Recent Articles

Dear editor:
Recently North Carolina Public Schools Superintendent, Catherine Truitt and North Carolina Senator Lisa Barnes visited Long Mill Elementary School, as they should.
One particular quote from Lisa Barnes caught my attention; "The NC General Assembly allocates over 60 percent of its budget to education," Barnes said.
"It is critical that we know not only that taxpayer money is being used wisely, but that these programs are making a difference ..."

Dear editor:
I am disturbed by how easily someone would call a neighbor a Nazi. This country has thousands of men and women who served in Europe and saw the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis.
I would really have to have indisputable evidence that an individual engaged in the genocide brought on by the Nazi party to bring such a charge.

BUNN -- Back in the day, Bunn and Warren County were huge boys basketball rivals -- and even met in the Class 2-A State Semifinals 20 years ago.
During those intense outings, the difference-making matchup inevitably was Bunn's backcourt stars against Warren County's size advantage.
Some things never change, even though the schools are no longer in the same conference.

BUNN -- Victories haven't come bountifully or easily this season for the Bunn Ladycats, so every one needs to be appreciated.
Such was the case last Wednesday as the Ladycats stepped out of Big East Conference action and secured a 32-19 triumph over the Warren County Lady Eagles in basketball action at the historic Bunn Dome.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- It's beginning to look like this Friday's matchup between Northern Nash and homestanding Roanoke Rapids will determined the boys regular season champion in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
The clubs are tied atop the race with one league setback to date -- and the closest team behind them (Bunn) has three losses heading into the final two weeks of the campaign.

BUNN -- Host Bunn took a huge step toward its third straight state dual championship appearance with a pair of victories last Saturday in the first and second rounds of the Class 2-A State Dual Team Playoffs at the Bunn Dome.
The talent-laden Wildcats knocked off West Craven 55-15 in the opening round before finishing off the successful day with a 48-33 conquest over South Lenoir.

LOUISBURG -- To a nearly full meeting hall, county staff presented a calendar outlining the steps and dates by which department heads and officials will hash out and approve the 2024-25 budget.
The Jan. 25 budget forum, though, did not provide any funding specifics on the spending plan from finance staff, nor did it elicit any direction or comments from county commissioners.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has hired a new economic development specialist.
Alyssa Blair will begin her duties on Monday.
"I am thrilled to join a strong, developing team and to not only work alongside dedicated individuals but to also serve the Franklin County community," Blair said.
Blair comes to Franklin County having served Oxford in multiple capacities over the last four and a half years.

Franklinton, NC--Harold Lamar Williams Jr., 50, of Franklinton, North Carolina, passed away on January 19, 2024.

Henderson, NC--Funeral services for Anthony Bernard Solomon, age 56, who died on Monday, January 29, 2024, will be held on Friday, February 2, at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend, Adrian Davis officiating.

Franklinton, NC--Funeral services for Elvira Mangrum, age 68, who died on Thursday, January 25, 2024, will be held on Saturday, February 3, at 11 a.m. from the Greater Ransom Way of the Cross Temple in Henderson with the Pastor, Bishop Michael R. Alston Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Greater Ransom Way of the Cross Church Cemetery.

Joseph Wilbur Wood, 87, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at his home. He was born on July 23, 1936 to the late John Marvin Wood and Virginia Perry Wood in Wake County, NC.

Members of Franklinton Elementary School's choir carried the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration banner from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to First Baptist Church as part of the community's 18th celebration of the slain civil rights leader. The choir later performed two songs at the service inside the church.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg Town Administrator Sean Medlin has been charged with doing an in-depth study about creating a "white flag" shelter following a split vote of the town council Monday night.
A white flag shelter is a place where people can find shelter during times of extreme weather -- usually bitter cold or extreme heat -- which can be life-threatening.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A woman that officers allege ran a kennel that put dogs' lives in danger is slated to appear in court next month.
Animal Services Officer Joseph Williams charged Anne Marie Green, 31, misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
According to the case file, Green is alleged to have tormented and deprived of necessary sustenance more than 20 dogs at her Green Meadow Kennels -- which was apparently being operated out of her Tarboro Road home.

YOUNGSVILLE -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Pruitt visited Long Mill Elementary School last week and got a lesson in what makes the school special.
"Thanks for allowing us to see your authentic selves," Truitt told Principal Pachette Dunn, Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler and a group of teachers who took part in an open-ended panel discussion following the tour on Thursday morning.

BUNN -- Against the wishes of Franklin County leadership, Bunn's planning board recommended an action that would essentially keep telecommunication towers out of downtown.
In alignment with the town's vision statement, Town Planner Frank Frazier presented the planning and zoning board with language that would prevent towers from being permitted in the C-2 and C-3 districts -- the only zoning districts downtown where towers could be built with the aid of a special use permit.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners amended how it regulates food trucks, hoping to reach a compromise between brick and mortar investors and temporary operations.
Before the Jan. 16 meeting, there were no limits to the number of days that a property owner could have a food truck set up for operation on their property within the downtown business district.

Above, Long Mill Elementary School Pre-K teacher Carrie Diaz, right, goes over literacy drills with students while State Superintendent for Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, seated, left, enjoys the lesson.

LET THE MUSIC BEGIN. This year's winner of a Christmas violin was Emmy Whitmore of Raleigh. Her friend Jacob DeBlois, also of Raleigh, wrote the winning essay on her behalf. The Christmas violin is given away annually by Louisburg craftsman Mike Anderson who has been exhibiting his skills in the Village of Yesteryear at the North Carolina State Fair for the last eight years and that's where the trio met.

By the time you read this -- and making the assumption that the weather prognosticators are even partially correct -- you'll have ample proof that indeed we do live in North Carolina.
As this column was being started, the temperature was hovering in the low 20-degree range and by the time you read this, it's supposed to be nearly 70.
Yep, that's North Carolina weather. If you don't like it, just wait a little while and it will change!

If you read last week's edition of The Franklin Times, then you are probably familiar with, not so much a challenge that I issued, but more of an opportunity to get active in the name and spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.
Those opportunities are still out there and, as space and opportunities present themselves, I will share them in this column.
Today, though, I want to share one of the challenges that was issued by the Rev. Wayne Wilhelm during his keynote speech/sermon during Franklinton's 18th annual MLK celebration, an opportunity to remember the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

Dear editor: I don't know Robert Strickland but his letter to the editor last week was outstanding.
I agree with everything he said, especially the comment that the only people he had a lower opinion of than Trump himself are the people who vote for him.
I am with him on that one hundred percent.