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LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education agreed Monday night to ask county commissioners for a total of $34,715,855 to operate the schools from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
As usual, the budget request is broken into two categories: Current expense and Capital Expenditures.
Last year, as the schools were lobbying for money to continue their longevity bonuses to retain staff, school officials made a deal that they would not increase their current expense request this year -- and the proposed budget unveiled Monday night reaches that goal.

FRANKLINTON -- With three actions Tuesday, commissioners cleared the way for a 609-acre residential and mixed use development that could -- upon build out -- nearly triple the size of the town.
And, they were gifted a more than half a million dollar, 1840s home property, 32 acres and a pond for their troubles.
Minus the home and 32 acres, Triple B Ranch and Farm proposes to use about 577 acres -- split over 6 parcels -- to develop 3,480 residential units.

Spring, which also brings Easter, is a fun time, especially for the younger set. As usual this year, there were Easter egg hunts all around the delight of youngsters.
In the photo above, Leona (left) and Donovan Nguyen really got into the Easter Bunny spirt at Youngsville's Easter egg hunt last Saturday.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town officials and residents were given their first look a budget that proposes to drop the tax rate by a penny, while continuing the town's efforts to expedite the Youngsville bypass.
Town Manager Nathan Page presented to commissioners and the public his proposal for a $6 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
Last year, commissioners approved a budget that raised the town's tax levy 10 cents per $100 of valuation higher than the revenue neutral rate to cover capital projects, primarily the town's continued efforts to speed up design and construction of a bypass.

It is obvious that "Maude: The Grand Old Lady" of the Louisburg Fire Department is the centerpiece of the Fire, Police, and Rescue Museum.
The museum would probably not exist today without the return of "Maude" to her home and her complete restoration.
However, there are numerous other items in the museum that are very interesting, unusual, and some are rare.
Although the majority of the items were owned and used by the Louisburg Fire Department, quite a few of the items were donated or are on loan from past members families and local citizens.

LOUISBURG -- Two men authorities allege are responsible for killing an elderly woman in a drive-by shooting will be appointed attorneys from the Capital Defender's Office.
It's an action that occurs at an initial hearing if a case could be determined to be capital -- which includes the death penalty as a punishment.
Prosecutors will have to declare whether or not they'll seek the death penalty against Jaquan Lynch and Donavan Boyd during a Rule 24 hearing, later.

Four-year old Billie Caroline Strickland, at the Town of Bunn Easter egg hunt

Believe it or not, the Easter weekend is here. In addition to the religious services, if you have young kids, you're probably just about tired of colored eggs and perhaps a little worried about the candy consumption that surrounds the holiday.
It's a sacred time for many -- and a fun time for the youngsters -- so relax and enjoy.
Then get ready because what is coming next will impact you and your family, perhaps even more than usual this year.

Outside of judges, attorneys, clerks and bailiffs, I don't know too many folks who have spent more time in the Franklin County Courthouse and courtrooms than I have.
That surely comes with the territory as my news beat covers cops and courts.
And, since my job actively requires me to keep a keen eye on what's happening on the bench and in the gallery, I would and could probably argue that no one pays more attention to what happens and what's said inside a courtroom than I do ... Okay, maybe the court reporter does, but I digress.

Dear editor: I read your editorial page column in a recent edition and the nice words you had for the rescue team looking for the missing child in the Tar River (what a sad ending) encouraged me to write a story that just happened to me.
Here it is:
I have a story about one good Samaritan out there. My wife suggested I write about it.

Dear editor: My name is Rachel and I have been a Franklin County resident since 1994.
My family moved here to get away from the city (Raleigh) and enjoy a more rural lifestyle. I have continuously lived in the county since I was a teenager.
I have raised six children here and all have attended public school. I had always imagined that eventually my kids would have the amenities here in Franklin County that I didn't have. Great parks, an accessible swimming pool, basketball courts and maybe even a skating rink.

Dear editor: I am a proud mother, a lifelong Franklin County resident, and a woman who -- despite my love for our land, our people, and our community -- never learned how to swim.
And now, as I raise my children in this same county, I find myself facing a heartbreaking contradiction: I'm enrolling them in swim classes -- but I, their mother, still don't know how to swim.

Charlotte, NC -- Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Georgia Griffin Browning, 74 of Charlotte, NC passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2025, due to a stroke. She was surrounded by her devoted husband of 51 years, Mel Browning, and daughter, Ashlynn Browning Greene.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklinton and Bunn bid a fond farewell to the Big East Conference with respectable campaigns this winter in boys basketball.
The two county schools will be moving out of the Big East following this school year as mandated by the latest realignment from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
FHS and Bunn will no longer be together -- at least for the next four years -- though the Wildcats will be reunited with Louisburg in a new conference.

Savannah Arnold, 15, of Louisburg, recently won several awards in a dance competition in Greensboro. Savannah, a member of Louisburg School of Dance, participated in Applause Talent Dance Competition. She performed her solo "Radioactive" dance and received double platinum and first place overall in the "First Call Teen Solo" division and first place for "First Call Teen Title Winner" division. She is the daughter of Sarah and Kevin Arnold.

Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetables that grows well in NC. Once established a bed of asparagus can produce for many years.
The best time to plant asparagus is late January to late March, while the plants are dormant. Asparagus likes to grow in areas that receive at least 8 hours of sunlight per day.
Asparagus likes good drainage so planting in a raised bed is ideal. To produce enough asparagus for table-use plant 10 crowns per family member.

Egg-cellent Day! Drew Poland poses before going down the inflatable slide during the Town of Bunn Easter egg hunt

STAR OF THE SHOW. The Easter Bunny was the center of attention during Bunn's Saturday egg hunt. The big bunny is shown hanging out with Sallie McDonald and John McDonald, who was "chief engineer" on a small train that took youngsters on rides around the football field.

HAPPY HUNTERS. This trio was all smiles after the Town of Bunn Easter egg hunt. Pictured left to right, are Ayden Perry, Namoni Perry and Lamir Jones with their huge pile of candy-filled eggs.

EASTER BUNNY AND HELPERS. Youngsville Mayor Fonzie Flowers, third from left, is joined by police staff, the Easter Bunny, an eager youth and intern during Youngsville's Easter Egg hunt at Faith Baptist Church

It was a mad scramble in Bunn as kids quickly gathered 12,000 Easter eggs!

American Legion Post 52 recognized Franklinton Police Cpl. Jeffrey Carter as its Police Officer of the Year in March. Carter, second from right, was joined by Franklinton Commissioner John Allers, Franklinton Police Chief James Davis Jr. and Franklinton Commissioner Judy McArn.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College President Dr. Gary Brown announced he will retire next year.
He made the announcement to the College's Board of Trustees during their annual spring meeting.
Brown came to Louisburg College in January 2018 from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa.
He is the 28th President in the College's 238-year history.

LOUISBURG -- Two suspects accused of leading police on a chase that included firing shots at an officer are next slated to appear in court in May.
Officers arrested Malachi Johan Taylor, 18, of Youngsville, and Thurman Louis Henderson IV, 19, of Kernersville on April 12, charging them both with felony cocaine possession.
Taylor was charged with attempted first degree murder as authorities allege he fired shots at Franklin County Sheriff's Cpl. Ben Splees during the pursuit.
Henderson was charged with accessory after the fact, fleeing arrest and resisting a public officer.