Recent Articles

Bunn's Ileana Wilder makes a move toward the basket during Tuesday's game at Beddingfield.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners met, in an informal setting, to talk about the successes and challenges facing education now and into the future.
One of those challenges, many in attendance noted, would be replacing retiring football coach and educator, David Howle.
The Bunn stalwart announced his retirement earlier this year, hanging up his whistle and putting down a clipboard after 29 years on the job, 25 of those at Bunn High.

BUNN -- Makeshift memorials were set up in a high school parking lot and the site of a fatal crash that took the life of a Bunn High School student this week, giving people a place to gather and remember a fallen friend.
A fishing pole, southern heritage flag, chewing tobacco and flowers marked the spot where Jon Perry lived and the place where he died.
"Jon was a "bo," said Bunn High teacher Kim Mitchell. "That's what the kids call our country boys.

Please join us in the celebration of life for Jon Perry Jr. Services will be held at the Bunn High School Auditorium on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m. with services to follow at 2:00 p.m. Family is requesting camo attire.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Johnnie Floyd "Flip" Alston, 83, who died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m. at Perry's Missionary Baptist Church, Louisburg, with the Rev. Randolph Alston officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry's Church cemetery.

HAVELOCK - Kevin Wheless Collins, 56, of Havelock, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. A private service will be held at a later date.

LOUISBURG - Judith A. Benedict, 74, widow of Jordan Benedict, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Pocomoke Cowboy Church, 3516 West River Road, Franklinton, with the Rev. Spencer Strickland officiating.

CASTALIA - Gregory Perry Collins, 66, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at his home. Services will be private.

FRANKLINTON-- Eva Smith Troutman, 92, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 at the Franklin Oaks Nursing Center in Louisburg. A graveside funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton, with the Rev. Robert Collier officiating.

LOUISBURG - Irvin Moses "Buddy" Inscoe, 79, of Louisburg went home to be with the Lord on December 4, 2016 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, NC. He was born in Franklin County on April 14, 1937 to the late Bessie Collins and Isaac Moses Inscoe. In addition to his parents, Buddy was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Stainback Inscoe; and his sister, Bettye Beaman.

WINSTON-SALEM--Lucretia Ann Bailey, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with the Rev. Gene Wollard officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton.

RALEIGH - Funeral services for Mary J. Gayton, 98, of Raleigh, formerly of Olean, N.Y., who died Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, will be held Friday Dec. 9, at 12 noon at Gunther Funeral Home in Olean, N.Y. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Olean, N.Y.

BUNN - Clyde Dennis Beal, 64, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. A funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 5, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with Alex Cleghorn officiating. Burial with U.S. Navy honors followed at Southeastern Baptist Seminary cemetery, Wake Forest.

WAKE FOREST - Euna Morris Perry Newton, 97, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Funeral services were held Saturday Dec. 3, at Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial followed at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Hugh Arthur "Boot" Branch Sr., 67, who died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, with Pastor John A. Hopkins Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- Police are looking for two men they allege robbed a local sweepstakes cafe at gunpoint.
Officers responded to the Spin City Internet Cafe in the 600 block of N. Bickett Boulevard before 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 after employees reported that two men entered the establishment, showed weapons and demanded cash.
The two men left the business with an undisclosed amount of money without injuring any of the employees or any of the customers inside.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Hugh Arthur "Boot" Branch Sr., 67, who died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, with Pastor John A. Hopkins Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- When Quamon Person arrived at Louisburg High School four seasons ago, it was almost a given that he would develop into an excellent all-around athlete for the Warriors.
After all, Person comes from an athletic family, and it was expected that he would continue the tradition.
But while Person has been solid in basketball and baseball for Louisburg, his real potential was thought to be on the gridiron.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education last week unanimously rejected three changes in upcoming construction projects that had been ordered by the county commissioners a few days earlier, setting the stage for a confrontation between the two elected boards later that evening.
The school board unanimously decided to stay with the construction projects it had carefully planned over the last several weeks. That decision came about two hours before the county commissioners were to meet.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council took a significant step toward enticing new residential development in town during its Nov. 21 meeting, agreeing to give back some property tax revenue in the short term to create additional homes.
The council, which has been seeking ways to increase residential development for the past several months, unanimously approved an agreement with R&R Construction of Louisburg to encourage the company to build 10 single family houses over the next five years.

Santa Claus, brightly colored holiday decorations and, soon, parades, can mean only one thing, Christmas is just around the corner. In the photo above, six-month-old Ellie Hope Young, daughter of Chip and Brittany Young, isn't too sure what to make of the Jolly Old Gent from the North Pole whom she encountered at the annual bazaar at the Louisburg United Methodist Church recently.

RALEIGH -- A federal court has ordered the state to redraw House and Senate Districts for an election next year.
The Nov. 29 decision directly calls for the state to redraw House District 7 covering Franklin County and redrawn maps, experts have said, would most likely impact other districts not directly named in the judges' order.
The order, issued by a three- judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, imposes a March 15 deadline for the state to draw new districts.

LOUISBURG -- Two new county commissioners will be sworn in during the board's December meeting.
The board's Nov. 21 meeting, though, served as the swan song for Commissioners Don Lancaster and Shane Mitchell.
Lancaster has served on the board since 2004 and Mitchell joined the board in 2008.
Both opted not to seek re-election in District 5 and District 7, respectively.

Bunn's Greg McDonald

The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra will bring its Holiday Pops show to Louisburg College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. This orchestra is one of the largest professional arts organizations in the state, and will be performing holiday favorites such as "Sleigh Ride" and "White Christmas." In addition to the concert, there will be a tree lighting at 7 p.m. in the Holt Lobby to kick off the holiday season. Unwrapped gifts will be accepted to give to local children in need throughout Franklin County. Free holiday refreshments will be served at intermission.