Recent Articles

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Franklinton Red Rams claimed their first conference championship in boys basketball since moving to a new conference in 2017 last Friday night by knocking off the top-seeded Northern Nash Knights 67-64 in dramatic fashion in the Big East Conference Tournament Finals.
The game was held on the campus of Rocky Mount High School, where the host Gryphons claimed the conference championship on the girls side in the preceding game with a 76-31 victory over Franklinton.

Franklinton High School's Meredith Wilkins drives into the paint for the Lady Rams during Tuesday's home victory over Jacksonville in the first round of the Class 3-A Girls Basketball State Playoffs.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Christian Buffaloe, local Kyokushin Karate fighter, recently won first place in the Men's Lightweight Division of the Japan sponsored "Kyokushin Karate USWC Championships" in Los Angeles (Little Tokyo) on February 5.
In the final match, 23-year-old Buffaloe faced strong Japanese fighter Kohtaroh Zushi in a very tough and technical fight.

Ed Wilson takes his turn singing karaoke at the Franklinton Senior Center

FRANKLINTON -- Will the fourth time be the charm for the Franklinton High School girls basketball team?
Maybe those chances aren't high, but Franklinton will have one more shot at powerhouse Rocky Mount during the 2022-23 season -- this time in the second round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

Franklinton, NC--Funeral services for Buddy "Cat Baby" Braswell Jr., age 73, who died Tuesday, February 21, 2023, will be held 1 p.m., Sunday, March 5, 2023 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Teressa Kearney officiating.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Crystal Lynn Morin, 38, of Franklinton died Monday, February 20, 2023.

ROLESVILLE, NC--Larry Hayes Allen Jr., 50 , of Rolesville died February 15, 2023 . He was born on February 15, 1973 the son of Larry Allen Sr. and the late Jo Ann Gaddy Allen.

LOUISBURG, NC - Carolyn Griffin Gardner, 83, of Louisburg, died Tuesday morning, February 21, 2023.

LOUISBURG, NC-- Ernest Lee "Tom" Duke, 88 , of Louisburg passed away on February 19, 2023. He was born on September 17, 1934 the son of the late Timothy and Priscilla Rowe Duke. In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his wife, Nell Burnette Duke; a sister, Betty Jean Holmes; his brother, Coy Duke; and a special nephew, Duke Holmes.

Ronald Anthony Gerard, age 89, of Raleigh, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Ron was born in Glen Cove, New York on May 19, 1933, to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Benedict Gerard. In addition to his father, Ron was preceded in death by his brother, David Gerard, his sister, Joan Stockel, his stepdaughter Candy Tew and his stepson Ronny House.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Sarah Bell Massenburg, age 99, who died on Monday, February 20, 2023, will be held 1 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2023 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. James Walter Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

Hollister, NC--Funeral services for Clifton "Doot" Lynch, age 79, who died on Sunday, February 19, 2023, will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 2 p.m. from the White Rock Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Alonzo West officiating. Burial will follow in the Old White Rock Church Cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC--Lillian Bryant Wheeler Pearce, 98, of Youngsville died Friday, February 17, 2023 at Transitions Life Care Raleigh.

Baltimore MD--Funeral services for Kevin Wayne Shearin, age 57, from Baltimore, MD, formerly of Louisburg, NC, who died on Friday, February 10, 2023, will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Calvin Bullock officiating. Burial will follow in the Jordan Chapel Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC - Mary Helen Bartholomew Phelps, 58, of Louisburg, died Monday evening, February 13, 2023.

LOUISBURG, NC - Owen Keith Tharrington Jr., 91, died Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Maria Parham Health. Born June 27, 1931, in Vance County, he was the son of the late Owen Keith Tharrington Sr., and Ruth Hoyle Tharrington and was the widower of Ann Petty Tharrington.

Sunday's big game almost lived up to some of the pre-game hype -- but the ending was kind of a dud, entertainment wise.
It was unfortunate that a questionable holding call by the officials cast a pall over the contest, and allowed the Chiefs to win easily by manipulating the clock.
Granted the clock gambit was perfectly legal -- and which most of us would have done if we'd been the Chiefs' coach -- it was a sad ending for such a hard-fought, exciting game.

LOUISBURG -- The grand jury meets near the end of February and there's a chance prosecutors will seek first degree murder charges against two men accused of killing a Youngsville teenager.
Late last week, District Court Judge J. Hoyte Stultz refused to lower the bonds for Gavin Miller and Dillon Piper, the 18- and 19-year-old accused of killing Hamilton Woods Jr. on the evening of Jan. 29.

LOUISBURG -- Charges involving a fight between two girls sheds a bit more light on a January murder that sprang from the altercation.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Gavin Miller and Dillon Piper, alleging the two were responsible for shooting and killing 19-year-old Hamilton Woods Jr. on Jan. 29.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners held off on changing zoning in a neighborhood that's seen its fair share of zoning battles.
Cary-based Land Alternatives LLC has petitioned the town to rezone 66.37 acres from Agriculture Residential to Mixed Use -- making way for 400,000 square feet of technical flex space.

CHECKUP. Dr. Cole Younger of Full Circle Mobile Vet Clinic checks out Skipper, a quarter horse owned by Lee-Ann O'Neal, right. The annual equine vaccine clinic -- held Feb. 11 -- was hosted by the Franklin County Cooperative Extension and held at the Franklin County Farmer's Market Shelter. The central location allowed horse owners to save money by not incurring a farm call fee. Younger offered Coggins, 4-Way, 5-Way, Rabies and West Nile vaccines.

Bunn Ladycat Alexis Perry

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent inmate suicide at the Franklin County Detention Center.
Staff found the inmate unresponsive in his individual cell at about 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
Detention officers and medical staff worked to resuscitate the inmate until EMS arrived.