Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- When the state dinged the county when the animal shelter illegally euthanized a dog, management fired the director and two other administrators.
They installed former sheriff Jerry Jones in September as the interim director, believing in his leadership and love for animals.
While Jones has done a considerable job to improve the shelter's culture, animal advocate Krista Duncan said he doesn't bring the one thing the shelter needs right now -- experience.

These Franklin County students were named to the Dean's List at North Carolina State University for the fall semester:
David Richard Oros, Alana Sofia Bengoa, Christian Joseph DiLorenzo, Zachary Thomas Lawson, Galen Day (Perfect 4.0 average), Caitlyn Ann Williams, (Perfect 4.0), Bethany Renee Lee (Perfect 4.0), Jarrett Parker Southall, Joshua Hering Glasheen, Isaac Elias Watkins, (Perfect 4.0), Victoria Gray Phillips, (Perfect 4.0), Hope Olivia Latta, Enya Leigh Jones (Perfect 4.0), Cameron James Middleton, (Perfect 4.0), Alexander Charles Kowalewski, Jacob Tyler Jones.

Pruning is the removal of plant parts to improve form and growth of plants. The reasons for pruning include: training, maintaining health, improving quality and controlling growth.
The first pruning of young trees and shrubs always consists of removing broken, crossing, and weak-structured branches.
Trees with a central leader (excurrent form), such as cedar, sweet gum, or pin oak, may need little or no pruning except to eliminate branches competing with the central leader.

BUNN -- In an effort to smooth out their plans for a basketball court and a combination tennis/pickleball court, town officials agreed to bring another surfacing contractor.
In the spring of 2024, the United Way of Franklin County pledge to provide leaders in Bunn, Franklinton and Louisburg with $35,000 each to build a basketball court in those communities.

Br-r-r-r, it's c-c-c-old outside.
Of course, it's also mid-January and, lest we forget, it's supposed to be cold out there.
That doesn't mean we all have to like it -- it just means that it's cold and we have to endure until spring makes its much anticipated arrival in several weeks.
In the meantime, just bundle up, stay warm and try to stay healthy because, here lately, the biggest threat from winter is the epidemic of viral diseases that seem to be everywhere and affecting almost everyone.

So, before I offer a well-intentioned critique, let me first give some flowers.
For nearly 20 years, members of the Franklinton MLK Jr. Committee, along with members of First Baptist Church, have hosted a service to honor the life and legacy of slain civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
And, for longer than that, REEP, the acronym for a grassroots organization that stands for Recreation Education Economics and Politics and/or the Franklin County NAACP, along with St. Paul Presbyterian Church have hosted an MLK service in Louisburg.

Dear editor: Six Flags over Georgia and Underground Atlanta were primary destinations for our vacation in August of 1973.
After thoroughly enjoying Six Flags, we went to Atlanta but discovered Underground Atlanta was closed for renovations.
The Georgia State Capitol building was nearby and we entered the building around 5 p.m. on Friday.

Dear editor: I have lived in this county many years and served seven years as the county's Chief Public Health Officer.
Over the years, I have seen a marked decline in health services in the county, either by bad happenstance, or design.
We have lost Mental Health Services, a hospital, the opportunity to have ECU partner w/Vance Granville Community College to place a dental training program/clinic, and, Wake Med to place a satellite in Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- Two Louisburg women were arrested for stealing from Walmart.
A further investigation revealed evidence that one of the suspects pulled the same theft a day earlier. Summer Masters, 45, and Holly Fryett, 40, were both charged with misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods for an incident reported on Jan. 10.
Fryett was additionally charged with misdemeanor larceny for an incident that happened on Jan. 9. Both incidents took place at Walmart.

RALEIGH -- A stalwart supporter of Franklin County's Special Olympians was honored for her dedication -- earning Special Olympics North Carolina's Volunteer of the Year award.
Danielle Dietz has been a coach with Franklin County Special Olympics for more than a decade -- coaching scores of athletes to achievement on and off the field.
"We are beyond proud of one of our own ...," said Franklin County Special Olympics Coach Mary Mendoza.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Decarrus "Dee Dee" Jones, age 44, who died on Thursday, January 16, 2025, will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, January 25, from the Old Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Michael Alston officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Franklinton.

DURHAM, NC -- Larry D. Perry, age 66, the son of the late Clem and Elsie Green Perry of Franklin County, was born on June 24, 1958. He died January 10, 2025.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Jimmy Lloyd Bowers, 73, of Franklinton, died at home on Friday afternoon, January 17, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Lucy Anderson, age 66, who died on Friday, January 17, 2025, will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, January 27, 2025 from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Gwen Starr officiating. Burial will follow in the Jones Chapel Church Cemetery.

Whitakers, NC -- Funeral services for Charlie Lewis Mills, Sr., age 81, who died on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, will be held 2 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2025 from the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Al Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in the Trinity Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Johnny Albert McGhee, 86, of Louisburg, passed away on Friday morning, January 17, 2025, at Duke Hospital. He is preceded in death by his mother, Faustina McGhee Lester.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jean Gordon, 83, on January 8, 2025.

Jean was the daughter of the late Emma and "JC" (Jim Collie) Phelps of Franklinton, North Carolina. She is preceded in death by her husband Bob Gordon and brothers, Howard Neal Phelps of Augusta, Georgia; Charles Phelps of Franklinton, North Carolina and Jimmy Phelps of Franklinton, North Carolina.

If you have an interest in Franklin County Schools because you have a child or children enrolled or just because you're a taxpayer and want to learn more about how the schools operate, there is a special meeting slated for February that might be enlightening.
The schools are holding a "State of the District" at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Franklinton High School to highlight progress with their strategic plan goals but also showcase students, staff and "the great work taking place in our schools as we prepare for life beyond the classroom," said Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuhler.

LOUISBURG -- The State Department of Transportation is set to release its latest 10-year plan for road projects.
During the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Jan. 6 meeting, Gary Faulkner, a retired State Department of Transportation engineer, and member of the U.S. 401 Citizens Action Committee that pushed the first phase of U.S. 401 improvements, said he was troubled by conversations he had with DOT staff a month or so, ago about Section D of the roadway.

Mother Nature delivered Franklin County a small taste of winter of the last few days, a bit of snow and a light covering of ice, just enough to close and delay schools, close the county convenience centers and cause other inconveniences. Fortunately, neither the snow nor the ice were enough to cause major problems and warming temperatures quickly "cured" those woes.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education spent a long time debating a new cell phone policy for students during a routine meeting that also saw the district get a great audit report, save big money on a heating and air conditioning system and purchase nearly 1,200 computers for students.
Like school districts across the state, local school administrators and the board are wrestling with a policy on cell phones and other electronic communication devices but has yet to reach full agreement.

BUNN -- The town's planning board has recommended restrictions that better regulate electronic gaming operations, specifically Internet sweepstakes cafes.
Currently, the town's zoning ordinance allows such operations as a permitted use within the town's C-1 Downtown Commercial District, and can be approved at the staff level.
The town's planning staff has proposed requiring that new establishments obtain a special use permit -- which includes operation restrictions, a public hearing and approval from town officials.

LOUISBURG -- The Town Economic Development Committee got the new year off to a robust start last week, making strong recommendations about three major issues that are facing the town.
The panel, formed late last year to offer the town council ideas and suggestions on ways to improve the town's economic climate, had recommendations on closing West Johnson Street, on developing more greenways and opening up the Tar River area and for trying to preserve the historic Person Place.