Recent Articles

Container gardening is more popular than ever. Edibles can be grown in containers in a variety of outdoor spaces.
Regardless of the scope or size of your container garden, selecting the right containers, planting media, and plant combinations are the first steps on the road to success.
There are many different types of containers that you can purchase, build or recycle.

VALENTINE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. Harold and Joyce Yarborough of Louisburg will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Feb. 14. They were married Feb. 14, 1965 in a private ceremony in Louisburg. The couple has three children, Woody, Carol and Carlos; five grandchildren and one great grand-child.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Jason Jonathan Zelinack, 41, of Louisburg died February 4, 2025 at his home. Jason was born on August 29, 1983 in Edison, NJ to Robert Wowkanyn and Valleri Cursi.

FRANKLINTON, NC --Karen Diane Rueben Pursell, 68, died February 5, 2025 at her home in Franklinton, NC. Karen was born on June 15, 1956 to the late Joseph Rueben and the late Joan Detwiler Jacoby. In addition to her parents, Karen was preceded in death by sisters, Joanne Heckman and Barbara Frankenfield; and her step-father, Jake Jacoby.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Hazel Tart Thomas, 88, died February 11, 2025 at her home in Franklinton, with her family by her side.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Ronald James Hormell, 65, of Louisburg, North Carolina died Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Louisburg Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Smithfield, NC -- Funeral services for Victoria M. Richardson, age 62, who died on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, will be held on Saturday, February 15, at 2 p.m. from the Bunn Chapel Baptist Church in Nashville, NC. Burial will follow in the Manning Family Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Arnola Carpenter Gilliam, 77, of Louisburg died Saturday, February 8, 2025. She was born on April 20, 1947, to the late Arnold Preston and Elnora Sparks Carpenter in Franklin County, NC.

Patricia Hight Copley, a loving mother and Nana, passed away peacefully with her three children by her side on January 24,2025.

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.