Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's Animal Services Advisory Board recommended approving standard operating procedures for the shelter ... even though they know it's still a work in progress.
"It's important for us to have something in writing," Advisory Board member Lawanna Johnson said during the board's Sept. 29 meeting, acknowledging that there remain issues that are "not covered, mentioned or addressed in anyway.

If you like a tiny bit of chill in the mornings, relatively mild days and bright blue skies, it's really hard to beat October in North Carolina.
Although we're just about a third of the way through it, this October has been beautiful -- although a good, soaking rain would be most appreciated even though farmers are still scrambling to harvest those remaining golden leaves and get them baled for sale.
Now, if someone could just invent a cheap, efficient way to deal with all those falling leaves ... oh, well, nothing's perfect and they do make good compost for the garden. Besides, raking them is supposed to be good exercise.

Franklin County leaders have an interesting history when it comes to addressing their constituents -- especially those that appear before them at county commission meetings.
It took years before animal welfare advocates bent enough of the commission's ears to generate change within the animal services.
For others, like proponents of pickleball courts, the board's action was much more swift.

Dear Editor: In the Aug. 28 and Sept. 18 editions of The Franklin Times, there were two letters to the editor, titled "Can World Survive Christian Fundamentalism" and "Why Does Evangelicalism Produce So Many Counterfeits." After reading the back-and-forth that was sparked by the Aug. 28 letter, I initially decided not to respond. However, after reading the Sept. 18 letter, I feel context for the ongoing dialog is needed.

Hope Elizabeth Hollingsworth and Collin Monroe Vernal exchanged wedding vows at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Louisburg Baptist Church with Pastor David Averette officiating. The Music House provided the music.
A reception was held at the bride's family farm at Rocky Ford in a building constructed by her father known as Lynch Creek Pavilion.

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable like kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Broccoli is known not only for its taste but for its many health benefits. Broccoli is rich in insoluble fiber and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Health benefits of broccoli include:

After releasing four Top Ten Billboard albums, Siler City, NC based Nu-Blu have established themselves as one of the top acoustic acts in the music industry.
They will perform on Friday, Oct. 17, at Louisburg College as part of the Allen de Hart Concert Series.
Tickets are available on-line at www.jpacarts.com, or by calling the Louisburg College Box Office at (919) 497-3300, M-F, 1 to 5 p.m.

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.