Kennel warning came early on LOUISBURG -- Court documents reveal that animal services officers received a complaint about a kennel operation days before a dog was found dead. Anne Marie Green is alleged to have tormented and deprived of necessary sustenance more than 20 dogs at her Green Meadow Kennels -- which was apparently being operated out of her Tarboro Road home. She had a court appearance scheduled for last week, but the matter was continued until July 3.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

Sophia Williams crosses the line in 100-meter dash Special Olympians shine at meet LOUISBURG -- On a day when Special Olympians were collecting glory on the track and field, one of its leaders continued to wrack up his own hardware. Last year, Lorenzo Stancil was named the 2023 Special Olympics North Carolina Athlete of the Year. Before the start of the Special Olympics of Franklin County's Spring Games on April 18, Stancil got one more honor -- the Laurel Wreath Award, given out by the Governor's office to those who have made outstanding contributions to sports or athletics.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

Special Olympians shine at meet, pics 1 Special Olympics Local Coordinator Oliver Greene gets the teams ready to go.   Read More | Post Comment

Special Olympians shine at meet, pics 2 Greene and county Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Brett Garrett coordinate activities.   Read More | Post Comment

Special Olympians shine at meet, pics 3 Louisburg Magnet High Principal Tonya Treadway gets competitors ready to go.   Read More | Post Comment

Special Olympians shine at meet, pics 4 William Evans gives a mighty heave during the event.   Read More | Post Comment

Franklinton FD plans substation FRANKLINTON -- Town officials agreed to rezone a 3.5-acre parcel on Green Hill Road, one of the first steps toward the fire department placing a substation at the site. The decision to rezone 941 Green Hill Road from Agricultural Residential to Planned Development -- which allows town staff and officials a measure of developmental control -- did not come without question, though.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

Franklinton essentially nixes townhome development FRANKLINTON -- The prospect of a nearly 50-lot townhouse subdivision died after a nearby resident highlighted the dangers of such an intense development. Franklinton-based Lilium Homes Inc. proposed building 48 townhomes at 15 and 17 Communication Drive and submitted a master development to the town, which was reviewed by the public and officials on April 16.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

SHP probes three-car fatal wreck FRANKLINTON -- Two people were killed and two others suffered serious injuries in a three-vehicle wreck on Monday. Stephanie Lapointe, 31, of Louisburg, and Charles Hicks, 75, of Franklinton, were killed in the wreck. According to a report by Trooper I. Al-wadei, Lapointe was traveling east on N.C. 56, about half a mile west of Green Hill Road, when she crossed the center line in the car she was driving just before 7 p.m.   Read More | Post Comment Staff Reports

Logging truck mishap kills Louisburg man HOLLISTER -- A Louisburg man was killed in a logging truck accident last week. According to the State Highway Patrol, Charlie Tharrington III, 55, was traveling along N.C. 43 near Rosser Road in Halifax County when he lost control of the logging truck he was driving on April 18. Just after 9 a.m., the vehicle ran off the road to the right, struck a ditch in a culvert and overturned, sending logs from the truck.   Read More | Post Comment Staff Reports

Airport advisory board still waiting on new governing rules LOUISBURG -- Six years after being demoted from a commission to an advisory capacity, the board that makes recommendations on airport operations still doesn't have a set of bylaws. Franklin County management said the document that will detail the scope or their work and guide their actions is coming in May.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

Editorial Cartoon: America's IQ  Read More | Post Comment

A cheaper, safer, better idea for a courtroom complex Spring is unfolding in all its glory across Franklin County -- meaning there is a lot to enjoy and, of course, to get done before the real heat and humidity arrives. But while there is plenty to enjoy, there are a few "weeds" that could be about to start growing -- and let's hope that some of our officials have their hoes sharpened and their sprayers filled with brush killer. They're going to need all the tools at their disposal next Monday night when county officials are supposed to come to a special public hearing in Louisburg to discuss their proposed judicial center they want to build in downtown Louisburg.   Read More | Post Comment Gary Cunard

County decisions appear to be coming at speed of (no) thought It seems, quite possibly, that Franklin County leaders are ready to start pumping their brakes. If you've been paying attention, in the last couple of months, Franklin County has, among other things,: • Committed $175,000 to building a multipurpose pickleball/tennis court at Owens Park; • Committed themselves to explore spaying and neutering all cats and dogs within their shelter;   Read More | Post Comment Carey Johnson

Why is it so difficult to learn from history? Dear editor: Thank you Franklin Times and Gary Cunard for challenging our way of thinking. Why do we find it so difficult to learn from history? In the June 1, 1971 edition, Charles Dunn was right on track when he said the effort to solve the illegal drug problem must also include churches.   Read More | Post Comment Letters to the editor

