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LOUISBURG -- After three meetings, a crash course in quasi-judicial protocol and a compromise between the applicant and an aggrieved neighbor, county commissioners awarded Verizon a special use permit to build a cell tower.
"We are working through a compromise with the applicant," said Sean Fallon, who operates The Freedom Ranch next door to the tower site, and was the only person in opposition granted standing to have his comments heard during Monday's meeting.

LOUISBURG -- For a man with as many accolades as candles on the cake, this past Saturday was special for a retired war hero.
Brigadier General Norman C. Gaddis celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 30 at Triangle North Executive Airport, surrounded by a hangar full of well wishers.
"It was really special for Dad to have all of his extended family there and friends that he's had through the career," said Gaddis' son, Tony, who all reside in Wake Forest now.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A utility worker was killed after falling from the bin of a bucket truck on Tuesday.
According to authorities, Raymond Morgan, 44, was cutting down tree limbs near power lines on John Mitchell Road that morning when the apparatus apparently shifted and he fell from a height of about 60 feet onto power lines, then the ground.

Adorable Viktor Scott Hammond

What beautiful weather we've been enjoying!
Bright sunshine, low humidity, temperatures that are just downright comfortable ... what more could we ask?
It's a great time to get outside and do just about anything, especially if it's not work! But even work isn't bad when the weather is as picture perfect as it has been for a few days.

If you've been paying attention to this column for the last few months, then you know how important that public comment sections have been to the stories I've been able to share in this newspaper, as well as how I feel it is a barometer to the engagement between the public and its elected leaders -- particularly our Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
In the 21 years that I've been here, public comment sessions are generally uneventful.

Dear editor: At the Sept. 18 Louisburg Town Council meeting there was a discussion to move the meetings back into a larger venue.
People are standing in the hallway as they are discussing this, there is no room to sit. Some people have had to wait outside during the meetings. The sitting arrangement inside is tight, leaving little personal space.

ZEBULON, NC -- Doris Louise Gratzer Willette passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on Friday September 22, 2023, of natural causes. She was 91 years old.

LOUISBURG, NC--Edward T. Lyons, age 79, of Louisburg, died Friday, September 1, 2023.

BUNN -- After losing so many high-scoring seniors from last year's thrill-a-minute squad, it was easy to wonder how the Bunn Wildcats would fare this fall in the always-competitive Big East Conference boys standings.
But the Wildcats have been just fine, although they are using a different strategy toward success this time around.

FRANKLINTON -- There seems to be no end in sight to the Big East Conference Dynasty that is the Southern Nash High School boys soccer team.
The Firebirds have owned the Big East for the past three years, and have continued to do so in 2023, outscoring its league foes by a combined whopping score of 38-1 through six perfect matches.

FRANKLINTON -- Aside from claiming two hard-earned victories to improve postseason chances, there isn't much to be gained statistically from winning the mythical Franklin County Football Championship -- and least not within records overseen by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Try telling that to anyone who has competed for the honor of being the county champion through the years. Taking the crown is something players tend to remember for years -- and love to rib their friends from opposing schools about.

BUNN -- The Big East Conference girls golf scene returned to The River GC in Franklin County last Wednesday -- with a rather predictable result.
Southern Nash continued to control the league's links proceedings by surging to yet another team victory in the 9-hole event, which was played at The River's challenging front nine.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Warriors took a huge step toward gaining a playoff spot by securing a 21-14 home victory last Friday night over Oxford Webb in a key Northern Lakes Conference football showdown.
The Warriors, coached by Dontae Lassiter, are now 2-4 overall to go with a 2-1 ledger in league action.

ZEBULON - Minor League Baseball has announced that Carolina Mudcats manager Victor Estevez was named the 2023 Carolina League Manager of the Year and that infielders Jadher Areinamo and Luke Adams were both named 2023 Carolina League All-Stars at second and third base, respectively.
Votes were cast by league managers, and final decisions were determined by the Commissioner's Office.

BUNN -- A pair of aces will be returning to the Bunn High School girls basketball sideline this winter, and the Ladycats hope the combination will once again provide a winning hand -- just as it did in the past.
During their eight years together from 2013-21, head coach Matt Keith and assistant coach Chris Lewis teamed up to lead the Ladycats to over 100 victories -- and a trio of conference championships.

FUN IN THE YOUNG-SVILLE. The Youngsville community came together last Saturday to celebrate the annual Youngsville Fall Festival, a joint effort by the town, the Youngsville Kiwanis and Faith Baptist Church. Above, Taylor Jones tests her skills in the play area, trying to toss a small stuffed animal into a target set up at the fall festival.

Full name: Arthur Wright
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired
Marital status: Married to wife Chris

Full name: John D Allers
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired US Air Force Officer (22+ years)
Retired Southwest Airlines Captain (20 years)

Full name: Judy Johnson McArn
Age: 61
Occupation: Retired from NCDHHS, Current Franklinton Town Commissioner and Part Time employee of Green Hill & Co.
Marital status: Married to husband Mark

Full name: Tasha Hatten
Age: 54
Occupation: Educator
Marital status: Single

Full Name: Anita Mann-Fuller
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired Educator
Marital Status: Married to Danny Fuller

Louisburg-Safe Space, Inc. is a non-profit organization located in Franklin County, NC, whose mission is to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Safe Space welcomes and recognizes October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Held annually in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month allows communities nationwide to join forces to raise awareness about the far-reaching impact of domestic violence.

Deidra Sykes has been named the new administrator of Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and Louisburg Manor in Louisburg. She replaced Linda Tharrington who recently retired. Deidra has over 30 years experience and was a quality assurance nurse at the facility prior to her promotion. She is married, has two adult children and four grandchildren.

Director Dr. Samantha Coleman with At-Home Counseling receives a proclamation from Louisburg Mayor Christopher Neal in observance of World Mental Health Awareness Day, on Oct. 10. Open since 2009, with over 40 therapists, At-Home recently moved to their new location on 109 N. Church Street in Louisburg. They will have an open house Oct. 13.