def METHOD_NAME(name, value, config="/etc/sysctl.conf", apply_change=False):
    """
    Assign and persist a simple sysctl parameter for this minion
    name
        The name of the sysctl value to edit.
    value
        The sysctl value to apply.
    config
        The location of the sysctl configuration file.
    apply_change
        Default is False; Default behavior only creates or edits
        the sysctl.conf file. If apply is set to True, the changes are
        applied to the system.
    CLI Example:
    .. code-block:: bash
        salt '*' sysctl.persist net.inet.icmp.icmplim 50
        salt '*' sysctl.persist coretemp_load NO config=/etc/sysctl.conf
    """
    nlines = []
    edited = False
    value = str(value)
    # If the sysctl.conf is not present, add it
    if not os.path.isfile(config):
        try:
            with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, "w+") as _fh:
                _fh.write("#\n# Kernel sysctl configuration\n#\n")
        except OSError:
            msg = "Could not write to file: {0}"
            raise CommandExecutionError(msg.format(config))
    with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, "r") as ifile:
        for line in ifile:
            line = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(line)
            if not line.startswith("{}=".format(name)):
                nlines.append(line)
                continue
            else:
                key, rest = line.split("=", 1)
                if rest.startswith('"'):
                    _, rest_v, rest = rest.split('"', 2)
                elif rest.startswith("'"):
                    _, rest_v, rest = rest.split("'", 2)
                else:
                    rest_v = rest.split()[0]
                    rest = rest[len(rest_v) :]
                if rest_v == value:
                    return "Already set"
                nlines.append("{}={}\n".format(name, value))
                edited = True
    if not edited:
        nlines.append("{}={}\n".format(name, value))
    nlines = [salt.utils.stringutils.to_str(_l) for _l in nlines]
    with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, "w+") as ofile:
        ofile.writelines(nlines)
    # If apply_change=True, apply edits to system
    if apply_change is True:
        assign(name, value)
        return "Updated and applied"
    return "Updated"