Recent Articles

LOUISBURG, NC -- William Lawrence "Bill" Hight, 76, of Louisburg, passed away on Friday, March 29, surrounded by those who loved him at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh following a brief illness.

Louisburg, NC--Rachel Harris House, 85, of Louisburg, NC went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 2, 2024. She was born on October 16, 1938, in Franklin County, NC.

Belmont, NC -- We are saddened to announce the passing of Deborah (Debbie) Mitchell Podger, 75, of Franklinton, North Carolina, on March 26, 2024, after an extended health battle.

Elizabeth City, NC --Margaret Gilliam Turner, born Margaret Eleanor Alley, and also known as "Bug" of Elizabeth City, NC, and previously of Louisburg, NC passed away Sunday morning, March 31, 2024.

It's hard to believe that Sunday will be Easter Sunday and next Monday will be April Fool's Day!
Apparently all the windy days we've had recently just blew parts of March away and suddenly here we are looking at a fresh month, warming weather, trees, shrubs and some flowers shaking off the winter and any day the hummingbirds should be returning.
All that's fine by me -- as if any of us have any say in the matter -- but my how time flies!

LOUISBURG -- High ranking staff with the State Department of Transportation presented commissioners with an update on local projects.
Commissioners focused on the S-Line project, as well as the best ways to help Youngsville secure a downtown bypass.
State Division Five Engineer Brandon Jones made the presentation, highlighting Franklin County projects that appear on the 2024-2033 State Transportation Improvement Program.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County's bid to build an emergency radio tower in Bunn at the high school has one more hurdle to clear.
Earlier this month, Bunn commissioners amended its zoning to allow emergency radio towers to be built on county-owned property as a right within the C-1 district, as long as some other criteria is met, such as lot size and distance from residential property.

EASTER SMILES. The Easter bunny was a hit during the Bunn Spring Fling Easter egg hunt. (Above) Cooper Lankshear, Jase Lankshear and Charlie Fran Lankshear with the Easter bunny.

Paxton Hoppins, right, navigates an inflatable obstacle course at Youngsville's Easter event.

LOUISBURG -- At its most recent animal services advisory board meeting, members agreed to explore the cost to spay and neuter every animal that finds its way into the shelter.
During the county Board of Commissioners meeting a week later -- March 18 -- Commissioner David Bunn tasked county management with following through.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County continues its efforts to bolster pickleball opportunities.
During the board's most recent meeting, leaders were urged not to leave other recreational opportunities on the sidelines.
"... My question to you guys is: What are you going to do next?" Louisburg resident Ryan Wegener asked commissioners during the public comment portion of their March 18 meeting.

FRANKLINTON -- Commissioners agreed to petition the state to reduce the speed limit on one of the town's side streets.
Officials and residents who live along S. Chavis Street hope the move is a life-saver.
Since at least 2021, residents have expressed concerns about speeding along S. Chavis Street, a narrow two-lane road off of Mason Street/N.C. 56.
Those concerns have increased as more development has been approved for that corridor.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County stuck close to home, hiring a Louisburg native as its staff attorney.
Cooper Bolton will assume his duties on April 1.
"I am excited to join the dedicated team at Franklin County to assist with legal matters and do my part to improve the community where I grew up," Bolton said in a press release.

LOUISBURG -- Franklin County has its next parks and recreation director.
KP Kilpatrick, who has nearly two decades experience with athletics and recreation management will assume the post on April 1.
"I can't wait to get started here in Franklin County to be a part of the great things going on in the Parks and Recreation Department," Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick comes to Franklin County from Wake Forest, where he has served as athletic program specialist since 2018.

If you read last week's edition, and, if you're here now, I assume you did, you know that I promised a lot of news in this edition.
Well, I spent several days pouring through my notes to cash a check that my big mouth wrote.
It's all here, including an update on the back and forth, but this time, not so contentious, emergency radio tower in Bunn.
To be honest, I've never heard about a single property having two different zoning requirements, but apparently that's the issue at the Bunn High School site.

Dear editor: In these days of division, name calling, and hatred spewed from all manner of media, it is wise to remember what is important in this week before the unthinkable brutality of the crucifixion.

North Carolina State Senator Lisa Barnes, wife of Barnes Farming president Johnny Barnes, has asked for a clarification involving a recent news story that ran in The Franklin Times.
The story, which was published in the March 21, 2024 edition, reported that Barnes Farming of Spring Hope was the subject of a North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) probe after the death of seasonal worker Jose Arturo Gonzalez Mendoza last September.

It was a busy weekend in Franklin County with several Easter egg hunts. Above, Easter egg hunters take off at the beginning of the Bunn Easter egg hunt.

Bunn cornhole participants Easton Herd (left) and Peyton Blackwell have fun.

Above, Joyce Mangrum helps her niece Stephanie Williams hunt for eggs in Franklinton.

Katie Warren holds up a prize after the Easter egg hunt in Bunn while her Mom, Kimberly Warren, holds six month old Luke.

YPD Administrative Specialist Tanya Cash provides fun for Grayson Poole and Elianna Musser while Lindsay Poole looks on.

YOUNGSVILLE -- When new officers complete the department's field training program, they are tasked with presenting a new program to bolster community service.
If town commissioners follow through on Officer Drew Cox's proposal, the department would have an eye in the sky.
Cox's project would provide the department with two unmanned aerial vehicles -- drones -- to aid in law enforcement efforts.