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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners were scheduled to consider buying nearly 40 acres south of the county seat -- apparently pivoting away from building a county complex closer to downtown.
The Franklin Times went to press prior to the board's Nov. 21 meeting where they were slated to discuss spending $1.4 million for 39.73 acres along U.S. 401 just south of the Walmart shopping center.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton commissioners took the first step toward linking a pedestrian trail to the inner core of the county.
Franklin County commissioners were expected to take the linking step this week.
The Franklin Times went to press prior to the board's Nov. 21 meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Utility workers from Louisburg's Electric Department were causing a "snowfall" in town recently, although it wasn't on par with what Mother Nature had been creating in other parts of the nation. In this case, the snowflakes were electrified and are part of the town's Christmas decorations that are going up in time for the Christmas parade and tree lighting events that are on the horizon.

LOUISBURG -- The walls and shelves inside Kent Winstead's office are stripped bare.
The only thing on the desk, which had been recently cleaned, were retirement papers.
For the first time since 2014, the office will belong to someone else.
And, for the first time since maybe 1989, the safety and security of Franklin County and its inclusive and surrounding communities will not be his responsibility.

Don't let that big smile fool you, when the hard work of distributing food to the less fortunate happened recently, she was ready -- and eager -- to work. Even though Helen McKnight is nearly 97, she jumped right in to help a large group of volunteers distribute about 400 packages of food. And she wasn't doing the easy stuff, either. That's a turkey she's ready to present to a local family!

LOUISBURG -- Friday's canvass made the Nov. 8 election official.
Some final tabulations changed, but none of the election outcomes.
All told, 27,744 of the county's 50,572 registered voters cast a ballot -- for 54.86 percent of the vote.

Franklinton Senior Center Supervisor, Shelia Alston

Here we are, the eve of Thanksgiving.
Hard to believe, right?
But I checked then double checked and the calendar doesn't lie.
This is Turkey Week and as soon as the bird is sliced, the taters mashed and the stuffing scooped up, everyone will be turning their attention to the Christmas holiday season.

Might you be interested in a dramatic reading about sewer lines?
How about stop and go karaoke, where song lyrics are catered to explain how a town or the State Department of Transportation is trying to fix road woes?
How about a variation of pin the tail on the donkey, where folks try to pinpoint the best place to put varied types of residential development.
Better yet, how about an evening of trivia where you learn interesting things about town projects while drinking your favorite beverage?

FRANKLINTON -- Add another cherry on top to the treat that was the Franklinton High School volleyball season.
The Lady Rams enjoyed another strong campaign on the court this fall, winning the Big East Conference regular season and tournament championships en route to qualifying for the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

LOUISBURG -- Senior Greenleigh Gleason has enjoyed an exceptional career as a member of the Louisburg High School volleyball team -- and that tenure has been topped off with spot on the prestigious North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association's Class 2-A All-State Team.
Gleason, a middle hitter known for her outstanding work on both offense and defense, was one of just 12 performers selected to the squad.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats have announced a new holiday-themed ticket package featuring a Mudcats' knit cap and 10 undated box seat ticket vouchers for just $100.
This limited quantity offer is available while supplies last.
Orders can be placed online at carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Only one Big East Conference team remains in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's State Football Playoffs -- the Northern Nash Fighting Knights.
Northern, coached by Andrew Farriss, punched its ticket into the fourth round on the Class 3-A level last Friday with a tough 21-14 victory over the Southern Durham Spartans in third-round action at Death Valley on the NNHS campus.

The third annual Youngsville Rescue and EMS Golf Fundraiser on Oct. 7 generated much needed funds for the organization. All told, 17 teams participated, along with business owners, sponsors, and volunteers to help raise $19,000 for additional supplies and equipment the county is unable to provide. Golfers had a chance to win $20,000 for a hole in one and all in attendance were treated to a barbecue meal provided by EMS and beverages were donated by Burnt Barrel and Yacht Club Beverage House.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- A host of Christmas activities are slated for nearly every corner of Franklin County, starting this Saturday with a Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Franklinton.
The following is a set of activities, listed by town or community.

