Recent Articles

Phillip Maurice Stallings went to be with the Lord on July 16, 2023. He passed peacefully with his family by his side. Phillip was born in Nash County, North Carolina on January 24, 1938. He worked for NASA for 32 years (1963-1995). His memberships in the Clear Lake Masonic Lodge #1417, Scottish Rite, and Shriners were an important part of his life. He enjoyed every aspect of his work at NASA, and proudly participated in his masonic work. He was the worshipful master for the lodge from 1981-1982.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Giancarlo "Carlo" Carrillo, age 13, died at home the day before his 14th birthday, July 28, 2023.

GREENSBORO -- It took all of one play for the Big East Conference to flex its collective, seven-deep muscle for the East team during last Wednesday's North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Football Game.
That's when Northern Nash quarterback Keno Jones, he of the postseason heroics that helped lead the Knights to the Class 3-A East Regional Championship in 2022, took a keeper around the left side and wasn't stopped until he had traveled 39 yards downfield into West territory.

LOUISBURG -- Filmmakers turned their cameras toward the unhoused, bringing into focus a plight that most don't see.
With the premier of their documentary film, "Gimme Shelter," the Franklin County Interfaith Council, shelter operators, mental and physical health representatives and others fighting to end homelessness are on a mission to rally leaders to provide the lifelines needed to end the problem.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Arts Council has announced that it will be closing its downtown Louisburg gallery on Saturday, July 29 and drastically scaling back its other activities.
The gallery will remain open through July 29 on its regular business schedule -- and begin winding down its operations through the first quarter of 2024.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Barrel racing is noted for its quick and swift twists and turns.
Building a barndominium during a pandemic is more of a marathon.
That's what Ernie and Brenna Warner learned when they decided to convert an old soybean farm in Bunn and turn it into a home/barn for their barrel racing adventures.

FRANKLINTON -- Auditors presented town leaders with a clean financial opinion.
Then, commissioners made varying decisions about some properties designed to either provide affordable housing, lower a family's tax burden or add to downtown's development.
First, Joe Turchetti with Raleigh-based PT CPA's PLLC said the town's financial accounting has no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton police are warning residents to keep an eye on a crime wave that's started in the Triangle, but could spread other places.
According to police, there has been an increase in vehicle thefts in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, particularly involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
Residents are asked to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and, if they see any, they should call 911.

SWORN IN. The Franklin County Board of Elections swore in three new members during its July 18 meeting. Joining returning members, from left, Angela K. Pearce and Board Secretary Harry Barrick III, are Board Chair Bobbie Richardson, and members Cedric Jones and Robert (Bob) Flournoy. Richardson, Jones and Flournoy replace members Sonravea Privette, Mary Gill and Barry Gupton.

American Legion Post 52 in Franklinton sponsored two delegates to the 83rd annual Tarheel Boy's State program at Catawba College in Salisbury.
Tarheel Boy's State is a summer youth leadership and political affairs program for rising high school seniors in the state. Delegates Nick Valentino of Heritage High School and Marwan Arafa of Cary High School were selected and sponsored by Post 52.

Can't believe this column will appear in our last edition of July -- and by next week we'll be well into August!
Don't know where the summer is going, it's moving too fast to keep up. But one thing is certain, the temperatures have certainly caught up with the calendar -- and it's just plain hot with no significant relief in sight.
Of course, hot here is not the same as hot out west and let's hope we never reach the kinds of numbers that are scorching that part of the country.

I'm not going to pretend like I know the intricacies or the ins and outs of the steady creep of artificial intelligence.
But, I can tell you this: As someone who communicates through the written word for a living, the thought of getting replaced by a machine or AI is not the most pleasant one I've had in the past few days.
I am not going to lie, in the more than 20 years that I've turned my reporting into writing, I've had to rely on artificial intelligence.

Dear editor:
I read with interest the County's monthly payment of $20,000 of our taxpayer dollars to a South Carolina (?) consultant to help us "secure long term water."

Dear editor:
As an avid reader of this county's prized newspaper, I look forward to reading the other letters you publish as I find them somewhat hilarious as they make for good reading.

CLASS REUNION. Youngsville High School Class of 1958 celebrated their 65th class reunion at Johnny Bull's Steakhouse on July 22.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED. Martin and Reesie Mitchell of Franklinton, NC were married July 22, 1968 in Tennessee. They have one daughter, Daphnee, who is married to Chris Lightbourne. The Mitchells celebrated their 55th anniversary with family and friends Saturday, July 22.

Louisburg Senior Center held a "Health Pasta Bakes" class at the center recently. Participants worked together and were able to take home four different dishes. Pictured above, Scott MacLean and Shannon Dixon.

Louisburg Senior Center held their monthly cornhole tournament. Winners pictured above, first place, Fred McGuinn, second place, Jimmy Martin and third place Lucy Martin.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's Economic Development Specialist is one of six in the state to be in the 2023 Class of certified economic developers.
Monique Wilkins, who joined Franklin County as an Economic Development Specialist in February, is one of six economic developers who attained certification during 2023 through the North Carolina Economic Development Association's (NCEDA) certification process.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a sewage spill last week.
The state requires operators of any wastewater plant to notify the public of a spill of more than 1,000 gallons.
The county's spill was reported at the American Legion Wastewater Pump Station.

LOUISBURG -- It's a long way -- both palatially and professionally -- from some of the area rec centers to the Golden 1 Center, home of the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings.
And, of course, it's quite a difference from glancing down to the opposing bench and seeing the likes of Guilford Tech, Vance-Granville and Johnston Community College -- or one of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball.