Recent Articles

RALEIGH -- NC State baseball will be hosting its third-annual "Dogs at the Doak" promotion this year on April 30 at 5 p.m.
Fans who are interested in bringing their dog must purchase a $30 Dogs at the Doak package that includes two human tickets, one doggo ticket and a special Pup Pack.
Due to limited capacity, only 30 packages are available for this game and all tickets in the package will be seated on the grass hill.

LOUISBURG -- Search warrants reveal there was a cache of weapons inside a Franklinton home both times law enforcement responded to the residence -- the second time to make an arrest in a double homicide.
Christian David Webster was charged with discharging a weapon inside the city and two counts of first degree murder in the separate incidents and is slated to appear in court on July 3 and October 23, respectively.

Nick Portanova, The Greatest

LOUISBURG, NC -- Patsy Williams Murphy, 74, of Louisburg passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 8, 2024 at her home. She was born in Spartanburg, SC, to the late Hubert and Geneva Carter Williams.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Charles Taylor Phelps, 47, of Louisburg, went to his heavenly home on Monday, April 15, 2024 at his home.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Carl Leonard "Len" West, 66, passed away on April 22, 2024 at his home in Franklinton, NC. Len was born on May 8, 1957, in NC to the late Alton Tucker and Rebecca Owen West. In addition to his parents, Len was predeceased by a brother, Keith West.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Memorial services for Regina Fowler Webb, age 70, who died Friday, April 12, 2024, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Brother Dwight Williams officiated.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Charlie Harbert Tharrington, III, 55, of Louisburg, died Thursday morning, April 18, 2024.

LAKE WYLIE, SC--Ollie F. Woodlief, age 79, of Lake Wylie, SC (formerly of Franklinton, NC) died March 19, 2024.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Jesse Ray "Buddy" Burton, 52, of Franklinton, died Saturday afternoon, April 20, 2024, at Louisburg Nursing Center.

Willis Ned Gupton, age 67, went to be with his Lord and Savior peacefully, after his battle with cancer, at home surrounded by his family, on April 16, 2024. Born to Wilbur and Mary Helen Gupton on October 24, 1956 in Franklin County, Louisburg, North Carolina.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Charles Edward Ray, surrounded by his loving family. He is the son of the late Charles Waddell Ray and Liza Tant Ray.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Stephanie Goslen (née Pediaditakis), 65, of Louisburg, NC, passed away on April 15, 2024, at Duke Hospital, surrounded by love from her family. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, teacher, and political activist.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Memorial services for Regina Fowler Webb, age 70, who died Friday, April 12, 2024, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Brother Dwight Williams officiating.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to move forward with judicial complex plans that will close a Louisburg street and take down an arguably historic structure.
A 2019 facilities review and space assessment study revealed a need for more and better judicial space.
As a result, Oakley Collier Architects presented commissioners with options to add 14,000 square feet of renovations to the current Hamilton Hobgood Courthouse Annex, and build a 55,000-square-foot, three-story building immediately behind it.

LOUISBURG -- While Franklin County officials were trying to put the finishing touches on a planned $13 million-plus grandiose courtroom building in downtown Louisburg Monday night, the town council was meeting a short distance away and was reining in those plans.
The town's main issue -- other than a perceived lack of communication from county officials -- is a proposal to close the portion of Johnson Street west of Main Street and use that space for parking.

LOUISBURG -- The appraisal company responsible for Franklin County's revaluation has pledged to examine every parcel they valued.
The decision essentially came under a subtle threat from county officials.
On Monday, Richmond, Va.-based Pearson's Appraisal Service Inc. owner Fred Pearson advised commissioners that he and his staff had heard 700 appeals and had another 1,500 written appeals to address regarding assessed property value notices that went out in March.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners and management provided updates on traffic projects that will have an impact on motorists.
Improvements to a major intersection, Main Street traffic congestion and the prospect of faster access to the state's capital have all been subject to stops and goes, leaders said.
First, at the request of Commissioner Larry Wiggins, Town Administrator Nathan Page provided an update on the Five Points project in town.

LOUISBURG -- After listening to a detailed, 42-page budget report from Franklin County Schools' Chief Finance Officer Quinnley Coley on Monday night, the school board agreed to seek $33,152,424 from the Franklin County commissioners for next school year.
The request will provide education for an estimated 11,114 students in both traditional and charter schools. That's up about 12 percent from the 2020-21 school year.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The Town of Youngsville's comprehensive plan has turned out to be more than just a guiding plan for its future.
In the present, it won the 2024 Vernon Deines Award from the American Planning Association's Small Town and Rural Planning Division.
The national award is given annually to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan that addresses the development of a neighborhood, community, county, or region.

YOUNGSVILLE -- The Miracle League of Franklin County, along with community partners, held a special needs community day, offering fellowship and a chance for people to learn about special needs resources in the community.
The Light it up Blue Special Needs Community Day, held at Long Mill Elementary School on April 13, was part of efforts to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.

A story in the April 11 edition of The Franklin Times incorrectly identified the affiliation of a community organization that was co-founded by Armenta Eaton.
Eaton, through her volunteer work and efforts received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among many things, Eaton co-founded the State Concerned Women for Justice.

Okay, you were warned but now it's happening!
All you armchair financial annalists need to sit up and take notice.
It's been local budget season for some time and the "crop" is about to be "harvested" in a way that will affect all of us.
There has been a fair amount of jockeying around in recent weeks -- and on Monday night the school board presented its budget request to the county commissioners.

It wasn't that long ago that I attended Franklin County meetings and it was like driving along a back road, midday, during the height of COVID lockdown -- there was no one there.
I could walk in 30 seconds before the meeting started, never have to worry about having a seat and, if I wanted to, I could lay down along the first row of seats if I was feeling kind of plucky.