Recent Articles

YOUNGSVILLE -- Traffic, again, dominated the most recent session of the town's board of commissioners.
However, the focus this time was on a project that seems to be dead in its tracks.
In late 2023 and early 2024, Franklinton and Youngsville officials both supported the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's decision to study whether to toll some, all or create new construction for Capital Boulevard -- from I-540 to the Franklin County line.

GONE FISHIN'. The Northern Sportsman Chris Edwards and his team of volunteers, again, hosted their annual Take A Kid Fishing event the Saturday before Father's Day. The event allowed dozens of parents and children to fish at no expense, and they were treated to hot dogs, drinks and prizes. Above, David Boyd helps his daughter, Darla, get ready to cast her bait into the pond. It was the first year for the duo to take part in the event and it was Darla's first time fishing, but she was a quick learner, reading up on the craft.

LOUISBURG -- The official start to the county commission's new meeting schedule isn't until August -- with only one meeting in July being the norm for years.
But residents and at least one county commissioner have cautioned against stuffing the no-comment consent agenda with items that warrant discussion.
During the board's June 16 meeting, resident Rosemary Champion chided the board for including millions of dollars of expenses in that meeting's consent agenda.
Included in the consent agenda was:

YOUNGSVILLE -- State and town planners will soon receive a final round of public input on their plans to create a mobility hub around a commuter rail line.
They'll use that information to determine the type of development that occurs around a potential train stop in Youngsville.
"There are concept elements that people were really excited about," said Youngsville Town Planner Lucy Garcia.

Youngsville ABC Store General Manager Bridget Stanley

Just in the unlikely case that you hadn't noticed, it is now officially summertime -- and the heat and humidity provide ample evidence of that fact.
Even worse, if the forecasters are correct, there is a lot more of both to come, perhaps even more than usual.
Oh, well, still beats the daylights out of winter in my opinion -- although some of you may disagree.
It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since I got a chance to travel around Franklin County far fields with farmers who were confronting a period of unusually hot and dry weather.

With a bustling downtown and an infield and outskirts development taking place, it's easy to see why Franklinton leaders have a keen eye on the future.
However, during the Franklinton Board of Commissioners' most recent meeting -- June 17 -- officials took a moment to make a proclamation about the town's past.
For more than 60 years, folks say, Paul and Catherine Johnson stood as pillars in the community on Tanyard Street -- which was renamed Johnson Place in June 2020, in recognition of the enduring contributions and presence of the Johnson family in this neighborhood, according to a proclamation that was read and adopted during that June 17 meeting.

Dear editor: Last week's article on the county commissioners' approval of the new budget -- which included raises for themselves -- reveals a striking case of hypocrisy.
According to the report, "each commissioner will receive an extra $1,600 in salary for each year of service beginning at year one through year 12 -- meaning a commissioner with 12 years of experience could receive $19,200 on top of their $15,129 base salary."

YOUNGSVILLE -- Ham radio operators will spend this weekend sending signals out across North America as part of Field Day.
Members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club will set up temporary ham radio stations near the Franklin/Wake county line -- participating in an annual exercise on Saturday and Sunday to see how many connections they can make.
The National Association for Amateur Radio event is a display of skill.

LOUISBURG -- The filing period for municipal race begins on July 7.
Terms are up for Bunn Mayor Marsha Strawbridge, as well as Commissioners Sherry Mercer and Don Mitchell.
The terms for Franklinton Commissioners John Allers, Alvin Holden and LaTasha Wilder are also up.
The same is true for Louisburg Mayor Chris Neal, as well Council members Silke Stein, Tom Clancy and Betty Wright.

Jayden Blacknall, foreground, and Maliyah Blacknall, background, show off their fishing ability during the Northern Sportsman's Take A Kid Fishing event on June 14.

Lacey Hinson, Nilani Ayscue, Tabitha Hinson, Sophia Hinson and Travis Hinson enjoy the fishing day.

LOUISBURG - Ralph "Pete" Montgomery Allgood, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, in Louisburg, NC.

OXFORD, NC -- David Elliott Cheek, 77, of Henry Wilson Road, died Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Duke Regional Hospital. Born January 14, 1948 in Guilford County, he was the son of the late Bernice Daniel Cheek and Edna Reddick Cheek. He was retired from the Town of Butner where he was a water treatment operator in the public works department.

ZEBULON, NC -- Funeral services for Evelyn Richardson Steward, age 72, who died on Sunday, June 22, 2025, will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 12 p.m. at the Gillfield Missionary Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Melvin Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Gillfield Church Cemetery.

NASHVILLE, NC -- Funeral services for Joseph Leon Speight, age 74, who died on Friday, June 20, 2025, will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville with Rev. Xavien Harrison officiating. Burial will follow in the Philadelphia Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- James Frederick Hunter, 71, of Franklinton, passed away on June 22, 2025 at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. James was born on July 29, 1953 in Charleston, WV to the late Frederick and Patricia Riggs Hunter. In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by a sister, Victoria Herzog.
He is survived by his wife, Marcia Lawrence Hunter; his sister, Valerie Summers; his brother-in-law, Alan Herzog; three nephews and a niece.

RALEIGH -- Funeral services for James A. Williams Jr., 49, who died on Saturday, June 14, 2025, will be held on Wednesday, June 25 At 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

BUNN -- Moments. Memories.
Those were the two things that Bunn High School's student leaders told more than 200 graduates to hold onto during commencement exercises for the class of 2025 on June 12.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a $131 million budget on Monday, but not before questioning whether or not to give themselves a raise.
The conversation and decision came two weeks after the board voted to cut their meeting workload in half.
Included in the county's $131,453,061 budget was an action to increase commissioner pay.

MATRICULATING TIME. Above, Louisburg Magnet High School seniors kicked off three-days of graduation festivities in Franklin County on June 11. About 150 students crossed the stage on the school's football field to receive their diplomas. Their celebration concluded with a tossing of caps to cap off the evening before rains hit.

Above, Dareyon Jackson, center, joined the more than 260 Franklinton High School students who received their diplomas during the June 13 graduation ceremony inside the school's gymnasium. They actually got their diplomas in the library following the ceremony. The class of 2025 marks the school's 100th graduating class.