Recent Articles

There is a popular joke among reporters that: "my search history, alone, could get me fired."
As a police reporter, I can't tell you how many searches have been conducted using suspicious search terms, like "heroin junkie," "products needed to make meth," "legal age of consent," and "school shootings."
Out of context, that kind of search history would alert most employers.

There is a time for fear and a time for action.
Right now is a time for fear -- the North Carolina General Assembly is back in session and if recent history is any indication of future performance, they will pass one or more unconstitutional laws that will cost Tar Heel taxpayers money; lots of money.
In its last few sessions, the Republican-dominated General Assembly has passed laws regarding teacher tenure (such as it is in North Carolina), judicial "elections" that weren't truly elections, and Congressional redistricting.

Dear editor:
Last week, Sen. Richard Burr had the opportunity to rise above the typical partisan politics that defines Congress by supporting Patricia Timmons-Goodson's nomination to fill the long-vacant seat on the U.S. Eastern District of North Carolina federal district court.

Dear editor:
When buying a car, usually the buyer gives it a test drive before paying for it.
If you are purchasing a house, you usually do a walk-through before paying for it.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Mitchell of Franklinton announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Daphnee LaReese to Christopher Lightbourne, son of Herbert & Phyllis Lightbourne of Raleigh. The wedding will be held Saturday, June 25, at 12 p.m. at Kinches Chapel Christian Church, 1055 Gordon Moore Road, Franklinton.

Rufus Edward and Minnie Lee Greene are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary today, May 12, 2016. They were married in Louisburg on May 12, 1956.

HENDERSON -- Vance-Granville Community College will welcome former NFL player and Henderson native Jason Brown to serve as the principal commencement speaker for graduation exercises on Friday, May 13.
Daniel Davis of Norlina, parliamentarian of the VGCC Student Government Association, will be the student speaker.
About 550 students are scheduled to be honored during ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. at the gazebo by the lake on the college's Main Campus in Vance County.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg man was killed Saturday evening when the car he was driving ran off the road and crashed into a ditch.
Tyquan R. Holden, 21, was transported to the hospital, but died as a result of his injuries.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Holden was traveling north on East River Road when he ran off the road to the right.
Holden over-corrected, according to the report, and ran off the road to the left, hitting a ditch, then a fence and a tree.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County sheriff's deputies continue to look for the suspect in an armed robbery and beating that sent an elderly man to the hospital.
According to authorities, a 71-year-old man reported that he was going to his carport during the early morning hours of April 22 when a man approached wearing a mask.
The suspect, believed to be a white man, about 6-feet 5-inches tall, hit the victim in the head with a stick.

The FCAC Writers' Guild is sponsoring its second annual FCAC Writers' Guild Carolina Prize in writing contest. It is open to previously unpublished (This includes online publication) poetry, short stories, and essays or creative non-fiction.
This year two prizes will be awarded, one for prose and the other poetry. Each prize will be $100, plus two copies and page one publication in the 2017 issue of County Lines: A Literary Journal. Up to five honorable mentions will also be named. They will receive publication in County Lines and one free copy.

We had a special treat at Louisburg College's Baccalaureate this past Thursday, May 5. We were fortunate to have as guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, executive director of North Carolina Council of Churches.
It was a privilege to hear her words of wisdom as well as her statistics on the predicted future of our present young generation as they get ready to receive more education or/and seek a job that will give them security and satisfaction.

BUNN -- Last fall, Sheriff Kent Winstead unveiled a Wall of Honor inside the lobby of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, a reminder of those who have been lost in the line of duty.
Annually, members of Law Enforcement United members take to the streets, remembering the fallen, supporting their loved ones and raising money to help their survivors.

DACULA, Ga. -- A Louisburg man whose multi-state crime spree led to his arrest in Georgia last summer was arrested this week after slinking away from a prison work detail and assaulting an officer with his own baton.
David Gill Jr., 25, was slated to appear in a Georgia court today (Thursday) on charges related to a custody escape and officer assault that occurred during the early morning hours of May 4.

