Recent Articles

FRANKLINTON -- Novonesis, community partners, and local supporters raised $45,000 during its annual President's Cup Golf Tournament at Heritage Golf Club.
The Sept. 18 event combined friendly competition with community impact, raising money to benefit Girl Scouts of Franklin County and FGV Smart Start Inc., with each organization receiving $22,500.
"This year's President's Cup was about more than golf -- it was about investing in the next generation," said Tue Micheelsen, President of Novonesis North America.
"The support we saw today goes directly toward programs that strengthen families and open doors of opportunity for kids in our community.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg Mayor Christopher Neal retained his seat, getting enough votes to avoid a runoff and secure his second consecutive term.
Neal received 348 votes, besting a challenge from former Council member Boyd Sturges and political newcomer William Goedert.
There were no write-in votes.
Because Neal earned more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be no runoff in November.

Soon to be 107, Maggie Kearney recognized by county commish

LOUISBURG -- A Franklinton clerk and Youngsville manager took home two of the Kerr-Tar COG's annual awards.
Lauren Chandler was named Outstanding Clerk to the Board and Nathan Page was tabbed as Outstanding Manager.
The awards were presented during the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Government's annual awards banquet on Sept. 25 at the Miles Magnolia Event Center.
"We are very proud of Lauren ...," Franklinton Town Manager Zach Steffey said of Chandler, who wears three hats for Franklinton -- town clerk, finance officer and human resources officer.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Graham Richard Stroud, 83, of Franklinton, died October 2, 2025 at WakeMed - Raleigh in Raleigh, NC.

Nashville, NC -- Funeral services for Rufus Taylor, age 73, who died on Thursday, October 2, 2025, will be held on Thursday, October 9, at 1 p.m. from the Union Hill Baptist Church in Nashville, NC with Rev. Douglas Leonard officiating. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Carlton "Carl" Ellis, age 67, who died on Friday, October 3, 2025, will be held on Saturday, October 11, at 11:00 a.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Sandra English Sladkey, 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at her home in Franklinton, N.C.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Elias Murphy Jr., 94, passed away on October 01, 2025 at his home in Louisburg, NC. Elias was born on July 01, 1931 to the late Elias and Ellie Shearin Murphy. In addition to his parents, Elias was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Carter Murphy.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Mattie M. Brodie, age 97, who died September 29, 2025, will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Manasseh Baptist Church in Franklinton, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Rose Marie Dennis Read, 92, of Louisburg, North Carolina, died peacefully at home with her family by her side on September 30, 2025. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Franklin Amasa Read, her parents, Frank and Zmenta Dennis, her sister Jewel Dennis Harris, and her grandson, Charles Franklin Harris.

LOUISBURG -- A superior court judge who removed a Franklin County clerk permanently from office was asked to rethink that lifetime ban.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Lock permanently removed Patricia Chastain from her post as clerk of court in October 2020, ruling that her behavior and conduct prevented her from finishing her term or holding the office ever again.
Chastain's legal team appealed the matter to the State Appeals Court, as well as the State Supreme Court.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County management is actively looking for a permanent animal services director.
The person who has filled that post on an interim basis for more than a year said he's interested in the job.
Franklin County posted the position on its Human Resources website on Sept. 23, with a closing date of Oct. 7.

The Louisburg Economic Development Committee had the honor of holding the first meeting in the recently renovated Community Station building in downtown Louisburg, across from the post office. The building is in a totally refurbished convenience store across Main Street from the main post office. The building is shown here with accent lighting at dusk on Monday just after the EDC meeting.

LOUISBURG -- An agenda-less meeting of the Louisburg Economic Development Committee meeting, held without a chairman Monday night, turned into a wide-ranging, often disjointed discussion veering from food trucks to the town's overdue financial reports.
After nearly two hours of discussion, held in the newly renovated downtown Community Station building, the session ended with no recommendations to the town council -- but one member, Dr. Phillip Stover, left the session, obviously upset, saying, "I'm done," as he retrieved his hat and umbrella and left the meeting.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County leaders officially opened its newest EMS station, broadening its emergency services reach.
In March 2022, consultants presented county commissioners with the results of an EMS study that revealed, among other things, the need for better EMS facilities ­-- including a new station to serve Bunn, one in Louisburg and one in Franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- The courts approved a $55,000 settlement against a power company and light pole operator accused of being at fault in an apparent electrocution.
The five-year-old survived his injuries in the July 2024 incident.
According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of the child in April, a light pole owned by Duke Energy Progress and maintained by American Lighting and Signalization had come down at the child's Evans Road home prior to the July 2024 incident.

Kerr-Tar COG Outstanding Clerk Lauren Chandler

ROCKY FORD -- Two juveniles were transported to the hospital for non life-threatening injuries following a roll-over wreck.
According to Trooper I.H. Al-Wadei, a 17-year-old was traveling south on Epsom Rocky Ford Road near a curve when he lost control at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The teen crossed the center line to the left, over corrected, then crossed the center line again.
The car ran off the road, struck a culvert and rolled over, coming to rest in the front yard of a home in the 3400 block of Epsom Rocky Ford Road.

Dr. Miranda Jones-Bailey, left, founder/veterinarian, and Mike Bailey, chief operating officer of Youngsville Animal Hospital, pose in front of the new ultra-modern veterinarian clinic they opened while celebrating a decade serving the pet-health needs in the greater Youngsville community. A grand opening/10th anniversary is planned for Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., located at 5096 NC 96 Hwy W. The event, which is open to the public, will feature guided tours, free food trucks, family-friendly activities and giveaways.

Sowing Seeds NC will bring its mobile food pantry to the former Perry School in Centerville on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The distribution will run from 1 to 3 p.m. or as long as supplies last.
Organizers said that everyone is welcome to come receive free food and support for their families. The first 100 families to visit will also receive a free shopping bag.

Fall really began making its presence felt as September waned and October arrived.
Leaves have begun to fall -- and many others are changing colors -- and temperatures, especially in the mornings, have a definitely different feel than they did just a few weeks ago.
Already some folks are beginning to set up their Halloween decorations and both pumpkins and mums are on sale just about everywhere.

According to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, hunters can begin using guns to hunt deer in Franklin County on Oct. 18.
And, while the only thing you'll find me hunting for in the woods is a lost disc golf disc, I've been in Franklin County long enough to know that deer hunting -- particularly the kind of hunting that's aided by dogs -- can be a tense time of year between hunters and property owners who see their properties inadvertently become part of the game.

Dear editor: I would like to publicly thank our county commissioners and maintenance crews for their excellent work in maintaining Owens Park. The park surrounds our homes and your consistent attention to mowing and upkeep has greatly improved both the safety and appearance of our community.
Your responsiveness to residents' concerns is very much appreciated.