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YOUNGSVILLE -- According to court records, a 16-year-old accused of causing a wreck that killed a 12-year-old may have been racing at the time of the wreck.
And, he told authorities that he received a ticket the day before the fatal crash for going 95 mph in a 55-mph zone.
Franklin County school system staff confirmed that Cedar Creek Middle School student Madison Camptella, 12, died from injuries sustained in the evening wreck on May 23.

FRANKLINTON -- Town officials took the first step toward keeping cut-through traffic off a main town artery.
At the same meeting, residents asked staff and officials to take even more steps to improve traffic and roads in town.
During the board's May 16 meeting, officials adopted a resolution removing the U.S. 1-Alternate designation from the more than 2.5 miles of Main Street that runs from U.S. 1 near Lindsay Precast, north to U.S. 1 at Mann Street.

LOUISBURG -- Six months into his tenure as sheriff, Kevin White hosted an awards and promotion ceremony that he hopes to make an annual event.
"... As a long-standing deputy sheriff, I recognize the vital role these deputies perform in our communities, daily," White said from inside the Franklin Plaza Training Room filled with deputies, first responders, their families and friends.
"It brings me a large amount of pride to see these outstanding individuals being honored," he said.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County authorities continue to investigate a house fire that claimed the life of a woman and her dog.
Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White identified the woman as Bertha Crudup, 81, of 12 Harris Way -- east of Franklinton.
According to authorities, deputies responded to the home before 10 p.m. on May 25 to find it fully engulfed in flames.
Family and neighbors advised them that a woman -- later identified as Crudup -- was trapped inside.

Louisburg T-Ball standout Kennedy Burnette

Greetings ... and here's hoping everyone is drying out and warming up after a very chilly and wet Memorial Day weekend!
If you didn't have a calender, you might have thought it was mid-March instead of late May this year the way Mother Nature was behaving.
Can't remember a recent Memorial Day weekend that was both as chilly and wet as this one -- and hopefully it'll be awhile before we have another like it.

There has been lots of discussion over the past few weeks on the issue of funding.
As a district, Franklin County Schools has worked to inform our school community of the rationale for our significant increase in asking for next year for current expenses -- $3,417,214.

Dear editor: My wife and I moved to Louisburg in Franklin County over four decades ago. My wife has served as librarian at our Franklin County Library, at Louisburg Elementary School and at Louisburg College. I just completed a 40-year career as a professor, also at Louisburg College. Both of our daughters attended the Franklin County Public School System from K/12. Our experience with the administration, faculty, and coaches cemented our family's bond to Louisburg and Franklin County.

Dear editor: As we protect infant birthrights, the citizens and voters of Franklin County are committed to nurturing public school children and supporting the efforts of teachers, staff, and administrators through our local tax dollars.
Funding for public education is both a priority and obligation. Make it happen. No budget reductions. Full appropriations.

Dear editor: I strongly believe the Franklin County Commissioners should pass the budget presented by the Franklin County School Board for the 2023-24 year.
The non-partisan Franklin County School board carefully considered the needs of all students in Franklin County.
They presented a budget based on growth in Franklin County, as well as inflation.

Dear editor: This letter is being written to demonstrate our unanimous support of the Franklin County Schools' budget recommendation to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
We are a non-partisan board, duly elected by the citizens of Franklin County, to meet the educational needs of the children of our county.

Dear editor: I'm very disappointed about the $4 million budget cut to the Franklin County School system. As a parent, all people want the best education for their children.
A large budget cut takes away very important resources from the students and teachers. The public school system is in a crisis and our students and teachers deserve better!

Dear editor:
I'm writing to urge the County Commission to reconsider the considerable financial reduction in the education budget for Franklin County. According to a recent article by Carey Johnson, reviewing the County Manager's proposed new budget and its accompanying logic:

Dear editor:
The Franklin County Commissioners should recognize what a strong and well/funded public education system is as an inducement to economic development.
When money is taken away and enrollment increases, the lapse is a lapse in the commissioners' responsibility to the county's citizens to promote their job opportunities and welfare ... and to provide a sound education for their children.

Dear editor,
I am writing to express my strong support for FULLY FUNDING public education in Franklin County. Unfortunately, our public schools continue to face inadequate resources and inadequate funding. Class sizes are increasing, teacher morale is low, and many essential educational programs and services are being cut or eliminated altogether. This is unacceptable.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Our Mother, Barbara Herring Perry, passed peacefully at home on Monday, May 22, 2023. She was 88 years old. Barbara was married to our father, James Kearney Perry, until his passing in 1996. She was a devoted mother, wife and friend. She is survived by her four children, five grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her beloved cat, Carlee.

Franklinton, NC-- Funeral services for Bertha "Fat" Crudup, age 81, who died on Thursday, May 25, 2023, will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. K.G. Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Walnut Grove Church Cemetery.

