Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- The sheriff's office is using opioid settlement funds to divert folks away from drugs, reduce recidivism and help folks leave the sheriff's office with tools to become better members of society.
Meredith Wester, who leads the department's Substance Use, Mental Health Advocacy Response Team (SMART) -- a program using opioid settlement funds to combat the epidemic -- presented that assessment to county commissioners during their Monday meeting.

Playing in water is always great fun for youngsters in the summertime -- and with no pool or other facility available, a bit of effort from the Louisburg Fire Department was a very welcome treat for these youngsters from The Kids Corner in Louisburg. Although it's traditional for firefighters to visit day cares to teach children about fire prevention and fire safety, this little break from the heat looks like it was a lot of fun -- and under the close eye of teachers who helped make sure everyone was safe and well watered.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County leadership committed to following up with a resident who is concerned that current and future airport operations are burdening neighbors.
But, commissioners took umbrage to the assertion that Kimberly Galutia's concerns have been ignored.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College announced Lynwood Roberson as its new vice president of Institutional Advancement.
After a search and interview process, college officials decided that Roberson would be the best fit for the role.
Hailing from Nash County, Roberson holds a degree in Justice and Public Policy from North Carolina Wesleyan University. He has spent most of his professional career working in public policy, fundraising, and outreach.

BUNN -- There is a new but very familiar face on the Bunn Board of Commissioners this week following a Monday night meeting.
Commissioner Ally Leggett resigned her position at the beginning of the meeting, noting that she is moving to Nash County and is no longer eligible to serve.
Mayor Marsha Strawbridge presented her with a plaque honoring Leggett for her three years of service on the board of commissioners and for other activities to promote the town.

Franklinton alum Brady Groves

It's August!
Can you believe it? And can you please explain where July went since it seems like a couple of days ago we were at Fourth of July parades and watching aerial fireworks.
But that's been over a month ago -- and now attention is turning, as it does every year about this time, to the return of schools using the traditional calendars, high school sports, looking out for school buses on the highways twice a day -- and for parents -- policing homework and bedtimes, scrambling to get the kids out the door and headed to class on time and a host of concerns before things get really hectic as the holiday season approaches.

In the past few weeks, I have had the good fortune to write stories about young people in and just outside of Franklin County who have been doing fantastic things.
Franklin County's Levi Odom and Rolesville's Aubrey Terry qualified for and competed in the PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships -- pitting their talents and skills against the best young disc golfers in the world.
And, if you've picked up a copy of your Franklin Times the past couple of weeks, you will have seen stories and incredible photos from Louisburg's Presley Gibbs and Payton Frizzelle, competing in the National High School Finals Rodeo competition, testing their mettle against the best young rodeo athletes in the country.

Dear editor: House Bill 1089 establishes revenue limitations on local governments by imposing a cap on property tax collections.
Consequently, our communities will encounter reduced financial capacity to support critical infrastructure and essential services, including road improvements, water and sewer system maintenance, emergency response personnel compensation, and additional vital programs.
This amendment diminishes local decision-making authority by implementing collection caps that disregard community-specific circumstances.

Dear editor: With Elaine Marshall being kicked off Local Government Commission to me one party is positioning themselves to control every facet of local Government in North Carolina.
If Governor Stein can't pick his Department Heads without Republican Senate approval will he be relegated to being a leader in title only?
Local newspaper Franklin Times headline on Thursday, July 23, 2026: Louisburg left out of state's extra funding- - again.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College has gone to an experienced hand for its next men's basketball coach.
Assistant Athletic Director Jason Rasnake announced that assistant coach Ray Hartsfield has been elevated to head coach, effective this week.
Hartsfield has been with the Hurricanes since the spring of 2023. And, he's been in coaching and administration for more than 30 years -- most significantly with East Chapel Hill High -- building successful programs and developing student-athletes, the college said.

