Recent Articles

On June 27, I said goodbye to my high school basketball coach.
As a retired educator, I've experienced how hard it is to say goodbye to students you've lost.
Now, I find it equally hard to say goodbye to my teacher, coach and mentor.
Words cannot express how heartbroken I am over the passing of Coach Eddy Boyette, a friend and hometown legend.

LOUISBURG -- After two successful spike seasons in the Big East Conference, the Louisburg Lady Warriors will be making the shift to the Northern Lakes Conference for at least the next pair of campaigns beginning this fall.
The perennial powerhouse Lady Warriors, led by veteran head coach Erica Wammock, went 29-18 over the past two years. LHS won the Big East Tournament Championship in 2021 en route to making the third round of the Class 2-A State Playoffs.

ZEBULON -- Jose Sibrian and Jesus Parra both drove in four runs, Kay-Lan Nicasia hit a three-run home run, Jadher Areinamo had three hits and starter Patricio Aquino pitched through the fifth with five strikeouts as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats defeated the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 13-4 in front of an Independence Day crowd of 6,313 on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

Nashville, NC--Funeral services for Ardean Lynch Mills, age 86, who died on Sunday, July 2, 2023, will be held 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 9, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Linda Taybron officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.

Henderson, NC--Funeral services for Jimmie "Biggie" Burnette, age 48, who died on Saturday, June 24, 2023, will be 11 a.m., Saturday, July 8, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Michael Winston officiating.

Franklinton, NC--Joyce Maxine Pace Greathouse of Franklinton, NC passed away on June 23, 2023. Maxine was born on December 30, 1936 to the late Howard and Lola Godfrey Pace. In addition to her parents, Maxine is predeceased by a son, Dewey T Matthew, Jr.; a great-grandson, Drake Matthew Dooley; and her long time partner and companion, William "Bill" E. Preddy.

Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

John 16:22

ZEBULON, NC -- Wanda Jewel Frazier, 72, of Zebulon, NC died Thursday, June 28, 2023.

PEARCES - Thomas Wingate "Tommy" Strickland, 79, of the Pearces Community, died Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The Franklin County Home Builders Association held a fundraiser, sparking their efforts to construct their first ever permanent home office.
Construction will be underway by early 2024 to renovate office space at 16 South Main Street in Franklinton.
On June 7, the association held a Building Fund Social and Auction at the future location.

RALEIGH -- A former clerk of courts' fight to reclaim her job is slated to go to the state's highest court.
Legal representatives for the attorney who pushed for her ouster is calling a Court of Appeals decision last week a victory, though.
"The [NC Court of Appeals] upheld Judge Lock's reasoning, his findings of fact and his conclusions of law," said Louisburg Attorney Boyd Sturges, who has represented fellow Louisburg Attorney Jeffrey Scott Thompson, who began efforts to remove Patricia Chastain from her clerk of superior court position in the summer of 2020.

INDEPENDENCE DAY SCHEDULE. Above, a crowd enjoyed Franklinton fireworks last year and Franklinton gets the fun going first this year on Friday, June 30, from 5-9 p.m. at the Franklinton Middle School football field, 224 Rams Way; Louisburg and Wake Forest have festivities set for July 3 Alert, Castalia and Rolesville will have festivities set on July 4.

FRANKLINTON -- Efforts to bring a YMCA to Franklin County took another step forward as town and county leaders met with YMCA brass about the prospect.
During the board's June 20 meeting, Mayor Art Wright noted that he and Town Manager Zach Steffey, along with officials and staffs from the county and Youngsville met with Michele McKinley, Director of Administration - North Carolina Alliance of YMCA's Inc., to discuss interest and the process.

Eugene Foster at the Franklinton Senior Center

ROLESVILLE -- State transportation contractors are planning a closure followed by a new traffic pattern as part of the project to improve U.S. 401 in Wake and Franklin counties.
Earlier this week, crews began installing a temporary closure that restricts N.C. 96 traffic from being able to cross over U.S. 401.
This pattern was expected to be in place only through Thursday [June 29], allowing crews to finish removing asphalt and pour a concrete island.

LOUISBURG -- The town of Louisburg has temporarily shut down a convenience store that police and community leaders have described as a haven for criminal activity.
Superior Court Judge Cindy Sturges issued a temporary restraining order on Monday, effectively shutting down the In N Out Store No. 2 at 806 S. Main Street.
A scheduled July 5 preliminary injunction could determine whether the store remains closed until a trial on the merits could be heard.

ZEBULON -- Authorities arrested a Louisburg woman last week, alleging she was responsible for a wreck that killed her 5-year-old son and sent her husband to the hospital. Her husband, Joshua Moose, was subsequently charged with aiding and abetting an impaired driver.
Alisha Moose, 44, was charged with felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger, felony negligent child abuse causing serious physical injury, child restraint violation and failure to maintain lane control.

BROAD is hosting a Mack Jones Unity and Community Day on July 1 in Jones' honor.
Jones served as a town commissioner and was stalwart in his support of the community and children through BROAD -- Bunn Residents Organized Against Drugs.
The event is from 3-7 p.m. at the center, 583 Bunn Elementary School Road.

It's time for a dietary change -- actually such a change may be a little overdue.
Look around -- especially at the farmers' markets and produce stands -- and you'll quickly realize that fresh produce is available in abundance -- and more is ripening every day.
Everything from squash (boatloads of squash), peppers, 'Maters, beans, and much more, is readily available -- and really, really good.

This is the time of year when our communities come alive with sizzle, sparks and explosions.
And, no, I'm not talking about steaks on the grill or fireworks that fill the atmosphere.
Filing for available seats in Bunn, Franklinton, Louisburg, Youngsville and Wake Forest starts July 7 and runs through July 21.

Dear editor: While returning from Raleigh the other day via a "back way" my wife and I were astounded by the growth that has and seemingly continues to sprout in the county vis a vis housing. My understanding is that there is no "county water" system in the area of the county adjacent to Wake County ... indeed, I am not sure where there is "county water."

Dear editor: It is well known that I pushed for and supported the removal of the Confederate Statue on North Main Street in 2020. Today, June 26, 2023, I stand by that decision.
I also stand by the decision to place it at its current location near Confederate soldiers' gravesites at Oakwood Cemetery.

Dear editor: I will admit I was getting worn out with our President continually saying the rich should pay their fair share and that we need "comprehensive gun control" in America.
After learning that the President's son went two years and did not pay any income tax, and furthermore he is charged only with a misdemeanor, I would like to go back and rethink what I have done every year to prepare and turn in my taxes.

Dear editor: Thank you so much for bringing attention to our wonderful patriotic group of women. You made our work much easier by giving us a platform to notify your readers there is a porn problem in Franklin County Schools. Our ladies' group was formed to unite Franklin County patriots to make a difference.