Recent Articles

HENDERSON -- The Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has announced its Jabberwock 2026 interest meeting, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 16, from 3 until 5 p.m. at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge Street, Henderson.
Families of eligible youth are encouraged to attend and learn more about this enriching youth development and scholarship program.
Jabberwock is a longstanding Delta Sigma Theta tradition designed to foster growth, leadership, cultural enrichment, and community service among young ladies.

If you've been here for a while, you should already know that I take a particular interest in elections -- particularly municipal elections.
Sure, it's easy to get the electorate hot and bothered about even-year elections, particularly every four years.
Those are the big-boy and big-girl elections, when presidents are chosen, congressmen get elected, county commissioners earn their seats and sheriffs take their posts.

Dear editor: For those of you who are still shocked, as I am, by the speed at which American democracy is being dismantled and the nation given over to autocrats, I'd like to offer a few considerations.
One of the most disturbing features of this mad rush over the cliff has been the ease with which many of our friends and neighbors have not only accepted, but positively embraced this new fascism.

Dear editor: There is a saying in acting that there are no small parts. Musical and visual arts and crafts took center stage on our Sunset Avenue last weekend here in Louisburg, binding our community together. You cannot simply think your way into being transformational. You must be a participant and certainly that took place with both artisans and patrons alike in our usually quiet historical neighborhood.

A gardener's biggest challenge when planting trees and shrubs in this part of North Carolina is the soil.
Most often, plants suffer from improper soil preparation and planting techniques.
A properly planted tree or shrub will be more tolerant of adverse conditions and require less management than one planted improperly.
Very often I see trees and shrubs planted in compacted soil with a hole just big enough for the plant's root-ball to fit in.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Library System's staff is inviting the community to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Louisburg Central Library Building with a day of activities and a floating reception on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 3 until 5 p.m.
While the current building has served the community since 1975, the Louisburg Library's roots reach back much further. The library has existed in some form since 1937, first operating from a location on Main Street near the post office and later Justice Street before finding its current home on North Main Street.

LOUISBURG -- The counting of provisional ballots changed election numbers only slightly.
And, heading into Friday's canvass -- which makes the election official -- folks should not expect a challenge in Bunn as Commissioner Sherry Mercer has conceded, and will not request a recount.
Mercer is one vote back from Commissioner Don Mitchell, as he and political newcomer Ebony Hartsfield Thorne secured the two top spots with 58 and 78 votes, respectively.

Local businessman Glenn Murphy

Louisburg, NC --Funeral services for Norman Sills, age 89, who died on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, will be held on Saturday, November 15, at 1 p.m. from the Pilot Missionary Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC with Pastor Stephen Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Pilot Missionary Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Shonda C. Yarborough, age 51, who died on Saturday, November 8, 2025, will be held on Saturday, November 15, at 11 a.m. from the New Hope Freedom & Deliverance Cathedral in Louisburg, NC with Pastor Warren McKnight, Eulogist. Burial will follow in the Faith Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Nathaniel Drew Carroll Jr 88 of Louisburg, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, November 6, 2025, in his home.

Drew was born in Warren county to the late Nathaniel Drew Carroll Sr. and Louise R. Carroll.

Youngsville, NC -- Carolyn Frazier Johnson, 91, of Youngsville, transitioned peacefully into eternal rest while surrounded by her family Saturday, November 8, 2025 at her home following years of declining health.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Rochelle Murray Harris, 85, of Louisburg passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. She was born on June 7, 1940 to the late Walter and Estelle Cyrus Murray in Franklin County, North Carolina.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Evelyn Louise Rivera, 67, of Franklinton, affectionately known as "Ann," was born in Southampton, New York, on Feb. 23, 1958, to Booker T. Laird and the late Lou Gertie Epps.

Dear editor:

Public School Strong is a national nonpartisan campaign dedicated to ensuring equitable access to quality public education for all students, irrespective of their socioeconomic background, race, gender, or ethnicity.

Dear editor:

This letter is a response to Robert Strickland's letter in the Oct. 23, 2025 edition of The Franklin Times.

His letter displays more prejudice toward evangelicals than evangelicals show toward brown people. Moreover, his letter speaks of love, yet it shows more hatred toward evangelicals and Trump than either shows toward brown people and foreigners.

Dear editor:

Pity the nation whose leaders are liars.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero.

My country, tears of thee.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Those lines are not the complete poem. They are an excerpt, but they accurately represent the message the rest of the poem conveys. You can probably guess the title, if you'd like to look it up.

Dear editor:

At Monday night's meeting, Franklin County Commissioner Mark Speed did something simple but powerful: he introduced a resolution to end "small session" meetings, those behind-closed-doors gatherings of three or fewer commissioners where decisions can quietly take shape before the public ever hears a word.

One of the toughest things for any reporter, particularly in a small place, is trying to find stories in community where people don't seem to care ... about anything.

What I can say about my 20-plus years of getting to know the people of Franklin County is that people here care ... a lot.

After checking around Franklin County carefully, I'm pretty sure that all the ghosts, goblins and the other creatures of the night have retreated -- probably resting up so they can reappear late in October, 2026.

Fortunately, the weather turned out just about perfectly for Halloween hauntings this year and the kids seemed to be having a ball "scaring" all the adults while collecting buckets of candy.

Ah-h, to be a kid again. . .

PETER PAN JR. IS COMING! The Franklinton Area Community Theatre is putting on a production of Peter Pan Jr. starting Nov. 13. The shows, which feature performances and production by FACT members, will take place at the Franklinton High School Auditorium, 910 Cedar Creek Road.