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When it comes to wholesome comfort food, few ingredients are as cherished in Southern kitchens as Southern peas. Whether you know them as field peas, crowder peas, cowpeas, or black-eyed peas, these humble legumes have earned their place on the dinner table for generations.
While they're often celebrated for their rich, earthy flavor, Southern peas also offer an impressive array of health benefits that make them a smart addition to any meal.

Nashville, NC -- Funeral services for Annie Laura Lancaster, age 91, who died on Thursday, July 23, 2026, will be held on Saturday, August 1, at 2 p.m. from the Galatia A.M.E. Church in Nashville, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Irene Bullock, age 105, who died on Saturday, July 25, 2026, will be held on Monday, August 3, at 2 p.m. from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg, NC. Burial will follow in the Allen Chapel Church cemetery.

Warrenton, NC -- Funeral services for Merle Lee Richardson, age 77, who died on Thursday, July 23, 2026, were held on Wednesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Marie Long Epps, age 72, who died on Friday, July 24, 2026, will be held on Saturday, August 1, at 11 a.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Columbia, SC -- Graveside services for Terence Omar Hayes, age 42, who died on Monday, July 20, 2026, will be held on Thursday, July 30, at 12 p.m. from the Hayes Family Cemetery in Louisburg, NC.

Thomas Pandolfi will return to Cherry Hill for a concert on Sunday, July 26, beginning at 3 p.m.
In demand for his virtuosity and narrative programming, Pandolfi last played to a full house at Cherry Hill in 2024. This season he will present a program that bridges European Romantic brilliance and the unmistakable sound of America's musical voice.
The first half will showcase the world of Franz Liszt, featuring works that combine lyricism, brilliance, and transcendental virtuosity.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's towns, along with the sheriff's office, received more than $1.2 million in state appropriated funds.
Louisburg was the only municipality that didn't receive funds appropriated by the General Assembly through State Rep. Matthew Winslow and State Sen. Lisa Barnes.
Louisburg Mayor Christopher Neal provided The Franklin Times with email correspondence they sent to Eden Patterson, Winslow's legislative assistant, outlining more than $106 million in projects identified by staff and officials, ranging from $90 million for a town reservoir to recouping money the town spent on a mayoral election they didn't ask for.

LOUISBURG -- The contractor who demolished a Louisburg theater to make way for a courthouse addition and renovation denied its work damaged an adjacent building.
And, they argued that "Franklin County knew or should have known that, by authorizing ... demolition ... the adjoining building with a shared wall could be damaged."

PITTSBURGH -- The 2026 Disc Golf Junior Worlds featured 431 of the best young players in the world, across ages ranging from 8 to 18.
Louisburg's Levi Odom finished in the top 20 percent out of 144 players in the under 18 division during the July 7-11 event. And Rolesville's Aubrey Terry finished 15th out of 25 competitors in the female juniors under 18 division.
Every player wants to win. But, sometimes in disc golf, your victories aren't reflected by a podium finish.

LOUISBURG -- Storms and unexpected emergencies prevented the county's Tourism Development Authority from generating a quorum.
But, discussion during Monday's meeting time included progress on the organization's plans to market and promote Franklin County.
During the board's May meeting, TDA members agreed to provide $80,000, via collected occupancy tax revenue, to Boone-based Destination By Design at the recommendation of TDA member and County Economic Development Director Barbara Fiedor.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes the intestinal illness, cyclosporiasis.
It's commonly associated with fresh fruits and vegetables contaminated during growing, harvesting or processing. Previous outbreaks have involved lettuce, cilantro, basil, green onions, raspberries and other fresh produce.
However, the source of the ongoing outbreak is currently unknown.

FRANKLINTON -- Despite a room full of opposition, town commissioners approved the design of a park project that will bring new life and recreation opportunities to a forgotten school property.
In January, town leaders, Franklin County Schools and Franklin County commissioners agreed to let Franklinton develop a community park on 7.8 acres next to the Franklinton Middle School gym.

LOUISBURG -- Local and federal authorities arrested a Louisburg man with an extensive criminal history.
Louisburg police, Franklin County sheriff's deputies and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took Todd Ragland into custody on July 17.
The ATF indicted the 25-year-old on three charges of possession with intent to distribute a substance containing heroin, fentanyl and a product used in the synthesis of fentanyl.

Well, darn, I guess I'll just have to learn to be quicker!
As we worked on last week's edition -- and with the memories of a couple of earlier editions -- I envisioned writing a column extolling the virtues of providing recreation and other worthwhile activities to Franklin County young people -- and was actually ready to give county officials some credit even if we need to be doing far more.
But my editorial page cohort Carey Johnson "stole" that idea -- and no surprise, he did a better job with the topic than I would have.

Dear editor: The Louisburg government is well on its way to being the next Rocky Mount or perhaps even Cary!
What can be done? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bethesda, Maryland, and Centerville, North Carolina, clearly show an alternative path.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Recently, I was trying to find a county government website for a friend in Massachusetts. I could not find a website for that state's second-most populous county. With over 860,000 people and over 1,500 square miles of land area, the county government did not have a website.

Hugh I. Cash scholarship recipient Walter Royster

There's a level of trust that's required for all of this to work.
We need to trust that informed folks back, support and vote for leaders -- whether at the local, state, regional or federal level -- who have the best interests of their constituents at heart.
We also need to trust that those elected leaders hire competent folks who can execute the plans and policies they put in place, again, for the benefit of the people who have put them in positions to exercise authority.

Newport News, VA -- Funeral services for Etta L. Clemons, age 87, who died on Thursday, July 16, 2026, will be held Thursday, July 23, at 12 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

ZEBULON, NC -- Virgina Medlin Spencer, 90, of Zebulon, passed away Friday morning, July 17, 2026.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Amy Arrington, age 61, who died on Friday, July 17, 2026, will be held on Friday, July 24, at 12 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC. Burial will follow in the Jones Chapel Church cemetery.

Oxford, NC -- Funeral services for Idelle Tyson, age 87, who died on Friday, July 17, 2026, will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 11 a.m. from the Friendship Chapel Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. Burial will follow in the Friendship Chapel Baptist Church cemetery.

Louisburg, NC --Funeral services for Bennett Hicks, age 53, who died on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, were held Tuesday, July 21, at 2 p.m. from the Pope's Chapel United Church of Christ in Franklinton, NC. Burial will follow in the Pope's Chapel Church cemetery.