Recent Articles

Flipping the calendar over from February to March and springing the clocks forward puts a gardening soul in a "Let's get planting mode." True to March, the wind blows in all directions along with temperatures from freezing to shirt sleeve weather. The assorted colors of Spring flowers dotting the yards and sidewalks are a sure sign Spring is here.

RED OAK -- Both Northern Nash and Louisburg boast an interesting mix of veteran standouts and potential-filled younger players on their respective rosters during the 2020 high school baseball campaign.
Those clubs met last Wednesday for a non-conference meeting in Red Oak, and Louisburg flashed its literal ace in the hole in long-time pitching star Jaheim Brown.

Louisburg High School baseball coach Al Bolton (center) talks strategy with his club during last Wednesday's road victory against Northern Nash.

FRANKLINTON -- Before the game began, word started to circulate that the North Carolina High School Athletic Associaton had suspended all athletic activities until April 6 at the earliest.
Certainly, there is also the possibility that the season might not resume at all due to the threat of COVID-19.

FRANKLINTON -- Even if the campaign has already come to a close, the Franklinton Lady Rams provided several statements during the early portion of the 2020 softball season.
Franklinton's recent softball ascent continued in force to begin its schedule as the Lady Rams won their first four contests before the season was delayed -- possibly permanently.

Bunn first baseman Haley Hagwood (left) retrieves the throw as Franklinton's Rianna Layton puts her foot on the bag during last Thursday night's county softball showdown on the FHS campus. Layton was ruled out on the play.

Bunn's Caroline White makes solid contact for the Ladycats during last Thursday evening's road softball meeting with county rival Franklinton on the FHS campus.

LOUISBURG -- Last Thursday, Louisburg College's softball team was preparing to host a doubleheader the next day against Brunswick Community College.
Just across the gravel path, the LC baseballers, after a short Spring Break of three days, were reuniting in preparation for a road trip the coming weekend to the University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

LOUISBURG -- The Big East Conference possibly held its final golf match of the season last Wednesday at the challenging The River GC in Franklin County.
The River usually provides some of the highest scores of the campaign in the Big East -- and last Wednesday's 18-hole event was no different.
Only one player -- Wilson Fike's Jake Herring -- topped 80. Herring carded a brilliant 71 as he paced the Golden Demons to the overall team victory.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklin County's three high schools -- and those in the rest of the state -- are experiencing an unprecedented situation following the suspension of all spring sports activities.
Last Thursday, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released a statement saying that all spring sports will be suspended until at least April 6 due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Due to the ongoing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the safety and well-being of students and campus communities being paramount, the Presidents Council of the USA South Athletic Conference has unanimously decided to cancel all remaining regular season, including non-conference contests, and tournament competition in all sports for all League members, effective March 16.

LOUISBURG -- Following the recent recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes Louisburg College, has made the difficult decision to cancel all upcoming basketball championships as well as spring competition, effective immediately.

LOUISBURG--Funeral services for Gregory Johnson, 88, who died Friday, March 12, 2020, will be held Saturday, March 21, at 12 p.m. at Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church cemetery.

ROCKY MOUNT--Memorial services for Roy Junior Gallatin, 63, who died, Monday, March 9, 2020, will be held Saturday, March 14, at 3 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Wayne Hines officiating.

HENDERSON--Geoffrey Robert Crumb, 26, died Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at his home. He was born on May 26, 1993 to Jennifer Garcia Beaman and the late Ronald Steven Crumb.

SPRING HOPE --Maurice Preston Dickerson, 89, died at his home Thursday, March 12, 2020. Visitation will be Saturday, March 14, at Spring Hope Funeral Home from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., with a graveside service following at Bailey Town Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Collie will officiate the service. Friends may visit other times at the home.

LOUISBURG -- The governor has declared a state of emergency. Franklin County has linked residents to a Covid-19 information line. And, the net for testing for the coronavirus has been cast wider.
But no confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- Remember the good old days when teachers could focus only on readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic?
That focus may still be there, but there also is a lot more concern about hand washing, health monitoring and keeping up with the Centers for Disease Control's latest advice on coping with COVID-19, the virus that's on everyone's mind these days.

LOUISBURG -- Residents, airport users and aviation enthusiasts got their first look at new, long-term plans for Triangle North Executive Airport.
This past Thursday, representatives with the airport's engineering firm, Baker Engineering, and Iowa-based Marr Arnold Planning, consultants hired to draft the plan, presented three options to the public.

BUNN -- A gas line extension from Franklinton down to southern Wake County could be a blessing for southern Franklin County, too.
Dominion Energy North Carolina began preliminary work to extend the transmission gas line this month and the staging of people and equipment will take place in Bunn.

LOUISBURG -- The town's newest Council member, Mark Russell, presented perhaps the newest idea for the town's wish list last Thursday evening as the mayor and council gathered to outline their goals for the town during the next fiscal year.
Russell, who was elected last November, suggested that the town needed to entice more involvement from young people, perhaps by declaring a special day for high school and college students to volunteer to improve their community.

BUNN -- The town approved one document that will guide development and began reviewing another that buttons up police conduct.
By unanimous decision, town commissioners approved a subdivision ordinance.
The ordinance outlines the approval process for home developments in subdivided properties and how they would be regulated.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies are looking for suspects who robbed a Youngsville-area convenience store at gunpoint.
According to authorities, two men, one with a gun, entered the Cash & Carry store along Tarboro Road near Cedar Creek Road at about 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, ordered the clerk to lay on the ground and stole cash from the store.

Experience has taught me not to come out of many government meetings with a positive feeling, but darned if I didn't leave the Louisburg Town Council's annual "wish list" meeting this year with a touch of optimism.
Much of that optimism centered around a sense of strong commitment behind the completion of the long-awaited Depot Hill project that, until last Thursday evening, I feared was languishing.