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Youngsville leaders, from left, Commissioners Corey Pursche, Scott Brame (with youngest son, Drew), Cat Redd and Joe Johnson, and Mayor Fonzie Flowers (with oldest son, Landon) are festive for the Christmas parade.

FRANKLINTON -- It wasn't Christmas, but two businessmen did put a gift under the town's Christmas tree.
Steven Hayes and Dave Harney of Trinity Group Investments LLC gave the town a new striping machine.
The machines, which are most commonly used to mark parking spaces, can retail for $6,100 and up.
Hayes and Harney gave it to the town for free.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners are looking to expand their footprint with two property purchases.
The board's next regularly scheduled meeting is Jan. 6 and two property purchases are on the agenda.
First, the board is set to consider spending as much as $2.6 million to buy the Walgreens building on 1.49 acres at 3422 U.S. 1 in Franklinton.
The board is also expected to consider purchasing 127.88 acres at 2035 E and F Road in Louisburg at a price tag of $1.5 million.

LOUISBURG -- A community organization designed to help folks in emergencies is offering help to the helpers.
Bunn CERT is facilitating an Emergency Medical Responder course for folks who are interested.
"This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to get their foot in the door to become a medical provider," said Scott Strickland with Bunn Cert.
The January course is being sponsored by Vance-Granville Community College and is free.

RALEIGH -- Christmas came early for Ladaryenne Smith of Franklinton after a $5 scratch-off purchased on Christmas Eve delivered a present of $150,000.
"I saw a zero, then I saw another zero, then another zero," he recalled. "It was just crazy."
Smith bought his lucky Holiday Cash 50X ticket from Dabney Pit Stop on Dabney Drive in Henderson.
He scratched the ticket in his car and couldn't believe what he saw.

Here's hoping you and yours had a happy, safe and very Merry Christmas this year.
It was really no surprise, but we missed out on a white Christmas again but all around Franklin County the holiday decorations, especially the lights, more than made up for the missing cold white stuff that can make travel so difficult and dangerous.
By now, Santa is back at the North Pole, probably with his feet up in front of a roaring fire and sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

The gag about Dec. 26 through New Year's Day is that it's nebulous -- no one knows what day it is, what time it is or whether or not they have to work.
For us, here at The Times, it's a time of rushed deadlines and time travel.
That's because we normally go to press on Wednesdays, but when Christmas and New Year's are on Wednesday, holiday/post office schedules dictate we go to press on Monday.

Dear editor: I read your December 19, 2024 front page article entitled "An Off-Stream Reservoir" with great interest.
I also attended that meeting and want to congratulate the Town of Louisburg, and their leadership, for taking a realistic look into their long-term water needs and future solutions.

The Wake Pumping truck was a festive sight at Franklinton's Christmas Parade.

Santa is always the star of the show.

Yessi Martinez and Sofia Salas waved to the crowd from the Salas Construction Group float during Franklinton's nighttime Christmas parade.

As always, the Helping Hand Mission Marching Band out of Raleigh was a crowd favorite during Franklinton's annual Christmas parade, the county's only nighttime parade.

LOUISBURG -- Just more than half a dozen murder cases continue to wind their way through the court system.
Last week, Resident Superior Court Judge John Dunlow held a status conference on the county's pending murder cases.
Four of them were disposed.
However, at least seven remain pending, but the courts got a better sense of how they're proceeding.

Larry Foster at Vets Day Breakfast at Louisburg Senior Center

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Sallie Dunston Taylor, age 91, who died on Saturday, December 28, 2024, will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Ambassadors For Christ Ministries in Louisburg with Pastor Jamal Brodie officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

FRANKLINTON -- Col. Wyatt Lemuel McGhee III, 84, died on Sat. Dec. 21 at home.

FRANKLINTON -- Timothy Wilson Hodge, 66, died on Dec. 27.

FRANKLINTON -- Funeral services for Toni F. Bass, 56, who died on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 will be held on Tuesday, December 31 at noon from the Union Grove Baptist Church in Youngsville with Rev. Larry Neal, II, officiating.

FRANKLINTON -- Edward Odell Fogg, 67, died on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.

MIDDLESEX -- Lavinia "Ellen" Murray, 88, died on Dec. 9 at her home.

LOUISBURG, NC--Iris Chamblee Hill, 86, of Louisburg, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024.

GARNER -- LaQuisha Cassandra Joyner, 54 of Garner, died on Dec. 21.

HOLLISTER -- Funeral services for Doris Anstead Richardson, 91, who died on Wednesday, December 25, will be held on Tuesday, December 31, at 1 p.m. from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Robert Hedgepeth officiating.