Archives

LOUISBURG -- Early voting wraps up this weekend, leading into Tuesday's election day.
At press time, more than 3,400 people had cast a ballot during early voting.
The early voting period for the May 17 election runs through May 14.

COVID is still stalking Franklin County -- and health officials warn that the warning signs are "flashing yellow" as local cases increase.
"Flashing yellow" means that Franklin County is starting to trend toward higher community transmission, health officials said. Red is the most significant warning level and only Alamance County is still designated as red. Green is the lowest level of warning.

LOUISBURG -- County management plans to present the county's newest spending plan to commissioners and the public on Monday.
Earlier this month, County Finance Director Jamie Holtzman told commissioners that currently, the county's revenues are strong and its expenditures are in line with projections.
Even while pulling $6.4 million from savings to help balance this year's budget, the county's unassigned fund balance is $25.3 million.

SPRING CHICKENS. Franklin County's Department of Aging hosted its annual senior fun day, turning it into a Spring Day event this year. Above, Evelyn Manns and Veronica Mitchell wait to take a spin for prizes at the vendor table set up by United Healthcare.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A Youngsville man was charged with second degree murder for his role in a crash that killed a mom.
Franklin County Sheriff's Deputies served the warrant, arresting Salvador Sanchez Aguilar on May 7 -- nearly four months after the deadly accident that prompted the charges.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Plymouth couple accused of stealing from their mother.
An investigation by the Wilson County Department of Social Services and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office prompted them to level more than 70 charges of abuse and exploitation of an elder against Kimberly Gayle Carter, 53, and Robert Lavon Carter Jr., 51.

Robbin Strickland enjoying Senior Spring Day

From flying robots that mimic birds to roasted buzzards that interrupt electrical grids!
Tell me the 21st Century hasn't become a strange place.
It may come as a shock to many, especially those with bird feeders in the back yard and a pair of binoculars close by, that those flying things they believe are birds aren't really living things at all.

If you've ever cared to thumb through the minutes of a January 18, 1988 meeting of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, your life just got a little easier.
And, even before the county upgraded its website, analytics revealed that folks who visited site were interested in paying their taxes, paying their utility bill or checking to see what properties might be available through the Tax/GIS department or with the Register of Deeds.

Dear editor:
I'm no scientist but I think a simple solution to help mitigate some storm water runoff pollution is the following!
With all the trash along roadsides that includes paper, plastics, fast foods and drinks containers, bottles containing chemicals and oil and many more liquids plus many more trash items along our roadsides that becomes part of storm water runoff pollution issue.

Dear editor: Since the abortion debate is contentious, the following is a quote from Mad Magazine in the 1970s:
"Only the people who are already born support abortion."

MACON, NC-- David Lewis Thompson, 50, of Macon died May 3, 2022 at his home. He was born on May 29, 1971, the son of Franklin Herbert Thompson, Jr. and the late Rebecca Arlene Newman Thompson.

FRANKLINTON, NC-- Grady Lee Peace, 73, of Franklinton passed away Saturday, May 7, 2022. He was born December 23, 1948 in Granville County, NC to the late Lee Warren Peace and Virginia Dare Watson Peace. His son, Robert Lee Peace also preceded him in death.

LOUISBURG, NC-- Herbert Landis Preddy, 92 of Louisburg passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022 at his residence. He was born in Granville County son of the late Lessie Hicks Preddy and George Herbert Preddy.

Louisburg, NC--Graveside services for Jackie Thomas, age 53, who died on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, will be 1 p.m., Sunday, May 15 from the Haywood Baptist Church Cemetery in Louisburg with Apostle Randy Green officiating.

RALEIGH, NC-- James Arthur "Pete" Williams, 85, of Raleigh went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 7, 2022. He was born in Vance County on August 3, 1936 to the late James Henry and Lucy Elizabeth Calette Williams. In addition to his parents, Pete was predeceased by his son, Jimmy Williams; and sisters, Mattie Tart and Patsy Waite.

