Wire And Cable Maker Expanding Operations In Franklin County

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An electrical wire and cable company is expanding its operations by relocating to a building at the US 1 North Commerce Center in Franklin County.

Southwire, North America’s leading manufacturer of wire and cables used in transmission and distribution of electricity, is relocating to a new 170,000 square foot facility to enable the company to increase production and provide continued employment for more than 200 current team members as part of the company’s overall modernization strategy, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III.

“Southwire is committed to a multi-year modernization investment of more than $1.5 billon across our footprint,” said Norman Adkins, Southwire’s president and chief operating officer. “We are integrating newer and better equipment, systems and technology into our operations to increase efficiency, enhance competitiveness and ensure the operational capability and capacity to support our strategic growth. We are incredibly proud of the growth our business has shown in Youngsville. This new facility will not only accommodate our ever-expanding operations but will also allow us to innovate and enhance our production capabilities for the future.”

The Franklin County facility supports the company’s Engineered Solutions business through the production and assembly of both made-to-stock and custom-ordered products for some of the company’s largest customers.

“We are thrilled by Southwire’s decision to remain in Franklin County,” said Barbara Fiedor, Franklin County’s economic development director. “The company’s presence here is highly valued as both an employer and community partner. Southwire’s decision demonstrates the county’s dedication to working with Summit Real Estate Group to construct the US 1 North Commerce Center, which has provided the much-needed new industrial space, allowing companies like Southwire to stay in Franklin County and continue to make significant positive economic development impacts.”

Southwire is another business to join US 1 North Commerce Center’s portfolio of businesses which saw the addition of PlanITROI last year.

“Southwire’s decision to remain in Franklin County validates the thriving business environment we have created here,” said Ryan Preble, Franklin County’s interim county manager. “Their investment not only retains existing jobs but also strengthens our community. Having a major employer renew their commitment provides increased economic benefits.”

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the facility is anticipated to take place in April 2025. For more news or information on Southwire, visit www.southwire.com.

Franklin County To Hold Mar. 14 Event To Discuss Processes To Work With Animal Rescue Groups

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— information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

Franklin County will host an event to collaborate on future Animal Services processes related to rescue partner organizations at the Franklin County Animal Shelter.

The event will take place on Mar. 14 in the Training Room at Franklin Plaza, located at 279 S. Bickett Blvd. in Louisburg and will feature a discussion of future procedures related to animal rescues led by Franklin County management.

Current, former and prospective animal rescue partner organizations can update their contact information by emailing animalservicesoutreach@franklincountync.gov. Invitations will be sent out to animal rescue organizations.

Alzheimer’s Association Offering Free, Virtual, Weekly Education Series in Feb. 2025

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The Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina and Western Carolina Chapters, in partnership with Isaac Health, a leading national provider of brain health and dementia care, are offering a free virtual weekly education series called The Empowered Caregiver to help caregivers navigate the responsibilities of caring for someone living with dementia.

“Our latest Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows that dementia caregivers in North Carolina face significant emotional, physical and health-related challenges as a result of caregiving,” said Christine John-Fuller, executive director, Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Our goal with this collaboration with Isaac Health is to offer tools and education to help caregivers feel supported and see pathways forward.”

The Empowered Caregiver education series will be offered via live webinar each Thursday in February from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Caregivers can register for individual courses or the entire series. Each week will cover a new topic with expert speakers:

  • Understanding Dementia and Foundations of Caregiving – February 6 

Discover the differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia, understand the evolving role of caregivers, and learn how to build a support team and manage caregiver stress. Speaker: Joel Salinas, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer, Isaac Health

  • Supporting Independence – February 13

Focuses on helping the person living with dementia take part in daily activities, providing the right amount of support and balancing safety and independence while managing expectations. Speaker: Debbie Prouty, assistant professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Wingate University

  • Communication and Behavior Changes and Strategies – February 20

Teaches how dementia affects communication, including tips for communicating well with family, friends and health care professionals. Also, common behavior changes and how they’re a form of communication, non-medical approaches to behaviors and recognizing when help is needed. Speaker: Nancy Swigert, speech-language pathologist and Alzheimer’s community educator

  • Care and Support Services – February 27

Examines how best to prepare for future care decisions and changes, including respite care, residential care and end of life care. Panelists include: David Fisher, MD, retired physician and Alzheimer’s community educator, Joel Salinas, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer, Isaac Health, Venitra White Dean, founder, Frankie Mae Foundation

There is no charge to participate, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link for the series. To sign-up, visit tinyurl.com/TheEmpoweredCaregiver  or call 800-272-3900.

