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LOUISBURG -- In what has become a routine late June action, the Franklin County Board of Education passed a "continuing budget" Tuesday night that will keep schools operating until the NC General Assembly can pass a new state budget.
The state -- and all local governments -- are supposed to have a new budget in place before the beginning of a new fiscal year on July 1 but for years the General Assembly has not met that deadline, leaving other government agencies scrambling.

Amber Kerley, foreground, rushed to pop bubbles as fast as Taylor Wallace, background, with Imagine Circus, could generate them. Franklinton's Independence Day Celebration featured food, fun, games and live music, getting a jump start on the country's 250th birthday.

LOUISBURG -- It wasn't that long ago that Chuck Odom had to drag his 11-year-old down the road to Owens Park for some fresh air and a round of disc golf.
Hundreds of rounds and two North Carolina Junior Disc Golf Championships, later ­-- the most recent at a championship-level course in Burlington last weekend -- it's now 16-year-old Levi Odom taking the lead, dragging his dad out to play courses all over the place.
Next week, Chuck and Jean Odom will travel to Pittsburgh to watch their son Levi compete against the best young players in the world at the Professional Disc Golf Association Junior Disc Golf World Championships.

As our nation approaches its 250th birthday, some will celebrate with fireworks, cookouts and maybe even watch something related to the American Revolution. However, many Americans will be hesitant to promote the holiday and ask themselves: What is our legacy, and how do we celebrate amid these troubling times?
To answer this, the history of the United States is, to put it bluntly, complicated. There will be people pushing the "tell me about the rabbits, George" narrative, which turns our past leaders into omnipotent demigods. Others will only depict them as vile men and seek to discredit their accomplishments. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Bill Hylander aka Ben Franklin at Franklinton's Fourth celebration

Sitting down to write this column, I had a stunning realization: The year 2026 is half gone and we're on that inevitable downhill slide to Christmas.
Somehow the second half of the year has always seemed to roll by faster than the first half -- to me at least.
And before we know it, we'll be talking about Christmas parades and tree lighting ceremonies just before the Big Guy from up North arrives to the delight of the kids -- kids of all ages!
The next big event, of course, is the Fourth of July which happens to be this coming Saturday so take time to get out and enjoy the festivities, especially the fireworks.

Watching Franklinton leaders drop a stainless steel box, the size of a mini fridge, into a relatively shallow grave made me think about legacy ... and mortality.
When you hit 50, you start to realize that, more than likely, there are more years behind you than ahead of you.
And, that probably means that when leaders open that time capsule 50 years from now -- a stainless steel, hopefully weather- and under-earth-proof box full of things meant to tell the story of 2026 Franklinton 50 years from now -- I either won't be here or won't be in too great a shape to fully appreciate the experience.
That is, unless in a Jetsons future, my brain is transferred into a cyborg. Then, all bets are off.

Dear editor: For the past three weeks, the residents of Louisburg have read a series of columns in this newspaper examining our town's finances. I have read every one of them. I want to begin not with a rebuttal, but with a thank-you to their author, Ray Stapf, and to every resident who has taken the time to study a municipal budget and ask hard questions about how their money is spent. I would far rather lead a town that argues about its budget than one that ignores it. Engaged, even skeptical, residents are not a problem to be managed; they are the lifeblood of a self-governing community.

Dear editor: A wise newspaper editor once said political parties (in power) spend money just in different ways.
This Republican administration:
•White House Golden Ballroom - estimate $600 million (half from taxpayers)
•Independence Golden Arch - est. $100-400 million.
•UFC event at the White House - Security & Logistics - $10-$12 million.

Dear editor: I just read your article on Louisburg Budget that includes raising property taxes.
I'm just wondering when 2027 Fiscal Year comes with Counties,Towns and Cities not being able to raise property taxes.
What overall effect would that have on counties, towns and cities budgets in North Carolina?

Raleigh, NC -- Funeral services for Beverly Ann Witherspoon, who died on Thursday, June 25, 2026, will be held on Friday, July 3, at 2 p.m. from the Christ Holiness Church No. 1 in Wake Forest, NC. Bishop Harvey Dewberry, officiating.

