Tag Archive for: #franklincountynews

Town of Louisburg Logo

Town of Louisburg Awarded $2.4 Million for Industrial Park 

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-Press Release, Town of Louisburg

On April 16, 2020, the Town of Louisburg was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,439,100 to assist the Town in the construction of water, sewer, and electric infrastructure, as well as industrial access, at the Louisburg Industrial Park.

The Town has made the site a critical piece of its economic development strategy and intends to commit additional resources focused on business recruitment to the industrial park.

The broad plan is to create a 10-parcel industrial park for the recruitment of industrial and commercial businesses. A major economic development goal is to produce large-scale employment centers to provide jobs to local residents, increase tax base and expand Louisburg’s utility services.

The grant was awarded by The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) under The Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account that provides grants to local governments located in the 80 most economically distressed counties of the State.

“Communities across our state are going through challenging times right now, and we must continue to help rural North Carolina prepare for future economic growth,” Secretary Copeland said. “Rural Infrastructure Authority grants provide needed support for job creation in our rural areas, which are appealing places to live, work and grow a business.”

“We very much appreciate the IDF’s confidence in Louisburg and Tommy Hester’s leadership with the RIA. This is a testament to our Town Administrator, Jonathan Franklin, his staff, and their commitment to improving our Town and bringing this project to fruition.” – Councilman Boyd Sturges.

Mayor Karl Pernell added, “This is a big moment for Louisburg and a great opportunity. We look forward to the jobs and the investment this project will attract, and the improvements it will bring to the quality of life of our citizens.”

Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools Online Enrollment System Open for 2020-21

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools’ online enrollment system is currently open and accepting registrations for Kindergarten, new students and transfers for the 2020-2021 school year.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to complete registration online at www.fcschools.net.

Maria Parham Health Physician Practices Launch Telemedicine Services

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

Virtual visits connect patients and providers beyond the clinic setting. Maria Parham Health Physician Practices announced today that it has added telemedicine to its offerings. The announcement comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s unprecedented expansion of telehealth services.

“We are pleased to offer convenient telemedicine solutions to help connect patients and providers and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality care,” shared Iris Berry, Director of Physician Practices at Maria Parham Health. “As the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, telehealth capabilities enable our clinical team to practice social distancing to further reduce the spread of illness while still meeting our patients’ health needs. We look forward to the many ways this new offering will further advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier.”

For patients who meet certain clinical criteria, Maria Parham Health Physician Practices are offering two types of telehealth visits: telephonic and televideo. A telephonic visit is simply a patient phone call with a provider, and a televideo visit is a virtual, face-to-face visit with a provider using a video conferencing service. Virtual visits may not be available in all cases and will be evaluated based on a patient’s specific clinical needs.

Patients can request a telehealth visit by calling their provider’s office, just as they would for an in-person visit. The provider will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate based on the patient’s health condition. If the virtual visit is deemed clinically appropriate, the patient will be given an appointment time and instructions for the best way to connect given the available platforms. Then, instead of coming to the office, he or she would call back at the scheduled time and be “checked in” by a nurse or office manager, and then transferred to the provider for the call or two-way video.

A few restrictions on telephonic visits may apply, including that they cannot be utilized to treat patients for a condition that the patient has been seen for in the previous seven days, and they cannot be used to treat a condition that the patient is already coming in for within the next 24 hours.

Patients who are concerned they may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to consider telemedicine appointments to help further reduce the spread of respiratory illness. Leveraging telemedicine also conserves personal protective equipment (PPE) and other clinical resources that are needed when treating a patient with suspected COVID-19 in the clinic or hospital setting.

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham CEO Asks Community to ‘Thank a Healthcare Hero’

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-By Bert Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Maria Parham Health  

As we continue to fight COVID-19, it has been so encouraging to see the outpouring of support from our community for Maria Parham Health. We have always striven to be a place where you choose to come for healthcare, and we take our responsibility as a community leader very seriously.

As our neighbors have come together to do everything possible to slow the spread of this vicious virus amid unprecedented challenges, we have never been more proud to be a part of this community. It is more important than ever that we all continue to take the important steps necessary to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible, including staying home as much as we can, practicing social distancing and following sound medical guidance.

Today, I would ask one more thing of our community, including myself: thank a healthcare hero.

Some moments ask more of us as a society, as a community and as individuals. Moments like those need heroes. From grocery store employees and delivery workers to educators teaching remotely and those keeping our infrastructure and essential services running, this current moment has no shortage of heroes. And that includes our heroes on the frontlines of this crisis – our healthcare workers.

Our healthcare workers are not only a cornerstone of our hospital’s mission of Making Communities Healthier, they are integral members of our community. They are moms and dads. Brothers and sisters. Friends and neighbors. And – today especially – they are heroes, fighting on the frontlines to provide compassionate, quality care when it’s needed most.