Mary Jane "Janie" Mustian, 73, died Tuesday, May 3, 2022. She was born on April 7, 1949 in Huntsville, Alabama, to the late James and Marion Jean Route Tucker. In addition to her parents, Janie is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, William Lewis "Bill" Mustian.

LOUISBURG, NC-- Shirley Daisy Fish Allison, 85, of Louisburg went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 6, 2022. She was born on June 26, 1936 to the late Loyd Vernon and Daisy Coward Fish. In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, Jerry Jasper Allison; her stepmother, Lura Fish; a grandson, Jonathan Lassiter, sisters, Sarah Price and Kathleen McKinnon; and brothers, Floyd Fish and W.H. Case.

CASTALIA, NC-- Staley Leonard, 97, of Castalia and the Red Bud community, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. He was born on January 26, 1925 in Franklin County, to the late Bennie and Eva Andrews Leonard. In addition to his parents, Staley was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Corinne Leonard; and his siblings, Mozelle Smith, Wilton Leonard, Daphine Murphy, J.B. Leonard, Kelly Murray, Alfred Leonard and Malcolm Leonard.

LOUISBURG -- When she arrived at Louisburg College two years ago, Carrigan Ewers' plan was simple -- play well enough on the softball diamond to earn a scholarship opportunity at a Division I school.
Mission accomplished -- and so much more.

LOUISBURG - Given her ultra-competitive nature, it had to be somewhat difficult for Chelsea Roberson to witness Louisburg College's historic 2021 softball run first hand -- even though she had the best seat in the house.
Certainly, Roberson was thrilled for her teammates as she has always been a team-first player, going back to her days as a four-year star at Louisburg High School.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Spencer Edwards made the most of his senior boys golf season at Nash Central -- and his only one in the Big East Conference.
Edwards and his Nash Central teammates had previously competed in the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference, but were reclassified into the split 2/3-A Big East before the 2021-22 calendar year.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Just because a player's name isn't called during the National Football League Draft doesn't mean that the dream is over.
The NFL world is loaded with undrafted free agents who signed with teams immediately after the end of the draft process -- and were given a chance to make the roster.

Chelsea Roberson has been a stalwart behind the plate this spring for the Louisburg College softball squad under the direction of veteran head coach Eric Lee.

Louisburg College sophomore catcher Chelsea Roberson sends a deep fly ball toward the outfield during a recent Region X softball matchup against Florence-Darlington at historic Sheilah R. Cotten Field.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College is set to host graduation festivities next Saturday.
In-person commencement activities are set to take place May 21, with a baccalaureate ceremony taking place the night before.
Both ceremonies commemorate the effort and perseverance of the newest graduation class, said College spokesperson Kat Fink.

LOUISBURG -- The United Way of Franklin County is set to host its annual Day of Caring.
This year, volunteers and sponsors are working to spruce of the Safe Space Thrift Store at 304 E. Nash Street.
From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., volunteers will paint, build shelves, clean and organize the store.

LOUISBURG -- In the next few weeks, contractors are expected to begin paving the northbound lanes of an expanded U.S. 401.
However, manpower issues and materials delays are expected to push back the opening of the four-lane highway to motorists from late summer to early fall, engineers said.

LOUISBURG -- Attorneys for the former clerk of superior court noted they will appeal a decision that disqualifies her from holding office again.
Immediately, attorneys for Patricia Chastain want the courts to push pause on the judge's decision until a ruling on the appeal takes place.
On April 5, Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Lock entered an order that permanently disqualified Chastain from holding the office ever again.

LOUISBURG -- A dozen Franklin County residents plan to continue their legal fight challenging Louisburg's decision to move a Confederate statue.
In June 2020, the Louisburg Town Council made a split vote to move the statue from Main Street, ultimately, to Oakwood Cemetery off Bickett Boulevard.