Archives

LOUISBURG -- On the bright side, homes in Bunn, Louisburg and Franklinton continue to be among the least expensive options in the Raleigh metro area.
However, over the last five years, the cost of housing has risen by the some of the highest percentages in those communities.
By itself, Youngsville was listed as having the eighth most expensive housing options in the metro area at $402,984.
Raleigh was listed seventh, with a typical home value of $432,223.

LOUISBURG -- Six months into its reincarnation, advocates asserted that it's time for the county's animal services advisory board to roll out recommendations to improve animal welfare.
Going back to 2019, representatives from pet rescues and other members of the animal welfare community petitioned county commissioners to improve shelter services.

CONTROLLED FUN. Above, Bob Habercam shows off a speed boat.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's rescue community combined for a search and rescue mission that saved a 71-year-old woman.
Franklin County Emergency Communications received a call at 5:40 p.m. on Monday regarding a missing woman in the Franklinton area near Perry's Chapel Road.
She was found several hours later near a pond, covered nearly to her head in mud.

Joe Goodrow, Mark Speed and Scott Strickland at National Night Out

If anyone had doubt that it is summertime, the last several days should have easily removed those doubts -- and have sent a lot of us scrambling for a glass of something wet and cold!
It's been just plain hot and humid. Yep, just like it's supposed to be at this time of the year in North Carolina.
That may not have come as a surprise to us Tar Heels, but a good chunk of the rest of the country is dealing with summertime temperatures that are neither normal nor expected.

I'm certain that I'm not telling you something you don't already know: Animal welfare advocates are pretty passionate folks.
That was certainly on display on Monday night. (You can read about it on the front page of this edition).
As someone who has covered municipal and county governments for a living, I can tell you that in July and August, a governing board could vote to change their name to Whoville and not many people would know because those meetings are sparsely attended.

Dear editor: This letter is being written on behalf of our mother, Katherine Robbins of Bunn who was taken to Maria Parham Health Emergency Department in Louisburg on July 7, 2023, by Franklin County EMS because she had collapsed at home and broken bones in her right ankle. She passed away a week later July 14, 2023.

Dear editor: First, a bit of background and explanation regarding my off the charts amazement, disappointment, and confusion surrounding the county's "contract" with a South Carolina consultant regarding our "search" for a long-term water source.
By trade, I have been a consultant to local governments for 25 years.

FRANKLINTON, NC-- Annette Wood Hudson Carpenter, 69, of Franklinton, died at home July 30, 2023. She was born on September 30, 1953, to the late Howard and Lillian Williams Hudson.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Bobby B. Ragland, age 71, who died on Saturday, July 29, 2023, will be held 3 p.m., Friday, August 4, from the Jones Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg. Burial will follow in Jones Chapel Church Cemetery.

Spring Hope, NC--Catherine Jean Slugocke Steehler, 72, of the Justice Community, passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023. She was born on May 31, 1951, to the late John and Laurel McCloud Slugocke. In addition to her parents, Cathy was predeceased by her husband, Mallory Steehler.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Ernestine Leonard Levister, age 71, who died on Sunday, July 30, 2023, will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, August 6, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

Castalia, NC--Jeanette Smith Foster, 79, of the Red Bud Community, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 30, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. She was born on November 10, 1943, to the late Percy and Mozelle Leonard Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Leonard Foster; and brothers Harold Winston Smith and Phillip Michael Smith; and nephew Harold Winston Smith Jr.

CHARLOTTE, NC--Funeral services for Marjorie Williams Richardson, age 78, formerly of Louisburg, NC, who died on Monday, July 31, 2023, will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, August 5, from the St. John 3:16 Missionary Baptist Church in Rocky Mount with Pastor Kenneth Richardson Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC --Maurice Wayne Combs, 76, of Louisburg, died Friday, July 28, 2023 at his home in Lake Royale. He was born on July 15, 1947 to the late Fonza and Alice Bowling Combs. In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his sister, Bonnie Nutt.

Louisburg, NC--Ronald Joseph Dement, 71, of Louisburg, passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023. He was born on September 29, 1951, to the late Joe Perry Dement and Frances Finch Vassar. In addition to his parents, Ronnie was predeceased by his stepmother, Wilhelmina Dement; and brothers, Johnny Dement and Milton Alford.

