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LOUISBURG -- Louisburg Falls, the embattled $110-million-plus mixed use development planned for the south end of Louisburg was rescued Monday night when the developer's "hybrid" plans for the project got a unanimous "yes" vote from the council.
Louisburg Falls, which will likely be the largest single development in Franklin County history, ran into a snag when the town council denied the necessary rezoning for the project on a 4-to-3 vote in May.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has filed a lawsuit to expedite plans to procure a vacated industrial building.
In September, commissioners agreed to purchase 5 acres and the accompanying office and warehouse space at 424 T. Kemp Road, with plans to, among other things, renovate the property to house facilities maintenance staff and equipment.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Youngsville made history last week, swearing in its first town manager.
Since 2019, the town's administrators have held the powers and authority of a manager, however, it wasn't until the General Assembly approved the town's new charter in July that the title was officially conveyed and those powers and authorities were codified in the town's charter.

FRANKLINTON -- Town officials adopted a plan that state economic development staff believes can help small businesses weather shocks to commerce, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center's Rural Planning Program developed the Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative [CERRI] to help local governments recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic and build local economies that are more resilient to future crises.

LOUISBURG -- A superior court judge ruled that no errors were made when a Sanford man was sentenced to life in prison for robbing a high stakes poker game.
The attorney for Walter Eugene Spinks plans to appeal the matter.
In April 2014, a jury found Spinks guilty of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for his role in the 2009 incident.

Melanie Lovin and Lenita Bryson

Yes, fellow Franklin Countians, it is hot outside -- or should we say excessively warm since hot is what they have in the Southwest?
Remember those beautiful, warm days of springtime with humidity in the very comfortable range?
Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did because they are gone -- and it's likely going to be October before we have another run of days like that!
But be thankful we're not in the American Southwest where temperatures are reaching levels, almost daily, that seem difficult, if not impossible, to believe, let alone survive.

When county commissioners met on July 10, social activist Beverly Kegley brought two synergistic pieces of information to Franklin County officials.
Kegley, a member of the Franklin County Interfaith Council and no stranger to town and county leadership first reminded the board that a loose, grass-roots effort to save the Louisburg Theater continues to push forward.
In fact, members of the Save the Louisburg Theater were slated to meet with Preservation NC to look into the possibility of saving the theater.
Let me interject, here.

Dear editor:
The son of President Biden was ordered to appear in court in Arkansas on June 16, 2023, to sit for a deposition in the ongoing child support case between the President's son and an Arkansas woman.

Dear editor:
For well-formed individuals (WFIs), with solid educations and broad experiences, real truths are usually as evident as the nose on one's face. This becomes clear in all they say and do.

LOUISBURG, NC--Frances Smith Pergerson, 87, of Louisburg, died July 11, 2023. She was born on October 25, 1935 in Pembroke, Georgia to the late Hoke and Reva Smith. In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Jim Pergerson Jr.

LOUISBURG, NC--Joseph Harold "Joe" Wheless, 76, passed away on July 11, 2023. He was born on July 14, 1946 to the late Woodroe and Hazel Fuller Wheless. In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by brothers, Robert Wheless and David Wheless.

BUNN -- As his Bunn Wildcats continue to blossom into a state powerhouse, Coach Parker Haake has three immediate goals for the surging program, which has come from literally out of nowhere in the past decade to become one of North Carolina's elite mat titans.
Of course, Haake's first order of business is to earn that Class 2-A State Dual Team Championship that has eluded the Wildcats the past two seasons despite their myriad of successes.

GREENSBORO -- The outcome of the game wasn't the most important aspect of Monday's North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West Boys Basketball All-Star Game.
Simply the honor of being selected for such a prestigious event was the foremost priority for the annual event -- though Gerald Melton has always played (or coached) to win during his glorious basketball career.

BUNN -- Bunn High School's volleyball squad will have a distinctly different look this fall following mass graduation -- so several younger players up from the junior varsity squad will have to make immediate impacts if the Ladycats are to be successful in the always-strong Big East Conference.
Bunn, coached by Melanie Lovin, will kick off its 2024 campaign on August 16 on the road against backyard rival Vance County in Henderson.

BUNN -- John Rappold's first season as the Bunn High School boys soccer coach proved to be a memorable one as he guided the Wildcats to one of their best records in school history.
BHS seemingly came out of nowhere in the Big East Conference to finish second in the league to go with a sterling 12-4 overall worksheet.

ZEBULON - Jesus Chirinos homered, Luke Adams went 3-for-3 with two steals, Jace Avina had a two-run double and Nate Peterson, Tyler Wehrle and Jeison Pena combined on a four-hit shutout as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats defeated the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6-0 in Tuesday's series opener at Five County Stadium.

BUNN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR MAT STAR AUSTIN CHASTAIN SIGNS TO JOIN THE PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

Eggplants, also known as aubergines, belong to the nightshade family of plants and are used in many different dishes around the world. There are many varieties that range in size and color. And while eggplants with a deep purple skin are most common, they can be red, green, or even black.
In addition to bringing a unique texture and mild flavor to recipes, eggplant brings a host of potential health benefits. Eggplants are a nutrient-dense food, meaning they contain a good amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber in few calories.

LOUISBURG -- The filing period for municipal posts ends on Friday.
In Bunn, seats held by Nicole Brantley and Audrey Hartsfield, who is filling the unexpired term of Mack Jones, are up for grabs.
At press time, Brantley had filed for re-election.

ZEBULON -- Authorities have identified the victims injured in a single-vehicle crash, one of them fatally.
According to authorities, Omar Gomez Sevilla, 25, was driving a vehicle along Brantleytown Road toward N.C. 39 the evening of July 3 when the vehicle ran off the road to the right.

RALEIGH -- A delegation of Franklin County 4-H members attended 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus in Raleigh recently.
The Franklin County delegation returned home from two days during which more than 100 youth and adults representing 34 4-H programs across the state gathered to exchange ideas, gain knowledge and learn through hands-on experiences about the importance of being an active and engaged citizen.

American Legion Post 52 has named new officers for 2023-2024. Front row, left to right: 3rd Sgt at Arms - Joe Dillehay; Commander - Chris Smith; Adjutant - Bruce Lobach; 2nd Sgt at Arms - Todd McPhetridge; 2nd Vice - Eric Pearce; Exec Comm - Ansel Greenwood; Standing, left to right:: Chaplain - Harvey Satterwhite; Finance Officer - Steve Ijames; 1st Vice - Mike Donnelly; 1st Sgt at Arms - James Bracknell; Historian - George Tracy; Exec Comm - David Field. Not present: Judge Advocate - Robert Hobgood; and Exec Comm - Pat McCrary.

LOUISBURG -- A new process for building plan reviews is aimed at expediting plan approval.
In an effort to provide exemplary public service and enhance customer service, the Franklin County Planning and Inspections Department has created an Expedited Residential Plan Review process to facilitate the building permit review process for residents for residential additions, renovations and accessory structures - like decks, pools, garages and sheds.