On September 18, 2020, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to 26 William Perry Road, Louisburg regarding a male subject assaulting his father by choking him. Upon arrival, deputies were unable to locate a pulse on the victim, who was identified as Darren Hobgood.
The Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team made entry into the residence and the suspect, Xavier Vishal Billups, was taken into custody without incident.
Mr. Billups was transported to Wake Medical Hospital and upon his release will be charged with Second Degree Murder.
Xavier Vishal Billups – 26 William Perry Road, Louisburg – 27 years of age
This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please call Detective Brian Jacobson at (919) 340–3285.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0124_Untitled-1.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-09-21 08:13:392020-09-21 08:13:39Louisburg Man Chokes, Kills Father
-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department
St. Paul Presbyterian Church will hold a COVID-19 “rapid-response” testing drive-thru on Saturday, September 19, 2020, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The church is located at 928 South Main St. in Louisburg, NC.
Participants must pre-register by calling (919) 632-6495 to schedule an appointment time. There are no out-of-pocket costs to be tested.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/COVID-Rapid-Response-Testing.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-09-17 11:41:432020-09-17 11:41:43St. Paul Presbyterian Church to Hold COVID-19 ‘Rapid-Response’ Drive-Thru Testing
Franklin County Manager Angela L. Harris has named James R. (Jim) Gusler, Jr Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director. Mr. Gusler will assume the position on October 5, 2020.
James R. (Jim) Gusler, Jr. has been named Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director for Franklin County. Gusler will assume the position on October 5, 2020.
Mr. Gusler has served in various roles in the EMS field, most recently as EMS Training Officer for Orange County since 2016. In that role, he was the training liaison for the County. Mr. Gusler‘s previous experience includes over five years as a Planner/Trainer at the UNC Burn Center and six years as the Emergency Services Director in Caswell County. He holds an EMS Management Program and Community Preparedness Certificate and is currently a member of the NC EMS Advisory Board.
Mr. Gusler also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an Associate’s Degree in Emergency Medical Science from Guilford Technical Community College. Mr. Gusler is a dedicated public servant and community volunteer. He has been a volunteer for Boy Scouts for many years and has two sons who have both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
“Franklin County Administration is delighted to welcome Mr. Gusler to the Emergency Services Department,” Harris said. “Emergency Medical Services are essential services for our citizens, and ensuring the ongoing delivery of high-quality services will continue to be our goal.”
For additional information, please contact Angela L. Harris, Franklin County Manager, at (919) 496-5994.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jim-Gusler.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-09-14 10:00:592020-09-14 10:00:59Gusler Named Franklin Co. Emergency Medical Services Director
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division issued warrants for the arrest of Luis Alonso Sanchez, a Franklin County resident, on August 28, 2020.
Charges consisted of the following: Statutory Sexual Offense with a Person who is 15 years of Age or Younger, Indecent Liberties with a Child, and Felony Child Abuse-Sexual Act.
Charges followed after an extensive investigation conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin County Child Protective Services.
On September 3, 2020, Luis Alonso Sanchez was arrested at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office without incident.
Luis Alonso Sanchez was given a $400,000 secured bond and is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center.
Luis Alonso Sanchez
53 years old
115 Autumn Court
Zebulon, NC 27597
Luis Alonso Sanchez
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Luis-Alonso-Sanchez.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-09-08 12:07:142020-09-08 12:07:14FCSO: Sanchez Charged With Sexual Offense, Indecent Liberties With a Child
Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the Youngsville Regional pump station in Youngsville. The discharge was a result of heavy rain on Monday, August 31, 2020. The discharge started at 11 p.m. and continued until Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at 2 a.m.
The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 11,560 gallons, and approximately 6,200 gallons entered into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin. Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the discharge stopped.
The Division of Water Quality was notified of this event on September 1, 2020, and is reviewing the matter.
General Statute 143-215.1C requires the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works to issue a press release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.
For additional information concerning this event, please contact Franklin County Public Utilities Department at (919) 556-6177. Additional information can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-09-02 10:20:352020-09-02 10:20:35Untreated Wastewater Discharged From Youngsville Regional Pump Station
On August 28, 2020, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Grey Harris Winn, a Franklin County resident.
