Tag Archive for: #franklincountynews

Safety Reminders For Drivers In Advance Of Predicted Cold, Icy Weekend

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— Information courtesy of the AAA

The area dodged last weekend’s “wintry mix,” but if forecasters are on target, this weekend is going to be different.

Folks no doubt will be heading to the grocery store for staples and more in advance of the weather system that is supposed to bring sleet, freezing rain and maybe a little snow beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing Sunday into Monday.

A winter storm watch is in effect for Vance and much of the state, beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing through Monday afternoon.

If you’re getting to the grocery store in your personal vehicle, now’s the perfect time to review AAA’s winter vehicle maintenance checklist to make sure your travels are safe travels all winter long, not just in snowy or icy conditions.

Tires: Check pressure weekly.

Battery:Test regularly; cold weather reduces power.

Fluids: Use winter-grade washer fluid; check antifreeze; change oil for winter viscosity.

Wipers & Defroster: Replace blades; ensure heater works.

Brakes & Lights:Inspect brakes; clean and check all lights.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 people are injured in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.

“Winter driving hazards such as slick ice, snow-covered roads, and reduced traction make braking and steering treacherous,’ said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Speeding, tailgating, and poorly maintained vehicles amplify the danger, so prepping your car with a strong battery and proper fluid levels is essential for safety.”

AAA lists the top reasons motorists call for roadside assistance in cold weather: dead batteries, tire issues, crashes or sliding off icy roads, running out of fuel and frozen locks.

Give your car’s battery the best chance to stay charged by parking it in a garage or sheltered area if possible, and make sure all the lights, seat warmers and other accessories are turned off before shutting off the engine.

If your car is slow to crank, it could be telling you that your battery is failing. It’s never too soon to have your battery tested, especially if it’s more than three years old.

Wright offered some reminders about staying safe if your car breaks down in traffic. “If your car stalls in traffic, act fast: turn on hazard lights, set the emergency brake, stay inside with doors locked, and call for roadside assistance immediately.” If staying in your vehicle puts you at risk – like if you’re stranded in heavy traffic or in a blind curve on a road, then move to a safe location and then call for help.

For those with electric vehicles, cold weather can slash EV range by up to 40 percent and slow charging. To conserve the battery:

Precondition Your Battery: Warm up the battery before driving by using the preconditioning feature while the car is still plugged in. This helps maintain range and efficiency.

Keep It Plugged In: Whenever possible, leave your EV plugged in overnight. This keeps the battery warm and prevents deep discharge in freezing temperatures.

Manage Charging:Charge more frequently in winter since range can drop significantly in cold weather – between 20 percent and 40 percent. Use Level 2 charging for faster replenishment and better battery health.

Optimize Cabin Heating: Use heated seats and steering wheel instead of blasting cabin heat—they consume less energy. Preheat the cabin while plugged in to avoid draining the battery on the road.

NC Dept of Agriculture

NCDA Announces Specialty Crops Grant Application

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— Information courtesy of the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant proposal applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Nonprofits, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, colleges and universities wishing to apply have until March 10 at 5 p.m.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is managed by the department and is subject to funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Traditionally, the program has received about $1.2 million to fund proposals.

A list of eligible crops can be found at What is a Specialty Crop? | Agricultural Marketing Service (https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop )

“We are fortunate in North Carolina that our farmers can grow just about any crop, which means specialty crops are a significant part of North Carolina’s $100 billion farm economy and one that we want to continue to see grow,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are looking for strong proposals that focus on boosting specialty crop production.”

The department will accept grant requests of up to $200,000 from the eligible groups listed above. Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Applicants can submit a draft application by Wednesday, Jan. 28, for review and feedback. Reviews offer no guarantee of funding and may be limited due to time and the number of requests.

For grant guidelines and an application, go to www.ncspecialtycrops.com/apply/  For questions, contact Jenni Keith at 919.707.3158 or by email at jenni.keith@ncagr.gov.

