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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's public schools will be under new leadership next year.
But, it'll be influenced, a bit, by the system's current guiding hand.
Following a special called meeting and closed session for personnel on Dec. 5, the Franklin County Board of Education unanimously selected Dr. Nakia Hardy as its next superintendent.

LOUISBURG -- More incumbents and challengers have thrown their hats into the ring for this spring's mid-term elections.
The filing period runs through next Friday.
Seats held by School Board District 1 member Meghan Jordan, District 3 member Elizabeth Keith, District 5 member Chris Perry, and at-large District 7 member Paige Sayles are up for election.

Santa Claus, with reindeer pulling his sleigh, waves to the crowd in Youngsville last Saturday morning in a parade that helped kick off the Christmas holiday season. Santa had a little help from 'elves' who tossed candy to the crowd watching the parade, especially the youngsters who couldn't wait to give Santa their wish lists.

JUSTICE -- More than a half dozen fire and emergency rescue units combined to extinguish a house fire and render aid to the occupant on Tuesday.
The homeowner, who got out of the house by the time firefighters arrived, was taken to Maria Parham Franklin where he was treated for smoke inhalation and evaluated.
Authorities also said the man, identified as Johnny Paul, sustained burns to the face and hands, but it was not immediately clear how serious those injuries were.

You can't have a parade in Franklin County without fire trucks and firefighters -- and that was certainly true in Louisburg's Christmas Parade last Saturday afternoon. This truck is better known as "Maude" and is one of the featured attractions of the Louisburg Fire and Police Museum when she's not being featured in a parade. In this photo, Maude is being driven by long-time firefighter Larry Peoples accompanied by his grandson, Toliver Kemp.

Franklinton's parade, the only nighttime one in the county, kicked off the Christmas Season last Thursday evening with crowds that jammed the streets eager for a glimpse of Santa and a taste of the Christmas spirit. Max Moore provided a shoulder boost so that Addison, blue coat, could get a better look at the parade. Additional photos on Pages 10 and 11 of this edition.

Caroline Wheeler, 2, is awaiting Santa Claus

If there was any doubt that we're well into the Christmas Season, last weekend should have erased them!
Almost everywhere you looked late last week, Christmas was in the air.
There were parades, tree lightings and other festivities in Franklinton, Youngsville and Louisburg -- and the weather cooperated for all of them.
Granted a few snow flurries would have been nice and added much to the atmosphere -- but around here snow flurries are pretty rare but a few did arrive on Monday although they barely covered the grass.

We're a few weeks away from the usual time that us media folks, you know, who are looking for content, start thinking about a year in review.
But, following last week's special called meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education -- when they named their new superintendent -- I couldn't help but think about the changing of the guards that we've seen around Franklin County this year.
Or, at the very least, we have witnessed a fair amount of old faces in new places.
So, let's explore.

Dear editor: Litter bugs me, especially on our roadsides, and it's on this cold, dreary day that I am inspired to write and express my opinion. It's the cloudy days, especially during the winter months, that litter is so visible. Not so much on the bright sunny days, although it is still there.
If you notice, the closer you get to the convenient sites the more litter you see. The cause is unsecured loads. Evidence, such as cardboard boxes and other large items are scattered along the roadsides.

Dear editor: Donald Trump could not have had so much success wrecking our democracy without the help of the other two branches.
The do-nothing Republican Congress has willingly ceded many of its powers to the Executive, and Mike Johnson even kept the House out of session for two months in an effort to avoid the release of the Epstein files, which most assume includes damning material on Trump, even after the thousands of hours FBI agents have spent scrubbing them.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Alma Marks Gupton, 85, of Louisburg, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Franklin Oaks Nursing on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Doris Roberson Andrews, 83, peacefully slipped into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 4, 2025. She was born in 1942 in Franklin County to the late Vera Joyner and Marion Lee Roberson and grew up as the oldest of five children. In addition to her parents, Doris was preceded in death by her husband of almost 58 years, William G. Andrews, and her sister Detra R Floyd.

Rocky Mount, NC -- Viewing for James E. Alston, age 56, who died on Friday, December 5, 2025 will be held on Saturday, December 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Formerly of Nashville, NC -- Graveside Services for Nelson Lee "Flute" Cooper, age 83, who died on Monday, November 24, 2025, will be held on Saturday, December 13, at 2 p.m. from the Oakland Cemetery in Nashville, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Patricia Ann Bumpers, age 52, who died on Sunday, December 7, 2025, will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- Funeral services for Roslynn Perry, age 57, formerly of Louisburg, NC who died on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, will be held on Friday, December 12, at 1 p.m. from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Stanley Dunston, officiating.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Sammy Dunn, 41, of Franklinton passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 7, 2025.

Pittsburgh, PA -- Funeral services for Tenielle S. Spruill, age 48, formerly of Louisburg, NC, who died on Thursday, November 27, 2025, were held on Sunday, December 7, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

The Louisburg High School band struts its stuff during the parade

Santa Claus waves to parade watchers -- and later read to children

Jackie Sorrell, Naveah Mangum and Brayden Buchanan take some selfies to capture the moment during the Youngsville Christmas parade last Saturday in downtown Youngsville. The goal was to capture fun and businesses in the background during the event.

Franklinton's Candy Gator was a hit, as town staff tossed candy into the crowd at the end of their Christmas parade.

Above, Franklinton Police Chief James Davis Jr., right, led the town's Christmas Parade, with Brodie Green, left, an Air Force veteran and town historian, serving as the parade's Grand Marshal.

Franklinton High School band member Rosalee Pence, right, helps Kristopher Garbutt with his drum carrier as Peyton Hoffert looks on.

Franklinton and Youngsville hosted Christmas parades last Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Franklinton continued its tradition of hosting Franklin County's only nighttime Christmas Parade as more than a hundred floats made their way through downtown Franklinton. Above, a sesquicentennial float made its way along the parade as the town of Youngsville celebrated 150 years of its charter this year.

The Louisburg Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Saturday featured Santa Claus reading stories to youngsters and the young-at-heart on the Franklin County Courthouse steps. Organizers provided hot apple cider for those in attendance. The tree in the background was later lit following a countdown led by Mayor Christopher Neal.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has selected a new staff attorney.
Shelby Barbee started on Dec. 1.
"I am honored to join Franklin County as the Staff Attorney and provide legal services in support of county management and county staff," Barbee said.
"I look forward to serving our community."

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The threat of inclement weather shut down Franklin County government and official activity, on Monday afternoon.
Then, the promise of snow shut down county and some town government activity on Tuesday.
A fatal wreck was also reported near the Franklin County line -- one of more than a dozen wrecks reported in or around Franklin County from midnight Tuesday until about 9:30 a.m.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Christmastime fun continues in Franklin County through this weekend, with parades in the community of Alert and the town of Bunn.
• The 35th annual Alert Christmas Parade is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, a free event with no float entry fees.
Line up starts at 1 p.m. and there will be a Best Christmas Decorated Entry contest.
For more information, contact Larry Ayscue at 252-459-9216 or Melanie Bobbitt at 919-497-6081 or melanieb7724@gmail.com.