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Here's hoping you and yours had a happy, safe and very Merry Christmas this year.
It was no surprise, but we missed out on a white Christmas 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.
Actually, I suspect many of us enjoyed a very mild Christmas season!
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.

If you're familiar with this column, then, you might be familiar with another annual tradition: Making fun of wacky New Year's Eve traditions, while offering ideas on how local folks can ring in the New Year.
Well, at least for one town, I can keep my hare-brained thoughts to myself.
Back in 2021, I suggested the town lean into its Funkytown persona and drop a giant saxophone to ring in the new year.
Well, the powers that be had a better idea and instead will drop a disco ball to celebrate First Night Funkytown, a New Year's Eve celebration starting at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Dear editor: Imagine living in a country where everyone has comprehensive health insurance.
Everything is covered without question, from preventive routine care to surgery, from prescription drugs to rehabilitation.
Imagine living in a country where hundreds of thousands of people don't go bankrupt each year from medical debt.
Here in the US, 80% of the people forced into bankruptcy have health insurance. Most of them are middle-class, employed, college-educated homeowners.

The Franklin County Firefighters Association donated toys to help the Franklin County Department of Social Services provide Christmas for those in need in the area. Firefighters Chase Pulley, Mark Rowe, and Firefighters Association Vice President Bobby Peters were joined by DSS staff members Susan Weathers and Nicole Perry. The Franklin County Firefighters Association has raised funds for the project for years, generating the money necessary to help brighten Christmas for area children.

Firefighters, from left, Mark Rowe, Chase Pulley and Bobby Peters take toys from a utility trailer, preparing to give them to the folks at the Franklin County Department of Social Services, who helps provide Christmas gifts for those in need. The Franklin County Firefighters Association has partnered with DSS for years to help make Christmas a bit better in Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- Emergency crews responded to a plane crash at Franklin County's airport on Tuesday morning.
According to authorities, minor damage and minor injuries were reported.
According to emergency radio traffic transmitted across Broadcastify, a plane was reported to have gone off the runway at Triangle North Franklin Executive Airport at about 9:40 a.m.

Incumbent Louisburg Town Council member Betty Wright took the oath of office for another term during the board's Dec. 15 meeting. Judge Adam Keith administered the oath as Wright was joined by, from left, son Tracy Wright, brother and campaign manager Richard Keith, and son Kevin Wright. Betty Wright was also chosen as the Council's mayor pro tem.

Franklin Academy Charter School recently partnered with Franklin County Schools Child Nutrition staff at Louisburg High School. The staff and LHS students collected milk cartons for Franklin Academy's first grade for their annual Holiday Gingerbread House event. Shown here are some Franklin County first graders with their candy creations, some of which were not only creative, they looked great! At the top left is Abigail Atila; bottom left is Whitaker Pollock; Evan Cortright is at the top right; top to bottom are Avery Dunning, Ezra Owusu, Cash Davis, brothers Nathan Fortlage, a first grader, and Jacob Fortlage who is in kindergarten.

The Rev. Felecia Hardy

Clayton Frederick Magee Jr., 82, died unexpectedly on December 23, 2025.

Nashville, NC -- Memorial services for Mozellia V. Douglas, age 83, who died on Thursday, December 25, 2025 will be held on Wednesday, January 7, at 1 p.m. from the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 1830 Old Mill Road, Rocky Mount, NC.

FAMILY AFFAIR. Incumbent Council member Betty Wright took the oath of office for another term during the board's Dec. 15 meeting. Judge Adam Keith administered the oath as Wright was joined by, from left, son Tracy Wright, brother Keith Wright and son and campaign manager Kevin Wright. Betty Wright was also chosen as the Council's mayor pro tem.

These two young ladies recently provided Santa Clas their special wish lists when the Jolly Old Gent from the North Pole visited Louisburg United Methodist just before Thansgiving. In the photo above, Anna Faulkner, 10, is all smiles as she tells Santa what she would most like this year. As usual, Santa has been a busy guy this year, riding in parades, attending Christmas tree lightings, reading to children and, of course, listening to wish lists from children who are excited about his annual visit this week.

LOUISBURG -- After taking some time to respond to a defamation lawsuit, attorneys for Sheriff Kevin White responded with a motion to dismiss, alleging former county manager Kim Denton's lawsuit is full of cheap shots and is an attempt to inflict political harm.
In October, Raleigh attorney J. Heydt Philbeck filed a lawsuit in Franklin County Civil Superior Court, alleging that White defamed Denton in a political power move that cost the manager her job a year ago.

LOUISBURG -- Filing for the 2026 primary ended last Friday and Franklin County can expect races in the spring and fall that could and will change local, state and regional seats.
A week before the filing deadline, District 7 State Rep. Matthew Winslow announced that he would not seek re-election.
That same day, Louisburg's Cory Thornton filed for the Republican party nomination.

ROME, Ga. -- Arden Wheless was named to the Fall 2025 Dean's List at Berry College.
The Dean's List honors students who posted an academic average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying a class load of at least 12 hours during the semester.

ATHENS, Ga. -- Robert William Burnett was one of more than 3,200 students who took part in the University of Georgia's Class of 2025 fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 12.
Burnett, of Franklinton, earned a degree in BSFCS Housing Management and Policy.

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Casey Sutherland of Youngsville was named to the 2025 spring and summer trimester Dean's List at Palmer College of Chiropractic's Florida Campus in Port Orange.
Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa, and Port Orange.

MANCHESTER, NH -- Southern New Hampshire University recognized local students who made the Summer 2025 President's List.
Full-time undergraduate students who've earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.7 are named to the President's List. The following students from Franklin County made the list:

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Residents in Louisburg, Youngsville and Franklinton joined millions of people across the country laying wreaths on the graves of veterans -- remembering their service and sacrifice.
Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit foundation, began at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992, laying wreaths in cemeteries to recognize and remember veterans.
During the national observance on Dec. 13, communities in Louisburg, Youngsville and Franklinton held their annual wreath-laying ceremonies here.

Louisburg event organizer Wynn Smith addressed the crowd in Louisburg, with the help of Color Guard members Mark Pace, Doug Wright, Zach Myers and Bill Riggan.

Liz Seibel in a very festive Christmas cap

If you've wondered how Santa Claus gets everything done, here's the answer: He has lots and lots of help. When he visited the Louisburg United Methodist Church a few weeks ago, he had these eager "elves" to help him listen to the wish lists of children. The elves are (left to right) Mordecai Greenwood, Kendall Thornburg, Joseph Thornburg and Holly Thornburg. By now, Santa is probably busy loading up his sleigh for his annual run.