chance to find goodies and get prizes during the annual spring event. See more Easter photos on Page 16.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County commissioners will be asked to fund the county school system to the tune of $24,360,124 for the 2022-23 school fiscal year which begins on July 1. That's an increase of about $1,638,252 over the funding provided for the current school year -- and represents a major increase in support that will "flow through" the county schools directly to charter schools.

As part of Franklin County's "State of the District" to our Board of Commissioners, we highlighted the reasons that Franklin County Schools is the best choice for families in our community.
This week's column will dig into some of the aspects of our district and what we offer the students of Franklin County Schools.

Wayden and Rosemarie Hunt

As everyone has noticed by now, spring is in the air.
Well, actually, that's just pollen, but it is a reliable indicator that winter has faded and Mother Nature is beginning another growing season.
And if the pollen hasn't convinced you, the resurgence of the pesky fire ants, the sudden spurt of wild onions and the appearance of every noxious weed known to North Carolina certainly should.

I'm a bit of a cinephile, particularly when it comes to Star Wars.
One of my all-time favorite Star Wars films is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Essentially, the entire point of Rogue One is to fill a nearly 40-year-old plot hole: Why would the evil empire build a moon-sized, world-obliterating weapon with a design flaw so significant that it could be destroyed with a single torpedo?

Dear editor:
My wife and I are in business providing human resources guidance and research to local governments. As such, we considered ourselves fairly knowledgeable of North Carolina employment law ... wrong.

LOUISBURG, NC - Lucille Debnam Hayes, 89, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at her home.

BUNN -- The River Golf Course provides one of the most difficult challenges to area high school linksters -- and Monday's Big East Conference 18-hole boys event proved to be no different.
Only two golfers were able to shoot in the 70s as The River in Franklin County was once again difficult to solve -- even for the league's most seasoned players.

BUNN -- There it is, before your eyes. Can you see it?
With each passing game, the young Southern Nash Ladybirds continue to improve and exceed expectations during the 2022 prep softball campaign.
The Ladybirds' fast-pitch dynasty appeared to be in jeopardy this spring as Southern Nash, after the loss of so many talented upperclassmen, faced the prospect of starting a whopping five freshman in 2022 -- including at the all-important pitcher's position.

BUNN -- A chance.
That's all Derrick Wade has ever wanted -- beginning with his time at Bunn High School and now moving on to the collegiate level in the fall.
Wade got his opportunity -- and he made the most of it at Bunn. And he hopes to continue to do the same with the next-level chance he is receiving at Chowan University, a Division II school located in Murfreesboro (near Ahoskie).

BUNN -- The Bunn Ladycats appear to be halfway home in their girls soccer program rebuilding process under the direction of Coach Robert Petrone.
The Ladycats didn't field a team last spring due to COVID-19 concerns -- and that fact put Bunn in a precarious position this season as the Ladycats moved up from the Class 2-A Northern Carolina Conference to the Class 3-A Big East Conference.

Bunn's Gracie Hanna fouls off a pitch for the Ladycats during Tuesday's home contest against Southern Nash.

Senior standout Derrick Wade scores yet another run for the Bunn Wildcats. Wade has signed a letter-of-intent to join the baseball program at Chowan University, which is located in Murfreesboro.

Bunn's Yvette Arellano (right) possesses the ball for the Ladycats during Tuesday afternoon's home girls soccer match against Roanoke Rapids in Big East Conference action.

Brooklynn Clinebell secured three prizes during the county Easter egg hunt

Camila Carillo has her eyes on a big prize

Erin Lasher, front, left, pops some bubbles at an Easter egg station set up at Luddy Park

Several personnel items were handled by the Franklin County Board of Education Monday night, including:
• Naming Katie Renze-Beer principal of Edward Best Elementary School She most recently served as assistant principal at Edward Best Elementary School since 2016.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners are considering changes to the way it approves subdivisions.
Residents and interested parties will have an opportunity offer feedback about the change soon.
One of the primary changes would impact major subdivisions, making the development agreement a staff-level decision, rather than putting it before the planning board for recommendation and commissioners for approval -- both processes allowed for public input.

LOUISBURG -- Some airport advisory board members don't want to wait another month to discuss a closure of the runway.
During the board's January and February meeting, Airport Director Bo Carson informed and updated advisory board members about plans to shut down the runway for more than a month while construction crews rehab the nearly 30-year-old runway.

FRANKLINTON -- Town officials are close to tabbing its next town manager.
During a town retreat in January, staff and officials began putting in place the process by which they would replace Town Manager Gregory Bethea.
The board hired Bethea as its interim manager in September 2018, before making him the permanent manager in the spring of 2019.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies made two drug arrests over the weekend.
First, Dep. T. Lucas arrested Nicole Lea Smith, 32, of Wake Forest, in the 1100 block of Pocomoke Road on April 9.
She was charged with possession with intent to manufacture sell and deliver drugs, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

RALEIGH -- A craving for pie took Diana Chabrier of Franklinton on a Saturday night dessert run to a grocery store where she got instead a sweet $100,000 prize.
"They didn't have my pie so I got a ticket instead," laughed Chabrier. "I can't say the name of the pie, or it will sell out."
Chabrier bought her $30 200X The Cash ticket from the Food Lion on U.S. 1 in Franklinton. She checked the ticket early Sunday morning with her husband and daughter.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Franklin County Republicans focused on preserving the Constitution, curbing inflation, ensuring election integrity, and protecting parents' rights during the Franklin County Republican Party's annual convention, held Saturday, March 26. During the convention, Franklin County residents heard from multiple 2022 candidates before electing district and state convention delegates.