Why voters like a third party Dear editor: Why in the world would a significant percentage of voters in this country vote for an arrogant, obnoxious, rude, big city Yankee? That is exactly the question that the Washington elites, both elected and unelected bureaucrats, are asking. Why in the world would there be the interest in a third-party candidate like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.? These folks cannot figure that out either.   Read More | Post Comment Letters to the editor

Editorial Cartoon: Apology  Read More | Post Comment

Arbor Day celebration Saturday FRANKLINTON -- The town and its tree committee will celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday by recognizing the town's brush with greatness. The Franklinton Tree Committee is slated to celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday by planting a weeping willow near the Evergreen Cemetery in memory of former boxing heavyweight champion Jack Johnson.   Read More | Post Comment Staff Reports

STAR PITCHER JARED HAGWOOD TOSSED A GEM TUESDAY FOR THE BUNN WILDCATS DOWN TO THE WIRE BUNN -- It's all in their hands. And that's all you can ask for at this point. That's the current situation for the young Bunn High School baseball squad, which has arrived near the top of the Big East Conference standings ahead of schedule with a sophomore-dominated varsity roster.   Read More | Post Comment GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter

Red Rams Split With Central ROCKY MOUNT -- In the end, both Franklinton and Nash Central got what they wanted out of their recent Big East Conference baseball series. Sort of. Certainly, each club would have preferred a sweep, but a hard-fought series that featured exceptional pitching and opportunistic hitting ended the way it usually does between two evenly matched teams -- with a split.   Read More | Post Comment GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter

Franklin linksters sparkle ROCKY MOUNT -- Same top two, but with a twist -- that was the theme of last Wednesday's latest Big East Conference 18-hole golf match. Roanoke Rapids' Wyatt Beaver and Brayden Mills have gone one-two in league events this season to date, but Beaver, the defending Big East Individual Champion from 2023, has usually taken the medalist honors, with Mills finishing as the runner-up.   Read More | Post Comment GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter

Mudcats win on comeback ZEBULON - The Carolina Mudcats (13-3) found themselves needing another comeback on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium and once again, their offense delivered late. Trailing 2-0, the Mudcats scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to stun the Salem Red Sox (6-10) 4-2 in this week's series opener. Carolina improved to 4-0 on the season against the Red Sox.   Read More | Post Comment Staff Reports

2024 CROSSCREEK CHARTER SCHOOL FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL SQUAD On The Way Up LOUISBURG -- Two faces very familiar to the Franklin County sports scene are helping the fledgling Crosscreek Charter School softball program build into a powerhouse in the always-competitive Middle Athletic Conference. Taking on some of the top middle schools in the area, the Lady Hawks have flown to a strong 6-1 record to date, with their lone loss coming earlier this week to a tradition-rich Hawley Middle School club out of Creedmoor.   Read More | Post Comment GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter

NC State diamond program hosting special night for pups RALEIGH -- NC State baseball will be hosting its third-annual "Dogs at the Doak" promotion this year on April 30 at 5 p.m. Fans who are interested in bringing their dog must purchase a $30 Dogs at the Doak package that includes two human tickets, one doggo ticket and a special Pup Pack. Due to limited capacity, only 30 packages are available for this game and all tickets in the package will be seated on the grass hill.   Read More | Post Comment Staff Reports

Search warrants provide clarity in double murder LOUISBURG -- Search warrants reveal there was a cache of weapons inside a Franklinton home both times law enforcement responded to the residence -- the second time to make an arrest in a double homicide. Christian David Webster was charged with discharging a weapon inside the city and two counts of first degree murder in the separate incidents and is slated to appear in court on July 3 and October 23, respectively.   Read More | Post Comment CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

FRANKLIN FACE Nick Portanova, The Greatest   Read More | Post Comment

PATSY WILLIAMS MURPHY LOUISBURG, NC -- Patsy Williams Murphy, 74, of Louisburg passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 8, 2024 at her home. She was born in Spartanburg, SC, to the late Hubert and Geneva Carter Williams.   Read More | Post Comment

CHARLES TAYLOR PHELPS September 24, 1976 - April 15, 2024 LOUISBURG, NC -- Charles Taylor Phelps, 47, of Louisburg, went to his heavenly home on Monday, April 15, 2024 at his home.   Read More | Post Comment

CARL LEONARD 'LEN' WEST FRANKLINTON, NC -- Carl Leonard "Len" West, 66, passed away on April 22, 2024 at his home in Franklinton, NC. Len was born on May 8, 1957, in NC to the late Alton Tucker and Rebecca Owen West. In addition to his parents, Len was predeceased by a brother, Keith West.   Read More | Post Comment

REGINA FOWLER WEBB LOUISBURG, NC -- Memorial services for Regina Fowler Webb, age 70, who died Friday, April 12, 2024, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Brother Dwight Williams officiated.   Read More | Post Comment