Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- During a nearly four-hour quasi-judicial hearing that included a bathroom break but no commercial break, county commissioners issued a special use permit for a landscaping operation in the middle of a small neighborhood.
Commissioners attached restrictions they hope will mitigate the operation's impact on neighbors, who called the petitioner -- Estanislao Rebollar -- a nuisance and destroyer of the community.

LOUISBURG -- A whiff of frustration was evident during the February meeting of the Louisburg Economic Development Committee, a group created late last year to help the town council evaluate ways to improve the economic condition of entire community.
On Monday, members expressed some frustration about not being heard, about their ideas not being discussed and decided that instead of just sending a written report to the town, they would ask for a spot on the monthly council agenda and report to the entire council in person.

LOUISBURG -- As a general aviation airport, Triangle North Executive Airport is a hub for diverse crafts -- from power gliders to jets to blimps.
In the aftermath of an Army helicopter and civilian jet crash that rocked the nation's capital, aviation communities across the world wonder how it happened.
A look at the airport's safety guidelines -- most recently updated in April 2024 -- provides insight.
While nothing is foolproof, Airport Director Bo Carson said the airport tries to provide a good foundation of operations and what's expected.

Lisa Allen & Jackie Gupton

LOUISBURG -- An annual Memorial Day balloon festival that began under the shadow of COVID will be no more, its organizer said.
In early 2021, Jason Brown and a partner announced that his First Fruits Farm would host its first balloon festival -- sort of taking the reins for an event that had its origins in Fuqua-Varina.
From the beginning, the Franklin County Tourism Development Authority has provided organizers with a total of $122,500 in grants to cover marketing, promotion and advertising costs.

BUNN -- Town commissioners agreed to more stringently regulate Internet sweepstakes cafes.
The new zoning ordinance amendment will not affect existing operations, though.
Back in January, town Planner Frank Frazier presented planning board members with revisions to the ordinance, primarily requiring a special use permit to open an electronic gaming operation.

BUNN -- Town commissioners agreed to move forward with the surveying necessary to expand their old cemetery.
Randy Mullen, who manages and maintains the town's cemeteries, noted that preliminary work has revealed that there's a section of the town's old cemetery that may be able to accommodate 68 more graves.
"I get comments from people all the time while I'm selling graves at the new cemetery, 'Do you have anything at the old one?'

If anyone had any doubt that we live in North Carolina, the weather over the last couple of weeks should have removed all question!
Everyone has heard the old saying that in NC if you don't like the weather, just wait a little while and it will change.
Yep. The weather of the last few days seems to bear that out ... we do live in North Carolina!
We've gone from what many of us think of as bone-chilling cold, to a tiny bit of snowfall, a little bit of ice and, thankfully, really nice, sun-filled days with temperatures peeking into the 70s.

Dear editor: I am in total agreement with Peter Aitken's statement in Jan. 2 News & Observer: "With the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense Trump may have reached the pinnacle of his initial efforts to flush our country down the tubes."
"Never have Americans seen such a parade of incompetent, immoral and unpatriotic yahoos nominated for positions that impact Americans and the world. With a convicted felon in charge, what can we expect?"

BUNN -- Town commissioners agreed to make a habit of paying part-time officers more for critical shifts.
During a special called meeting in November, Bunn commissioners agreed to raise the hourly wage for part-time officers, by as much as $10 per hour, for the week and weekends.
At the time, Mayor Marsha Strawbridge said it appeared to be a necessary measure to fill shortages and gaps in the department.

LOUISBURG -- After nearly 30 years in law enforcement -- all with the Louisburg Police Department -- Jason Abbott finally reached retirement, putting away his holster and making his last call as the town's police chief last week. Pictured (Above): LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY. Police Chief Jason Abbott often credits his family for their support while he was dealing with the irregular hours and other stresses that are part of a law enforcement career. Shown here are his wife, Kay, Chief Abbott, their daughter Kayla and her husband, Stephen Moyer.

Anyone who makes a habit of reading this column, first of all, I want to say thank you.
Those who enjoy it less than others might argue that I've been too critical of either Franklin County government or its officials, their actions or inactions.
So, let me be clear: I'm here in this space to shed some sunshine.
One of my favorite shows, "How I Met Your Mother" has an episode titled: "Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M."

RALEIGH, NC -- Faye Barbour Fuller, 84, of Raleigh, died Monday, February 3, 2025 at Duke Raleigh Hospital.

Bunn, NC -- David Earl "Fatman" Gill Jr., age 34, who died on Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be held on Sunday, February 9, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Dazale Kearney officiating.

Hollister, NC -- Funeral services for Retha Mae Silver, age 85, who died on Saturday, February 1, 2025, will be held on Friday, February 7, at 2 p.m. from the Faith Baptist Church in Enfield with Rev. Bernard Silver officiating. Burial will follow in the Silver Hill Family Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Pidie Olivia Debnam, age 99, who died on Saturday, February 1, 2025 will be held on Saturday, February 8, at 2 p.m. from the First Baptist Church in Franklinton.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Anthony "Jack" Kearney, age 61, who died on Monday, February 3, 2025, will be held on Saturday, February 8, at 11 a.m. from the Manasseh Chapel Baptist Church in Franklinton with Pastor Marcus Dunston officiating. Burial will follow in the Manasseh Chapel Church Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Richard Frederick Boes, 81, of Franklinton died January 28, 2025.

RALEIGH, NC -- Charles Edward Wilkerson, age 65, of Raleigh, was born on February 10, 1959 to the late Dorothy and John Wilkerson. He died January 26, 2025.

RALEIGH, NC -- Archibald Stuart Raynor (Stuart), 92, of Raleigh and formerly of Centerville passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Cameron Clyde Daniels, 74, of Louisburg, passed away Wednesday morning.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has yet to send out an invoice under its new public records request policy, but a former senator seeking a connection between the sheriff, the former lieutenant governor and a public relations firm in Florida is bracing for a bill.
When Franklin County commissioners met on Jan. 6, commissioners approved a fee schedule that allows the county to charge the actual cost of duplication for records, as well as a special service charge to fulfill public records requests.

Dalton Southerland of Louisburg received a 4.0 GPA for the recent Fall term at NC State University. It was Dalton's first term as a graduate student. He is working on his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.