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LOUISBURG -- No changes were made to the county's $111 million spending proposal during a budget session last week.
But, two of the county's commissioners made pleas on behalf of the Board of Education.
County Manager Kim Denton presented a 2023-24 budget to commissioners at their May 15 meeting -- proposing to add new employees, more pay, more vehicles and more resources to county departments, as well as increasing spending for public education.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council slashed about $4 million in department requests -- mostly from fire and police -- in an effort to balance the budget.
The action came during a two-hour budget work session where officials essentially took a line-by-line look at Town Manager Sean Medlin's proposed spending plan for 2023-24.
The session generated a buffet of conversations -- from the town's defense of moving the Confederate monument [See sidebar] to chastising its streets department for tall grass and weeds along its most visible thoroughfare.

LONG-TIME LOCAL BUSINESS CLOSING. Pruitt Lumber Company, located on NC 56 East in Louisburg, will be closing this summer, although no firm date has been set. The announcement was made this week, although it's likely that some work at the mill, which mainly processes southern yellow pine lumber, will remain operational for a few weeks, perhaps through June.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Consultants are still on track to present officials, staff and residents in October with a plan that maps out the town's development and transportation needs for the next 20-plus years.
Youngsville hired 3TP Ventures in the fall to craft its Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan -- which will help guide residential, commercial and transportation growth and development up through 2050.

LOUISBURG -- During its recent budget session, Louisburg Town Council members said they need to be more transparent about what they're spending to defend itself against the Confederate monument lawsuit.
In June of 2020, Council members Christopher Neal, Betty Wright, Boyd Sturges and Emma Stewart voted to move the monument -- arguing that it was the best decision as the matter of Confederate statues inflamed passions across the country and caused heartburn locally.

Mary Dimaio at the Franklinton Senior Center

Greetings. Don't look now but that's the Memorial Day weekend looming before us.
And we know what that means -- the unofficial beginning of summer and dealing with the echoes from kids about "there's nothing to do" now that most are out of school for a few weeks.
According to the weather forecasters -- now there's a "credible" source!?" -- this weekend promises to be fairly nice with a few chances for showers, but that's okay, it is spring in North Carolina after all.

I would love to tell you how many budget sessions I've attended in the past couple of weeks, but it's been so many, I'm starting to see numbers in my nightmares, so I'm too scared to count anything.
So, because of that, I'm taking a bit of a mental break from counting and will attempt to talk about a topic I didn't really know existed.
I can't lie, when I saw this CNN headline -- New York City is sinking due to its million-plus buildings, study says -- I thought I might still be dreaming.

Dear editor:
At the May 15 Franklin County Board of Commissioners' meeting, County Manager Kim Denton presented her FY24 budget to the Board of Commissioners. Her presentation included the largest cut to a Franklin County Schools budget ever seen: $4.1 million dollars ($4,150,330). This cut, if sustained, would be disastrous for both our schools and the county for the following reasons.

Henderson, NC--Donald Wayne Ray, died May 21, 2023. He was born on September 22, 1966, to the late John "Skeeter" and Margie Lindsey Ray.

VIENNA, VA--Herman (Reggie) Tharrington Jr., 84, of Vienna, Virginia, died Thursday, May 18, 2023 at his home.

Kittrell, NC--Howell Lee Jones of Kittrell peacefully passed into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday evening May 2, 2023. Though battling various aggressive cancers, he celebrated his 93rd birthday this year and lived each day as fully as possible with a joke and a smile. He was able to spend his last days at home with friends, family, aides, and his beloved little pup, Sweetie, by his side.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School capped off another successful sports season by holding its annual Athletic Awards Ceremony at the LHS Auditorium.
A pair of senior standouts were saluted as the school's Athletes of the Year.
Greenleigh Gleason, who starred in volleyball, softball and basketball for the Warriors, was tabbed as the Female Athlete of the Year.

LOUISBURG -- Another season passes on the Louisburg High School hardwood, and another Warrior commits to continue his career at the collegiate level.
Marcus Portis recently became the next college-bound player from the Warriors as he decided to commit and play not far from home for the legendary Coach John Thompson at North Carolina Wesleyan University in nearby Rocky Mount.

