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LOUISBURG -- Against the pleas of residents in a small cul-de-sac, the Franklin County Board of Adjustment agreed to let the owner of an excavating business continue storing heavy equipment in his backyard.
In August, residents on Tipton Court filed a complaint with the county's planning office, alleging that Chris Scott was using his backyard to store large equipment he uses for his grading and construction business.

MAN OF THE MOMENT. Above, Youngsville Elementary School Principal Frank Wiggins was surprised Oct. 20 when he was named the Franklin County School system's 2023-24 Principal of the Year. Central Office staff said the school has flourished under Wiggins' guidance. "I am overwhelmed and very humbled by this," Wiggins said. "I'm very proud of this school and very proud to be the principal of this school because every day I get up and I look forward to coming to work because I get to work with you, the students, and this wonderful staff."

LOUISBURG -- One brother accused of stealing money from a Bunn Youth rec league and one brother accused of intimidating those trying to bring it to light are slated to appear in court today.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Jamie Earl Murray at the beginning of October, alleging he stole more than $4,000 from the Bunn Youth Recreation League/Southern Franklin Youth Association.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County management, as many as three commissioners and invited animal advocates were slated to meet face-to-face this week in an effort to hash out issues at the animal shelter.
A "full report" of that session is expected to be presented to the public at the Animal Services Advisory Board's Oct. 30 meeting, said county spokesperson James Hicks.

Those looking for a fright will have plenty of options in Franklin County towns this weekend and on Halloween night.
• The Bunn Cert Lions Club is planning a Bunn Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 28.
The free festival will be held in the Bunn High School parking lot from 4 to 8 p.m. and feature "trunk or treat" activities. Trick or treating will take place between 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Bradley Sterling Leonard, Jr.

It's suddenly turned chilly outside -- and chilly outside means chili inside, at least in my book.
Thus, in the first nod to the changing seasons, I crafted a large pot of chili Sunday morning after gathering up all the ingredients on Saturday.
Although my cooking skills were rusty, the finished product turned out pretty well, considering, and even Donna agreed.
Please, don't ask for a recipe 'cause I don't have one.

Early voting began last Thursday and, as of press time, there shouldn't have been a single voter-related wreck on Bickett Boulevard.
Early voting began on Oct. 19 at Franklin Plaza -- 279 S. Bickett Boulevard, Louisburg.
And, at press time,which was Wednesday morning, 136 brave souls had cast an early ballot.
Certainly, there's still plenty of time.

Castalia, NC--Funeral services for Betty R. Leonard, age 54, who died on Monday, October 23, 2023, will be held 12 noon, Saturday, October 28, from the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church, Louisburg, NC with Rev. Randolph Alston, officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Raleigh, NC--Funeral services for E. Larry Brodie, age 73, who died on Monday, October 23, 2023, will be held 3:30 p.m., Saturday, October 28, from the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church, Louisburg, NC. Burial will follow in the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Castalia, NC--Funeral services for James Matthew Anstead, age 69, who died on Sunday, October 22, 2023, will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, October 29, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC. Burial will follow in the Anstead Family Cemetery.

Louisburg--Katie Sue McCartney Arnold, age 76 of Louisburg went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. She was born on November 14, 1946, to the late Fred McCartney and Pauline Reagan White.

FRANKLINTON -- Almost there met already there last Wednesday, and already there is still there atop the Big East Conference volleyball scene.
Certainly, it's been an amazing year for the Northern Nash Lady Knights, who made significant spike progress this fall -- defeating every league team except one en route to a second-place finish in the league.

BUNN -- To the surprise of nobody, Southern Nash has clinched the top spot in the Big East Conference boys soccer standings for the third consecutive campaign.
Despite that anticlimactic resolution, there was still something to play for heading intø the league's final week of the regular season.
Second place is still at stake in the Big East, and Bunn made a step toward attaining that goal with a 5-2 home victory on Monday against the Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets.

LOUISBURG -- Maybe it isn't an official league championship, but being the winner of the Class 2-A portion of the split Northern Lakes Conference certainly has its perks -- such as a favorable seed for the upcoming state football playoffs.
That's what the Louisburg Warriors are anticipating after wrapping up the NLC 2-A title last Friday with a 49-0 home decision over Granville Central.