SportsTalk: Louisburg College Men’s Basketball on the Right Track

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Bryan Bagwell, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Louisburg College, joins SportsTalk with Scout Hughes to talk about how they have recovered nicely after a tough start to 2026.

High School Basketball Scores from Monday – Boys

  • Burlington Cummings 64 Vance County 62 OT
  • Wayne Country Day 58 Crossroads Christian 56
  • Burlington Williams 83 South Granville 67

High School Basketball Scores from Monday – Girls

  • Vance County 56 River Mill Academy 22
  • Falls Lake 38 St. Mary’s (Raleigh) 20

College Basketball Scores from Monday – Women

  • Louisburg College 71 Wake Tech 52

Games on Tuesday – Boys

  • Vance County vs. Franklinton
  • Vance Charter @ Oxford Prep
  • Henderson Collegiate @ Discovery Charter
  • Kerr-Vance Academy @ Halifax Academy
  • Crossroads Christian @ New Garden
  • J.F. Webb vs. Carrboro
  • South Granville vs. Cedar Ridge
  • Warren County vs. Northampton County
  • Falls Lake @ Eno River
  • Louisburg vs. ALA-Johnston
  • Bunn vs. Wake Prep

Games on Tuesday – Girls

  • Vance County vs. Franklinton
  • Vance Charter @ Oxford Prep
  • Kerr-Vance Academy @ Halifax Academy
  • J.F. Webb vs. Carrboro
  • South Granville vs. Cedar Ridge
  • Warren County vs. Northampton County
  • Falls Lake @ Eno River
  • Louisburg vs. ALA-Johnston
  • Bunn vs. Wake Prep

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SportsTalk: Lady Hurricanes Hoops at 10-2 and Ranked in Top 25

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Dennis Gaskins, Head Coach of the Lady Hurricanes Basketball Team at Louisburg College, joins SportsTalk with Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis to discuss their games coming up this week and how the Lady Hurricanes are now ranked in the NJCAA DII Top 25 at #25.

College Basketball on Monday – Women

  • Louisburg College 77 Brunswick CC 74

College Basketball on Monday – Men

  • College of Southern Maryland 105 Louisburg College 97

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SportsTalk: Canes Men’s Hoops Looks to Maintain Winning Record

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Bryan Bagwell, Head Coach of the Louisburg College Men’s Basketball Program, joins SportsTalk with Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis to give us his plan on how the Hurricanes are going to start strong coming out of the Christmas Break.

Boys Basketball Scores from Monday:

  • Central Carolina CC 91 Louisburg College 75
  • Bunn 54 Sydney Boys HS 51

Games Tuesday – Boys

  • Vance County @ Wake Forest
  • Vance Charter @ Eno River
  • Kerr-Vance vs. Oakwood School
  • J.F. Webb vs. South Granville
  • Oxford Prep @ Excelsior
  • Warren County vs. Roanoke Rapids
  • Franklinton vs. Knightdale
  • Louisburg @ Franklin Academy
  • Mecklenburg County, VA vs. Bassett, VA

Games Tuesday – Girls

  • Vance County @ Wake Forest
  • Vance Charter @ Eno River
  • Kerr-Vance vs. Oakwood School
  • J.F. Webb vs. South Granville
  • Oxford Prep @ Excelsior
  • Warren County vs. Roanoke Rapids
  • Franklinton vs. Knightdale
  • Louisburg @ Franklin Academy
  • Mecklenburg County, VA vs. Bassett, VA

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Franklin County: Local Poultry Test Positive For Avian Flu

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

Franklin County has recorded its first case of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry.

Avian influenza – commonly known as bird flu – was first reported on Jan. 1, 2026, in Franklin County. Poultry in a backyard flock tested positive for the disease.

“It is important for owners of commercial birds and backyard flocks take preventive measures to keep their birds healthy and safe,” said Charles Mitchell, Franklin County Cooperative Extension Director.

Commercial and backyard bird owners should take heightened precautions to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The Center for Disease Control and the United States Department of Agriculture have resources to keep birds and their owners safe:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/caring/index.html

USDA: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/defend-the-flock/resources

While human cases of bird flu are not as common, individuals handling infected birds or other infected animals should use proper personal protective equipment to reduce exposure.

