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LOUISBURG -- From the time that Rosanell Eaton rode a mule-drawn wagon to the Franklin County Courthouse to register to vote, an action that Jim Crow-era men at the courthouse tried to stop by having her recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution -- which she did, flawlessly -- to her trip to the White House and being celebrated by former President Barack Obama as an unsung American Hero, Eaton blazed trails.
She passed away Saturday at the age of 97.

HENDERSON -- The Vance-Granville Board of Trustees has tabbed Dr. Rachel M. Desmarais as the next president of Vance-Granville Community College.
With the final approval of the appointment by the State Board of Community Colleges on Dec. 18, she would become the seventh president in the 49-year history of the college.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Elections was slated to meet Wednesday to discuss its pending director vacancy.
The meeting took place after the deadline for this edition.
Lisa Goswick, who will have spent 29 years in county service, is set to retire at the end of January.

HENDERSON -- Vance County authorities continue to investigate the suspicious death of two people, one of whom was from Franklin County.
Franklin County authorities reported Kesha Smith, 36, of Franklinton, missing on Nov. 19, and Henderson police began looking for her and Robert Bullock, 40, of Henderson as they were last seen on Dabney Drive in that city.

Franklinton's Cheyanne Miller

When the Cedar Creek Middle School's eighth-grade chorus was invited to a joint school board, county commission meeting last week, the assumption was that they were the entertainment.
Entertain they certainly did, beautifully! But they did so much more since three songs, selected by Chorus Director Ted Willis, demonstrated something more than the musical accomplishments of these young people.

This job is difficult.
No, it's not 'ditch digging in the middle of summer' difficult.
It's not 'trying to settle down a room full of hormonal students and get them to actually learn something' difficult.
It's not 'cracking open someone's chest and bringing them back to life' difficult.

Yikes, winter doesn't even start until tomorrow but apparently Mother Nature never got that memo.
A late fall storm, rolled across the country last weekend, much to the delight of local kids who got to play in a good layer of the white stuff for the first time in a long while -- and it was even good enough to make snowmen (snow people?) and engage in a snowball fight.

LOUISBURG--Carolyn Allen Franklin, 75, of Louisburg transitioned peacefully into eternal rest while surrounded by her family and close friends on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Born on May 6, 1943 to the late Thomas and Hazel McGhee Allen. Carolyn was employed with Franklin Regional Medical Center for over twenty years. She loved to help people and would never say no to anyone who needed help. She loved shopping, jewelry and cooking and was known for her famous chocolate and egg custard pies. She loved Christmas and was truly a child at heart.

FRANKLINTON--Michael Holger Meier, 74, of Franklinton went to be with the Lord on December 10, 2018. He was born in Germany on July 20, 1944 to the late Inka Meier Lange.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Four players from Bunn and two standouts from Louisburg have earned spots on the prestigious 2018 All-Northern Carolina Conference Football Team.
It was a successful campaign for both the Wildcats and Warriors as each club reached the state playoffs in their respective classifications.

ROCKY MOUNT - Franklinton offered its best league performance yet last Wednesday at the latest Big East Conference Swim Meet.
In just its second season in the competitive Class 3-A Big East, the Red Rams continue to make an upward push in the standings.
That effort was showcased last Wednesday as the ever-improving Red Rams earned a strong fourth-place finish in the boys team standings in the latest conference installment at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County's wrestling fraternity is small but energetic, and it is almost like a family reunion when Franklinton, Bunn and Louisburg come together to take part in a tournament at the same time.
That is what happened last Saturday as Franklinton hosted the Second Annual Rampage Duals at the FHS Gymnasium.

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Earlier in the week, Louisburg High School boys basketball coach Michael Sheldon assessed that last Friday's pending game at Roanoke Rapids was the type of contest the Warriors needed to win if they hoped to be a top-level squad this season in the Northern Carolina Conference.
Consider it done as the surging Warriors went to overtime before coming away with a 59-53 decision over the Yellow Jackets at the historic RRHS Gymnasium.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg College Cross country team closed its season in strong fashion last month at National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships, which were held in Garden City, Kansas.
The LC women's squad finished a solid 31st as a team in its first appearance at the meet since 2015.

CHAPEL HILL -- Listed are the brackets for the Class 3-A State Football Championships, which will wrap up this weekend:

CHAPEL HILL -- Here is this weekend's lineup for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Football Championships:

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College's men's basketball team has n not gotten off to the best start, mainly because injuries have riddled the potential lineup of veteran head coach Neil Dixon.
But everything came together last week for the Hurricanes as they earned a pair of convincing victories.

BUNN HIGH SCHOOL'S SCOTTIE SPENCER

FRANKLINTON HIGH SCHOOL'S JOSEPH MURPHY

John William Benning of Louisburg, North Carolina, and Anna Riba H. Peschel of Saint Paul, Minnesota, were married on Saturday, June 16, 2018. The groom is the son of Fleet and Betsy Burnett Benning of Louisburg. The bride is the daughter of Mark and Nina Hakanson Peschel of St. Paul, Minnesota.
The wedding took place in Wheeler, Wisconsin at the bride's family's farm in a lovely pastoral setting overlooking the woodlands.

LITTLE SISTER WELCOMED. Tony and Kacy Tavera announce the birth of their third child, Molly Jane. Molly was born on Oct. 27, 2018 at 7:46 a.m., weighing 7 lbs., 11 oz. and was 20 inches long. Proud siblings are Mia and Jaxon.

Kerr-Vance Academy in Henderson recently announced its latest honor roll and headmaster list for the first quarter.

BUNN -- Commissioners approved a food truck policy they believe is fair to vendors, their brick and mortar establishments and the town, itself.
Bunn has brought in food truck vendors for its special events, such as Bunn Fun Day, but, otherwise, the mobile establishments were banned inside the town's jurisdiction.
That changed earlier this month when commissioners approved a policy that allows food trucks within the town, but within regulations.

The Legacy Dance Productions float

The (all bundled up) Bunn Garden Club was all smiles

A festive rider -- on one wheel!

The Franklin County Miracle League was well represented

ALMOST READY. Santa Claus seems to be almost ready for his big night so he took time to enjoy the hospitality in Alert on Saturday. Some said he bears a striking resemblance to Grant Pernell of Alert -- but we're just not seeing that behind that big, white beard!

A FIREMAN'S WAVE. Charles Bobbitt of Alert waves from the brush fire unit he was driving in the parade.

ALL SMILES. Epsom Fire Department fireman Adrian Tharrington waves while driving Emma Faulkner and her friend, Katie, in the Alert parade on Saturday. Although the weather was chilly, the holiday spirits were bright!