Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a Louisburg woman they allege tried to defraud a local big box store.
According to authorities, Anita Ann O'Neal used receipts from other people to 'return' merchandise to customer service for cash refunds.
The offense date is listed at Nov. 23, and Nov. 28 -- the day authorities issued a warrant for her her arrest was issued. The 51-year-old is next slated to appear in court on Feb. 2.

Louisburg's Mary Brown Branch reached a 102-year milestone on Nov. 14.
She celebrated her birthday with a meal at Johnny Bull's Steakhouse with family and friends in attendance.
Family and friends expressed the wisdom and love that Branch shares and the inspiration she continues to be.

SWEETEST JOB. Volunteers Andrea Woodin and Jason Gantt set up the dessert bar at the Thanksgiving Community Dinner, held at Louisburg College. The Franklin County Interfaith Council stated food and donations were received by churches, food pantries, agencies, families and individuals, and served by almost 70 volunteers.

Volunteer Sam Kingsley stirs the gravy

It's difficult to believe, but Turkey Day is behind us, the weather has turned decidedly more like December -- and Santa Claus has already been spotted listening to wish lists from Franklin County children.
Brace yourself, we are already in that frantic sprint to Christmas and all that the holiday season promises.
The holiday parade season officially kicks off tonight (Thursday) in Franklinton with the county's only nighttime parade but that's just the beginning of the holiday activities.

So, for much of my life, I couldn't imagine anyone with firing neurons would think it was a good idea to wake up on Thanksgiving morning, get out of a warm bed and run 3.1 miles in the cold -- on purpose.
Then, my neurons apparently began to misfire because I became a runner and running a Thanksgiving turkey trot is a popular right of passage, for runners and walkers, alike.

Dear editor: I read with interest your article regarding the recent (and long history) of crashes on Bickett Boulevard.
Being a lifelong resident of Franklin County, a former NCDOT Traffic Engineer, a member of the U.S. 401 Committee and having a career dedicated to improving transportation and safety of this great state transportation system, I too agree that improving the mobility and safety of that corridor is paramount!

Dear editor: Less than a year into his second term, Donald Trump has already issued nearly 10 times the number of pardons he did during his entire first term.
Pardons traditionally have been issued at the end of a presidency, in order to avoid the political fallout from granting clemency to controversial lawbreakers, but in Trump's second term there are no longer any guardrails in place to protect the public from his brazen corruption and lawlessness.

Dear editor: I am surprised that Robert Strickland responded to my letter in The Franklin Times in such a manner.
I have always thought, no matter your religious conviction, that your conscience was between you and God. Morality and the word of law are determined here on earth.

Dear editor: In a recent editorial section of The Franklin Times, one reader took issue with the handling of the long running Patricia Chastain, Clerk of Franklin County court case, and went as far as to boldly say the case had been "mishandled by the courts," and I believe this reader is on to something.
Litigation of Chastain's alleged misconduct has been volleyed back and forth across the indecisive N.C. court system like Forrest Gump's ping pong ball, and to this day no written order has been entered to bring the issue to an end.

Dear editor: Robert Strickland's "letter to the editor" in last week's issue of The Times was outstanding in analyzing our political status. I wonder if all of our voters will absorb this info and give their opinions on what he stated.
I suppose "Trump's cult" will continue to watch the "mealy mouth XXX" continue to destroy this country and vote their conscience, that is, as Robert said, "if they can find it".

YOUNGSVILLE -- After a national search for its next town manager, Youngsville officials decided to keep it local.
Following a Nov. 24 special-called meeting to interview candidates, the board selected Will Doerfer, elevating him from his assistant town manager post.
The decision, said Mayor Fonzie Flowers, followed an exhaustive national recruitment process designed to identify the most qualified and visionary leader for our growing community.

Wendell, NC -- Funeral services for Shirley Ann Tucker , age 67, who died on Friday, November 28, 2025, will be held on Saturday, December 6, at 2 p.m. from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, NC with Min. Bobby Gaye, eulogist.

Oceanview, DE/Hollister, NC -- Funeral services for Lockie Ray "Lucky" Richardson, age 66, who died on Friday, November 21, 2025, will be held on Saturday, December 6, at 11 a.m. from the Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Warrenton with Rev. Michael Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Walter's Chapel Church Cemetery.

Castalia, NC -- Funeral services for Rev. John Williams, age 83, who died on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, will be held on Sunday, December 7, at 1 p.m. from the Gillfield Missionary Baptist Church in Castalia with Pastor Melvin Johnson officiating.

Castalia, NC -- Funeral services for Charlene Strickland, age 77, who died on Thursday, November 27, 2025, will be held on Thursday, December 4, at 12 p.m. from the Castalia Baptist Church in Castalia, NC with Rev. Carlyle Hall officiating.

Louisburg, NC -- Viewing for Willard Allen Jr., age 82, who died on Friday, November 21, 2025 was held on Sunday, November 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Archie Lee Silver, age 76, who died on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, were held on Saturday, November 29 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Elder Ron Clifton officiating.

Rocky Mount, NC -- Graveside services for Toy Ellis Birch, age 94, who died on Saturday, November 22, 2025, were held on Friday, November 28, at 1 p.m. at the Ellis Family Cemetery in Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Clarence "Bay Bay" Perry, age 61, who died on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, were held on Monday, November 17, at 12 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Evangelist Gertrude Jones, eulogist and Rev. Michael Alston presiding.

Castalia, NC -- Grover Kirk Collins, 66, of Castalia, NC went home to be with the Lord on November 22, 2025. He was born on March 23, 1959, to the late Grover and Dorine Collins.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Martha Freeman Davis, 88, surrounded by her loving family, peacefully passed away on November 24, 2025 at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh. Martha was born on October 11, 1937 to the late Numa and Margaret Holden Freeman.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Maple Springs Baptist Church with the Reverend Jason Havens officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the church following the committal.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County is three years into a clinical trial study to mitigate cardiac arrest, and the prognosis is positive, emergency medical services staff and leaders say.
Three years ago, Franklin County and its emergency responders began a trial called RACE CARS, Randomized Cluster Evaluation of Cardiac Arrest Systems.
Essentially, partners focused on three intervention goals: