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Winfred Crawford, center, is flanked by his sons, Carter and Sebastian Crawford, showing off their throwing abilities at a game set up in the fun zone.

If anyone had any doubts about fall being in the air, Mother Nature certainly erased those doubts last weekend, especially on Sunday.
Cloudy, an off-and-on drizzle and brisk breezes -- which sometimes reached downright windy levels -- made it clear that fall is indeed here.
Fortunately, most of that Nor'easter stayed well east of Franklin County and we got a little rain that was desperately needed.
Out Mapleville way, east of The Burg, we recorded just about three-quarters of an inch, less that what we need but more than enough to settle the dust.

The Louisburg mayor's election is in the books.
Tuesday's canvass made the Oct. 7 election official, with incumbent Christopher Neal securing 350 votes -- getting two additional votes over the Oct. 7 tally, following the counting of provisional/absentee ballots.
Challengers Boyd Sturges gained a vote, finishing with 236 tallies, and William Goedert remained stagnant at 38 votes.

Dear editor: Alduous Huxley once commented that the most important lesson of history is that we don't learn very much from the lessons of history. I agree with him, but these days I'm even more pessimistic. I'm not sure we ever learn anything at all.
The slogan "Never again" was first used by survivors at Buchenwald to denounce fascism and the evil of genocide. It gained currency through the years, appearing on memorials, and acquiring a broader meaning as a statement against hatred and injustice.

Dear editor: Recent questions about Louisburg's financial management deserve a direct response based on facts, not speculation.
The North Carolina Local Government Commission -- the state agency responsible for monitoring municipal finances -- has repeatedly confirmed that Louisburg maintains a sound financial condition.
This independent, expert assessment is what matters.

NC AgVentures, a North Carolina State Extension program provides grants to North Carolina farmers and non-profit community groups that work with family farms, for agricultural project ideas that will increase farm profits.
Sponsored by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the program will award a minimum of 50 grants to independent family farms providing an opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their farm operation.

The Franklin County Board of Education honored 15 local students for exemplifying the character traits of respect, citizenship and teamwork during Monday night's board meeting.
Students -- one from each county school -- were nominated by their home school and included:

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Ellis Lee Williams, age 45, who died on Friday, October 12, 2025, will be held Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m. from the Louisburg High School Auditorium with Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Stephens Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Annie Lewis J. Arrington, age 91, who died on Friday, October 10, 2025, will be held on Saturday, October 18, at 2 p.m. from the Old Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Michael Alston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church Cemetery.

Franklinton, NC --Funeral services for Mary Williams Perry, age 84, who died on Sunday, October 12, 2025, will be held on Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m. from the Popes Chapel United Christian Church in Franklinton with Rev. K. Ray Hill officiating. Burial will follow in the Popes Chapel Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Mary H. Turner, age 81, who died on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, were held Tuesday, October 14, at 11 a.m. from the Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Timothy Walker officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Detroit Memorial Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Franklinton, NC -- Funeral services for Antoine "Tony" Rainey, age 40, who died on Sunday, October 5, 2025 were held Tuesday, October 14, at 1 p.m. from the Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Kittrell. Burial will follow in the Concord Church Cemetery.

RALEIGH, NC -- William M. "Bill" Ginn, 91, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025. A devoted husband, father, physician, and friend, Bill will be remembered for his compassion, dedication, and hearty laughter.

Henderson, NC -- Rose Miller Cleveland, 75, of Henderson, NC, passed away Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Duke University Hospital.

FRANKLINTON -- Novonesis opened its labs, offices and insights to about 200 Franklin County students, hoping that they'd open their minds to a career in manufacturing.
Workforce projections indicate the United States will need 3.8 million new manufacturing workers over the next decade, with nearly half of those jobs projected to go unfilled without increased training and awareness.

Novonesis North America President and Head of Global Consumer Health Tue Micheelsen presented retiring Franklin County Schools Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler with a gift, noting that the school system's partnership with Novonesis has been vital for both entities.

LOUISBURG -- County commissioners agreed to petition the Local Government Commission for permission to issue up to $60 million in bonds to cover the cost of several development projects -- primarily an expected $34 million judicial complex.
The hearing on the proposal drew no public comment on Monday night.
The funding, if approved, would cover:

LOUISBURG -- County commissioners tasked their attorney with bringing back terms and the past two audits of a regional conservancy group -- both preludes to the county ponying up $265,500 to help buy Franklinton land that would become the county's first nature preserve.
Back in August, Franklinton secured a $500,000 in Great Trails State Program funding to put toward the purchase of a 134-acre tract at West River and Ballard Pruitt Road -- commonly referred to as the Annie Edwards property.

LOUISBURG -- For about as long as he could remember, Will Brinkley knew he wanted to be a farmer ... even if he couldn't express it in the most diplomatic manner.
"... I never wanted to do anything else," Brinkley, better known by his social media handle, Tarheel Farmer, told those who came out to hear his keynote address at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension's annual Farm City Week luncheon -- the flagship for a host of activities deigned to foster the relationships between rural, agricultural communities and their urban counterparts.

VOLUNTEER of the Year for Agriculture was Brent Strickland (left) who received his award from Cooperative Extension Director Charles Mitchell.

VOLUNTEER of the Year for Family and Consumer Sciences was Tomekca Sidberry (right) who is a pre-K Before and After Care Program Specialist with Franklin County Schools. She received her award from Dominque Simon of the Cooperative Extension Service

HONORING AGRICULTURE. David Smith, seventh from the left, received the Enduring Farmer Award at the Farm-City event.