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LOUISBURG -- Louisburg's new election process could be tested as soon as this fall -- unless state lawmakers rescind the new election rules as requested by town official. (See related story on this page.)
In the first two days of the filing period, three people have filed for the mayor's seat -- incumbent Christopher Neal, former town council member Boyd Sturges and political newcomer George Williamson.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg's elected officials don't think much of a recently enacted piece of stealth legislation from the General Assembly -- and unanimously voted to ask for its appeal after roundly bashing the new law and the perceived motives behind it.
The General Assembly enacted Session Law 2025-15, also known as House Bill 183, in a late night session in late June, a bill which creates drastic changes in the town's charter and the way future mayors could be elected.

Franklin County and it's parks and recreation department hosted its annual Independence Day celebration on July 3 at Louisburg Magnet High School's Patterson Field. Above, Cynthia McKnight demonstrates her artistic abilities on Alexandra Easley.

The interim portion of his title was officially removed Tuesday night, making veteran law enforcement officer Travis Lincoln the chief of police of Louisburg. Shown here at this swearing in as chief Tuesday night is Chief Lincoln with his wife, Desiree, and son Nolan. Mayor Christopher Neal is at the right.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg town council passed a rezoning request that clears the way for a new local business Tuesday night but put on hold for more study a rezoning request for a town home development.
The approved rezoning was for a lot at 1857 NC 39 N from Agricultural Residential to Neighborhood Business.
The zoning change, approved unanimously, clears the way for the creation of a business that will sell steel parking structures, utility sheds and concrete statues.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Plans for a corporate park remain mired in litigation a year after town leaders approved a zoning change that allowed it to proceed.
In March 2023, Youngsville commissioners rezoned a 66.12-acre lot from residential to Corporate Park 1 -- the designation needed for Ichiban Fleming Road LLC to develop a 400,000-square-foot technical flex space at the intersection of Fleming Road and East Fleming Farm Drive.
More than two dozen nearby residents opposed the change, arguing that the commercial development did not fit the neighborhood.

Alert's Brenda Bailey

We dodged another one!
That tropical mess that dumped a lot of rain in several areas missed us, not by much but enough that Franklin County didn't suffer any significant damage.
As storms go, the one over the weekend wasn't all that around here but as we've learned in the past, even relatively small-seeming storms can ramp up quickly and leave a lot of damage in their path.

During a recent disc golf outing to Clayton, some friends and I decided on our way back to check out a new-to-us course in Knightdale.
And, let me tell you, and this is no shade, but driving through Knightdale and its palatial estates is not a whole lot like driving through some parts of Franklin County.
According to Data USA, the median household income in Franklin County was $71,386 in 2023.

Dear editor: I hope no one has missed a recent milestone achievement in the campaign to Make America Great Again. It can be hard to keep up amidst the onslaught of chaos being flung in all directions by this administration.
I'm talking about the grand opening of Alligator Alcatraz, America's newest concentration camp in the middle of the Florida Everglades. Trump was on hand to celebrate the occasion, along with Kristi Noem and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

LOUISBURG - Charles Wesley Medlin, 78, of Youngsville, died on Monday, July 9, at Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Shirley Ann Hunt, 88, who died on Sunday, July 6, will be held on Saturday, July 12, at 2 p.m. at the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Benjamin Jenkins officiating.

Terry Wayne Allen Jr., 53, of Taylor, Michigan, formerly of Louisburg, NC, died June 27, 2025, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

Thomas "Tom" Kirby Collie passed peacefully at his home in Hampstead, NC on July 6, 2025.

Nashville, NC -- Funeral services for Yair Hernandez age 28, who died on Friday June 27, 2025 was held on Tuesday, July 8, at Richardson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery, Hollister, NC.

The David Esleck Trio will perform jazz at Cherry Hill beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Admission will be taken at the door.
The group, comprised of piano, bass, and drums, has made several appearances at the Inez venue and is among Cherry Hill's most requested performers.
Dr. Esleck, performer, composer, producer, and educator, teaches at the University of Richmond. Experienced as a multi-instrumentalist, he focuses on the piano, both as a soloist and with the trio. He holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Charles Faulkner rode in style in his trusty Model A Ford

Alert's parade always features emergency response vehicles -- and lots of sirens!

Above, Katherine Weathers is a picture of absolute joy coming down one of the slides set up on Patterson Field during Franklin County's Independence Day festivities on July 3. The venue featured food trucks, games, inflatable slides and obstacle courses, face painting and music.

Louisburg Magnet High's Patterson Field was filled with fireworks and wonder during Franklin County's Independence Day festivities.

Trinity Lee and Teagan Dunston are all smiles heading down a slide.

LOUISBURG -- County planning staff are working with a property owner to address a condemned building.
But, the project is in a bit of holding pattern, county staff said.
Franklin County Planning and Inspections staff found the building to be unsafe and condemned the 211 Court Street property on June 3 after bricks and pieces of the exterior fell to the ground.

FRANKLINTON -- The Franklin County Home Builders Association donated $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina, specifically benefiting the Franklin County Club Unit.
The June 17 event began with opening remarks long-time advocate and Boys & Girls Club supporter James Warren, who shared his personal journey with the Wake Forest Club dating back to the 1980s, noting the transformative role the clubs have played in the lives of countless children and families over the decades.

FRANKLINTON -- Before much of the day was celebrated by shooting fireworks toward the sky, members of the Johnson family returned to the land where it began for them.
During the town's June 17 meeting, Mayor Art Wright read and issued a proclamation, honoring the dedication of Johnson Place -- where Emanuel and Penny Johnson purchased their first piece of land in 1920.

Franklin County's newest convenience center site opened for business Monday on Long Mill Road. The Youngsville 4.72 acre site replaces the .73-acre Park Avenue site, which had become too small for the county's most-used trash and recycling site, Franklin County staff said. The Park Avenue site closed on July 5.