SOUTHERN PINES -- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association hosted its annual men's golf state championships on May 15-16.
William Dement of Louisburg High School qualified for the Class 2-A classification after carding an 85 in the 2-A Mideast Regionals held at The River Golf Club at Lake Royale in Franklin County.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- A basketball junkie and coaching lifer -- those are two of the best phrases to describe the legendary Gerald Melton.
And Melton isn't about to stop yet, despite putting together an amazing career that has included coaching stops at Southern Nash (girls), Bunn (boys) and, most recently, East Wake (boys).

ZEBULON -- Will Rudy started and pitched through five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, Jheremy Vargas went 2-for-5 with two doubles and Gregory Barrios drove in two runs while going 1-for-4, but the homestanding Carolina Mudcats lost a 3-0 fifth inning lead in a series opening 9-5 loss to Down East Wood Ducks on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Caleb Garcia of Castalia, a student from Kenny Buffaloe's Kyokushin Karate Class in Roanoke Rapids, recently competed and won 1st place in the "2023 North Carolina Kyokushin Karate Inter-Dojo Kumite (Fighting) Competition" in Roanoke Rapids on April 22
Local North Carolina students earned 1st and 2nd place awards (trophies) in several categories in Kyokushin Karate Kumite (Contact Fighting) in male and female divisions.

MJ EPPS - LOUISBURG HIGH SCHOOL MALE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

WESSON GARDNER SWINGS FOR THE IRONBIRDS

(L TO R) JC WRIGHT AND GREYSON LEE WAIT FOR THEIR TURN AT BAT

HIGHEST RANK. George Walter Perry Manley and Charlie Isiah Perry Manley, grandsons of George and Geraldine Manley of Louisburg, have both earned Eagle Scout badges. George Walter earned his rank on October 11, 2022, followed by his younger brother, Charlie Isiah on December 13, 2022. They reside in Greensboro with their parents George Thurston Manley and Faye Perry Manley. They are members of the Old North State Council #175. George Walter will be attending High Point University in the fall. Above photo: Pauline Perry, Charlie Isiah Perry Manley, George Walter Perry Manley and Geraldine Manley.

The 7th and 8th grade bands from Crosscreek Charter School in Louisburg traveled to the Kings Dominion Band Festival on Friday, May 12 and earned top honors.
The 8th grade band received a Superior rating, scoring 90 out of 100 points, and was recognized as First Place Band in Class A.
The trumpet section from the 8th grade band was recognized as "Best Trumpet Section" of bands performing that day.

Franklin County 4-H'er, Emma Haynes attended the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. in April.
Emma said, "National 4-H Conference 2023 was a trip to remember! From getting 10 million blisters on my feet to meeting our senators and representatives, including Senator Ted Budd, it was a trip I will never forget."
"My roundtable topic was 'Accurate & Inclusive History Education,' so we presented our thought-out presentation to the Smithsonian Institution on Monday, April 17.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The State Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a Ceder Creek Middle School student.
Another student, according to authorities, was also injured in the accident, which was reported the evening of May 23.
That student, according to school staff, is in critical condition.
Immediate attempts to contact the State Highway Patrol were not successful.

ROCKY MOUNT -- In a continuing effort to provide more services online, the State Division of Motor Vehicles will now allow residents with a State ID card to renew online and teen drivers with a Level 3 Full Provisional License to upgrade to a regular Class C license up to one year after expiration.
Previously, once these credentials had expired, these renewals and upgrades had to be done in-person at a driver license office.
Regular Class C driver licenses can already be renewed up to two years after expiration.

BUNN -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Bunn High teacher on charges of inappropriate activity with a student.
According to a school system spokesperson, on May 15, school staff was made aware of a text communication between Zachary Michael Reynolds and a student.
The school system notified its human resources department, which immediately suspended Reynolds with pay.
School staff said they then notified law enforcement of the allegations.

Sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklin County man on sexual offense charges.
Nelson Jeovan Fuentes, 34, was arrested on May 17 and charged with two counts of second degree forcible sex offense and one count of sexual battery.
The arrest, authorities said, was the result of an investigation conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division regarding a sexual assault.

WARRENTON -- A Memorial Day weekend service will mark the opening of a new park in neighboring Warren County.
The public is invited to an outdoor service remembering the sacrifice of this country's military veterans beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27 at Homestead Farm in south Warren County.
The service will include a message and prayer from an Army veteran minister, patriotic songs and a flag raising.

First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival has been postponed until Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4. There will be hot air balloon launches, music, food, and more. For details about launch times and an activity schedule, go to ncmemorialballoonfest.com