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LOUISBURG -- A majority of Franklin County commissioners threw a bucket of cold water on the prospects of a public pool.
Residents have engaged in a social media, letter writing and public campaign, calling for Franklin County officials to provide a public pool -- following through on what a public survey revealed that a majority of respondents desired.
During the "other business" portion of Monday night's board meeting, Commissioner Mark Speed suggested the county should seek federal funds to build a recreation center and olympic-sized pool.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners agreed to negotiate with a bidder that's proposed tearing down the old Louisburg Theater property for $1.3 million.
Franklin County bought the 109 W. Nash Street property in August 2022 for $202,112 -- with plans to destroy the building and make way for a new judicial complex.
The county has secured $15 million in state funding to put toward the estimated $31 million project.

Artists of all types put their talents and their creations on display last Saturday in Louisburg. In the above photo, Amie Mason paints the face of Brodan Bottoms, 9.

LOUISBURG -- At the urging of a dog park champion, county commissioners agreed to look into the spending for the facility at Pilot Lions Park.
Parks and recreation and county officials and staff hosted a ribbon cutting for the dog park back in March -- about 10 months after commissioners agreed to spend up to $130,000 to complete the project.
While dog park advocates, like Wendy Perry, were happy to have the park open and available, it did lack adequate benches and, most importantly, shade.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Motorists have been given a chance to weigh in on improvements to the U.S. 1 Corridor, including whether a toll road is built from I-540 into Franklin County.
In December 2023 and January 2024, Franklinton and Youngsville governing boards joined others along the route in support of studying the feasibility of making that segment of the highway a toll road.

Relay for Life volunteers David and Hope Benton

Now that Easter is a few days behind us, I trust that everyone -- except maybe some of the kids who reaped a huge harvest at egg hunts -- is coming down off their sugar high!
This year, even more than most, there seemed to be an abundance of Easter egg hunts -- and the youngsters had a ball. I'd love to know just how much candy was distributed but I'd bet the total would be astounding!

Fictional Jerry Seinfeld once famously said: 'Boy, I miss the days they made toys that could kill a kid.'
I don't always need a reason to quote "Seinfeld," and this one is a bit of a stretch, but bear with me.
When I was a kid, they made cartoons that, well, maybe they didn't kill a kid, but they made every kid want to run outside, grab a stick, pretend it was the Sword of Omens, He-Man's Power Sword, a Star Wars lightsaber or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle nunchucks and whack their friends upside the head with them.

Dear editor: As a breast cancer survivor, I'm aware more than most of how important it is to have a strong healthcare program like Medicare Advantage (MA) supporting us in times of medical crisis.
Our leaders must ensure Medicare Advantage remains a stable healthcare option for North Carolina's seniors.

Dear editor: I am writing to express a growing concern shared by many families and residents of Franklin County: the absence of a public community pool and a full-service community center.
Do you all remember the Strategic Plan document from 2020? This was a plan supported and published by many of the same individuals now sitting on our county commission. Yet five years later, our community is still waiting for meaningful action.

Dear editor: In recent editions of The Franklin Times, the topic of a public pool and community center has come up once again. I am 56 years old, and for as long as I can remember, this has been a recurring conversation--something the public has long supported and advocated for, yet it has never become a reality.
Neighboring counties like Vance have managed to fund and build an aquatic/community center, and many Franklin County residents now travel there to use their facilities.

Dear editor: When I was in high school and had my first job with Social Security withheld from my pay envelope, politicians were predicting that Social Security would be eliminated. I was upset that this money was taken out and the program would be over before my retirement.
That was in the 1960s and I have grown weary of one party or the other providing scare tactics for political gain.
Elon Musk was correct when he said that the program is a Ponzi scheme.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Chuck Lane Finch, 49, of Louisburg, passed away Thursday at Rex Hospital.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Herman Sneed, 60, of Franklinton, was born on Oct. 28, 1964 in Franklinton, NC to the late Oliver Sneed, Sr. and Edna Hockaday Sneed. Herman departed this life on March 24, 2025.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for James "Pee Wee" Stukes, age 59, who died on Sunday, April 20, 2025, will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Haywood Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Pastor Jordan Herman Wilkins, age 79, who died on Friday, April 18, 2025, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Timothy Johnson officiating.

Thankfully, that Spider-Man face, complete with a spider, is just a painting -- and the model is Rosali Westermann. She was visiting the Art Stroll in downtown Louisburg last weekend and became a participant in addition to a visitor.

April is peak asparagus season! It's also one of the first spring vegetables to be ready for harvest.
Asparagus is crisp and tender when cooked and is easy to grill at family cookouts thanks to its long and sturdy shape.
Generally, thinner spears are more delicate and tender; thicker spears have stronger flavor and hearty texture.
Thicker spears can be sliced on the diagonal into smaller pieces to cook more quickly. This popular vegetable comes in green, white, and purple colors.

PLANET POWER. Franklin County, the United Way, Novonesis and a host of other partners combined to host Franklinton Middle School students for Earth Day at Franklinton Park on Tuesday. All three combined to transform the park into a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) site and students spent time at seven different stations, learning about items ranging from biosolutions to careers in STEM. Above, Donna Nguyen, Renata Hyczy and Dee Sanders talk with students about Novenesis techniques.

This Saturday, more than 50 local teens ages 12 to 18 years of age will be participating in the 37th annual Global Youth Service Day.
Through a variety of local projects designed to help those in need, these youth are determined to make a difference in local communities and have fun while doing it.
"I'm excited for the Global Youth Day of Service," said Sarah Reynolds age 15.

HENDERSON, NC -- Vance-Granville Community College has named Tom Barkin to deliver the keynote address at its 56th annual commencement ceremony.
Barkin has been the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond since 2018.
He serves on the Fed's chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee, and is also responsible for the Richmond Fed's bank supervision and the Federal Reserve's technology organization.

Gamma Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is planning its 4th annual Community HBC/D9 Golf Tournament, that will be held Saturday, April 26, at the Kerr Lake Country Club.
This year's event promises an inclusive and enjoyable day for golfers of all skill levels while supporting meaningful community initiatives, organizers said.
Billed as the Ten Ten Tournament, this year's highlight features a $10,000 Hole-In-One prize and a $10,000 Putting Contest.

FRANKLINTON -- Each year, American Legion Post 52 holds a banquet to honor First Responders that are nominated by their supervisors to be the "Best of the Year."
First Responders, like Veterans, know what it means to sacrifice themselves and their families over the mission of public safety and emergency medical care.
Post 52 shows its appreciation or these critical community members by holding a banquet in their honor while that the same time celebrating The American Legion's Birthday.

EASTER MIRACLE. Paula Romaine helps McKenna grab eggs last Saturday at the Miracle League field in Youngsville.

Cooperative Extension Director and Governor's Volunteer Service Award Coordinator Charles Mitchell, back left, with Governor's Volunteer Service Award winners Rachelle Deats, Patricia Adams [also a Governor's Medallion Award for Volunteer Service winner], Zack Myers, Silvia Kramar, DJ Faircloth, Perry Faulkner, Caleb Oldham, Haley Glick, and Commissioners David Bunn, Roxanne Bragg, Stuart May, Harry Foy, Mark Speed and Michael Schriver, and County Manager Ryan Preble. Not pictured is Earl Oldham, who is part of the Louisburg Baptist Church Ramp Ministry.