Heavy rain that fell Monday evening flooded many streams in Franklin County and closed roads, especially in the northeastern part of the county.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the biggest problems were between Rocky Mount and Smith Mountain Lake.

Rain in excess of 4 inches fell in that area in about two hours, the National Weather Service reported.

Fifteen families were stranded when two 60-inch culverts were washed out on a private road at Windy Ridge Farm subdivision, off Poteet Road near Burnt Chimney.

The Franklin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a request from the school board to use about $1.7 million in unspent funding this year for ongoing expenses in fiscal year 2012-13.

That move will help preserve about 18 jobs, school board Chairman Ed Jamison told the board, as well as pay what is expected to be a rise in energy costs.

Of that money, $1.4 million is carryover funding and almost $300,000 is from the energy fund reserve.

The motion to approve the request passed 5-2 with Snow Creek District Supervisor Leland Mitchell and Gills Creek District Supervisor Bob Camicia dissenting.

Both said the money will be gone if spent, and there will be nothing left to fall back on if the economy does not improve.

Mitchell said the money provided a "cushion" for the school system.

When Michelle Hall and her children, Courtney, 13, and Aiden, 8, participated in a 5K run at Dudley Elementary to raise money for the American Red Cross, they had no idea they would need help themselves.

Less than a week later, Hall's Wirtz home was destroyed by fire, including all her family's belongings, and the Red Cross was there to help.

The fire started in the basement of the Hall residence at 150 Rolling Road in Wirtz on Friday, May 4, according to Franklin County Fire Marshal Bennie Russell.

Halls' husband, Joey, returned home after a fishing trip with his son and found heavy smoke billowing up from the basement, Russell said.

The Rocky Mount and Boones Mill post offices collected over 25,000 pounds of non-perishable food during their 20th annual national food drive to "Stamp Out Hunger" last Saturday.

Residents were asked to place non-perishable food donations at their mailboxes for postal carriers to pick up.

"This is the largest amount of food we have collected in 15 years," said Rocky Mount Acting Postmaster Sonny Pruitt.

The Penhook and Union Hall post offices also contributed.

Last year's event required two large trailers to distribute the food to the local food bank. This year, it took four trailers and half a day to carry the food to the Heavenly Manna Food Bank on South Main Street.