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LOUISBURG -- Much of Monday night's Louisburg Town Council meeting was deja vu all over again (with a tip of the hat to Yogi Berra for that phrase) since much of the meeting was a rehash of action taken at the June council meeting.
Louisburg Zoning and Planning Administrator Philip Slayter told the council that there may have been a "procedural defect" in the way the June meeting notification was handled so a major part of this week's meeting rehashed the previous action so that, in Slayter's words, "we have a nice, clean rezoning."

GOLD RUSH. Members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Haliwa-Saponi in Indian Country visited Steve Bland's Portis Gold Mine last week, learning about the history of mining for gold, while trying their hands at the age-old practice. Above, Camp Manager Ariel Hewlin and Camp Specialist Nayeli Ortiz, standing in the red shirts, help, from left, John Freeman and Daniel Vanskiver pan for gold while Sadie Berstain and Anaya Evans look on.

If you're among those concerned about the long-awaited completion of the four-laning of U.S. 401 from Royal north to Louisburg, then you should plan to be in Durham next week to tell officials how you feel.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Division 5 office will be hosting an open house from July 25 to July 29 and staff will be available all day to answer questions, from the public and well as municipal and county officials.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The town's Main Street Improvement Project is well underway with a summer 2023 end date and a goal to make the downtown commute a bit smoother.
The project's start, was a little rocky, though, which was kind of expected.
"Everything is going as smoothly as one could expect," Town Administrator Nathan Page told commissioners during the board's July 14 meeting.

RALEIGH -- A superior court judge is set to hear a motion that will help determine the former clerk of court's political future.
On April 5, Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Lock entered an order that permanently disqualified Patricia Burnette Chastain from holding the office ever again.
Lock's decision was the latest ruling in a legal battle that began in July 2020, when Louisburg attorney Jeffrey Scott Thompson petitioned the court to remove Chastain, alleging that she violated her oath of office and acted erratically.

FRANKLINTON -- Officials granted a special use permit that would allow two farmers to open a roadside market downtown.
Joni McPhetridge and Crystal Hobby formed The Local Fix LLC in May, have secured a lease for two small parcels behind the town's parking lot and, on Tuesday night, asked the town's Board of Adjustment for a special use permit to operate a roadside farmers' market at the location.

Bunn resident Carson Murray

Momentum. The good old dictionary offers this as one definition: the impetus gained by a moving object.
As an example, it cited that "the vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped."
Anyone from backgrounds as diverse as high school football coach to the chief executive officer of a major corporation will tell you that achieving momentum toward their goals is difficult.

So, I came across a story on WRAL.com with the headline: Wake County median home sale price climbs to new high in June: $493,161.
According to the TechWire story, the increase came at a time when other signs appeared to show that the housing market had slowed.
But, here we are.
It made me want to check out what's going on in Franklin County.

Dear editor:
I would like to correct an error in the article written by you on the front page of your July 7, 2022 edition entitled "Schools dip into savings, put focus on recruiting, keeping quality staff."

LOUISBURG, NC--Nancy Faye Bowden Edwards, 83, of Louisburg died July 19, 2022. Nancy was born on October 5, 1938 to the late Marvin Wesley and Mayce Olive Truckner Bowden. In addition to her parents, Nancy was predeceased by her husband, John Boyd Edwards and her sister, Mildred B. Carter.

GARNER -- It was a grand return to Garner for the Louisburg 12-Under Baseball Team at the annual Tar Heel District 5 Baseball Tournament.
One year ago, this same group had fallen in heartbreaking fashion -- coming up just short of a district title and a state berth.
They were determined to win it all this time around -- and succeeded in resounding fashion at the Garner Baseball Complex in Wake County.

DANVILLE, VA. -- As much as Ric Yarbrough loves playing basketball -- and he certainly does -- there is one endeavor he possesses an even larger passion for.
Coaching.
And it doesn't matter which level or which gender -- Yarbrough simply loves coaching basketball.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash made plenty of upward progression with its volleyball program under the direction of Bunn native Melanie Hicks, including a few near-miss playoff opportunities before the pandemic struck.
But the Ladybirds bottomed out last fall following the graduation of a veteran senior class. Southern Nash, with one of its youngest-ever squads, went 0-19 overall and failed to win a match in the always-competitive Big East Conference.

ZEBULON - Jesus Chirinos homered in the second, Hedbert Perez hit a two-run blast in the fifth, and Jeferson Quero went 3-for-5 with two doubles, but the Delmarva Shorebirds rallied late with a four run eighth while finishing off a 10-4 victory versus the homestanding Carolina Mudcats on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

Rhonda Stallings and Quincy Eans were married May 28, 2022 at Inversion Church in Raleigh, N.C.
Rhonda is the daughter of Eula Smith Stallings of Louisburg, N.C. and the late Elder Jimmy Stallings. Quincy is the son of Charlie Eans of Timmonsville, S.C. and the late Pricilla Eans.

The Kid's Corner in Louisburg, held their graduation in May. Pictured in front row, left to right: Carlos "David" Campos, Anson Gilliamin, Easton Holmes, Carson Thompson and Jasper Gilliam; back row, left to right: Barbara Coons (Assistant Teacher); Koa Moore, Kaylynne Shearin, Haddie Shearin, Ryan Osso, Landon Robinson, Heidi "NovaLee Baker, Pierson Wood and Tina Holden (Lead Teacher).

LOUISBURG -- A case alleging a former teacher and, by proxy, the board of education, was responsible for an assault on a special needs student was continued until next year.
In April 2021, Jennifer Watson and Lee Ossino filed a complaint in Franklin County Civil Superior Court, alleging that Franklinton Elementary exceptional children teacher assistant Margaret Harris hit their daughter with a metal spoon, causing physical and emotional injuries.

LAKE ROYALE -- Police arrested a Lake Royale man they allege assaulted someone with a knife.
Jeremy King, 41, was arrested July 14 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
According to authorities, just before 8 p.m. Lake Royale officers were made aware of a disturbance that had occurred at the Star Mart.

WARRENTON -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklin County man on gun charges.
According to authorities, Cameron Burnette and another man got into an argument in the area of Jordan School Road and Hayes Drive -- in the Warrenton area of Franklin County.

Boys & Girls Club of the Haliwa-Saponi in Indian Country camp member Sadie Bernstein pulls a "gold nugget," demonstrating what gold mine operator Steve Bland taught camp members last week. She's joined by Elijah Davis, left, and Camp Manager Ariel Hewlin, red shirt. The camp members from Hollister visited the northeastern Franklin County gold mine late last week as part of a field trip.

LOUISBURG -- Maria Parham Franklin will hold a company-wide Job Fair on Thursday, July 28 from 4-7 p.m.
Representatives will be present from several departments, prepared to take applications and in some cases, make job offers on the spot.
Positions are available in most departments, both clinical and non-clinical.