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BUNN -- Town commissioners approved a more than $482,430 budget that maintains a static tax rate and provides a one-time bonus to employees who plugged through the pandemic.
The 2022-23 budget also passes along a water increase to keep up with the county's hike, as well as a sewer increase that acknowledges improvements made to the system.

Tanya Marie and Joey Hicks were at the front of the pack watching fireworks fly over Franklinton Middle School's football field as part of Stand Up For America festivities this past Sunday. Franklin County's fireworks and Independence Day activities, slated for July 1, were cancelled, leaving the Franklinton event as the only government-sponsored event in the county.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's fireworks were cancelled this year, but emergency management crews have a warning for those thinking about setting off fireworks, themselves -- be safe.
"Fourth of July is always a fun holiday to celebrate," said Nicholas Thorpe, director of Franklin County Office of Emergency Management. "We want it to remain fun and safe for everyone by considering these fireworks tips."

FRANKLINTON -- If you've ever grown anything, the Franklinton Community Garden could use you.
If you've never grown anything, they can teach you.
And, if you need what they grow, the Franklin Community Garden wants to be your resource.

Carrella Holliday turns 95!

If you've glanced at the calendar lately, you may have had the same reaction that I did this week.
Amazingly, 2022 is already have over -- and I just got comfortable writing that date -- plus, I have no idea where the first half of the year went.
But tomorrow -- Friday -- marks the beginning of the second half of the year and my mid-year resolution is to at least pay close enough attention so that I can look back six months from now and remember what happened.

Because of unforeseen, and quite frankly, devastating circumstances, Franklin County will not celebrate with public incendiary devices this year.
But, next week brings with it the potential for election fireworks.
If you remember, the May 17 primary produced party nominees in a number of races, from the board of commissioners, to the sheriff's office -- setting up fall races between party nominee recipients.

Dear editor,
Former Illinois republican Joe Walsh (not to be confused with the guitarist) said recently "Most republican voters no longer believe in truth. They've given up on democracy. They want a strong man to rule. And they want their political opponents destroyed or killed. This ain't fringe anymore in the Republican Party."
Indeed, the surest way for a republican candidate to gain support these days is to wield a gun and threaten to kill people.

SPRINGTOWN, TX--Claudia Marie Driver, 75, passed away peacefully May 28, 2022 in Springtown, Texas.

Edna Brown, 94, passed away unexpectedly at the Seasons at Southpoint in Durham, North Carolina on Friday, June 24, 2022. She was born on September 3, 1927, to the late William and Virginia Hebron. Originally from Washington, D.C. Edna moved to Franklinton, N.C. in 2019.

LOUISBURG, NC--James Harold Gilliam, 84, of the White Level Community of Louisburg passed away on June 23, 2022. He was born on September 17, 1937, to the late Otha Vann and Eula Davis Gilliam. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Ann Nevils Gilliam and his sister, Mae Vann G. Smith.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Jesse Crews, age 74, who died on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, will be held on Saturday, July 2, at 2 p.m. at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Castalia with Pastor Bobby Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Hickory Grove Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC--Joseph Frederick Poleo, Jr., 92, of Louisburg, NC passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at his home. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Joseph Frederick Poleo and Francesca Ricciardi Poleo. Joe served his country in the United States Air Force and was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. He attended Boston Technical High School. After serving in the Air Force, he attended Ohio University obtaining a degree - BSME. He came to Greensboro, N.C. in 1960 to work for Watson Engineers on the design of heating and air conditioning systems for UNCG. He remained in Greensboro working for various companies until he moved to Louisburg in 1985. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Patty Titus.

FRANKLINTON - Few high school football players possess the attribute to be able to score every time they touch the ball -- even if they are playing defense.
But that was the case for Charles 'CJ' Dicker during his prolific playing career for the Franklinton Red Rams.
Dicker burst onto the prep scene as a junior and continued his excellence into his senior campaign -- on both offense and defense.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton is mourning the loss of one of its favorite sons after the recent passing of long-time basketball coach James Foster.
The legendary Foster passed away earlier this month at the age of 87.
"(Foster) was a dear friend, coach and colleague who I and so many others in the Franklinton High School community loved,'' said former FHS football coach and Franklin County Schools Athletic Director Tommy Piper.

LOUISBURG -- Expectations are high this coming season as the Louisburg Lady Warriors return several key players from their 2021 volleyball squad, which reached the third round of the Class 2-A State Playoffs.
Louisburg, which claimed the Big East Conference Tournament Championship, will open its 2022 campaign on August 16 with a non-league road match at Falls Lake Academy in Creedmoor.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Northern Nash's Jalen Brown and Southern Nash's Brian Batchelor will represent the Big East Conference in the upcoming North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Football Game.
The annual event will be held July 13 at 8 p.m. at historic Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Greensboro Grimsley High School.

KINSTON -- Jheremy Vargas, Jackson Chourio and Hedbert Perez all homered, but the Down East Wood Ducks totaled seven runs on 12 hits while finishing off a series sweep of the Carolina Mudcats 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium.
The loss was Carolina's season-high sixth straight.

Franklinton's CJ Dicker was a threat to score every time he touched the ball during the prep career.

Bruce Womack makes certain crops grow in an orderly fashion.

Thomas Pandolfi will return to Cherry Hill in Inez on July 3 for a 3 p.m. performance.
First performing at the Inez venue in 2008, Pandolfi's 2022 piano selections are tailor-made for an Independence Eve celebration.
American composers Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin will be featured, including the famous Rhapsody in Blue.

WHERE'S THE BEEF? FRANKLIN COUNTY. Franklin County and its cooperative extension hosted the 5-County Regional Beef Tour last week, which drew dozens of folks interested in the cattle industry to Franklin County. The tour featured two beef farms, a forage test plot and one of the county's best agri-tourism locations. Above, Sampson County Agriculture Agent Paul Gonzalez talks about fly control around herds.

ANNIVERSARY. Ed and Lynn Armstrong celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17, 2022. Surrounded by family and friends on June 17, 1972, Frances Lynn Wofford and William Edward Armstrong were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Park Forest, Illinois. Ed and Lynn marked this special anniversary with a Colonial Williamsburg weekend with friends, and will be celebrating later this summer in Murrells Inlet, SC at the beach with family.

Dr. Jane D. Steelman has been named the July Artist of the Month by the Franklin County Arts Counci.
She works in various media including pastels, charcoal, acrylic, oils, alcohol inks and stained glass. Her work varies from representational charcoals and pastels to abstract landscapes in acrylic and alcohol inks.

LOUISBURG -- Operators of the Louisburg ABC store are celebrating the store's 75th anniversary next week.
From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on July 5, operators will have a tasting and special items throughout the day.
The store opened in downtown Louisburg in July, 75 years ago, but, a short time later, moved to its location at 605 N. Bickett Boulevard.