Urgent coat drive for Western NC
The annual Coats for Christmas is beginning early this year to help the residents of Western North Carolina.
You may drop off your donations at Farm Bureau, 496 Redwood Drive, Louisburg. Good, clean or new coats, scarfs, gloves are needed in all sizes. For more information, call Wayne Champion at (919) 496-2051.

County's Thanksgiving schedule
All Franklin County departments will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 in observance of Thanksgiving with some exceptions.
All branches of the library will also be closed on Saturday, Nov. 30.
The solid waste transfer station will be open both Friday and Saturday after the holiday as will all of the convenience centers.
The county airport will be open Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. but will be open Friday, Nov. 29.

Fundraiser for former Franklin Co. resident
The family of James Bullock has created a fundraiser on gofundme.com to help offset the costs of his transportation from a nursing facility back to North Carolina.
Bullock, who is 80 years old and in a nursing facility in Detroit, MI, is formerly of Franklin County.
Bullock, who cannot care for himself, has been in the facility since April. His family is trying to get him closer to home, and have found a facility in Durham that will accept him.
The facility costs $10,500 for 30 days, and the medical transfer personnel is $7,500.
To donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-james-bullocks-transfer-to-nc or contact Bullock's sister, Carolyn Hanson at (919) 817-9873.

Farmers Market
The Franklin County Farmer's Market, located in the Shannon Village Shopping Center, Louisburg will be open Friday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The first pointed head cabbage fall, collards, turnip salad, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, pasture-raised chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and farm-fresh eggs, unique crafts and plants are available.
For more information contact Pat Ayscue, market manager with the Franklin County Cooperative Extension at 919-496-3344.

American Legion provides U.S. Flag disposal
The American Legion Post 52, located at 40 American Legion Road, Franklinton, has installed a U.S. Flag drop box for the community to respectfully discard unserviceable U.S. Flags.
The drop-box is located in the parking lot at the start of the sidewalk. Simply fold up your flag and put it in the drop-box opening. They collect unserviceable flags throughout the year and hold a disposal ceremony in June. The American Flag stands for freedom and sacrifice. The American Legion continues this time-honored tradition to show respect for what it stands for.

Learn a new craft
A hand-crafted holiday skin gift workshop will be conducted Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m., at Franklin County Extension Center Annex,103 S. Bickett Boulevard, Louisburg. Gingerbread lip scrub, peppermint soap, and ornament bath salts are the creations that will be made during this program. Cost is $25. Register online at go.ncsu.edu/holidayskincare2024. For more information or questions, please contact Dominque Simon, (919) 496-3344,or dominque_simon@ncsu.edu.

Christmas parade in Alert
The sights and sounds of Christmas will happen when the 2024 Christmas Parade steps out at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the northern Franklin County community of Alert.
It's a free event and lineup will start at 1 p.m.
This is the town's 34th Christmas Parade -- and it will feature a Best Christmas Decorated Entry contest.

Landscape credit class
A credit class for landscape professionals will be conducted Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Franklin County Ag Center Annex, 103 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg. Topics will include current trends in landscape and ornamental weed management and best management practices for turfgrass diseases. Registration is required. Register online at: http://go.ncsu.edu/decemberclass. Cost: $10, dinner included.
For more information contact 919-496-3344 or Charles Mitchell at charles_mitchell@ncsu.edu

Cattle producers marketing meeting
Area cattle producers are being invited to a beef cattle marketing meeting and dinner on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Franklin County Extension Center Annex,103 S. Bickett Blvd. The meeting will begin with a sponsored meal at 5:30 pm, followed by the educational and informative programs. Updates on cattle trends and marketing information will be discussed.
Guest speaker via Zoom will be Dr. Derrell S. Peel, livestock marketing specialist in Ag Economics at Oklahoma State University, to give his forecast for cattle pricing and futures along with other marketing trends.
Registration is required. Registration deadline is Dec.18th. Register online at https://go.ncsu.edu/2024beefmarketingmeetinganddinner.
For more information contact the office at 919-496-3344, or Ag Agent Martha Mobley, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.

Commissioners' swearing in slated
A swearing in ceremony for four Franklin County commissioners has been slated for 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at the Franklin County Plaza Training center, 279 South Bickett Boulevard, Louisburg.
Two veteran commissioners will take the oath, including Mark Speed and Michael Schriver as will two newcomers to the board, Logan Davis and Stuart May.
The ceremony is open to the public.

Special zoning meeting planned
A special draft zoning ordinance workshop has been called for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25. The workshop will be held in town council chambers in the Karl Pernell Public Safety Complex on Wade Avenue.

Nominations for volunteer award sought
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Governor's Volunteer Service Award.
The awards program, created by the Office of the Governor in 1979, recognizes North Carolina's most dedicated volunteers.
Each county selects up to 10 individuals, businesses, groups/teams and one paid director of volunteers to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities. One of the nominees will be nominated for the Governor's Medallion Award for Volunteer Service, which is awarded to the top 20 volunteers in the state. A local committee evaluates the nominations.
Nomination forms are available in Franklin County at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Center. They can also be found at www.volunteernc.org. Nomination forms are due by Jan. 31, 2025 to the Franklin County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension office (103 South Bickett Blvd., Louisburg, NC 27549). They can also be emailed to charles_mitchell@ncsu.edu. For further information, contact N.C. Cooperative Extension at 919-496-3344.