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LOUISBURG -- Monday evening was a particularly good time for Louisburg mayors -- veteran Mayor Karl Pernell wrapped up 20 years in the job and left the council meeting with an arm load of awards, including having a building named in his honor, and newly elected Mayor Christopher Neal became the town's first elected African-American mayor and during the meeting saw the town reap nearly a million dollars in grants to further ongoing projects.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's health department is asking folks to get masked, get vaxxed and get tested in an effort to start 2022 in better shape than 2021 is ending.
At press time, there had been 10,772 COVID-19 cases reported in Franklin County during the history of the pandemic.

LOUISBURG -- With a resounding "pop," the ribbon officially opening Louisburg's new museum was cleanly sliced Saturday afternoon, opening a facility that showcases memorabilia from the fire and police departments as well as the former Louisburg Rescue Squad.
Doing the honors -- and cutting the ribbon with an incredibly sharpened fire axe prepared for just that occasion -- was Louisburg Mayor and former Fire Chief Karl Pernell.

FRANKLINTON -- As commissioners, the board approved a 124-unit development that will grow the town, agreed to petition the county to expand its zoning jurisdiction for another development.
As the board of adjustment, commissioners listened to a pitch from a town stalwart who wants to build a community center.

READY FOR SANTA! When the Christmas Season officially began with a tree lighting ceremony in downtown Louisburg, Santa was greeting children -- and the Tickle family's young ladies made their wishes well known. Shown here (from the left) are dad (and attorney) Lawrence Tickle, Jr., who is holding Harper, 1; Lana, 9, Aleigha, 5 and Ember, 6.

It's the eve of Christmas Eve, if you can believe that.
It's hard to believe that Santa Claus will be making his rounds in just a few hours -- and that Christmas Day looms large.
2021 has been a crazy, crazy year and despite our hopes that the COVID crisis was largely behind us, that's appearing more and more like mere wishful thinking.

Before writing this column, I peaked inside my wallet and I checked my bank account.
It looks like a whole lot of folks will be getting nothing but well wishes from me.
But, it's the thought that counts, right?

Dear editor:
On Nov. 4, 2021, President Joe Biden stated, "You had 14 - I think it was 14 - Nobel laureate economists saying this is going to - what I'm proposing is going to reduce the inflation, et cetera."

CASTALIA, NC--Funeral services for Charlie "Bud" Williams, age 71, who died on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, will be held 2 p.m., Monday, December 27, from the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Marcus Dunston Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery.

HENDERSON -- Mrs. Evelyn Medlin Reese, 79, of US 158 Bypass, died Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at her home. Born June 17, 1942 in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late Eva Davis Medlin and Elmo Allen Medlin. Evelyn was a member of West End Baptist Church for over forty years and was proud to say "I've read the Bible again from cover to cover." She retired from the Warren County School System after teaching in both Vance and Warren County high schools and held her National Board Teachers Certification. Evelyn loved teaching and being a positive influence on her students. Between teaching in Vance and Warren Counties, she sold real estate at the former Wester Realty Company.

STANHOPE - Southern Nash appeared to be well on its way to a convincing victory over Louisburg last Friday in Big East Conference boys basketball action.
But LHS' Jordan Durham had other ideas.
Southern Nash still got its decision, but not without a bit of a late scare from the Warriors, thanks in part to the heroics of Durham.

FRANKLINTON -- Through three contests, a trio of clubs are undefeated in the Big East Conference's boys basketball standings -- and one of them is a bit of a surprise.
Certainly, it isn't a shock that defending champion Rocky Mount and ultra-talented Southern Nash have made it through the league to date without a loss.

STANHOPE -- One team was destined to gain a feel-good victory last Friday -- and that club would prove to be the Southern Nash Ladybirds.
In a battle of squads with winless records coming in, the Ladybirds used a furious full-court pressure defense to take charge early en route to gaining a 63-44 triumph over the Lady Warriors in Big East Conference girls basketball action at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.

