Recent Articles

When you've been reporting on local government as long as I have, it's surprising when you find things that just don't make logical sense -- but recently two topics have popped up that just seem entirely out of whack.
The first and most important issue is local funding for schools -- and the procedure that we use -- which makes absolutely no sense on several levels.
First, which I've written about previously, is who in the world thinks it's an acceptable idea to have the county schools' leadership go on bended knee to the county commissioners and ask for money to operate?

This photo, which may or may not have been taken in Franklin County, was loaned to us recently in the hopes that some of our readers can provide information about it. It shows seven smartly dressed men in an office that appears to be Circa 1920s or 30s. Note the arch-shaped windows, light bulbs hanging from wires and an old-fashioned telephone on the desk. The photo is from the estate of the late Linwood Gupton who once operated an automotive dealership on South Main Street in Louisburg near the site of the former Alston-Anderson Funeral Home.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a cinephile.
So, the only thing missing from Tuesday night's meeting between Bunn and Franklin County officials was a car chase ... because there was plenty of drama, humor and intrigue.
If you're not familiar, I may suggest you read our front page story on the matter first, but, here it is in a nutshell:

Dear editor:
I have been reading your paper for about one year, mostly lately.
The paper is welcome for keeping folks on top of current local issues. I believe it also helps people appreciate how life is in a small town, with so many nice rural features.

Dear editor: Noble intentions count for naught in the saying and the ruing. They only count for good in the deeds and in the doing.
In other words, pretty is as pretty does.

Children shouldn't have to use garbage bags for luggage was just one of the important messages the Gamma Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., heard recently as it celebrated the 110th anniversary of the fraternity and 70th anniversary of the chapter.
The celebration was held at Olive Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Littleton, where Rev. Bro. Charles Walton, chapter president serves as pastor.

Two Franklinton High School graduates, Logan Hinton Bullock and Austin Bullock exchanged wedding vows at 1 p.m., Jan. 27, 2024 at Revive Church of God in Kittrell, NC with Minister Eston Bailey officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Leslie Wilson and Spencer Hinton, both of Franklinton.
The groom's parents are Brandy Holden Newman and Jeremy Bullock, both of Louisburg.

BUNN -- The third time wasn't the charm, but there is definitely hope for the future.
That was the main theme from a Bunn High School perspective at the annual Class 2-A State Individual Wrestling Championships last weekend at the Greensboro Coliseum.
For the third time in school history, Bunn had an individual reach the state title match -- and the previous two lost by just one point in the finale.

STANHOPE -- If only for a fleeting moment, the Franklinton Lady Rams found themselves in an unfamiliar position during last Friday's regular season girls basketball finale against the homestanding Southern Nash Ladybirds.
Franklinton carried an unbeaten record in the Big East Conference into the showdown, and the Lady Rams had already clinched the league title outright three days earlier with a decision over former champ Rocky Mount High School.

FRANKLINTON -- In his role as head coach for the Franklinton High School track and field team, Clennie Wilkins has a good idea of what his roster will look like from year to year.
But even Wilkins wasn't sure quite what to expect when Gisele Dulnuan-Kersey showed up for tryouts before the indoor season back in 2021.
Wilkins had heard that Dulnuan-Kersey, then a sophomore, possessed athletic ability, and she had posted some quality stats during her middle school days.

LOUISBURG -- Teaching a team to play with patience is one of the most difficult challenges a high school basketball coach faces -- and it's a strategy that paid off Tuesday night for the Louisburg Warriors.
While milking a lead in the fourth quarter, the Warriors ran their motion offense with ease while never settling for a low-percentage shot.

STANHOPE -- Two teams looking to play league tournament spoiler roles met last Friday in the regular season finale for Franklinton and homestanding Southern Nash.
The event proved to be a turnaround time for the Firebirds, who had lost earlier in the season on the road against the Red Rams.
But Southern Nash returned the favor as part of its Senior Night, winning by a score of 70-52 at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.

Shade trees require pruning for the same reasons as other landscape plants: Prune to conform to a specified size and shape, prune out excess branches to prevent rubbing together, removal of broken or damaged branches, double leaders or narrow V-shaped crotches.
Most homeowners should limit their tree pruning to small branches, which can be reached from the ground. The pruning of large branches and work off the ground should involve professional tree experts with proper equipment.

ZEBULON -- Authorities are trying to determine if the deaths of two teenage friends is related -- and potentially the result of a drug overdose.
Franklin County authorities responded late Saturday afternoon to a home in the 1700 block of Old Halifax Road in the Zebulon area of the county to find Jacob Cope dead.
The 18-year-old graduated from Bunn High School last year.

Glennwood "IT" Alston celebrates turning 70

ROCKY MOUNT, NC--Jessica Leigh Simons Lyon, 33, of Rocky Mount, died Friday evening, February 16, 2024.

Jacob Cope died peacefully in his sleep at home Saturday, February 17, 2024. Jacob was born and raised in Franklin County. Whether it was hunting, fishing, or just hanging out with friends, you could always find him outside. Jacob brought joy to everyone he met.

YADKINVILLE - Montgomery W. (Bill) Shugart III, age 79, passed away peacefully at home on February 19th, 2024. He was born on January 13, 1945 to the late Almira Banks Shugart and Montgomery W. (Bill) Shugart Jr.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC-Funeral services for Stella L. Strickland, age 71, who died on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 will be held on Wednesday, February 21, at 2 p.m., from the Ambassadors For Christ Ministry in Louisburg with Rev. Geraldine Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Monday night designed to seek pay equity for veteran teachers -- and they are planning to share that resolution with other school districts in an attempt to build broad-based support for the change.
The resolution asks that the state General Assembly rework its most recent budget, passed in December, 2023, and make the pay raises for veteran teachers more equitable.

LOUISBURG -- After spending the first 30 minutes of its Friday night special meeting discussing the Depot Hill project -- and deciding nothing -- the Louisburg town council adjourned into an hour-long executive (secret) session to discuss contracts and personnel.
When the council returned to a public session during the Feb. 9 meeting, it unanimously agreed to make the position of fire chief a full-time, paid one.

LOUISBURG -- Defense attorneys for a woman charged with starving her four-month-old son to death have secured the services of a crime scene investigator to bolster her defense.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Jarquilla Vernee Wilson, of Mort Harris Road, on Dec. 20, 2021, charging her with second degree murder and two counts of negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

LOUISBURG -- Registered voters can begin casting their ballots today.
Early voting began Feb. 15, and while voters will have a chance to pick party favorites in races from the president to treasurer to judicial races, locally, voters will get to narrow the field for available county commissioner posts and the board of education.