LOUISBURG -- The case against a Youngsville man accused of killing and stealing from a roommate is slated for court next week.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies and Holly Springs police arrested Michael David Barnes in November 2021, charging the now 46-year-old with first degree murder and felony obtaining property by false pretenses -- investigators allege Barnes was trying to sell three pairs of McLeod's Nike Air Max shoes after McLeod had been shot and was incapacitated and was not capable of arranging or authorizing the transaction.

LAKE ROYALE -- Authorities identified the man who drowned at Lake Royale the weekend before last.
Lake Royale Interim Police Chief Robert Smith and staff with Zebulon-based Harris-Wheless Memorial Funeral Home identified the swimmer as Alejandro Gonzalez Viera.
Authorities said the 25-year-old was visiting and spending time with family in the gated community when he drowned while swimming during the late afternoon of July 26.

The Louisburg Lions Club will have a spaghetti dinner, Aug. 13, 5 - 8 p.m.
The take-out only dinner pick up location is at Lancaster Funeral Home in Louisburg.
Cost is $10 per plate.

Ray Hartsfield, Louisburg College's newly named basketball mentor, encourages and instructs players at a practice session. Before joining the Louisburg College staff, Hartsfield spent 31 years coaching high school basketball -- serving 27 years as the head boys' basketball coach at East Chapel Hill High School, where he was the only head coach in the program's history from the school's opening in 1996 until his retirement in 2023.

LUKE'S BIRTHDAY BASH. Luke Bailey enjoyed his 90th birthday celebration surrounded by friends and family Saturday, July 11, at Lake Royale Clubhouse in Louisburg. He was born July 4, 1936 in Florence, SC.
Approximately 130 family members and friends traveled from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to help celebrate.
Luke graduated from Rosenwald High School, in Florence, SC, in 1956; was in the United States Army; and lived Washington, D.C. area.

AWARDS DAY. Franklin County Farm Bureau recently presented two scholarships and one grant to deserving recipients. Emma Mullen and Kaylin Aycock were recently named the recipients of the annual Franklin County Farm Bureau Agricultural Scholarship for 2026.
The scholarship fund was established to assist a graduating Franklin County high school senior as they continue their education at an institute of higher learning. This scholarship honors the memory of Matt Whitley and his love and faithfulness of agriculture and farming.

LOUISBURG -- Two Louisburg men are soon slated to appear in court on charges that they shot a man inside a vehicle.
William John Kern, 28, of Ben Foster Mobile Home Park was arrested on May 14 and Justin Rayshawn Henry, 22, of Hazelwood Circle, was arrested on May 18, both charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and discharging a weapon into an occupied property.

LOUISBURG -- Police executed a coordinated search warrant, arresting a juvenile in a shooting incident, as well as two others on drug charges.
Police were investigating a July 25 shooting that occurred at the entrance to Franklin County Apartments when evidence led them to an apartment unit there.
On the morning of Aug. 3, Louisburg police and Franklin County sheriff's deputies executed that warrant, including using an indoor drone as part of the arrest effort.
They took into custody and charged a 16-year-old with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm in city limits and possession of cocaine.

Louisburg, NC -- Tickets are now on sale for Louisburg College's 69th Allen de Hart Concert Series. This year's series includes 10 performances from a wide variety of entertainers.
•The group September, kicks off the series on Sept. 25. The Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute band is an authentic tribute to the legendary sound and spirit of the supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire.

BUNN -- A Bunn man is slated to appear in court next month after leading an officer on a chase that led to a wreck.
According to court records, Sgt. M. Jocys sustained an arm injury during a July 9 chase as she tried to arrest Jerry Leon Toney.
The 44-year-old Toney was taken into custody and charged with fleeing to elude arrest, assault on a law enforcement officer causing serious injury, assault on a government official, unsafe passing on a yellow line, driving while license revoked and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Louisburg, NC -- Robert Bernard Person, 67, passed away on August 1, 2026 at his home in Louisburg. Robert was born in Vance County on November 26, 1958 to the late Robert Lee and Roger Lee Clemons Person. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Person.

Louisburg, NC -- David Achenbach, 62, died peacefully at his home in Louisburg, NC on August 3, 2026.