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About 200 people attended a meeting Sunday at Franklin County High School to oppose a proposed Pilgrim’s Pride pet food ingredient plant near Carnesville. (Photos by Scoggins)

About 200 people attended a meeting Sunday at Franklin County High School to oppose a proposed Pilgrim’s Pride pet food ingredient plant near Carnesville. (Photos by Scoggins)

Citizens meet to oppose Pilgrim's

Shane Scoggins
Thursday, March 18, 2021
CARNESVILLE – A group of Franklin County citizens made their case Sunday against Pilgrim’s Pride and the company’s plan to build a rendering plant near Carnesville. “I see something coming that I see is going to be a detriment to our county and our community,” Tax Commissioner Bobby Martin said.
The referendum passed with 1,325 votes (91.6 percent) in favor to 121 votes (8.4 percent) against.

The referendum passed with 1,325 votes (91.6 percent) in favor to 121 votes (8.4 percent) against.

92 percent of voters approve sales tax extension for schools

News Staff
Thursday, March 18, 2021
CARNESVILLE – Franklin County Schools will be allowed to continue collecting a one-cent sales tax to pay for a new Royston Elementary School, athletic and agriculture education facilities and other items.
Lavonia Elementary School teachers Deborah Crewe and Sumeko Raines proudly show off they got vaccinated Friday morning. (Photo by Sinclair)

Lavonia Elementary School teachers Deborah Crewe and Sumeko Raines proudly show off they got vaccinated Friday morning. (Photo by Sinclair)

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Clinics to vaccinate school personnel under way

News Staff
Thursday, March 18, 2021
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   LAVONIA – Nervous excitement was in the air Friday morning at Lavonia Elementary School as staff members waited to get vaccinated.
The ballot that goes before voters Tuesday for the extension of the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for schools lists the projects that will be funded with the tax. The biggest project and most expensive item on that list is a new Royston Elementary School.

The ballot that goes before voters Tuesday for the extension of the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for schools lists the projects that will be funded with the tax. The biggest project and most expensive item on that list is a new Royston Elementary School.

SPLOST referendum to be decided Tuesday

News Staff
Thursday, March 11, 2021
CARNESVILLE – An extension of a sales tax to fund school system improvements and maintenance will be decided Tuesday in a referendum. The Franklin County School System is asking to extend the local one-cent per dollar tax for five years or until it collects $30 million.
All teachers in Franklin County who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will have the opportunity to get vaccinated before the end of the month.

All teachers in Franklin County who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will have the opportunity to get vaccinated before the end of the month.

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Teachers to receive vaccines this week

News Staff
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE — All teachers in Franklin County who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will have the opportunity to get vaccinated before the end of the month.
Renovations planned for Ed Bryant Stadium to be funded by an extension of the SPLOST for schools will include reconfiguring the sprint lanes on the track, along with resurfacing the track. (Photo by Scoggins)

Renovations planned for Ed Bryant Stadium to be funded by an extension of the SPLOST for schools will include reconfiguring the sprint lanes on the track, along with resurfacing the track. (Photo by Scoggins)

Track, stadium turf top athletic improvements on SPLOST ballot

Shane Scoggins
Thursday, March 4, 2021
CARNESVILLE – Improving athletics facilities has been a focus for Franklin County Schools over the last few years. Weight rooms have been redone or added at Franklin County High School and Middle School. A new home for cheerleading and renovations to a former gym for wrestling have been done.
Local economic development officials spent 13 months asking questions and researching Pilgrim’s Pride plans for a new pet-food ingredient plant near Carnesville before last week’s announcement of the proposal.

Local economic development officials spent 13 months asking questions and researching Pilgrim’s Pride plans for a new pet-food ingredient plant near Carnesville before last week’s announcement of the proposal.

Pilgrim's announcement came after more than a year of questions, research

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
CARNESVILLE – Local economic development officials spent 13 months asking questions and researching Pilgrim’s Pride plans for a new pet-food ingredient plant near Carnesville before last week’s announcement of the proposal.
A special election to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Mayor Ray Morgan is set for June 15.

A special election to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Mayor Ray Morgan is set for June 15.

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Special election called for Canon mayor

News Staff
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
By Samantha Sinclair Staff Writer   CANON – A special election to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Mayor Ray Morgan is set for June 15. The election will be for mayor and one council seat, as Annie Wallace has shared her intention to run for mayor.  Qualifying will be May 10-12.
Franklin County’s public safety employees will receive a $1 per hour raise later this month.

Franklin County’s public safety employees will receive a $1 per hour raise later this month.

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EMS, deputies, jailers to get $1/hour raise

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
CARNESVILLE – Franklin County’s public safety employees will receive a $1 per hour raise later this month. Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to give $1 per hour raises to the county’s EMTs and paramedics as well as road deputies and jailers.