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LOUISBURG -- Franklin County commissioners changed a utilities ordinance that developers said was hamstringing growth.
By unanimous decision, the board agreed to change a 24-year-old ordinance so that it no longer requires that major subdivision developments hook onto nearby county water and sewer service -- giving developers the freedom to drill wells and use septic systems, instead.
Major subdivisions are defined as developments of at least five homes.

BUNN -- Bunn's leaders will determine whether they allow bars and taverns in their downtown district.
Deana Leggett, the operator of Bobo's Bourbon and Beer, has petitioned the town for a text amendment change that would allow bars in the town's C-1 district -- its downtown area.
It was one of the items that town planning and zoning board members discussed during their meeting on Monday.

LOUISBURG -- As the Board of Equalization and Review, county commissioners pushed up the deadline by which it will accept challenges to property assessments.
In June, commissioners agreed that they would give property owners until the end of October to file appeals. That decision came over the objections of Franklinton officials and staff, who said that such a late deadline would impact their ability to rely on budgets they set that included additional police officers, parks and recreation staff and public works members.

YOUNGSVILLE -- By consensus, town commissioners told staff to take the next step toward building a Youngsville bypass.
During the board's July 11 meeting, Town Manager Nathan Page told commissioners that it will cost about $300,000 for engineers to provide the federal Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] documentation, stormwater analysis and craft an initial design for a portion of the bypass from Fleming Road through Cedar Creek Road down to Tarboro Road.

YOUNGSVILLE -- A resident has both challenged and agreed to partner with town leaders in efforts to improve traffic conditions beyond Main Street.
The Youngsville Board of Commissioners have committed finances and flexed political pressure in their efforts to speed up construction of the Youngsville bypass -- a project that the State Department of Transportation had scheduled for construction in 2050.

Charles Gill celebrating 4th at the Louisburg Senior Center

If you're one of those folks who has washed and waxed your car only to find yourself watching all your hard work get specked and splattered in a sudden rain, I feel your pain.
Almost before our edition hit the street last week -- with a lead story about the drought -- the skies began to open up and the rainfall began!
Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but if I'd have known that merely writing about the drought would have prompted some much-needed rainfall, I'd have started writing about the situation a few weeks ago.

I don't know about you, but this week, I could use a bit of whimsy.
Between the lack of rain, intense heat and political whirlpool, I certainly could use a bit of distraction.
And, on Wednesday morning, I got it.
Turns out a tractor trailer overturned on Interstate 440 near Wade Avenue.

Dear editor: The comments in the July 4 Times "letter to editor" were on target except nothing was stated against Trump -- such as:
When Trump was elected president of our country the first things he did were: (1) cut taxes for the rich; (2) add 8 trillion dollars to the national debt; (3) had an affair with a porn movie star while his wife was pregnant with his baby; and (4) instigated the Jan 6 attack on our national capital and did nothing to try to stop it even as members of his cabinet were pleading for him to do so -- especially his VP.

Warrenton, NC--Funeral services for Alphonso "Al" Richardson, age, 64, who died on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, will be held 1 p.m., Friday, July 19, from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Pine Chapel Memorial Garden Cemetery in Hollister.

CREEDMOOR, NC -- John Earl Perry Sr., of Creedmoor, age 83, died July 9, 2024. John was born on July 4, 1941, to the late Leroy and Carrie Perry in Franklinton, NC.

DURHAM, NC -- Mrs. Rena Eaton Webster, 92, died on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

GREENSBORO -- For the past four years, Mikayla Taborn has been the face (to the basket) of the successful Franklinton High School girls basketball program.
But Taborn, who has signed to continue her career at Campbell University, experienced a different challenge during Monday's North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star Girls Basketball Game at the Greensboro Coliseum Annex.
With her soft touch from the baseline and in the paint, Taborn has always preferred to perform with her face to the basket.

GREENSBORO -- Never give up.
That's been one of the central themes of Henry Drake's 10-year tenure as the head coach at Northern Nash High School -- and it was on full display to the rest of the state during Monday's North Carolina East-West All-Stars Men's Basketball Game at the Greensboro Coliseum Annex.

GREENSBORO -- Both professionally and geographically, Thurman Jordan has come full circle during his career as a teacher and high school basketball coach.
If you drew a line around the places Jordan has coached in order -- Franklinton, Holly Springs, Durham Hillside and Rolesville -- you could make a circle.
And you could say the same thing about Jordan's career in general, from his first position at Franklinton over 20 years ago before undertaking an odyssey that brought the respected Jordan through schools in Wake and Durham Counties before his recent stint at Rolesville High School, where he has spent the past six seasons.

