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LOUISBURG -- Louisburg took two giant steps toward having its first-ever PUD -- a Planned Unit Development that, in this case, could end up including 147 single-family residences on the site of the former Louisburg Country Club.
On Monday night, the council approved both a special use permit and the necessary rezoning for the project that is planned for about 64 acres just outside town limits off NC 39 South.

STEPPING OUT TOWARD CHRISTMAS! Most Franklin Countians are fast-stepping toward Christmas these days, but Katie Lynn Allen was doing it literally last Saturday in the Alert parade as she pulled Michaela Gourly along in a well-decorated wagon. In the background is Debbie Alley -- and together the three ladies were judged to be the best entry in the Alert Christmas Parade which was marking its 30th year.

LOUISBURG -- The filing period for the 2020 spring primary/general election has been fast and furious, creating a bit of legislative musical chairs.
The deadline is Friday.
The pending legislative retirement of Sen. John Alexander created a flurry of filing for his Senate District 18 seat, which represents Franklin County and parts of Wake County.

LOUISBURG -- Monday was a busy night for the Louisburg Town Council. After approving a PUD (see related story), the council honored a retiring, long-time employee, swore in a new council member and two returning members, created a new town position and handled a number of important issues.
The council presented retiring Town Planner and Assistant Town Manager Tony King with an award representing his nearly 30 years of service to the town. King started with the town in August, 1991, and his retirement is official at the end of this year.

YOUNGSVILLE -- An economic development group has agreed to rely on old tactics to attract new industry.
During its annual meeting, the Committee of 100 agreed to continue pursuing a partnership with Franklin County and Louisburg to build shell buildings in their respective industrial parks.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The town's Board of Commissioners agreed to move forward with selling its old town hall/police department property -- even as last-minute, potentially more lucrative options, arose.
Commissioners have been pondering what to do with the 1950's-era property since they moved out of the buildings in the spring of 2017 and agreed to sell them in February 2018.

Aiden Zalewski, 7, at the Bunn Christmas parade

Several times a week, I hear people comment on how much things have changed in this area.
Mostly they are talking about increased traffic, especially if they have to travel U.S. 401 or U.S. 1 to or from Wake County.
Sometimes they are referring to all the new home construction -- and often cite farm fields that evolved into subdivisions faster than mushrooms spring up after a warm rain.

New ideas. New development. New activity.
Residents and town leaders are hoping those things combine to revive the town of Franklinton.
This past spring, Franklinton officials adopted an Economic Development Strategic Five-Year Plan that, among other things, is expected to guide the town's decisions to retain current businesses and attract new ones.

Dear editor: I am once again confused by this impeachment attempt. I do think that the Washington elites, which includes both elected and unelected officials, lobbyists and government employees, feel that the American people are not smart enough to elect the President of the United States.

ZEBULON--Howard James Skillman, 66, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at his home. A private service will he held at a later date.

LOUISBURG--Jimmy Leon Stallings, 63, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 6, at Gospel Unlimited Church of Christ Disciples, Castalia. Burial was in the church cemetery.

HENDERSON--Mary Ann Riggan Spencer, 83, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery.

WAKE FOREST--Michael Dexter Cooley, 63, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Public viewing: will be from 12 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at Lea Funeral Home Chapel, 2500 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC. Wake will be 6:30- 8 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

FREEMAN, VA--Walter Hall, 92, of Freeman, VA, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, December 16, 2019, while in comfort care at Community Memorial Hospital, South Hill, VA.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton defended its home turf by the slimmest of margins during last Saturday's action at the annual Rampage Wrestling Tournament at the FHS Gymnasium.
In the decisive match in the dual format, Franklinton finished tied at 42-42 with a solid club from Cedar Ridge.

LOUISBURG -- Playing stout defense can only take a team so far if its opponent simply cannot miss a shot from the field -- even far beyond the three-point arc.
That was the problem the Louisburg Warriors faced during last Wednesday's home, non-conference boys basketball encounter with KIPP Pride out of Gaston County.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- When discussing the top student-athletes in Bunn High School history, Dexter Cooley's name always enters the conversation quickly -- even though he graduated almost 50 years ago.
Cooley, a beloved multi-sport star who went on to become a coach at BHS, died Monday after a long battle with cancer.

BUNN -- There are few absolutes in sports, but one of them is the feeling that the South Granville Vikings will be at or near the top of the Northern Carolina Conference boys basketball standings during the 2019-20 campaign.
South Granville entered the year as the overwhelming favorite to rule the NCC, and the Vikings have done little early on to dispel that notion.

LOUISBURG -- Learning how to close out a victory is an important part of the development process of a young basketball team.
And it was a task that the Louisburg Lady Warriors encountered last Wednesday at home versus KIPP Pride -- and Coach Chris Baker's inexperienced club was able to come through when it mattered the most.

BUNN -- After a difficult first period, it was hard to imagine that Bunn's girls would ultimately defeat South Granville by 31 points in Tuesday night's important Northern Carolina Conference basketball showdown.
But that's exactly what happened as the beginning of the game would not foretell how things would go for the Ladycats.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Here is the schedule for this weekend's North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Football Championships:

Franklinton's Javares White (right) secures a hold against a Southeast Raleigh wrestler during last Saturday's mat tournament at FHS.

LOUISBURG -- Two people died on Franklin County roads over the weekend.
First, Joseph C. Bell, 76, of Louisburg died the afternoon of Dec. 14 when a motorist ran a stop sign and crashed into his vehicle along U.S. 401.
Dwayne Horton, 52, of Wake Forest, died while walking in the travel lane of U.S. 1.

FRANKLINTON -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a man and woman in a prostitution case that turned into an armed robbery.
According to authorities, Jamel Manning, 46, of Raleigh apparently arranged to engage in prostitution at a location outside of Franklinton the afternoon of Dec. 16.
After the engagement, authorities said, Manning was dissatisfied with the services and robbed Sherissa Oakley at gunpoint.

No snow, no problem! Santa rode a fire truck in the 30th annual Alert parade.

Smiles, waves and candy highlighted annual Alert parade.

'Moon' Mullen mowed 'em down in Bunn.

Bunn wasn't quite cool enough for a snowman except this one!

The Bunn High School Wildcat Band performed for the crowd.