Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- A dozen Franklin County residents plan to continue their legal fight challenging Louisburg's decision to move a Confederate statue.
In June 2020, the Louisburg Town Council made a split vote to move the statue from Main Street, ultimately, to Oakwood Cemetery off Bickett Boulevard.

Chelsea Roberson has been a stalwart behind the plate this spring for the Louisburg College softball squad under the direction of veteran head coach Eric Lee.

Louisburg College sophomore catcher Chelsea Roberson sends a deep fly ball toward the outfield during a recent Region X softball matchup against Florence-Darlington at historic Sheilah R. Cotten Field.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Spencer Edwards made the most of his senior boys golf season at Nash Central -- and his only one in the Big East Conference.
Edwards and his Nash Central teammates had previously competed in the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference, but were reclassified into the split 2/3-A Big East before the 2021-22 calendar year.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Just because a player's name isn't called during the National Football League Draft doesn't mean that the dream is over.
The NFL world is loaded with undrafted free agents who signed with teams immediately after the end of the draft process -- and were given a chance to make the roster.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Plymouth couple accused of stealing from their mother.
An investigation by the Wilson County Department of Social Services and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office prompted them to level more than 70 charges of abuse and exploitation of an elder against Kimberly Gayle Carter, 53, and Robert Lavon Carter Jr., 51.

Robbin Strickland enjoying Senior Spring Day

CASTALIA, NC-- Staley Leonard, 97, of Castalia and the Red Bud community, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. He was born on January 26, 1925 in Franklin County, to the late Bennie and Eva Andrews Leonard. In addition to his parents, Staley was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Corinne Leonard; and his siblings, Mozelle Smith, Wilton Leonard, Daphine Murphy, J.B. Leonard, Kelly Murray, Alfred Leonard and Malcolm Leonard.

RALEIGH, NC-- James Arthur "Pete" Williams, 85, of Raleigh went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 7, 2022. He was born in Vance County on August 3, 1936 to the late James Henry and Lucy Elizabeth Calette Williams. In addition to his parents, Pete was predeceased by his son, Jimmy Williams; and sisters, Mattie Tart and Patsy Waite.

Mary Jane "Janie" Mustian, 73, died Tuesday, May 3, 2022. She was born on April 7, 1949 in Huntsville, Alabama, to the late James and Marion Jean Route Tucker. In addition to her parents, Janie is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, William Lewis "Bill" Mustian.

MACON, NC-- David Lewis Thompson, 50, of Macon died May 3, 2022 at his home. He was born on May 29, 1971, the son of Franklin Herbert Thompson, Jr. and the late Rebecca Arlene Newman Thompson.

Louisburg, NC--Graveside services for Jackie Thomas, age 53, who died on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, will be 1 p.m., Sunday, May 15 from the Haywood Baptist Church Cemetery in Louisburg with Apostle Randy Green officiating.

LOUISBURG, NC-- Herbert Landis Preddy, 92 of Louisburg passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022 at his residence. He was born in Granville County son of the late Lessie Hicks Preddy and George Herbert Preddy.

FRANKLINTON, NC-- Grady Lee Peace, 73, of Franklinton passed away Saturday, May 7, 2022. He was born December 23, 1948 in Granville County, NC to the late Lee Warren Peace and Virginia Dare Watson Peace. His son, Robert Lee Peace also preceded him in death.

LOUISBURG, NC-- Shirley Daisy Fish Allison, 85, of Louisburg went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 6, 2022. She was born on June 26, 1936 to the late Loyd Vernon and Daisy Coward Fish. In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, Jerry Jasper Allison; her stepmother, Lura Fish; a grandson, Jonathan Lassiter, sisters, Sarah Price and Kathleen McKinnon; and brothers, Floyd Fish and W.H. Case.

BUNN, NC--Ellis Clarson Medlin, 90, of Bunn, passed away at his home. A native of Franklin County, he was the son of Ellis Medlin and Nannie Jeans Medlin. He served his country in the United States Air Force and was an entrepreneur, owning automotive businesses and restaurants in New York. He was a Gold Wings motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed camping and fishing.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Ruby Bradford Brown, age 75, who died on Friday, May 6, 2022, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2022 from the Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Kelvin Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry's Missionary Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Charles Lee Patterson, 81, of Franklinton, NC, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at his home.

Remember the old saying that if you want something done right, do it yourself?
That's largely the tactic that one Franklin County organization is using to tackle a problem that has perplexed rural communities for decades -- economic development.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council agreed Monday night to spend $57,472 more to stabilize the controversial Depot Hill project and protect it from the weather before "mothballing" the project to determine how -- and whether -- to proceed with the $2.1 million rehabilitation project.
The action came during a tense, sometimes confrontational 90-minute special meeting where the only topic was the Depot Hill property.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed Monday night to support two companies' efforts to expand Internet service in Franklin County, even if one of the shows of support was more symbolic than financial.
The deadline to apply for the next round of GREAT Grant funding expired on Wednesday, prompting representatives from Charter Communications, better known as Spectrum, and Virginia-based ZiTEL, to ask commissioners to financially support their plans to rollout service in unserved and under-served areas of the county.

LOUISBURG -- It's a familiar building with a critical purpose that's located centrally in Louisburg -- but now it has a new name.
Once called the Louisburg Police and Fire Training Center, the structure has been named the Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex in honor of a man who has given 65 years of service to the community -- and who says he's still ready to help if he's needed.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners have scheduled a third budget session next week.
Essentially, it's where the rubber meets the road.
Commissioners discussed requested expenses during an April 28 meeting and talked about revenues during a May 2 session.
The board next meets on May 12.

FRANKLINTON -- Two women were killed Sunday in a fiery wreck.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Teresa Rhodes, 61, of Franklinton, and her passenger, Susie Gupton, 59, were traveling along Timberlake Road near the county landfill at about 6 p.m. when the accident occurred.

Volunteer Emilee Johnson directs cancer survivors to the Franklin County Relay for Life Cancer Survivor Drive-thru Dinner Saturday. The Franklin County Relay for Life Event is 6-10 p.m., Friday, May 6, at the Bunn High School football stadium. For more information, see Section B of this edition.