Recent Articles

One of the most impressive family legacies in the history of American sports started right here in Franklin County.
Brothers Jim and Henry Bibby both became stars in their respective fields of professional baseball and basketball. In addition, Henry's son Mike also enjoyed a stellar career with 14 seasons in the NBA.

LOUISBURG -- If ever a Franklin County athlete was destined for success, it had to be Louisburg High School softball star Ragan Holloman.
Holloman certainly has the family lineage as her mother, Dana, was a fast-pitch standout at Louisburg College and was also a member of a state championship basketball team in Davidson County during her prep days.

CREEDMOOR -- "Now is not the time to give up!''
That was the emphatic phrase Bunn High School volleyball coach Melanie Lovin shouted in a not-so-subtle fashion to her club just when it looked like Tuesday's hard-fought Northern Carolina Conference matchup at South Granville was about to get away from the Ladycats.

Bunn's Rebecca Tyson (right) sends down a blast during Tuesday's match at South Granville.

Bunn's Albany Turner (right) secures a pass as teammate Rebecca Tyson looks on during Tuesday's Northern Carolina Conference spike matchup at South Granville.

LOUISBURG -- From the moment she first smacked a ball toward the outfield as a T-Ball player, Alex Edwards seemed destined for success.
Edwards went on to excel at every softball level she has encountered since then, most recently as a standout for the Louisburg High School Lady Warriors.
Edwards hopes to continue that trend in college as she signed a letter-of-intent Monday to continue her career at Methodist University, a Division III school located in Fayetteville.

WILSON -- At this stage, personal time development is the most important goal this season for the Franklinton High School boys and girls cross country squads.
The Red Rams are in a rebuilding phase, and don't necessarily have the depth or firepower to compete with the top clubs in the always-strong Big East Conference distance scene.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Tar River Youth Soccer Association (TRYSA) is hosting assessments and evaluations for its Soccer Academy for players born 2009-2014,this Friday.
These assessments are for the Spring 2020-2021 season. The Academy provides fall and spring seasons training and play, teaching children soccer enjoyment, individual responsibility and understanding teamwork.

Dillon Sykora, fiancee' Hannah Smalley and son, Brady

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- All football games have the potential to be difficult in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as evidenced by North Carolina State's road showdown last Saturday at Syracuse.
NC State entered the contest as a prohibitive favorite against the Orangemen, who had only one victory coming in.

LOUISBURG--Milton Cortes, 64, of Louisburg died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 at his home. Services will be private.

LOUISBURG--Bobby Lawrence Hill, 82, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Dec.4, at Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, 804 N. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Louisburg.

LOUISBURG--Fun-eral services for Mary Lizzie Dunston, 86, who died Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, were held Sunday, Nov. 29, in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial followed in the Mitchell Baptist Church cemetery, Louisburg. The Rev. Albert Thorpe officiated

FRANKLINTON-- Funeral services for James L. "Peter" Bumpers, 68, who died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, were held Sunday, Nov. 29, in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery, Franklinton. The Rev. Bryant Bumpers officiated.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Adrian Perry, 49, who died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, were held Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial followed in the Mitchell Baptist Church cemetery, Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON--Funeral services for Ethel May Perry, 73, who died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, were held Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

LOUISBURG - Paul Henry Allen, 89, of Louisburg, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 at Hillside Nursing Center. A graveside service was held Sunday, Nov. 29, at Lancaster Memorial Park.

JUSTICE COMMUNITY - William Ferris Newbill III, 85, of the Justice Community, died Thursday afternoon, Nov. 26, 2020. There will be no memorial service at this time.

NASHVILLE--Funeral services for Nick A. "Tony" Williams, 60, who died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, were held Friday, Nov. 27, in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery, Nashville.

WARRENTON--Geanie Lane Perry Jr., 71, died Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. Private funeral services held.

LOUISBURG--Betty Sue Murray Wrenn moved to her heavenly home on November 24, 2020. She was born on September 21, 1947 in Louisburg, NC to the late Grover Cleveland Murray and Lena Woodlief Murray. She was the baby of five children and her daddy's "little gal."In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Johnson Murray and Don Murray, as well as her father-in-law, Malcolm "Mack" Wrenn, and mother-in-law, Elaine Ayscue Wrenn.

TRUNK TURKEY. Chris Gibson prepares to load a turkey into the back of a vehicle that pulled up last Saturday at the Thanksgiving Food Distribution and Coat Distribution held at St. Paul Presbyterian Church. The holiday event replaced the annual dinner that was provided by A Blessing Inc. which operates a soup kitchen and food pantry in the county.

From left, Drew and David David Hilton volunteer during the holiday event made possible by First Fruits Farm, the Franklin County Interfaith Council, the Franklin Area Clergy Ecumenical Society [FACES], the Youth Division of Franklin County Missionary Union, The Crown Vic Boys and Girls Chapter 33 and the Matthew 25 Committee of St. Paul Presbyterian Church.

LOUISBURG -- Going into last Thursday's meeting, Franklin County commissioners were stuck between a rock quarry and a potentially disheartened community.
Ultimately, their path to resolution was made easier when attorneys for Wade Moore Equipment Company withdrew its rezoning request.
The sand quarry company, which has been operating at its East River Road site since at least 1968, had petitioned commissioners for a rezoning that would allow them to expand operations.