Recent Articles

Well, it didn't' take long for the new board of county commissioners to take the wind out of our sails!
I was anxiously awaiting the intersection of two things -- the changeover of the board to a Republican majority and a decision on the very expensive rehabilitation of the county's recently leased office space.
(Okay, maybe it doesn't take much to amuse old reporters but then again, it's 2020 and it's a very strange year indeed!)

You may want to avert your eyes because this column is going to touch upon two things I'm certain most people would rather not talk about: the media and politics.
Last week, WRAL reported that the publisher of The Alamance News was taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs as he made an attempt to question a judge's decision to close the court to the media on a couple of cases.

Dear editor:
I have just seen that the President-elect and Vice President-elect have been named by Time Magazine as "The Person of the Year". Wow! How does that work?
Maybe I am just a hick that lives in a rural county in North Carolina, but I can list numerous citizens far more qualified for this recognition.

FRANKLINTON -- Town officials decided to give residents and property owners another month to digest proposed changes to a town zoning district.
Then they agreed, again, to move forward with plans to sell the old town hall -- but probably at a lesser price.
And, town management introduced Interim Police Chief James Davis as its new, permanent chief.

BUNN -- Franklin County schools and the town of Bunn have a buzzard problem.
So, they've teamed up to install a propane cannon atop the roof of the Bunn High School gymnasium in an attempt to rid the area of the pests which are more accurately known as vultures.

Everyone knows that Santa Claus needs a lot of help this time of year to make Christmas merry and to get folks started on a happy new year. With COVID-19 and all the other disruptions of 2020, that task was even greater this year, so the Country Boys ATV Club of Warrenton jumped into the effort and sponsored families in Franklin, Vance, Warren and Granville counties.

Ruby Slippers Vintage Boutique proprietor Liz Seibel, front, snips a ribbon, marking the grand re-opening of her store after moving from downtown Louisburg to 214-F Bickett Boulevard.

RED OAK -- Senior Night also provided a Spoiler Night opportunity Monday for the Northern Nash High School volleyball squad.
The Lady Knights, though much more competitive, are still seeking their first victory of the 2020-21 campaign.
And what better way for Northern Nash to come up with that milestone than by topping Big East Conference powerhouse Franklinton while honoring its group of three upperclassmen?

WILSON -- Northern Nash's decade-long Big East Conference boys cross country dynasty was destined to be put to the ultimate test last Wednesday afternoon.
That's when Northern and its five league foes convened at Gillette Park in Wilson for the running of the annual Big East Championships.
Under the watch of coaching legend Jeff Dodrill, the Fighting Knights were seeking their 10th consecutive conference team crown, but one rising power was standing in their way -- the upstart Rocky Mount Gryphons.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Northern Carolina Conference has released its boys and girls basketball schedules for the upcoming 2021 shortened season.
This schedule is for conference games only. Non-league events will be announced at a later date.
NCC action will begin January 5 with a big Franklin County meeting between Bunn and host Louisburg.

A group of runners, including Franklinton's Nicholas Payne at far right, speeds away from the finish line at the Big East Conference Cross Country Championships.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- With Franklinton's Class 3-A enrollment numbers continuing to rise and Louisburg poised to be one of the smallest Class 2-A schools, it was realistic to think that Franklin County's three high schools -- Franklinton, Bunn and Louisburg -- would ever be in the same conference again.
But that's a potential scenario following last week's First Draft realignment release by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for the 2021-25 four-year span.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg High School has announced several changes to its 2020-21 volleyball schedule.
The Lady Warriors' slate for the remainder of the campaign will be as follows, with home matches listed in CAPS:
• December 22 -- ROANOKE RAPIDS
• December 23 -- at South Granville

Irene Bullock celebrated her 100th Birthday on Friday, Dec. 11, at Franklin Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Louisburg. The highlight of her day was watching her birthday announcement on the "Today Show." Her family also had a drive-by celebration planned in her honor.

FRANKLINTON--Berklin Crudup Jr. died Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. His life will be celebrated during a graveside service at 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 19, at Popes Chapel United Church of Christ cemetery in Franklinton.

WAKE FOREST - Sydney Edward Bailey died Sunday Dec. 13, 2020. Private memorial service planned.

FRANKLINTON-- Graveside services for Benita Jacqueline Ruffin, 52, who died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, will be held Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. at Mitchiner's Grove Baptist Church cemetery in Franklinton, with the Rev. Melvin Jackson officiating.

FRANKLINTON--Graveside services for Roberta Jones, 98, who died on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, will be held Thursday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at Concord Missionary Baptist Church cemetery in Kittrell.

LOUISBURG - Sara Dawn Hight Dickens, of the White Level Community, passed away Friday, December 11 peacefully at Duke Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

LOUISBURG--Sherry Mercer Edwards, 70, of Louisburg, entered into eternal life Tuesday, December 8th after a long battle with a debilitating disease.

LOUISBURG--Dr. Jasper Burt "J.B." Perdue, Jr., age 82, of Louisburg, passed away on Friday, December 11, 2020 at his home after a brief period of declining health.

LOUISBURG - Ronnie Grey Martin, 69, went home to be with the Lord Friday afternoon at Rex Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Franklin County a son of the late Harvey and Neva Pearce Martin. Ronnie was preceded in death by his wife, Paula Hope Speight Martin. Ronnie worked at the Franklin County Regional Airport.

LOUISBURG - Donna Sue Cash, 54, of Louisburg, left her earthly life for Heaven Saturday morning at her home.