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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County school students will be wearing masks for a bit longer thanks to the county's "high transmission" designation, a poor vaccination rate and a COVID-19 virus that just won't go away.
The decision came Monday night on a split, 4-to-2 vote by the Board of Education with the majority voting to continue the district's masking requirement and two, Meghan Jordan and Debra Brodie, voting to end it. The rule will again be reviewed at the board's December meeting.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Health Department is hosting extended pediatric vaccination clinics for those ages 5-11.
The first was Nov. 10 and the next two are slated for Nov. 17 and Nov. 24 -- both Wednesdays.
On Nov. 17, appointments are available from 4-6 p.m. so that children don't have to miss school, and parents won't have to miss work, health staff said.

FRANKLINTON -- A town institution is slated to close its doors after 72 years of service.
City Lunch closed for grieving after family patriarch Clyde Waiden passed away late last month -- about six months after his wife and business partner Sharon passed away in April.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's municipal elections went final on Tuesday.
Elections staff tabulated provisional and absentee ballots, but none of the changes were enough to prompt a recount of the Louisburg mayor's race -- a battle that Councilman Christopher Neal won by nine votes against his closest competitor, Councilman Boyd Sturges.
Sturges would have to be within 1 percent of the vote to request a recount.

LOUISBURG -- Last week, the county's library system launched Franklin Voyager -- its multimedia, broadband-enabled bookmobile that they anticipate will take its information outreach program into the future.
Library Director Holt Kornegay, though, strongly acknowledged the pasts of three women that played integral roles in creating this present.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklinton man in an early morning shooting.
According to authorities, Christian Brooks, 23, was driving along Ag Drive when he and another man, Ronald Williams, got into an argument around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Brooks pulled the vehicle over in the 100 block of Ag Drive, according to authorities, and shot Williams.

Chain Gang Legends Chris Blair, Joe Cartlidge and George Hale

Don't look now -- at least don't be too obvious about it -- but those really are Christmas decorations we're beginning to see around the area.
Christmas trees are popping up in some businesses, some decorations are making an appearance and some folks are getting an early, and warm, start on their outdoor decorating ideas.

I'm old.
The grey hairs on my head and the cluster of ointments in my medicine cabinet give it away.
And, so does my recollection of cheating.
When I was in school, there were levels of cheating.

Dear editor:
I have studied the matter and have concluded. The cow that knocked over the lantern that started the great Chicago fire did not belong to Donald Trump or anyone in his family.

FRANKLINTON -- James Eugene Clendenning, 68, of Franklinton, died November 8, 2021. He was born on September 15, 1953 to the late Rex and Coral Perschka Clendenning.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Robert Ray Stallings, 41, of Youngsville, died November 6, 2021. He was born on September 24, 1980 to Robert Linwood Hall and Joann Stallings.
In addition to his parents, Robert is survived by his son, Jackson Stallings and Jackson's mom Kerry; his sister, Priscilla Keith (Mike); step-dad, Billy Joe Williams; nephews; grandparents, Bobby and Carolyn Stallings; two aunts, and an uncle.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- It was the Year of the Middle Hitter in the Big East Conference volleyball scene -- but Franklinton setter Emeli Colorado ultimately stole the show.
While several high-powered hitters stood guard at the net this fall, Colorado is the performer who has been tabbed as the Big East Conference Volleyball Player of the Year for the 2021 campaign.

BUNN -- Bunn's final record doesn't tell the true story of the Wildcats' 2021 football season.
BHS, coached by Dale Murphy, went 3-8, but three of those losses came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Had one or two of those outings gone the Wildcats' way, the campaign certainly could have a different view.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Southern Nash rolled to the Big East Conference Girls Golf Championship this fall -- as evidenced by their top-to-bottom inclusion on the All-Big East Team for the 2021 campaign.
Southern Nash, coached by veteran skipper Todd Brewer, featured all six of its golfers on the prestigious list, led by Big East Player of the Year Mackenzie Gamble.

FRANKLINTON -- Regardless of the sport or the level, most coaches will tell you that a true measure of success is how much a team progresses during its season.
With that in mind, it's hard to find fault with the 2021 Franklinton High School football campaign.
The Red Rams certainly saved their best for last, winning three of their final five regular season games to qualify for the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

FRANKLINTON -- Lester Wilder will never be forgotten for his contributions to Franklinton -- as a coach, teacher, mentor, friend and person.
Wilder, the long-time multi-sport coach and Athletic Director at Franklinton High School, passed away in February, but the school is making sure that his legacy will continue.

CHAPEL HILL -- Here are last Friday's first-round results and this Friday's second-round matchups of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Class 2-A and Class 3-A State Football Playoffs:

DURHAM -- The Durham Bulls will host their free Fall Fan Fest this Saturday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park from 3-5 p.m.
Admission is free, however fans must RSVP online and claim a ticket before the event by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3mLA3FT
Planned activities at Durham Bulls Athletic Park include:

Mike Super returns to the JPAC on the Louisburg College campus on Friday, Nov. 19 for an evening of mind-blowing illusions.
His performance wilsl begin at 7:30 p.m. and doors open 45 minutes before the show.
His ever-growing popularity has garnered him many prestigious awards and honors, including being the only magician in history to win a live magic competition on primetime U.S. network television.

Scott Mason, better known as The Tarheel Traveler, is coming to the JPAC on Thursday, Nov. 18.
Mason will share his experiences about some our state's most memorable people and places that he has encountered while out on the road.
Mason, who has twice been named North Carolina Television Reporter of the Year, has also served for many years as a WRAL writer and documentary producer.

NASHVILLE -- Authorities arrested a Louisburg man they allege was responsible for labor camp break-ins.
Nash County investigators charged 34-year-old Jose Antonio Linares Mojica, with 14 counts of felony breaking or entering and 14 counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering.

Becoming a substitute teacher in Franklin County Schools just became much easier.
The district has been having trouble finding enough "subs" to keep schools operating and the Board of Education lowered the bar for getting the job during Monday's meeting.

Members of Youngsville's business community and citizenry held its second annual golf fundraiser to benefit Youngsville Rescue and EMS. The Oct. 1 event, held at Olde Liberty Golf Course, was a complete sell out. The Rescue provided a barbecue lunch for all golfers and volunteers. Raffle prizes were donated and a new Chevy truck was up for grabs, a prize for a hole in one. The event raised $15,500 -- double the previous year's total.

There is a new medical provider at Impact Primary and Urgent Care's clinic in Louisburg.
Brittany Hicks Newell is a family nurse practitioner who was born and raised in Franklin County.
"I'm excited to be given the opportunity too meet the health care needs of the local community," she said.