Franklinton, NC -- Bobbie Jean O'Neal, age 85, of Franklinton, passed away on June 23, 2026. She was born on November 21, 1940, in Franklin County, NC.

Louisburg, NC -- Memorial services for Gary D. Tharrington Jr., age 36, who died on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, will be held on Friday, July 3, at 12 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Manakin Sabot, VA -- Margaret Mashburn Hill, age 83 of Manakin Sabot, VA, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2026. She was predeceased by her husband, Jimmy Hill; parents, Arland and Ella Mashburn; sister and brother-in- law, Arlene and Ray Hodges; and granddaughter, Scarlett Hill. Margaret was dedicated to her God, family, and friends.

Macon, NC -- Funeral services for Mattie B. Richardson, age 78, who died on Monday, June 22, 2026, were held Monday, June 29, at 2 p.m. from the St. Paul Baptist Church in Warrenton, NC.

Warrenton, NC -- Funeral services for Willie Richardson, who died on Thursday, June 25, 2026, were held on Wednesday, July 1, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC. Pastor Spencer Richardson, officiating.

Visitors in and around the Franklinton High School football field were treated to a fireworks display that set the nighttime sky ablaze last Saturday.

Ben Sloan with Imagine Circus in Raleigh was quite the spectacle, working his way around the football field and festive grounds on stilts. Visitors were treated to live music, fun, food and games during the Independence Day celebration. Franklin County and the community of Alert have festivities set for this Saturday. (Times photos by Carey Johnson)

100 YEARS YOUNG! Franklinton resident Violet Garrett turns 100 today, July 2, 2026. Violet was born July 2, 1926 in Bungay, England. During World War II Violet met James (Bill) Garrett and they were married on March 3, 1945. On April 24, 1946, they relocated to the United States and settled in Franklinton, NC. Violet and Bill were blessed with four children, eight grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Violet was an employee of Burlington Mills until she and Bill opened Garrett's Grocery, which they ran until they retired.

FRANKLINTON -- Inside 31-by-23-by-11-inch stainless steel box, the community buried pieces of life that tell the story of the town in 2026.
When the time capsule is opened in 2076, the community and its leaders hope those items served as the building blocks of a thriving community in 50 years.
"... For those who open this capsule 50 years from now, we hope these contents remind you of where Franklinton was in 2026, and inspires you to continue building an even stronger community for generations to come," Mayor Art Wright said during the June 26 ceremony, before officials, the community and town staff buried the capsule at town hall and topped it with a memorial marker.

LOUISBURG -- Traffic and parking patterns will be impacted for a couple of weeks, starting Monday, as underground utility work begins in connection with courthouse renovations.
According to Franklin County management, a new underground fiber line is being installed between the Franklin County Courthouse and the Courthouse Annex -- which straddle opposite sides of Main Street.

LOUISBURG -- The case against a Wake Forest man accused of killing his seven-week-old child has been declared exceptional -- an effort to make efficient a case with many moving parts.
Patrick Rayvon Jordan will not face the death penalty.
Authorities arrested Jordan in April 2025, alleging the 25-year-old seriously injured and killed Chozen Jordan in January 2024.

BUNN -- Town commissioners adopted ordinances that will keep folks from possessing weapons or consuming alcohol on town properties.
First, the board adopted an ordinance that keeps people from possessing or consuming alcohol on town property, including streets and sidewalks of the town.
Apparently, there was a provision that might have allowed food trucks to sell alcohol, but it was ultimately removed from the ordinance.
"... If we can't have a family-fun time without having alcohol," Mayor Marsha Strawbridge said during the board's June 29 meeting, "maybe we shouldn't have them ..."

WAKE FOREST -- Amateur radio operators spent last weekend sending signals and messages around the world, testing a set of skills that could be invaluable in an emergency.
Members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club set up at a home near the Franklin/Wake County line, taking in the American Radio Relay League Field Day -- where Hams from across North America establish temporary radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service.