DURHAM -- North Carolina State University baseball head coach Elliott Avent was named the 2021 USA Baseball College Coach of the Year last Thursday.
This is the second national honor in his coaching career (the first coming in 2003), and the second award he has received after the Wolfpack's historic 2021 season, as he was named the ABCA/ATEC Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year honor back in July.

Louisburg's Jordan Durham eludes the Southern Nash defense during last Friday night's contest.

A SPECIAL DAY. Jim McNeely and Angela McNeely celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary December 18, 2021. They were married in Dania, Florida on December 18, 1961. They raised three children and have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They reside in Louisburg.

Mrs. Eugenia Strickland Edgerton celebrated her milestone 100th birthday, Dec. 17, 2021.
She was born December 17, 1921, in Louisburg, NC.
After graduating high school, she married Lewis Edgerton, and from this union were born 15 children; 27 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-great-grandchildren.

CHRISTMAS IN LAUREL MILL. For the fourth year, the Northern Sportsman, Chris Edwards, and a host of generous volunteers banded together to provide Christmas gifts for nearly 300 students at Laurel Mill Elementary School in the northern reaches of Franklin County. Above, Zamari Alston gets his hands on a gift.

CHRISTMAS IN LAUREL MILL. For the fourth year, the Northern Sportsman, Chris Edwards, and a host of generous volunteers banded together to provide Christmas gifts for nearly 300 students at Laurel Mill Elementary School in the northern reaches of Franklin County. Above, Edwards talks with teacher Beth Denton.

CHRISTMAS IN LAUREL MILL. For the fourth year, the Northern Sportsman, Chris Edwards, and a host of generous volunteers banded together to provide Christmas gifts for nearly 300 students at Laurel Mill Elementary School in the northern reaches of Franklin County. Above, Leslie Calamaco and Beth Denton help Layla Stoudemire and Makayla Kearney with choices.

LOUISBURG ­-- Authorities arrested a Louisburg Manor employee, alleging he exposed himself to residents at the Smoke Tree Way facility.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Cortez Norman, 30, of Rocky Mount, on Dec. 16, serving Louisburg police warrants that charged him with two counts of indecent exposure and misdemeanor stalking.

LOUISBURG -- Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 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 ten individuals, businesses, groups/teams and one paid Director of Volunteers to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities.

The late Margaret Hilpert was a champion of the arts in the community who touched many people with her passion for the arts and one of her passions was promoting access to art in Franklin County. Fellow Arts Council members describe Margaret as "an excellent and talented teacher, a willing volunteer, a supporter not only of Franklin County Arts Council but of art in Franklin and surrounding counties."

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police continue to look for a suspect in a sweepstakes armed robbery.
According to authorities, a masked suspect entered the MGM Cafe at 326 Bickett Boulevard around 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 9.
The suspect displayed a weapon and demanded money from the clerk.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested five Louisburg College students, allege they stole items from a home in Pitt County.
On Dec. 9, Louisburg Police served warrants on:

Louisburg Mayor Karl Pernell (left) receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award that was approved recently by Gov. Roy Cooper. Presenting the award was Louisburg Council member Boyd Sturges.

Louisburg Town Clerk Carolyn Patterson presented a special award of appreciation to out-going Mayor Karl Pernell during Monday's council meeting.

Louisburg Council member Emma Stewart holds the resolution she presented in honor of Mayor Karl Pernell. Passed unanimously, the resolution names the police and fire department facility on Wade Avenue the Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Building.

Three members of the Louisburg Council were sworn in Monday night. From the left are Betty Wright, shown with her sons Keven and Tracy and daughter Dr. Andrea Wright; Council member Tom Clancy; Madison Stein, holding the Bible for both Clancy and her mother, Silke Stein. Administering the oath is Judge Allen Keith. Both Wright and Clancy were re-elected in November and Stein was elected to her first term on the council in that same election.