Recent Articles

LOUISBURG -- Folks escaped serious injury following a four-vehicle wreck on Bickett Boulevard last week. (See photo and column on page 4 of this edition.)
According to a report by Louisburg Police Officer J. Justice, Laureen Jones was traveling south on Bickett Boulevard at about 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 13 when she attempted to make a left turn -- crossing two travel lanes -- into a parking lot near The Franklin Times office.
The car she was driving clipped the rear of a sport utility vehicle driven by Dwane Cannady in the right, northbound lane of Bickett Boulevard.

Benchmark Community Bank celebrated its opening in Franklinton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 12. Above, Branch Manager Crystal Tilley, second from right, is joined by, from left, Relationship Teller Melissa Hicks, Relationship Specialist Casandra Webb, Franklin County Market Executive Gerald Lloyd and Senior Vice President Rick Houser. The bank, located at 103 S. Main Street, trumpets the return of the first bank in town in more than 10 years. For more information about Benchmark, visit: bcbforlife.bank/w/franklinton.

LOUISBURG -- A Franklin County couple lost their home Monday in a fire.
Justice Fire officials said the home in the 2200 block of Seven Paths Road was a total loss from smoke and fire damage.
There was one person at home at the time of the fire, but they were able to get out and no injuries were reported, said Justice Fire Chief Kelly Harris.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Fire Marshal's Office, but authorities said the fire appeared strongest at the rear of the home and deck area.

There is a wide range of Narcissus that is grown commercially.
The so-called hardy types are generally called "Daffodils" or "Jonquils;" while the tender types are called "Paperwhite" or "Tazetta" Narcissus.
Flower sizes can range from 1-5 inches in diameter, depending on the cultivar. Some cultivars have multi-flowered inflorescences. Flowering periods are cultivar and weather dependent.

LOUISBURG -- A Henderson man arrested on an attempted murder charge is slated to appear in court next month.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Michael Leon Bullock, 58, was arrested Sept. 22, 2022 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
According to authorities, Bullock is alleged to have met a man in the 900 block of Vaiden Road the afternoon of Sept. 20, 2022 regarding some money that was owed.

LOUISBURG -- Police arrested a Henderson man they allege tried to kill a man by firing a gun into a car.
Louisburg police took out a warrant against Alphonso Jermain Kingsberry on March 12, alleging he shot at Vernon Hicks who was driving a car at the time of the incident.
The court report does not indicate where the shooting incident took place.

Honking horns, squealing tires and the occasional, but sickening, loud crunch of metal aren't uncommon sounds around our office, all courtesy of Bickett Boulevard, a brief stretch of road that is long overdue for ... something!
It's time to stop -- or, actually, START talking about what can be done to make Bickett safer and saner -- and actually do something.
Although there have been frequent crashes near our office over the years -- including one which sent a pickup truck rolling into our parking lot before it stopped 15 feet from my office window, wheels up and still spinning -- one crash last Thursday should be the final straw.

Randall Shirley of Louisburg was a winner in the State of NC Senior Games competition. He won first place for his watercolor of Boat Harbor, and second place for his oil painting of the Christmas House. In the photo above he is shown exhibiting his winning artwork.

Zebulon, NC -- Funeral services for Cassandra "Smoochie" Williams, age 49, who died on Friday, November 14, 2025, will be held on Friday, November 21, at 1 p.m. from the Mitchiner's Grove Baptist Church in Franklinton with Pastor Melvin Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchiner's Grove Church Cemetery.

Garner, NC -- Funeral services for William "Teeny" Lynch, Jr., age 63, who died on Saturday, November 15, 2025, will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Bishop Terrence Jenkins officiating.

BUNN, NC -- Funeral services for Christopher Thorne, age 52, who died on Saturday, November 15, 2025, will be held on Monday, November 24, at 11 a.m. from the Faith Missionary Church in Louisburg with Pastor K. G. Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Faith Missionary Church Cemetery.

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Graveside services for Rogerlean "Little Bit" Mann Simmons, age 85, formerly of Louisburg, who died on Sunday, November 9, 2025, will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 11 a.m. from the Mann Family Cemetery in Louisburg, NC with Rev. Larry Keith officiating.

Franklinton , NC -- Vivian Deloris Glover, age 72, of Franklinton was born on March 23, 1953 to the late Cleo Perry and Sallie Perry in Franklinton, NC,

Hampstead, NC -- Herbert Perry Beasley, 84, of Hampstead, NC, formerly of Louisburg, NC, passed away on July 1, 2025.

RALEIGH, NC -- Peggy Pearce Tucker, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 16, 2025 at Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Raleigh, NC.

Franklin County is a fascinating place -- and just when you think you know all of its "secrets," you stumble on something new.
Our latest discovery was last Saturday morning when Donna and I set out to ramble around the county and attend to a few chores.
It turned out that Donna had talked to a subscriber on Friday who said he missed his second-straight week of his Franklin Times, probably because of a post office issue.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council tasked consultants with updating its water shortage response plan -- updating the criteria for what triggers conservation measures to avoid emergencies.
But, the governing board spent more time discussing and adopting new fines and fees for development, figuring out how to deal with an unsafe home, and amending its food stipend for employees who travel for training and educational purposes.

FRANKLINTON -- Air Force veteran, and American Legion Post 52 and Franklinton historian Samuel Brodie Green Sr. had himself a day.
He celebrated his 97th birthday on Saturday, was the keynote speaker at the American Legion Post 52's Veterans Ceremony, and received the key to the city.
"He's quite a treasure," American Legion Post 52 Commander Chris Smith said of Green's military service, his recall and willingness to share his stories.

LOUISBURG -- A speaker provided the Franklin County Board of Education a three-minute "snapshot" of the situation facing an alarming number of vulnerable students Monday night -- and it was not a pretty picture.
Lena Robertson of Franklinton, who is the district's Mckinny Vento liaison, reminded the school board that November is national hunger and homelessness awareness month as well as national youth homelessness awareness month.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners helped clear a path that would allow alcohol sales at a property in front of Franklinton Middle School.
The 1 N. Main Street building essentially sits at the southeast corner of Franklinton Middle School and, for years, had been used as office space for the school system.
The county sold the property to Joe Farrell's Franklinton Development LLC in December 2021 and he initially proposed using the three-story building as a performing arts center through a public/private partnership with the town of Franklinton.

A student from each Franklin County school was saluted by the board of education Monday night after being nominated by their school for best demonstrating the October character traits of self-discipline and self-control.
The honored students were:

LOUISBURG -- The government shutdown forced county staff to scramble for their veterans program, but it gave other folks time to shine -- including Veterans Services Director Brenda Wilkins.
"I've been the Veterans Services Officer now going on 11 years and this is the first time that I've actually had words to say," Wilkins said.
"I don't do much public speaking, but I wanted to do this today," she said.

HENDERSON -- The Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has announced its Jabberwock 2026 interest meeting, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 16, from 3 until 5 p.m. at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge Street, Henderson.
Families of eligible youth are encouraged to attend and learn more about this enriching youth development and scholarship program.
Jabberwock is a longstanding Delta Sigma Theta tradition designed to foster growth, leadership, cultural enrichment, and community service among young ladies.