Recent Articles

DAZZLING. A fantastic light display filled the sky above Louisburg Magnet High during Franklin County's Independence Day festivities.

DAZZLING. Antoine Veal plays Jenga.

DAZZLING. James Lastinger and M.J. Epps play cornhole.

Earlier this year, I promised that I'd use this column to let folks know about opportunities to assist the community through volunteer efforts.
And, since permanent ink is pretty permanent, here I am following through on that promise.
During Monday's Franklin County Board of Commissioners meeting, Franklin County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe told officials that they'll be hosting a Community Emergency Response basic training session in August.

BUNN, NC--Vicky Denton, 75, of Bunn, NC died at home, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Born February 1, 1949, she was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Rebecca Baker.

Raleigh, NC--Funeral services for Ruby Jean Crudup Thorpe, age 67 who died on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, were held 3 p.m., Sunday, July 7 from the New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, NC. Rev. Timothy J. Faison, officiated.

CREEDMOOR, NC--Edward Earl Brodie, age 85, died July 3, 2024 after a brief illness.

Wallington, NJ--Funeral services for Esther Mae Williams, age 82, of Wallington, NJ (formerly of Louisburg, NC), who died on Friday, July 5, 2024, will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, July 13, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC--Debbie Ellen Edmonds Pusey, 73, of Louisburg, passed away on Sunday morning, July 7, 2024, at UNC Rex Hospital. She was a daughter of the late Henry Litchford Edmonds and Valma Mae Alford Edmonds.

Virginia Beach,VA--James P. Griffin (Jack), age 85, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024.

Lula Bobbitt turned 100 on June 15. A party was given in her honor at Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation in Louisburg. She also celebrated with a party at her church, Union View Baptist Church in Franklinton.
Lula Denton was born June 15, 1924, the last of 13 children and raised in Rolesville, NC.

WILMINGTON - Whether throwing the javelin or competing in her favored high jump, safe to say it was an amazing senior season for Rebekah Smith as a member of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington's women's track and field team.
Smith, who was a state high jump champion and multi-sport superstar at Franklinton High School, finished off her senior campaign by taking eighth place in the High Jump with a clear of 1.63 meters at the annual Coastal Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships on the campus of Elon University in Alamance County.

LOUISBURG -- Just steps from where Rosanell Eaton began her remarkable journey in pursuit of civil rights, a downtown Louisburg building was dedicated in her honor Saturday morning with family and friends witnessing the ceremony.
Eaton rode a mule-drawn wagon in 1943 to the Franklin County Courthouse to register to vote -- but election officials in that Jim Crow era tried to stop her by requiring her to recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

A FUN TIME IN FRANKLINTON. Franklinton got a jump start on Independence Day festivities, hosting their event on June 29 at the Franklinton Middle School football field. Jeremy Cadiente gives his son, Owen, a good few of the band during the Independence Day celebration in Franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- "There won't be any fireworks tonight," cautioned Quinnley Coley, Franklin County Schools' chief financial officer just prior to a Thursday evening special school board meeting to wrap up the 2023-24 school year.
Despite an obvious reference to some recent politically charged meetings over school financing, Coley was true to her prediction on Thursday.
She spent about 90 minutes walking the school board and administration through the fiscal year ending transfers and adjustments that are normal this time of the year.

LOUISBURG -- A Bunn man accused of supplying the drugs that killed a Louisburg man was sentenced to prison.
On Monday, Taylor Austin Proctor pled guilty to death by distribution in Franklin County Superior Court.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested the 25- year-old in May 2021, alleging he sold heroin that led to an overdose death of Christopher Wells, 24.
The arrest was the result of a four-month investigation, authorities said.

LOUISBURG -- Youngsville staff and officials have committed countless hours and more than a million dollars to expedite the construction of a Youngsville bypass.
Now, they're looking to show their work.
During the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' June 17 meeting, Youngsville developer and bypass collaborator Bill Moss -- on behalf of Youngsville town management -- requested that the matter be placed on the county's agenda.

Lula Denton Bobbitt turns 100!

FIRE IN THE SKY. Aimee Nelson shows her daughter, Emery Guess how to properly rock during the band's performance.

Lisa Helton, Tucker Jordan and Bailey Helton made themselves comfortable on the Franklinton Middle School football field as they watched Franklinton's 20-minute fireworks display.

The year is half over!
Now make sure you have plenty of charcoal or pellets for the grill, get ready for fireworks and, if you're in the mood for a holiday parade, head for Alert tomorrow (Thursday, 11 a.m.).
It's summer, the Independence Day celebrations and festivities loom and the heat and humidity are normal for this time of the year -- but take precautions anyway because hot weather like we've been having can be deadly.

Being a reporter that covers courts, there are only a few folks who spend more time in a courthouse than I do -- that's clerks, district attorneys, judges, defense attorneys, bailiffs and suspects.
And, there's certainly even fewer who find themselves thumbing through case files, looking for that next bit of fresh news.
So, when I heard the state was rolling out a new digital case software system, my optimism level was really high.

Dear editor: After watching the Presidential Debate last Thursday night, you must wonder who is in charge of the Executive Branch of our federal government.
If you have had a family member or a close friend with a form of dementia, you recognize that deer in the headlight look. The entire debate was hard to watch. The current President prepped for this debate for over a week. Wow!