Recent Articles

September 1 will mark 19 years here at ye olde Franklin Times.
And, if my nearly two decades of covering news here has taught me one thing, it's this: If there's something bad happening within 50 miles of this north central-ish county, there's a very high likelihood that some how, some way or some one from Franklin County is involved.

Dear editor: About the time you think the NCAA could not get any worse, you find out you were wrong. Literally in the dark of night, about 1 a.m. local time, the NCAA declared the game scheduled for Saturday with NC State and Vanderbilt a no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School has boasted its share of amazing athletes through the years -- and you can put seniors Jaheim Brown and Ragan Holloman with any of them.
Brown has been tabbed as LHS' Boys Athlete of the Year, while Holloman is the pick as the Girls Athlete of the Year.

FRANKLINTON -- Even rebuilding programs need veteran cornerstones -- and Robbie Burnett certainly was one of them this spring for the Franklinton High School baseball squad.
FHS had only three seniors and boasted an underclassmen-dominated lineup -- but one of its key stars was Burnett.

LOUISBURG -- It's that time of the year again -- the Town and Country Stingrays are back in the pool.
Town and Country kicked off its schedule on June 17 by taking part in a meet against the Stone Creek Tsunamis in Louisburg.
The Stingrays were impressive winners by a score of 174-139 over the Tsunamis.

GREENSBORO -- Franklin County's prep track and field programs were busy last weekend in their respective classifications at the annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships.
Meets in all four classes were held last Friday and Saturday at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro.

KINSTON -- Joe Gray Jr. hit his Low-A East leading eleventh home run of the season, but Down East starter Mason Englert held the Carolina Mudcats to just one run and one hit over six strong innings as the Wood Ducks took Sunday's series finale 6-2 at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.
The Low-A East Central-leading Mudcats (28-18) ended up finishing with a split in their six-game series with the Wood Ducks (27-20).

BUNN -- Bunn High School's first season in the Big East Conference will begin August 20 at home against East Chapel Hill.
The Wildcats will kick off their Big East slate September 17 at Rocky Mount.
BHS' complete ledger is as follows, with home games listed in CAPS:

It's been a long, sometimes difficult and often fun-filled journey for a young girl who grew up in Louisburg to become a medical doctor at the Duke University School of Medicine -- but Zoe Hinton has made that journey and she's not done yet, not by a long shot.
Dr. Hinton has fond memories of growing up in Louisburg with an art professor father and a librarian mother raising her. She is the daughter of Louisburg College art professor Will Hinton and Pat Hinton, the recently retired head librarian at Louisburg College.

HILLSBORO, Mo -- A murder suspect is in custody, but it was not immediately clear when he'd be back in Franklin County.
Franklin County investigators allege Bradley Hines shot and killed Heather Guild sometime between the last time Guild's mother heard from her, June 18, and when deputies found her body inside a home off Gilcrest Farm Road on June 24.

HENDERSON -- The Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. honored a host of women for their service, including a Louisburg resident.
Geraldine Pettiford Manley was one of five women recognized during the sorority's Annual Breakfast for M'Lady, which was held virtually.

WEDDING BELLS TO RING. Pastor Dr. Johnny Clifton Jr., a native of Franklin County, has announced the upcoming wedding of his daughter, Ashley Carol-Marie Clifton to Joshua Shaw of Rocky Mount, NC. The wedding is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11 at Mount Hebron Church, 118 Hayes Street, Louisburg, NC. All are invited.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Nancy Lee (Holzhausen) Schmidt, 77, of Louisburg, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 27, 2021. She was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on January 9, 1944, a daughter of the late Henry and Gertrude (Senkbeil) Holzhausen. Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Glenn and sister-in-law Verna, her sisters, Sara Geisler (Frank), Delores Johnson (Stewart) and her son Michael (Linda).

KITTRELL, NC - Ann Marie Perry Hyatt, 38, of Kittrell, died Saturday night, June 26, 2021, at Maria Parham Health.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Gloria Jean Williams-Satterwhite, age 61, who died on Sunday, June 27, 2021, will be held on Monday, July 5, 2021 at 2 p.m. from the Satterwhite Residence at 186 Baldy Murphy Road, Louisburg with Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Wardrick Family Cemetery.

Jasper Latney "Jack" Rogers Sr., age 78, of Zebulon, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 21, 2021. He was born in Riverdale, Maryland, Prince George County on March 22, 1943 to Clellie Mae Pulley and Royal Pittman "Pitt" Rogers, Sr. He attended Oak Ridge Military Academy and Guilford College. Jack was described as an entrepreneur in his own right.

LOUISBURG, NC--Funeral services for Thomas Moore, age 99, who died on Friday, June 25, 2021, will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. John Hopkins, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Church Cemetery.

LANHAM, MD -- Funeral services for Deon Allen-Idowu, age 53, who died on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Kittrell.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Reginald "Reggie" Battle, age 56, who died on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Mary Helen Jones Cemetery.

CARTHAGE, NC--Dr. Avery Jake Dennis, age 84, of Carthage, passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at his home.

Daniel Eric Swett, born December 3, 1986, died on June 19, 2021.

It's late June and, strangely, one of the most melancholy times of the year here in Franklin County.
All four of our high schools have held graduation ceremonies, a time of celebration and joy, especially for graduates.
But for the rest of us, those who have been around for awhile, we know what will come next.

LOUISBURG -- What is essentially a status quo budget without a lot of changes or a tax increase was passed unanimously and without discussion Monday night by the Louisburg Town Council, part of a long agenda of rather routine items.
The budget includes no tax increase and no increases in other town fees as well.