TownTalk: Guardian ad Litem Program Provides Advocates To Children In Court System

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Eight hours a month doesn’t sound like much, but it could make all the difference in the life of a child.

Eight hours is what most Guardian ad Litem volunteers can expect to spend in their advocacy role for young people who are involved in the court system because of abuse or neglect.

Ruth Griffin, recruitment and retention lead for the statewide GAL program based in Raleigh, said there are roughly 3,200 volunteers in North Carolina, but there’s always a need for more.

In Vance County, for example, there are 77 children in care, but 21 do not have an advocate, Griffin said on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

Of 23 in Granville County, three are without advocates at this time.

“We have some awesome, awesome volunteers who are active in other cases,” Griffin said, “but we want more folks from the community to step up and to speak up for these kids in court – our goal being that every child should have an advocate.”

There is some training involved with becoming a guardian ad litem volunteer, and the winter training sessions begin Tuesday, Jan. 21. The virtual sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Feb. 25. Apply at volunteerforgal.org.

As Griffin explained, it is a district court judge who begins the process of involving the Guardian ad Litem program when there’s a case of abuse or neglect of a child. A local advocate will be assigned and that person begins gathering information from adults in the child’s life – parents, teachers, physicians, etc. With support from an attorney and from GAL staff, the advocate creates a report with recommendations for what’s best for the child going forward.

For some children, their GAL advocate is the only constant in their lives. Social workers change, foster homes change, but a GAL advocate can remain with a child to provide emotional support as the case moves through the courts.

Advocates can visit with the children in familiar settings like their foster home or school, said Sarah Sattelberg, an advocacy specialist who works in the Raleigh office. “You’re never meeting them alone,” Sattelberg said.

Griffin said most of the cases that are referred to GAL involve neglect, but every case and every child is different. Some could be “situations that the average person just can’t imagine,” she said. “Oftentimes, we are meeting these kids at their worst moment.” The goal is to advocate for the best interests of the child as he or she moves through the court system.

Aside from the specific training that all advocates must complete, there’s no special background or expertise needed to become an advocate.

“You just have to have a heart to care,” Griffin said. “If you have that, you can begin to change a child’s life.”

Samantha Branch is the local contact for the Judicial District 11, which includes, Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties. Below are the addresses and phone numbers for the offices in the WIZS listening area:

Vance County
156 Church St., Henderson, NC 27536
252.430.5121

Granville County
147 Williamsboro St., Oxford, NC 27565
919.690.4921

Warren County
113 S. Main St., Louisburg, NC 27549
919.497.4244

Franklin County
113 S. Main St., Louisburg, NC 27549
919.497.4244

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District 7 Rep. Matthew Winslow Begins Third Term In N.C. House

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N.C. Rep. Matthew Winslow was sworn in Wednesday to begin the 2025-26 legislative session as District 7 representative in the N.C. House. District 7 includes parts of Vance County and all of Franklin County.

Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony marks the beginning of Winslow’s third term in the House. “It is always an honor to serve my state, and I am very thankful for the opportunity once again to do just that. My family and I truly appreciate all the support from family, friends, and colleagues and I look forward to a productive legislative session,” he said in a written statement released Friday.

The oath of office was administered by the newly installed Speaker of the House, Destin Hall.

Brad Knott Sworn In As Congressman Representing N.C. District 13

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Brad Knott took the oath of office last week to become North Carolina’s congressman representing the 13th Congressional District, comprised of eight counties, including Granville and Franklin counties.

“It is an honor to now serve as the representative for North Carolina’s 13th District. I am both excited and eager to begin working for stronger law enforcement, a secure border, safer communities and a prosperous future for North Carolina and the United States,”  Knott said in a written statement released Monday, Jan. 6.

Knott, a Republican, will serve on the House Judiciary, Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees.

Constituents may contact Knott’s office for assistance with service requests at knott.house.gov or by calling 202.225.4531.

Kerr-Tar COG Seeks Sponsors For 2025 N.C. Senior Games

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Local businesses and individuals still have time to become sponsors for the 2025 Kerr-Tar Regional Senior Games, held each spring across the five counties that comprise the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Sponsorship levels include:

Gold – $1,500

Silver – $1,000

Bronze – $500

Family – $250

Friend – $100

Sponsors can choose to provide regionwide support or a specific county, according to information from KTCOG officials. Make checks payable to Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments to provide regionwide support or to your local Senior Center to support a particular county.

