Recent Articles

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town staff installed new speed limit signs, giving officers the authority to enforce lower speed limits approved by town commissioners.
For years, officials have debated measures to slow down traffic on side streets -- an increasing problem as motorists try to avoid Main Street/N.C. 96 congestion.
A bypass is the long-term and permanent solution, but even as officials and management have made efforts to expedite the project, it's still years away.

FRANKLINTON -- A weekend fire left someone homeless, but no injuries were reported.
According to Franklin County emergency authorities, crews from across the county -- as well as Wake County -- were dispatched to a mobile home fire on Percy Cook Way and N.C. 56. at about 10 a.m. on Dec. 14.

50 YEARS OF SERVICE. Richard Bowers was honored on Dec. 1, 2024 at Rustic Building Supply's annual Christmas dinner. Jimmy and Linda Cottrell presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation for his 50 years of dedication to Wilson Building Supply and Rustic Building Supply. Richard started on August 12, 1974 at the age of 22. He's had a lot of titles over the years -- salesman; teacher to new salesmen; assistant with new ideas; and as many customers know, he loves to be a jokester with snakes and spiders!

FRANKLINTON -- A 17-year-old from Youngsville was killed in fiery wreck last week.
The State Highway Patrol confirmed that Curtis Lee O'Neal II died in the Dec. 12 single-vehicle incident.
According to Franklin County emergency authorities, Franklinton firefighters, sheriff's deputies, emergency medical staff and the State Highway Patrol responded to the 2100 block of Green Hill Road just after 1:30 p.m. that day to find a vehicle overturned and on fire.

TOBY AND FRIENDS. An Aussie Doodle therapy dog like Toby has lots of friends, including Lt. Kyle Horton, Leah Goodsell (left) and Celsey Horton, all of whom enjoyed the Alert Christmas parade.

READY FOR SANTA. Not only was this trio ready for the upcoming visit from Santa Claus, they were also getting ready for the Alert Christmas parade. From the left are Steve Burnette, Payton Stephens and Georgette Burnette.

PARADE WATCHERS. Among the crowd watching the Christmas parade in Alert last Saturday were (from the left) Kimberly Hayes, Aubree' Solomon, Pauline Anderson and James Anderson.

YOU NAME IT and this entry had it all. Children tossing candy, a Christmas tree, a young lady all dressed up for the holidays and, unless eyes deceive, that could be the Grinch holding a small dog.

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON. The Louisburg Magnet High School band didn't just march in the Louisburg Christmas Parade, they also provided some of the music that makes the season festive.

Now that's the way to 'march' in a parade!

Terrell Lane and Louisburg football players rode in style in the Louisburg Christmas Parade

RALEIGH -- The State Supreme Court ruled that a judge who removed the previous clerk of court had the authority to do so.
They also ruled that the bar by which Judge Thomas Lock removed Patricia Chastain was higher than is required by law and the matter has been sent back down to him for a final decision.
The courts did rule, though, that Lock erred when he based his initial decision on some allegations against Chastain that were not included in Louisburg attorney Jeffrey Thompson's initial complaint -- which accused Chastain of egregious and erratic behavior.

DALE CITY, VA -- Funeral services for Odessa B. Hines, age 84, of Dale City, VA, formerly of Nashville, NC, who died on Saturday, December 14, 2024, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 22, 2024 from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Minister Deral Hedgepeth officiating. Burial will follow in the Lynch Family Cemetery in Hollister.

Louisburg, NC--Funeral services for Eugene Yarborough, III, age 69, who died on Sunday, December 15, 2024, will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church cemetery.

Enfield, NC--Funeral services for Samuel Clark Richardson, age 86, who died on Sunday, December 15, 2024, will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 2 p.m. from the Walter's Chapel Holiness Church in Hollister with Elder John Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the Walter's Chapel Church Cemetery.

Henderson, NC -- Funeral services for Lola Jean Moore, age 85, who died on Sunday, December 15, 2024, will be held on Friday, December 20, at 1 p.m. from the Nelson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Micah Mason officiating. Burial will follow in the Nelson Chapel Church cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Curtis Lee O'Neal II, 17, of Youngsville, NC, died on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

CASTALIA, NC--Alton Rex Murphy Sr., 81, of Castalia, NC died at his home December 11, 2024.

Arthur "Buddy" Maitland Burkam III, 67, died Monday, December 9, 2024. He was born on June 25, 1957 to the late Arthur M. Burkam Jr. and Hazel Wilson Burkam in Tampa, Florida.

Swansboro, NC-- Helen Hawkins Perry Renn, 94, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She was born February 4,1930 in Franklin County, NC a daughter of the late Zack and Georgie Truckner Perry.

NEW BERN, NC-- Billie Parrish Landen, a generous soul and spirited beacon of love and thoughtfulness, was born on the 23rd of August, 1943 in Raleigh, North Carolina. She resided in Trent Woods and led a life that was a testament to her unwavering love for family, education, and service to her community. Billie, a woman of great determination, believed in the power of knowledge.

LOUISBURG -- If anyone was still under the impression that the Franklin County Board of Education is politically nonpartisan, that impression quickly evaporated at Monday night's meeting.
The first indication was a large contingent of the local Republican Party which showed up to witness the swearing in of two new board members, a contingent that included newly elected GOP County Commissioners Logan Davis and Stuart May, Commissioner Michael Schriver and the party's county chair, Ed Strickland.

Santa Claus has been one very busy and very popular guy around Franklin County in recent days as evidenced by this greeting he received from children during the Bunn Christmas parade last Sunday afternoon. Santa also made appearances in parades in Youngsville, Franklinton and Louisburg -- and it's a fairly safe bet he'll be a star attraction in Alert's parade this Saturday.

LOUISBURG -- The town of Louisburg gave Franklin County about half of what it has requested for the proposed Criminal Justice building downtown, but postponed action on the second half of the county's request until at least February.
To move forward with the huge, three-story building downtown, the county needed two concessions from the town:
First, was a zoning change from downtown commercial (B-1) to a Planned Development District (PDD). That request was granted.

EPSOM -- Franklin County leaders broke ground on a park that will open up recreational opportunities in northwestern Franklin County.
"This is a park that will serve as a space for growth, connection and a vibrant future," Franklin County Parks and Recreation Director KP Kilpatrick said during the groundbreaking ceremony for Epsom Park on Dec. 6.
"... This park is a result of years of planning, collaboration, relentless pursuit of creating space for people of all ages and backgrounds can gather, play and enjoy this new park."