 

Local Guardian ad Litem Training Begins Jan. 13, 2026

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The local Guardian ad Litem program is a statewide program designed to place trained volunteers to serve as advocates for neglected or abused children going through the court system.

The next six-week training session begins on Jan. 13, 2026. Area Supervisor Samantha Branch, who serves the five-county region that includes Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties, is seeking additional volunteers who want to become advocates for this very important program.

Formed in 1983, the Guardian ad Litem program serves in all 100 counties in North Carolina and is a division of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.

According to information on its website, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer GAL advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child.

Program staff in each county work with the GAL child to provide support – legal and advocacy – to children as they go through the court process.

Advocates protect and promote the best interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court proceedings, as well as report the child’s wishes to the court. They also could contribute to independent investigations to determine the facts, the needs of the child and identify resources appropriate to each case.

Learn more about the program at https://www.nccourts.gov/programs/guardian-ad-litem.

If you think you’d like to become a trained Guardian ad Litem advocate, call 252.430.5121 or visit volunteerforgal.org.

(Information above originally posted Dec. 17, 2025)

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville – National Registry of Historic Places in Old Granville, Franklin & Warren

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Anyone interested in historical architecture and preservation of homes, businesses or other structures that have been around a really long time surely would have a field day in the four-county area. Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties are replete with buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which operates under the auspices of the National Parks Service.

If you’ve ever wondered how these homes, churches and other buildings get on “the list,” WIZS’s Bill Harris can provide a firsthand account: His family home is set to be included on the National Register in 2026.

Harris and local historian Mark Pace ran through a list of properties in Franklin and Warren counties on Wednesday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk.

One of the newest additions to the Warren County list is All Saints Episcopal Church, officially included in August 2025.

The church served the African American community in the Warrenton area beginning in the 1910’s. The famous Delany sisters – known for their longevity – have a connection to the stone veneer church; their father was pastor there in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Like so many of the historic structures you’ll find on “the list,” All Saints is still standing today. But, as Pace pointed out, “just because a house is on the national register doesn’t mean it will be preserved forever.”

The Little Manor is one such example of a home still listed but is now in ruins.

According to Pace, Warren County has 228 total structures listed on the National Register – 27 individual buildings and 202 included in the Warrenton historic district. Franklin County has 240 structures – 213 of which are situated in Louisburg’s historic district.

A structure must be nominated for inclusion on the National Register, so there needs to be an advocate of some sort to fill out and submit the paperwork that’s involved.

According to information on the National Parks Service website, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation that includes the property’s age, significance and integrity.

For all you Baby Boomers out there, don’t be shocked: a structure can be considered historic if it’s at least 50 years old.

But, Pace said, the list includes more than just homes or other structures that have been around for centuries. For instance, the Wheless home in Louisburg was built in the mid 1950’s.

It meets the age criteria – barely – but it’s the style of architecture – reminiscent of the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright – that put this relatively young home among other homes that have graced the landscape for centuries.

Franklin County has many entries on “the list,” but there are many more located in northern Franklin County than in the southern part of the county, Harris said.

One of the newer additions is the Pearce-Massey-Stallings in southern Franklin County. It was nominated about five years ago and Harris described it as a “handsome” house built in a couple of different sections, the older back part dating back to about 1820.

The front was added about 1910, but the property is also significant because of the large number of outbuildings that are still standing. It’s also remains in the family, Pace said.

Another example of generations of ownership by the same family of a historic property is Cassine, near Louisburg. Descendents of the original members of the Perry family retain ownership of this historic property, which dates back to the 1760’s.

Want to check out some of these examples of historic architecture? Arm yourself with a list available at https://www.hpo.nc.gov/ or bring along the county’s architectural survey and chances are you’ll wend your way by a good number of homes, churches – and if you’re in the Inez area of Warren County – even a fire tower, all considered worthy of inclusion on that NPS’s National Register of Historic Places.