At Maria Parham Health, we honor all our providers and employees working hard to ensure a safe place of care and a healthier community for all of us. I hope you will join me and add your voice to the chorus of appreciation for our community’s healthcare heroes by posting your own message of thanks on your favorite social media, with the hashtag #ThankAHealthCareHero.

Let’s show our hometown heroes how much we appreciate their incredible and inspiring efforts to keep us safe.

And thank you again for supporting Maria Parham Health and trusting us with your care as we help guide our community through the COVID-19 situation as safely as possible. We will get through this together.

Franklin County Logo

Franklin County to Impose Curfew Effective Sun., April 5

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-Press Release, Franklin County Government 

A public safety curfew will be imposed within the County of Franklin, NC daily from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., beginning Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 9 p.m. and extending through the effective dates of the Governor’s Stay at Home Order (Executive Order 121) and any extensions enacted for that order for all persons.

During the effective curfew period, all persons except for those who are expressly exempt as essential businesses or operations as identified within the Governor’s Stay at Home Order (Executive Order 121), shall not be or travel upon any public street, alley or roadway or upon public property, unless in search of medical assistance, food or other commodity or service necessary to sustain the well-being of him/herself or his/her family.

To read the amended proclamation in its entirety, click here.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin Co. Schools Home-Based Assignments, Wi-Fi Access Available April 6

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

On Monday, April 6, 2020, Franklin County Schools will issue new student assignments and begin providing enhanced Wi-Fi access at certain school locations.

The home-based, academic assignments will cover a two-week period. They will be available online, as well as in paper packets for elementary and middle-school students who do not have Internet access. High school students will receive additional guidance from their school principals concerning their assignments and pick-up options.

Paper packets for elementary and middle school students must be picked up between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday, April 6. They will be available at the following locations only, which are the same as FCS’ current meal pickup sites:

  • Bunn High School
  • Franklinton Elementary School
  • Laurel Mill Elementary School
  • Louisburg High School
  • Youngsville Elementary School

Also on Monday, April 6, FCS is adding drive-in, Wi-Fi access at five schools for students and staff only who do not have Internet access at home. Students, staff, their families and guests are required to stay in their vehicles and park in specific areas to access the enhanced, Wi-Fi signals. School Resource Officers will be on site to monitor and provide directions.

Wi-Fi access will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following locations:

  • Bunn Middle School (front drop off)
  • Edward Best Elementary School (back lot/bus drop off)
  • Long Mill Elementary School (bus lot)
  • Louisburg Elementary School (bus lot)
  • Royal Elementary School (bus lot)

Three Arrested After Drugs Thrown Over Fence at Franklin Correctional Center

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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

On March 27, 2020, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested three individuals for multiple drug offenses related to possessing and attempting to distribute controlled substances to inmates at Franklin Correctional Center in Bunn, NC

The investigation began when a citizen observed a vehicle stop in front of the Franklin Correctional Center, and one of the passengers jumped out and threw an object over the fence. The concerned citizen contacted the Franklin County Sheriffs Office to report the incident and was able to provide information that aided deputies in locating and stopping the vehicle

Ditereal Harris (FCSO photo)

Once the vehicle was stopped, members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit contacted employees at Franklin Correctional Center and were informed that two of their correctional officers also observed the incident and were able to quickly locate the item thrown over the fence. The correctional officers were able to confirm that controlled substances were in the item thrown over the fence

Drug Unit detectives retrieved the item and discovered marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and MDMA inside the item thrown over the fence. As a result, Ditereal Harris, Xavier White and Rotonia Lowery Moore, all of Raeford, NC, were arrested.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “This case began when a concerned citizen saw something suspicious and they acted. By calling the Sheriffs Office and giving vital information, our deputies were able to find and stop the vehicle. The investigation that developed as a result of their initiative kept dangerous drugs out of the hands of individuals inside of Franklin Correctional Center.” 

Xavier White (FCSO photo)

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was assisted in this investigation by the Franklin Correctional Center. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

Ditereal Harris – 310 Locust Lane Raeford, NC 28376, 18-years-old 

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Methamphetamines, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver MDMA, Deliver Cocaine, Deliver Marijuana, Deliver Heroin, Deliver Methamphetamines, Deliver MDMA, Felony Possession of Marijuana.

Xavier White – 526 East 6th Avenue Raeford, NC 28376, 18-years-old 

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Methamphetamines, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver MDMA, Deliver Cocaine, Deliver Marijuana, Deliver Heroin, Deliver Methamphetamines, Deliver MDMA, Felony Possession of Marijuana. 

Rotonia Lowery Moore (FCSO photo)

Ditereal Harris and Xavier White are both being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.

Rotonia Lowery Moore – 116 Dalmation Drive Raeford, NC 28376, 33-years-old

Maintain a Vehicle for the purpose of Storing Controlled Substances. 