BUNN -- It hasn't been a season to remember for the Bunn High School football team -- but a happy ending could still be in store for the Wildcats.
That's because Bunn had one more regular season game remaining -- and that will take place this Friday at home against ultimate rival Louisburg.
A victory for the Wildcats would not only snap BHS' six-contest losing streak, but it would also give Bunn some local bragging rights -- as well as possibly providing a springboard of momentum heading into the 2024 campaign.

LOUISBURG -- The Northern Nash High School boys cross country dynasty is continuing this fall -- but with an interesting twist.
Instead of rebuilding, Coach Jeff Dodrill's Fighting Knights have reloaded on the fly in 2023 with a roster dominated by underclasmen, including a much-heralded freshman class.
The result is yet another Big East Conference title for Northern, which owns a consecutive crown streak that is now in double digits.

WAKE FOREST -- The Southern Nash Dynasty needed to overcome some adversity this fall in order to earn its third consecutive Big East Conference Girls Golf Team Championship.
Despite losing a pair of key players to season-ending injuries, the Ladybirds were still able to sweep every Big East meet this season, including last Monday's finale at the Brevofield Golf Links in Wake Forest.

FRANKLINTON -- Two years ago, the Franklinton Red Rams pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent Big East Conference history when they shocked perennial titan Rocky Mount at home -- and going away for that matter.
History didn't repeat itself last Friday in RM's return to the FHS Football Field as a sturdy Gryphons' defense kept the Red Rams out of the end zone en route to delivering a 28-3 league decision in the next-to-last week of the regular season.

(L to R) Franklinton High School's Mikayla Taborn and Maddi VanVlack execute a double block last Wednesday evening against rival Northern Nash.

Does your landscape have drainage problems? Are you limited to a confined space to have a garden or flower bed? If so, you can still be successful growing your plants by creating raised beds. These beds can be useful for growing vegetables, annuals, bulbous plants, herbaceous perennials, or whatever you desire.
A raised bed can be just what it sounds like: a mound of dirt. Generally, to prevent erosion a barrier is built. However, a barrier is not always needed. Barriers are often site dependent. If a barrier is desired there is no need to try to build a fort around the soil.

Have you experienced problems with fire ants this summer and fall? Due to recent rains, we have seen an abundance of mounds showing up everywhere. Fire ants have spread throughout much of the south and eastern parts of NC, and they are moving west. The main question most have is: How do you control these horrible ants?
Fire ant mounds vary in size due to the size of the colony.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners rezoned nearly 42 acres and agreed to designate the site as a master development that would allow developers to build homes and townhomes in what had been a commercial area.
Commissioners rezoned the site at the corner of N.C. 56 and Lane Store from Highway Commercial to Planned Development.

RALEIGH -- The State Board of Elections plans to open another application period for eligible educational institutions and government agencies to apply to have their student and employee photo IDs approved for voting purposes in the 2024 elections.
The State Board will accept new applications from November 13, 2023, through December 15, 2023. In July 2023, the State Board approved 100 student and employee ID cards. Those IDs are approved through the end of 2024. These institutions do not need to reapply.

LOUISBURG -- A broadband provider plans to use two grant awards to expand Internet service in southeast Franklin County, and unserved areas in the north.
Charter Communications, doing business as Spectrum, received a $630,000 Completing Access to Broadbrand grant in September to expand service in Franklin County. Paired with their own $111,000 investment, the company plans to provide Internet service to 175 households in southeastern Franklin County.
The grant helps cover costs of extending service to unserved and under-served areas. It requires a $5,000 county match.

The American Legion Post 52 recently installed a flag disposal box at their post, so unserviceable U.S. Flags can be collected and disposed of in an honorable manner, during their Flag Retirement Ceremony, held each June.
Federal Flag Code considers the U.S. Flag a living symbol of our country representing the many freedoms, rights, and responsibilities American citizens are privileged with because of the sacrifices of our military.

RECOGNIZE. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Safe Space, the area's organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault, has held a number of events to raise awareness about the problem here in Franklin County.

RALEIGH -- Two North Carolina teens were awarded scholarships in memory of a Franklin County leader and preserved by county cattle folk.
The Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship is presented to deserving youth junior beef exhibitors between the ages of 14 and 18.
They can compete in the Junior Market Steer and/or Junior Beef Heifer competition.