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WINNERS ROAR. Louisburg Lions Club won the best decorated entry of the Alert Christmas parade. Pictured above with winning entry, from left, Dwayne Turner, Tucker Nobles and Jody Proctor.

RIDIN' UP HIGH. Bailey Nelms and Claire DeJesus, Alert parade participants, were all smiles atop the Centerville Fire truck.

SANTA SIGHTING. Santa took time out of his busy schedule to join the Alert parade. Some say he resembles Ethan Fuller just a bit. Driving Santa is Olivia Fuller.

EVERYONE bundled up and had fun during Sunday's parade in Bunn. There were fire trucks, marching musicians, Shriners in trucks, kids bouncing basketballs or riding on floats, Miracle League supporters, athletes on floats, a train ride for the youngsters, pretty girls and handsome guys on floats, tractors galore, politicians on floats, and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to help welcome in the Christmas Season! Maybe even the Grinch made an appearance.

EVERYONE bundled up and had fun during Sunday's parade in Bunn. There were fire trucks, marching musicians, Shriners in trucks, kids bouncing basketballs or riding on floats, Miracle League supporters, athletes on floats, a train ride for the youngsters, pretty girls and handsome guys on floats, tractors galore, politicians on floats, and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to help welcome in the Christmas Season! Maybe even the Grinch made an appearance.

EVERYONE bundled up and had fun during Sunday's parade in Bunn. There were fire trucks, marching musicians, Shriners in trucks, kids bouncing basketballs or riding on floats, Miracle League supporters, athletes on floats, a train ride for the youngsters, pretty girls and handsome guys on floats, tractors galore, politicians on floats, and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to help welcome in the Christmas Season! Maybe even the Grinch made an appearance.

EVERYONE bundled up and had fun during Sunday's parade in Bunn. There were fire trucks, marching musicians, Shriners in trucks, kids bouncing basketballs or riding on floats, Miracle League supporters, athletes on floats, a train ride for the youngsters, pretty girls and handsome guys on floats, tractors galore, politicians on floats, and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to help welcome in the Christmas Season! Maybe even the Grinch made an appearance.

EVERYONE bundled up and had fun during Sunday's parade in Bunn. There were fire trucks, marching musicians, Shriners in trucks, kids bouncing basketballs or riding on floats, Miracle League supporters, athletes on floats, a train ride for the youngsters, pretty girls and handsome guys on floats, tractors galore, politicians on floats, and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to help welcome in the Christmas Season! Maybe even the Grinch made an appearance.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The town's December meeting was primarily ceremonial, bidding farewell to some town servants, while welcoming others.
The board, though, did take quick action to address a minor issue revealed in their latest audit.
During the board's November meeting, certified public accountant Lee Grissom reported to the board a clean audit with one hiccup -- the town needed to increase the bond amount it has for its finance director.

As my tenure as superintendent comes to a close, I find myself reflecting not only on the past 11 years in this district, but also on the 32 years that I have spent in public education in North Carolina.
My heart is full of gratitude for the people who make this district the extraordinary place it is, full of appreciation for the countless moments that reaffirm why our work matters and full of conviction that now, more than ever, our public schools need champions willing to speak up for the students that we serve and the staff who do this important work each day.

Castalia, NC -- Services for Lorenzo Thorne, age 86, who died on Friday, December 12, 2025 will be held on Friday, December 19, at 2 p.m. from the Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church, in Nashville, NC, Rev. Sidney Dunston officiating.

Kernersville, NC -- Services for James E. Woodard, age 87, who died on Monday, December 8, 2025 will be held on Thursday, December 18, at 12 p.m. at the Oak Ridge First Baptist Church, in Oak Ridge, NC, Rev. Matthew Rouse officiating.

Franklinton, NC -- Services for Shirley Perry, age 87, who died on Monday, December 15, 2025 will be held on Saturday, December 20, at 12 p.m. from the Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, in Louisburg, NC, Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating.

Fannie Mae Jones Carter Brock, 93, of Louisburg, died Wednesday night, December 10, 2025.

Charles Stevens "Steve" Rose, 77, of the Pilot Community, died December 9, 2025, at Dunmore Senior Living of Zebulon.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- John Richard Mann "Chalk Boy" (82) of Franklinton, NC was born to the late Richard and Elztia Mann on May 31, 1943, in Franklin County, NC. He quietly entered eternal rest on December 4, 2025, at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, NC.

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

The Louisburg High School band struts its stuff during the parade

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