Archives

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council passed a 2026-27 fiscal year budget during a special Tuesday evening session despite lingering questions about the town's financial situation.
The total budget totals $17,656,280 -- and includes a seven-cent (or 14 percent) property tax hike, beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1.
After the tax hike, the town's property tax rate will be 57 cents per $100 of valuation. The seven-cent hike will raise about $328,902, according to Town Administrator Sean Medlin, who presented the budget to the council.

LOUISBURG -- One of the most controversial proposed zoning changes in recent Louisburg history was again "punted" into the future during a special Tuesday evening meeting of the town council. That means the issue will again be discussed at the council's July 14 meeting.
Trabar Homes wants a 5.02 acre parcel rezoned so that it can construct a total of 68 townhomes on the property at 306 Sandalwood Avenue (behind Shannon Village Shopping Center).

Franklin County and its Triangle North Executive Airport hosted the sixth Triangle North Airfest on June 20, featuring an aerial display by Rooster Aerobatics that drew thousands to the airfield. Above, the event featured several feasts for the eyes and stomach as, above, a number of car enthusiasts showed off vehicles during a car show set up at the airport, just south of Louisburg.

LOUISBURG -- Attorneys for Franklin County have denied the most damning claims against it and filed crossclaims, alleging any courthouse demolition that damaged an adjacent business was the fault of the architect and demolition company, not them.
On April 13, Raleigh attorney Robert H. Jessup filed a lawsuit on behalf of Sean and Christine Kingsley, their Tar River Interiors business, their GK Innovations limited liability corporation and their Save Haven Rentals entity, alleging that county-directed demolition caused "substantial damage" to their adjoining business -- which the county condemned.

FRANKLINTON -- Like a lot of towns, Franklinton was established via a rail stop, growing now around a bustling downtown and expanding residential boundaries.
What it will be in 50 years is up for speculation.
But, American Legion Post 52 and town government plan to bury a time capsule on Friday, giving those future people a pretty good snapshot of what Franklinton was like in 2026.

Jaime & Douglas Walters and Connor at the Triangle North Airfest

The good news is that we got a little rainfall over the last few days -- but the bad news is that it was far less than what we need to get back to near normal.
But it's a start -- and hopefully more will be on the way sooner rather than later.
We'll see, and the long-range forecasts do offer us some hope -- but as we've all learned, forecasts don't always (or even often) translate into reality.
Keep your fingers crossed . . . and doing a little rain dance every so often can't hurt a bit.

... Or else, what?!?
In this line of business, I'm particularly keen about what it means to miss a mark or miss a deadline.
When I was still in school, I had a summer internship at Florida Today in Melbourne, Fla. It was a fantastic time to be working along the Space Coast because interns had the opportunity to cover shuttle launches.

As the Louisburg Town Council moves to vote on a proposed $17.5+ million budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year -- the actual drafted figure sits at exactly $17,562,308 -- much of the public debate has focused on missing data, fuzzy numbers, and controversial money transfers from our utility funds to the general fund.
But there is an even bigger, hidden risk that every taxpayer in Louisburg needs to know about right now.

Edmond C. Lamm died June 1, 2026. He was born January 25, 1944. No further details provided, per the request of the family.

Zebulon, NC -- Joel Worth Frazier, passed away on June 16, 2026, at the age of 60.

Kittrell, NC -- Margie P. Pendergrass, 85, of Kittrell, NC, passed away peacefully at her home on June 19, 2026 after a brief illness.

GARNER, NC -- Sheryl Marie Hunt, 73, of Garner, NC, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on June 17, 2026, at her residence.

George and Geraldine Manley celebrated 50 years of marriage on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at The Hilton Garden Inn in Raleigh.
Ms. Tanza Pettiford, the bride's niece, was the Mistress of Ceremony.
The bride was escorted in by her oldest grandson, George Walter Manley. Dr. Felecia Hardy, Commissioned Ruling Elder of St. Paul Presbyterian Church presided over the Blessing Service.

Adam and Jessica Easley, Matt Smith, Aiden Easley, Van Stringfellow, Logan Smith and Linden Stringfellow pose in front of a Aviat Husky that those in the know said once belonged to Alan Jackson.

Thousands lined the runway, getting a look at aerobatic planes.

The Cherry Hill Concert Series will present its annual Outstanding Young Artist concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 28. This year's performance will feature pianist Kyle Finley in a program of works by Beethoven, Scriabin and Chopin.
Finley, a student of Dr. Clara Young at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was recommended by his teacher for this unique event. Finley has studied piano for 14 years and is a recent graduate of UNC with double degrees in chemistry and music.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER. Ann Sheteiwy, of Youngsville, was recently awarded the 2026 Family and Consumer Science/Health Science scholarship from NC Cooperative Extension and North Carolina Extension & Community Association -- Franklin County. Ann graduated in May from Franklin County Early College High School with a high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. Dr. Ebony Brown, a Louisburg High School graduate and Maryland resident, graduated on May 14 from Liberty University School of Education, earning her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with a 3.7 GPA. She is the daughter of James and Doris Brown and the granddaughter of the late Percy and Eva Brown, and Earlie and Virgie Foster.

EPSOM -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a Franklin County man they allege set an inhabited house on fire.
Byron Tyrus Perry was arrested on June 18 and charged with second degree arson.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies allege the 34-year-old set fire to an inhabited home at 6289 U.S. 401 North. No injuries were reported in the June 17 fire.
Fire and emergency responders from in and outside of Franklin County responded to the fire which resulted in a total loss of the home.

LOUISBURG -- The deadline for response to the county's call for regional cooperation came and went this week.
It wasn't immediately clear what that would mean for the county's efforts to secure long-term water allocations from the Kerr Lake Regional Water Partnership.
In a May 21 letter, sent to the media, Henderson City Manager Paylor Spruill, Oxford City Manager Brent Taylor and Warren County Manager Crystal Smith, Franklin County Manager Ryan Preble asked those governmental managers to agree to one of two options:

LAKE ROYALE -- A former Lake Royale police officer is next slated to appear in court later this summer on obstruction charges related to lewd activity on the job.
Lake Royale Police Chief Robert Smith fired Samuel Marcum on June 10, alleging the officer engaged in lewd activity while on duty and tossed his body camera into the lake to avoid detection.
Following an internal affairs investigation, Lake Royale police arrested the 34-year-old, charging Marcum with felony obstruction of justice, misdemeanor injury to personal property and a misdemeanor charge of making a false report to police.

The 37th Annual Breakfast for M'Lady sponsored by the Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was held Saturday, May 30, at the Vance Granville Community College Civic Center in Henderson.
Breakfast for M'Lady is an annual event that honors womanhood and community service. This year's program featured the Oxford-Henderson Alumnae Voices of DSTinction Gospel Choir, Double Blessing Dance Ministry, catering by TruSoul Food, and a keynote address.