Recent Articles

In July, Franklin County secured $1.3 million that it and towns can use in their efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
And, during the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Aug. 3 meeting, staff informed commissioners that they had secured another round of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.

On June 10, 1946, Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion boxer, was critically injured in an automobile accident near Franklinton.
Traveling along U.S. 1, then a narrow two-lane road that wound its way through Franklin County, Johnson's Lincoln Zephyr crashed into a utility pole on a spot known as 'Cadillac curve.'
The location earned its grim nickname for the many cars that frequently ended up in the ditch on the sharp right bend.

LOUISBURG -- The United Way of Franklin County has made a contribution of $69,000 to Franklin County Schools, which will enable the district to purchase Kajeet Mobile SmartSpots for use by students who do not have access to reliable, high speed Internet.
"Many of our families are without reliable internet service. This generous donation from our valued community partners will help provide many of the Kajeets that are so desperately needed to help fill the internet gaps," said Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, Superintendent of Franklin County Schools.

CHAPEL HILL -- Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, as evidenced by the recent 2020-21 school athletic year calendar change by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the NCHSAA had already pushed back the start of fall sports, and there was an uncertainty about the future of prep sports this calendar year.

Taylor Leonard and her Louisburg High School volleyball teammates will conduct their first regular season match on November 16 according to the latest scheduling format released by the NCHSAA.

Scottie Spencer (left) and his Bunn High School wrestling teammates won't begin defense of their Northern Carolina Conference championship until April 26.

CHAPEL HILL -- Here is the 2020-21 Amended Sports Season Calendar from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association:
Cross Country
• First Practice -- November 4
• First Contest -- November 16

GREENVILLE -- Seventh-year head coach Cliff Godwin formally announced East Carolina University baseball team's 13-man incoming class last Friday, which features seven position players, three pitchers and three two-way players.
The 2020-21 recruiting class consists of three infielders (Joey Berini, Jacob Starling and Josh Moylan), three outfielders (Garrett Chandler, Ryley Johnson and Trey Truitt), one catcher (Joey Rezek), three two-way players (CJ Boyd, Cam Clonch and Austin St. Laurent) and three pitchers (Danny Beal, Landon Ginn and Josh Grosz).

TOKYO -- Christian Buffaloe, local Kyokushin Karate instructor and fighter, was featured in the September, 2020 edition of World Karate Magazine, a leading martial arts publication in Japan.
This premiere magazine exclusively features only the top Japanese & international Kyokushin Karate fighters and instructors.

LOUISBURG--Norma Wiggins Arnold, 87, of Louisburg passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at Wake Medical Center. She was born in Johnston County, the daughter of the late Alice Mabel Massengill Wiggins and Elbert Wiggins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Cleveland Arnold, and a brother, Jimmy Wiggins.

HOLLISTER--Funeral services for Ethel J. Richardson, 83, who died Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Alonzo West officiating. Burial will follow in the old White Rock Church cemetery.

HOLLISTER--Funeral services for Bettie Lee Evans, 81, who died Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, will be held Sunday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Chapel Memorial Garden Cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Betty "JoAnn" Shepherd Gupton, 73, of Louisburg, died at her home Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. A funeral service was held Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19, in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home, Louisburg. Interment followed at Saints Delight Baptist Church, 565 Firetower Rd. Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON--Colleen May Hawkins, 89, of Franklinton died Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 at her daughter's home in Bloomingdale, GA. A graveside funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday Aug. 21, at Fairview Cemetery, with the Rev. David Averette officiating.

LOUISBURG - James Ashley Weathers, Sr., 85, of Louisburg, died Monday morning at his home.

WAKE FOREST --Wayne Martin Walker Sr, 73, of Wake Forest, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. He was born in Alexandria, VA on July, 9, 1947 to the late Winfred Malcolm and Elizabeth Nalls Walker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Robert and Mike. He was a master plumber.

LOUISBURG--Joseph Francis Dempsey, III, 74, of Louisburg died Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 at Duke Raleigh Hospital. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Aug. 18, in the chapel of Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, 804 N. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg.

WAKE FOREST --Helen Marie Williams Pennington, 72, of Wake Forest died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. A graveside service was held Saturday, Aug. 15, at Wake Forest Town Cemetery, with the Rev. Alan Skinner officiating.

FRANKLINTON -- Elsie Grey Stanley Harris went home to her Lord on August 12, 2020 at the age of ninety-six. She was born on October 21, 1923, the first living child of William Earl Stanley and Olivia Emory Stanley. Elsie was born with beauty, ability, talent and a happy, energetic nature. Being lucky enough to be reared by intelligent, Christian parents, she was a blessing to all who knew her. Her sister, Marjorie, and her brother, William Stanley Jr., predeceased her, but she is survived by two brothers, John E. Stanley and Billy Van Stanley (Barbara). She was married quite young to Raymond E. Harris, who died in 2003. He was a man she dearly loved whose family she came to love also. She was an able and loving wife and part owner and operator of Harris and Harris Cleaners in Franklinton for many years.

LOUISBURG--Ann Stacey Lloyd, 93, of Louisburg, died Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12, 2020 at Louisburg Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A private graveside service will be held at Flat Rock Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Gary McNair officiating. Face coverings and social distancing by those attending is requested.

FRANKLINTON--James Vernon Bragg, Jr., 72, of Franklinton, passed away Wednesday morning, August 12, 2020, at his home. He was born in Granville County to the late James Vernon Bragg, Sr. and Mabel Averette Bragg. Mr. Bragg was a lifelong member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Brassfield Fire Department. He retired as a Sergeant from the North Carolina Department of Corrections after 30 years of service and after retirement, he continued his passion for farming with B&H Farm. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and will be greatly missed.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Elections added a Sunday to its early voting schedule, while also securing sites that will allow voters to practice social distancing.
Early voting for the general election begins on Oct. 17 and runs through Oct. 31, with general statutes governing the minimum amount of time the polls should be open each weekday -- 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

LOUISBURG -- COVID-19 isn't just affecting the current situations of high school athletes -- it is also putting their immediate futures in limbo.
Ponder the case of Elijah Jamison, the high-scoring rising senior boys basketball star at Louisburg High School.
Due to COVID, Jamison has not received exposure this summer on the AAU level.

LOUISBURG -- With less than a week before Franklin County Schools begin a new year -- virtually, the county Board of Education got a glimpse of what the year may hold and had a chance to look back at the successes of the recent graduating classes during a routine session Monday night.
At that meeting, held virtually and which got off to a rocky start because of audio problems, the board was told that schools this fall will look much different than the hastily arranged virtual classes offered in the spring as the COVID-19 pandemic forced an end to face-to-face classroom instruction.