Recent Articles

Members of the Louisburg College men's cross country team pose at the annual pre-event banquet at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships. The event was held this year in El Dorado, Kansas. The Hurricanes, under the direction of head coach Jay Koloseus, finished in 11th place in the men's team standings at the prestigious distance-running showcase.

Senior veteran Alexis McPhail was exceptional this season for the Bunn High School volleyball squad, which reached the second round of the NCHSAA Class 2-A State Playoffs.

Celik Curtis (with ball) was strong on both sides of the ball last Friday for the Bunn Wildcats during their Class 2-A State Playoff game at home.

In what has become a Thanksgiving holiday tradition, Blessings, Inc, held its free holiday dinner last Thursday at Louisburg College.
Although clearly food was the focus, the dinner is also about fellowship as people who may not see each other often during the year join forces and talents to prepare and serve a spread that would make top-notch restaurants proud.
This year's event drew an excellent crowd, even though it started slowly under threatening skies and a bit of a drizzle.

You could see it brewing for several months, but what we have now is a potentially full-fledged confrontation between the school board and county commissioners.
But there is much more to the story than what meets the eye -- and since it affects public education in our county, it is important.
In a nutshell, the school board spent months evaluating its needs and ways to meet as many of those prioritized needs as possible with the remaining $11.3 million in bond issue money it should have available.

Trust, confidence and credibility.
Those are three of the legs on which the "stool" of our democracy rests -- and all three of them are under attack from some very unlikely sources.
The core of our system of government is that American citizens have trust and confidence in our government -- and that it remains credible.
Why else would Americans send off their precious young men and women to fight -- and die -- in wars and why else would Americans be willing to send a significant portion of their income every year to keep the wheels of government running smoothly?

In 1999, I lived in New Bern and I remember when Hurricane Floyd came through.
More specifically, I remember the day after Hurricane Floyd as a photographer and I walked and rode the streets of Craven County, looking to chronicle the impact of the storm.
We looked in all of the usual places, but we couldn't find anything more than the usual remnants of a heavy rain -- some puddles here and there, but nothing more.

By all normal standards and in the opinion of all neutral observers, Roy Cooper defeated Pat McCrory and is the Governor-elect of North Carolina.
As of this writing, McCrory is unwilling to accept reality and continues to make North Carolina the punch line of jokes. There is a Hail Mary play in his game plan and only a public outcry can stop it.
McCrory and his minions are claiming voter fraud.

HENDERSON -- The Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children has tabbed a Vance County man for its top leadership post.
FGV Smart Start Inc. announced that Dr. Tony Cozart will lead the organization, which designs and provides programs and services for families and children in Franklin, Granville, and Vance counties.
Cozart is a retired educator with over 32 years in the local public school systems.

Caroline Victoria Bethea and Christopher Neal Murphy were married on Sept. 24, 2016 at Louisburg United Methodist Church in Louisburg, with the Rev. Michael Safley officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Victor and Meloni Bethea of Louisburg.
The groom is son of Lori Neal Murphy of Castalia and the late Clyde Murphy Jr. He is the grandson of Clyde and Faye Murphy.

CHAPEL HILL -- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has announced its game times and sites for the state football championship games.
Here is a complete gridiron schedule:
• Class 1-A -- Dec. 17 at 11:05 a.m. at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
• Class 1-AA -- Dec. 16 at 7:35 p.m. at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

FRANKLINTON - James Franklin Burchette, 78, died Friday, Nov. 25, 2016 at his home. The family will receive friends Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1:15 p.m. at Unity Baptist Church in Franklinton, where a memorial service will follow at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Bradley Johnson and the Rev. David Averette officiating.

RALEIGH - Funeral services for Bernard Christopher "B. J." Jordan, 50, who died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, will be held Friday, Dec. 2, at 12 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the M. H. Jones Cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Mary Helen Radford Griffin, 91, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. The family will receive friends Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, 804 N. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Wood Baptist Church, with the Rev. Burwell Stark officiating. Burial will follow in the King-Dennis Family Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON - James Howard Conyers, 87, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 at Duke Regional Hospital. Funeral service was held at Popes Chapel Christian Church on Monday, Nov. 28, with the Rev. Don Ward officiating. Burial was private.

KITTRELL - Funeral services for Leandrew "Lee" Alston, 76, who died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. at Concord Baptist Church in Kittrell. Burial will follow in the Concord Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Joseph Wesley "J.W." Ellington, 90, of Louisburg passed away on November 26, 2016. He was born in Franklin County on January 17, 1926 to the late Joseph Wellons and Norma Ethel Kearney Ellington. J.W. served his country in the Navy during WWII and the Korean War. J.W. was an outdoorsman, who loved to fish, hunt, and enjoyed his garden. He took exceptional care of his parents as they aged and that is true of how he cared for his entire family.

LOUISBURG - Sheral Annette Frazier, 64, of Louisburg, passed away Sunday night.

LOUISBURG - Jerry Lee Riggan, 62, of Louisburg, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at his home. He was born on January 15, 1954, in Portsmouth, Virginia, the son of William H. Riggan, Jr. of Warren County, NC and Earis Marie Coppedge of Franklin County, NC. He was a preceded in death by his father and an infant brother, Robert Jackson Riggan.

CASTALIA - Gloria Owens VanFleet Davis, 95, died Wednesday morning, Nov. 23, 2016. A funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, at White Level Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

FRANKLINTON - Funeral services for Eula Mae "Bae" Williams Cannady, 67, who died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. in the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Gertrude Jones officiating.

BUNN -- Bunn had hoped for a climactic ending to David Howle's glorious 25-year career as the school's head football coach -- but it wasn't meant to be.
Instead, the Wildcats were edged 15-7 by Northside-Jacksonville on Friday at home in the second round of the Class 2-AA State Playoffs in a defensive-minded contest.
Bunn capped its campaign at 11-2, and it will be the final season for Howle, who has already announced his retirement. Northside, now 10-3, advances into a third-round matchup next Friday on the road against powerhouse Clinton.