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LOUISBURG -- Those looking to save an old movie theater urged the county to hold off on tearing it down.
But, following an architectural and engineering report presented on Monday that deemed the early 1900s building a safety hazard, commissioners agreed to demolish it.
"This report frightens me," said Commissioner Roxanne Bragg, noting that she's gotten the same feelings about the property on 109 W. Nash Street that she got when she heard about the Griffin's Restaurant building collapse in Youngsville nearly a year ago.

LOUISBURG -- When Darrell and Pat Cash retired, the real work began on the thing they enjoyed the most -- their horse farm.
"Mom and Dad retired and then they started to work," their daughter, Sherry Cash Mercer told the dozens of folks who braved a bit of a drizzle last week to take part in the Franklin County Cooperative Extension's 27th Annual Horse Farm Tour.

LOUISBURG -- Visitors left last month's Animal Services Advisory Board meeting with hopes of more transparency in the county's efforts to foster and adopt shelter animals -- keeping the prospect of euthanasia at bay.
But, right after that meeting, animal advocates said, Shelter Director Lynn Bowling crippled those efforts and has effectively shut them out.

LOUISBURG -- Back before COVID hit, Cooperative Extension Director Charles Mitchell had a wild idea.
And, while it took three years to bear fruit, his Youth Ag Leadership Program turned out to be both spicy and informative.
"... At first, right before I was going to this program, I was reading about it, I was iffy, like, do I really want to do this because I don't really want to go and be talking about plants or farms and all that," said Zachary Novak, one of seven high school students part of the inaugural class introduced during the annual Horse Farm Tour luncheon.

Sharon Carlson with stuffed tiger

For the first time this year, I recently found myself following a tractor pulling a large wagon-load of green leaves -- and that caused a variety of bittersweet emotions.
Granted, hauling in tobacco to the barns for drying and processing is great news for farmers and those who work in that industry. No doubt about that.
But it's also a strong indication of what's coming, as relentlessly as it does every year.

It was just a week ago that I wrote in this very space that passionate animal advocates were making meetings during these dogs of summer "must-attend" functions.
Well, if you stopped by today's front page on the way to the editorial page, then you see what I mean.

Dear editor: On Friday, July 28 President Biden released a statement to People magazine acknowledging his seventh grandchild in Arkansas. Is there still a People magazine?
It is possible the President decided to make this announcement because he read my letter to the editor in this publication. It is more probable that a scathing editorial in The New York Times by Maureen Dowd and another article in USA Today prompted the statement.

Louisburg, NC--Glenn Randel Barefoot Sr., 85, of Louisburg died Saturday, August 5, 2023 at his home. He was born on January 30, 1938 to the late Leo and Octavia Register Barefoot. In addition to his parents Glenn was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Emogene Barefoot; his son, Glenn "Randy" Barefoot, Jr.; and daughters, Sharon Burnworth and Donna Beachy.

Louisburg, NC--Phyllis Hill Grice, 77, of Louisburg died Thursday, August 3, 2023 at her home. She was born on August 28, 1945 in Wake County to the late Marvin Hill and Miggie Bailey Hill.

LOUISBURG -- Remember four years ago when Terrell Lane produced one of the best middle school football teams Franklin County has ever seen?
TLMS rolled through a series of overmatched foes on its way to a conference championship -- a fact that bode well for the future of the program at next-level Louisburg High School.

LOUISBURG -- There's a simple formula to building a powerhouse high school volleyball program -- though it can be difficult to consistently achieve.
The secret is having a nice mix of veteran players and younger performers. After the veterans graduate, the young players will move up to talent and leadership positions as new potential-rich standouts come along.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- It's football scrimmage week -- a time that provides Franklin County's gridiron squads to make their final adjustments before the campaign officially opens next Friday night.
On that evening, Bunn will host Whiteville in new coach Andre Davis' first game in charge of the program at his alma mater.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- There was hardly a question about which football team was the best in 2022 as Northern Nash reigned supreme and didn't lose a game until the Class 3-A State Championship contest.
Along the way, the Knights steamrolled through the Big East, winning their six outings by a whopping combined 203 points.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A Luis Lara RBI double cut the lead to one, Jace Avina tied the score with a single, and Blayberg Diaz's RBI single put the Carolina Mudcats up by one in the ninth inning against homestanding Fayetteville.
Carolina took the contest by a 4-3 score and took the series four games to two.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Diamond Life Athletics is currently seeking baseball players to compete on its 12-Under Travel Team that is based in Franklinton.
The program is geared toward teaching proper baseball fundamentals, techniques, mental approaches and consistencies in all areas and levels of baseball.

Louisburg- Tickets are now on sale now for Louisburg College's 66th Allen de Hart Concert Series. This year's series includes eight exciting performances from a wide variety of entertainers.
The season kicks off on Saturday, September 9 with the North Carolina Symphony performing "A Little Night Music," a collection of light classics by Mozart, Copland, Bizet, and more.

In this month's article we are going to share information about a warm season vegetable crop that is currently in season. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a warm season crop that is a tall upright plant with a hibiscus type flower that originated in Africa. The immature seed pods are the edible part of this plant.
Okra grows best at temperatures like we are experiencing now between 75- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit. When planting okra, you will want to make sure the soil temperature is warm with similar temperatures as the current air temperature.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton police arrested a transient, alleging he tried to con an elderly Georgia woman out of thousands of dollars.
Roland Gerhard Bender, 55, was charged July 26 with exploitation of elder capacity and obtaining property by false pretenses -- both felonies.
Investigators allege Bender hacked the Facebook account of a friend of the 86-year-old woman, claiming to be someone who assisted seniors by procuring grants for their benefit..