Recent Articles

When you're attempting to evaluate the events of the day, it's important to realize that what is good news for some can be a veiled warning for many of the rest of us!
A couple of recent events underscore the accuracy of that concern.
First, let's look at the coal ash controversy and what it means for our drinking water -- and for our state officials' credibility.

It's been a bad few weeks for parents.
Back on Aug. 21, a Colorado man admitted to deliberately crashing his car into other motorists while his unbuckled, two-and-a-half year-old son was inside.
The man told authorities he did so in an attempt to kill his son because he couldn't handle the pressure of fatherhood.
Of course, it didn't help that the father was also using cocaine at the time of the incident.

From the looks of the overflowing garbage receptacle at the Post Office, I'm not the only one who keeps getting a plethora of expensive four-color flyers from State Senator Chad Barefoot touting all the teacher raises he has voted for.
They even brag about how teachers in North Carolina can now make $50,000 a year as if that were a Donald Trump income level.
Teachers are among the most valuable members of society. They are among the best educated, most civically involved and spend their entire working day with our youth.

RALEIGH -- Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines announced that Youngsville's Jenna Andrews placed second in the council for the 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Andrews sold 3,504 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the annual cookie sale that ended in March.
"The Cookie Program teaches Girl Scouts skills that will help them grow into leaders in their life, leaders in business, and leaders in the world," said Lisa Jones, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines. "We are excited to honor and celebrate the leaders of this year's Cookie Program."

BUNN - Southern Nash's skill-position depth and talent proved to be too much for the Bunn Wildcats during last Thursday's non-conference backyard rivalry football game.
The Firebirds attacked Bunn from every angle en route to defeating the Wildcats by a 31-16 margin at the BHS Football Field.
With the triumph, Southern Nash remained undefeated at 3-0, while Bunn dropped to 2-1 overall.

WILLOW SPRING- David "Wig" M. Denton, Jr., 84, passed away on Tuesday at Rex Hospital. A native of Franklin County, he was the son of the late David M. Denton, Sr. and Martha Medlin Denton.

CASTALIA - Amy Marie Walker, 23, died Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Nashville, with the Rev. Steve Burnette and Pastor Larry Ayscue officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Nashville.

HOLLISTER - Kyree Jayceon Harrison, age 11 months, died Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. He is the son of Nakisha Reid and the late Jimmie Lee Harrison.

LOUISBURG - Rosa Evelyn Turnage, 81, of Louisburg, died Tuesday evening.

LOUISBURG - Dolores Anne Cartwright Smith, 86, died Monday morning, Sept. 5, 2016. A service will be held at a later date.

FRANKLINTON - Funeral services for Lawrence "Junior" Johnson, 43, who died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, will be held Friday, Sept, 9, 2016 at 1 p.m. at New Life Outreach Ministry in Franklinton, with Pastor Donothan Muldrow officiating.

HENDERSON-Luther Afton Cottle Jr., 77, died Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Services will be private.

YOUNGSVILLE-- Jimmie D. Ray, 69, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016 at Duke University Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 Wednesday evening, Sept. 7, at New Life Church, 6900 Zebulon Road, Wake Forest, with the Rev. Ron Brisson officiating. Friends may visit with the family following the service.

ZEBULON - Funeral services for Brenda Branch Wheeless, 65, who died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. at Richardson Funeral Chapel in Louisburg, with the Rev. Jeffrey Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Gethsemane Church cemetery in Bunn.

LOUISBURG - Martha Jane Weaver Moore, 67, wife of Dalton Leon Moore of Louisburg, died September 4, 2016. She was born in Caswell County on May 18, 1949 to the late Virgie Pruitt and Fred Weaver.

RALEIGH - Morgan Renee Smith Grandy, 30, of Raleigh, died September 5, 2016. She was born in Wake County on September 10, 1985 to Robert Franklin Smith and Bonnie Hoard Meyer.

NASHVILLE - Funeral services for William "Joe" Williams, 69, who died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, will be held Friday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Castalia, with Pastor Bobby Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Hickory Grove Church cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Louisburg area couple, alleging the two abused a month-old baby.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Terry Wright said a hospital alerted authorities to the potential of child abuse.
Authorities allege the incident occurred between May 5 and June 5.
Investigators on Thursday arrested Dequarius Johnson, 20, and Victoria Benson, 17, both of N.C. 39, with felony intentional child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.

BUNN -- Southern Nash's skill-position depth and talent proved to be too much for the Bunn Wildcats during Thursday's non-conference backyard rivalry football game.
The Firebirds attacked Bunn from every angle en route to defeating the Wildcats by a 31-16 margin at the BHS Football Field.
With the triumph, Southern Nash remained undefeated at 3-0, while Bunn dropped to 2-1 overall.

FRANKLINTON -- Despite possessing a wealth of talent, Tyreese Williams has needed to be patient while sharing the load in the backfield for the Franklinton Red Rams over the past three campaigns.
But Williams, now a senior, is making the most of his opportunity to be the featured back in the Red Rams' offense.
Williams has been strong this fall, including a 242-yard, three-touchdown rushing effort during Franklinton's 38-27 home decision on Thursday against the Princeton Bulldogs.

LOUISBURG - Michael Jerome Garrett, 70, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 at his home. A celebration of his life will be held Sept. 24, 2016. A private graveside service was held at Oakwood Cemetery.

LOUISBURG -- A grand farm family history, an extraordinary community culmination in celebration of local foods and the beginnings of something notably-enduring to agriculture in North Carolina radiated in the early evening hours from a rolling pasture hilltop during the 2015 Dinner in the Meadow.
It was the second year at Meadow Lane Farm when two massive tents overshadowed culinary selections from the Coast to the Foothills for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund.

LOUISBURG -- A road project that has been on again, off again is back on, again.
The State Department of Transportation's draft Strategic Transportation Improvement Plan for 2018-2027 includes plans to widen Bickett Boulevard from Nash Street to Main Street north of town.
The project is estimated to cost about $6.9 million.