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FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The State Board of Transportation adopted its latest 10-year transportation plan, keeping the latest portion of U.S. 401 on track.
And, state Department of Transportation staff said the under-construction portion of U.S. 401 is slated to be wrapped up by mid to late July.
"We have completed the final layer of asphalt on the entire project," save for the U.S. 401/N.C. 96 intersection," said DOT spokesperson Aaron Moody.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners held up their end of the bargain, adopting an agreement that will define annexation and planning boundaries between Youngsville and Franklinton for the next two decades.
Earlier this spring, Youngsville commissioners began efforts to update the town's charter, which includes a proposal to be able to extend their extraterritorial jurisdiction two miles beyond corporate limits, rather than the customary one mile. Apparently, Franklinton was considering the same thing.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Nearly 300 Lousburg and Bunn High students turned their tassels on Monday and Tuesday.
Hundreds more took part in the same ceremony at Franklinton High School. [Those pictures and story will appear in next week's edition as their ceremony took place post deadline).
Louisburg held their festivities first, with the two highest performing students urging students to find balance, be kind and let success speak for you.

Hassan Carlos grabs his diploma.

BHS. Salutatorian John Carpenter Spivey (L) and Valedictorian Lance Williams (R) offer words of encouragement

BHS grad Pamela Mann

Can you believe it? Today is the middle of June -- and in just two weeks and a day, it will be the end of June and the halfway point through 2023!
Time certainly flies and this year is no exception.
At least we've been blessed with a long, pleasant spring without a single 90 degree day yet. Hope you've had time to get outside and enjoy!
Now that the kids are out of school, it's the perfect time for some family fun and creating memories they'll remember for a lifetime.

For half my life, I've been covering municipal governments, in some form or fashion.
And, I can tell you that of the thousands of meetings I've covered in that time, I'm sure I wouldn't have to take my shoes off to count the number of times a meeting space has been as packed and as vocal as the Franklin County Board of Commissioner's meeting space was during their June 5 session.
In fact, interested parties filled the space to overflowing, taking up the meeting space, the lobby and hallway, as well as some nearby office space.

Dear editor: Regarding the Louisburg Town Council's most recent attempt to appear transparent concerning the matter of the illegal moving of our beloved Confederate monument in June, 2020, there needs to be a complete accounting of the actual relocation costs as well as attorney fees resulting from the ongoing and well-founded lawsuit against the town.

Dear editor: Trump enters the auditorium.
Prudence rushes to the center aisle.
Prudence is a Democrat, but she hasn't been groped in awhile.

HENDERSON, NC -- Dennis Wayne Roberson, 76, of Epsom, passed away on June 11, 2023. He was born on May 2, 1947, the son of the late William and Mary Mayes Roberson. In addition to his parents, Dennis was predeceased by siblings, Jean Bowden, Billy Roberson, Sidney Roberson, and Ricky Roberson.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for James Vance "Junior" Harris, age 69, who died on Sunday, June 11, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2023 from Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Maris Ozolins, 82, of Franklinton, NC died on June 10, 2023. He was born in Riga, Latvia on June 1, 1941 to the late Artrus and Madra Silins Ozolins. In addition to his parents, Maris was predeceased by his brother, Ugis Ozolins; and his stepson, Michael Vincent Siry.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Michael "Good Foot" Perry, age 65, who died on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from the Ambassadors for Christ Ministries in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Cedar Rock Church Cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Zachary Dillon Walker, of Youngsville, passed away on June 6, 2023. He was born on September 20, 1993, the son of Donna Overbey Walker and the late Mark Dwayne Walker.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Seven standouts from Franklin County -- including a trio of stars from Franklinton -- have been selected to the 2023 All-Big East Conference Girls Soccer First Team.
Franklinton, which went 12-10-1 overall and 6-8 in the Big East, enjoyed a renaissance campaign this spring under the direction of first-year head coach Bri Folds. And with so many young players, the Lady Rams boast plenty of potential for the future.

RED OAK -- A left-handed hitting, power-bat catcher known just as much for his defensive work as his offensive mastery.
From a college recruiting standpoint, what's not to like?
Which is exactly when Northern Nash senior star backstop Danny O'Brien received interest from so many next-level schools before deciding to star close to home and ink a deal with Louisburg College, a National Junior College Athletic Association titan located in Franklin County.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Ric Yarbrough has enjoyed the good fortune of playing under some of the area's top basketball coaches, and he's taken lessons from all of them and stored them away for future reference.
For Yarbrough, that future is now as the Bunn High School graduate and Franklinton native has been on an upward swing in the coaching profession on the high school, AAU and collegiate levels.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School will be saying goodbye to the Big East Conference and hello to the Northern Lakes Conference beginning this fall in all sports.
LHS will find some familiar opponents in the NLC -- including several old rivals from the now-defunct Northern Carolina Conference.
Louisburg's first Northern Lakes football event will be September 15 on the road against Carrboro.

BRANDON RAYMAN OF THE MUD HENS CONCENTRATES ON THE BALL

LANGSTON MILTON OF THE YARD GOATS GETS READY TO MAKE CONTACT

ZEBULON - Kay-Lan Nicasia hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Quinton Low had a double in the fifth and Shane Smith struck out three over a scoreless inning in relief, but the Fayetteville Woodpeckers homered three times while defeating the homestanding Carolina Mudcats for the sixth straight game 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education worked quickly through a routine business agenda, Monday night, including taking a few minutes to honor Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, on their way to the graduation ceremonies for the Louisburg High School Class of 2023.
Dr. Schuhler was presented a "Frankie," a small statue that the district gives to special honorees, after she was elected to represent the CCRESA as their Regional Superintendent of the Year.

RALEIGH -- The State Board of Elections will host a public demonstration of a new voting system under consideration for use in North Carolina elections.
The event will be held from June 27, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Room 2009 on the Second Floor of the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury Street.
In January, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) requested certification of its voting system equipment.

FRANKLINTON -- A Franklinton man died from injuries he sustained in a single-vehicle wreck.
The State Highway Patrol reported that Harry Truman Green, 75, was traveling along Ballard Pruitt Road, near West River Road, when he entered a curve.
Green continued straight, instead, running off the road and hitting a tree during the early morning hours of June 2.
Green, who was the only person in the vehicle, died two days later from his injuries.