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LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Democratic Party, in a formal statement, has strongly condemned House Bill 183, which changes the way Louisburg elects it mayor.
The local Democrats also called on the General Assembly to repeal the bill -- and urged the Franklin County Republican Party to question "outside interference" in local elections.

LOUISBURG -- The deadline for candidates to file for municipal offices ends Friday.
But, already, voters in Louisburg, Franklinton and Youngsville are assured of contested races -- even though some incumbents had not yet filed for re-election by press time.
The race for mayor in Louisburg will already test one tenet of the new election process -- apparently approved by clandestine legislative means.

In previous articles there have been mentions of the Louisburg Fire Department's formation, equipment, artifacts and the chiefs.
There was one article about the formation of the Louisburg Rescue Squad, and a bit of its history.
This article will reveal a little history of two of the squad's early, and important, pieces of equipment, both unique.
The ambulance and the equipment panel truck were obviously necessary apparatus for the operation of the squad.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton commissioners agreed to remove a handful of properties from its primary fire district -- a move that loosens some restrictions on construction and renovation.
By approving the consent agenda, the board removed 5, 7 and 9 S. Main Street, 101 E. Green Street, and 103 and 105 E. Mason Street from its primary fire district.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has put in utilities and laid a new road they hope expands Triangle North Franklin Business Park.
They have scheduled a ribbon cutting at the end of the month to celebrate the achievement.
"... This marks a significant step forward in the park's continued development," said Franklin County Economic Development Director Barbara Fiedor.

Travis Benton and his best bud, Boston Baked Beans Ranger Benton

The controversy swirling around state lawmakers' attempts to rewrite Louisburg's voting regulations -- and control the outcomes -- has been a hot item of discussion recently, none of it complimentary of the folks in Raleigh.
The issues might seem complex and confusing but two Louisburg town council members explained the situation in very simple terms -- so simply everyone (even I!) can understand.

The filing period for 2025's municipal elections ends Friday.
Certainly, this year's Louisburg mayor's race will be historic because of the meddling General Assembly -- a topic I suspect you've read about somewhere in this paper already.
Beyond that one race, though, there's already been a flurry of folks aiming to run town hall.

Dear editor: After House Bill 183 was passed in a manner I consider inappropriate, and since its contents will impact all of Louisburg, I believe the bill should have been addressed at an appropriate time so that those who it will affect would have had the chance to voice their opinions.
While there is communication that addresses the reason for this bill being passed, that reasoning appears to be unorthodox, and there appears to be elements of racism at the root of its purpose.

Dear editor: Regarding the two lawsuits from the fire department here in Louisburg, as the saying goes, "there are two sides to every story.
In The Franklin Times, the firemens' stories and complaints are told but I have not heard the town's side of the matter.
I hope the town follows the full due process and does not settle so that the truth comes out. So that everyone in Louisburg will be able to hear the other side of the story.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Fonda Lee Miller, 70, of Louisburg passed away at her home on July 10, 2025. Fonda was born on July 12, 1954 in Bismark, ND to the late Anton and Pauline Miller.

FIELD DAY. Members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club set up temporary ham radio stations near the Franklin/Wake county line, taking part in the group's annual Field Day event on June 28-29. The National Association for Amateur Radio event is an opportunity to set up equipment and test their ability to communicate across the country -- testing their skills in case they're needed in an emergency. Above, Wes Dunbar and Brett Marlowe test their mettle.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town commissioners took action to lower the speed limit on a state-maintained street.
The speed limit on N. Nassau Street will drop from 35 mph to 25 mph once the state adopts a concurring ordinance and new speed limit signs are erected.
"This was brought up a couple different times and we've got some citizens in that area that are concerned with people not observing the speed limit, and obviously it's a safety concern for them and their families," Mayor Fonzie Flowers said during the July 10 meeting, prior to the board's action.

LOUISBURG -- A trio of Louisburg residents are slated to appear in court next month on assault, gun and drug charges stemming from a graduation night arrest.
According to court reports and Louisburg Police Chief Travis Lincoln, three men and two juveniles apparently tracked an 18-year-old from Louisburg Magnet High's Patterson Field to Allen Lane, assaulting him the evening of June 11.
According to the incident report, the assault took place right around the end of Louisburg Magnet High School's graduation.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklinton police arrested a South Hill, Va., man they allege led officers on a chase.
Zacchaeus K. Tuck, 19, was charged with reckless driving to endanger, speeding, failure to yield for flashing red lights, failing to wear his seat belt and having no insurance.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's Animal Services Advisory Board is expected to put final touches on standard operating procedures at the shelter, and weigh in on a consultant's operational assessment of the shelter.
Both were topics of discussion during the board's June 30 meeting.
In April, ASAB Board member Lawanna Johnson was tasked with crafting an updated policy manual for the shelter.