LOUISBURG - Regardless of the scenario, something always seems to be at stake when Louisburg tangles with Granville Central on the softball diamond.
That trend continued last Wednesday as Louisburg hosted GC with an opportunity to win the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference championship outright.
Louisburg, thanks to some strong defense in support of pitcher Arianna Fuller-Bell, was able to defeat the Panthers en route to finishing TRAC play with an undefeated record.

Louisburg High School's Kaylee Saunders bunts for a hit for the Lady Warriors during last Wednesday's title-clinching softball victory over Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference opponent Granville Central. Louisburg also won its contest this Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 1-A State Playoffs.

Louisburg High School second sacker Jessie Whitley records the last out off a grounder during last Wednesday's home softball triumph against rival Granville Central.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School's football program will be under new leadership for the 2016-17 school year.
JeVar Bransome was hired as a physical education teacher and named FHS head football coach at Monday's board of education meeting. He will begin working with the team next week.
Bransome currently works as a science teacher and assistant head football coach at Rolesville High School -- a program that he has helped build from the ground-up in just three short years.

BUNN -- Well, that didn't take long.
Bunn met South Granville on the baseball diamond twice in the last two weeks in a pair of much-anticipated Northern Carolina Conference showdowns.
The latest came last Wednesday when the Wildcats defeated the Vikings at North Carolina State's Doak Field to wrap up their fifth consecutive NCC crown -- and finish the regular season with a sweep against the perennial rivals.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School has sent its share of boys basketball players to Vance-Granville Community College -- but not in the past handful of years.
That drought ended recently when LHS senior guard Calvin Manley signed a letter-of-intent to join the Vanguards' program.
Manley, at 6-foot-3, has good size for a perimeter player and helped the Warriors reach the finals of the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference Tournament -- along with a spot in the second round of the Class 1-A State Playoffs.

FRANKLINTON -- Louisburg High School took third in the girls and fifth in the boys at the annual Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships, which were held last Wednesday at the Franklinton HS Football Field.
Louisburg's girls accumulated 63 points, with KIPP Pride the winner at 219.
LHS' Breasia Williams was the girls champion in the shot put (33-08) and discus (95-01) as she continued to prepare for an attempt at a possible state crown in those events.

KINSTON -- For a moment, Louisburg College seemed destined for another Cinderella stroll through the Region X Baseball Tournament.
Two years ago -- the last time the event was held at historic Grainger Stadium -- the Hurricanes entered the double-elimination format as a mighty underdog, but came within one game of winning a region crown.
Louisburg was looking for another improbable journey this time around as the unheralded Hurricanes opened play last weekend with a 5-4 upset decision over the University of South Carolina-Sumter.

The Youngsville Heat recently won first place at the AAU vs. Cancer Super Regional Tournament in Granville County. After two bracket victories, the Heat took the title with a 16-7 decision over the D.C. Vipers in the championship contest. Pictured are (back, l to r) Coaches Kevin Blackburn, Allen Holmes, Mike Nash and Eric Engbers; (middle, l to r) Owen Mitchell, Kaden Blackburn, Will Holmes, Keith James, Shawn Thomas Journigan, Ethan Wisler and Austin Engbers; (front, l to r) Conner Hayes, Cooper Nash, Jadon Rodriguez, JB Brown and Peyton Rivers.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton High School will serve as the host for the annual Class 2-A Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships.
The event will be held this Friday at noon at the FHS Football Field.
Tickets will be available at the gate.
The Top-Four finishers in each event will advance to the Class 2-A State Championships.

DANDRIDGE, TENN. -- North Carolina, which featured two local standouts, won the team competition between 18 states, and New York angler William Lortz maintained his lead at the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional last weekend on Douglas Lake, which is located in East Tennessee.
North Carolina's 20 anglers collectively caught 298 pounds, 8 ounces to beat Georgia by a margin of 9 pounds.
Georgia took second place with 289-9.