Recent Articles

TALL TALE TELLER! Author and storyteller Donna Washington will appear at the Norris Theatre in the JPAC tonight, Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been performing for audiences of all ages for more than 35 years.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The race for the top spots in the Big East Conference basketball standings is becoming clearer heading into the final week of the regular season.
On the girls side, barring a massive upset, the red-hot Franklinton Lady Rams have all but assured themselves of at least a tie for the conference crown. FHS, under the direction of Bryan Perry, is 18-1 overall to go with a perfect 9-0 mark in the league with three contests remaining.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Just a few years ago, Northern Nash barely had enough boys to fill a team -- let alone compete for the Big East Conference team crown.
But the Fighting Knights' pool resurgence has been quick and thorough -- so much so that Northern swept every meet this season in the Big East, including the recent league championship two weeks ago at the Harrison Family YMCA.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton will make its annual appearance at The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase on March 9 at Gillette Park in Wilson.
The Lady Rams will tangle with DASH United from Wake County at 4 p.m. on Field Seven.
Franklinton, coached by Bri Folds, returns several key standouts from last year's club, which went 12-10-1 while once again reaching the Class 3-A State Playoffs.
FHS' first regular season outing will be February 28 at home against Falls Lake Academy.

FRANKLINTON -- It's not an absolute, but the Big East's indoor track and field season often foreshadows how the outdoor campaign will go.
If that's the case, the Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons and the Northern Nash Fighting Knights will be in repeat mode this spring as they dominated the proceedings at the annual Big East Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships last Thursday at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

NASH COUNTY -- A return to Northgreen Golf Club after a brief hiatus will be one of the highlights of the Big East Conference boys golf season, which is scheduled to begin February 26 with a nine-hole match at the historic course in Rocky Mount.
Area powerhouse Roanoke Rapids will look to defend its title against some quality competition in the always-strong links league.
Action will wrap up April 24 with the annual Big East Conference Championships at Chockoyotte Country Club in Weldon.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County commissioners went back to school on Monday evening, courtesy of a detailed presentation from Schools Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, who focused on where the schools are now, what the goals for the future are and what the costs are likely to be in coming years.
Dr. Schuhler outlined four key goals:

Tonya Brodie presents her decorated cookie at the Louisburg Senior Center

WINSTON-SALEM, NC--Vicki Cash Leonard, 72, daughter of Ruth Roberts Cash and Fad Cannady Cash, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2024, at her home in Winston-Salem, surrounded by her loved ones.

Henderson, NC--Jeffery Thomas Grissom, 62, of Henderson, NC, died February 2, 2024, at home surrounded by his family and friends. He was the son of the late Thomas Gray Grissom Sr. and the late Linda Tharrington Faucette, both formally of Henderson.

Castalia, NC--Eric Boyce Upchurch, age 52, died January 30, 2024. He was born on May 1, 1971 to the late William Boyce Upchurch and Cyrethia Dorsey Upchurch in Wake County, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Marlene Peele Griffin, age 81, of White Level died Friday, February 2, 2024. She was born on December 1, 1942, to the late Willie F. and Daisy Pridgen Peele. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harold T. Griffin.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Brenda Foster Allen, age 81, who died on Friday, February 2, 2024, will be held on Saturday, February 10, at 2 p.m. from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Mark "Tony" Bowden, age 57, who died on Friday, February 2, 2024, will be held on Sunday, February 11, , at 2 p.m. from the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Rodrick "Hot Rod" Cooper, age 45, who died on Friday, February 2, 2024, will be held on Saturday, February 10, at 11 a.m. from the Mitchner's Grove Baptist Church in Franklinton with Minister Florence Nicholson officiating. Burial will follow in the Mark's Chapel Church Cemetery in Rocky Mount.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Pamela Wrenn Gilliam, 69, of Louisburg, passed away Wednesday evening, January 31, 2024 at her home.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Patricia "Trisha Harris" Alston, age 64, who died on Sunday, January 28, 2024, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 8, from the Ambassadors For Christ Ministry in Louisburg with Dr. Felicia Hardy officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC - Faye Elaine Hudson Cardwell, 89, of Louisburg, died Tuesday evening, January 30, 2024 at her home.

LOUISBURG -- A Wake Forest woman will face more allegations of killing and torturing animals when she appears in court next week.
Authorities arrested Anne Marie Green in January after Animal Services Officer Joseph Williams alleged the 32-year-old tormented and deprived of necessary sustenance more than 20 dogs at her Green Meadow Kennels -- charging her with more than 20 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
On Jan. 25, Dep. Garrett Stanly charged Green with six counts of felony cruelty to animals and nine counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

LOUISBURG -- Celebrating its 40th year, the Chamber of Commerce's first chairman said the best thing that Franklin County has going for it is its people.
During the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet, the economic development and civic group awarded citizens and businesses who were the best at helping those in the community.
Three-generations, family-owned Hodges Insurance was saluted as the Small Business of the Year.

Benchmark Community Bank's Gerald Lloyd presents the Chamber's Small Business Award to Emily Hodges and Allison Hodges Westmorland of Hodges Insurance.

LOUISBURG -- More than a decade ago, Andrew and Anne Zeneski were retired and looking for something to do with their lives.
Turns out, they found a way for cats to keep nine of theirs and for dogs to get a new leash on theirs ... as well as an eagle, turtle and any other animals that could use a rescue.
Through Pilots N Paws -- a network that connects pilots and animal rescue groups -- the couple has helped hundreds of animals go from kill shelters to get to their forever homes.

Atcheson Conway

LOUISBURG -- In an effort to spur more dialogue, action and transparency, the county's animal services advisory board has added more meetings to its calendar this year.
The decision was made during the conclusion of the board's Monday night meeting.
Once the advisory board was reinstated at the end of 2022, commissioners established that the board would meet at least quarterly.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- A Middlesex man was killed in a single-vehicle accident last month.
According to a report by Trooper C.I. Hundley, Melchor Guerrero, 33, was traveling south on old U.S. 64 -- about six miles south of Bunn -- when the Subaru he was driving ran off the road to the right just before 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.