Franklin County Citizen Leader, Lavonia, Georgia

A retirement party will be held Feb. 16 from 2-4 p.m. for Rosie Chitwood at the Royston Public Library.

Reception Saturday for retired librarian Chitwood

ROYSTON – Patrons of the Royston Public Library may have noticed a familiar face is missing. That’s because after more than 20 years on the job, Branch Manager Rosie Chitwood has retired. Rosie”s career at the Royston Public Library began April...

FCHS graduate Nekita Beasley Eppes (left) speaks during the University of Florida’s Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony held in November. (Photo courtesy of the University of Florida)

Lion track star inducted into Florida Gators Hall of Fame

Nekita Beasley Eppes’ name has been recorded with honor from Carnesville to Atlanta to New Orleans, La. And now it has been exalted even higher in Gainesville, Fla. Eppes was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame back in...

Farmers urge Royston to extend natural gas to Red Hill

ROYSTON – A group of poultry farmers, led by Franklin County Commission Chairman Thomas Bridges, asked the Royston City Council Tuesday for natural gas service to Red Hill. Farmers who attended the meeting said that natural gas is about half the...

Guilty plea, testimony nets life with parole in murder case

CARNESVILLE – Kristen Odister pleaded guilty Tuesday to the murder of Lavonia businessman Samuel Harbin. Odister appeared before Superior Court Judge Lauren Watson Tuesday afternoon for a plea and sentencing hearing. Odister was arrested in August...

Members of the Franklin County Board of Education – (from left) Randall Gailey, Eric Burrell, Jo Beth James, Robin Cato and Alan Mitchell – met Saturday to discuss the search process for the system’s next school superintendent.

BOE works on ad for next school superintendent

CARNESVILLE – The search for the next Franklin County Schools superintendent will be in full swing soon. Saturday morning, the Franklin County Board of Education met with Dr. Sam King, director of the superintendent search team with Georgia School...

Super Bowl-bound fan dies in car fire

LAVONIA – What should have been an enjoyable weekend trip to the Super Bowl for a North Carolina family ended in tragedy. Ed Cushman, a 39-year-old Shelby, N.C., man, died Saturday when the minivan he was traveling in caught fire. Cushman and his...

News for Subscribers

Chitwood retires from library after 20 years

ROYSTON – Patrons of the Royston Public Library may have noticed a familiar face is missing.

By Kandice S. Eberhardt

Former Lion a Gator Hall of Famer

Nekita Beasley Eppes’ name has been recorded with honor from Carnesville to Atlanta to New Orleans, La.

And now it has been exalted even higher in Gainesville, Fla.

By Shane Scoggins

Red Hill farmers ask for gas

ROYSTON – A group of poultry farmers, led by Franklin County Commission Chairman Thomas Bridges, asked the Royston City Council Tuesday for natural gas service to Red Hill.

By Shane Scoggins

Guilty plea entered in Harbin murder case

CARNESVILLE – Kristen Odister pleaded guilty Tuesday to the murder of Lavonia businessman Samuel Harbin.

By Kandice S. Eberhardt

BOE works on want ad for next school superintendent

CARNESVILLE – The search for the next Franklin County Schools superintendent will be in full swing soon.

By Kandice S. Eberhardt

Sports for Subscribers

Micah Roebuck takes an acrobatic shot earlier this season against Jackson County.

Lions, Bulldogs to meet tonight at FCHS

The Franklin County Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams will host rival Hart County tonight at FCHS in key Region 8AAA games for both teams.

The Lions, winners of four straight – including a buzzer-beating win Saturday at Stephens County – are currently 2-3 (9-7 overall) and in fifth place in the region standings.