Recent Articles

LOUISBURG, NC -- Rochelle Murray Harris, 85, of Louisburg passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. She was born on June 7, 1940 to the late Walter and Estelle Cyrus Murray in Franklin County, North Carolina.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Evelyn Louise Rivera, 67, of Franklinton, affectionately known as "Ann," was born in Southampton, New York, on Feb. 23, 1958, to Booker T. Laird and the late Lou Gertie Epps.

Dear editor:

Public School Strong is a national nonpartisan campaign dedicated to ensuring equitable access to quality public education for all students, irrespective of their socioeconomic background, race, gender, or ethnicity.

Dear editor:

This letter is a response to Robert Strickland's letter in the Oct. 23, 2025 edition of The Franklin Times.

His letter displays more prejudice toward evangelicals than evangelicals show toward brown people. Moreover, his letter speaks of love, yet it shows more hatred toward evangelicals and Trump than either shows toward brown people and foreigners.

Dear editor:

Pity the nation whose leaders are liars.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero.

My country, tears of thee.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Those lines are not the complete poem. They are an excerpt, but they accurately represent the message the rest of the poem conveys. You can probably guess the title, if you'd like to look it up.

Dear editor:

At Monday night's meeting, Franklin County Commissioner Mark Speed did something simple but powerful: he introduced a resolution to end "small session" meetings, those behind-closed-doors gatherings of three or fewer commissioners where decisions can quietly take shape before the public ever hears a word.

One of the toughest things for any reporter, particularly in a small place, is trying to find stories in community where people don't seem to care ... about anything.

What I can say about my 20-plus years of getting to know the people of Franklin County is that people here care ... a lot.

After checking around Franklin County carefully, I'm pretty sure that all the ghosts, goblins and the other creatures of the night have retreated -- probably resting up so they can reappear late in October, 2026.

Fortunately, the weather turned out just about perfectly for Halloween hauntings this year and the kids seemed to be having a ball "scaring" all the adults while collecting buckets of candy.

Ah-h, to be a kid again. . .

PETER PAN JR. IS COMING! The Franklinton Area Community Theatre is putting on a production of Peter Pan Jr. starting Nov. 13. The shows, which feature performances and production by FACT members, will take place at the Franklinton High School Auditorium, 910 Cedar Creek Road.

FRANKLINTON -- A Franklinton man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck on Halloween.

The State Highway Patrol confirmed and, according to a report by Trooper J.M. Parra, Benito Nolasco was stopped at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Main Street south of Franklinton just before 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 when he attempted to make a left turn onto the highway.

LOUISBURG -- An Alert man didn't admit guilt, but entered a plea that resolves a sexual assault case that prosecutors said dates back a decade.

In Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday, Perry Wheless Moseley entered an Alford plea to three counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment that prosecutors likely have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

FRANKLINTON -- Sheriff Kevin White has been granted more time to respond to a lawsuit filed by the county's former manager.

Raleigh attorney J. Heydt Philbeck filed a lawsuit on Oct. 7 in Franklin County Civil Superior Court, alleging that White defamed Denton in a political power move that cost the manager her job a year ago.

On. Oct. 29, White's legal representative, Louisburg attorney Boyd Sturges filed a motion and was granted an additional 30 days to respond to the complaint.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County management filled two outstanding leadership positions.

County Manager Ryan Preble announced Jason Rogers as the county's new planning and inspections director -- filling a post vacated by Scott Hammberbacher when he was elevated to assistant county manager in April.

And, Jerry Jones was made the permanent director of Animal Services -- a post he had filled on an interim basis since September 2024 -- filling the position made vacant by Lynn Bowling's termination a month before.

LOUISBURG -- In what could be a record turnout for Bunn, Mayor Marsha Strawbridge withstood a strong challenge from political newcomer Troy Shaw to retain her seat.

Voters still selected some new and old faces in Bunn, Franklinton, Louisburg, Youngsville and Wake Forest.

Strawbridge secured 51.8 percent of the vote -- 72 tallies -- to Shaw's 67 votes. The results are unofficial until canvassing on Nov. 14.

"I'm looking forward to the next four years," Strawbridge said. "And, I appreciate the voter turnout."

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to continue mini meeting practices they say make county government more nimble and efficient, but critics say keep the public in the dark.

During the public comments portion of the board's October meeting, resident Dan Tingen asked commissioners to stop its practice of discussing county business in private, away from the public, during small group sessions that don't constitute a quorum and are thus permitted under the state's open meetings regulations.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Wilma Lucia Tharrington, 87, of Louisburg, died Sunday morning, November 2, 2025.

Washington, DC -- The family of William Beacher "Sam" Wilson, age 90, formerly of Louisburg, NC, will receive friends on Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Wilson Family Cemetery on Perdues Road in Louisburg.

Louisburg, NC -- Mary Helen Bradley O'Neal, 80, of Louisburg, went home to be with the Lord Saturday morning, November 1, 2025, after a brave battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Louisburg, NC -- Bobby Ray Tharrington, 74, of Louisburg, North Carolina went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 31st, 2025