Recent Articles

Fletcher Cross shows off his chicken

Holly Thornburg helps 4-H Extension Agent Meg Wyatt organize prizes

Above, Taylor Joyner judges Nolan Cross.

Demolition efforts began in earnest this week to clear the way for a proposed and controversial three-story courthouse annex in downtown Louisburg. In the photo above, a large track loader's bucket is about to pull down the Nash Street side of the former Ford Insurance Agency building across from Louisburg town hall.

Franklinton, NC -- Funeral services for Tashia Jacobs, age 52, who died on Sunday, August 24, 2025, will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 12 p.m. from the Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Henderson with Pastor Charles Thompson, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Sandy Grove Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Dorothy Ann Lassiter Spivey, age 75, who died on Monday, August 25, 2025, will be held on Friday, August 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the Shady Grove Baptist Church in Louisburg, NC with Pastor John Hopkins, officiating. Burial will follow in The Spivey Gardens.

Nashville, NC -- Funeral services for Adolph Freeman, age 76, who died on Tuesday, July 29, were held Saturday, August 2, at 12 p.m., from the Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville with Pastor Jack Reese, Jr., officiating. Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery.

Youngsville, NC -- Funeral services for Janet McCowan Harris, age 81, who died on Friday, August 8, 2025, were held on Saturday, August 16, at 2 p.m. from the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Youngsville. Burial followed in the Union Grove Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Nora "Pigeon" Alston Ruffin, age 93, who died on Saturday, August 23, 2025, will be held on Saturday, August 30, at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Hebron United Holiness Church in Louisburg with Bishop Allen Curtis officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery on the Hill.

Summerfield, NC -- Funeral services for Malachi Ishmael Taybron, age 29, who died on Friday, August 22, 2025, will be held Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 3 p.m. from the Truth Tabernacle Ministries in Rocky Mount with Dr. Johnny R. Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in the Taybron Family Cemetery.

Raleigh, NC -- Funeral services for Christopher Jermaine "Chris" Allen, age 47, who died on Saturday, August 23, 2025, will be held Saturday, August 30, at 11 a.m. at the Faith Youngsville Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Pine Forest Memorial Garden Cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Moses Lee "Dan" Clegg, 76, of Youngsville was born in Wake County, NC, to the late David and Corene Clegg on October 6, 1948. He died August 16, 2025, at his home in Franklin County, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Viewing and services for Paul Thorne, age 70, who died on Monday, July 28, 2025, were held on Saturday, August 2, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg.

Dennis Lee VanJaarsveld, 78, died Monday, August 18, 2025 at his residence. Dennis was born January 6, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan to the late Harold Raymond and Patsy Charlton VanJaarsveld.

Kathleen Rose O'Toole, 77, of Raleigh, NC peacefully passed away on June 14, 2025. She was a cherished mother, sister, friend, Lollipop Lady, travel agent, neighbor/community pool organizer, original soccer mom (Go Spartans) and Inflicted Spoon fan (Tim's first band.)

Debra "Debbie" Kay (Moses) Frary, age 71 (born in 1954) a longtime resident of Youngsville, Franklin County, NC and recent resident of Easley, SC, a beloved wife, daughter, sister, friend and dedicated career middle school math teacher in both VA and NC, passed from a progressive chronic health condition unto eternal life with her risen Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, August 18, 2025.

Jackie Pendleton Hicks, 79, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully on Friday, August 22, 2025 surrounded by her children, feeling that same love she so freely gave throughout her life. Jackie was born in Nash County, NC on November 23, 1945, to the late Henry Johnson "Jack" Pendleton and Beatrice "Beat" Winstead Pendleton.

ZEBULON, NC -- Donald "Donnie" Wheeler Dillard, age 78, was born on February 26, 1947 in Warrenton, North Carolina and passed peacefully at home with his family by his side on August 19, 2025 in Zebulon, North Carolina.

RALEIGH -- Franklinton and Louisburg's plans to expand recreation and open space opportunities have been bolstered by state grants.
Last month, the state awarded nearly $11 million to trail development, restoration and other projects in the Piedmont -- including $500,000 for Franklinton and $100,000 for Louisburg.

LOUISBURG -- For more than a year, efforts to craft standard operating procedures for the county's animal shelter have gotten as tangled as a leash attached to a rambunctious dog.
But, during the July 29 meeting of the Franklin County's Animal Services Advisory Board, county staff and board members appeared to straighten out the issue.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners took two actions designed to expedite a bypass around downtown.
First, during the Aug. 14 meeting, commissioners authorized Town Manager Nathan Page and Town Attorney Katie Barber-Jones to purchase a nearly two-acre parcel to provide the remainder of the right-of-way for the leg of the bypass between Cedar Creek and Tarboro roads.

Well, not exactly but it was still a lot of fun, especially for youngsters like Carter Jones (arms upraised) and his friends. Leave it to Franklinton to take the traditional Police Night Out and convert it to an afternoon of fun for children and adults alike -- and to meet the town's police officers and even collect school supplies. See more photos on Page 10. Oh, and that's not snow, its foam, fun but a lot warmer.

RALEIGH -- A Louisburg woman was among more than a half dozen suspects arrested in an ALE drug bust.
With the aid of the Raleigh Police Department, agents with State Alcohol Law Enforcement raided two homes in Raleigh, seizing fentanyl, cocaine, meth, a pound of marijuana, two firearms and cash.

Andrii, Mark, Kateryna & Michael Prybilskyi and Josefina Calamaco

Recently the Pilot Lions Club hosted two Bunn High School seniors with steak dinners and presented each of them with $1,500 scholarships. This year's recipients are William Allen Bullock and Hannah Grace Privette. William's plans include attending NC State University where he will earn a bachelor's degree in law and justice and minor in Forensic Science. William's long-range plans include joining the Marine ROTC and being commissioned as an officer upon graduation.