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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners issued a special use permit to a Virginia-based company that wants to build a solar farm on about 1,100 acres in north central Franklin County.
If Duke Energy chooses the project and the State Utilities Commission deems the solar farm a public convenience and necessity, the Diamond Solar farm could begin providing power to the grid in maybe half a decade, said Chad Essick, an attorney with Poyner and Spruill, representing Hexagon Energy in their effort to secure the special use permit and complete the project.

LOUISBURG -- A Louisburg man was sentenced to as much as nearly 30 years in prison for killing a man outside a corner store.
In Franklin County Superior Court on Monday, Thomas Lee Hicks Jr. pled guilty to second degree murder in the Nov. 2, 2022 shooting of 40-year-old Ricky Shipman.
Hicks's plea was part of an agreement that allowed him to plea to the lesser included offense, not the first degree charge -- which carries a penalty, including life in prison and up to the death penalty.

JOY RIDE. Above, Bunn Police Sgt. Maria Jocys takes Bryson Blacknall for a ride on a vehicle, when the rider is equipped with special goggles, is designed to simulate impaired driving. During Bunn Fun Day last Saturday, though, the two were just out for a joy ride.

Voters in Louisburg have an opportunity to make an important decision in the next few weeks -- selecting the town's next mayor.
It's an unusual election this year because of a state-mandated change to Louisburg's mayoral election process when there are more than two candidates.
Prior to the change, Louisburg's mayor was elected by majority win, no matter how many candidates were on the ballot.
The change requires that when there are more than two candidates, the winner has to secure more than 50 percent of the vote.

Holly Thornburg & Roxanne Bragg

Just as summer was winding down late last week, we received a gift that was not only timely and appropriate but also thought-provoking in this troubled political climate.
The gift, with a face value of 8 cents, served as a priceless reminder of what America is supposed to be about -- and what is under threat today.
The gift was a postage stamp -- and the image on it was an 18th Century vision of a man with a printing press, obviously printing something of interest, as four men, clad in period finery of the day, were reading and discussing what was printed.

I must admit I was caught pretty flat-footed at Youngsville's last board meeting when it was announced that Town Manager Nathan Page had resigned -- effective Jan. 2.
It made me think about all the relationships I've had as a reporter with our town and county managers during my two-decade tenure here at The Franklin Times.
So, I decided I'd take a trip down memory lane which, quite frankly, is paved with good memories, littered with missteps and has some potholes -- such is the nature of governance.

Dear editor: In Orwell's famous novel 1984, protagonist Winston Smith lives in Oceania and works for the Ministry of Truth in the Records Department, where his job is to rewrite history to conform with whatever the Party wants it to be at the moment.
People who used to exist, even Party heroes, are erased from history or turned into villains, and people who never existed are created ex nihilo.
Winston has to create a news account saying the chocolate ration has been "raised" to 20 grams a week, when it was really reduced from 30 grams per week.

Dear editor: Here is a picture of a sign beside eastbound Walter Grissom Road approaching sharp down hill curve in front of Concord Baptist Church.
Continuing on Walter Grissom Road once you pass Church Concord Community Center is on left then another sharp curve in advance of General Green Road.
There isn't advance curve warning signs or the other curve signing along this stretch of Charlie Grissom Road.
Numerous people have reported the signing issues to NCDOT over the last 20 odd years and never got a response!

Dear editor: I wanted to commend employees at our local Louisburg DMV.
We are fortunate to have personnel who are willing to help folks with their licenses.
Because of all of the negative publicity, I dreaded getting my license renewed. People at our DMV could not have been more pleasant and efficient.
There was a large crowd there. A lady came out and asked for 65 and older people to come up. Our local office does this frequently to accommodate older people.

Franklinton, NC -- Funeral services for Annie "Teenie" Cooke Johnson, age 78, who died on Monday, September 22, 2025, will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025 at noon from the First Baptist Church in Franklinton with Rev. Delores Cooke officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchiner's Grove Church Cemetery.

BUNN, NC -- Jasper F. White, 96, of Bunn died early Friday morning, September 19, 2025 at Wake Med with his daughter Debbie by his side. He was born January 15, 1929 in Franklin County, a son of the late James R. and Victoria Gay White. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Louise Strickland White; sisters, Madeline Moody and Elizabeth Sykes and a brother, Melton White.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Lucy "Mama Lu" Holden, age 82, who died on Monday, September 22, 2025, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. from the Rowland Chapel Christian Church in Henderson. Burial will follow in the Rowland Chapel Church Cemetery.

Pianist Solomon Eichner will perform at Cherry Hill this Sunday, Sept. 28. The program will include works by Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and other well-known composers. Originally from Baltimore, Eichner graduated from the Manhattan School of Music and Peabody Conservatory. He has performed in England, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland and throughout the United States, including several well-received performances at Cherry Hill. He maintains a faculty position for the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute.

DIRECTION. Bunn Middle School Choir Director Samantha Robertson guides a performance.

LEADER. Bunn Commissioner Sherry Mercer drove the barrel train around the Bunn Fun Day grounds.

Above, from left, Raelyn Lucas, Alani Lucas and Ra'niyah Lucas show off their junior firefighter hats, one of the many things they collected during Bunn Fun Day, which featured food and craft vendors, as well as giveways and displays by a number of first responders and public servants in the town and in Franklin County

The 2025 growing season has been drastically different from what we went through in 2024.
Last year we dealt with no rain for over 40 days in early summer, then when the drought ended, we had an oversupply of rain and two tropical storms.
This year has been a good growing season for most, receiving ample rains through most of spring and summer with only a handful of dry periods scattered throughout.