Recent Articles

RALEIGH -- Too much Davin McCoy proved to be too much last Friday night for the Louisburg High School Warriors during their non-conference prep football matchup at North Raleigh Christian Academy. McCoy, NRCA's sophomore standout running back, delivered 225 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries as the Knights rallied from a halftime deficit to register a 40-24 home victory over the Warriors.

BUNN -- Bunn registered the upset of the year last season in the Big East Conference when the Wildcats opened their league slate with a stunning home victory against long-time powerhouse Rocky Mount.
But unfortunately for the Wildcats, they didn't win a contest the rest of the campaign, while the Gryphons bounced back to go 7-4 en route to qualifying for the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

STANHOPE -- As much as she hoped it would be otherwise, patience has proven to be Melanie (Davis) Hicks' greatest asset during her tenure as Southern Nash High School's volleyball coach.
Hicks' program has been on the ascent since she took over -- and now the Ladybirds are taking off full throttle this fall.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Baltimore Orioles are enjoying an amazing renaissance season on the diamond this summer -- and former Louisburg College standout Cedric Mullins is playing a key role in their success.
Mullins, 28, has helped the Orioles to a 91-52 worksheet in 2023 -- the best record in the American League and the second-best mark in Major League Baseball behind the Atlanta Braves.

LOUISBURG -- If you let the actions of terrorists change your life, they have won, said Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Tedesco as he addressed the audience at the annual Sept. 11th tribute in downtown Louisburg on Monday morning.
Tedesco, who was inside the Pentagon that fateful morning not far from where the airliner hit the building, said that in the wake of that attack, he realized that "Americans should go on with their lives -- do not change what you do."

LOUISBURG -- A Franklinton man accused of choking a teenager to death was slated for a probable cause hearing at press time.
According to a social media post by Sheriff Kevin White, deputies arrested Matthew John Harris on Aug. 25, alleging he assaulted and killed 17-year-old Jaxon Williams.
In his Facebook post, White noted that Williams "was senselessly murdered at the hands of a so-called friend.

RJ McCarthy's newest novel, "Quarry Steps Between," is the fourth in the Tony Quarry/Carolina Mystery crime novel series.
The story is set in 2013 in the fictional town of Henson Creek. Now 40 years old, Tony Quarry remains as dedicated to the welfare of his family and community as he is to physical fitness.

LOUISBURG, NC--Charlene Hudson Wheeler, 56, of Louisburg died Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Spring Hope, NC--Charlotte Woodlief Bartholomew, 62, of Spring Hope passed away on September 6, 2023. She was born on January 17, 1961, to Mattie Frazier Cash and the late Stancil E. Woodlief. In addition to her father, Charlotte was predeceased by a brother, Kenny Woodlief.

Manson, NC--Abner Bryant Cobb Jr., 65, of Manson, died on September 9, 2023. He was born on April 7, 1958, to the late Abner B. Sr. and Margaret Wilkerson Cobb. In addition to his parents, Bryant was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Anne Cobb.

LOUISBURG, NC--James Douglas "Buddy" Clark, 71, died September 11, 2023. He was born on November 12, 1951, to the late Arthur Douglas and Mary Sue Floyd Clark. In addition to his parents, Buddy was predeceased by a sister, Evelyn Clark.

Douglas McClester Black, age 75, died on Sunday, August 27, 2023, with his wife and life partner of 33 years, Alicia Black by his side after a brief illness where he rested peacefully in hospice care.

Bronx, NY--Funeral services for Jerome "John" Davis, Sr., age 85, of Bronx, NY, formerly of Louisburg, who died on Wednesday, September, 6, 2023, will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Mary Helen Jones Cemetery.

HENDERSON, NC -- Memorial services for Jacqueline "Jackie" Kearney, age 49, who died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, from the Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Kittrell with Rev. Larry Person officiating.

HOLLISTER, NC -- Funeral services for Kevin Cornell Richardson, age 59, who died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 10, from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Robert Hedgepeth officiating.
Burial will follow in the Pine Chapel Memorial Garden Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Sallie Leonard West, 99, of Franklinton died at her home Thursday, September 7, 2023. She was born June 29, 1924, to the late Mr. Johnny Leonard and Mrs. Carrie Wood Leonard in Franklin County, North Carolina.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Johnny Barry Pender, age 77, of Franklinton, died Friday, September 1, 2023.

Born July 29, 1946 in Franklin County, NC, he was the eldest child of the late Frank B. and Lucy Pettiford Pender.

FRANKLINTON -- Congressman Don Davis continued his "Live the Dream Down East" tour with a "Building a Brighter Future" School Tour, including a stop at Franklinton Elementary School.
Last week's tour, Davis said, highlighted the importance of equipping children with the tools for a successful, brighter future, emphasizing early education, apprenticeship and workforce training, and school safety.

LOUISBURG -- In just a little over a week, Franklin County officials -- especially the county commissioners -- will come face-to-face with the reality of increasing growth -- and the challenges it brings.
Those challenges come with a price tag, nearly $100 million in anticipated costs in the next decade just for schools -- and even more after that.

LOUISBURG -- County commissioners took two actions Tuesday night that management said is necessary to procure a long-term water solution.
A water study done in the summer of 2016 revealed that about 90 percent of the county's water supply was either being used or had already been allocated -- meaning the county had to more prudently allocate its remaining supply.

BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY. In the spring, Franklinton staff -- with the approval of property owners -- planted the Franklinton Flower Fields between Mason Street and N.C. 56 at the former Burlington Mills site. The sunflowers sprang to life this summer and staff and officials have invited folks to visit the site. Above, the field serves as a gateway for the town, said Franklinton Town Manager Zach Steffey.

LOUISBURG -- Health and education leaders are reminding residents, staff, parents and students to protect themselves against COVID-19.
The state has stopped collecting and publishing specific data, said Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne, but secondary data sets -- such as COVID-19 virus particles per person found in statewide wastewater samples -- and metrics, such as emergency department visits for respiratory viruses, "point to an increase in [the] COVID-19 virus within North Carolina," he said, "and, by extension, Franklin County."

LOUISBURG -- The case against a suspected murderer probably won't go to trial until the spring of 2024.
Authorities arrested and charged 42-year-old Thomas Lee Hicks Jr. with first degree murder on Nov. 3, 2022 -- a day after Louisburg police allege he shot and killed Ricky Shipman.
Investigators allege Hicks shot Shipman outside the In & Out convenience store at the corner of S. Main Street and Bunn Road at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 2.

A news story in last week's edition of The Franklin Times contained a factual error.
The story indicated that the Louisburg Town Council had requested a change to the setup of the Friday Nights on the Tar event.
The council did not make that request.
The change was made by Town Administrator Sean Medlin who said "I made the decision. There was no input from anyone."