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LOUISBURG -- No entity has approached Franklin County about building a data center, here, but county commissioners amended its ordinance to limit where they can go and mitigate their impacts if and when that day comes.
Up until Monday's decision, the county's Unified Development Ordinance did not define established standards or review processes for data centers or cryptocurrency mining operations.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Commissioners approved three actions, all of which help move along their bypass project.
The biggest was agreeing to the terms necessary to accept $9.3 million in federal funds to build the Cedar Creek straightening portion of the bypass.
The agreement requires a $2.3 million match from the town -- expected to be covered by funding made available, through the county, from State Rep. Matthew Winslow.

LOUISBURG -- Next week, two Franklin County teens will test their rodeo skills against the best high school cowgirls in the country.
It's a level of competition that Payton Frizzelle and Presley Gibbs have been preparing for since birth.
In Presley's case, even before.
"My parents rodeoed even before I was born, and my mom actually barrel raced when she was pregnant with me," Presley said of her mother, Jennifer Gibbs, who, with her husband, Randy, operates Flying G Farm and Arena north of Louisburg.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Taiching City, Taiwan is essentially a world away from Youngsville town hall.
But, last week, as Youngsville officials recognized the 10U Girls Softball Team that finished as runner ups in the Tar Heel All-Star Tournament, those youngsters reminded Commissioner Joe Johnson that the best dreams and biggest journeys start at home.
His son, NC State outfielder Rett Johnson, coming off a phenomenal freshman campaign, was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team -- which competed in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taiwan.

LOUISBURG -- A compromise agreement that has been a year in the making was approved by the Louisburg town council Tuesday night, clearing the way for a 60-unit townhouse building that was strongly opposed by its future neighbors.
The zoning change, from R-2 to a Planned Development will permit townhouses to be built on the 5.2-acre site surrounded by single family homes.
The project surfaced a year ago when Trabar Homes asked that the site be rezoned so that it could construct 68 townhomes on the property at 306 Sandalwood Avenue (behind Shannon Village Shopping Center).

Franklinton Town Manager Zach Steffey

Finally, the rains came.
Probably not enough to pull us out of the drought, but enough to green-up lawns, fields and give farm crops a fighting chance to produce this year.
Out our way in Mapleville, we got nearly 3.5 inches of rain over the weekend as several thunderstorms rolled through, each contributing to the total.
Fortunately, the storms which looked nasty on approach, didn't feature much lightning and had very minor winds so, as far as I know, there were no major problems.

Once you reach a certain age and, quite frankly, well before that, you should never take your physical health for granted.
Tests, checkups and routine maintenance should certainly be part of the everyone's game plan when dealing with their health, or else, your 'check engine' light will start flashing and it won't be much that a mechanic, sorry, I mean doctor, can do for you.
The same is surely true for mental health, but I'd be lying if I told you I'm as conventionally diligent about my mental health as I am physical health.

Dear editor: This is why I enjoy a good community newspaper. Upon receiving my July 9, 2026 Franklin Times newspaper, on the front page, I noted a great photograph of a family/ group of friends observing a local Fourth of July fireworks display while on the right hand side of the front page I see the article titled "He's golden!"
Both articles brought a smile to my face. So much of the news that we see or read today is conflicting.

Louisburg, NC -- Bruce Jackson "B.J." Howard Jr., 88, of Louisburg, passed away Tuesday morning, July 7, 2026 at Duke Raleigh Hospital.

Louisburg, NC -- Joyce A. Hathaway Martin, 62, of Louisburg, passed away on Sunday night, July 12, 2026, at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh.

Franklinton, NC -- Onda Frank Kearney, 80, of Franklinton, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 2, 1946 to the late Onda S. and Susie Hart Kearney in Franklin County, NC.

Castalia, NC -- Funeral services for Shirley Diane Richardson, age 71, who died on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, were held on Wednesday, July 15, at 2 p.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg, NC.

Mayor Fonzie Flowers, back row, center, and the Youngsville Board of Commissioners recognized the 10U softball team, which finished as the runner up in the Tar Heel All-Star Tournament last month. The team, in no particular order, includes Sawyer Batts, Joules Bowyer, Nataleigh Davis, Eleanor Kiser, Kallie Linder, Kinley Price, Charli Rowland, Jaina Schumitta, Chloe Smith, Ryleigh Hurt, Layton Batts, Madison Mitchell and Charlotte Taylor. They were coached by Wally Batts, Chad Helms, Anna Schumitta and Mason Hurt. The town's Parks and Recreation staff also posted about the squad on it social media outlets:

SMITHFIELD -- A Bunn High graduate received a scholarship from a professional agriculture organization.
The North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents Association tabbed four students, including Christopher Mitchell, as 2026 Youth Scholarship Award recipients.
The $1,000 scholarship is presented to students of members or life members with the organization who exhibit excellence in leadership and community service.

LOUISBURG -- The legal battle between a former fire chief and the leaders who fired him remains pending in federal court. Randy Lanham's wrongful termination case against Louisburg, its mayor and town administrator could be settled out of court.
In May 2025, Raleigh attorney Taylor C. Rosbrook filed a complaint on behalf of Randy Lanham in Franklin County Superior Court, alleging, among other things:
• Lanham's November 2024 termination was retaliation for calling out Mayor Christopher Neal and Town Administrator Sean Medlin for not properly acknowledging the passing of long-time fireman and town supervisor, Ray Patterson;

The National Association of Home Builders announced that it has named Franklin County Home Builders Association as a Grand Award winner as part of the 2025 Annual Membership Awards.
Of all HBAs in its size category, Franklin County Home Builders Association recruited the most new affiliate members in 2025.
"This award is a testament to the relationships we've built and the momentum our association has created over the past year.

LOUISBURG -- The State Highway Patrol continues to look for the suspect in a fatal hit and run, but they have identified the deceased.
According to investigators, Jonathan Ramirez, 29, died as a result of injuries sustained during the early morning incident on July 5.
According to investigators, Ramirez was apparently laying in the roadway in front of house in teh 100 block of MC Wilder Road around 4:45 a.m. when he was hit.
The driver of the vehicle didn't stop and wait for authorities.