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CENTER OF ATTENTION. Residents in and around Centerville rang in the New Year on Jan. 1 with a parade. Tractors, like the one above, pulled New Year's Day floats.

Parade enthusiasts wait for candy to be tossed.

Vintage cars, like this Ford Model A, were included in the parade.

BUNN -- Zero victories and 12 defeats.
That was the combined record of Bunn and Granville Central before the clubs met last Wednesday in the opening round of the Bunn Holiday Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament at the Bunn Dome.
So one team was destined to break through during the contest -- and that squad proved to be the Bunn Ladycats.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The Youngsville Fire Department is proud to announce that Chief Brian Christmas has been appointed to serve as the department's first full-time Fire Chief.
Chief Christmas spent 26 years with the Sumter, South Carolina Fire Department, retiring in November as Assistant Fire Chief and Chief Fire Investigator.
The Sumter Fire Department is a large combination fire department with municipal and unincorporated areas.

LOUISBURG -- Management noted that the new year could prove to be an economic boon for Triangle North Executive Airport.
During a Dec. 12 meeting, Airport Director Bo Carson advised TNEA's advisory board that management is zeroing in on a new tenant to replace the skydiving operation -- one of the airport's biggest economic development drivers.
He also shared that a nearly $90,000 grant could help turn an unused portion of the airport into hangar space for new business.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina State University baseball head coach Elliott Avent announced the program's 2024 schedule recently.
The 54-game schedule includes 33 contests at Doak Field at Dail Park, highlighted by 21 home contests in the team's first 28 matchups of the season.
Opening Day for the Wolfpack's 2024 season is set for Feb. 16 when NC State welcomes VCU for a three-game series at The Doak.

Zebulon, NC-- Michael Forrest Privette, 86, passed away at home surrounded by the one he loved dearly.

RALEIGH, NC -- Funeral services for Nadie Alexander, age 84, who died on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2023 from the Living Word Family Church in Wake Forest with Pastor Micah Caronna officiating.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Sylvester "Bud" Harris, age 85, who died on Monday, January 1, 2024, will be held on Monday, January 8, at 12 p.m. from the Nelson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Micah Mason officiating. Burial will follow in the Nelson Chapel Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC--Memorial services for Larry Johnson, age 63, who died on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, will be held on Saturday, January 6, at 11 a.m. from the First Baptist Church in Louisburg, with Dr. Janice Johnson-Durr officiating.

Louisburg, NC--Stanley Lee Hartsfield, age 63, of Louisburg, NC died December 19, 2023 at home.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Joseph "Joe" Bullock of Franklinton, NC, age 80, died December 26, 2023 at Wake Med Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Avis Smith Pernell, 97, of Louisburg, NC was called to her Heavenly home on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Whew! By now, hopefully, Santa Claus is safely back in his North Pole home, the reindeer have been well fed and are resting -- and parents, especially those with small tykes at home, are slowly, slowly beginning to recover.
We hope you and your family had a merry and safe Christmas season this year -- and that all the kids got enough stuff to keep 'em quiet for a few hours, at least!
As usual, Christmas seemed to appear out of nowhere this year -- and as usual I wasn't exactly ready, although perhaps, I was more ready than most years or, maybe, that's just wishful thinking.

I know what you're thinking: You looked at the picture at the bottom of this page and experienced deja vu.
Yes, the picture of the old courthouse bell, looking like it's about to be wheeled out to an old folks home, did appear in a recent edition of The Franklin Times.
But, it's purpose here is festive, not so much shameful ... but, I'll let the reader be the ultimate judge.
If you've been here before, you might recall that I've used this space -- at this time of year -- to share my insights as to how our county, towns or communities can bring in the new year.

Dear editor: When my Franklin Times for Nov. 16 arrived, I was shocked to read that a Chinese-based hemp company was setting up shop in Franklin County.
Of all things Franklin Co. needs, I don't think a business connected to China fits the bill.
When the next issue arrived, I was even more astounded to see nothing from anyone regarding the issue.

Dear editor: Thank you Franklin Times for your honest reporting of what is going on in our schools today.
Ira Harris wrote a letter titled "What Happened to Civility?" And we do need to start teaching civility classes in school. And it can come in the form of Christianity.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School continues to produce elite-level boys basketball players, but the transfer bugaboo has kept the Warriors from ascending in the team standings in the Northern Carolina and Big East Conferences over the past several campaigns.
But LHS has moved to the Northern Lakes Athletic Conference this year -- and the Warriors are looking to make an unpward jump in that league.

Bunn High School senior guard Domantea Cooke heads to the bucket for the Wildcats during last Thursday night's road matchup against backyard rival Louisburg.

LOUISBURG -- Von Quick has been quite a patient man during his three seasons as the head coach of the Louisburg High School girls basketball program.
Quick literally had to build the Lady Warriors from the ground up after the COVID-19 hiatus depleted Louisburg's overall roster number.
LHS has taken its lumps the past two campaigns, but Quick kept the faith -- and it's paying off this season for the Lady Warriors.

Louisburg High School junior guard Omari Jackson scores on a breakaway layup for the Lady Warriors during last Thursday's non-conference triumph against the visiting Bunn Ladycats.

BUNN -- Wrestling has taken over at Bunn High School -- and not just with the wildly successful boys program.
BHS has reached the state finals on the Class 2-A level for the boys in each of the past two campaigns -- and that has drawn extensive interest at the school.
Until this season, Bunn has boasted some girls competing on their own in tournaments, but the Ladycats now have a full-fledged team that has been dominant in 2023-24.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats have announced all nine souvenir giveaway items for the upcoming 2024 season at Five County Stadium.
The new souvenir giveaway schedule, spread across nine Souvenir Saturday dates, is highlighted by five jerseys, a duffel bag and wearable items including a hoodie, button-up shirt and a hat.