Recent Articles

FRANKLINTON--Funeral services for Jermaine "Mack" Harris, 48, who died Sunday, April 12, 2020, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with Elder Sylvester Cooke officiating. Burial will follow in the MH Jones Cemetery.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Shirley Jean "Sister" Cheeks, 82, who died Thursday, April 16, 2020, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 23, at Richardson Funeral Home chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Deaconess Annie Johnson, 72, who died Saturday, April 18, 2020, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Allen Chapel Church cemetery in Louisburg, with the Rev. David Perry officiating.

LOUISBURG - Darryl Enlow Mueller, 75, died Tuesday afternoon, April 14, 2020. A private graveside service will be held at New Hope Christian Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Rex David Weathersby, 74, died Saturday morning, April 18, 2020. A private funeral service will be held Tuesday in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Rolesville Baptist Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for William M. Gupton, 85, who died Thursday, April 16, 2020, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

LOUISBURG - Billy Murphy Tharrington, 85, of Louisburg, entered into eternity on April 15, 2020.

HOLLISTER - Funeral services for Linwood Ray "Bo" Richardson, 70, who died Tuesday, April 14, 2020, will be held on AT 2 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2020 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Willie Silver officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, Franklin County's fight against the pandemic is becoming more than just statistics.
"Sadly," Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne said this week, "[Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center] has reported [five] COVID-19 related deaths [of residents]."
As of press time, more than 5,100 cases of coronavirus had been reported statewide, with 117 deaths and more than 430 hospitalizations.

LOUISBURG -- Three teenagers, including two with ties to Louisburg High School, died in a fiery wreck last week.
The State Highway Patrol has yet to release official ID's, but family members identified the teens as brothers, Justin and Sha-Ken Mills, and Jaquez Davis.
Sha-Ken, 18, was a senior at Louisburg High School, school system staff confirmed, and Justin, 19, graduated from Louisburg High last year.
Davis, 20, went to Corinth Holders in Johnston County.

YOUNGSVILLE -- While COVID-19 has ground many things to a halt, town management updated commissioners on projects that continue to move forward.
There was also an update on the proposed 2020-21 budget that will allow the town to better track its fleet movement.
Youngsville plans to build a new public works facility and had a pre-bid conference on March 30, Town Manager Phil Cordeiro told commissioners during the board's April 9 meeting.

The North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) has named Franklin County School Board member Dr. Elizabeth Keith an at-large member of the NCSBA Legislative Committee.
"These individuals will do the work that leads to the adoption of the association's legislative agenda," said NCSBA President Brenda Stephens of Orange County.

LOUISBURG -- After cancelling its April 6 meeting, county commissioners are slated to meet virtually on Monday.
Executive orders limit gatherings and the seven-member board, the county's manager, attorney and clerk reach that limit before any member of the public would set foot inside the County Commissioners meeting room.

Bunn HS track & field coach Jovon Blacknall

CASTALIA -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Castalia-area man on drug charges.
According to authorities, Hayward Therbert Lynch was on federal probation for drug charges in a 2018 case when deputies began receiving complaints that the 60-year-old was back to his old habits.

Unlike so many other activities this year, a few Easter Egg Hunts went on, despite the virus pandemic. While most of the larger hunts were called off because of the requirements of social distancing, some, like this annual event at The Kid's Corner Child Care Center in Louisburg, went on, letting youngsters have a little holiday fun. And, we suspect, providing a bit of respite for adults who are dealing with the worst threat to public health in generations.

Aiden Joyner shows his discoveries

Anna Winstead counts her egg discoveries

There are times in this business when doing what really needs to be done takes precedence over what you would prefer to be doing -- and last week was certainly one of those times.
We published last Thursday, the day before Good Friday of Easter Week, and traditionally that's a time of the year when newspaper folks like to present some feature pictures of kids doing fun things like hunting eggs or maybe pictures focusing on springtime after a long winter or just something a bit light-hearted that gives our readers a pleasant lift before the holiday weekend.

Right now, dealing with social distancing requirements, stay at home orders and curfews is kind of like being dropped in the middle of a suspenseful movie you've never seen.
We don't know really know the plot, so it's hard to tell who to believe.
At one point in this real-life drama, some characters said people don't really need to wear a mask for protection.

Dear editor:
As we as a nation do not have sports to watch and follow, we are not irritated with Monday morning quarterbacks. These folks that can tell you exactly what should have been done after watching the entire game and having time to evaluate.

BUNN -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Zebulon-area man on assault charges involving a sword.
Authorities said they responded to a domestic disturbance called at a home in the 100 block of Johns Lane just before midnight on April 11.
According to investigators, Stephen Michael Wilkins Sr. was arguing with his son and stepson about them inviting friends over to the house.

We were going to play Northern Nash on March 11, and I was sitting in Coach Wammock's office when I heard the decision from the NCHSAA that might be the last game.
I felt a huge sadness inside, especially for the seniors. I really couldn't believe it to start with, but I had to concentrate on the game.
We played the game and won 5-0. The kids played so well and were excited to go to practice on Thursday.