Recent Articles

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Sheriff's deputies are investigating two unrelated drive-by shooting incidents.
On the evening of April 4, residents at a home in the 5000 block of U.S. 401 north reported that someone shot into a kitchen window. No injuries were reported.
According to investigators, the couple told authorities that they had an argument with someone prior to the shooting incident.

LOUISBURG -- A vehicle stop led authorities to make a drug arrest.
According to authorities, an officer stopped a vehicle driven by Jamiroquan O. Cates the afternoon of April 3 when the vehicle was found to be connected to an outstanding weapons possession warrant.

HENDERSON -- The COVID-19 pandemic has made public gatherings a bad idea.
But, while maintaining social distancing, law enforcement leaders in Franklin, Granville, Vance, Warren and Person counties came together last week to tape a public service announcement they hope encourages more people to protect themselves and others against the virus.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested two people on drug charges after responding to a call of shots being fired.
Reports came in at about 5:15 p.m. on April 5 regarding the shots and officers responded to the 400 block of Ridley Street to investigate.
They located two people, Saivion M. Best and Dwight Holman II, and a nearby gun.

Walk through the front gate at Frazier Field and look to your right, and there are ten NJCAA World Series signs that signify our program competing at the highest level of junior college baseball.
Continue walking and there is a sign of each player that has played in Major League Baseball or has played at some level of minor league baseball.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that we had something special after the first day of practice.
From hitting home runs, web gems, team chemistry and overall athleticism -- not to mention a staff of coaches who not only believed in us, but pushed us to be our best.
One thing that stood out the most was the team chemistry between the sophomores and freshman.

HOLLISTER--Visitation services for Roland Marbury, 81, who died Monday, April 6, 2020, will be today, Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

LOUISBURG--Annie Bell Chamblee, born July 2, 1932, passed on March 27, 2020. She was a graduate of Bunn High School. She joined the U. S. Army shortly after graduation and later retired from the State of North Carolina, Employment Security Commission.

FRANKLINTON--Margie Ree Medlin Hudson, 83, of Franklinton passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at Franklin Oaks Health & Rehab Center in Louisburg. She was born in Franklin County, the daughter of the late Viola Jackson Medlin and Sterling Medlin. She was also preceded in death by a sister; Mary Pounds; brothers, Janus Medlin, Fleming Medlin, Ralph Medlin and David Medlin; and a son-in-law; Ron Phillips.

YOUNGSVILLE--After a strong battle against cancer, Deborah Sue Rogers McKillop, wife of Kevin McKillop, ascended into her heavenly home on Saturday, April 4, 2020. She was born on October 12, 1953 to the late Bob Roe and Betsy Rice Rogers. She was predeceased by her brother, Tony Duke Rogers, and a nephew, Stranger Micheal Rogers.

LOUISBURG--Graveside services for Gloria "Pinkie" Crudup Coppedge, 54, who died Friday, April 3, 2020, will be held Monday, April 6, at 12 p.m. at Mitchner Grove Baptist Church cemetery in Louisburg, with the Rev. Brenda Manson officiating.

Minda Kennedy Fuller, a native of Franklin County, died peacefully early Tuesday at Salemtowne retirement community in Winston-Salem. She was 94 and recently developed complications from Alzheimer's disease.

LOUISBURG - William Eaton Champion, Jr., 49, of Louisburg, died Thursday morning.

As North Carolina begins a lock down to try to slow the pandemic of COVID-19 that is ravaging the world, someone may have to rework the unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service. While it's not official, the popular belief is that its motto is "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

LOUISBURG -- With public schools closed and much of the state on a lockdown of sorts, even the way local governing boards operate is changing.
One of the first local changes involves the Franklin County Board of Education which, for the duration of this pandemic, will not meet in a traditional public format but, instead, will meet virtually.
Instead of meeting on-site at the school district's West River Road Administrative Complex, the board will meet electronically from their homes.

FRANKLINTON -- The COVID-19 pandemic has made public meetings a tricky situation.
Most recently, the Franklin County Board of Education met partly in person and partly via digital connection to avoid large gatherings and maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town officials said they'd be ready to discuss how they might be able to aid the hospitality industry this month.
During the board's March 12 meeting, Brian Whitley, co-owner of The Victorian wedding venue on SE Railroad Street, asked officials if they might be ready to amend its ordinance on sound amplification.

Louisburg College pitcher Ina Womack

STOP! A portion of Terrell Lane in Louisburg was closed last week when heavy rains overwhelmed a utility pipe, creating a deep sinkhole on the two-lane road. No injuries were reported because of the collapse, but the section of road near Terrell Lane Middle School remains closed to through traffic. According to State Department of Transportation staff, they anticipate installing a larger pipe and repairing the road, having it open to traffic by the end of April.

BUNN -- An alert citizen, sheriff's deputies and prison staff combined to arrest three people they allege tried to get drugs into the Franklin Correctional Center.
On March 27, someone called the sheriff's office, telling authorities they saw a vehicle stop in front of Franklin Correctional Center and a passenger got out and threw an object over the fence.

As I wrote this column, Franklin County and the Harris Corporation were in the midst of its second deadline to improve the multi-million dollar emergency radio system.
In February, county commissioners crafted a letter that did two things:
• It put in writing their disappointment with the radio system that's had issues ever since it was installed in the fall of 2012;
• It spelled out the kinds of improvements that officials and staff wanted to see by certain dates.