Recent Articles

HOLLISTER -- Funeral services for Florine "Red" Boone Silver, age 82, who died Sunday, October 25, 2026, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 7, 2026 from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister with Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Silver Hill Family Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Horace Clifton "Cliff" Edwards, 77, of Louisburg, NC, passed away on October 27, 2026. He was born Christmas Day, 1948.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Graveside services for Patricia E. Baker, age 77, who died on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2026 from the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Louisburg, NC.

The 440th Army Band and the Louisburg Magnet High School will be in concert on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., at the Jones Performing Arts Center on the Louisburg College campus. Joseph B. Cutchins will also perform. A meal will be provided by the Justice Volunteer Fire Department. Call 919-496-1939 to RSVP by Oct. 30.

LOUISBURG -- The State Bureau of Investigation arrested a former Franklin County sheriff's office employee more than two years after she was terminated.
Agent J. Whisnant with the State Bureau of Investigation charged Lashaunda Genelle Jones with obtaining property by false pretense on Oct. 27.
According to the arrest warrant, Jones is alleged to have used a pre-loaded debit card intended for an inmate and used it, herself. The arrest document does not indicate the amount.

LAKE ROYALE -- The River Golf Club is organizing a Veterans Day golf tournament and dinner honoring Major Joe Balogh, a 105-year-old World War II Army Air Corps veteran who flew C-46s over the Hump.
Net proceeds will benefit Patriot Foundation scholarships for disabled veterans and the families of fallen or disabled veterans.
The tournament will begin at 11 a.m. -- the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -- linking the event to the Armistice that ended World War I and gave rise to the observance now known as Veterans Day.

FRANKLINTON -- Three suspects in three murder cases are slated to appear in court next week.
A relative of two of the victims called upon town officials and leaders to help repair the community.
Even though Rasheka Crudup, Stephone Perry and Keith Sneed were not killed within town limits, boundary lines don't matter when it comes to the the hurt.
"My spirit, it is disturbed," Annette Young said during the board's Oct. 20 meeting. "And, my heart is broken as we laid to rest, today, my cousin, Mrs. Rasheka Danielle Crudup.

LOUISBURG -- "Growing Pains" may once have been a funny sitcom on television but there wasn't much funny about the growing pains the Louisburg town council focused on during a Tuesday afternoon work session.
Town department heads were given a chance to explain their issues to the council -- and virtually all were caused by growth pressures.
As Mayor Christopher Neal pointed out, "these issues have not been in the forefront ... they did not rise to that level."

LOUISBURG -- There's a special satisfaction when sweat equity is rewarded by vegetables sprouting from the soil.
It's an even better feeling when that produce feeds those in need around Franklin County.
It was about six months ago that the Rev. Lenwood Long Jr. turned that vision into a reality, literally and figuratively planting the seeds for Franklin Roots Community Garden -- a mission-driven effort to address food insecurity, promote healthy living and create opportunities for education, fellowship, and service across Franklin County.

RALEIGH -- Two Franklin County residents who have dedicated a lifetime to agriculture and the equine industry were essentially made immortal.
Heather Boodey, horse trainer, instructor and owner of Ingleside Farm in Franklinton, and Cooperative Extension Agent and lifetime farmer Martha Mobley joined 189 others who have been inducted into the NC State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.
Since 1980, the State Fair has recognized nearly 200 folks in the beef and dairy business, the horse industry, those who raise sheep and goats, and contributors to agriculture for their impact on the State Fair.

NC State senior Amelia Habeeb, of Youngsville, received the J.I. & Nancy Smith Endowment Scholarship at the State Fair

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklin County communities are set to celebrate Halloween.
• Youngsville and downtown businesses are set to host Trick or Treat Main Street on Friday, Oct. 30.
Trick-or-treating will take place from 4-6 p.m. along Main Street, from College Street to Youngsville Baptist Church.
A haunted house will be set up inside the Youngsville Community House from 4-7 p.m.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police arrested a Franklinton man they allege led authorities on a high speed chase.
Eduardo Martinez-Munoz was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with fleeing to elude arrest, speeding, reckless driving with wanton disregard, reckless driving to endanger, failure to stop at a red light, unsafe passing on a yellow line, failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to use his headlights.
According to the arrest report, Martinez-Munoz was doing 100 mph in a 45 mph zone while attempting to elude Officer L. Richardson.

FRANKLINTON -- The Franklinton Area Community Theatre is set to put on its fall performance: Willy Wonka.
Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy.
The play will be performed in the auditorium of Franklinton High School, 910 Cedar Creek Road.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners agreed to rezone a property along U.S. 1 with an eye toward making sure the development better coincides with nearby residential development.
Raleigh developer Bob Polanco initially wanted to rezone the nearly four acre property from Highway Commercial to Light Industrial, Town Manager Zach Steffey told town commissioners during the board's Oct. 20 meeting.

I wish what you are about to read was an original idea.
It's not.
But I'm hoping that those whose idea I'm about to steal will view taking their idea and modifying it as a compliment to their genius.
Here's the idea -- and it involves trying to get U.S. 401 upgraded between Royal and Louisburg before anyone else gets killed along that dangerous, over-utilized and completely outdated highway that has already claimed about 22 human lives.

If you've been around this column before, then you know I like to point out opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community.
I think it all started a couple years ago when I thought about more ways to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Each January, communities come together to remember his life and his dream of racial equality, justice and brotherhood.
I've always thought days of action in the community were the logical next step in that celebration.
As such, I try to point out opportunities for folks to get involved in their community and help their fellow man.

What helps students thrive at Franklin County Schools? Beyond classrooms, textbooks and academic programs, the answer often begins with something simple but powerful: relationships.
At Franklin County Schools (FCS), student success is about more than what happens during a lesson. It is about the teachers who know their students, the staff who encourage them, the friendships that create a sense of belonging and the connections that make school feel like a community.
Every day, FCS educators and staff play an important role in helping students discover their strengths, build confidence and reach their potential.

Dear editor: Gary Cunard's recent column makes one point I doubt many people would disagree with. Data centers are an important part of our modern world. We depend on them for banking, healthcare, entertainment, and countless other services.
However, that's not the debate we should be having in Louisburg.

Dear editor: When voting, one excellent method for deciding who to vote for is the five-F test. Using the five-F test, you vote for the candidate who would do the least damage to your: 1) faith; 2) family; 3) finances; 4) freedom and 5) future.
Furthermore, if you find all the candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House obnoxious and not worthy of your vote, please do not let that deter you from voting for state and county offices.

FRANKLINTON -- Novonesis has established a scholarship for Vance-Granville Community College students looking for access into biotechnology.
Alongside the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Novonesis helped establish the BioWork program more than two decades at VGCC, creating a certificate pathway into process technician careers.
Recently, Novonesis provided $5,000 to The VGCC Foundation to establish scholarships for students enrolled in the BioWork program.
The scholarships will help cover the cost of tuition and books.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg police arrested a McLeansville man on a series of drug charges.
Nicholas Alexander Taylor, 31, was arrested on Oct. 26 and charged with two counts of trafficking methamphetamine. Police allege Taylor possessed 210 grams of the drug.
Taylor was also charged with felony possession of heroin, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, fictitious registration, driving with no registration and having no liability insurance.

Rocky Mount, NC -- Funeral services for Gloria D. Richardson, age 65, who died on Saturday, October 24, 2026, will be held on Tuesday, November 3, at 1 p.m. from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister with Rev. Kenneth B. Richardson, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.