Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- In a matter of minutes just after noon on Saturday, strapping from a crane was attached to the bronze soldier atop Louisburg's Confederate Monument then the soldier was detached from the base and rapidly lowered to a waiting trailer which hauled it to storage. It's likely to remain there until it is installed in the older portion of Oakwood Cemetery.

Jonathan Nichols of the Cary firm of WithersRavenel uses ground-penetrating radar to scour Oakwood Cemetery last Friday, looking for a new location for the Confederate Monument. As expected, Nichols found several potential, unmarked graves in what had been thought was an open area but he did locate some areas where there were no graves and thus could be a spot for the relocated monument.

LOUISBURG -- Faced with three state-approved proposals for opening public schools in a few weeks, Franklin County Board of Education members learned that the situation is "constantly changing" and that the state, as of Tuesday evening, still had not finalized its recommendations.
"It's a fluid, moving situation," Supt. of Schools Rhonda Schuhler told the school board -- and later quipped that the situation is a little like trying to build an airplane while flying it.

Some of Franklin County's youngest students may get a "jump start" on their reading educations in the coming year, thanks to the COVID-19 virus response.
The county board of education learned this week that about 1,100 eligible students in kindergarten through four grade -- and from all eight elementary schools -- will be offered a reading program conducted via remote learning, including a drive-through orientation program.

I had a sobering revelation partway through the Louisburg Town Council meeting recently where town leaders were discussing whether or not to move the Confederate Monument that has been on North Main Street for the last 106 years.
The revelation came as Councilman Christopher Neal recalled growing up in Louisburg and being prohibited from even walking across the Louisburg College campus when he was a youngster because of the color of his skin.

Look, I know how this works.
If you write a column for a living, most people expect you to be a know-it-all.
Well, I'm here to freely admit I don't know which is better.
In the middle of May, I mentioned in a column that virtual government meetings, particularly those by the county, were beginning to run long.

Dear editor: I am writing to applaud the decision of the Louisburg Town Council to move the Confederate statue to the Oakwood Cemetery, which I've been following from afar.
While I don't live in Franklin County, I've spent a lot of time in Franklin County. Both of my parents were born and raised in Franklin County and their lines go back to the 1700s, before Franklin County was even called Franklin County.

Dear editor: People who want to remove Confederate monuments and memorials are filled with hate of the South (Dixiephobia) and especially everything related to the Confederacy (Confederaphobia). Yet, these same people preach tolereance and diversity. However, they are among the most intolerant people and despise diversity. They cannot tolerate anything related to the South and especially the Confederacy, which illustrates their hatred of diversity.

Dear editor: Have you looked out your window or been outside and watched birds coming and going. I'm amazed by the colors birds wear and the voices they have.
According to the Birds of North Carolina website, 156 species of birds live in Franklin County North Carolina.
Now I am not a big time bird watcher, I feed birds with sunflower seeds occasionally.

Dear editor: I cannot help but find the recent actions of our Governor disturbing. I quote, "I have ordered Confederate monuments on Capital grounds to be moved to protect public safety." This statement was made after a group damaged the monuments. Am I to believe that the inanimate monuments that have stood for over 100 years are the problem versus a mob that was damaging public property?

Dear editor: First things first. I am not a racist. If I am privileged, it is not because of the color of my skin. It is by the grace of God and sweat of the brow.
My husband and I both have worked long and hard hours.
I was raised to love and respect people of color. We have black friends and neighbors that we love dearly.

LOUISBURG -- The governor essentially stole the county's thunder when it comes to requiring face coverings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ultimately, said county Health Director Scott LaVigne, people need a little bit more coercion when it comes to taking safety precautions.
"There's no question ... you get different levels of adherence to what is the best possible course of action [to protect against the virus] when you require, rather than recommend]," LaVigne said this week, noting that once the state moved to Phase 2 and the stay-at-home order was lifted and restrictions on movement lessened, it was apparent that more people became less diligent about keeping safe distances and wearing personal protection equipment, such as face coverings.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested a Castalia area woman on drug charges.
Heather N. Barber, 28, of Highway 58, was charged with possession of heroin, maintaining a dwelling for the sale of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Youngsville-area man on terror charges.
Gerald K. Ringlbauer, 47, of Quail Drive, was charged with breaking or entering to terrorize or inflict serious injury and simple assault.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Commissioners agreed to move forward with plans to improve the downtown through a process that would require the town to front funds they wouldn't get back for at least a year.
It's a gamble the majority of the board was willing to make.

FRANKLINTON -- A Henderson man surrendered to authorities last week after running from police on two separate occasions -- including the initial incident which caused a wreck that sent a couple to the hospital.
Franklinton Police charged Jeffrey Thomas Clopton with fleeing to elude arrest, felony hit and run, reckless driving to endanger, possession of stolen goods, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, driving while license revoked and following too closely.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Deputies arrested a Youngsville-area woman on vandalism charges.
Robin M. Collins, 59, of Pocomoke Road, was charged with breaking and entering and destruction/damage/vandalism of property.
She was arrested on June 25 and is slated to next appear in Franklin County District Court on July 27.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners approved a budget that reduces the tax rate, banks on continued growth of the tax base and seeds downtown development.
Town Manager Gregory Bethea presented the board with a $2.1 million spending plan that reduces the tax rate from 72 cents per $100 of valuation to a rate of 71 cents.

Jordan Wright, a Louisburg native and 2017 graduate of Campbell University, is an entrepreneur, and after writing his first book, can now add the title of published author.
"Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" depicts Jordan's journey with childhood cancer.

LOUISBURG -- A Sampson County contractor pled guilty to swindling a Franklin County couple.
The Youngsville man and woman were apparently the latest in a string of victims that stretched into nine counties, prosecutors said.
On Monday, Philip Brandon Daw, 38, pled guilty to exploiting the trust of an elderly person.

LOUISBURG -- Prosecutors and attorneys are slated to update three murder cases dating back to the summer of 2017.
Authorities arrested Adam Jake Helms in August 2017, alleging he was responsible for shooting his father, Loy Helms, in the head and killing him.
The morning of Sept. 5, 2017, Charles Devante Perry-Pender surrendered to authorities and he was charged with killing Montral Kearney outside a Franklinton home the afternoon before.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- After a 20-year absence, American Legion Baseball returned to Franklin County last summer to rave reviews.
The county's Post 105 squad played before big crowds at picturesque Frazier Field on the campus of Louisburg College -- and the club went all the way to the conference finals before dropping a heartbreaking series to long-time powerhouse Garner Nationals.

LOUISBURG -- As an elite-level scorer -- one of the best in state history -- Elijah Jamison is used to utilizing an aggressive style when competing on the basketball court.
Certainly, quick decisions are important once the ball gets into the hands of Jamison, the rising senior superstar at Louisburg High School.