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The preliminary State Fiscal Recovery Fund awards are shown in red. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund award areas are shown in green. These two programs have been overlayed on Georgia’s Broadband Availability Map which depicts served census blocks in gold, unserved census blocks in light yellow, and areas with no locations in gray. (Source: Office of Gov. Brian Kemp)

The preliminary State Fiscal Recovery Fund awards are shown in red. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund award areas are shown in green. These two programs have been overlayed on Georgia’s Broadband Availability Map which depicts served census blocks in gold, unserved census blocks in light yellow, and areas with no locations in gray. (Source: Office of Gov. Brian Kemp)

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Broadening broadband

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that Franklin County will receive more than $8.7 million to expand broadband internet. The $8,714,856 state grant will allow 2,812 county residents have access to the internet.
Patsy and Ken Watkins run Step of Faith which operates the Boyd Outz Learning Center. Outz was Patsy’s principal as a student and later encouraged her to become a paraprofessional at Lavonia Elementary School, and was “the only superintendent who could go in the black neighborhood at night.” (Photo by Sinclair)

Patsy and Ken Watkins run Step of Faith which operates the Boyd Outz Learning Center. Outz was Patsy’s principal as a student and later encouraged her to become a paraprofessional at Lavonia Elementary School, and was “the only superintendent who could go in the black neighborhood at night.” (Photo by Sinclair)

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Ken, Patsy Watkins ‘all about serving people’

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   LAVONIA — Things have changed. Things are changing. Patsy Watkins knows these statements as facts.
Franklin County Commissioners (left) and the Industrial Building Authority (right) met Wednesday in Carnesville to discuss priorities for future industrial development. (Photo by Sinclair)

Franklin County Commissioners (left) and the Industrial Building Authority (right) met Wednesday in Carnesville to discuss priorities for future industrial development. (Photo by Sinclair)

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County, IBA talk industrial priorities

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — Franklin County’s commissioners and industrial recruitment board plan to work together more to bring new industry to the county while lessening the impact on businesses and citizens who are already here.
The city of Carnesville will install a low water level alert system after a water main break drained the city’s water tank.

The city of Carnesville will install a low water level alert system after a water main break drained the city’s water tank.

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City buys low water level alarm

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – The city of Carnesville will install a low water level alert system after a water main break drained the city’s water tank.
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Franklin COVID cases trending down

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   COVID-19 cases are on a downward trend in the county after reaching its highest peak of the pandemic in January. As of Monday, Franklin County’s seven-day average was down to 25.9 cases daily, compared to an average 43.1 cases on Jan.
Customers with questions may contact Georgia Power at 1-888-660-5890 or www.georgiapower.com.

Customers with questions may contact Georgia Power at 1-888-660-5890 or www.georgiapower.com.

Power outage planned Monday in Carnesville

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
CARNESVILLE – Work on power lines will mean overnight power outages for Carnesville next week. Georgia Power will be working to improve reliability in the Carnesville area on the morning of Feb. 7.
Isaac Beckner and Seth Howard star in 'Greater Tuna' at the Savannah River Playhouse.

Isaac Beckner and Seth Howard star in 'Greater Tuna' at the Savannah River Playhouse.

‘Greater Tuna’ opens Friday in Lavonia

News Staff
Thursday, February 3, 2022
LAVONIA – Savannah River Productions will present “Greater Tuna” Feb. 4-6 and 11-13 at the Savannah River Playhouse in Lavonia. The play, starring Isaac Beckner and Seth Howard, is a “comedy about Texas’ third smallest town, where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.
The purchase of a 1913 postcard an antique store in Athens sent Old Corner Hardware Store owner Kelley Tamplin on a quest that found connections to a previous owner of one of her buildings in downtown Royston.

The purchase of a 1913 postcard an antique store in Athens sent Old Corner Hardware Store owner Kelley Tamplin on a quest that found connections to a previous owner of one of her buildings in downtown Royston.

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Message from the past

News Staff
Thursday, January 27, 2022
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   ROYSTON – Time never stops. It ticks away, second by second, always moving forward. But Kelley Tamplin recently found that just one old postcard – found quite by happenstance – can open a view into the past.
Chief Magistrate Cody Grizzle said school officials have confiscated 50 vapes so far this school year.

Chief Magistrate Cody Grizzle said school officials have confiscated 50 vapes so far this school year.

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County to consider vaping law

News Staff
Thursday, January 27, 2022
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – Franklin County commissioners will consider the first reading of a local vaping law at its Feb. 7 regular meeting. The new law is intended to give school resource officers more ways to deal with vaping by students 17 and older at the high school.
Mentor Jeff Stephenson talks with Shane as they build with Lego bricks together. The Franklin County Mentor Volunteer Program is in need of more volunteers like Stephenson. (Photo by Sinclair)

Mentor Jeff Stephenson talks with Shane as they build with Lego bricks together. The Franklin County Mentor Volunteer Program is in need of more volunteers like Stephenson. (Photo by Sinclair)

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Mentors sought as ‘positive’ influences

News Staff
Thursday, January 27, 2022
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   Every Wednesday, Jeff Stephenson walks into the cafeteria of Lavonia Elementary School to meet Shane. They then walk together to the library, where they work on an activity together, whether it’s playing a game or building with Lego bricks, and talk.