LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a Cary woman on charges that she assaulted an officer.
A magistrate on Sept. 27 issued an order for arrest, with Louisburg police charging Natalie Newsome-McDonnell with assault on a government official; and resisting, delaying and obstructing a public officer.
According to the magistrate's order, the 33-year-old Newsome-McDonnell is alleged to have assaulted Louisburg Police Officer J.

LOUISBURG -- A Franklin County detective was fired after authorities allege she abused a surveillance system.
In a "hard but necessary" social media post attributed to Sheriff Kevin White on Friday, he announced that Det. Janet Leonard had been fired, effective immediately.
"No one is above the law," the post states, "especially not those who are trusted to enforce it."
AI-powered automated license plate readers, commonly referred to as Flock cameras, have been used in the county for the better part of the last decade, White said in the post.

NASHVILLE -- State alcohol law enforcement agents arrested five people in a suspected underage, alcohol-related crash, including a Youngsville man.
The crash happened on Sept. 6, according to the State Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE), which routinely conducts criminal investigations to identify the source of alcoholic beverages provided to underage individuals -- particularly in cases that result in serious injury or fatalities.
According to an ALE press release, the State Highway Patrol notified them that alcohol was believed to be a contributing factor in a serious single-vehicle collision that occurred on Rose Loop Road in Nashville.

The Youngsville Fall Festival & Car Show was the place to be on Sept. 26. Above, Ed Spall proudly holds up Ethan in front of his 1969 El Camino he had on display in the Youngsville Academy parking lot.

FRANKLINTON -- Officials presented a Key to the City to one of the town's biggest champions.
During the board's Sept. 15 meeting, Mayor Art Wright presented Marti King with a Key to the City -- recognizing her community spirit and the fervor with which she supports the town.
King, an artist, is front and center at almost every town function, Wright noted. And, she serves as one of the biggest cheerleaders for the town and its people.

LOUISBURG -- Elections staff is preparing to update officials on just how it will protect polling sites from disruptions and threats -- including federal monitors and fisticuffs.
When the Franklin County Board of Elections met Tuesday, Gary Evans, with the political advocacy group Indivisible Franklin County NC, urged staff and officials to put in place safeguards against voter disruption that could be caused by the possibility that U.S. Department of Justice agents are deployed to Franklin County to monitor elections.

Carolyn Cooke, Troy Shaw, Lashaunda Jones & Shakia Brown

BOONE -- Some of Franklin County's young agriculture enthusiasts took part in the 4-H Electric Congress at Appalachian State University.
The annual event brings together 4-H youth, ages 11-18, from across North Carolina for hands-on learning in science, engineering, math and electricity.
Participants also get experience a bit of college life, staying in university residence halls.
Kendal Thornburg, Todd Heyser and Alesia Moore attended the event in July.

It seems like everything these days has become hyper-political -- or maybe that should read hyper-partisan.
It is a tragedy for our nation that every decision coming out of Washington, D.C., any more is decided by who has the largest voting block -- those with a "D" or those with an "R."
Or, who has the biggest bank account that can aid those in power.
It doesn't seem to matter what is in the best interests of Americans

Late last week, we had what I imagine is, if not every parent's worst nightmare, it's at least in their Top 5: A missing child.
The evening of Sept. 24, Franklin County sheriff's deputies and other authorities were dispatched to the area of MC Wilder Road after a teenager was reported missing.
Information was gathered and a search began, involving sheriff's deputies, fire crews with Bunn, Pilot, Western Wake, Wake Forest, Justice and the Justice Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, North Carolina Search Dogs, volunteers with Bunn and Youngsville's Community Emergency Response Teams, Franklin County EMS,

Dear Editor: We need to look past the slogans and understand what these amendments really mean and actually do before we vote. The income-tax amendment is not a tax cut. North Carolina's rate is currently 3.99 percent and already scheduled to fall to 3.49 percent in 2027.
The amendment would instead lower the constitutional cap from 7 percent to 3.5 percent, limiting what future lawmakers could do during a recession, natural disaster, or other fiscal crisis.

LOUISBURG -- A coordinated search effort resulted in the safe return home for a Franklin County teenager.
An alert went out for the 13-year-old at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, as he was reported missing in the area of MC Wilder Road.
Through the night and into the morning of Sept. 25, responders with Franklin and Wake counties, including sheriff's deputies, emergency management staff, EMS, firefighters with Bunn, Pilot, Justice and Wake Forest, along with Community Emergency Response Teams in Youngsville and Bunn, and search dogs were all involved in the search.

Contractors completed work on the roundabout at the intersection of Moores Pond Road and N.C. 98. Traffic was rerouted and that section of the roadway had been closed since June, as work began on the traffic control device. Work was scheduled to concluded in late October, according to the State Department of Transportation. However, work was completed on the project about a week ago.

LOUISBURG -- A fox has reported positive for rabies, according to animal welfare advocates.
On Tuesday afternoon, Franklin County Animal Shelter NC posted on social media that the fox that tested positive for rabies was located in the 300 block of Perdues Road, off of N.C. 561 east of Louisburg.

Erica Phillips keeps watch over Avery as she picks out goodies at the Youngsville Police Department booth set up during the Youngsville Fall Festival & Car Show on Sept. 26.

The inflatable slides and obstacle course was a popular gathering spot for kids and adults during the Fall Festival that took place on a picturesque day at Youngsville Academy.

LOUISBURG -- Maria Parham Franklin is hosting "Burgers for Badges," an appreciation event for first responders.
First responders, including officers, firefighters, rescue personnel and EMS professionals are invited to stop by the hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., for free burgers.
"Burgers for Badges is our way of saying thank you to the men and women who are there for our community when we need them most," said Maria Parham CEO Bert Beard.

IN THE CLASSROOM. LC quarterback coach Marquise Williams speaks to the special teams unit in the campus gym classroom.

LOUISBURG -- That there's more to life than football may be a peculiar message from a superstar college quarterback and NFL player, but it's what Marquise Williams, quarterback coach at Louisburg College, tells his players every day.
Williams set records at UNC - Chapel Hill and played for the Green Bay Packers during his career. Now he's part of the Hurricanes' coaching team. The college's football team is 4-0 so far this season and currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in NJCAA D3 football.
Williams, a Charlotte native, made it to the big show and shares that experience and lessons learned with his players.

FRANKLINTON NC -- Funeral services for William Edward Alston, 68, who died on Saturday, September 19, 2026, will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 2 p.m. from the Hawkins Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Franklinton, with Bishop Tony Long presiding.

Cherokee, NC -- Thomas Franklin Goolsby, 69, of Cherokee, NC, died on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, NC.

WARRENTON, NC -- Lois Pernell Cyrus, 88, of Warrenton, died Thursday morning, September 24, 2026.

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