Recent Articles

RICHMOND, VA -- Funeral services for Rachel L. Richardson, age 77, who died on Monday, December 22, 2025 were held on Saturday, January 3, at 2 p.m. from the Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister, NC with Rev. Robert Hedgepeth, officiating.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Services for Archie "J.P." Coley, age 77, who died on Saturday, December 31, 2025 were held on Tuesday, January 6, at 2 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel, in Louisburg, NC, Rev. Dr. Timothy Walker officiating.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Alexandria Brion Compton Vines, 28, of Louisburg, died Sunday evening, December 28, 2025 at Maria Parham Hospital.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Deborah Hagwood Strickland, 71, of Louisburg, died Monday morning, December 29, 2025 at Duke University Hospital.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Gregory Douglas Foster, 59, of Louisburg, NC, died December 30, 2025. Greg was born and raised in Louisburg,

Shelby Jean Griffin Dickens, 87, went to be with her Lord and savior Jesus Christ on Monday January 5th 2026. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family.

Lela Ann Dement Young, 85, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025. A lifelong resident of Franklin County, Lela was a woman of remarkable strength whose life was centered on the love she held for her family and her community.

Christopher Michael Ballance, 31, passed away and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Joyce Redmond Perdue, born on September 21, 1948, passed away on December 4, 2025, at the age of 77.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Mary Roberta Matarese was called home to her Lord December 23, 2025, at Franklin Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her family. Born on December 17, 1936 to the late Anthony and Juliana (Pidick) Nitch in Scranton, PA.

CENTERVILLE -- For Louisburg firefighter Ramey Seal, his destiny was written ... by himself.
The Franklin County Firefighters Association named Seal as its Firefighter of the Year during its annual banquet and awards ceremony recently.
The honor serves as a milestone in a career that Seal couldn't escape if he tried. And, he never wanted to.
"... I started late in the paid service, but I've always been a fireman," said Seal, who, after retiring from Louisburg, returned as a part-time engineer and "information man" for the department.

County Firefighters Association President Russell Mullen (left) recognized Franklinton's Darrell Chalk and David Robbins for 40 years of service.

FIVE OH! Franklin County Firefighters Association President Russell Mullen, left, presents Justice Firefighter Kenneth Williams with a plaque, recognizing his 50 years of service in the fire community.

CENTERVILLE -- Even as a youngster, Henry Nelms' voice was critical when it came to founding the Centerville Fire Department.
On the planning board for 30 years, he had a say in how Franklin County was developed.
As either mayor or a member of Centerville's governing board, he had a word in what happened in the north central Franklin County town.
And, as an auctioneer, his distinct, quick clipped voice is the last thing you'd hear before making an offer on some piece of farm equipment.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg man authorities allege shot and tried to kill a deputy is slated to appear in Franklin County District Court in January.
Franklin County Sheriff's Investigator Garrett Stanly charged Jermaine Anthony Branch with attempted first degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, fleeing to elude arrest and assault on a government official -- all for his role in shooting Dep. Taylor Lucas point-blank, in the chest.
Lucas survived his injuries.

LOUISBURG -- A suspect accused of killing a Bunn man about a week before Thanksgiving in 2024 is slated to appear in court later this month.
The attorney for Talib Na-Quan Alexander has asked a judge to set a $50,000 bond, arguing that the 23-year-old shot Xavier Clifton in self defense.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to 547 N.C. 39 South at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2024 to investigate a shooting.
When they arrived, they found Clifton suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County planning staff and a Youngsville businessman reached a settlement agreement, essentially ending a nearly four-year-long property use dispute and erasing nearly $60,000 in accumulated fines.
In December 2021, Craig Rooth began clearing his N.C. 96 property to expand his trucking business, without a permit, planning staff found.

Above, Youngsville Mayor Fonzie Flowers, right, reads the oath of office to BJ Ayscue, who was aided in his commissioner's pledge by Henry David Ayscue.

Incumbent Commissioner Cat Redd takes the oath from Town Clerk Emily Hurd.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Auditors gave town finances a clean bill of health, but there was one slight blemish -- which town staff and officials have already rectified.
During the board's Nov. 13 meeting, Lee Grissom, a certified public accountant with S. Preston Douglas & Associates, presented the town with its 2025 audit, which reflected the town's strong financial positioning, a more than healthy fund balance and no crucial issues.
"... We issued an unmodified opinion, a clean audit opinion," Grissom said. "That's our highest level of assurance on financial statements."

Here's hoping you and yours had a happy, safe and very Merry Christmas this year.
It was no surprise, but we missed out on a white Christmas but all around Franklin County the holiday decorations, especially the lights, more than made up for the missing cold white stuff that can make travel so difficult and dangerous.
Actually, I suspect many of us enjoyed a very mild Christmas season!
By now, Santa is back at the North Pole, probably with his feet up in front of a roaring fire and sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

If you're familiar with this column, then, you might be familiar with another annual tradition: Making fun of wacky New Year's Eve traditions, while offering ideas on how local folks can ring in the New Year.
Well, at least for one town, I can keep my hare-brained thoughts to myself.
Back in 2021, I suggested the town lean into its Funkytown persona and drop a giant saxophone to ring in the new year.
Well, the powers that be had a better idea and instead will drop a disco ball to celebrate First Night Funkytown, a New Year's Eve celebration starting at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Dear editor: Imagine living in a country where everyone has comprehensive health insurance.
Everything is covered without question, from preventive routine care to surgery, from prescription drugs to rehabilitation.
Imagine living in a country where hundreds of thousands of people don't go bankrupt each year from medical debt.
Here in the US, 80% of the people forced into bankruptcy have health insurance. Most of them are middle-class, employed, college-educated homeowners.