Recent Articles

In this business, there are days when you feel like running off into the sunset screaming at the top of your lungs!
There have been a couple of those days recently -- and I'll share them if you promise not to go off screaming into the sunset because we need our readers!
The frustration really hit the red level during an Economic Development Commission meeting last week when Economic Developer Richie Duncan said we have lost two potential industries since July 1 because of a lack of infrastructure.

First, a pat on the back to all of the school officials -- especially teachers! -- and parents who have worked together to significantly improve school scores in recent months.
As you read in last week's edition of your Franklin Times, the most recent data indicates that nine of the county district's 16 schools saw a full letter grade increase on their state report school.

So, if you know me well, then you know there are many things that happen in life that remind me of a "Seinfeld" episode.
Well, this week is no different.
But this reminder has the groan factor of the worst stand-up comedian -- just think Kenny Bania and his comedy routines based solely on Ovaltine.
In the "Seinfeld" episode I'm referencing, George gets "involved" with a woman on the cleaning staff on his desk in his office.

In my writing (most of which is published elsewhere), during the 2016 election cycle I am using deceive and lie much more than I'd like to when describing what Republican campaigns and candidates are saying.
Today, I'd like to explore the similarity of those two words in their various forms.
A lie is an outright falsehood, untruth or fib and can accurately be characterized as propaganda.

The Franklin County Arts Council will host a number of events later this month and into October, including:
A workshop titled, "Art 101- in the Naked City: How Not to Prepare Your Art for an Exhibit" with Everett Mayo on Thursday, Sept. 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mayo will present a Power Point discussion with some "war stories" including personal experiences with things that "could have gone so much better."
With a half-century both as an exhibiting artist and a gallery curator Mayo will highlight what's important to both artist and art gallery.

HENDERSON -- A group of students from Vance-Granville Community College, including a Franklinton student, received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System.
The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state's community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Perry's High School, Class of 1968 held a class reunion on Saturday, Sept. 3, in the school's auditorium. Class members present were (back row, left to right): Larry Brodie, Ernest Richardson, Clifton Livingston, Charles C. Wright, Freddie Peace, Willie B. Durham, Joseph Holden, Sinorris Branch. Second row: Melvin Alston, Bennie Burt, Patricia Hilliard-Cauley, Betty Baker, Catherine Newell. Seated: Patricia Alston-Tapp, Mary Johnson, Bobbie Richardson, Roserita Wilkins, Shirley Richardson, Mary Alston-Ross and Onnie Mitchell-Burrell.

ZEBULON - Karen A. Grace, 59, died at her home in Zebulon on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. A memorial service will be held Monday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. at St. Michael's Church of Christ, 3500 Rosenberg St., Zebulon.

LOUISBURG--William Henry Collins Jr., 83, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at Rocky Mount Rehabilitation Center. The family will receive friends tonight (Thursday) from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, 804 N. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg, where funeral services will also be held on Friday at 3 p.m., with the Rev. Nathaniel Williams officiating. Interment will follow in White Level Baptist Church cemetery.

DURHAM - Paul E. Debnam, 57, died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 at his home in Durham. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Kinches Chapel Baptist Church, Franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- First responders rushed a Louisburg man to the hospital after he was pulled from this submerged truck Tuesday afternoon.
Motorists, including Franklin County Sheriff's Office Maj. Rudy Baker, foreground, with arm bandage, came upon the wreck on Clifton Pond Road at about 5:30 p.m., to find Terry L. Pearce stuck in his overturned truck in the waterway.
Baker, another man and a fireman were able to pull Pearce from the water.

YOUNGSVILLE--Richard Larry Woodlief, 72, died at his residence Monday morning, Sept. 12, 2016. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home.

LOUISBURG - Lonnie David Hunt, 59, of Louisburg, passed away Saturday morning at his home.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Roger "Pip" Hicks, 64, who died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, were held Monday, Sept. 12, at Haywood Baptist Church in Louisburg, with Minister Rachel Drumgold officiating. Burial followed in the Haywood Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Natisha "Tasha" Hammond, 48, who died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, will be held Friday, Sept. 16, at 12 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Connie Foster officiating.

LAKE ROYALE - Edward "Mike" Risko, 66, died Sunday, September 11, 2016, in his home.

HENDERSON -- Northern Vance threw a bit of a scare into Bunn by scoring the first touchdown of Friday's non-conference football showdown.
But the Wildcats quickly regained their composure and were dominant the rest of the way en route to securing a 47-7 road victory at the NVHS Field.
Bunn broke a one-game losing skid with the convincing triumph and, in the process, improved to 3-1 overall on the campaign.
It didn't take long for the Wildcats to respond to Northern Vance's (1-3) early score.

OXFORD -- Louisburg High School's first victory of the 2016 football season was one to remember as the Warriors won a back-and-forth shootout with host Oxford Webb on Friday night.
Louisburg running back Tyre Davis had a big night as the Warriors earned a 48-40 triumph at Oxford Webb.
Louisburg, which was coming off a bye week, improved to 1-2 overall with the hard-fought contest.

FRANKLINTON -- Stopping Tarboro High School's high-powered T-formation offense has proven to be a daunting task for area football teams through the years as the Vikings have racked up their share of state championships.
But when Tarboro is also able to pick up a trio of special teams touchdowns, chances are it's going to be a long night for the Vikings' opponent.
Coming off a pair of strong home victories, the Franklinton Red Rams had high hopes entering Friday's contest against tradition-rich Tarboro at the FHS Football Field.

ROSELLE, NJ - Funeral services for Clarence Rushing, 77, who died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2016, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Maurice White officiating. Burial will follow in the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Franklin County school officials -- and both parents and students -- received a reason to celebrate late last week when the state announced its annual school performance data.
The data indicated that the district's efforts to improve the quality of education in county schools is making headway under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga. Nine of 16 total schools saw a full letter grade increase on their state report card.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Commissioners held off on plans to reserve its limited water and sewer resources as residential builders argued that such a measure would have been an effective moratorium on development.
An engineering company performed a water/sewer allocation study for Franklin County and those results presented to the county's Utility Advisory Committee in August confirmed that the county "should remain diligent and aware of the limitation of remaining water and sewer capacities when considering the additions of any large volume customers and subdivisions..."

LOUISBURG -- In its 27th year, some things about the Tar River Festival will never change.
And some will.
The festival, hosted by the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, continues to serve as a showpiece for Franklin County and its local charms and that hasn't changed, organizers said.