Recent Articles

Jade Smith is all bundled up during the Easter egg hunt in Franklinton.

Madilyn and Lylah Medlin pose with the Easter bunny in Bunn.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Stella M. Smith, age 66, who died on Thursday, April 2, 2026, will be held Saturday, April 11, at 2 p.m. from the Ambassadors for Christ, Louisburg, NC.

Spring Hope, NC -- Mary Ann Spruill Green, 61, of Spring Hope died April 5, 2026.

Franklinton, NC -- Betty Smith Hinton, 81, of Franklinton, died April 4, 2026 at Franklin Oaks in Louisburg, NC. Betty was born on July 7, 1944 to the late Sidney Albert Smith Sr. and Ruby Davis Smith.

ALERT, NC -- Kenneth Martin Radford, 65, of Alert, died Monday, April 1, 2026. He was born to Robert and Virginia Mosley Radford in Franklin County, NC on March 24, 1961.

Youngsville, NC -- Bobby Sanford Pearce, 87, died April 6, 2026 at his home in Youngsville, NC. Bobby was born in Franklin County on March 11, 1939 to the late Henry and Mary Rogers Pearce .

Louisburg, NC -- William "Bill" Pittman, 78, of Louisburg died April 1, 2026.

Louisburg, NC -- Julia Wrenn Alford, 74, of Louisburg, died Thursday, April 2, 2026. She was born to the late Dorsey and Mary Thomas Wynne Wrenn on October 5, 1951 in Wake County, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Shirley Crumpler Daniels, 98, of Louisburg, passed away Thursday morning, April 2, 2026.

WARRENTON -- In prepared remarks, Franklin County staff said it can't meet development demand, which is why it's asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to free up more than 15 million gallons per day of water.
However, when staring down a Warren County Armory Civic Center full of residents who opposed the measure, Franklin County leaders were silent.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted a community engagement meeting last week, giving residents, property owners and other interested parties surrounded and served by the lake an opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council approved a rezoning request that helps clear the way for a proposed Senior Living apartment complex adjacent to Shannon Village Shopping Center.
The action came Monday after a two-hour special called meeting that began with a public hearing and quickly spiraled into a debate that included not only the senior apartments but also a proposed townhouse development nearby.

A very happy Leo Ramirez, 3, who was all decked out in a Fire Chief's coat, shows his mother, Kaeli, the golden egg he found Sunday afternoon at Bunn's Easter Egg Hunt. Other egg hunt photos from Youngsville, Bunn and Franklinton appear on Page 12 in this edition. By the way, Leo won a special prize for being one child who found a golden egg.

NASHVILLE -- Sixteen area men -- including six from Franklin County -- allegedly came to Nashville in February, looking to sexually exploit children, but instead found themselves in the long arm of the law.
'Operation Cursed Cupid," a multi-agency collaborative undercover operation spearheaded by the Nashville Police Department involved more than 150 officers and thousands of man hours.

Kinsley Hockaday, 3, digs deep for a winning door prize ticket at Saturday night's Cancer Survivor's Dinner. Holding the jar of tickets is Danette Cheatham, Relay for Life chair. The Relay for Life fund-raising and spirit-lifting event is slated for April 24 at Franklinton High School's track. More photos of various Relay events will appear later this month in the Relay for Life section

LOUISBURG -- A Hollister man is awaiting a court date after leading authorities on a two-county chase after he assaulted a bail bondsman.
Jorge Perez, 29, was charged with a litany of crimes, including going armed to the terror of the public and felony speeding to elude arrest and assault.
According to Louisburg Police Chief Travis Lincoln and court documents, bail bondsman Terrence Reynolds had gone to the Taco Bell/KFC on Bickett Boulevard to apprehend Perez the afternoon of March 26.

Marchers walk along Bickett Boulevard on Saturday on their way to the county courthouse, many holding signs protesting President's trump of handling the economy, the war in Iran, immigration and a host of other topics. On Saturday crowds estimated at more than eight million gathered across the nation in similar protests.

Elizabeth Coleman inhabits the Easter spirit

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg woman was killed in a single-vehicle wreck last week when authorities allege her husband suffered a medical condition and crashed the car.
Florence Alston, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities with the State Highway Patrol said.
According to authorities, Johnnie Alston was driving a sport utility vehicle in the northbound lane of N.C. 39 near Strickland Way when he ran off the road to the right around 6:45 p.m. on March 24.

98 YEARS YOUNG! Shirley Daniels of Louisburg, celebrated her 98th birthday with her family of five generations and many friends. Shirley was born March 14, 1928 in Johnston County, NC. Shirley has three children, six grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Government budget work sessions are fascinating experiences.
It's one of the few places where a group of folks can devise and try to execute a spending plan that can fundamentally shape an entire community.
Depending on the level of government, leaders get to determine where they will build new schools, how many law enforcement resources they will deploy, how much they will charge folks for essential resources and services, like water and sewer, and leaders can determine how much money -- taxes -- they charge people for all of it.

Dear editor: P.T. Barnum, America's original showman, charlatan, promoter and con man, achieved his first big success by putting Joice Heth on display.
Barnum purchased Heth in 1835 and exhibited her around the country, claiming she was 161 years old and had nursed and raised George Washington.
Americans flocked to see Heth, who would tell stories about "little George" and sing a hymn. When she died 7 months later, Barnum sold tickets to her autopsy.
After the doctor declared her claimed age a fraud, Barnum insisted the autopsy had been performed on a different person, and that Heth was on tour in Europe.

Dear editor: I am a stranger to common decency and I have never known guilt or shame.
The milk of human kindness flows nowhere through my veins.
I could be elected to public office only when callousness and ignorance prevail.
I would be your sociopathic ruler -- one who most cruelly reigns.

Dear editor: With both NC State and UNC Chapel Hill looking for a new men's basketball coach, you must ask yourself if these gentlemen were not in an impossible situation.
Well over fifty years ago, if a student athlete had the opportunity for a full four-year scholarship, or as they called it a "full ride," that was considered the pinnacle of success. Today, with the NIL funds and the transfer portal, it seems almost impossible for a coach and staff to build a program and retain players for four years.