Don't let the gift giving season sneak up on you.
The holidays are right around the corner, and, chances are, your bank account isn't ready. Well, it's never too late (or too early) to get your finances in order and start saving for the holidays--and you don't need to take drastic measures either.

November is National Diabetes Month. This year's focus is on managing diabetes by building your health care team.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 37 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and is linked to some types of cancer.

Christmas Eve is viewed differently by different people, even those who live under the same Santa-ready roof. Adults may see Christmas Eve as crunch time when they must prepare food for the next day or set up presents for their children to open in the morning. Children, on the other hand, are focused on Santa's visit and little else.

Even though it was a Saturday morning -- and volunteers had been working since 6 a.m. getting ready -- this trio of volunteers was happy to begin reaching out to community members with some much-needed assistance -- and from the looks of this photo, some fresh-from-the-garden collard greens. Shown here are (from the left) Rev. Rosemary Cooper, along with her grandchildren Kevin Monroe and Gracelynn Wilder.

When it came time to pull together all the items that were to be given away for the Thanksgiving holiday, this group hit the ground running. Shown here -- after at least some of the work was done -- are (left to right) Darnell Edwards, Geraldine Manley, sporting her traditional Thanksgiving turkey hat, Abram Liles, Charles Worth and Kelli London. The group helped prepare 400 packages of food and other necessities that were quickly given away a few days before the Thanksgiving holiday week.

Sometimes it takes a megaphone just to get folks' attention and sometimes a great big smile does the same thing! Getting organized and ready for the big pre-Thanksgiving food donation are Roslyn Thomas, left, and on the right is Dr. Felecia Hardy. The group of volunteers, determined to make the Thanksgiving holiday a bit happier for their friends, managed to pull together a huge stack of food and necessities - and reached out to about 400 families. The volunteer effort was held at Blessings Resource Pavilion on South Main Street in Louisburg.

Millions of people across the globe feel that the holiday season is a magical time of year. Though those people come from all walks of life, it's likely that no group is as taken by the unique spirit of the holiday season as much as children.
Whether they're looking forward to Santa's arrival or preparing for a school holiday pageant, kids have much to be excited about come December.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a Louisburg College student accused of having a gun on the campus.
Idris Zakiyy Bowling, 18, was charged with having a weapon on educational property, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott, college security called town police after locating a gun in a student's dorm.

BUNN -- Town officials were looking for its next town clerk as Louisburg was expecting to name Pamela Perry as its newest clerk.
Perry gave notice to Bunn officials on Nov. 10 and Nov. 21 was her official last day as the town's clerk.
The Louisburg Town Council met that evening, expecting to tab Perry as its clerk.

Coats for Christmas is currently underway. Please drop off your new or gently used coats to the Farm Bureau Insurance office, 496 Redwood Lane, Louisburg. Coats will be given to Safe Space, Care and Share and those in need. Men, women and children's coats, gloves, scarfs are all needed. Keep Franklin County warm and help out a great cause. For more information, contact Wayne Champion at (919) 496-2051.

RJ McCarthy's new book, Uplift: Sunrise Stories, is a collection of 11 short stories meant to uplift the spirit of the reader, the author said.
McCarthy writes, "in a time of global pandemic, environmental disaster, political upheaval, and war, art forms that underscore the upside of life have the potential to lift spirits weary from the daily onslaught."

Hops and Holly, the annual fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club generated more than $15,000 in sponsorships and ticket sales. The annual event pairs some of the area's best food vendors with breweries and wineries in the area for a spirited evening. The organization uses those funds to provide after-school program support to youth and teens attending the Boys and Girls Clubs' Franklin County operations. The money, organizers said, will ensure that club members have access to academic and career building programs that foster good character and, ultimately, improve lifestyle choices. In the photo above, Misty Williams and Joel Hayes showcase the event's sponsors.