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LOUISBURG -- The newly re-established Franklin County Animal Advisory Board has gotten a bit more hands on, touring the shelter, setting some goals and agreeing to ask county commissioners for funding to extend adoption hours.
The actions were taken during the re-constituted board's second meeting on Monday.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN. Special Olympics Franklin County held their Spring Games at Franklinton High School on April 21. Dozens of athletes competed in events, ranging from running and jumping to a softball toss. Above, Leilani Alston shows off her medal.

Franklinton Police Chief James Davis Jr. left, presented Officer Gerald Gratz with a certificate, recognizing his life-saving efforts. In March, Gratz responded to a call with a woman threatening suicide and offered her comfort while medical staff responded and treated her. The woman is recovering from the experience.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners agreed to pursue a grant that could transform the safety of downtown.
And, sitting as the board of adjustment, they issued a special use permit that, coupled with another project, could transform a quadrant of downtown.
Developer Michael Hurt needed the permit to create a mixed use development of commercial and multi-family residential space at 5 and 9 S. Main Street.

Baseball great Connor Roberson

Not much happened last week, at least not officially, but there are several very important issues simmering on the back burners.
In fact, decisions that have yet to be officially made will affect every man, woman and child living in Franklin County -- and will for years, perhaps decades, into the future.
And that should serve as a reminder -- a wake up call -- for everyone to sit up and pay attention, even at a time when virtually every American is sick, tired and disgusted about the antics of our politicians.

I'm not going to lie because, at my age, it's easier to remember the truth: When I got my first cow chip bingo assignment in the fall of 2009, I certainly wondered, 'what have I gotten myself into?!?'
I had been at the paper for about seven years so, by no means was this going to be the first time that I was in close proximity to cows doing their business.
But, just to give you my history, while I was born and raised in the Bull City, I had never been to a farm, nor had any interest in the digestive system of any beast.

Each spring, Franklin County Schools makes a funding request of the local Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the upcoming year. This budget request reflects a commitment to the goals identified in FCS Blueprint 2025 - our strategic plan, including Goal 1: Preparing FCS Students for College, Career and Life Beyond the Classroom; Goal 2: Achieving Student Success in Academic Areas; Goal 3: Creating a Safe, Orderly and Caring Environment, and Goal 4: Recruiting and Retaining High-Quality Staff.

Dear editor: In a recent newspaper edition, several Franklinton high school students were featured expressing their concerns to the county commissioners about the so-called man-made climate change hysteria.

LOUISBURG, NC--Ms. Shirley Ann Tant, 68, of Louisburg passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023. She was born to the late John Tant and Inez Batchelor Tant on November 21, 1954, in Franklin County, North Carolina.

BUNN -- Hone some skills and gain some much-needed course knowledge -- that was the theme of the final Big East Conference regular season boys golf match Monday at The River GC.
The nine-hole event was staged on the front nine at The River -- the same layout that hosted Wednesday's 18-hole league championships.

BUNN -- Nash Central scored early and late -- and held off Bunn in between -- in order to gain a key Big East Conference road softball victory last Thursday at BHS' Ladycat Field.
Needing a triumph to remain part of a three-way tie for first place, the Lady Bulldogs erupted early to what appeared to be a commanding seven-run cushion.

LOUISBURG -- Excitement was abundant Monday as the Louisburg Parks and Recreation Department kicked off its annual T-Ball season with a pair of hotly contested matchups at the Joyner Park Fields.
In one of the games, the Storm tangled with the Mud Hens, and both squads showed tremendous skill and enthusiasm.

KINSTON -- Luke Adams hit his team -leading third home run of the season in the fourth and Jace Avina added a two-run blast of his own moments later as the visiting Carolina Mudcats finished off a doubleheader sweep of the Down East Wood Ducks with a 4-3 victory in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Grainger Stadium.

BUNN -- Holding serve in the Big East Conference standings was the main goal for the Southern Nash Firebirds during last week's key league series against backyard rival Bunn.
Southern held off a late Wildcats' threat in last Tuesday's opener at home before hitting the road for BHS for last Thursday's series finale.

JC WRIGHT OF THE MUD HENS CONCENTRATES ON THE BALL

GREYSON LEE OF THE MUD HENS FIELDS HIS POSITION (This photo is for you, Lori)

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Arts Council is planning a Celebrating Diversity in the Arts event, a free talent show, cultural performance arts showcase and artist vendor market in downtown Louisburg.
The event is planned from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 10,
The event is to feature music, shopping, art, and activities for the whole family.

LEXINGTON, VA -- Matthew Przybyl, a native of Youngsville, was recently initiated into the Campbell University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.
The Society welcomed 787 new initiates from 32 universities during March 2023.

FRANKLINTON -- Folks who operate a community garden in town have asked town officials to continue seeding their efforts.
For about the last five years, volunteers have toiled at the Franklinton Community Garden, providing produce and food stuffs for folks in and around town.
During the Franklinton Board of Commissioner's March 21 meeting, group organizer Bernie Meader updated officials on their progress, and also asked for help.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town officials and staff say the Main Street project remains on schedule and plans to build a bypass around Youngsville continue to gain speed.
During the board's April 13 meeting, Town Administrator Nathan Page updated the board on both projects.
First, Page shared, the Main Street Improvement Project is on schedule for a summer completion.

LOUISBURG -- County Manager Kim Denton updated officials on management's efforts to rollout a plan to compensate county employees for good work.
"We have been working on this for over a year now," County Manager Kim Denton told commissioners during their April 3 meeting.
Commissioners put more than $30,000 in the current budget to train employees and supervisors about how the pay for performance plan will work. Another $30,500 was budgeted to buy the software platform for the evaluation process.

EARTH DAY, BUT INDOORS. The Franklin County Arts Council hosted Earth Day festivities at its Gallery on Nash on April 22. The event was scheduled for Riverbend Park, but the threat of inclement weather moved the celebration indoors. Still, the event featured interactive activities for kids and adults, including planting tips and survival skills. Above, Arts Council Board member Evelyn Weaver demonstrates planting techniques.