Recent Articles

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Frank Alex Manns, Sr. age 83, who died on Saturday, January 16, 2021, will be held on Tuesday, January 26 at 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Harvey Hartsfield officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Delight UCC Church Cemetery.

HOLLISTER-Funeral services for Thomas O. Hedgpeth, age 95, who died on Thursday, January 14, 2021, will be held on Saturday, January 23 at 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Bishop Harry Cohen officiating. Burial will follow in the Hedgpeth Family Cemetery in Hollister.

Mr. King David Alston Sr., son of the late William and Pattie Gupton Alston was born December 24, 1933, in Franklin County, North Carolina. At an early age he joined Perry's Missionary Baptist Church. He also served in the US army for two years.

Rosalyn Griffin Vandenberg, 65, of Castalia passed away in her home on January 16, 2021. She was born on August 6, 1955 to the late Walter Floyd and Edith Inez Gupton Griffin. In addition to her parents, Rosie was preceded in death by two brothers, Brent and Tommie Griffin.

FRANKLINTON--George Wilson Eury, 94, of Franklinton, passed away on January 14, 2021. He was born on January, 3, 1927 to the late Joseph Clay and Myrtle Dement Eury. In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Sumner and her husband, Ronald; his brothers, Gerald, Archer, JC, and Ray; his sister, Delores; and his brother-in-law, Bill Seagroves.

Debora Lavern Perry was born August 27, 1951 to the late Lillie G. Perry in Franklin County, North Carolina. The late Elder Albert and Lillian P. Person assumed legal guardianship of Debora until their demise. On January 7, 2021 Debora transitioned to her eternal home at Maria Parham Hospital, Henderson, NC.

Louisburg -- Sandra Fuller Edwards, 77, of Louisburg, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 14, 2021. She was born in Vance County September 29, 1943, a daughter of the late Harold E. and Nan (Paul) Fuller. Sandra was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Roger Gene Edwards, Sr. in 2019.

Louisburg -- Kenneth Welcome Robertson, known by family as Jim, passed from this earth on January 13, 2021, in his home surrounded by his family.

Joel Keith Matthews, 67, passed January 15, 2021. He was born April 21, 1953 in Nash County to the late Kenneth Earl Matthews and Ruby Mae Moss Matthews.

LOUISBURG-Rosa Lee (Robertson) Finn, 74, passed away at her home in Louisburg surrounded by her family on Wednesday evening, January 13, 2021. She was born August 22, 1946 in Franklin County, a daughter of the late George and Estelle (Powell) Robertson. Along with her parents, Rosa was preceded in death by her brother, Joe Robertson.

FRANKLINTON-Funeral services for Catherine "Tassie" Harris Sutton, age 82, who died on Saturday, January 9, 2021, will be held on Saturday, January 16 at 11 a.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Kinches Chapel Church Cemetery in Franklinton.

KITTRELL-Graveside services for LaTina Perry, age 42, who died on Sunday, January 10, 2021, will be held on Monday, January 18 at 1 p.m. at the Red Bud Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Henderson.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Health Department began expanding its reach in an effort to ramp up vaccinations.
Last week, the department began its coordinated effort to inoculate residents 75 and older.
On Jan. 7, more than 320 people received a vaccination during a two-hour clinic.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County public school students returned to the classrooms this week under Plan B -- and will continue under that plan for the foreseeable future, according to school officials.
Plan B involves two days a week of face-to-face classes and three days of virtual work from home.

CENTERVILLE -- Wanted: A dedicated physician's assistant.
The retirement of long-time health care provider and former Beckford Centerville Medical Center Clinic physician's assistant Sandi Reed prompted the closure of the northeastern Franklin County facility at the end of December.

LOUISBURG -- After zipping through a brief, very routine agenda and tabling three items for future consideration, the Louisburg Town Council meeting Monday night veered into current events at the national level.
Long-time Council member Christopher Neal told fellow members and about a half dozen in the audience that this is a "frightening time for our country."

Franklinton High School spiker McKenzie Hill

RALEIGH -- Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines (GS-NCCP) is kicking off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program on Saturday.
Girl Scouts are selling in creative, socially distant, and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe.
Even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, girls are adapting their sales methods to share Girl Scout cookies through the largest girl-led entrepreneurship program.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg woman was charged with death by motor vehicle for her role in a crash that killed a Rolesville man.
According to a report by Trooper C.R. Lanham, William Joseph Fightmaster, 18, was riding a Suzuki motorcycle south on U.S. 401 when Alayne Sheresa Joyner, 45, attempted to make a left turn onto Fox Ridge Road.

LAKE ROYALE -- Police arrested a resident on out-of-county and an out-of-state warrant.
According to authorities, officers were investigating and clearing a scene prior to Christmas and a few days later discovered that one of the parties involved had an active warrant out of Carteret County.

LOUISBURG -- County planners are soliciting input to update their bicycle and pedestrian plan.
The county's current plan dates back to 2014 and staff admit it's not incredibly specific and note that the county's trails and greenways are lacking.
The creation of a bicycle and pedestrian master plan would seek to rectify those two issues.

We have to be SO-O-O much better than this!
Where is the urgency?
Where is the planning?
Where is the effort to build community support and assistance?

Dear editor:
Over the weekend, I read an article in the News and Observer outlining what the counties in our area are doing with regard to the vaccination and COVID response for their citizens.