HENDERSON -- Franklin County residents were among the 151 Vance-Granville Community College students who earned President's List academic honors and another 83 who earned Dean's List academic honors during the spring 2025 semester, which ended in May.
The President's List recognizes students who achieved a perfect 4.0 quality point average while carrying a full load (12 credit hours or more) in 100-level or higher courses leading to a diploma or degree.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Town Council adopted a $16,761,895 budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year last Thursday evening following a public hearing during which no members of the public spoke.
The budget was developed over three prior budget meetings and formally presented to the public just days before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
The approval came on a 4-to-2 vote with members Tom Clancy and Silke Stein voting no. (Council member Betty Wright was absent.)

LOUISBURG -- The General Assembly adopted a law late last month that changes the election process for Louisburg's mayor.
House Bill 183, which became session law on June 26, requires that if more than two people run for mayor, the top candidate has to secure more than 50 percent of the vote or face the possibility of a runoff. It does not affect any other office in Franklin County.
If only two candidates run, their election would be like any other town office race -- the highest vote getter wins and the second highest vote getter can request a recount, but not a runoff.

FIRE IN THE SKY. Above, Chase Sorrell, Lily Ann and Kevin Saucier, Asher Gaddy, and Brooks Wise helped dozens of folks unfurl a giant American flag during the festivities on and around the Franklinton Middle School football field.

LOUISBURG -- After getting some clarity, Louisburg officials agreed to expand a zoning district that makes the county's judicial complex project possible.
The June 27 decision doesn't include a building that fronts the location, but that's a decision for a later day between the county and the property owner, town officials noted.

LOUISBURG -- A second former Louisburg firefighter has filed a lawsuit against the town, alleging its town administrator is guilty of wrongful termination.
Raleigh attorney Taylor Rosbrook filed a complaint in Franklin County Civil Superior Court on June 26, alleging the town and its administrator, Sean Medlin, were guilty of wrongfully terminating Jeremy Henthorn in retaliation for his complaints against the department, opposition to workplace misconduct and his continued association with former chief, Randy Lanham.

Sammi Rose & Elaina Gaddy

ZEBULON -- A Wake Forest resident was killed in a single vehicle wreck near the Wake County line.
According to a report by Trooper C.E. Thao, Percell Jeffreys Jr. was traveling along Pearces Road around 10 p.m. when the vehicle he was driving ran off the road to the left and hit a tree.
Jeffreys, 40, was the only person in the vehicle and died from his injuries.

HENDERSON -- A woman was transported by helicopter following an all-terrain vehicle accident on Tuesday afternoon.
According to broadcastify police scanner traffic and Franklin County Emergency Management, a woman and three juveniles were riding together on an ATV in a field in the 6000 block of U.S. 401 when the vehicle rolled over at about 3:30 p.m.
The kids sustained minor injuries, said Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe.

Whew, for a moment there I was having a hard time convincing myself that this column was going to publish in July!
Granted, the calendar was perfectly clear about the date but my heat-addled brain just wasn't buying it.
At least there are five Thursdays this month so maybe I can catch up before the calendar flips again.
It's just difficult to comprehend that half the year is gone -- and we'll be talking about the big holiday season in no time.

Spoiler alert: I'm approaching my mid 50s.
I've been covering some form of local, state and federal government for more than half of my life.
It's very seldom that something takes me aback.
But, a most recent development involving the town of Louisburg's mayoral election process has done just that.

FOURTH. Above, dozens unfurl the American flag during Joe Cutchins' singing of the National Anthem.

Fireworks proved to be the star of the night

Above, Breyannah Caseres and Angel Ortiz enjoyed the Phoebes' performance.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County Schools appointed Jacquail Green as the new principal of Royal Elementary School.
Green has more than a decade of experience in education and leadership.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Royal Elementary School community," said Green. "Together, we will create a nurturing and high-performing environment where students are inspired to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Timmy M. Webb, Sr., age 56, who died on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. from the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Louisburg with Pastor Stanley Dunston officiating.

HENDERSON -- Floyd Collins, 86, of Henderson died Wednesday, June 25, at his home.

KITTRELL, NC -- Ethel Arrington Hedgepeth, 93, of 249 General Green Road, Kittrell, NC died in the early morning hours of Friday, June 27, 2025, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Anethia Delphine Phelps Collins, 93, of Franklinton, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Anethia, a leap-year baby, was born on February 29, 1932, in Franklin County to the late Garland and Louise Debnam Phelps.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Jimmie Arnold Medlin, 84, of Louisburg, passed away Tuesday night surrounded by his family.

LOUISBURG -- The Terrell Lane Middle School Tornadoes captured its first conference tournament title, besting Cedar Creek in a rubber match between the softball squads.
Terrell Lane and the Jaguars squared off on May 19 -- the third tussle between the MAC-10 squads who split in the regular season.
But this was for the conference title.

Alma Morales

BUNN -- The Bunn High School girls' wrestling team secured their second consecutive Big East Conference championship, underscoring their dominance in the league.
Individual wrestlers have also shined, particularly Alma Morales, who is the first woman from Franklin County to commit to college for wrestling -- signing with Hiram College in Ohio.

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