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FRANKLINTON -- Commissioners agreed to annex and rezone more than 250 acres, making way for a 600-home, mixed use development that would include a charter school, as well as commercial property during their Tuesday evening meeting.
The decision came over the objections of a nearby neighborhood, which hired a law firm to present its opposition or, at the very least, a wish that the town slow the project.

Fire crews from Louisburg, Epsom, Mitchiners, Youngsville and White Level combined to put out this fire at 111 N. Church Street in Louisburg on Sunday afternoon. The county's fire investigator determined the cause to be electrical. No injuries were reported as the occupants were out of town, authorities said. Louisburg police noticed the smoke, prompting the call for emergency crews, which included county emergency management, more police and the American Red Cross.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- As a child, Linda Winston Jones said she walked through the cemetery a stone's throw from Long Mill Elementary School, not knowing much about the souls who called it their final resting place.
Now, she can tell you anything you'd want to know about the lives of the people whose names are etched on the aged headstones.

LOUISBURG -- Newly proposed redistricting maps create some changes, including double bunking commissioners and creating an open district, but the county's ability to successfully nominate minority candidates remains, the county's redistricting consultant contends.
"... Because Franklin County was previously a Section 5 covered county and has been the subject of a Section 2 Voting Rights Act litigation in the past, for which a consent order was done, which divided the county up into five districts and two at-large districts...

LOUISBURG -- There were some long-term business topics discussed during Monday night's Louisburg Town Council session before the meeting veered into the political realm -- and outgoing Mayor Karl Pernell chastised a candidate for the office he now holds.
The topic with the most far-reaching implications was affordable housing and was raised by the Southside Neighborhood Association.

The great Maggie Underwood

From tee shirts on Saturday to flannel on Sunday.
Yep, it's finally fall in North Carolina -- and it's likely that the next several days will be a challenge because if you dress for these cool mornings, you'll be roasted by noon.
And, if you're like a lot of folks, when you reach for your jacket the next morning, you'll suddenly remember that you wore it to work the previous morning and forgot to bring it home because it was so warm by afternoon.

In the summer of 2021, Franklin County entered into an agreement with Open Broadband to provide Internet service across the county, with a focus on unserved and underserved pockets of the county.
That agreement called for the county to set aside $188,000 a year -- for four years -- to pay the company to cover installation costs as they reach service rollout benchmarks.

Dear editor:
The decisions made at this moment will affect our legislative realities for a decade to come. I am a physician at a rural health center, and to me, redistricting is about healthcare, affordable housing, and good schools.

Dear editor:
A recurring theme of another letter from Warren Harris. I would like to refute certain of his claims and conclusions.
1 - Regarding the KeystoneXL pipeline and cause of current and continued price increases at the pump - Net US petroleum product exports in 2021 will average 3.5 million barrels per day and 3.9 mbpd projected for 2022.

Dear editor:
This is the headline from American Thinker (May 13, 2021):
The International Energy Agency report shows that green energy transition is a fantasy because of dependence on key rare minerals.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Vickie M. Williams, age 59 who died on Monday, October 18, 2021, will be held on Saturday, October 23, at 2 p.m. from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, NC. Burial will follow in the Jones Chapel Church Cememtery. Rev. Timothy Johnson, Eulogist & Rev. James Walter Smith, Presiding.

BUNN -- Louisburg High School veteran volleyball coach Erica Wammock usually has her club figured out by this time of the year -- but her 2021 squad has been quite the outlier.
Like other clubs in the Big East Conference, LHS has been unable to string together a consistent number of victories -- thanks in part to the high level of competition.

FRANKLINTON -- Memo from the rest of the Big East Conference to Franklinton High School volleyball coach Tom Harris:
Where do you keep getting all of these hitters?
For most area teams, devastation would have ensued in the preseason when Franklinton's De'Nyla Harlan, arguably the top returning player in the Big East, moved to Georgia.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg has managed to score a combined 14 points over its last two games -- and the result has been back-to-back defeats in tough fashion.
LHS seemed on the cusp of earning a low-scoring victory last Thursday against Big East Conference opponent Roanoke Rapids, but the Yellow Jackets rallied for a late touchdown to edge the Warriors 14-8 in league action at the LHS Football Field.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Round One of the same-classification football games in the Big East Conference began last Friday -- with a playoff spot going to the winner of the four-team, round-robin format.
Nash Central took the first step toward that lofty goal as the homestanding Bulldogs slid past Bunn by a 15-6 margin at The Dawg Pound on the NCHS campus.

