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GREENSBORO -- Never give up.
That's been one of the central themes of Henry Drake's 10-year tenure as the head coach at Northern Nash High School -- and it was on full display to the rest of the state during Monday's North Carolina East-West All-Stars Men's Basketball Game at the Greensboro Coliseum Annex.

GREENSBORO -- Both professionally and geographically, Thurman Jordan has come full circle during his career as a teacher and high school basketball coach.
If you drew a line around the places Jordan has coached in order -- Franklinton, Holly Springs, Durham Hillside and Rolesville -- you could make a circle.
And you could say the same thing about Jordan's career in general, from his first position at Franklinton over 20 years ago before undertaking an odyssey that brought the respected Jordan through schools in Wake and Durham Counties before his recent stint at Rolesville High School, where he has spent the past six seasons.

GARNER -- The Louisburg 15-U All-Star baseball team is headed to states after a dominant four-game sweep through the Tar Heel District Tournament, which was held last week at North Garner Middle School in Wake County.
The All-Stars got off to a hot start on July 8 when they exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning in their tourney opener against the Wendell All-Stars.
That would be far more than Braden Jackson needed on the mound.

LOUISBURG 15-UNDER ALL-STARS / TAR HEEL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

GREENSBORO -- Having the opportunity to coach in the East-West All-Star Games is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
That's because coaches are chosen only once in their careers, so it's best to make the most of the chance.
Of course, that's what Henry Drake has been doing at Northern Nash since he took over the Fighting Knights' boys basketball program 11 years ago.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. -- The Carolina Mudcats prevailed in the final game before the All-Star break beating the homestanding Fredericksburg Nationals 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
Carolina (50-34 overall, 9-10 second half) took a quick lead in the opening frame on a two-run smash by Yhoswar Garcia.

RALEIGH -- The following Franklin County students were named to the Spring semester Dean's List at North Carolina State University:
Mira Rose Valentino, Walker Robert Carraway, Dayani Canales-San Agustin, Emma Hester (perfect 4.0 average), Paige Bailey Morrison (perfect 4.0 average), Galen Jeffrey Day, Christian Joseph DiLorenzo, Collin Glenn Daniel; Seth Reynolds Cockman (perfect 4.0 average), Kathryn Savannah Wilson, Spencer Wiseman;

GRADUATION DAY. Kid's Corner Childcare in Louisburg held their Pre-K graduation in May. Graduates, left to right, seated: Maria Fernanda Campos, Everleigh Spencer, Kade Bissett, and Alma Wolf; standing left to right: Jamison Ayscue, Louis Cheek, Frederick Elliott, and Paxton Wammock. Instructor Tina Holden proudly poses with her students.

ABC Adventures Preschool and Childcare held their graduation recently at the center. From left: Bella Ashworth, Angel Barba Escobar, Railyn Evans, Adelyn Abbott, Connor Allen, Ahri Meyers, Rayne Bowden, Dallas Loud, Bryan Mendoza Puga, Lauryn Parker, Jaquis Jackson, Aubre Seward, Bryson Davis, Grayson Abbott, Ian Mendoza, and Melanie Ortiz Rodriguez.

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are a warm season crop that grows best at average air temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees.
The soil temperature at a 3-4 depth should be 60-65 degrees before the crop is planted. Melon seeds do not germinate well in cold soils.
Watermelon seeds can be planted directly in the garden or transplants can be grown for an early start. Seeds or transplants should be planted in rows that are spaced 6-8 feet apart and plants should be spaced 5-6 feet apart in the row. A good rule of thumb is to allow 24 square feet per plant.

LOUISBURG -- As the Board of Equalization and Review, county commissioners pushed up the deadline by which it will accept challenges to property assessments.
In June, commissioners agreed that they would give property owners until the end of October to file appeals. That decision came over the objections of Franklinton officials and staff, who said that such a late deadline would impact their ability to rely on budgets they set that included additional police officers, parks and recreation staff and public works members.

Charles Gill celebrating 4th at the Louisburg Senior Center

CREEDMOOR, NC -- John Earl Perry Sr., of Creedmoor, age 83, died July 9, 2024. John was born on July 4, 1941, to the late Leroy and Carrie Perry in Franklinton, NC.

DURHAM, NC -- Mrs. Rena Eaton Webster, 92, died on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Warrenton, NC--Funeral services for Alphonso "Al" Richardson, age, 64, who died on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, will be held 1 p.m., Friday, July 19, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Pine Chapel Memorial Garden Cemetery in Hollister.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Donald Alfred Wright, 81, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, July 9, 2024. He was born on August 19, 1942 in Concord, New Hampshire to the late Alfred Loren and Doris Sargent Wright.

Funeral services for Johnnie C. Hicks, age 87, who died on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, July 13, from the Allen Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church Cemetery.

Wayne Martin Walker Jr., age 56, died July 5, 2024 at Granville Medical Center in Oxford, NC.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Days of extreme heat and intermittent, often sporadic rainfall that's been far less than normal are adding up to a potential catastrophe for local farmers.
On the Friday after the July 4th holiday, three local farmers -- Jon Pearce, Steve Nelms and Ed Wheeler -- gathered with Bob Etheridge, executive director of the North Carolina Farm Service Agency, to take a quick look at how local crops are faring and the results were stunning.

LOUISBURG -- Christian David Webster told investigators that he wanted to kill someone before he died.
After pleading guilty to killing William Hulme and Matthew Johnson, the 31-year-old was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors removed the death penalty as punishment in exchange for the guilty plea.
During Monday's hearing, Hulme's father, Tom Hulme, said Webster's end should come lethally, not at the end of a natural life.

ALL AROUND FUN. Andrea Wackerle and family enjoy the fireworks at Louisburg Magnet High.

ALL AROUND FUN. Charles White tries his hand at Jenga during the county's fun.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council finalized its newly created Economic Development Committee during its Tuesday night meeting, about the only action that didn't get postponed for more study.
The EDC concept was approved some time ago but on Tuesday an ordinance was adopted that formally spells out how it will be formed and its task.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg police department said goodbye to nearly 100 years of law enforcement experience.
Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott led a celebration for officers Joe Sherrill, Greg Alston and Shari Brinkley during a retirement ceremony last month.
"This is a sad and happy occasion for the town of Louisburg," said Mayor Christopher Neal. "It's happy because these three have served their time in service to the public.

Payton Stephens at the Alert parade