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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to more than $685,000 in raised pay for all its employees, including boosted pay within two departments that have come under recent fire.
During the last few county commission meetings, animal welfare advocates have petitioned commissioners and management to make improvements within the county's Animal Services Department.

LAKE ROYALE -- Last Sunday dawned bright and clear with much lower humidity than we've all endured in recent days, thankfully.
It was a perfect day to go hunting for a body -- and what better place than the picturesque waters of Lake Royale?
At the appointed time -- around 8 a.m. -- folks began pulling up to a parking area near the lake's boat ramp to find the area cordoned off in bright yellow crime scene tape and officials gathering around -- and awaiting the most important person of the morning, the lady who was to deliver cubes of coffee and boxed breakfasts.

CASTALIA -- An employee of a local propane company died Monday when a tank exploded on a customer's tobacco farm.
Francis (Frank) Earl Johnson Jr., 25, of Louisburg, worked as a delivery truck driver for L. H. Dickens & Son, a Franklin County based low pressure gas supplier.
At approximately 11 a.m., Johnson was at a property located at 16628 Red Bud Road in Castalia, said Chief Deputy Allen Wilson with the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

LOUISBURG -- In a surprise move following an hour-long secret, closed-door session, the Louisburg Town Council came back into public session Monday night and quickly agreed to purchase three vacant residential lots on the south side of town.
Since the lots are vacant, they do not have numbers beyond plat designations but one was purchased for $2,000 along South Main Street; one was bought for $30,000 on Ridley Street and one was purchased for $45,000 on Grant Street.

LOUISBURG -- A lawsuit alleging a property owner was involved in a plot to torch their home for insurance purposes has been dropped.
On Aug. 2, Sharon Anders and North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Inc. and Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina filed notice that they reached an agreement on all issues and had agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice -- meaning it cannot be refiled.

FRANKLINTON -- Despite opposition, town commissioners approved a rezoning that's the first step toward a nearly 50-unit planned development along the backside of an established neighborhood.
And, as the Board of Adjustment, officials agreed to issue a special use permit for a masonry company -- again, despite opposition from nearby residents.
Both actions took place during the board's Aug. 15 meeting.

Matthew Williams during a bowling outing with the Franklinton Senior Center

Are you getting the impression that old Mother Nature is just teasing us a little these days?
One day it's cool and the humidity drops to comfortable levels, aided just a bit by a nice breeze.
Then a day or two later, the temperature spikes into the mid to high 90s and the humidity returns to near-sauna levels.
One day we're thinking an early fall -- and a day or two later we're baking like it's mid-July!

I had the opportunity to get away from Franklin County for a bit this past weekend, visiting some fantastic friends. Quite honestly, it had been way too long since I had seen them last.
My trip took me to Lancaster, Pa. -- a city and county that, in my short venture, appeared to offer some of the best outdoor options, recreation opportunities and a bustling, vibrant downtown.

Dear editor:
I am the owner of Purple Dot Piercings in downtown Louisburg. In July I invited some Democrat friends to set up a voter registration table at my business for Friday Nights on the Tar.

Dear editor:
It has been interesting and entertaining to see Oliver Anthony and his "Rich Men North of Richmond" anthem.
He has become an overnight sensation and performed in Moyock, NC over the weekend in front of about 8,000 fans.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Carolyn Massenburg Price, age 93, who died on Sunday, August 20, 2023, will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 26, from the Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Louisburg with the Pastor Timothy Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the Walnut Grove Church Cemetery.

Autryville, NC--Derrick Dwight Jackson, 43, of Autryville died unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. He was born on May 15, 1980, in Wake County, NC.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Dorothy Perry Yarborough, age 79, who died on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, August 26, from the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Danny Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry's Missionary Church Cemetery.

Henderson, NC--Harold "Duke" Hunt, Jr., 72, of Henderson died Sunday, August 20, 2023. He was born on March 22, 1951 to the late Harold Sr. and Shirley Riggan Hunt. In addition to his parents Duke was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Hicks Hunt; his son, Harold D. Hunt, III; a daughter, Jennifer Lynn Hunt; and his sister, Carolyn Hunt.

Henderson, N C- Horace "H.B." Britton Askew Jr., 74, of Henderson, died Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Maria Parham Hospital. He was born on April 16, 1949 to Horace B. Askew Sr. and Doris Reavis Askew in Vance County, NC.

Franklinton, NC--Funeral services for Marea Brodie Glasco, age 73, who died on Monday, August 21, 2023, will be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 29, from the First United Church of Christ in Franklinton.

Louisburg, NC--Raymond John Garcia, 85, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, August 15, 2023. He was born on February 12, 1938, the son of the late Eugene and Mary Venskus Garcia. In addition to his parents, Raymond was predeceased by his wife, Sharron Ann Frost; his son, Raymond Scott Garcia; and one grandson.

BUNN -- Andre' Davis' first game as Bunn's football coach didn't finish as hoped, but the Wildcats still showed plenty of spunk and promise for the future.
Part of the result -- actually a huge majority of it -- can be attributed to BHS' opponent, as Whiteville won 12 of 14 outings last year and is considered one of the Eastern North Carolina's top Class 2-A squads in 2023.

LOUISBURG -- Head coach Dontae Lassiter hopes an extra week of preparation will help his young Louisburg High School football team ahead of this Friday's regular season opener.
While most area prep squads began their respective slates last week, the Warriors were grinding on the practice field with a roster that consists of just five seniors.

MEMBERS OF THE 2023 LOUISBURG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR VOLLEYBALL CLASS ARE (L TO R) MOLLIE CURRIN, TYTIANA RICHARDSON, CHLOE WEBSTER, CHIARA HOCK, ROSELYN CHACALTANA AND KELLY LYNCH

ZEBULON -- Jadher Areinamo doubled twice and scored three runs, Dylan O'Rae also totaled two doubles and Tayden Hall extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games, but starting pitcher Alexander Vallecillo allowed six runs in the first as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats lost 8-5 to the Columbia Fireflies on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

LOUISBURG -- Many of the semantics have changed within the volleyball rivalry between Louisburg and Bunn over the past year.
But the intensity will always be there when the clubs meet.
Always.
Such was the case last Thursday as the Lady Warriors hosted BHS for what is now a non-conference showdown.

FRANKLINTON -- Only seven seniors dot the roster this fall for the Franklinton High School football team -- so there is destined to be an acclimation process as several younger performers get their first taste of competing at the varsity level.
That fact was evident last Friday as the Red Rams were no match for Class 4-A squad Apex, which boasts several returnees from last year's club, which won 10 of its 12 outings.

RALEIGH -- Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes has announced that individual game tickets for all 2023-24 Hurricanes home games at PNC Arena will go on sale to the general public today at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster.
The Hurricanes open their 26th NHL season since moving to North Carolina on Oct. 11 against the Ottawa Senators.

The Franklin County Democratic Party hosted a fan giveaway and distributed 58 fans to seniors living without air conditioning in the community. Pictured, front row, from left, are Brenda Neal, Janet Taylor, Armenta Eaton, and Beverly Kegley. On the back row are, from left, Sherry Ellis, Clarence Williams and Dr. Phil Stover.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Police continue to ask the public for their help to find a missing person.
Family reported last seeing Joshua Louis Tuck, 30, at about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 in the parking lot of Food Lion -- 1160 U.S. 1.
Tuck drives a black 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe with the license plate PLJ-3957.