Rotonia Lowery Moore was given an $15,000 unsecured bond. 

For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 4962186.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin Co. Schools to Continue Meal Pickup Over Spring Break Week

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools has staff members serving meals, planning for instruction, improving our facilities, and connecting with students and families during what has been an unprecedented time for us. At FCS, we are grateful to be working with you and our staff during this challenging time. We are all in this together.

As you may already know, Governor Cooper announced on March 23 that all public schools in North Carolina will be closed until at least May 15. We are going to adjust our spring break to March 30 – April 3rd. During this time, we will not be providing additional student work.

We will maintain meal pickup Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. during this spring break period. As a reminder, meal pickup is taking place at Laurel Mill Elementary, Franklinton Elementary, Youngsville Elementary, Louisburg High, and Bunn High each day from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This includes lunch, a snack, and breakfast items. Please keep in mind – this food is being provided to ensure that our students have meals when they are not in school. If there are additional needs for the elderly and shut-ins in our community, you are encouraged to reach out to community agencies and our churches for assistance in this area.

On Monday, April 6, we will have new student assignments available for the next two weeks. These will be provided in an online format and we will also have packets available for our students that do not have internet access. On Monday, April 6, these work packets can be picked up at any of our feeding sites for elementary and middle school students from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Just ask for the grade levels that you need. Our high school students will receive specific guidance from their individual schools on pickup instructions for April 6.

Students with internet access can find these resources on our website.

Specifics on this will be posted on our website, and we will be communicating on this via phone, email and social media as well.

We have received several questions about end-of-grade and end-of-course testing. On March 23, the NC State Board of Education voted to request a waiver of testing this year. More specifics will follow on this.

There is and will continue to be lots of information (as well as speculation) regarding this virus and the response to this virus. We are committed to communicating the most up-to-date and accurate information as it is received.

Bunn’s Town Hall Closed Due to Coronavirus Concerns

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-Information courtesy Town of Bunn

Due to Coronavirus concerns and the safety of all personnel, Town Hall will be closed to the public, except the Town of Bunn Police department, beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.

Utility payments can be made via the Town of Bunn Online Bill Pay (www.townofbunn.org), Telephone (919-496-2992), and Town of Bunn Drop Box (located outside the door at the Police Dept.).

Important Note: All Debit/Credit Card Fees via the telephone will be waived.

If you wish to use the drop box at Town Hall, please use an envelope with name and address with Exact Change (any amount over will be applied to the next bill) and Check or Money Order made out to the Town of Bunn.

We will continue to take residential/commercial work orders and customer concerns by phone (919) 496-2992.

Franklin County Logo

Four Franklin Co. Residents Test Positive for Coronavirus

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-Press Release, Franklin County Government

As per the most recent information available, there are currently

  • 137 cases of the SARSCoV2 virus in NC
  • 0 deaths linked to SARSCoV2 in NC; Please note that given the sharp increases we anticipate, actual cases in a county may not initially register on the states websitecount for that county. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid19casecountnc 

Positive Virus Test Results: On March 20, 2020, the Franklin County Health Department was notified that there are four (4) Franklin County residents who have received presumptive positive test results for SARSCoV2. These individuals are currently under quarantine and isolation orders and contacts with them are being notified by our FCHD Communicable Disease Staff, working in conjunction with State and Federal Health Officials.

As with all counties across North Carolina, we anticipate that case numbers will increase

Guidance for those with fever & upper respiratory symptoms: Everyone with fever and respiratory symptoms should isolate themselves until BOTH conditions below are met

  • At least 7 days since symptom onset

AND Over 72 hours after symptom resolution ( i.e. absence of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication and improvement of respiratory symptoms).

Close Contacts: Those with close contact to a person with fever or respiratory illness are encouraged to stay home to the extent possible, and to monitor themselves for symptoms

Summary: At this point, Franklin County has four (4) presumptive positive cases of SARSCoV2. The County Health Department is working in conjunction with State and Federal health officials, and local providers to ensure all possible contacts with these individuals have been notified and provided with directions regarding quarantine and isolation requirements

Recommendations

  • Avoid touching your face
  • Wash your hands frequently & thoroughly using warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” twice, or use your own tune)
  • Use hand sanitizers frequently;
  • Cough/sneeze into your arm, or if you use a tissue, immediately throw it out and wash your hands;
  • Avoid others if you’re sick;
  • Stay home from work/school if you’re sick.
  • Everyone needs to avoid vulnerable populations, including those over 65, those with underlying health conditions and/or weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant.

Not Identifying Individuals: While individuals may choose to release their own status to the community, we will continue to take the utmost care in balancing the communitys need to know with individuals’ right to privacy

Answers & Information: For uptodateaspossible coronavirus information

Franklin-County-Specific Virus Information: 

COVID19 Phone Line: 9194968113

COVID 19 Emailcoronavirus@franklincountync.us