RALEIGH, NC--Sarah Jeanette Frazier Andrews Dean, 93, of Raleigh passed away on July 29, 2023 at The Laurels of Forest Glen in Garner, NC. She was born on November 25, 1929 to the late Fred and Erma Wilder Frazier. In addition to her parents, Sarah is predeceased by her first husband Robert L. Andrews and her siblings Janice Gupton, Charlotte Bragg, Norman Frazier, Fred E. Frazier Jr., Troy Frazier, and James H. Frazier.

Franklinton, NC -- Funeral services for Tony "Red" Wright, age 56, who died on Thursday, July 27, 2023, will be held 1 p.m., Thursday, August 3, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Pastor Angela Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- The weather wasn't kind to the Town and Country Stingrays this summer -- but that didn't stop the program from enjoying a short-but-sweet campaign.
The Stingrays, with 62 roster members, took on other area swim clubs this summer, but several matches were called off due to storms and were unable to be rescheduled.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- It's become almost expected for an area coach to be named to work at the annual North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Boys Basketball Game.
But the feeling never gets old when that name is first seen on a press release from the NCCA.

LOUISBURG -- Mary Currin will take over as the new boys soccer coach at Louisburg High School as the Warriors look to make the successful switch this fall to the Northern Lakes Athletic Conference.
LHS spent the last two years in the Big East Conference, and struggled in 2022, failing to win a match in 19 tries.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Here is a list of the coaches selected to participate in the 2024 North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Games:

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Carolina Mudcats (19-12, 52-42) started the first game of the de facto doubleheader up 2-0 in the top of the second against Fayetteville (14-17, 44-53).
Luis Castillo gave the Mudcats a late lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Diamond Life Athletics is currently seeking baseball players to compete on its 12-Under Travel Team that is based in Franklinton.
The program is geared toward teaching proper baseball fundamentals, techniques, mental approaches and consistencies in all areas and levels of baseball.

A FEARSOME FOURSOME OF FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES THIS SUMMER FOR THE TOWN AND COUNTRY STINGRAYS BASED OUT OF LOUISBURG

The descendants of Albert Davis celebrated their 50th family reunion, during the weekend of July 7-9, 2023, in Rocky Mount. There were more than 170 celebrants, some of whom traveled from as far away as California to take part in the festivities. The weekend activities included a worship service, a Friday meet and greet social and a Saturday evening gala.

Kerr-Vance Academy in Henderson released their 2022-2023 school-year honor roll.

Franklin County Schools hosted its 2nd Annual "Frankies Awards" ceremony in June. This red-carpet dress-to-impress event was a raving success. The night's activities featured live music, performances by Ja'Maya Perry and Crystal Cofield-Davis, retirees, and of course, the Frankie winners.

Volunteer of the Year Kentrina Shannon, presented by by Shavonne Wilkins

Classified Employee of the Year David Ihrie, presented by Rep. Matthew Winslow

Principal of the Year Trenace Gilmore

Superintendent's Award Qunnley Coley, right, presented by Rhonda Schuhler

THE GATHERING. The Bunn Police Department and the Bunn Cert Lions hosted National Night Out, an opportunity for the community and first responder agencies to fellowship. Judy Fergerson and Roxie Cash hand out Bunn Cert Lions-donated bookbags to Troy Moser and Donna McIntyre.

Heily and Sofia Santiago grab themselves some hot dogs during the event.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- At its most recent meeting, county leaders chose a Raleigh-based civil engineering firm to guide a rails to trail project, connecting Franklinton to Novozymes ... and, potentially, beyond.
Franklinton and Franklin County procured $3 million in state funding to build a shared path pedestrian trail from the Franklinton Train Depot to Novozymes on Perry's Chapel Road.

LOUISBURG -- Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that sent two people to the hospital.
Louisburg police were dispatched to Maria Parham's emergency room the evening of July 28 after two people were brought there for gunshot wounds.
Police said the victims were Jamar David Cauthen, 30, of 56 Dykes Way, Kittrell and Alphonso Jermaine Kingsberry, 37 of 175 Bailey's Creek Drive, Kittrell.
Their injuries were not life-threatening.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Wake County man on statutory rape charges.
Deputies arrested David Manuel Lopez on July 24, charging the 25-year old with statutory rape of a child under the age of 15 and statutory sexual offense with a child under the age of 15.
Upon further investigation, an additional warrant for two counts of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15 were obtained.