Back in Franklin County's heyday of racing, the sport had two James "Chubby" Arringtons.

One was a regular driver, while the other turned out to be better known for the race cars he built and owned.

He's the "Chubby" who once owned Longwood Restaurant, now Fisherman's Galley, on Route 220 North.

Arrington drove race cars but built his reputation as a car builder/owner. He will now even admit to doing "a little haulin'" back in the day when "white lightning" was king.

Get him started and he can tell some tales that'll have listeners shaking their head in disbelief.

Twelve years ago, the largest celebration of reading ever seen in the United States was born.

Today, the annual celebration in the first week in March involves millions of teachers, students, librarians, politicians, parents and grandparents.

Teachers, students and parents in Franklin County as well as in cities and towns across the nation, participate in the event.

As part of the celebration, the fifth-graders at Lee M. Waid Elementary School came to the kindergarten classes and read them their favorite book.

Lee M. Waid students also held a parade and sang songs to celebrate reading.

Despite the nationwide slowdown in the housing market and construction during the past two years, Rocky Mount has five residential subdivisions that are in the planning and/or construction phase.

The largest is Oakes at Rakes Tavern, a proposed 249-unit development on the Lynch Farm property. The first phase of the development will have 30 housing units.

The other subdivisions that are in various stages of development include Hunter's Ridge, Landmark, Plateau and Stone Mill.

In the coming year, the town planning commission will work with the town staff to ensure that these residential developments develop in a manner that benefits the town, said Janet Stockton, chair of the commission.