DURHAM, NC--Donnel Haywood, Jr., age 52 of Durham, NC died May 16, 2023.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Eddie Goodwin, 61, of Franklinton passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. He was born on September 30, 1961, the son of the late Eddie Lee and Frances Wood Goodwin. In addition to his parents, Eddie was predeceased by his brothers, Michael Delrow Goodwin, William Stanley Goodwin, Marty Goodwin, and Johnnie Goodwin.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Eddie Tommy "E.T." Jones, age 65, who died on Saturday, May 13, 2023, was held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Rachel Drumgold officiating. Burial followed in the Mary Helen Jones Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC - Ruby Murray Dement, 97, of Louisburg, passed away Friday afternoon, May 26, 2023, at her home.

BUNN -- Multi-sport standouts who earned the respect of their coaches, teammates and opponents -- that was the story behind the respective four-year athletic careers of Carlee Tart and Damarion Watkins at Bunn High School.
Now seniors who are closing out their time at Bunn, Tart and Watkins were saluted as BHS' Athletes of the Year during the school's annual Athletic Awards Ceremony last Thursday at the BHS Auditorium.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Going back to his freshman season, Landen Holloman was a day-one force for the Nash Central High School boys tennis program -- and has continued to get better and better as his prep career has marched on.
But Holloman took things even further as a senior in 2023 as he dominated his Big East Conference competition en route to qualifying for the Class 2-A Regional Championships. He notched a victory at the regionals and came within one match of making the states.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Roanoke Rapids' dominance of the Big East Conference boys golf standings this spring was so complete that the Yellow Jackets' entire scoring lineup has been named to the all-league squad for the 2023 campaign.
Included on that list is RR's Wyatt Beaver, who was tabbed as the Big East Golfer of the Year after compiling the lowest cumulative individual scoring total.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Louisburg College softball team wrapped up its record-breaking season last week by taking part in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament at Duncan Park in the Palmetto State.
After finishing fourth among 16 teams competing for a national championship at the NJCAA DII World Series, the Lady Hurricanes will be remembered as one of the greatest clubs to wear a 'Canes uniform.

HENDERSON -- Jay Wright of the Sandy Creek Bassmasters (boater) and Stephen Barr (non-boater) are headed to the 2024 BASS National Championship to fish for two of the three BASS Master Classic Invitations that will be up for grabs.
Both were crowned Kerr Lake Champions on March 17 and, under the new format adopted by BASS earlier this year, they are headed straight to the fight for those top three spots in the BASS Master Classic -- the Holy Grail of bass fishing.

FABULOUS FOUR AT FRANKLINTON. Franklinton High School recently held a signing ceremony for four student-athletes as they have finalized their respective college decisions. Pictured are (l to r) Lucas Kelly (soccer, Liberty University); Brady Groves (baseball, Oberlin College); Billy Bell (wrestling, Queens University) and Da'Kari Jones (basketball, Methodist University).

LYNCHBURG, VA. -- Luke Adams hit a solo home run in the first, Jose Sibrian hit a three-run blast in the second and starter Will Rudy pitched through five scoreless innings with five strikeouts as the Carolina Mudcats defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats 5-1 in Tuesday's series opener at Bank of James Stadium in Lynchburg.
Adams got the Mudcats (25-18) going early with a two-out solo home run off Hillcats (22-24) starter Alonzo Richardson in the first.

When the Louisburg Lions Club found out that the Terrell Lane Middle School cafeteria fund was facing a shortage at the end of the year because some students were unable to fully pay for their lunches, the Lions decided to help out. The club recently presented a check for $1,380 to the school to erase this year's deficit.

BUNN -- Town commissioners approved a $1.7 million status quo budget during a meeting where commissioners discussed other funding commitments, ranging from sidewalks to computer equipment to cemetery upkeep.
The board's May 22 budget hearing didn't generate any public comment and later, during the board's regular meeting, commissioners approved a 2023-24 budget that uses $642,222 to cover general fund functions and $1.1 million in water and sewer expenses.

WHITE LEVEL -- A 60-year-old man was transported to the hospital in critical condition following a four-wheeler accident.
Authorities responded to the 100 block of Dorsey Road just after 1 p.m. on May 30 to find the man suffering from injuries sustained in a crash.
Authorities attempted to schedule a transport via helicopter however, the nature of his injuries and the estimated response time for a LifeFlight helicopter prompted Franklin County emergency crews to transport the man via ambulance.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police and the State Highway Patrol combined to arrest a man on drug and gun charges.
Herman Daniel Jr., 46, was arrested May 30 and charged with possession with intent to sell manufacture and deliver marijuana, and carrying a concealed handgun.
According to Louisburg Police, the incident was reported just before 11 p.m. on May 29 on Golden Leaf Drive.
The State Highway Patrol is listed as the arresting agency.

Sheriff Kevin White, right, poses with Dep. Christian Earls.

Sheriff Kevin White, right, poses with Cpl. Adam Callahan.