Local

Larry Bowen's third and final term on the Royston City Council ends Friday.

Larry Bowen's third and final term on the Royston City Council ends Friday.

Bowen leaving Royston council after three terms

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   ROYSTON – Larry Bowen is proud of what the city of Royston accomplished during his 12 years on the council. The councils he served on accomplished “probably as much as any 12-year group ever,” he said.
Janet Claytor did not run for reelection to the Carnesville City Council after her and husband Bob decided to move to Perry to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Janet Claytor did not run for reelection to the Carnesville City Council after her and husband Bob decided to move to Perry to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Claytor: 'I'm going to miss the town'

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – As the days ticked down for Janet Claytor’s time on the Carnesville city council – and her lifetime living in her hometown, her emotions were hard to hold back.
Pinnacle Bank Franklin Springs Branch Manager Carrie Brown presents a check to Franklin Springs Police Chief Jim Davis and Officer Kevin Thompson.

Pinnacle Bank Franklin Springs Branch Manager Carrie Brown presents a check to Franklin Springs Police Chief Jim Davis and Officer Kevin Thompson.

Franklin Springs Police receive funds for taser

By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   FRANKLIN SPRINGS — Pinnacle Bank’s Franklin Springs branch gave a Christmas gift of $1,400 to the Franklin Springs Police Department before the holiday. The gift will assist the department in purchasing a new taser, Chief Jim Davis said.

Pedestrian, passenger die in incidents

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   Two people were killed in separate traffic incidents last week. A pedestrian was struck and killed in the middle of I-85 on Dec. 15, a Georgia State Patrol report said.

BOE hears report on needs for new elementary school

By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — Franklin County Board of Education members learned facts gathered by an independent consultant on the needs for a new elementary school at another called meeting this month, but no decisions were made to move the project forward.
Students in Mandy Ginn’s advanced algebra classes raised $1,400 to purchase gifts for three local families and supplies for families in Kentucky. (Photo by Sinclair)

Students in Mandy Ginn’s advanced algebra classes raised $1,400 to purchase gifts for three local families and supplies for families in Kentucky. (Photo by Sinclair)

High school students help families at Christmas

By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — Mandy Ginn told her students she felt lost. Many of the students in her advanced algebra classes at Franklin County High School were students of hers multiple times when she taught at Lavonia Elementary, and had built a connection with them.
Kent Benson and Brian Elrick present Franklin County Middle School FFA officers Ava Gray, Rylie Sanders, Meghan Langley, Darby Roach, Camryn Childs, Scarlett Killen, Callie Walker, Ella Maisonneuve with the chapter’s 2021 Area 2 awards. (Photo by Sinclair)

Kent Benson and Brian Elrick present Franklin County Middle School FFA officers Ava Gray, Rylie Sanders, Meghan Langley, Darby Roach, Camryn Childs, Scarlett Killen, Callie Walker, Ella Maisonneuve with the chapter’s 2021 Area 2 awards. (Photo by Sinclair)

State leaders honor Franklin FFA chapters

By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — Both the Franklin County Middle School and Franklin County High School FFA programs were honored for their achievements as 2021 Area 2 Chapter of the Year by region representatives before the holiday break.

CASA seeks volunteers to help children in court

Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is seeking volunteers to be advocates for children in foster care in the group's eight county service area. Advocates help to inform the court of the child’s well-being and make recommendations for the best interest of the child.
Toys for Tots Local Coordinator Mike Prather hands Bristol Patterson a Toys for Tots train pin to thank her for thinking of the organization during Carnesville Elementary School’s Pay It Forward project. (Photo by Sinclair)

Toys for Tots Local Coordinator Mike Prather hands Bristol Patterson a Toys for Tots train pin to thank her for thinking of the organization during Carnesville Elementary School’s Pay It Forward project. (Photo by Sinclair)

School builds tradition of Paying It Forward

By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — One local Christmas tradition teaches children to think of others, resulting in six people or entities receiving $100. Pay It Forward is a project at Carnesville Elementary School.
Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall (left) presents the group’s 2021 Outstanding Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Award to Franklin County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee Chairman Colt Hart (center) and President Michael Thomason. (photo courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau)

Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall (left) presents the group’s 2021 Outstanding Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Award to Franklin County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee Chairman Colt Hart (center) and President Michael Thomason. (photo courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau)

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers win state honor

MACON – The Franklin County Farm Bureau received one state award for its outstanding member programs and was named a finalist for another during the 2021 Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, held Dec. 5-7 on Jekyll Island.