Recent Articles

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 -- 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.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklinton and Bunn bid a fond farewell to the Big East Conference with respectable campaigns this winter in boys basketball.
The two county schools will be moving out of the Big East following this school year as mandated by the latest realignment from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
FHS and Bunn will no longer be together -- at least for the next four years -- though the Wildcats will be reunited with Louisburg in a new conference.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education agreed Monday night to ask county commissioners for a total of $34,715,855 to operate the schools from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
As usual, the budget request is broken into two categories: Current expense and Capital Expenditures.
Last year, as the schools were lobbying for money to continue their longevity bonuses to retain staff, school officials made a deal that they would not increase their current expense request this year -- and the proposed budget unveiled Monday night reaches that goal.

FRANKLINTON -- With three actions Tuesday, commissioners cleared the way for a 609-acre residential and mixed use development that could -- upon build out -- nearly triple the size of the town.
And, they were gifted a more than half a million dollar, 1840s home property, 32 acres and a pond for their troubles.
Minus the home and 32 acres, Triple B Ranch and Farm proposes to use about 577 acres -- split over 6 parcels -- to develop 3,480 residential units.

Spring, which also brings Easter, is a fun time, especially for the younger set. As usual this year, there were Easter egg hunts all around the delight of youngsters.
In the photo above, Leona (left) and Donovan Nguyen really got into the Easter Bunny spirt at Youngsville's Easter egg hunt last Saturday.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town officials and residents were given their first look a budget that proposes to drop the tax rate by a penny, while continuing the town's efforts to expedite the Youngsville bypass.
Town Manager Nathan Page presented to commissioners and the public his proposal for a $6 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
Last year, commissioners approved a budget that raised the town's tax levy 10 cents per $100 of valuation higher than the revenue neutral rate to cover capital projects, primarily the town's continued efforts to speed up design and construction of a bypass.

It is obvious that "Maude: The Grand Old Lady" of the Louisburg Fire Department is the centerpiece of the Fire, Police, and Rescue Museum.
The museum would probably not exist today without the return of "Maude" to her home and her complete restoration.
However, there are numerous other items in the museum that are very interesting, unusual, and some are rare.
Although the majority of the items were owned and used by the Louisburg Fire Department, quite a few of the items were donated or are on loan from past members families and local citizens.

LOUISBURG -- Two men authorities allege are responsible for killing an elderly woman in a drive-by shooting will be appointed attorneys from the Capital Defender's Office.
It's an action that occurs at an initial hearing if a case could be determined to be capital -- which includes the death penalty as a punishment.
Prosecutors will have to declare whether or not they'll seek the death penalty against Jaquan Lynch and Donavan Boyd during a Rule 24 hearing, later.

American Legion Post 52 recognized Franklinton Police Cpl. Jeffrey Carter as its Police Officer of the Year in March. Carter, second from right, was joined by Franklinton Commissioner John Allers, Franklinton Police Chief James Davis Jr. and Franklinton Commissioner Judy McArn.

Egg-cellent Day! Drew Poland poses before going down the inflatable slide during the Town of Bunn Easter egg hunt

STAR OF THE SHOW. The Easter Bunny was the center of attention during Bunn's Saturday egg hunt. The big bunny is shown hanging out with Sallie McDonald and John McDonald, who was "chief engineer" on a small train that took youngsters on rides around the football field.

HAPPY HUNTERS. This trio was all smiles after the Town of Bunn Easter egg hunt. Pictured left to right, are Ayden Perry, Namoni Perry and Lamir Jones with their huge pile of candy-filled eggs.

EASTER BUNNY AND HELPERS. Youngsville Mayor Fonzie Flowers, third from left, is joined by police staff, the Easter Bunny, an eager youth and intern during Youngsville's Easter Egg hunt at Faith Baptist Church