Recent Articles

Broccoli evolved from the leafy cole crops in the Northern Mediterranean around the 6th century.
The name "broccoli" comes from the Italian word "brocco," meaning "sprout" or "shoot," which is derived from the Latin "brachium," meaning "arm" or "branch."
It was introduced to the USA from Italy in the 1800s but did not become popular until the 1920s.
By the 1940s, broccoli had become a common vegetable in America.

LOUISBURG -- A Bunn High School teacher and coach has been suspended with pay and is scheduled to appear in court next month on charges of driving while impaired.
According to court records, State Highway Patrol Trooper J. Parra-Guzman arrested Andre Dwayne Davis on Sept. 6 in the area of N.C. 98 and U.S. 401 -- a few miles from his Kent Street home.

LOUISBURG --Louisburg police tag-teamed with local law enforcement to arrest a trio of suspects on gun and drug charges.
Louisburg officers, along with Franklin County sheriff's deputies and Wake Forest police officers executed search warrants at 707 Kenmore Avenue and 302 Mineral Springs Road on Sept. 5 -- arresting three people.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County authorities ended a seven-hour standoff without incident or injury.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots being fired inside a home on Twin Creek Drive before 6 p.m. on Sept. 8.
According to reports, a person at the house was firing shots inside the home.
Sheriff Kevin White posted on social media that shots were fired at arriving deputies. No injuries were reported.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to move forward with a Midwestern lender in their efforts to finance a new judicial complex.
A 2019 facilities review and space assessment revealed, among other things, the need for more and better judicial space.
As a result, Oakley Collier Architects presented commissioners with a number of options to expand courthouse space -- ultimately settling on a plan to renovate the current Hamilton Hobgood Courthouse Annex and build a 55,000-square-foot, three-story building immediately behind it.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council, meeting in a special session Tuesday night, created a downtown social district and approved a new pool hall on East Nash Street that was given permission to also sell beer.
The council also gave permission for Walmart to allow food trucks in its parking lot.
All those actions came after the council held four public hearings during which no one from the public addressed any of the issues.

FRANKLINTON -- When Franklinton Police Officer Phyllis Johnson arrived on scene, a stopped car on the road was occupied one time.
By the time she left, it was occupied two times.
Using a combination of military and Bunn CERT first responder training, Johnson helped deliver a baby boy on the side of U.S. 1 the afternoon of Sept. 8.
She received a commendation from the town during its meeting Tuesday night.

FRANKLINTON -- Commissioners approved a special use permit that will allow a mechanic to open friendly, neighborhood auto shop that he calls his retirement plan.
Tuesday night's decision came despite concerns about the impact of the commercial development on surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Patti Danfora petitioned the town for a special use permit, which would allow her to use a 2.15 acre lot -- just behind her 5050 N.C. 56, front facing lot -- to develop an auto repair shop.

Words don't always capture the magnitude of a problem. And, neither do words or video, by themselves.
But, together, and with a community's passion, the hope is they can spark change. During the most recent Youngsville Board of Commissioners meeting, Mason and Ashlee Rizzo, representing themselves and fellow northeast downtown neighbors, were back, again, expressing their exasperation about traffic problems in their neighborhood.

Franklinton, NC -- Bruce Allen Ball, 76, died September 8, 2025 at his home in Franklinton. Bruce was born in James City County, VA on April 7, 1949 to the late Jay Milton and Joanne Margaret Wilson Ball.

Franklinton, NC -- Wayne J. Spaulding, 90, of Franklinton, NC died September 9, 2025.

Franklinton, NC -- Mary Lou Jeans Stroud, 79, of Franklinton, died September 10, 2025 at her home.

Franklinton, NC -- Mary Ann Savitski, died September 11, 2025 at her residence in Franklinton, at the age of 80.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Ronnie Joel Wright, 69, of Franklinton, passed away on September 14, 2025. Ronnie was born on February 20, 1956 to the late Joseph Earl and Leah Wilder Wright.

Oxford N.C. -- Edward William Lyons passed away at the age of 60 on August 26, 2025, in Oxford, North Carolina. Born on October 7, 1964, Edward, known for his quiet demeanor and kind spirit, spent his childhood years at St. Barbara's primary school before graduating from John Jay High School. He furthered his education in Vance, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Anthony Richard Collier, 46, of Louisburg, passed away suddenly Saturday afternoon, September 13, 2025.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services Shirley Foster Booze, age 88, who died on Saturday, September 13, 2025, will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Dennis Hicks officiating. Burial will follow in the Lettuce Hall Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Judy "Mook" Moore Hargrove, age 77, who died on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Faith Missionary Church in Louisburg with Pastor K. G. Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Faith Missionary Church Cemetery.

DINWIDDIE, Va - Funeral services for Robert Lee Wright, 78, who died on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at noon from the Perry's Missionary Baptist Church in Centerville, NC.

FRANKLINTON, NC - Funeral services for James Melvin McCrimmon, 85, who died Sept. 8, 2025 will be held Monday, Sept. 15, at Union Chapel AME Zion Church.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Peggy Joyce Bullock Seymour, 93, of Youngsville, passed away Friday night, September 12, 2025.

LOUISBURG -- There was a lot to like -- and things to be concerned about -- in the statewide data on student performance for the 2024-25 school year that was presented in great detail to the Franklin County Board of Education Monday.
Dr. Lela Nichols, chief of academics for the district, presented these highlights to the school board:

Young Sarahng Blossom Ambrosia displays great passing form as she fires a cold, wet sponge at "receiver" Dave Jerose during Youngsville's Night Out. Actually, Jerose may have had a pretty good gig considering that a cool sponge to the face might have felt pretty good on a hot, muggy evening. Or, maybe not so much -- but Blossom seemed to enjoy the challenge.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education took the first steps toward finding a replacement for Supt. of Schools Rhonda Schuhler who has announced that she is ending her 32 years in public education at the end of this calendar year.
Sam Thorpe, an attorney with the North Carolina School Boards Association, attended Monday's meeting to give the board an overview of how it could help with a nationwide search for a new superintendent.