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LOUISBURG -- Amid calls for her job, Franklin County's animal services director asserted she's the right person to lead the department.
Lynn Bowling made those comments Monday night during the last quarterly meeting of the year for the Animal Services Advisory Board.
Reinstatement of that board has been one of the actions that county commissioners have taken to address shelter concerns voiced by animal welfare advocates going back to January 2019.

FRIGHTFULLY FUN. Pre-Halloween festivities were held in just about every corner of Franklin County this past Friday and the weekend. Above, Charley Leon shows off her chalk-based bat she drew at Frankenfest in Franklinton.

Jackson Leonard is Spanky while his brother Jace Leonard came as Alfalfa during the Town of Louisburg Fall Festival.

LOUISBURG -- The last day for early voting is Saturday, making way for election day on Tuesday.
Save for Bunn, each of Franklin County's municipalities will feature contested races, including a mayor's race in Franklinton that pits the incumbent against a fellow commissioner.

BUNN -- Going back to September, BROAD Community Center operators sent out word that it needed a new heating, air and ventilation system for their base of civic operations.
They reiterated that need, among others, in a letter to the community posted on Oct. 10.

Franklinton Police Chief James Davis shows off Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate

After a scary few days all across Franklin County, it may be safe to predict that all the ghosts, goblins, action heroes, pretty young ladies all dolled up and a host of other creatures of the night have all done their thing for 2023 and have retreated, not to be seen in public for nearly another year.
Thanks to the calendar and Mother Nature, Halloween celebrations came a few hours earlier than normal this year, meaning that Friday and Saturday of last week were chock full of hauntings.

They say change in government is slow.
Like, turning around the Titanic slow. Or watching blades of grass grow slow.
Or, waiting for something interesting to happen on new spin-offs of "The Walking Dead."
Okay, that last one might have been a cheap shot, but, through hyperbole, I suspect you get the point.

Dear editor: From my point of view it seems Washington politicians take rural and small town voters for granted.
Washington politicians fly over voters in rural areas and small towns traveling to big cities, not stopping to hear our voices!
With the increased crime and violence in rural areas and small towns we need help.

Dear editor: I was advised that one candidate for sheriff preferred to be out and about, dealing with the people face-to-face.
The other candidate would be prone to stay behind his desk, dealing tough on Facebook.
Which one would you have preferred?

Louisburg, NC--Charles Edward Wells, 92, of Louisburg, died October 28, 2023. He was born on July 30, 1931 to the late Amos and Minnie Faucette Wells. In addition to his parents, Charles was predeceased by his wife, Annie Coley Wells; a son, Charles Wells, Jr.; and a daughter, Brenda Ayscue.

Oxford, NC--David R. Waters died Sunday, October 29, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. He passed away as he wished, comfortably at home surrounded by loved ones. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, colleague and friend to many and will be truly missed.

Louisburg, NC--Gary Trent Leonard, 60, of Louisburg, NC died on October 27, 2023. He was born on March 17, 1963 to the late Bruce and Annie Lee Radford Leonard. In addition to his parents, Trent was predeceased by his brother, Calvin Todd Leonard.

STANHOPE -- Two teams headed in different directions -- at least as far as the 2023 campaign is concerned -- met last Friday night as Southern Nash hosted Franklinton in the regular season football finale for both clubs.
For Southern Nash, it was an opportunity to clinch the Big East Conference outright championship, along with getting prepared for a pending home game in the first round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

LOUISBURG -- A slight-but-effective offensive tweal has made Louisburg a much better football team over the second half of the season -- and the results have been evident on the scoreboard.
Midway through the campaign, Louisburg decided to move starting quarterback Donte' Strickland to running back whenever the Warriors utilize the wishbone offense -- which has been quite often lately.

BUNN -- Same teams, same time, same setting -- with an increased level of intensity.
And certainly a much closer match.
Such was the theme of Monday's contest between Roanoke Rapids and homestanding Bunn in the opening round of the Class 2-A State Playoffs at the BHS Football Field.

NASH COUNTY -- Two long-time Nash County gridiron rivals will be teaming up this December after lining up against each other for the past four years.
Southern Nash's Malaki Dobbins and Northern Nash's Randall King have earned prestigious spots on the East Team for the annual East-West All-Star Football Game, which will be held December 17 at 2 p.m. at historic Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Greensboro Grimsley High School.

JUSTICE -- Caleb Garcia of the Justice Community, a student in Kenny Buffaloe's Kyokushin Karate adult & youth classes at STUDIO 10 in Roanoke Rapids, was recently promoted in rank of 6th Kyu (Yellow Belt).
These ranks are officially recognized and endorsed by the International Kyokushin Karate Organization in Tokyo, Japan.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Listed are the first-round pairings for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Class 2-A and Class 3-A State Football Playoffs:

Maurice, played by Andrew Grissom, Townsperson played by Silas Huffman, Madam D"arque played by Leah Williams, Gaston played by Henry Hanson, Belle played by Aubrey (A.G.) Anderson and Adult ensemble.

Classical guitarist Joseph Pecoraro and flutist Tadeu Coelho will perform at Cherry Hill on Saturday Nov. 4. The program will begin at 3 p.m. and admission will be taken at the door. (This contest will be held on Saturday instead of the traditional Sunday.)
Pecoraro is recognized as an accomplished concert and recording artist, teacher and author. He has performed all over the world and appears with regularity in many American cities.

FAB. The Fabulous Thunderbirds will perform, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 10 at the Jones Jones Performing Arts Center at Louisburg College, 501 North Main Street. For over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group's distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as "Tuff Enuff," "Powerful Stuff" and "Wrap It Up."

FRANKLINTON -- A Wake Forest man was killed over the weekend when authorities allege he crashed into the back of a tractor trailer.
According to a report by Trooper J. Parra-Guzman, Junious Elbert Nichols III was traveling south on U.S. 1 at N.C. 56 just before 1 a.m. on Oct. 28 when the wreck occurred.

RALEIGH -- The State budget includes a shell building pilot program that legislators say will benefit Franklin County.
Rep. Matthew Winslow and Sen. Lisa Barnes both tout the Golden LEAF Shell Building Pilot Program.
The objective of the program is to increase the number of available, publicly owned industrial buildings suitable for new or expanding businesses.

The Town of Louisburg had a great turnout Saturday during their fall festival. Above, chalk artists Scout Todd (left) and Isla Heckman show off their sidewalk art.

Sumo wrestler Emily Johnson of Maria Parham Franklin

The Bunn Cert Lions Club held their fall festival Saturday. Characters from the movie Maleficent were Scarlett Eaton as Evie and Maleficent was Makenzie Eaton.

A Spooky doll with friends Jackson Brantley (left) and Carter Brantley.

Chloe Smith gets candy from Jessica Stapleton in Youngsville while mom, Heather Smith, looks on.

Lastacey Burwell (right) was keeping track of the Paw Patrol, from left, Hayden Lynch, Violet Peoples, Janelle Rodgers and Ayden Lynch in Bunn.

AJ Luciano, right, looks on as Xander Sanchez gets some candy, while Oden and Giselle Sanchez join them.

Queen Alien Lisa Esquivel Clark in Louisburg.

Little Mermaid Nora Fink was enjoying handing out candy with her parents Tyler and Katie Fink in Bunn.