Just remember to drive by – don’t trespass, Pace reminds.

“Most of us are proud of our old houses,” Harris said. So if you happen to see someone out in the yard when you’re driving by, it could be worth a try to stop in and say hello. You might end up getting a tour.

 

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NC State Board of Elections

State Board Of Elections Completes Random Process To Determine Order Of Candidates’ Names On 2026 Ballots

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— information from the N.C. State Board of Elections

State elections officials on Friday afternoon completed a two-step random process to determine how names of the upcoming ballots would appear. State law requires that the State Elections Board determine the order that names will appear on the ballots.

First, a ball was selected out of a bingo machine, with the letter on the ball corresponding with the first letter of the last name of the candidate to be listed first on the ballot. Second, a coin was flipped, with the side facing up corresponding to whether the candidates will be listed in alphabetical order (“heads”) or reverse alphabetical order (“tails”).

The letter on the ball selected from the bingo machine was the letter “F,” meaning candidates whose last names begin with the letter “F” will appear first in contests in the primary and general elections. The subsequent coin flip showed “tails” facing up, meaning that additional candidates will follow in alphabetical order as follows: F, E, D, C, B, A, Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q, P, O, N, M, L, K, J, I, H, G

This ballot order drawing applies to all 2026 primary and general election contests except for municipal contests. Candidates for municipal office are listed in strict alphabetical order beginning with A, according to state law.

The ballot order selection process was streamed live on Webex.

The 2026 primary election is March 3. The general election is Nov. 3.

 

Raleigh Man Gets 50-Year Federal Prison Sentence For Cocaine Trafficking Operation

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— information courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina

On December 11, 2025, a federal judge sentenced a Raleigh man to 600 months, which is 50 years, in federal prison for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and other narcotics throughout the Raleigh area. Earlier this year a federal jury convicted Akeem Netron Holder Evans, age 36, of multiple counts of conspiracy, possession, and intent to distribute illegal drugs.

“This dealer ran a large-scale drug operation, exploited people he trusted, and pumped deadly drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence, spending the next 50 years in federal prison, makes it crystal clear: if you sell drugs here, we will find you, we will convict you, and you will spend decades behind bars. This Big Shark Bad Boy won’t hurt our families and children for a long time.”

“For years, Akeem Evans peddled poison to his own community without a second thought. He’ll have the next 50 years in federal prison to reflect on his actions. This case is a direct result of the FBI’s relentless determination to partner with state and local departments to rid our neighborhoods of drug-fueled gang violence,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

“The sentencing of Akeem Evans brings closure to a deeply disturbing case. We are pleased that justice has been served and that those who distribute deadly substances into our community are being held accountable. This outcome reflects the strong collaborative efforts between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Raleigh Police Department. We are sincerely grateful for this partnership, as well as for the continued support and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners whose work was instrumental in this case,” said Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Evans operated a long-running drug trafficking organization out of multiple residences in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. Investigators determined that Evans’ organization distributed at least 11 kilograms of cocaine, more than 4.8 kilograms of crack cocaine (35 pounds combined), fentanyl, oxycodone, and marijuana, and that Evans orchestrated others in storing, transporting, cooking, and selling drugs.

As part of the operation, Evans exploited personal relationships to help sell drugs. He even convinced his former childhood football coach to transport kilogram quantities of cocaine into the Raleigh area for distribution, demonstrating the depths he would sink to insulate himself and expand the tentacles of his gang.

The investigation revealed that Evans and his co-conspirators used stash houses, encrypted communications, and counter measures in a vain attempt to evade law enforcement. Investigators also identified Evans as coordinating drug deals with multiple customers and directing them where to purchase drugs.

In March 2022, during the execution of a search warrant, officers recovered several kilograms of cocaine, hundreds of grams of crack cocaine, fentanyl pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and firearms from multiple locations connected to Evans and his dirty gang of drug peddlers.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley H. Foxx, Toby Lathan, and Robert Dodson prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case.