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LOUISBURG -- A judge disposed of two murder cases during a special session of superior court.
As part of a plea agreement, Xavier Vishal Billups was given credit for two years in jail and sentenced to 60 months of probation -- which includes psychiatric oversight in an effort to re-introduce him to society through the group home system.

LOUISBURG -- One simple change to the setup of the downtown Louisburg Friday Nights on the Tar event triggered more controversy in one night than the event has sparked over its multi-year history.
Last week, the council decided not to block off Main Street downtown which had traditionally been done to control traffic in the area around the concert, food trucks and children's play items.

DURHAM -- The state named a Franklin County resident as its Special Olympics Athlete of the Year.
Lorenzo Stancil was presented the honor for 2023 at the 2023 Special Olympics of North Carolina (SONC) Leadership Summit, which joined Special Olympics leaders from across the state.
More than 14 years ago, Stancil began competing in athletics and has grown to become a leader in the Special Olympics movement.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies continue to investigate a homicide.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Matthew John Harris on Aug. 25, alleging the 25-year-old killed Jaxon Williams, 17.
The details of the incident were not immediately clear, and remained that way this week.

LOUISBURG -- Residents with an eye toward preservation, again, asked county commissioners to hold off on tearing down what could be an historic property.
On Aug. 7, structural engineers and architects hired to oversee a judicial complex renovation deemed the adjacent 109 W. Nash Street property a safety hazard and said restoration was impractical.
At that same meeting, commissioners voted by unanimous decision to demolish the multi-story structure.

LOUISBURG -- The legal cases against a Youngsville man who killed a mother and injured her child in a wreck concluded this month.
In June, 38-year-old Salvador Sanchez Aguilar pled guilty to second degree murder without regard for human life, negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury and two counts of negligent child abuse causing serious physical injury for his role in the January 2022 wreck that killed 21-year-old Brittany Hancock and injured her two-year-old daughter.

Mary Burrell poses with her craft project at Franklinton Senior Center.

Maybe it's been the heat or more likely, the humidity, but I've been feeling a bit confused in recent days.
First, I just realized that by the time you read this, we'll be on the verge of the Labor Day Weekend or, perhaps, into it already!
Hard to believe we're talking about September but we are, despite whether we're ready for that headlong rush into fall, the days of ghosts and goblins and the focus on Turkey Day and beyond!

As witnessed by our front page, the past week has been pretty depressing.
And, couple that with the news that came out of UNC Chapel Hill earlier this week, it serves to only compound this depression.
It started on Friday when authorities announced that 17-year-old Franklinton-area resident Jaxon Williams was killed.
Details about the homicide are few, right now, but what we all know -- and what we all feel -- is that a life was snuffed out too soon.

Dear editor:
First question: To whom can Franklin County taxpayers report that we have a corrupt county management system that is wasting tax monies and destroying yesteryear relics?
Do we have a recourse?

Dear editor: I believe registering people to vote is a noble volunteer community service which should be encouraged and supported at every public event and in every public space by every elected official and community leader.
I also believe it is reprehensible that any Council member would try to prohibit voter registration at a public event in the town and I don't think the citizens will look kindly to any of us if we try to do this.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Delphine Perry Manson Neal, age 66, who died on Saturday, August 26, 2023, will be 3 p.m., Sunday, September 3, from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. David Perry officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church Cemetery.

"Teddie" Coyne, 100, of Raleigh, lost her long battle with dementia Monday morning, August 28, 2023, at Tower Nursing and Rehab.

Louisburg, NC-Funeral services for Elbert "Yunk" Perry, age 62, who died on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 will be held 2 p.m., Friday, September 1, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Danny Upchurch officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

Louisburg, NC--Francis "Frank" Earl Johnson Jr., 28, of Louisburg, died Monday, August 21, 2023.

LOUISBURG, NC--Lala Mae McLamb Moon, 94, of Louisburg, passed away Sunday morning, August 27, 2023, at Franklin Oaks.

Franklinton, NC-- Paul Douglas Philpott, 96, of Franklinton died August 27, 2023. He was born on October 18, 1926, to the late Clinton Philpott and Esther Preddy Abbott. In addition to his parents, Paul was predeceased by his wife, Marie Dixon Philpott.

Youngsville, NC--Thomas Edward O'Donohue, 78, of Youngsville, died Tuesday, August 22, 2023. He was born on August 8, 1945, to the late Patrick and Catherine Marshall O'Donohue. In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his siblings, Pat and Cathy O'Donohue.