After deputies with C-Squad responded to a 911 call for a vehicle accident, Mr. Winn was charged with Felony PWIMSD Schedule II CS (2 counts), Felony Possession Schedule I CS, Felony Possession Stolen Firearm, Felony PWIMSD Schedule IV CS, Felony Possession of THC Isolate, Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Carrying Concealed Weapon, and Misdemeanor Simple Possess Sch. VI CS (2 counts).
In addition, Mr. Winn was served with a criminal process by North Carolina Highway Patrol for Driving While Impaired and Reckless Driving-Wanton Disregard.
Mr. Winn was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $60,000 secure bond.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Grey-Harris-Winn-Mug-Shot.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-08-31 11:05:492020-08-31 11:05:49Vehicle Accident Leads to Drug Arrest of Franklin Co. Man
On August 25, 2020, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group arrested Ohio residents, Sivad Boykin, Cadiz Harper, and Jerron Smith, on multiple drug charges.
The arrest came after the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit determined Boykin, Harper and Smith were involved in trafficking Methamphetamines in Franklin County. The investigation led detectives to the Days Inn in Louisburg, NC where a search warrant was executed on a room that was rented by Boykin.
The arrests and search warrant execution resulted in the seizure of approximately 484 grams of Methamphetamines and US Currency. The street value of the drugs seized is approximately $135,000.
Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “These arrests and the seizure of this quantity of Methamphetamines, certainly make our communities safer. This investigation developed as a result of the partnerships our Special Operations Group has with other local, state and federal partners who are working together to remove these dangerous and addictive drugs from our communities.”
Sivad Brown was placed in the Franklin County Detention Facility under a $600,000 secured bond.
Cadiz Jon Harper
525 Tremont Ave. SW
Massillon, OH 44646
Trafficking in Methamphetamines
Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamines
Cadiz Harper was placed in the Franklin County Detention Facility under a $500,000 secured bond.
Jerron T. Smith
1003 Johnson St. SE
Massillon, OH 44646
Trafficking in Methamphetamines
Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamines
Jerron Smith was placed in the Franklin County Detention Facility under a $500,000 secured bond.
The Special Operations Group was assisted in this investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisburg Police Department.
For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Boykin-Harper-Smith-Mug-Shot.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-08-28 08:57:452020-08-28 08:57:45Three Ohio Residents Arrested in $135,000 Street Value Drug Seizure in Louisburg
Franklin County’s Finance Department now holds a 21-year record of excellence in financial reporting. Once again, the team has achieved the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The Finance Department was recently notified by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) that its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) was awarded the Certificate of Achievement by the GFOA of the United States and Canada. Attainment of the certificate represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including the demonstration of a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.
For additional information, contact Franklin County Finance at (919) 496-3182 or visit www.franklincountync.us.
The Finance Office is staffed by Director Jamie Holtzman, Mattie May, Christy Henson, Jan Wright and Claire Fuller.
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Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington requested a Special Called Meeting of the Henderson City Council on Tuesday afternoon, August 18, 2020.
According to Ellington, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss a request from Franklin County for an additional 450,000 gallons of water per day from the Kerr Lake Regional Water System (KLRWS), of which the City of Henderson is a managing partner.
Discussions about the terms and if KLRWS and its partners will accept are on-going.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0067_hendersonlogo.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-08-19 14:34:372020-08-19 14:34:37Franklin Co. Requests Additional 450,000 Gallons of Water Per Day From KLRWS
General Statute 143-215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works to issue a press release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.
Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the Youngsville Regional pump station in Youngsville, NC. The spill was a result of heavy rain on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The spill occurred at 4:32 p.m. and discharged until 9:34 p.m. The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 20,040 gallons, and approximately 10,000 gallons entered into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin.
Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the overflow stopped.
The department also experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the South Nassau Street pump station in Youngsville. The spill was a result of heavy rain on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The spill occurred at 4:50 p.m. and discharged until 6:07 p.m. The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 2,000 gallons, and approximately 800 gallons entered into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin.
Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the overflow stopped.
The division of Water Quality was notified of this event on August 16, 2020, and is reviewing the matter. For additional information concerning this event, please contact Franklin County Public Utilities Department at (919) 556-6177. Additional information can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-08-17 11:15:432020-08-17 11:15:43Franklin County: Notice of Discharge of Untreated Wastewater