Recent Articles

BUNN -- Gov. Roy Cooper signed sweeping changes to the state's Alcohol Beverage Control Commission Laws, including one for which a Bunn businessman and restaurateur wants to take a shot.
Part 14 of the Sept. 10 omnibus bill changes the requirements that need to be met for a small town to hold a mixed beverage election, commonly referred to as liquor by the drink.

NEWLYWEDS. Antwone Burgess of Louisburg and Donna Brown of Talladega, Ala. were married August 21, 2021 at White Dove Chapel, Wendell. The couple will reside in Knightdale.

HENDERSON -- Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. has announced two recent hires. Uriah Ford will serve as coordinator of the NC Cares program. Ariel Williams will serve as public information coordinator and community education director for the agency.
Ford is a 2016 graduate of Vance County Early College. He graduated UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree in public policy and a minor in Spanish for the medical professions.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College is continuing to remove barriers to education and promote student success.
The college recently cleared the unpaid balances for 261 students who attended the college between the Spring 2020 and the Summer 2021 semesters.
By utilizing institutional funds from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Vance-Granville cleared a total of $153,332.14 in outstanding student balances.

If I've learned anything during decades in the newspaper business, it's that you never know what you'll be dealing with next!
If you read last week's edition, you can surmise that one of the more interesting topics lately has been a long discussion with retired Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Johnny Binkley, who recently became a Franklin County resident.
He just authored a book called Moonshiners & Revenuers and much of it focuses on his exploits and adventures in good old Franklin County.

By the time you read this, we'll be just about a month away from the fall 2021 municipal election day.
If that doesn't let you know that we're in the short rows for some contested municipal races, especially in Louisburg and Franklinton, then know this: One Stop/Early Voting begins Oct. 14 and ends the day before Halloween.
I know; spooky, right?!?

Dear editor:
This is in response to a letter to the editor printed in the Sept. 23 edition.
1 - Regarding the KeystoneXL pipeline and cause of current and continued price increases at the pump - Net U.S. petroleum product exports in 2021 will average 3.5 million barrels per day and 3.9 mbpd projected for 2022.

Dear editor:
The amount of Federal tax dollars noted at $13,000,000 provided to Franklin County for COVID pandemic funds is outrageous.
The approximate number of Franklin County citizens age appropriate that are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine +or- 55,000 adults and children over 7 years of age.

HENDERSON -- VGCC student Jenae Burk demonstrates the success of women in welding
According to the American Welding Society, women make up roughly five percent of the welding profession in the United States.
This situation provides ample opportunity for women to join this in-demand field.

FRANKLINTON -- It didn't take too long into the Big East Conference boys soccer schedule to determine that the two matchups between Southern Nash and Franklinton would probably determine the league's regular season champion.
Certainly, FHS and Southern seemed a cut above the rest of the league, and their recent rivalry was destined to continue this fall with a pair of hotly contested events.

(L to R) Franklinton's Landon Heller and Southern Nash's Sam Wheaton elevate for possession during Monday's key Big East Conference boys soccer matchup.

RED OAK -- In an instant -- and by mere inches -- the complexion of last Friday's Big East Conference football game between host Northern Nash and Bunn changed permanently in the third period of action.
To that point, the contest had been competitive, and BHS had used a defensive touchdown to claw back to within six points of the favored Knights.

RED OAK -- The competitive Big East Conference volleyball scene has featured an upside-down scenario during the 2021 campaign.
Under normal circumstances, the higher-classification schools usually control the proceedings when a split league is formed -- such was what happened in the off-season to the newfangled Class 2/3-A Big East.

FRANKLINTON -- As an understudy of the legendary B.W. Holt, Chris Lee has been known to pull out one of his mentor's plays at the most opportune time.
Such was the case last Friday as Lee -- the former head coach at Louisburg High School -- brought his Bulldogs to Franklinton for a key Big East Conference football contest.

ZEBULON -- Carolina Mudcats baseball fans can now begin making their plans for next season as the Mudcats, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, have announced their 2022 regular-season schedule, beginning on April 8 against the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats will open at home for the second consecutive season when they host the Wood Ducks for Opening Night 2022 on April 8.

LOUISBURG -- One of the craziest matches of the 2015 volleyball season came when visiting Louisburg, down by two sets and having to overcome eight match points, somehow rallied to defeat rival Bunn in five sets. History repeated itself last Tuesday, albeit with the roles being reversed.

FRANKLINTON, NC--Tammy Mason Ray, 55, of Franklinton, NC, died Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Wake Medical Center. The daughter of Gloria Watson Mason and the late Larry Dean Mason, she was born on February 24, 1966 in Valdese, NC.

BROOKLYN, NY AND LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Clarence Michael "Feedie" Williams, age 42, who died on Thursday, September 23, 2021, will be held on Thursday, October 7, at 11 a.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the McLeod Family Cemetery.

KITTRELL, NC -- Funeral services for Bonnie "BonBon" Gupton, age 60, who died on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, September 27, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Howard Harris Jr., age 49, who died on Monday, September 13, 2021, will be held on Saturday, September 25 at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Everett Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Luther's Chapel Church Cemetery.

STANHOPE - Carlos Barron has fielded some strong teams during his tenure as Southern Nash's boys soccer coach -- but this might be his best club yet.
Even with a tough schedule, the Firebirds have rolled through regular season action to date -- and appear to be headed for a pair of showdowns with Franklinton with the Big East Conference Championship at stake.