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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County management is trying to arrange a more constructive meeting between county officials and animal rescue representatives, perhaps as early as next week.
But, on Monday night, the county's meeting space was packed with folks criticizing the shelter's operations amid continued calls for the shelter director's job.
Animal welfare advocates have been calling for change at the shelter going back to 2019 and, in recent months, have amplified their demands for improvements.

LOUISBURG -- The town of Louisburg grew by about 40 acres this week after the town council approved the annexation of the Forest Hills Subdivision along NC 561 at the former town limits.
If the project develops as planned it will add about 64 single-family homes to the town's tax base and the town also will provide water and sewer service to the development.

CENTERVILLE -- In 2016, Katelyn and Brandon Welch bought their first two steers with a simple goal -- provide better meat for their family and friends.
The innocent venture soon became bigger than their close-knit group and the pair decided to turn their passion into a business -- christening the 13-acre property Hidden Acres Farm in 2020.
Slightly before, but definitely since then, they have produced grass-fed beef, chicken and eggs, grass-fed lamb, forested pork and homemade soaps.

LOUISBURG -- State legislators presented commissioners with a $44 million ceremonial check, symbolizing the bounty they brought back to Franklin County.
The announcement came a week after Rep. Winslow was unable to provide the Board of Education with a presentation on the state's budget.
But, on Monday night, Winslow and Sen. Lisa Barnes touted the state budget's benefit to Franklin County.
"It's always exciting when we're bringing money back to the district," Winslow said.

WARRENTON -- Warren County sheriff's deputies arrested an adult and three juveniles that Franklin County authorities allege were responsible for a string of armed robberies at Dollar General -- including an attempted robbery that resulted in them shooting at officers.
No injuries were reported during the Oct. 11 incident.

Boy Scout Troop 555 member Troy Moser

When we travel, which we don't do nearly as much as we'd like, I'm always on the lookout for the ways other folks do things that are successful and which we might be able to bring home and adapt.
Rolling into the small town of Red Bay, Ala., last Friday morning, I found one of those examples that really stood out.
Located conveniently in downtown Red Bay, a small northwest Alabama town of about 3,232 people, was a beautiful red brick two-story hotel called, appropriately, Hotel Red Bay.

After presenting Franklin County with a ceremonial check for $44 million, Rep. Matthew Winslow took time to recognize a group whose impact is priceless.
Long-time law enforcement officer Wayne Daniels, and group of first responders and dedicated citizens started the Big and Small Peer Support Group in January 2021 -- as a way to help officers cope with some of the terrors of the job, whether that be through quarterly communal meals they offer, at no charge, or through peer counseling or establishing funds to help officers cover costs of therapy sessions or other resources they might need to deal with the trauma that comes with the job.

Dear Editor: I would like to thank Franklin County Board of Education member Tommy Piper for addressing a glaring problem with the recently passed state budget, albeit 3 months late. In the meeting he was very vocal about the lack of pay and blatant disrespect to veteran teachers. Over the next two years, teachers in their early years will receive as much as a 10.8 percent well-deserved raise, while veteran teachers with 15-plus years of experience will get a 3.6 percent raise.

Dear editor: I have been registering citizens to vote since 2007. I have registered at all venues including but not limited to colleges, barber shops, at various town events, etc. As a registrar I have registered both parties.
Even though I am married, and married to the mayor, I still retain certain rights, as all spouses of elected officials do.

Dear editor: It was a beautiful afternoon recently as The Thundering Herd from Marshall University met the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium.
You can pick up a good dose of melancholy as you remember the plane crash in 1970 that killed players, coaches and staff of the football program at Marshall. James Robert "Crow" Patterson of Louisburg was one of the players that lost his life that day.

HENDERSON, NC --Memorial services for Anthony "Rump Shaker" Wright, age 56, who died on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, from the Hills of Kearneyville Inc. at 472 Hicks Road, Franklinton, NC, with Rev. Zelton Hunter officiating.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Carl "Binky" Perry, age 66, who died on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Leroy Dukes officiating.

Louisburg, NC--Dale L. Richardson, age 82, died at his home on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

BUNN, NC -- Funeral services for Darrius "Slim" Caldwell, age 24, who died on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 21, from the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Bunn with Rev. Maxine Miles-Perry officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Tyler Q. White, age 22, who died on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating.

BUNN -- "It's just gonna take one goal -- I promise!''
Those were the words of Southern Nash High School boys soccer coach Carlos Barron to his team late in the first half when the Firebirds were deadlocked in a scoreless tie against the host Bunn Wildcats in a key Big East Conference showdown.

