Recent Articles

Deputy Devin Girardot and Angelica Peña Morales check out a top shelf for just the right gift.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School senior Akiah McMillan made huge strides -- literally -- in Big East Conference girls cross country action during the 2020 campaign.
McMillan rose up to fourth place overall at the annual Big East Championships, which were held recently at Gillette Park in Wilson.

FRANKLINTON - During its previous three seasons in the Big East Conference, the Franklinton Lady Rams have won or shared the league's regular season championship in each of the campaigns.
But that streak appears to be ending in 2020-21 as the Lady Rams have been hindered by lack of practices, a two-week layoff and an inability to find adequate practice time to integrate new players into varsity rotational vacancies.

Franklinton High School's McKenzie Hill (left) delivers a back-row kill for the Lady Rams during last week's road Big East Conference volleyball contest against the homestanding Wilson Hunt Lady Warriors.

Franklinton High School sophomore standout De'Nyla Harlan (right) elevates for a kill during last week's road Big East Conference volleyball meeting with rival Wilson Hunt.

Franklinton High School's Mikayla Tabron (right) goes up for a kill during last week's showdown against Wilson Hunt.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Northern Carolina Conference's 2021 softball schedule will open with a huge rivalry game as Bunn will travel to Louisburg on March 16.
The slate was recently released by NCC hierarchy but is subject to change due to COVID concerns.
The regular season will run from March 1 through April 29 and will be followed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Playoffs.

RALEIGH -- Franklin County native Ricky Person Jr. earned an honor during the recent North Carolina State University Football Team Awards Ceremony.
Person, a junior running back, received the Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award (Comeback From Injury) for the 2020 campaign.
Person's 2019 season had been limited by an ankle injury, but he came back strongly this fall while helping the Wolfpack achieve a quality 8-3 overall record under the direction of veteran head coach Dave Doeren.

OTTAWA, CANADA -- The Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League have made their first few moves of the off-season, signing defensive back Jonathan Alston from Bunn High School, wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo, quarterback Caleb Evans, linebacker Dimitri Holloway, running back Detrez Newsome, linebacker Jawuan Johnson, defensive back Marcus Lewis, and offensive lineman Benjamin Petrie.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The 2021 Northern Carolina Conference Boys Soccer season will begin on January 25 and will run through March 10.
The campaign will open with a contest between Bunn and homestanding Louisburg in NCC action at historic Patterson Field on the LHS campus.
NCC squads will be hoping to gain a spot in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's State Playoffs, which are scheduled for March 16-27.

FRANKLINTON -- Management stayed inhouse, choosing its newest chief of police.
Town Manager Gregory Bethea introduced James Davis as such during the board's Dec. 15 meeting.
"He has been a strong leader for this department," Bethea said. "He has used his considerable personal skills to gain the support of his employees, coworkers, the Sheriff and others in the community."

The calendar indicates that it's Christmas Eve -- but it certainly doesn't seem like it this year.
Yes, we've had a little chilly weather and, granted, winter slipped in the back door earlier this week so that chill -- and likely something worse -- will be with us for several more weeks.
But Christmas spirit? Not really. Not so much this year.

Bunn's recent bout with buzzards, or vultures, if you're fancy, had me thinking about a well-worn late night television talk show joke -- but this isn't really funny.
Essentially, a host and -- more than likely, their joke-writing or content creation team -- streams together a cluster of news footage where the anchors all read the same news bits -- verbatim.
Played together, it certainly sounds like a swarm of clones being unleashed on the information seeking world.

LOUISBURG-- John "Sonny" W. Day, 71, of Louisburg died at his home, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. At Sonny's request, there will be no services held.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Ernest Ray "Mickey" Finn, 75, passed away on Dec. 21, 2020. Mickey was born on February 13, 1945 to the late Luther Watkins Sr. and Sallie Chappell Finn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Luther Watkins Finn , Jr.

FRANKLINTON--James Roy Lawrence (Jack Rabbit), 69, who was born Feb. 23, 1951 in Granville County, to the late Graham Lawrence and Gladys Lawrence Little, died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 at WakeMed Health & Hospitals of Raleigh. Service will be Saturday, Dec. 26, at 1 p.m. at Greater New Life Ministries, with Elder Wayne Bell serving as eulogist. Interment will follow in the Manasseh Chapel Baptist Church cemetery.

FRANKLINTON--Oscar William Harris Jr., (Dilly), 58, who was born February 17, 1962 to the late Oscar William Harris, Sr. and Ophelia Hawkins Harris in Franklin County, died on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. A graveside service will be held Thursday, Dec. 24, at 1 p.m. at Kinches Chapel Christian Church, with Elder Larry Harris serving as eulogist.

LOUISBURG-Elwood Lynn Hight, Jr., 69, of Louisburg, passed away in Raleigh, on December 19, 2020. He was born December 23, 1950 in Wake County, a son of the late Elwood L. Hight, Sr. and Alice (Phelps) Hight.

LOUISBURG--John Timothy Moore, 63, of Louisburg died Friday, December 18, 2020.

LOUISBURG - Robert Vernon Keith, 77, died Thursday, December 17, 2020 at his home. He was born in Franklin County, a son of the late Bruce and Ruby Harper Keith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Perry Keith, and a sister, Pam O'Neal. Vernon was a retired farmer.

FRANKLINTON -- Lewis Gene Puett Sr., 82 of Franklinton passed on Monday, December 14, 2020 at his residence. Lewis was born September 5, 1938 in Avery County, to the late Fred and Mary (Crump) Puett.

CASTALIA -- Virtual Memorial for Matthew Rochelle Batchelor, age 83, who died on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 2 p.m. Virtual link information provided by the family.

CASTALIA -- Funeral services for Ruthie Mae Harrison, age 80, who died on Sunday, December 13, 2020, will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020 at 1 p.m. from the East End Missionary Baptist Church in Rocky Mt., NC.

Funeral services for Shirley M. Chavis, age 79, who died on Monday, December 14, 2020, will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. William Eli Ratcliff officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Garden, Inc. Cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- Former clerk of court Patricia Chastain continues moving ahead with her appeal, but legal counsel for the attorney who petitioned for her ouster want to make sure they're not left out of the process.
Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Lock removed Chastain from her post on Oct. 16 following a three-day hearing to determine her fitness to remain on the job.