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LOUISBURG -- Clearly comfortable with her decision to retire from a distinguished career in public education, Franklin County Schools Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler is thinking about what's next -- and it won't be sitting at home for long.
Schuhler told the Board of Education late last week that she is stepping away from public education, retiring after a career that has spanned 32 years from the classroom to the top job in Franklin County Schools.

Upon learning of the impending retirement of Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, superintendent of Franklin County Schools, Board of Education Chair Meghan Jordan said that "on behalf of the Board of Education, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Schuhler for her eight years of outstanding leadership.
"She has been nothing short of amazing for our district," Jordan said.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg man found guilty of shooting a family of three in a neighbor dispute was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Todd Richardson Rogers' defense attorney, Theresa Pressley, filed notice of appeal the afternoon of Aug. 29, shortly after a jury found the 63-year-old guilty of shooting Sharon Gourley, Jason Gourley and Jacob Gourley during the morning hours of April 5, 2022.
Evidence presented during the week-long trial revealed that Rogers shot Jacob Gourley in the face, Jason Gourley in the arm and grazed Sharon Gourley in the chest with a .45-caliber pistol.

Colorful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly visits a purple flower recently in the Mapleville area. These swallowtails, Papilio glaucus, are the North Carolina state butterfly and are frequently seen, especially at this time of the year. Its wingspan can reach five to six inches and is known for its graceful flight patterns as it flits from flower to flower, attracted by the nectar.

Bunn Mayor Marsha Strawbridge & retiring utilities clerk Carolyn Ransdell

Thought for a minute or two last week that there might be an entirely new career in store for me -- but reality intruded, as it so often does.
It all began when a loyal reader of the newspaper -- who must remain anonymous to protect his reputation -- came running into the office one afternoon with a bright idea on how to expand our news coverage in a new direction.
He explained that he was listening to the radio (apparently some people still do that) and just learned that a reporter had been hired to exclusively cover the life and antics of Taylor Swift and that football player.

It's certainly fair that if I use this news column space to underscore grievances and offer critiques, then it is also fair that I use this space to highlight responses.
A month ago, Franklin County resident Mary Solomon appeared before the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, urging leaders to better care for Owens Park in central Franklin County.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, Solomon said a lack of maintenance, particularly mowing, left the park in a sad state of affairs.

Dear editor: When my grandfather was born, a few years before 1900, people in this country could only expect to live 47 years. The average life span around the world was only 37 years.
The leading cause of death was infectious disease. One third of the deaths were in children under 5. Cancer, bad as it was, was a relatively minor cause compared to other diseases, which we have since managed to eradicate or control.

Dear editor: There have been a lot of conversations from the citizens of Franklin County and the commissioners around growth and Franklin Next 5 year plan.
We all know that Franklin County is experiencing growth. We need to be intentional about that growth plan.
Quality of Life for our new neighbors as well as those who have been here is crucial to our plans for the future. Recreation is vital to everyone 's Quality of Life.

On September 1st, 2025, our community lost one of their committed citizens, Sardar ManMohan Singh Puri. ManMohan lived a humble life and worked throughout it to not only preserve, but promote Sikh heritage and philosophy by sharing his experiences to the community. He shared words of wisdom, promoting the Langar Seva to all humans and animals.

WARRENTON, NC -- Bonnie Ann Sims, 64, of Warrenton, passed away on August 27, 2025 at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC.

Hollister, NC -- Funeral services for Clarence Richardson, age 90, who died on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the White Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Hollister with Pastor Alonzo West officiating. Burial will follow in the Rudd Family Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Jim Grove passed away peacefully at his Mitchiner's Crossroads home on August 27, 2025. Jim was born on February 1, 1947, to the late Dane McVay and Donald J. Grove in Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in Princeton, NJ building go-carts, falling in love with cars, and watching Bill Bradley play ball. After high school Jim attended Cornell University. He earned his Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and pledged to Tau Kappa Epsilon, Scorpion Chapter. During the Vietnam War Jim served his country in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Donald Howell Foster, 75, of Louisburg, NC, passed away on August 26, 2025.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Donna Leigh Jeans Medlin, 71, passed away on August 29, 2025 at her home in Franklinton, NC.

LOUISBURG, NC -- John F. Harris, Jr, born April 2, 1926 in Greensboro, NC, died August 28, 2025 in Louisburg, at the age of 99.

Louisburg, NC -- Memorial services for Linda Loretta Richardson, age 77, who died on Friday, August 29, 2025, will be held on Friday September 5, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Thomas Richardson officiating.

Franklinton, NC -- Funeral services for Patricia Walker Witherspoon, age 61, who died on Thursday, August 28, 2025, will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 12 p.m. from the Westminister Evangelistic Church 2 in Louisburg with Bishop Raphel Holloman officiating. Burial will follow in the Westminister Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Roger Leroy Eiler, 78, of Louisburg passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 surrounded by his family at his home. He was born on September 8, 1946 to the late John Eiler and Velva Brown Eiler in Christian County, IL.

SPRING HOPE, NC -- Russell David Sullivan, 66, of Spring Hope, died Sunday afternoon, August 24, 2025, at his home surrounded by family and friends.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Virginia Pearce Wheless, 92, of Louisburg, died Tuesday evening, August 26, 2025.

LOUISBURG -- A pause was granted in the case against a former Franklin County clerk of court.
It's not clear, yet, when Patricia Chastain's case will hit the restart button.
• In July 2020, Louisburg attorney Jeffrey Scott Thompson petitioned the court to remove Chastain from office -- alleging she was guilty of egregious and erratic behavior that should bar her from the post.

FRANKLINTON -- An early childhood educational organization recognized its first pre-school student for exhibiting one of the traits they want to highlight each month.
Franklinton United Methodist Church Daycare student Cleo Carrothers demonstrated excellent collaborative skills.
Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start has established a Character Trait Program and bestowed its July Teamwork trait upon Carrothers.

KEEPING COOL. Farmers Home Furniture in Louisburg donated two air conditioning units to Franklin County DSS to assist with families in need during extreme heat. From left to right are Department of Social Services Director Andrew Payne, Farmers Home Furniture Store Manager Princess Pickett, DSS Outreach Program Coordinator Mia Jones, DSS Income Maintenance Supervisor Regina House and DSS Income Maintenance Administrator Amanda Murphy.

Central Hardware in Castalia donated an air conditioning unit to Franklin County's Department of Social Services to help families in need. From left are Central Hardware Office Manager Maria Klimvakis, DSS Income Maintenance Administrator Amanda Murphy, DSS Director Andrew Payne, DSS Outreach Program Coordinator and Economic Services Specialist Mia Jones, DSS Income Maintenance Supervisor Regina House.

LOUISBURG -- A Clayton man accused of using a false identity to get a teaching job at Crosscreek Charter School is slated to appear in court later this month.
Gregory Lamont Pettiford, 56, of Clayton, was taken into custody in Wake County on Aug. 28. He has a Sept. 25 court date.
Louisburg investigators charged him with two counts of identity theft and two counts of possessing/manufacturing fraudulent identification. Louisburg Police Chief Travis Lincoln said investigators were alerted to the potential of identity theft at the Louisburg charter school the morning of July 31.