Recent Articles

FRANKLINTON -- A Franklinton man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck on Halloween.

The State Highway Patrol confirmed and, according to a report by Trooper J.M. Parra, Benito Nolasco was stopped at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Main Street south of Franklinton just before 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 when he attempted to make a left turn onto the highway.

LOUISBURG -- An Alert man didn't admit guilt, but entered a plea that resolves a sexual assault case that prosecutors said dates back a decade.

In Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday, Perry Wheless Moseley entered an Alford plea to three counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment that prosecutors likely have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

FRANKLINTON -- Sheriff Kevin White has been granted more time to respond to a lawsuit filed by the county's former manager.

Raleigh attorney J. Heydt Philbeck filed a lawsuit on Oct. 7 in Franklin County Civil Superior Court, alleging that White defamed Denton in a political power move that cost the manager her job a year ago.

On. Oct. 29, White's legal representative, Louisburg attorney Boyd Sturges filed a motion and was granted an additional 30 days to respond to the complaint.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County management filled two outstanding leadership positions.

County Manager Ryan Preble announced Jason Rogers as the county's new planning and inspections director -- filling a post vacated by Scott Hammberbacher when he was elevated to assistant county manager in April.

And, Jerry Jones was made the permanent director of Animal Services -- a post he had filled on an interim basis since September 2024 -- filling the position made vacant by Lynn Bowling's termination a month before.

LOUISBURG -- In what could be a record turnout for Bunn, Mayor Marsha Strawbridge withstood a strong challenge from political newcomer Troy Shaw to retain her seat.

Voters still selected some new and old faces in Bunn, Franklinton, Louisburg, Youngsville and Wake Forest.

Strawbridge secured 51.8 percent of the vote -- 72 tallies -- to Shaw's 67 votes. The results are unofficial until canvassing on Nov. 14.

"I'm looking forward to the next four years," Strawbridge said. "And, I appreciate the voter turnout."

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to continue mini meeting practices they say make county government more nimble and efficient, but critics say keep the public in the dark.

During the public comments portion of the board's October meeting, resident Dan Tingen asked commissioners to stop its practice of discussing county business in private, away from the public, during small group sessions that don't constitute a quorum and are thus permitted under the state's open meetings regulations.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Wilma Lucia Tharrington, 87, of Louisburg, died Sunday morning, November 2, 2025.

Washington, DC -- The family of William Beacher "Sam" Wilson, age 90, formerly of Louisburg, NC, will receive friends on Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Wilson Family Cemetery on Perdues Road in Louisburg.

Louisburg, NC -- Mary Helen Bradley O'Neal, 80, of Louisburg, went home to be with the Lord Saturday morning, November 1, 2025, after a brave battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Louisburg, NC -- Bobby Ray Tharrington, 74, of Louisburg, North Carolina went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 31st, 2025

You've heard the old saying about what a difference a day makes.
A week makes even a bigger difference!
Just a few days ago, Oct. 17 and 18 to be exact, Carey Johnson and I were busy covering local events that revolved around demands for change from politicians who seem tone deaf and far, far removed from their constituents, even when their constituents are local folks.

BUNN -- The Bunn Tavern voluntarily closed its doors and surrendered its liquor license following an ALE undercover investigation spurred by Bunn police.
Four employees and the proprietor were arrested, beginning on Oct. 16, following a months-long investigation by agents with the State Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, Bunn police and Franklin County sheriff's deputies.
Bunn Police Chief Justin Hastings said Bunn Tavern operator Sharon Ray McCloud voluntarily surrendered the establishment's ABC license.

LOUISBURG -- Auditor James Sargeant brought some good news along with Louisburg's long-awaited audit report for 2023 -- and he led with the good news.
Louisburg got a "clean, unmodified audit," he said, "that's the best you can get."
He added that auditors found:

Ryan Murphy of Ring of Fire BBQ (left) was smiling Saturday morning when his barbeque was judged to be the best this year in the BBQ in the Burg contest. Murphy is from Snow Hill, NC, and is shown accepting his first-place winnings from Tim Gupton, one of the organizers of the event which was held for the fifth straight year Friday night and into Saturday morning. Randall White of Bunn, operating as Boo's BBQ, won second place in what judges said was a very close competition. Capturing third were the Pocosin Boys, Mark Copeland and Billy Perry, of Bertie County. --For more photos of the event, see page 16a of this edition.

FRANKLINTON -- Town commissioners took two actions to improve Main Street.
The result of the Oct. 21 action should be two-fold:
• Improve the look of the main thoroughfare;
• Move the town one step closer to controlling the street and removing truck traffic.

Above, Edith De'Leon, left, and Katie Preddy, right, help Amanda and Kathleen Bell find just the right treat during Youngsville's Trick or Treat on Main last Friday afternoon.

FRANKLINTON -- Operators of the Franklinton Community Garden have secured their nonprofit status.
Such designation, volunteers hope, will help them secure the funding they need for an irrigation well -- an apparatus that will help them even more provide farm fresh food to those in need.
Bernie Meader, who has been spearheading the volunteer organization's efforts for years, made the pronouncements during Franklinton's Oct. 21 Board of Commissioners meeting.

One of Franklin County's finest, June Greene

ZEBULON -- A Zebulon man, Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, has been charged with four counts of murder in the death of his four children.
Dickens reportedly called 911 on Monday to report that he had killed his children.
Responding deputies discovered that one child, the man's 3-year-old son, was inside the house safe and unharmed but that four of his other children were dead inside the trunk of a vehicle in the man's garage.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Wake Forest and Youngsville officials both agreed to continue an annexation agreement -- first signed in April 2007 -- that defines growth potential for both.
Nearly 20 years ago, the neighboring towns, along with Franklin County, established an annexation agreement that defined areas for each town that were best suited for potential annexation, based on their ability to provide utility services.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College Men's Soccer continued this season after winning the NJCAA Region X Championship Title, among other Region X accomplishments.
The team hosted the Region X Tournament this past week, playing the championship game Oct. 25 at LC's Ronald R. May Field.
The Hurricanes defeated Cape Fear Community College and Wake Technical Community College 6-1 and 4-1, respectively, to earn the Region X Championship Title.
The awards don't stop there.