FRONT PAGE

BUNN -- The Bunn Tavern voluntarily closed its doors and surrendered its liquor license following an ALE undercover investigation spurred by Bunn police.
Four employees and the proprietor were arrested, beginning on Oct. 16, following a months-long investigation by agents with the State Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, Bunn police and Franklin County sheriff's deputies.
Bunn Police Chief Justin Hastings said Bunn Tavern operator Sharon Ray McCloud voluntarily surrendered the establishment's ABC license.

LOUISBURG -- Auditor James Sargeant brought some good news along with Louisburg's long-awaited audit report for 2023 -- and he led with the good news.
Louisburg got a "clean, unmodified audit," he said, "that's the best you can get."
He added that auditors found:

Ryan Murphy of Ring of Fire BBQ (left) was smiling Saturday morning when his barbeque was judged to be the best this year in the BBQ in the Burg contest. Murphy is from Snow Hill, NC, and is shown accepting his first-place winnings from Tim Gupton, one of the organizers of the event which was held for the fifth straight year Friday night and into Saturday morning. Randall White of Bunn, operating as Boo's BBQ, won second place in what judges said was a very close competition. Capturing third were the Pocosin Boys, Mark Copeland and Billy Perry, of Bertie County. --For more photos of the event, see page 16a of this edition.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners took two actions to improve Main Street.
The result of the Oct. 21 action should be two-fold:
• Improve the look of the main thoroughfare;
• Move the town one step closer to controlling the street and removing truck traffic.

Above, Edith De'Leon, left, and Katie Preddy, right, help Amanda and Kathleen Bell find just the right treat during Youngsville's Trick or Treat on Main last Friday afternoon.

FRANKLINTON -- Operators of the Franklinton Community Garden have secured their nonprofit status.
Such designation, volunteers hope, will help them secure the funding they need for an irrigation well -- an apparatus that will help them even more provide farm fresh food to those in need.
Bernie Meader, who has been spearheading the volunteer organization's efforts for years, made the pronouncements during Franklinton's Oct. 21 Board of Commissioners meeting.

One of Franklin County's finest, June Greene