SPRING HOPE -- Southern Nash's undefeated season-long girls golf streak continued last Wednesday, but not without a scare from the Nash Central Lady Bulldogs.
SN, which has lost one of its key players for the year due to an injury, claimed the nine-hole event with a 153 team score at Peachtree Hills Country Club.
The surging Lady Bulldogs, led by a strong performance from Maci Worrells, were only three shots back at 156.

BUNN -- Togetherness and camaraderie were two of the central foundations of David Howle's amazing tenure as Bunn's football coach -- and those intangibles still ring true for his former players.
So when Bunn organized a Football Alumni Night before the Wildcats' home game against Southern Nash two weeks ago, it was pretty much a given that a large number of ex-Bunn players would attend.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash's domination of the Big East Conference boys cross country scene is now over one decade long -- and shows no sign of letting up soon.
On paper, this looked like a bit of a rebuilding season for the Fighting Knights, as legendary coach Jeff Dodrill was set to boast a young roster loaded with freshmen.
But those ninth-graders have exploded onto the scene quickly -- and have set the Knights up to once again claim the league championship.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Advancing to the next round wasn't the only high-stakes intangible on the line when Nash Central hosted Bunn on Monday in the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference.
Both clubs are jousting for seeding position in the Class 2-A State Playoffs, and the visiting Ladycats padded their postseason resume' with an impressive three-set sweep over NCHS at The Dawg Pound.

ROCKY MOUNT -- It's a Nash Central World in the Class 2-A portion of the Big East Conference football standings, and the rest of the league simply lives in it -- while competing for second place.
Such has been the theme since Central re-entered the Big East three years ago. Since then, the Bulldogs have claimed the top spot in the Big East's 2-A standings for the past two campaigns -- and will make it a trifecta in 2023 barring a major upset.

CREEDMOOR - South Granville took a tough loss at home to the Louisburg Warriors last Friday by a final score of 20-7.
The Warriors took a major step toward clinching the Class 2-A Division Championship in the Northern Lakes 2A/3A Conference, while the Vikings will need to win their final two regular season games and hope for a wild-card berth for the state playoffs.

FRANKLINTON -- Northern Nash and Franklinton met on the gridiron last Friday night in a crucial Big East Conference contest, with the Northern Nash Knights emerging with a commanding 49-0 win over the homestanding Red Rams.
The win marked the 25th straight victory in a regular season contest for the Knights, dating back to Sept. 10, 2021, when Northern fell to D.H. Conley High School.

Bunn High School freshman standout Harley Villanueva clears the ball for the Wildcats during Monday afternoon's key Big East Conference home showdown against league leader Southern Nash.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has hired its next economic development director.
Barbara S. Fiedor, who brings nearly 30 years of business experience to the role, will assume her duties on Oct. 23.
"Franklin County's location in the Research Triangle region provides an outstanding opportunity for economic development in the area," Fiedor said.

LOUISBURG -- The county's airport advisory board has recommended an updated set of safety guidelines designed to improve pilot communications and minimize mishaps.
The county's airport safety guidelines haven't been updated since 2014, said Triangle North Executive Airport Director Bo Carson.
"There's been a lot change in 10 years," Carson said during the advisory board's Oct. 10 meeting.

Name:
Jeffrey Scott Brame
Age: 39
Occupation:
Professional Engineer for North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives (Title: Manager, Reliability Compliance)

Name:
Benjamin Ryan Coleman
Age:40
Occupation: Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Town of Wake Forest Planning Department

Name:
Joseph Edison Johnson
Age: 53
Occupation: Commercial Business Development for Builder Services Inc of NC

Name:
Nicole A. Brantley
Marital status: Married
Children: 2

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners and consultants are getting closer to putting a document in place that would guide development and traffic into the next 25 years.
More than a year ago, Youngsville hired 3TP Ventures to develop its Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan -- a document that will help define where and how residential and commercial takes place, while also including a multi modal connectivity aspect to planning.

LOUISBURG -- A 22-year-old Louisburg man was killed in a single-vehicle wreck over the weekend.
According to a report by Trooper C.R. Lanham, Tyler White was driving east on East River Road when he ran off the road to the right at about 11 p.m. on Oct. 14.
The vehicle struck some rocks, went airborne and struck an embankment.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police officers arrested a man wanted for a Vance County murder.
According to Louisburg police and published reports, the Vance County Sheriff's Office alleges Eric Ryan Hill was responsible for shooting two people in the area of Gillburg Lane in Henderson just before 8 a.m. on Oct. 12.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police arrested Henderson teenager who led them on a chase before wrecking his car.
The 17-year-old was charged with felony fleeing to elude an officer, leaving the scene of an accident, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, no operator's license, careless and reckless driving, improper passing, expired registration, expired inspection and not wearing a seat belt.