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LOUISBURG -- Regional, state and local leaders ceremoniously opened the first of two improved legs of a highway connecting Rolesville to Louisburg.
The State Department of Transportation awarded a $37.8 million bid to Fred Smith Company and broke ground on Section C of U.S. 401 in the fall of 2018 -- expecting the project to take two to three years to finish.
The actual cost proved to be $80 million, state transportation staff said.

LOUISBURG -- There will be a recount in the Franklinton mayor's race.
On election night, Mayor Wright held a 165 to 162 lead over Commissioner John Allers.
But, Monday, after the Franklin County Board of Elections reviewed provisional ballots to determine if they were eligible to be counted, Wright clung to a one-vote lead -- 166 to 165.

LOUISBURG -- In the summer of 2018, Franklin County's director of Veterans Services installed a memorial at the office -- recognizing seven Franklin County soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Many who fought in Vietnam, Wilkins said at the time, feel as though they didn't matter or may have been forgotten. The memorial is a way to see sure they are not.

LOUISBURG -- By the end of the year, operators of a China-based hemp food producer expect a factory just south of town to be online.
During the announcement, Q-power chairwoman Zhiyi Zhang wore a red blouse, reflecting her culture and the bright future the company expects to have in Franklin County.
"This is a very exciting day," Zhiyi said last Thursday, through the company's executive assistant and her interpreter, Haipeng Xu.

LOUISBURG -- Vigilance, cooperation and communication became the important buzzwords during special town council meeting last week that was requested by residents of the Ford Circle, Loy Drive and Waddell Street neighborhood.
The residents, many of whom attended the unusual meeting where no votes were taken, wanted first to thank the Louisburg Police Department for the renewed attention it has been giving their neighborhood and then to seek out ideas on what else they could do to keep their neighborhood safe, secure and attractive.

Legends Nathan and Carl Moreschi

Even if it is the middle of November and even if the days are getting much shorter and cooler, it's nearly impossible not to enjoy the outdoors this time of the year.
Good thing, too, because it'll change one of these days too soon and, unless you like it cold and, if the forecasts are right, maybe a little snowy, these days are about as good as they'll be until springtime begins its return in a few months.
But what has been frustrating is that one recent event -- which should have been a small celebration -- has cast a cloud over the last few days.

One measly little vote.
One eensy-weensy tabulation.
Just one more person who decided to get off their duff, either during the early election period, or just one more person who decided to run by the polls after grabbing some foot powder at the local dollar store.

Dear editor:
Sorry to be a bit late but just could not pass up the opportunity when I read that our Franklin County Manager Kim Denton was awarded as tops in the region.
Let's all pause and hope and also pray for the rest of the region because for one I think our manager plus Franklin County commissioners are sinking us all without water to drink nor water to wash away the sewage nor space to breathe adequately.

Dear editor:
I'm writing in response to the article by Carey Johnson in The Franklin Times dated Nov. 10. Thank you for your interest in athletic activities offered to Franklin County residents.
I want to correct part of the article. The article states that I said, "my husband and I went on a fishing trip to Swannanoa ... (near a women's prison) and guess?"

Dear editor:
This past Sunday after church, I was sitting on my truck's tailgate when one of the rusty tailgate mounts broke off, dumping me and all of the M&Ms I was eating at the time onto the ground.
My beloved truck treated me exactly like one of those squirrel-dumping bird feeders.

LOUISBURG -- Two near-miss passes -- one in the end zone and one at the 2-yard line -- pretty much typified Louisburg's matchup last Friday at Princeton in the second round of the Class 2-A State Football Playoffs.
Both attempts came oh-so-close to being clutch completions, but just slipped away.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Southern Nash's continued league dominance was just one of the many storylines this fall in Big East Conference boys soccer.
The Firebirds went undefeated in the Big East once again to pick up their third consecutive conference championship. Southern would eventually reach the second round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs before closing with an exceptional 20-3 overall record.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School's shift to the Northern Lakes Athletic Conference proved to be a bountiful one for the Warriors, who made an impact in several sports this fall in their initial NLAC campaign.
Louisburg's volleyball team bounced back from an uncharacteristic season in 2022 to shine on the floor this year.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Chris Lee's coaching journey has taken him to the likes of Gates County, Rocky Mount and Louisburg -- before he returned home eight years ago to take over the rebuilding Nash Central High School gridiron program.
After working under B.W. Holt at Rocky Mount, Lee headed to Louisburg in 2009 for his first big-time head coaching gig -- and immediately led the Warriors to the Class 1-A State Playoffs in his initial campaign.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Mackenzie Gamble's golf career at Southern Nash could be compared to taking a photo. One, two, three, smile!
Yes, there was plenty for Gamble to be happy about for the Ladybirds as the claimed three consecutive Big East Conference individual championships -- and led Southern Nash to the team league crown in each of those campaigns.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Here are last Friday's results and this Friday's schedule for the Class 2-A and 3-A State Football Playoffs:

2023 All-Big East Conference Girls Golf Team
-- MacKenzie Gamble, Southern Nash
-- Audrey Jones, Southern Nash High School

Louisburg's Anthony Carter makes a tackle for the Warriors during last Friday's postseason showdown against the Princeton Bulldogs.

Historian Mark Pace will speak tonight (Nov. 16), at 7 p.m., at Louisburg College, with a presentation about North Carolina history. The evening's program, presented by the Tar River Center for History and Culture, will be "John Penn, Patriot and Signer of the Declaration of Independence." Pace will appear in period costume and speak as Mr. Penn concerning his experiences as a signer of the venerated document, and also offer his ruminations on the current state of our nation (in the year 1788).

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police continued their efforts to crack down on shoplifting at a local store, racking up at least three more arrests according to the last report.
Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbott said the department launched Operation Boost in an effort to mitigate shoplifting cases at the local Walmart.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police arrested a woman they allege is guilty of aggravated assault by pointing a gun and discharging a firearm in town limits.
The specific details of the case were not immediately available, but officers arrested Crystal Tomeka Williamston on Nov. 8.
The 43-year-old is alleged to have committed the crimes against a 62-year-old man just after midnight in the area of Green Street.