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FRANKLINTON -- Management presented commissioners with a plan to put money toward seven goals they identified during work sessions and retreats, ranging from improving the town's response to crime, to better developing downtown to improving roadways.
Town Manager Gregory Bethea presented a 2019-20 budget that proposes to do those things without raising the tax rate while making it a goal to reduce the town's tax rate from 72 cents per $100 of valuation to the state average of 43 cents per $100 of valuation for like-sized towns.

Bunn HS Wildcats sports fan Dax Andrew Lewis

LOUISBURG -- The Town Council enjoyed a "clean" audit report, quickly rezoned a piece of property and put its stamp of approval on another major sidewalk construction project during a short meeting Monday night.
Early in the meeting the council unanimously approved the rezoning of a lot at 106 North Elm Street from Office and Institutional to B-1, central business.

In light of a recent drowning in Franklin County, emergency services staff offered the following safety tips:

Just like a lot of individual Americans, Franklin County was left out of recent government efforts to "help."
Our beloved state government decreed that Franklin County is so "rich" that we don't deserve help extending broadband service while neighboring Vance County is so cash strapped that it deserved an influx of our tax money.
Perhaps in some universe that makes sense -- but when state (or federal) government starts picking winners and losers for taxpayer aid, it usually ends badly. And unfairly.

If you're reading this, you've either picked up this newspaper or called it up online.
You were free to do that -- and you are free to either agree, disagree or be indifferent to what is included in its pages.
Some will react negatively, wadding up the paper and derisively tossing it away. Others may click off the page, mumbling.

Over the past two days, I've spent a lot of time going over numbers, facts, figures and tax rates.
I was a liberal arts major so, more often than not, looking at numbers, facts, figures and tax rates for any extended period of time often makes my eyes glaze over and my eyelids heavy.

A number of school personnel changes were approved by the Franklin County Board of Education. The board:

The Franklin Bots Team Hydra was recently honored by the Franklin County Board of Education for their showing in the North Carolina State Championship this year. The competition was entitled "Destination: Deep Space" and the team's robot, Millie Falco 2.0, performed well, earning a 29th place ranking among the 71 teams from across the state who were competing. Advisors said the team worked many evenings and even Saturdays, twice with Caterpillar engineers from the Research Triangle Park, to prepare for the competition.

WAKE FOREST -- The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will open Holding Park Aquatic Center (HPAC) for the 2019 season on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Located at 133 W. Owen Ave., the HPAC features a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, two water slides with plunge pool and children's pool with water play.

In 2017, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a Historic Preservation Ordinance for Franklin County. Since that time, the seven-member Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has been working diligently to establish procedures and to plan meaningful activities designed to promote the preservation of the county's rich architectural heritage.

The Four Bridges ECA Club were guests for the Louisburg Fire Department's recent monthly supper meeting.
The club presented Randy Lanham, fire chief, with 117 stuffed animals to be given to children and others as a comfort item after a fire.
This was the club's community project. The firemen were very thankful for the gifts.

These area women were recently honored for their community service, including (from left to right) Muriel Rice, Granville County; Margaret Ellis, Vance County; Jacquelyn Wilson, Chapter President; Kelli London, Janice Crump Award recipient; Monica Kearney, Franklin County; Janice Crump, keynote speaker

HENDERSON -- Franklin County's leading advocate against domestic violence, along with leading women from four other counties, was honored recently.
Another Franklin County resident was recognized for her work within the Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc -- which hosted the recognition breakfast.

The Louisburg Senior Center showed off their beautiful hats during the Mother's Day Parade of Hats contest. Pictured above are Janice Vick and Olivia Gupton.

Jessie Baynard, third place winner of the Parade of Hats.

Doris Etheridge at the Franklinton Senior Center

Franklinton Senior Center hosted a Matter of Balance Class, discussing fall prevention. Receiving their certificate of completion, left to right, Ada Pittman, Tina LaFlamme, Freda Anderson, Mary Dimaio, Conerd Frederickson, Don Appleford and Elaine Appleford.

BUNN -- Making the state quarterfinals for only the second time in the past quarter-century was quite an accomplishment for the Bunn High School baseball team.
But the Wildcats were seeking an even deeper trip last Friday as they hosted a touted Randleman club in Elite Eight action of the Class 2-A State Playoffs at the BHS Baseball Field.

Bunn High School's Aaron Simmons prepares to meet his teammates at home plater after smashing a home run during last Friday's playoff game versus Randleman.

Bunn's Jaylen Perry lays down a sacrifice bunt for the Wildcats during last Friday's meeting with Randleman in the Elite Eight of the Class 2-A State Baseball Playoffs.

FRANKLINTON -- Whispers began almost as soon as Rebekah Smith stepped on to the Franklinton High School campus as a freshman.
Without a doubt, observers felt like Smith had the talent in the Girls High Jump to eventually join the school's growing list of state track and field champions.
Smith, now a junior, was in contention at the state meet in each of her first two seasons, but was unable to break through the title barrier.

Franklinton's Rebekah Smith poses atop the winner's podium.