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Cooperative Extension Director and Governor's Volunteer Service Award Coordinator Charles Mitchell, back left, with Governor's Volunteer Service Award winners Rachelle Deats, Patricia Adams [also a Governor's Medallion Award for Volunteer Service winner], Zack Myers, Silvia Kramar, DJ Faircloth, Perry Faulkner, Caleb Oldham, Haley Glick, and Commissioners David Bunn, Roxanne Bragg, Stuart May, Harry Foy, Mark Speed and Michael Schriver, and County Manager Ryan Preble. Not pictured is Earl Oldham, who is part of the Louisburg Baptist Church Ramp Ministry.

PLANET POWER. Franklin County, the United Way, Novonesis and a host of other partners combined to host Franklinton Middle School students for Earth Day at Franklinton Park on Tuesday. All three combined to transform the park into a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) site and students spent time at seven different stations, learning about items ranging from biosolutions to careers in STEM. Above, Donna Nguyen, Renata Hyczy and Dee Sanders talk with students about Novenesis techniques.

Now that Easter is a few days behind us, I trust that everyone -- except maybe some of the kids who reaped a huge harvest at egg hunts -- is coming down off their sugar high!
This year, even more than most, there seemed to be an abundance of Easter egg hunts -- and the youngsters had a ball. I'd love to know just how much candy was distributed but I'd bet the total would be astounding!

Fictional Jerry Seinfeld once famously said: 'Boy, I miss the days they made toys that could kill a kid.'
I don't always need a reason to quote "Seinfeld," and this one is a bit of a stretch, but bear with me.
When I was a kid, they made cartoons that, well, maybe they didn't kill a kid, but they made every kid want to run outside, grab a stick, pretend it was the Sword of Omens, He-Man's Power Sword, a Star Wars lightsaber or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle nunchucks and whack their friends upside the head with them.

Dear editor: As a breast cancer survivor, I'm aware more than most of how important it is to have a strong healthcare program like Medicare Advantage (MA) supporting us in times of medical crisis.
Our leaders must ensure Medicare Advantage remains a stable healthcare option for North Carolina's seniors.

Dear editor: I am writing to express a growing concern shared by many families and residents of Franklin County: the absence of a public community pool and a full-service community center.
Do you all remember the Strategic Plan document from 2020? This was a plan supported and published by many of the same individuals now sitting on our county commission. Yet five years later, our community is still waiting for meaningful action.

Dear editor: In recent editions of The Franklin Times, the topic of a public pool and community center has come up once again. I am 56 years old, and for as long as I can remember, this has been a recurring conversation--something the public has long supported and advocated for, yet it has never become a reality.
Neighboring counties like Vance have managed to fund and build an aquatic/community center, and many Franklin County residents now travel there to use their facilities.

Dear editor: When I was in high school and had my first job with Social Security withheld from my pay envelope, politicians were predicting that Social Security would be eliminated. I was upset that this money was taken out and the program would be over before my retirement.
That was in the 1960s and I have grown weary of one party or the other providing scare tactics for political gain.
Elon Musk was correct when he said that the program is a Ponzi scheme.

This Saturday, more than 50 local teens ages 12 to 18 years of age will be participating in the 37th annual Global Youth Service Day.
Through a variety of local projects designed to help those in need, these youth are determined to make a difference in local communities and have fun while doing it.
"I'm excited for the Global Youth Day of Service," said Sarah Reynolds age 15.

HENDERSON, NC -- Vance-Granville Community College has named Tom Barkin to deliver the keynote address at its 56th annual commencement ceremony.
Barkin has been the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond since 2018.
He serves on the Fed's chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee, and is also responsible for the Richmond Fed's bank supervision and the Federal Reserve's technology organization.

Thankfully, that Spider-Man face, complete with a spider, is just a painting -- and the model is Rosali Westermann. She was visiting the Art Stroll in downtown Louisburg last weekend and became a participant in addition to a visitor.

Gamma Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is planning its 4th annual Community HBC/D9 Golf Tournament, that will be held Saturday, April 26, at the Kerr Lake Country Club.
This year's event promises an inclusive and enjoyable day for golfers of all skill levels while supporting meaningful community initiatives, organizers said.
Billed as the Ten Ten Tournament, this year's highlight features a $10,000 Hole-In-One prize and a $10,000 Putting Contest.

April is peak asparagus season! It's also one of the first spring vegetables to be ready for harvest.
Asparagus is crisp and tender when cooked and is easy to grill at family cookouts thanks to its long and sturdy shape.
Generally, thinner spears are more delicate and tender; thicker spears have stronger flavor and hearty texture.
Thicker spears can be sliced on the diagonal into smaller pieces to cook more quickly. This popular vegetable comes in green, white, and purple colors.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Pastor Jordan Herman Wilkins, age 79, who died on Friday, April 18, 2025, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg with Rev. Timothy Johnson officiating.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for James "Pee Wee" Stukes, age 59, who died on Sunday, April 20, 2025, will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Haywood Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Chuck Lane Finch, 49, of Louisburg, passed away Thursday at Rex Hospital.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Herman Sneed, 60, of Franklinton, was born on Oct. 28, 1964 in Franklinton, NC to the late Oliver Sneed, Sr. and Edna Hockaday Sneed. Herman departed this life on March 24, 2025.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Franklinton and Bunn bid a fond farewell to the Big East Conference with respectable campaigns this winter in boys basketball.
The two county schools will be moving out of the Big East following this school year as mandated by the latest realignment from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
FHS and Bunn will no longer be together -- at least for the next four years -- though the Wildcats will be reunited with Louisburg in a new conference.

LOUISBURG -- The Franklin County Board of Education agreed Monday night to ask county commissioners for a total of $34,715,855 to operate the schools from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
As usual, the budget request is broken into two categories: Current expense and Capital Expenditures.
Last year, as the schools were lobbying for money to continue their longevity bonuses to retain staff, school officials made a deal that they would not increase their current expense request this year -- and the proposed budget unveiled Monday night reaches that goal.

FRANKLINTON -- With three actions Tuesday, commissioners cleared the way for a 609-acre residential and mixed use development that could -- upon build out -- nearly triple the size of the town.
And, they were gifted a more than half a million dollar, 1840s home property, 32 acres and a pond for their troubles.
Minus the home and 32 acres, Triple B Ranch and Farm proposes to use about 577 acres -- split over 6 parcels -- to develop 3,480 residential units.

Spring, which also brings Easter, is a fun time, especially for the younger set. As usual this year, there were Easter egg hunts all around the delight of youngsters.
In the photo above, Leona (left) and Donovan Nguyen really got into the Easter Bunny spirt at Youngsville's Easter egg hunt last Saturday.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Town officials and residents were given their first look a budget that proposes to drop the tax rate by a penny, while continuing the town's efforts to expedite the Youngsville bypass.
Town Manager Nathan Page presented to commissioners and the public his proposal for a $6 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
Last year, commissioners approved a budget that raised the town's tax levy 10 cents per $100 of valuation higher than the revenue neutral rate to cover capital projects, primarily the town's continued efforts to speed up design and construction of a bypass.

It is obvious that "Maude: The Grand Old Lady" of the Louisburg Fire Department is the centerpiece of the Fire, Police, and Rescue Museum.
The museum would probably not exist today without the return of "Maude" to her home and her complete restoration.
However, there are numerous other items in the museum that are very interesting, unusual, and some are rare.
Although the majority of the items were owned and used by the Louisburg Fire Department, quite a few of the items were donated or are on loan from past members families and local citizens.