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LOUISBURG -- Elections officials certified the primary election through a canvass that generated no significant changes from the May 17 election.
If there's need for a second primary in July, officials talked about expanding one-stop voting hours -- which would give voters more opportunities to cast a ballot, but would require additional money, could place a strain on election site staff and could require more sites, some board members and staff said.

LOUISBURG -- Eligible candidates have until Thursday to request a runoff, but, by press time, one candidate had already made the necessary notifications.
During the May 17 primary, School Board candidates Steven Gupton edged out incumbent Elizabeth Keith, Tammy Raynor Petrosillo bested Christopher Perry and incumbent Paige Sayles beat Erin Patterson Reid in Districts 3, 5 and at-large 7, respectively, as their closest competitor.

FRANKLINTON -- Without any discussion Tuesday night, town commissioners agreed to let staff present the public with a proposed budget that would raise taxes by five cents and cut department requests across the board, including one new police department position and eight new vehicles.
The budget does include a new planning and zoning position to help the town navigate growth.

YOUNGSVILLE -- State Highway Patrol Trooper D.J. Ball and a phalanx of officers and fireman moved with purpose down a Youngsville road last week, lights flashing and sirens blaring.
The only emergency, though, was making sure a certain seven-year-old had a memorable birthday party on May 26.

LOUISBURG -- A Castalia-area man suspected in two drive-by shootings, one that put an infant in the hospital, has been arrested.
Vance County authorities arrested Christopher Charles Gupton on unrelated, outstanding Franklin County warrants on Tuesday.
He remains a person of interest in Memorial Day weekend shootings in the 600 block of Vaiden Road in northern Franklin County.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The town's long-awaited downtown face lift is slated to start on Monday.
As early as 2017, engineers began plans for the Main Street Improvement Project, which was presented to commissioners and the public in the first quarter of 2019.

RALEIGH -- Franklin County regularly sends a contingent to the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.
For the first time, though, a Franklin County resident will be key to the festivities as Lorenzo Stancil will sing the National Anthem.
Regular attendees of the Franklin County games are familiar with his angelic voice and, now, competitors and visitors from across the state will get a listen.

Bunn's Kaitlyn Adams and LaMey'k Black

Before we start this week, here's a question to ponder. The answer will be included at the end of this column.

How many schools shootings have happened in the United States since 2008?

Can you believe that Memorial Day is now in our rear-view mirrors and that summer, unofficially at least, has begun.

Anyone who has successfully taken a shot will tell you that follow-through is important -- whether it's a jump shot, a career change or a relationship.
Back in April 2021, Perry School Alumni Association President James Barry Brown took a shot at getting help from Franklin County Commissioners.
During that April 16, 2021 meeting, Brown asked the board to consider funding to assist with the association's goal of making the school a community center.

Dear editor:
Are we numb yet?
Are we numb to the events like what happened at Uvalde, Texas? With the killing of children and teachers in school? Are we numb yet to the killing of innocent people in a grocery store in Buffalo? Are we numb yet to the killing of parishioners in a church in California? All happened within a 10-day span.

Dear editor:
Just wanted to ask, playing the Devil's advocate, if the 2 million dollar allocation for the Maria Parham was part of the COVID Relief fund allocated to Franklin County by the federal government.

Trinidad, CO--Kenneth Joseph (Ken) Martinet, 71, of Trinidad, Colorado, went to be with his Savior on Friday, May 27, 2022, following a short illness. Ken will be remembered for his faith in God, for service to his country, and as a supportive and loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and sibling.

Franklinton, NC--Funeral services for Ella Mae Crudup, age 50 who died on Friday, May 27, 2022, will be held 1 p.m., Thursday, June 2, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

HENDERSON, NC--Rose Marie Matthews Wester, 74, died May 28, 2022. She was born on April 8, 1948 in Vance County to the late John Junius and Martha Riggan Matthews. In addition to her parents, Rose is predeceased by her siblings, Virginia Fisher, Margaret Morgan, Edna Talley, and William Matthews.

LOUISBURG, NC--Rupert Cleon Cheek, 90, of Louisburg died Tuesday, May 24, 2022. He was born on October 16, 1931 to the late Byrd Norris and Maria Thornton Cheek.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The fact that the Class 2-A and Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships were held concurrently made it easy for Franklin County fans to follow all of the teams -- with the exception of the sweltering heat in Greensboro.
Despite the adverse conditions, it was still a big day for several county competitors at the recent annual event at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College ventured out to Hutchinson, Kansas, recently for the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field National Championship.
Eight Hurricanes qualified for the event -- the most in the college's history.

BUNN -- Emily Clark developed a penchant for coming through in the clutch both on the mound and at the plate during her time as a member of the Bunn High School softball team.
That's a trait Clark hopes to continue on the next level as she has signed a letter-of-intent to continue her softball career at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh.

BUNN -- Few athletes in Bunn High School history made the most of every opportunity like senior multi-sport star Keagan Osika.
Every sprint. Every jump. Every serve. Every kill attempt. Every block.
"Keagan hustled on every play trying to chase down balls,'' said BHS volleyball coach Melanie Lovin. "She never took a play off. That's why she was our Volleyball Most Valuable Player this season.''

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash has a history of sending student-athletes to Louisburg College -- and you can add the name of Raul Nunez to that prestigious alumni list.
Nunez, who has been a cornerstone of SN's boys soccer program, has signed a letter-of-intent to compete in the same sport at Louisburg College.

Bunn High School's 4x100 Boys Relay quartet of (l to r) Messiah Barrow, Jayvon Perry, Domantea Cooke and Xavier Williams took part in the recent Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships.

A meeting to bring the Louisburg Town Council up to date on the status of the proposed $100 million Louisburg Falls multi-use development has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 13.
The meeting was originally planned in late May but Louisburg Planning and Zoning Administrator Philip Slayter was ill and could not make the presentation.

LOUISBURG -- Franklinton officials and the developer of a proposed 252-acre mixed-use project are awaiting a judge's ruling to find out whether they can proceed.
During an October 19 meeting, commissioners agreed to annex and rezone the property, making way for the 600-home, mixed use 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.

Above, Ben, Jesse and Stephanie Castor open gifts.