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LOUISBURG -- Just steps from where Rosanell Eaton began her remarkable journey in pursuit of civil rights, a downtown Louisburg building was dedicated in her honor Saturday morning with family and friends witnessing the ceremony.
Eaton rode a mule-drawn wagon in 1943 to the Franklin County Courthouse to register to vote -- but election officials in that Jim Crow era tried to stop her by requiring her to recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

A FUN TIME IN FRANKLINTON. Franklinton got a jump start on Independence Day festivities, hosting their event on June 29 at the Franklinton Middle School football field. Jeremy Cadiente gives his son, Owen, a good few of the band during the Independence Day celebration in Franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- "There won't be any fireworks tonight," cautioned Quinnley Coley, Franklin County Schools' chief financial officer just prior to a Thursday evening special school board meeting to wrap up the 2023-24 school year.
Despite an obvious reference to some recent politically charged meetings over school financing, Coley was true to her prediction on Thursday.
She spent about 90 minutes walking the school board and administration through the fiscal year ending transfers and adjustments that are normal this time of the year.

LOUISBURG -- A Bunn man accused of supplying the drugs that killed a Louisburg man was sentenced to prison.
On Monday, Taylor Austin Proctor pled guilty to death by distribution in Franklin County Superior Court.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested the 25- year-old in May 2021, alleging he sold heroin that led to an overdose death of Christopher Wells, 24.
The arrest was the result of a four-month investigation, authorities said.

LOUISBURG -- Youngsville staff and officials have committed countless hours and more than a million dollars to expedite the construction of a Youngsville bypass.
Now, they're looking to show their work.
During the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' June 17 meeting, Youngsville developer and bypass collaborator Bill Moss -- on behalf of Youngsville town management -- requested that the matter be placed on the county's agenda.

Lula Denton Bobbitt turns 100!

The year is half over!
Now make sure you have plenty of charcoal or pellets for the grill, get ready for fireworks and, if you're in the mood for a holiday parade, head for Alert tomorrow (Thursday, 11 a.m.).
It's summer, the Independence Day celebrations and festivities loom and the heat and humidity are normal for this time of the year -- but take precautions anyway because hot weather like we've been having can be deadly.

Being a reporter that covers courts, there are only a few folks who spend more time in a courthouse than I do -- that's clerks, district attorneys, judges, defense attorneys, bailiffs and suspects.
And, there's certainly even fewer who find themselves thumbing through case files, looking for that next bit of fresh news.
So, when I heard the state was rolling out a new digital case software system, my optimism level was really high.

Dear editor: After watching the Presidential Debate last Thursday night, you must wonder who is in charge of the Executive Branch of our federal government.
If you have had a family member or a close friend with a form of dementia, you recognize that deer in the headlight look. The entire debate was hard to watch. The current President prepped for this debate for over a week. Wow!

Wake Forest, NC--Barbara Williams Davis, 86 of Wake Forest passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, June 28, 2024 at the Transitions LifeCare Home in Raleigh, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Funeral services for Clarence Merle Thorne, age 76, who died on Monday, July 1, 2024, will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Thorne Family Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC--Jean Cash Preddy, 88 of Louisburg passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at her residence.

LOUISBURG, NC--Jennifer Leigh Burnette, age 54, of Louisburg went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 27, 2024. She was born on July 24, 1969 to Graham and Betty Burnette. She was preceded in death by her mama.

LOUISBURG, NC--Richard Thomas Layton passed peacefully after battling a series of health-related issues on June 30, 2024. He was born on March 23, 1942 to Mary Helen and Jack Thomas (J. T., also known as Bubba) Layton in Franklin County.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for William Silver, age 74 who died on Friday, June 28, 2024, will be held 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

WILMINGTON - Whether throwing the javelin or competing in her favored high jump, safe to say it was an amazing senior season for Rebekah Smith as a member of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington's women's track and field team.
Smith, who was a state high jump champion and multi-sport superstar at Franklinton High School, finished off her senior campaign by taking eighth place in the High Jump with a clear of 1.63 meters at the annual Coastal Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships on the campus of Elon University in Alamance County.

WILMINGTON -- Number 77 on the roster, Number One in the hearts of softball fans from Southern Nash all the way to Louisburg College.
That's the story of former SNHS and LC pitching star Carrigan Ewers, who capped off her senior year at UNC-Wilmington in style -- to say the least.
Taking the mound as a starter on Senior Day back in May, Ewers delivered a complete-game performance, striking out four and allowing just three runs, to help the Seahawks deliver a 4-3 victory over Monmouth.

ZEBULON -- The homestanding Carolina Mudcats built an early 5-0 advantage and held on late to beat the Lynchburg Hillcats 5-3 last Saturday at Five County Stadium.
Carolina (46-27 overall, 5-3 second half) opened the scoring in the third inning thanks to back-to-back RBI singles from Cooper Pratt and Daniel Guilarte to build the early 2-0 lead in the Minor League baseball showdown.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- There has been a slight site switch -- albeit just a few hundred yards away -- for the upcoming North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star Basketball Games on July 15.
The annual event, which will have a distinct Big East Conference flavor, has been moved from the Greensboro Coliseum to the Novant Health Field House -- on the other side of the massive parking lot from the fabled coliseum.

FIRE IN THE SKY. Aimee Nelson shows her daughter, Emery Guess how to properly rock during the band's performance.

Lisa Helton, Tucker Jordan and Bailey Helton made themselves comfortable on the Franklinton Middle School football field as they watched Franklinton's 20-minute fireworks display.

LOUISBURG -- A network of volunteers will host cooling stations and make cold drinks available on the hottest days this summer.
Beverly Kegley, with the Franklin County Interfaith Council, said the group's goal is to set up places where people can go inside for air conditioning to escape the heat, as well as have cold water available for those who need it.
They first opened them up last week and intend to have them available July 4 and July 5.

Lula Bobbitt turned 100 on June 15. A party was given in her honor at Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation in Louisburg. She also celebrated with a party at her church, Union View Baptist Church in Franklinton.
Lula Denton was born June 15, 1924, the last of 13 children and raised in Rolesville, NC.

RALEIGH -- Franklin County's finance director has been appointed to regional Credit Union advisory board.
On the Local Government Federal Credit Union's Northern Triangle Advisory Council, Jamie Holtzman, be an integral part of LGFCU's volunteer-driven initiative to educate people on the benefits of Credit Union membership and relay feedback to the Board of Directors regarding available/potentially available products and services, delivery of service, and member needs.

LOUISBURG -- A superior court judge issued an order for arrest for a man who did not appear in court this week to face charges he killed a toddler.
Authorities allege James Waymon Williams was operating a skid steer machine the afternoon of April 1, 2022, when he ran over one-year-old Miles Ray Vick in the yard at 960 Collins Mill Road, in the Castalia part of Franklin County.