Recent Articles

Franklinton Commissioners John Allers, LaTasha Wilder, Alvin Holden

LOUISBURG -- The community has raised more than $15,000 in an effort to help the Louisburg softball team recover from a bus fire that torched nearly all their equipment and belongings.
No injuries were reported in the Feb. 24 fire that took place in South Carolina.

Decades of reporting about local government has taught me that it's highly unusual for any board to take a 180-degree turn in its priorities at one meeting -- and almost unheard of for such a dramatic change to come without lengthy and detailed explanations.
That's why a late evening about face by the Louisburg Town Council -- without any explanation whatsoever -- was concerning.

Unless we get a total shakeup -- again -- the filing period for the spring primary and fall 2022 election will have come and gone by this Friday.
And, this time, without a hitch.
I mean, it was only two months ago that covering the filing period felt like covering a furious rally in a tennis match, as I was constantly looking left and right as the rules seemed to change on an daily, if not hourly, basis.

Dear editor:
I am writing as a citizen of Louisburg to express my dismay over several actions taken by the Louisburg Town Council at its Monday, Feb. 20, 2022 meeting. (See Thursday, Feb. 24, edition of The Franklin Times.)

Dear editor:
Vladimir Putin, the Russian Madman President, invades Ukraine. Thousands of innocent people, including women and children, will be killed.
Donald Trump, the U.S. madman, says it was a smart move on Putin's part.

Dear editor:
There are very few circumstances in my adult life when I feel the need to use the word hate.
Yet, as I watch the impending doom and continued loss of life in the situation in Ukraine, I am reminded of how I hate War.

FRANKLINTON -- For the most part, Franklinton fire crews could only watch as a piece of logging equipment burned.
Units were dispatched to what was reported as a farm equipment fire just after 11 a.m. on Feb. 28.
When crews responded to the 63 Mann Street address, essentially a road that dead ends into a long, muddied path, they found a plume of black smoke in the distance -- about a mile off the road. According to those on scene, a piece of logging equipment had caught fire.

O. Henry Book Club President Hazel Foster presented Franklin County Library Director Holt Kornegay with two novels, The Letter Keeper and The water Keeper, as donations to the Louisburg branch in memory of Myrtle King. King, who was an active member of the club for many years, and an avid reader, passed away several months ago.

Napoleon and Marsha Dunn are pleased to announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Miriam Denise Dunn, of Spring Hope, to Cornelius Rashon Wilder, of Bunn. Cornelius is the son of Michael and Earlean Wilder of Bunn. Miriam is the granddaughter of Bobby Scott. The wedding will take place on March 19, 2022 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Arbor Day in North Carolina will be March 19 this year and Cooperative Extension officials are urging everyone to take time to celebrate by planting a tree.
Trees are a wonderful addition to any landscape not only by providing an aesthetic complement but by increasing the quality of life and improving overall health.
Since trees are such a large, visible addition to the landscape, care must be taken to ensure proper growth and development.

Nominations are being sought for a $750 scholarship offered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Administrative Professionals Association (NCCEAPA) through March 25.
The scholarship is available to North Carolina residents pursuing a college degree (Associate and/or Bachelor) in business or a business-related field of study.

BUNN -- Colton Holbrook possesses many of the intangibles needed to be successful on the baseball diamond -- and even a few more.
Holbrook is a speedy, top-of-the-order hitter who bats left and throws left -- attributes that college coaches usually rave about.
But Holbrook's excellence doesn't stop there.

BUNN -- Two schools with new coaches -- competing in a newfangled league -- met Tuesday when Bunn entertained Northern Nash in an early-campaign Big East Conference boys tennis matchup.
But while the coaches are new, they are taking over programs that are on a much different arc in their respective building process.

Bunn High School's Carter Benton reaches for a backhand during his singles match as part of the Wildcats' Big East Conference boys tennis showdown Tuesday at home against the Northern Nash Knights.

LOUISBURG -- Whatever it takes -- and wherever it takes -- was Justin Shearin's motto during his career as a member of the Louisburg High School football squad.
Shearin worked his way around several different spots in the LHS lineup -- on both sides of the ball -- and has played a key role in the Warriors' success over the past trio of campaigns.

BALTIMORE, MD - The North Carolina Wesleyan College baseball team secured a 5-3 non-conference win over Cortland St. (NY) last Saturday morning in the first game of their Baltimore Invitational at Johns Hopkins University.
Wesleyan improved to 5-3 and went right back to action to battle M.I.T. on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the Invitational winning 7-0.

LOUISBURG -- Quinderra Spellman was announced Tuesday as the new head football coach at Louisburg College.
Spellman comes to Louisburg after 12 seasons on the North Carolina Wesleyan College coaching staff, where he served as assistant head coach for defensive line.
"We are excited about the hiring of Quinderra Spellman as our head football coach,'' said LC Athletic Director Mike Holloman.

LOUISBURG -- A Franklin County man is soon slated to appear in court on charges of felony death by distribution.
Tyree Montrel Person, 25, of PG Pearce Road, in the Zebulon area of the county, was arrested and charged with the Class C felony on Feb. 9.
According to authorities, the charges stem from an extensive investigation resulting from the October 30, 2021, overdose death of Kenneth Harris, a Franklin County resident.

Mr. William Hockaday Cannady Jr. age 83 of Oak Lane Blairsville, GA. passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 23, 2022 at his home following an extended illness. William was born on May 13, 1938 in Louisburg, NC., the son of the late William Hockaday Cannady Sr. and the late Julia Love Snead Cannady. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force of the Vietnam era. William retired as a Pilot from United and Eastern Airlines with over thirty seven years of service. He enjoyed fishing, RC airplanes, traveling and was an avid machinist. He was a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Jean Graham Cannady in 2019 and a sister, Mary Frances Cannady. Mr. Cannady was a member of Perry's Chapel Church.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Lorraine "Pink" Husketh Pearce, 91, of Youngsville passed away on Tuesday morning, March 1, 2022 at Hillside Nursing Center in Wake Forest.

CASTALIA, NC--David Lee Wilder Jr., 77, of Castalia passed away on February 27, 2022. David was born on November 13, 1944 to the late David Sr. and Lelia May Wilder.