Recent Articles

YOUNGSVILLE -- Roger Hamilton Kornegay deceased; January 2, 2019. Roger was the much anticipated first born son of Roger Alton and Julia Holt Kornegay of Louisburg. He was born at Mary Elizabeth Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. on August 18, 1948. Roger attended public school in Louisburg and was graduated from Louisburg High School in 1966, a place where he had made many life-long friends. He joined the United States Air force shortly after graduation and became a certified jet engine mechanic and crew chief of a KC/135 flying fuel station in the skies over Vietnam during that conflict. He chose to work in heavy industry.

ROCKY MOUNT-- Frances Louise King Denton, 85, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A funeral service will be held Sunday, Jan. 6, at 3 p.m. at Englewood Baptist Church, 1350 S. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, with the Rev. Michael Cloer officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be from 2 to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service in the church.

Sonravea Privette was sworn in last month as a new member of the North Carolina Bar. She was sworn in by Judge Adam S. Keith, background, and is joined by her husband, Eric Privette, during the Nov. 26 ceremony in Franklin County District Court. Local Attorney Thomas H. Clifton presented Sonravea Privette to the Court. Privette, a graduate of Franklinton High School, also attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She resides in Louisburg with her husband Eric.

FRANKLINTON -- From streets to buildings, commissioners and staff have taken steps they expect will make the town more attractive to businesses and residents.
In November, town staff unveiled a street paving list, relying upon current conditions and maintenance history to prioritize the roads it plans to repave and improve over the next decade.

LOUISBURG -- For people of a certain age, whiskey making conjures up images of fast cars, wooded areas and close shaves with the law.
For Randy Moore -- one image was enough.
Then, he decided to go straight.
The result is Carolina Country Distillery, an operation he and his partner, Lucy Monks, are getting close to seeing pay off.

STYLIN' IN THE NEW YEAR. Gordon Layton of Youngsville rode into 2019 in high style on his tricked-out riding mower during Centerville's annual New Year's Day parade. For more photos of the parade, see Page 8A of this edition -- but first, check out the rims on this stylish ride!

FRANKLINTON -- When the town revived its parks and recreation program, Police Chief John Green's job went from serving and protecting to coaching and sweating as he became the de facto head of the program.
Commissioner Brad Kearney and Green restarted the program in the spring of 2016 and since that time, both have worked to coordinate, organize and run the program.

Recently elected Superior Court Judge Cindy King Sturges is administered the oath of office on Tuesday by Robert N. Hunter Jr., (left) of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Holding the Bible is Judge Sturges's husband, Boyd, and witnessing the ceremony is their daughter, Olivia. Judge Sturges takes over the Ninth District court seat that had been held by Judge Robert Hobgood until his retirement last year.

Bunn Hoops Tournament MVP Sam Page

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies are looking for a suspect in an armed robbery.
Authorities say a man entered the Lucky 7 Internet Cafe at about 8 a.m. on Dec. 30, armed with a screwdriver.
The suspect, described as a black man, about 5-feet 8-inches tall, left the sweepstakes cafe at the intersection of E.F. Cottrell Road and U.S. 401 with an undisclosed amount of money.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a Louisburg man accused of trying to steal a car at gunpoint.
According to authorities, a 24-year-old Louisburg man said he was in the parking lot of Franklin Court Apartments at about 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 when he was approached by a man with a gun.

LOUISBURG -- A former police officer suing Lake Royale for wrongful termination is seeking answers prior to the trial.
Attorneys on behalf of Herbert Lee Williams filed a complaint in Franklin County Civil Superior Court in July, alleging that Lake Royale POA General Manager Tracy Clay fired him in June 2017 for failing to enforce what he called a violation of a Lake regulation -- an act plaintiffs allege would have been beyond his statutory authority.

Believe it or not, it's a new year full of hope, promise and opportunities -- and, undoubtedly, a few challenges along the way.
Here's hoping that you and yours had a safe, enjoyable holiday season and that the new year lives up to its potential, without too many of the challenges.
Interestingly, we finished out 2018 on a very positive note with an unusual front page for us that featured some "good news" about the activities of Franklin County folks.

Suddenly, it's 2019, a new year filled with possibilities, hopes and dreams!
For most of us, the Christmas holiday season flashed past in a blur of food, family and a blizzard of wrapping paper that somehow all came together after weeks of work and planning.

If I had to describe 2018 in one word, it'd be wet.
Whether it's politics, economics or, just life in general, there are people who would probably say it was all wet.
The wet I'm describing is actual water amounts, though.

Dear editor:
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has blamed Congress and the federal courts for what she described as a "humanitarian crisis" at the border with Mexico. She called on federal courts to enforce existing immigration laws and for Congress to put politics aside and fix a "broken immigration system."

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners will be asked to designate its old jail as an historic landmark.
Doing so would help maintain the exterior structure's historical appearance through any renovations or improvements that take place.
Also, the designation would help to conclude the certification process of the county's Historic Preservation Commission with the state, meaning the commission could then apply for state grants they could use to bolster historic preservation efforts.

HENDERSON -- An instructor who also is leading one of VGCC's curriculum programs and a director of a jobs skills training program for the unemployed and underemployed, have been honored as outstanding employees for 2018-2019 at Vance-Granville Community College.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The state is reviewing a wastewater spill reported in Franklin County last week.
Franklin County Public Utilities Director Chris Doherty reported that rains on Dec. 28 caused about 3,600 gallons of sewage to spill from the Youngsville pump station into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek, which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin.

Eli Faulkner, 6, rolls along the parade on battery power

Even a couple of Lancaster Farms' canines got into the parade action

What's a Centerville parade without a Centerville truck?

Bryant Nelms, 9, drove a Farmall tractor pulling a float