Recent Articles

You may have never heard the term "news desert," - and I hope you don't. Trust me, you don't want to become familiar with what it truly means to the well being of YOUR community.
A news desert refers to a community that is no longer covered by a newspaper. Doesn't sound too devastating - until you experience what happens when there is no unbiased coverage of what your local governments are doing.

HENDERSON -- An organization tasked with promoting regional development agreed to use disaster relief funds to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
The Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments received $1.2 million through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act to be used through its revolving loan fund -- which helps existing or new businesses secure financing when more traditional channels prove difficult.

LOUISBURG -- The latest suspect in an August gas station shooting in Louisburg is slated to appear in court.
On Aug. 26, Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested 24-year-old Monterious Leroy Williams, charging the Louisburg resident with aggravated assault, possession of firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into a moving vehicle, and discharging a firearm in the town limits.

HENDERSON -- The State Highway Patrol released an accident report last week detailing a crash that killed a Louisburg man.
According to the report by Trooper R.M. Goodacre, Joshua Wheeler was traveling east on West River Road approaching a curve when he crossed the center line and ran off the road to the left at about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 near Ballard Pruitt Road.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A Monday night storm caused a sewage spill.
Heavy rains overwhelmed the Youngsville Regional pump station, county public utilities staff said, causing the discharge of 11,560 gallons of untreated wastewater.
About 6,200 gallons made its way into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek, which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin.

GOODY, GOODY. Franklinton High School administrators and staff wanted to make sure seniors got off to a good start, especially as COVID-19 has prompted remote learning and isolation for students, by hosting a parade at the school last week. Above, teacher Sandra Wiggins gives a goodie bag to Jayden Graham.

Students decorated their vehicles for the parade. In the photo above, Alia Lewis and Jabari Montague are picture perfect seniors.

As a personal injury and civil litigation attorney, Ben Brodish often relishes his role in helping an 'underdog' client against a formidable opponent.
"I have always kind of liked that David vs. Goliath situation,'' Brodish said. "I like helping a person who does not have the ability or cannot have their voice heard when they have been wrongly injured. I find myself drawn to those issues.''

LOUISBURG -- Eric Lee's preference for recruiting local talent to his Louisburg College softball program received an unexpected push last week.
That's when Lee received a phone call from Virginia Wesleyan College Coach Brandon Elliott, saying that former Bunn pitching star Caroline White wanted to be closer to home.

RALEIGH -- In conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference office, North Carolina State University and Virginia Tech have agreed to move their previously scheduled football season opener to a common bye week.
The contest, originally scheduled for Sept. 12 in Blacksburg, Va. will now be played on Sept. 26.

LOUISBURG -- The State Department of Health and Human Services reported a COVID-19 cluster at a prison facility in Franklin County.
No deaths have been attributed to the outbreak at Franklin Correctional Center.
The state began efforts to mass test inmates at prison facilities in June, at a cost of $3.3 million.

WENDELL -- Ida Mae King Raybon, 81, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 at her home. As per her wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at Calvary's Cross Baptist Church on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m.

BALTIMORE, MD--Marian Jean Brodie, 75, of Baltimore, MD died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2020 in Baltimore. Funeral services will be held Saturday Sept. 5, at Rocky Chapel Baptist Church, Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Perry's Chapel Church cemetery, Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON -- Funeral services for Diane Lowery, 69, who died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, will be held Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

WENDELL - Rudy Vallee Pearce Sr., 82, of Wendell went home to be with the Lord Sunday afternoon surrounded by family. He was born in Franklin County, son of the late Ivon "Buck" Pearce and Zelma Hagwood Pearce. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenneth Pearce, Dalton Pearce and Wayne Pearce.

LOUISBURG -- Charles "Chuck" Howard Best, Jr., 56, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, at his home.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Early Wright, 70, who died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, will be held Monday, Aug. 31, at 12 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Perry's Missionary Church cemetery.

FRANKLINTON-- Funeral services for Margie Brodie, 85, who died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, will be held Sunday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Samuel Tunstall officiating. Burial will follow in the Manasseh Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Daniel Leon Battle, 64, who died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, at 12 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- COVID-19 cases and coronavirus-related deaths continue to climb in Franklin County, but that doesn't mean all events and gatherings have to be called off.
"One thing I say is 'before you think you can't, see if you can,'" said Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne.
Businesses and organizations have struggled coping with executive orders that have either wholly shut down events or limited capacities.

LOUISBURG -- Coordination with the health department and Maria Parham Franklin aided Louisburg College with its plan to open in-person classes last week.
The first stages have gone well, officials said, with enrollment at 430.
"We have no one that has tested positive as of this moment," college President Gary Brown said on Monday.

Normally about this time of the year, newspapers are shooting photos of youngsters heading off to school, boarding those big yellow buses, dealing with backpacks and school supplies while parents breathe (silently, of course) a sigh of relief. Not this year! Since many schools are starting virtually, avoiding face-to-face classes in this pandemic, parents are left to scramble to find desks for students to do their school work at home. To help with that, Franklin County Schools donated unused desks -- using the United Way of Franklin County as a conduit -- to get desks and chairs to students learning at home. Above, Kristy O'Hagan and her son James picked out just the right size desk for the five-year-old.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Elections worked out a plan to add Saturday voting back to an early voting site.
During an Aug. 11 meeting, the board agreed upon and voted on an early voting schedule that included a Sunday and a number of Saturdays -- coupled with weekday voting hours -- leading up to the Nov. 3 election.

Louisburg resident and Wake Forest man, Tim Gupton