LOUISBURG -- Mistakes at the most inopportune times doomed the Louisburg Warriors during their regular season football opener last Thursday at home.
The young Warriors went toe-to-toe with a veteran Southeast Halifax club for most of the way in the evenly matched contest, but LHS' untimely turnovers would proved to be its demise during a 40-22 setback at the LHS Football Field.

BUNN -- Progress was made on the defensive side of the ball, but Bunn's offense still has some work to do following last Thursday's home contest against Northampton County.
The Wildcats limited NC's high-powered offense to just a pair of scores, but the Jags came through with a clutch pick-six that changed the momentum in the game in their favor in the second quarter of action.

BUNN -- The Bunn Ladycats sure are growing up fast to date this season on the Big East Conference volleyball scene.
BHS, with just three seniors and one returning starter, fell to rival Louisburg in the first week of the campaign -- but the Ladycats haven't lost since.
That streak is now at 3-1 -- and Bunn is 4-1 overall -- following Tuesday's Big East opener at home against Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central and Franklinton tangled last Thursday in an early-season girls tennis matchup loaded with implications for the Big East Conference standings.
Central was able to secure a 7-2 decision over the Lady Rams at the NCHS Courts.

FRANKLINTON -- A scoreless first half is almost unheard of these days in high school football, but that was the scenario that played out last Friday when the Franklinton Red Rams hosted South Central for a non-conference gridiron showdown.
Defense ruled the day for most of the game -- and it didn't help the offenses that they were plagued by mistakes and penalties.

ZEBULON -- Blayberg Diaz extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Jahder Areinamo went 2-for-4, but Columbia's Trevor Werner homered twice and drove in five runs while leading the Fireflies to a 9-0 rout of the homestanding Carolina Mudcats in Sunday's series finale at Five County Stadium.

Louisburg's Isaiah Eddie picks up yardage on the ground during the Warriors' home football meeting last Thursday evening against former conference opponent Southeast Halifax.

COLORFUL CREATIONS. Franklinton Senior Center members enjoy craft time at the center, creating July 4th decorations. Pictured above: Selma Hobson.

COLORFUL CREATIONS. Franklinton Senior Center members enjoy craft time at the center, creating July 4th decorations. Pictured above: Ella Bolden.

COLORFUL CREATIONS. Franklinton Senior Center members enjoy craft time at the center, creating July 4th decorations. Pictured above: Sylvia Farley.

FAMILY AFFAIR. The Franklin County Cooperative Extension hosted its 4-H Fun Livestock Show, giving youngsters a chance to test their showmanship and knowledge of animals. Above, the family of the late Phylis Grice, who was an "outstanding" 4-H volunteer were on hand as a 4-H Memorial Fund was established in her name.

FUN SHOW. Plenty came out for the Cooperative Extension's 4-H Fun Livestock Show at Wildwynne Stables in Youngsville on Aug. 18. Above, Patricia Hill and Jason Brown share some pointers with Troy Brown and Noah Brown.

FUN SHOW. Plenty came out for the Cooperative Extension's 4-H Fun Livestock Show at Wildwynne Stables in Youngsville on Aug. 18. Above, Judah Brown shows judge Laura McPherson his skills.

FUN SHOW. Plenty came out for the Cooperative Extension's 4-H Fun Livestock Show at Wildwynne Stables in Youngsville on Aug. 18. Above, Joseph and Holly Thornburg show a chicken.

FUN SHOW. Plenty came out for the Cooperative Extension's 4-H Fun Livestock Show at Wildwynne Stables in Youngsville on Aug. 18. Above, Meredith Poole is all smiles while showing her chicken during the show.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Franklin County authorities continue to investigate a house fire that killed a family pet.
Youngsville fire crews responded to 325 Fleming Road at about 2:45 p.m. on Aug. 24, finding the home nearly fully engulfed in flames.
Youngsville fire was assisted by crews from Franklinton, Brassfield, Wake Forest, Mitchiners Crossroads and Louisburg firefighters to knock down the conflagration.

RALEIGH -- Medicaid expansion will no longer launch Oct. 1 as the North Carolina General Assembly failed to take needed action to meet that date. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has been working diligently, every day, to be ready for Oct. 1.
And now, with five days left and clarity that no votes will be taken, the department is confident that legislators will not sign a budget this month, nor pass separate legislation giving the final authorization to provide health coverage to more than 600,000 North Carolinians.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg Police and Franklin County sheriff's deputies combined to arrest one suspect in an armed robbery at an Internet cafe Tuesday morning. The search for the second suspect is ongoing.
Officers responded to an armed robbery in progress at MGM Sweepstakes on Bickett Boulevard just after 1:30 a.m. Officers determined two people entered the business fully covered with long clothing and masks.