Recent Articles

That's Memorial Day in your rear-view mirror -- and that means just one thing if you're like most of us.
Post-Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, despite what the calendar would have you believe.
Usually around these parts, there is no reason to wait until that June date to mark summer since the weather is usually nice, the kids are out of school or soon will be and outdoor activities of all types beckon loudly.
Yes, it's hard to believe that May has flashed past so quickly but next Monday, ready or not, June begins!

FRANKLINTON -- Col. Benjamin Wynn got to share his two loves and areas of expertise this weekend -- military service and history -- bringing home what sacrifice looks like and how communities can honor such service.
The commander of the 30th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, the largest brigade in the North Carolina National Guard, was the featured speaker during the American Legion Post 52 Memorial Day ceremony at Franklinton Veterans Memorial Park last Sunday.

Joe and Stephanie Farrell, town and Veterans Park benefactors, as well as veterans, stand by the newly installed Battlefield Cross memorial, in honor of fallen soldiers.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town Manager William Doerfer presented officials with a $6 million budget that gives employees a raise, bolsters the parks and recreation department and continues the town's plans to expedite the Youngsville bypass.
It also lowers overall spending and keeps the tax rate stagnant at 54 cents per $100 of valuation.
"The budget is balanced and in line with board priorities," Doerfer told commissioners during their May 14 meeting
"It focuses on growth and service delivery."

LOUISBURG -- Growth -- and the problems that it creates long before the money it's supposed to generate begins to flow -- was obvious when Louisburg officials held their first budget session last Thursday afternoon.
Department heads were given the opportunity to present their "wish lists" to the town council which must now decide what to trim and what to fund.
Given the magnitude of the requests that will be no small task -- and numbers will be refined over the next month or so before the 2027 budget year begins on July 1.

BUNN -- At least one of the more than 40 students who entered Franklin County Early College High School did so with uncertainty. But, she and they exited the Bunn High School stage last week with diplomas and either Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees, or at least a significant number of college credits -- with direction and a chance to spread their wings.
"... It's time for you to take a breath and celebrate how far you've come," FCECHS Principal Laura Wilson told 42 graduates during their May 21 ceremony, comparing their journey at the Early College High School to that of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a children's story by Eric Carle about change and courage.

Franklin Times' subscriber Betty Ruth Williams

LOUISBURG -- To participate in a regional water solution, Franklin County Manager Ryan Preble has asked neighbors to agree to one of two options:
• Allow Franklin County a controlling stake in the Kerr Lake Regional Water System;
• Allow Franklin County, at its cost, the ability to increase capacity for itself.
The May 21 letter gave city managers for Henderson and Oxford, as well as Warren County Manager Crystal Smith, 30 days to respond to Franklin County's request.

FRANKLINTON -- Folks interested in Franklinton have spoken.
They want:
• Managed growth that stresses connectivity;
• More grocery options and medical services;
• Better mobility, including a Franklinton southern bypass, trails and sidewalks;

I'm going to go out on a limb right now: If someone told you they left the grocery store with 79 items, and only paid $161.87, it would be right to assume one of two things:
• They bought like 150 packs of Kool Aid, or;
• Some of those items walked out of the store.
A recent story about a 2006 Walmart grocery store receipt explains it all.

Dear editor: When I was a teenager in the 1970s, the top-selling nonfiction book of the entire decade was Hal Lindsey's The Late, Great Planet Earth. It sold as many as 35 million copies and was translated into 50 languages.
Through a careful analysis of biblical clues, Lindsey had determined that Jesus would return sometime in the 1980s, most likely in 1988.
Former NASA rocket scientist Edgar Whisenant was able to narrow it down even further. His book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988 (not quite as successful at 4 million copies), calculated Christ would descend from the clouds sometime between September 11-13.

Dear editor: That which "is"..."is."
That which "might be" probably ain't.
Maybe we should dwell more on what's "real and nigh" and obsess less about the "sweet by and by."
David Hunter Averette was quite aware of the mysteries and unknowns of an apparently endless universe.

RALEIGH -- The State Division of Aviation announced the completion of a multi-million aviation project that bolsters Franklin County's airport.
The $3.4 million project covered the design and construction of a new access road for safe passage to the northern corporate hangar area for tenant customers. It was essentially completed earlier, save for some closeout items.
The economic grant development initiative included excavation and grading, utility relocation, fencing and gate installation, taxiway lighting, asphalt pavement, and pavement markings.

Youngsville, NC -- Evelyn S. Richards, 96, of Youngsville, NC died Monday, May 25, 2026, surrounded by her children. Visitation will be at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Youngsville on Friday, May 29 at 1 p.m. and the funeral at 2 p.m. A private burial will follow at the family cemetery.

Franklinton, NC -- Elaine Ross Smith, 91, of Franklinton, died Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at her home. She was born on January 21, 1935 to the late Johnny and Irene Haley Ross in Franklin County, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Sherry A. Hoyle of Louisburg died May 7, 2026, at her home.

Youngsville, NC -- Buddie Jones, age 75, of Youngsville, was born May 30, 1950, in Franklin County, NC, to the late Andrew Jackson Jones and Patrice Taylor Jones. Buddie died May 4, 2026, at his home in Youngsville.

Raleigh, NC -- Funeral services for Stuart West, age 87, who died on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, will be held on Sunday, May 31, at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. William S. Cozart, officiating. Burial will follow in the George Washington Memorial Cemetery in Paramus, NJ.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Harry Williams Jr., age 84, who died on Sunday, May 24, 2026, will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

LOUISBURG -- A teenager that was reported missing was found safe on Friday afternoon.
A mother reported the 17-year-old girl missing from a home in the Justice community around 9:15 a.m., when she ran from the house after getting into an argument with her parents.
Franklin County Emergency Management Staff and other authorities had issued an area alert for the missing teen, who was listed as a potential threat to herself.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College held its annual commencement last Saturday where more than 100 students were awarded their degrees.
Students, family and friends celebrated the class of 2026 during the May 16 event at LC's Jones Performing Arts Center.
This year, 112 graduates walked across the stage to receive their Associate degrees in General College, General Science, Business, Agricultural Studies, Environmental Science, Health Science, Medical Science, and Sports Science.

Someone, probably an avid gardener, once observed that great oaks from tiny acorns grow.
We can only hope that the Louisburg Town Council planted one of those "acorns" last week -- and that what they planted will grow larger and faster than an oak tree.
The council, which has been pretty reserved about this area's growing water concerns, took two steps -- both in the right direction, at least as far as I'm concerned.