GARNER -- The Louisburg 15-U All-Star baseball team is headed to states after a dominant four-game sweep through the Tar Heel District Tournament, which was held last week at North Garner Middle School in Wake County.
The All-Stars got off to a hot start on July 8 when they exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning in their tourney opener against the Wendell All-Stars.
That would be far more than Braden Jackson needed on the mound.

GREENSBORO -- Having the opportunity to coach in the East-West All-Star Games is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
That's because coaches are chosen only once in their careers, so it's best to make the most of the chance.
Of course, that's what Henry Drake has been doing at Northern Nash since he took over the Fighting Knights' boys basketball program 11 years ago.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. -- The Carolina Mudcats prevailed in the final game before the All-Star break beating the homestanding Fredericksburg Nationals 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
Carolina (50-34 overall, 9-10 second half) took a quick lead in the opening frame on a two-run smash by Yhoswar Garcia.

LOUISBURG 15-UNDER ALL-STARS / TAR HEEL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are a warm season crop that grows best at average air temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees.
The soil temperature at a 3-4 depth should be 60-65 degrees before the crop is planted. Melon seeds do not germinate well in cold soils.
Watermelon seeds can be planted directly in the garden or transplants can be grown for an early start. Seeds or transplants should be planted in rows that are spaced 6-8 feet apart and plants should be spaced 5-6 feet apart in the row. A good rule of thumb is to allow 24 square feet per plant.

RALEIGH -- The following Franklin County students were named to the Spring semester Dean's List at North Carolina State University:
Mira Rose Valentino, Walker Robert Carraway, Dayani Canales-San Agustin, Emma Hester (perfect 4.0 average), Paige Bailey Morrison (perfect 4.0 average), Galen Jeffrey Day, Christian Joseph DiLorenzo, Collin Glenn Daniel; Seth Reynolds Cockman (perfect 4.0 average), Kathryn Savannah Wilson, Spencer Wiseman;

GRADUATION DAY. Kid's Corner Childcare in Louisburg held their Pre-K graduation in May. Graduates, left to right, seated: Maria Fernanda Campos, Everleigh Spencer, Kade Bissett, and Alma Wolf; standing left to right: Jamison Ayscue, Louis Cheek, Frederick Elliott, and Paxton Wammock. Instructor Tina Holden proudly poses with her students.

ABC Adventures Preschool and Childcare held their graduation recently at the center. From left: Bella Ashworth, Angel Barba Escobar, Railyn Evans, Adelyn Abbott, Connor Allen, Ahri Meyers, Rayne Bowden, Dallas Loud, Bryan Mendoza Puga, Lauryn Parker, Jaquis Jackson, Aubre Seward, Bryson Davis, Grayson Abbott, Ian Mendoza, and Melanie Ortiz Rodriguez.

CASTALIA -- A man who led deputies on a chase on a tractor was treated for minor injuries sustained in the stop, authorities said.
According to authorities and published reports, just after 5 p.m. on July 11, a man attempted to get away from deputies using a tractor.
According to Franklin County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe, someone performed a pit maneuver to stop the tractor and it rolled onto its side.

DURHAM -- A Louisburg native was sworn in as Durham's newest school board member.
Wendell Tabb took the oath on July 1 as a new member of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education.
"My top priorities are school safety and security; mental health and wellness; teacher and staff retention, recruitment, and hiring; enhancing literacy skills based on grade level comprehension; and securing funding for new and renovated facilities with a focus on climate change," Tabb said

FRANKLINTON ­-- Town officials and staff are hosting a dedication ceremony for its upgraded Veterans Memorial Park.
The park offers folks an opportunity to have bricks engraved and dedicated to loved ones.
As more folks purchase new bricks to be engraved, they will be switched out with blank ones that have been laid as place holders.

LOUISBURG -- Two wrecks in Franklin County last month killed a Kittrell woman and a Castalia man.
Careless and reckless driving appeared to be the connecting factor in both, separate incidents.
According to a report by Trooper C.I. Hundley, Leonel Pedraza was driving a 2009 Honda north on U.S. 401 near E.F. Cottrell at just after 1:30 p.m. on June 22 when he crossed the center line.

RALEIGH -- Chris Franks of Youngsville will receive $50,000 each year for 20 years after he tried his luck in a second-chance drawing and won a $1 million top prize.
Franks found out he won the top prize in the July 3, $10 Million Spectacular Second Chance drawing when he got an email from the lottery.
There were more than 1.9 million entries in the drawing.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Police departments in Bunn, Louisburg and Youngsville are hosting National Night Out events in August.
Bunn and Louisburg are set to host their events on Aug. 6 Bunn's event is from 6-7:30 p.m. at Bunn Town Hall and the adjacent Bunn Community Park.
The event will feature food trucks, music, free bounce houses and kids activities, along with free backpacks while they last.
Louisburg's event is set from 6-8 p.m. at Joyner Park, 224 W. River Road, Louisburg.