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LOUISBURG -- A company that's proposing to bring better Internet service to Franklin County, focusing on the unserved and underserved, has secured at least one tower from which they can set up equipment and start delivering service.
There's still a question, though, as to when that service rollout will begin.

It might appear that Kristen House is either trying to fly from her perch atop this massive road grader or maybe she was practicing her surfboard riding technique. Actually it was neither -- and if you look closely just to the left of her hand, you'll see several airborne white flecks against the bright blue sky. Those are pieces of candy that Kristen had just launched into the watching crowd of youngsters -- and some not so young -- who lined the highway in Centerville on New Year's Day for the annual parade. Kristen's dad, Chris, and Danny House are in the grader's cab.

LOUISBURG -- An assistant fire chief said his lines of communication have improved with the county's emergency communications director.
However, issues with the county's emergency radio system persist.
Last month, Assistant Epsom Fire Chief Dwayne Cottrell told Franklin County commissioners the county's system has been problematic -- made even more noticeable by the department's proximity to, and reliance upon Vance County's radio system, by comparison.

LOUISBURG -- Court officials expect to set a March date to hear claims that a Franklin County man is innocent of a 1990 kidnapping that sent him to prison for 120 years.
Kenneth Leon Evans was convicted of first degree kidnapping, second degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and larceny for his role in the March 1990 kidnapping of Euther Ray Manning, who had worked as a legal secretary for Judge Hamilton Hobgood and was working for the county's EMS service at the time.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County Manager Angela L. Harris has announced that Cindy H. Jones will begin serving as senior services director on Jan. 20.
As a lifelong Franklin County resident and 25-year public servant, Jones stated she is excited to help all seniors in our county and feels her background in social work, the insurance industry and the legal system has prepared her for the task.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Planning consultants and town staff appeared to have made enough adjustments to the Youngsville Development Ordinance to appease residents and property owners.
The first public hearing on the matter in October drew a room full of property owners who expressed concerns about the proposal -- primarily its recommended changes to zoning.

Louisburg HS hoops player Khylil Carter

You may have noticed something new on our Page 1 masthead since the dawn of a new year.
It's a graphic noting that 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of The Franklin Times.
And before you ask, no, I haven't been here for all those 150 years -- although some days it feels like it. But come March 1, I will have been owner/publisher of The Franklin Times for 29 years, and boast the attendant scars, wrinkles and grey hair to prove that.

They often say, never let facts get in the way of a good story.
Truth of the matter is, crash statistics for U.S. 401, from the Wake County line up to N.C. 56 in Louisburg are not the most horrific you'll find.
But, they are, indeed, bad enough.

Dear editor:
I am writing to suggest a study of the economic impact of the Confederate monument on Main Street in Louisburg.
Although it is difficult to assess the value of historic resources, that does not relieve us of the responsibility to do so in an unbiased and truthful manner.

Dear editor:
President Trump has "outed" the whistleblower in a tweet sent to his 68 million followers on Twitter. In doing so, he has broken a federal law, "The Whistleblower Protection Act," which passed both House and Senate without objection in 1989 and was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.

Dear editor: Well, another Democratic debate and once again the winner is Donald J. Trump. I really could not watch the entire debate, but it does not appear that many people tuned in.
Now to the impeachment of a duly elected president of the United States of America.

LOUISBURG - Catherine Ball Bobbitt, 76, died Sunday evening, Dec. 29, 2019 at her home. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, at Mountain Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Grindstaff officiating. Burial followed in Lancaster Memorial Park.

STEM--Nancy Wilson Ashley, 64, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. A celebration of life was held Saturday, Jan. 4, at First Baptist Church in Creedmoor.

ZEBULON -Nancy Ziegler Mintzer Wood, 79, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. She was born in Erie, PA, to the late Earl and Mary Ziegler. She worked for the NCDMV. She loved her church and fellowshipping with her church family.

NEW CANEY, TX--Patsy Ruth Cross Beardslee, 80, of New Caney, TX died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 at her daughter's home in NC. Services will be held at a later date.

YOUNGSVILLE--Reagen Lee Wooten, 23, of Youngsville, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2019 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born in Pitt County on August 23, 1996. Reagen had a passion for motorcycles and was a graduate of MMI. He was a Motorcycle Technician at MotoMax in Raleigh. His passion for motorcycles did not supercede his love for his family. His presence will be greatly missed.

RALEIGH--Weldon Nicholson, 77, of 3609 Bond Street, Raleigh, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 at Tower Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Raleigh.Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 4, at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Louisburg, with burial in Mt. Moriah Church cemetery.

KENLY -- Free throws -- and the inability to make them -- can be the bane of any high school basketball coach's existence.
But Louisburg High School skipper Michael Sheldon saw his club excel from the stripe when it mattered the most during Monday's road, non-conference showdown against the North Johnston Panthers.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College will kick off its 2020 baseball season on February 11 with a home game against rival Pitt Community College at historic Frazier Field on the LC campus.
Veteran skipper Blake Herring will once again serve as the head coach for the Hurricanes.

STANHOPE -- Regardless of circumstance, Southern Nash and Bunn always seem to engage in a thriller when the backyard rivals meet in boys basketball action.
That was the case once again last Friday as BHS traveled to Southern for a non-conference showdown at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.
The teams battled for four tight quarters before Southern Nash put the ball in the hands of one of its best players for the final possession of the hard-fought outing.

KENLY -- Effort isn't the issue as the Louisburg Lady Warriors prepare for the second half of the girls basketball season.
But Louisburg is still suffering from a lack of players (seven) as part of a roster that doesn't have much experience.
Despite some of the problems, Louisburg has still managed to muster a trio of wins this winter, though a victory wasn't in the cards during Monday's non-league road showdown against North Johnston.

STANHOPE -- It would be an understatement to say that there were several momentum shifts during last Friday night's non-conference girls basketball meeting between Bunn and homestanding Southern Nash.
Both clubs went through their respective shares of offensive famine before the Ladybirds were able to hold off a late Bunn threat in able to secure a 48-39 decision at the SNHS Gymnasium.

LOUISBURG -- The Town of Louisburg Recreation Department is currently accepting signups for its spring sports program.
The following sports will be offered:
• T-Ball -- Ages 3-6 (age as of May 1)

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Here are the final game results and winners from the annual The Franklin Times College Football Bowl Game Contest:

A HAPPY CAMPER! Griffin Hollingsworth, 10 years old, recently harvested this impressive 8-point buck during a recent hunting expedition in Franklin County.

Southern Nash High School's Chris Allen (left) defends Bunn's Myles Dotson during last Friday night's non-conference boys basketball showdown at the historic SNHS Gymnasium in Stanhope. Host SN won the game at the buzzer.

With more than 3,000 shows performed around the world, ARTrageous is a one-of-a-kind, interactive art and music experience that will bring their show to the Louisburg College JPAC on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Audiences watch as a team of accomplished, multi-talented artists paint at electric speed, creating giant works of art right before their eyes.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Authorities arrested a Youngsville man on domestic assault charges.
However, to make the arrest, police shot and killed a dog.
Sheriff's deputies and Youngsville police responded to a reported domestic assault at 13 Cureton Drive during the early morning hours of Dec. 22.

HER EFFORTS LAUDED. Constance Jackson, who has demonstrated her commitment to bringing joy to the lives of others, was recently awarded the "Lamplighter Award for Senior Outreach" which is given by The Light 103.9. The award noted that Jackson often utilizes her earnings to purchase food and clothes for the young as well as the old.

Bobby Jones of Youngsville enjoys a classic ride into a new year

Eli Jones of Wood shows his patriotic side complete with flags