The Senior Games holds events in all five counties and involves adults 50 years and older in a variety of athletic events, as well as Silver Arts, which includes creative and performing arts.

In 2024, more than 223 local athletes participated in more than 50 sporting events and Silver Arts categories. Even more participants are expected for the 2025 games. First- and second-place winners qualify for the state finals, and state finals winners advance to the National Senior Games, held every two years.

For more information, contact local coordinator Michael Patterson or local co-coordinator Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org or callen@kerrtarcog.org.

Man Gets 8-Year Prison Term For Armed Drug Trafficking

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–information courtesy of Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. District Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina

A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for armed drug trafficking following an incident in July that occurred in Franklin County.

Talvin Lamar Brandon pled guilty in September to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

According to court documents and other information presented in U.S. District Court, Brandon was identified as a kilogram level source of cocaine supply in the Franklin County area. In July 2024, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of Brandon’s vehicle after a suspected drug transaction. However, as the officer exited the vehicle to conduct the stop, Brandon fled, hitting the officer’s patrol car as he sped away. Officers pursued Brandon, who eventually lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road. Brandon then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. While fleeing, Brandon dropped two kilograms of cocaine. From his vehicle, law enforcement seized a firearm and a loaded magazine.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launders, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.

 

IRS Reminder About Deadlines For RMDs From Certain Retirement Accounts

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If you’re 73 years or older, the Internal Revenue Service reminds you of important deadlines regarding required minimum distributions for those with certain retirement accounts.

An RMD is an amount that an account owner must withdraw annually. The withdrawals are considered taxable income and may incur penalties if they aren’t taken on time, according to information from IRS officials.

The IRS.gov Retirement Plan and IRA Required Minimum Distributions FAQs webpage provides detailed information regarding the new provisions in the law.

If you turned 73 in 2024:

  • Your first RMD is due by April 1, 2025, based on your account balance on Dec. 31, 2023, and
  • Your second RMD is due by Dec. 31, 2025, based on your account balance on Dec. 31, 2024.

 

A new law called the Secure 2.0 Act raised the age that account owners must begin taking RMDs, while eliminating RMDs for Designated Roth accounts in 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans.

The minimum distribution rules generally apply to original account holders and their beneficiaries in these types of plans:

 

  • IRAs: IRA withdrawals from traditional IRAs and IRA-based plans occur every year once people reach age 73, even if they’re still employed.
  • Retirement plans:The RMD rules apply to employer-sponsored plans, with delays allowed until retirement unless the participants own more than 5% of the sponsoring business.
  • Roth IRAs:Roth IRA owners are not required to take withdrawals during their lifetime, however beneficiaries are subject to the RMD rules after the account owner’s death.

 

Designated Roth accounts in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan will not be subject to the RMD rules while the account owner is still alive for 2024. The RMD Comparison Chart outlines key RMD rules for IRAs and defined contribution plans.

 

Taxpayers can find easy-to-use tools such as forms, instructions and publications at IRS.gov.

The Local Skinny! Groundbreaking at Epsom Park

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Franklin County Parks and Recreation Director K.P. Kilpatrick has been in his role just since April of this year, but he’s already been able to check one big item off the to-do list: witness the groundbreaking of Epsom Park.

The park will be located on the site of the former Epsom School, and plans have been in place for a while – almost 20 years, in fact – to construct a park for residents to enjoy, whether they live in Franklin County or Vance County.

County officials and community leaders joined Kilpatrick at the recent groundbreaking  for Phase 1 of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2025.

It includes a walking loop, sand volleyball court, playground, multipurpose field and a picnic shelter, as well as a spot for cornhole.

“We’re happy to get it started,” Kilpatrick told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

The 7.62 acre property practically straddles the Franklin/Vance County line, and will be the fourth park that Franklin County is responsible for.

It’ll be a place where the community can come for recreation as well as athletic events and other organized programs, Kilpatrick said. There could be a movie night at the park, for example, volleyball and cornhole tournaments in addition to the more traditional types of sports played on the multipurpose field.

Kilpatrick envisions Epsom Park as a place for “great leisure opportunities” and a “great place to create memories.”

 

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