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LOUISBURG -- One final incident became the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" and led to a revamping of the Louisburg Fire Department's leadership, according to Mayor Christopher Neal.
Leading up to the ousting of part-time fire chief Randy Lanham were a number of lesser issues, the mayor said, adding that one final controversy caused the council to vote, 5 to 2, to abolish the part-time fire chief's position and begin the search for a full-time chief.

It was one lighted snowflake installed with about 89 more to go for this Louisburg Electric Department work crew as they helped get the town ready for the holiday season. The workers are Dylan Proctor (on the ground) and Brian Gordon in the aerial bucket. All around the county, workers are keeping one eye on the calendar while making sure homes, towns and businesses are ready for the suddenly here holiday season.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County begins its cavalcade of Christmas parades next Thursday.
First, the town of Franklinton is set to host the county's only nighttime parade on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in downtown Franklinton.
Youngsville is next on deck with what Mayor Fonzie Flowers proudly calls the longest running Christmas parade, which takes place on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in downtown Youngsville.

ALERT -- Decades ago, in the mid 1960s, an Alert man was driving through Louisburg when he made a wrong turn and ended up discovering a unique 50th anniversary gift for a wife he hadn't even met yet.
Charles Faulkner, who grew up and has always lived in the northern Franklin County town of Alert, made that wrong turn and saw a Mr. Edwards, who owned grain mills in town, driving around his yard in a 1930 Ford Model A two-door car.

LOUISBURG -- Managers of Franklin County's emergency communications system said they're moving ahead with plans to erect a supplemental tower if a federal mandate to lower a primary tower impacts coverage.
Franklin County contracted with Williams Communications to design and install an upgraded emergency radio system.

Ervin Braswell at Louisburg Senior Center Veterans Day Breakfast

This week makes it official, the holiday season of 2024 is officially here.
Thanksgiving marks the season's start and since that holiday is later this year, it's even a shorter dash to Santa Claus's big day and all the festivities that will center around that holiday and, to a lesser extent, the arrival of 2025.
It hardly seems possible that there is only one month left of 2024 -- but the calendar says December will begin on Sunday so we can't really argue about that.

The forecast has temperatures dipping into the 30s and 20s this week.
The wind is whipping.
And, Mariah Carey is beginning to thaw because just like oxygen, there's no escaping the aural assault that is her mammoth hit: "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
But, before Mariah descends from on high, let's take the chance to give Thanksgiving its flowers.

Dear editor:

I am writing to thank Talmadge Edwards, Jr., for giving more fuel to that flickering flame.
It so lifted my spirits. I instantly thought of Benjamin Franklin: "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

Janet Nelson Smith
Franklinton

UNBLEMISHED. The Franklinton Red Rams finished their 2024 campaign unbeaten, going 8-0 in the MAC-10 Conference. At top, Head Coach Mike Epps holds on to a trophy, celebrating the team's undefeated season in the Middle School Athletic.

CRUSADER. Madeline Bryson of Bunn High School signed with Belmont Abbey for softball. Standing left-right: Madeline's mother Maggie Bryson, Tyler Morris (principal), Chris Lewis (athletic director), Madeline's father, Bob Bryson.

Houseplants are wonderful gifts during any season to give as they provide beautiful colors indoors and many can be planted outdoors during the spring and summer.
This gift will have your special someone thinking of you year round as they admire the beauty of the continuous flowers throughout the year.
Many people question which plants to give or use in their holiday décor. Below is a short but thorough list of plants to consider.

A Thanksgiving dinner table can be a sight to behold. For foodies and others who love the array of comfort foods on display come the second Monday in October (in Canada) or the fourth Thursday in November (in the United States), Thanksgiving is a day to circle on the calendar each year.
While a mouth-watering turkey and sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing garner the bulk of the attention on Thanksgiving, the dessert table also can be a tempting place to direct one's eyes.

Having a turkey on your Thanksgiving table is a timeless American tradition. Use this information when purchasing, preparing, handling, and serving your Thanksgiving turkey.
Buying Your Thanksgiving Turkey:

Tis the season to be jolly and to take care of your Christmas tree. Now that you are surely in the mood and waiting for more information, let's get started.
A fresh tree remains fresh and fragrant if you take care of it. A neglected tree loses much of its beauty after only a short period of time.
Care of a freshly cut tree: Cutting your own tree from a Christmas tree farm is the most reliable method insuring a fresh tree.
If possible, try to avoid hauling your tree over long distances. Air movement across the needles will cause a rapid evaporation of the water in the tree.

BUNN -- Bunn's police department will be under new leadership following the Thanksgiving holiday.
And, during a special meeting on Nov. 21, Bunn commissioners gave him a new weapon to fill out the department's ranks.
The board agreed to raise the hourly wage for part-time officers, by as much as $10 per hour, for the week and weekends.
"We talked about the shortage with police staff," Mayor Marsha Strawbridge said of the meeting's purpose.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners agreed to follow through on their commitment to foot the bill for design work on a portion of the bypass.
When the board met on Nov. 14, Town Manager Nathan Page presented the board with an opportunity to pursue a $500,000 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to fund the design work on the two southern sections of the bypass -- a new route connecting N.C. 96 from northwest of town to N.C. 96 southeast of town.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police arrested a Henderson man for his role in a weekend murder.
Police arrested Talib N. Alexander on Saturday, alleging the 22-year-old was responsible for killing Xavier Clifton, 25, of Bunn.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to 547 N.C. 39 South at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 23 to investigate a shooting.
When they arrived, they found Clifton suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

LOUISBURG -- A man was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for nearly beating a man to death with a tire iron.
During a Nov. 18 hearing in Franklin County Superior Court, Richard Antione Toney entered an Alford plea for his role in the April 2022 assault on Lucas English.
According to court records, investigators, Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrived at Champion's Grocery on White Level Road on April 26, 2022 to find English "had been severely beaten and suffering life threatening injuries."

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners amended two ordinances designed to bring more order and calm -- particularly downtown.
First, the board added to new areas downtown where parking is prohibited. The ordinance amendment also put in writing what had been practice -- keeping three- and four-axle delivery trucks from stopping along Main Street.

Grading work has begun at Owens Park as the county will build a pickleball/tennis court. Back in November, advocates of the sport pressed Franklin County officials and staff to offer more options to play the fast-growing sport. The county responded by expanding the hours and places where indoor pickleball could be played. Then, this past spring, the board agreed to pull as much as $175,000 from its general fund to build a multi use, pickleball/tennis court at the park on Massenburg Baker Road in north central Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County is making progress with a number of its park projects, including a pickleball/tennis court addition at Owens Park and a dog park at Pilot Park in the southern part of the county.
In the spring, commissioners agreed to use up to $175,000 to build a pickleball/tennis court at Owens, and grading has begun.
In September, the county broke ground on its planned dog park at Pilot Lions Park, on Pilot Bypass Road.

SISTERHOOD. Above, St. Paul Presbyterian Pastor Felecia Hardy, second from left, is with, from left, Georgia Young, County Commissioner Kelli London and Geraldine Manley during the church's annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution at the Louisburg church on Nov. 16.