Devin Bowyer (center, with FCHS ag teacher Trey Harris at right) is one of the students who has benefited from being able to leave his pig project at the ag barn at Franklin County High School. Bowyer, one of the barn’s student managers, began showing pigs two years ago and won Senior Showmanship recently at the Georgia National Fair. A new ag barn that will allow more students to keep their pigs, sheep, goats and calves at school will be funded if voters choose to extend a special purpose local option sale

Franklin County voters may cast ballots to extend a penny tax to benefit schools beginning Monday. Early voting in the referendum to extend the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for education will be held weekdays Feb. 22 through March 12 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Elections and Registration office at 7850 Royston Road in Carnesville.

A possible location for a new Royston Elementary School announced for the first time last week is just outside the Royston city limits.

Franklin Springs Chief Operating Officer Daniel Ankerich (left) and Mayor Lee Moore (right) unveil a flag commemorating the service of former police officer Stan Elrod during a meeting last week. The flag will hang in the city’s police department. The Franklin Springs City Council honored Elrod, who was killed in an accident in September, by passing a resolution, retiring his badge number and declaring Feb. 10 as Stan Elrod Day in the city. (Photo by Scoggins)

Facing a deadline for state funding, the Franklin County Board of Education ruled out all known sites for a new Royston Elementary School Tuesday and voted to do an assessment on an unknown location not previously considered.

Derrick Turner (right) was introduced Tuesday as the new Franklin County manager. Turner and his family, wife Tamara and sons Andrew and Sean were welcomed by county staff members and county and city elected officials.

One proposed site for a casino and entertainment complex is a large tract of land that straddles the Franklin/Hart County line on Lake Hartwell. The site and others have been floated in a push to get the Georgia General Assembly to call for a referendum on casino gambling.

The place to get a coronavirus vaccination from the Franklin County Health Department will change next week.

A new monument to Franklin County’s First Responders who have lost their lives serving their fellow citizens will be added next to the new Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Artis Wright