Recent Articles

In this line of work, I get a front-row seat to watch people at their best ... and, their worst.
And, that goes for adults and kids.
Last Thursday was a good day.
It was the 14th year of the Franklin County Fun 4-H Livestock Show, a chance for kids to share their animal knowledge, demonstrate their care and control of chickens, rabbits, sheep and goats.

Dear editor: This November, North Carolina voters will be asked to decide on two constitutional amendments that could have consequences far beyond what their titles suggest.
One would permanently cap the state income tax rate at 3.5%. The other would require the General Assembly to create limits on how much local governments can raise through property taxes, without telling voters what those limits will actually be.

Dear editor: Add Franklin County Environmental Heath Department to the list of places where employees seem to keep an attitude and not polite.
I reached out to Environmental Health Department on Aug. 3, because I had questions regarding zoning permit and how to go about obtaining a Perc test. The person that answered my call, Tonya, seemed bothered and irritated at approximately 9 a.m.
I don't know the process/guideline for prepping land to build a dwelling and thought I was calling to the department that should be more than happy to assist.

Dear editor: True No Kings Americans are unlikely to unite to halt Trump's autocratic and cruel train in its tracks as long as so many of us act as though we were born a member of a pre-ordained political team and essentially have Republican or Democrat branded to our arms or backs.
Our founding fathers were strong individualists and critical thinkers. The U.S. Constitution does not address the matter of political parties.
George Washington did not affiliate with any organized political group.

Dear editor: A government-run electricity delivery system is being scrutinized in connection with the recent deaths of a family of three and their pets in Rocky Mount.
Louisburg is poised to catch up with Murder Mount's body count, any day now, weather permitting.
With hundreds of families reportedly denied access to the life-preserving power grid in Rocky Mount, its power officials have boldly planned to attend the ElectriCities conference at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.

The Franklinton Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting, ceremonially opening Tar River Interiors. Owners Chris and Sean Kingsley, center, were flanked by, from left, Town Manager Zach Steffey, town Commissioner Judy McArn, county Commissioner Roxanne Bragg, employees Andy Ayscue and Sue Schenker. Not pictured is Dawn Perry. Previously located in Louisburg, the Franklinton location features locally owned home furnishings and décor and vintage finds. The shop is located at 1 N. Main Street in Franklinton

There has always been something magical about the start of a new school year.
As a father of two FCS students starting new journeys, I saw firsthand the spark in their eyes. As I traveled to visit schools, I continually saw that same spark.
But where does that spark come from? Is it the opportunity to meet new friends?
Is it the beginning of something new? Is it the opportunity to showcase a new backpack or pair of shoes?
I think similarly to a Disney excursion, it is an opportunity to have a new experience.

Students will encounter a wide range of obstacles over the course of their academic careers. As students progress through academia, many learn to overcome new challenges by looking back on past experiences when they faced obstacles and ultimately prevailed.
Younger students do not necessarily have that history of overcoming academic challenges to help them when faced with fresh obstacles. When reading for school, young students may not have identified an approach that can help them more easily comprehend texts.

•Make sure you know your full name, street address and phone number including area code. If you can't remember all of these things, carry them on a piece of paper. In case of emergency, call 911.

•Know how to use the telephone for help in case of an emergency.

•Never get into anyone's car without your parents' permission.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Robert "Bob" Earl Wilder, son of the late John Simpson Wilder and Mabel Perry Wilder, was born on September 13, 1935, and died at the age of 90 years old, on August 17, 2026..

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Charlotte Harris Cooke, 84, passed away on August 22, 2026 at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC.

Franklinton, NC -- Andrew Robert Lortcher, Sr., 84, passed away Friday, August 21, 2026 at his home in Franklinton.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners urged staff to look more keenly at Youngsville Elementary school's gym floor before committing to necessary repairs.
That discussion took place during the board's Aug. 13 meeting.
In January, Youngsville commissioners and the Board of Education approved an agreement that would give the town access to Youngsville Elementary School's gym and ballfields.

Above, Scott Strickland and Jerry Jones manned the grill during National Night Out festivities in Louisburg on Aug. 4.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners adjusted their spending plan to keep the police department's vehicle fleet on track.
Town Manager Will Doerfer admitted that he forgot to account for the annual expense the board has agreed to include in its budget to get two new police vehicles -- a fleet management practice that began with the 2022-23 budget.
"This is just something that was missed," Doerfer said. "It's critical to keep the vehicle fleet fresh.

Mason H at Bunn's National Night Out

In this month's article we are going to look at how to grow figs in the home garden. The fig is native to the Mediterranean Basin. Members of the fig family include the Osage orange, hedge apple and the mulberry. Figs are grown throughout the Piedmont and Eastern NC.
Some challenges for growing figs in NC are our cold winters and soil nematodes, but if you have reasonably well drained and fertile soils you will have success growing figs.

Here's to trying to be positive and optimistic.
Trust me, for a long-time reporter who was trained to be skeptical and has become cynical by experience with the political and judicial process, being positive and optimistic is no simple task.
But I've been trying -- especially after a couple of local events have become public in the last several days.

Time surely does fly.
If only there was some kind of sonic device to mark the passage of time.
Oh, wait, there is. It's called a bell. If you live in a town small enough, you will hear it ring out to mark significant hours during the day, such as noon and, quite frankly, dinner time.

Dear editor: This year marks 61 years since Medicare and Medicaid became law.
These programs established a fundamental principle: public policy dismantles barriers and ensures that wealth does not determine access to care.
School-based Medicaid delivers care directly to students during the school day, helping families overcome unequal access to providers, transportation, paid time off, reliable insurance, and other resources shaped by generations of racial and economic injustice.

LOUISBURG -- A wrongful death lawsuit filed against Franklinton, its police department, Maria Parham Health, Duke Lifepoint and about two dozen physicians has been transferred to Franklin County.
Administrators of the estates of William Hulme and Matthew Johnson originally filed suit in Granville County Superior Court in March, alleging the actions of plaintiffs cleared the way for Christian David Webster to kill Hulme and Johnson inside their Franklinton home in April 2024.
The case was transferred to Franklin County Civil Superior Court on Aug. 10.

LOUISBURG -- County commissioners committed to an agreement that streamlines a 609-acre, mixed use development that could nearly triple the size of Franklinton in 15 years.
"We're real excited about this project," Franklinton Town Manager Zach Steffey told county commissioners during a public hearing on the matter during Monday's special called meeting.