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KNIGHTDALE, NC -- Funeral services for Aubrey V. Burton O'Neal, age 4 who died on Sunday, April 25, 2021, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

HENDERSON, NC--Shirley Temple Wilkes Evans, 76, of Henderson, left us suddenly on April 10, 2021. She was the daughter of the late Malle and Pearl Wilkes. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Sidney Allen Evans, Sr. and a son, Lucas Allen Evans.

LOUISBURG, NC--Drucilla "Mema" Neal, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at her home. Drucilla was the daughter of the late Clyde W. Leonard and Iva O. (West) Leonard. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Earl Neal, son David Lewis Neal, brother Clyde "Pete" Leonard and grandson John Neal Hunt.

NASHVILLE, NC--Funeral services for Mary L. Mills, age 79, who died on Thursday, April 22, 2021, will be held on Monday, April 26, at 12 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC. Rev. Robert Hedgepeth, Officiating.

LOUISBURG -- Designers of the county's new 911 center told commissioners that they should be ready to cash in on their investment in the fall of 2022.
In October 2019, county commissioners agreed to pair a $3.9 million state grant with $329,500 in collected 911 funds and $841,501 in tax dollars -- over three years -- to build a new emergency dispatch center adjacent to the sheriff's office.

This may sound strange, but maybe it's time for North Carolina's government to slow down.
That's strange because NC government usually moves so slowly it takes a scientist with a lot of sensitive equipment to determine if it's moving at all!
But there is a sea change happening with regard to our public school system across the state -- and it's moving too quickly, at least in my opinion.

On Monday night, at around 8:30 p.m., there was no denying the smiles on faces and chuckles coming through the Zoom meeting as the Franklin County Board of Commissioners received word that they were getting a reprieve: There was no need to meet with legal advisors behind closed doors.
"Many of y'all will be pleased to hear that we no longer have a need for closed session at this meeting, so therefor there will be no closed session," Commission Chair Michael Schriver said at the close of the one hour and thirty-minute meeting on Monday night.

Franklin County Department of Aging held their Drive-through Easter celebration, as well as a Kidney Cancer Awareness Day at the Louisburg Senior Center. The Easter bunny (a.k.a. Oliver Greene) was there, bringing smiles to the center members.

Katrina Williams

Wendy Hunter

LOUISBURG -- It may not be written into the ordinance, but the practice of hiring and firing and appointing within the animal control department will remain with the sheriff -- for now.
"For the purpose of approving the good in this ordinance change, I will move to approve this ordinance change with reservation for later changes," Commissioner Danny Pearce said.

LOUISBURG -- There was no indication at press time when a decision on the proposed move by a large charter school to Franklin County may be made.
The NC Charter Schools Advisory Board was scheduled to meet remotely today (Thursday, April 22) from 9 to 10 a.m. in a special session to discuss Wake Preparatory Academy's request to relocate to Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council amended a pair of ordinances Monday night in a move that officials say will help deal with various problems -- and then rolled through a lengthy agenda of routine items.
The ordinances adopted deal with nuisances and abandoned/junked cars, two issues that occasionally pop up in town.

Brian Miller was neither born in Gastonia nor did he grow up there.
But, thanks to what he terms "the greatest set of grandparents in the world," Gastonia, particularly west Gastonia, holds a very large place in his heart.
And, when the Honey Hunters open their Atlantic League professional baseball season at the new FUSE stadium over Memorial Day weekend, area residents will receive two gifts from Miller.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Louisburg man they allege sold the drugs that led to a Nashville woman's death.
Tagreed Ertley died on Jan. 26 from a fatal overdose of fentanyl, heroin and gabapentin toxicity, authorities said.
On Monday, members of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office's Special Operations Group arrested Aaron Lloyd, alleging he sold Ertley the drugs to the 38-year-old woman.

Legends (l to r) Lee Macon and Rick Mohlmann

Although Franklin County Schools decided to offer a chance to return to face-to-face (F2F) learning four days a week beginning April 12, nearly 40 percent of students have decided against that option.
Data compiled last Thursday indicates that 39 percent of students countywide elected to continue their educations virtually while 61 percent decided F2F classes were the best choice for them.

The Postal Service took it on the chin during a meeting of the Louisburg Town Council Monday night, blamed for "losing" a large number of town electric bills and not delivering them for more than two weeks.
The problem came to light when local resident Ann Brown spoke during the public comments section of Monday night's meeting and called the town's new electric billing system "a disaster."

LOUISBURG - After a one-year hiatus, Louisburg High School is back in the Class 1-AA State Football Playoffs -- and the Warriors arrived last Friday night with a momentous bang.
Louisburg delivered six touchdowns in the first period alone en route to rolling past Lakewood by a 50-0 margin in opening-round postseason action at the LHS Football Field.

Louisburg High School talented freshman defensive end Anthony Carter pressures Lakewood quarterback Kollin Hunter during last Friday night's first-round matchup in the Class 1-AA State Playoffs at the LHS Football Field.

Louisburg High School's Jeremiah Eddie churns out yardage for the Warriors during last Friday night's playoff triumph against the Lakewood Leopards.