FRANKLINTON -- It took longer than anticipated, but Northern Nash was eventually able to wrestle control of last Friday's Big East Conference football game against a feisty Franklinton group.
The homestanding Red Rams only trailed by seven points at halftime versus the heavily favored Fighting Knights, but NN was able to deliver a trio of unanswered touchdowns in the second stanza en route to securing an important 42-14 decision over the Red Rams at the FHS Football Field.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The predictable unpredictability of the Big East Conference volleyball campaign continued last Tuesday when Nash Central hosted Louisburg in a key league showdown.
Just a few days earlier, Central had suffered a disappointing home loss to Bunn, and that setback all but eliminated the Lady Bulldogs from title consideration.
But Louisburg was still in the mix heading into its date at Central -- thanks in part to a five-set victory the week before against league leader Franklinton.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats are celebrating the full-season accomplishments of recently named Low-A East All-Star outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Year, and overwhelming fan favorite Joey Wiemer with a new ticket package that includes a free Joey Wiemer No. 17 t-shirt, a 2022 season 17-game ticket plan and more.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash continued its dominance of the Big East Conference boys soccer schedule Monday with a home victory against the Northern Nash Fighting Knights.
Four different Firebirds found the back of the net as Southern Nash remained undefeated in the Big East with a 4-1 decision.

Classical guitarist Joseph Pecoparo will perform at Cherry Hill on Oct. 24. The program will begin at 3 p.m. and admission will be taken at the door. Adult admission will be $10, students will be $5, and all children 12 and will be admitted at no charge. Pecoparo is recognized as an accomplished concert and recording artist, teacher, and author.

QUILT-TASTIC. Quilt Trails of the Tar & Roanoke Rivers and the Franklin County Arts Council hosted their third annual Quilt Show last Saturday at historic Person Place in the town of Louisburg. The event drew in the curious as well as those who enjoy the fiber arts. There were about 17 quilts on display, one of them dating back to the 1800s. Above, Beverly Wilson, of Seven Paths, stands next to the quilt she made. Her inspiration was the time she had available during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her "At the Seashore" quilt was inspired by memories of trips to Atlantic Beach along the Carolina coast. Each block of the quilt represents some aspect of summers spent at Atlantic Beach, Wilson said. (Times photos by Carey Johnson)

CHAPEL HILL -- Congressman David Price, whose 4th Congressional District includes Franklin County, announced this week that he will not seek re-election in 2022.
"... I [make this announcement] with a profound sense of gratitude to the voters of the Fourth District;

Louisburg Mayor Karl Pernell opted not to seek re-election, leading to a six-way race for the town's top governmental spot.
Incumbent Council members Christopher Neal and Boyd Sturges are seeking the seat.
They'll be joined on the ballot by political newcomers Mike Anderson, Connie Jo Hutchinson, Liz Seibel and Paula Walters.

Full name:
Mike Anderson
Age: 65
Occupation:
Self Employed

Full name:
Connie Jo Hutchinson
Age: 50
Occupation: Sign Language Interpreter

Full Name:
Christopher Neal
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired Accountant

Full name:
Liz Seibel
Age: 55
Occupation: Co/Owner The Computer Guy

Full Name:
Boyd Sturges
Age 52
Occupation: Lawyer

Full name:Paula Walters
Age: 49
Occupation: Business Owner, Teacher

The race for Louisburg Town Council has generated a five-person race for three available seats.
Seats held by Council members Tom Clancy, Boyd Sturges and Betty Wright are up for grabs.
Sturges is running for mayor.

Full name:
Thomas James Clancy
Age: 54
Occupation:
Business Owner

Full name:
Elizabeth Hathcock
Age: 38
Occupation: Account Executive Sales

Full Name:
Silke Erika Stein
Age 53
Occupation: CEO of The Stein Haus

Full name:
Johnathan Caine Williams
Age: 45
Occupation: Paramedic

Full name:
Betty Keith Wright
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired Franklin County School Employee