The Franklin Campus of Mountain Education Charter High School held a ribbon cutting and open house for its new location on the campus of Franklin County High School on Monday. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce assisted with the celebration. Those attending were (from left) Rachel Howington, Claudette Gillespie, Scott Rhinehart, Brooke Dove, Darren Sledge, Steve Bartlett, Lydia Bennett, Dr. Joe Cash, Melanie Burton-Brown, Benjamin Khodadadi, Dr. Andrew Fowler, Dr. Kaila Steele, Bruce Brown, Dr. Kellie

A graph provided by the Franklin County Board of Education shows that 81 percent of the school system’s budget goes directly to the instruction of students.

Franklin County Schools Support Person of the Year, Stephanie Martin, has been described as the glue that holds the place together and the person that makes sure everything runs smoothly. Martin worked the past nine years as bookkeeper for the high school’s CTAE department but has recently transferred to South Franklin Elementary. She said it’s easy to be a great support person when you have great people to work with. (Photo by Charlie Eavenson)

Hearings on the millage rates for the Franklin County Board of Education and City of Lavonia begin today.

The Franklin County Recreation Commission (from left) Recreation Department Director Randall Gailey, Wesley Varner, Allen Bryant, Chairman Andy Myers, Franklin County Commissioner Josh Smith, Greg Cary and Eric Burrell met Monday.

Tyler Matthews works with the kids in different classes at Lavonia Elementary School, helping teach English to the speakers of other languages (ESOL). For 12 of his 16 years at LES he taught kindergarten. He now spends full-time as the school’s ESOL teacher. He’s also the Student Pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Martin. He has been named LES teacher of the year twice and this year he was awarded the title Teacher of the Year for all of Franklin County School System. (Photo by Charlie Eavenson)

Gerald Voyles’ family and supporters gathered Saturday at his display after he was inducted to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame at 415 Highway 53 East in Dawsonville. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. (Photo by Tom Reed, courtesy of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame)

Two local governments will be required to hold millage rate hearings after deciding not to rollback their tax rates.

On Sunday, Mary Williams celebrated her 99th birthday with 27 family members, including her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Harold Gillespie, all five grandchildren and all 11 great-grandchildren.

Locally-owned Dill’s Food City is being sold to Food Lion.