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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue speaks Tuesday during a rally in Royston in support of Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. (Photo by Scoggins)

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue speaks Tuesday during a rally in Royston in support of Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. (Photo by Scoggins)

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U.S. Ag Secretary campaigns for GOP candidates

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
ROYSTON – The most high-profile political races in the United States came to Royston Tuesday, led by a member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture – and former Georgia governor – Sonny Perdue campaigned for his cousin, Sen. David Perdue, and Sen.
Dr. Clay Hearn (left in right photo) was named the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year last week, and Chick-Fil-A in Lavonia (above) was named Business of the Year. Chamber officers surprised Hearn and Chick-Fil-A Operator Will Lowe (above, center) with the awards. The chamber’s regular banquet where the awards are traditionally presented had to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Clay Hearn (left in right photo) was named the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year last week, and Chick-Fil-A in Lavonia (above) was named Business of the Year. Chamber officers surprised Hearn and Chick-Fil-A Operator Will Lowe (above, center) with the awards. The chamber’s regular banquet where the awards are traditionally presented had to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Franklin Chamber honors Business, Citizen of the Year

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce had to resort to a different way to present its top awards this year. With the coronavirus pandemic cancelling its annual banquet, chamber members ambushed its Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year at their work places last week. Dr.
Hunter Blackmon (right), 11, a sixth grader at Franklin County Middle School, recently donated $120 to the Rainbow Pantry in Royston from money he made operating a store near Victoria Bryant State Park. The Rainbow Pantry’s Donnie Bolemon accepted the donation.

Hunter Blackmon (right), 11, a sixth grader at Franklin County Middle School, recently donated $120 to the Rainbow Pantry in Royston from money he made operating a store near Victoria Bryant State Park. The Rainbow Pantry’s Donnie Bolemon accepted the donation.

Sixth grader donates store profits to Pantry

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
ROYSTON – Eleven-year-old Hunter Blackmon was hard at work when his father got to their home in Canon. “I just came home one day and he was building a raggedy shed,” Josh Blackmon said of his son’s project. “[He said,] ‘I want to raise money for the homeless.
St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Department nurse practitioner Ruth Tellano Daniel receives one of the first doses of vaccine from Emergency Department Manager Tyler Davison. (Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital)

St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Department nurse practitioner Ruth Tellano Daniel receives one of the first doses of vaccine from Emergency Department Manager Tyler Davison. (Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital)

Virus vaccinations begin with 'front-line' workers

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
LAVONIA – The first doses of a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus have reached Franklin County. About 20 staff members at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia were vaccinated Tuesday.
Lavonia Officer Blake Andrews and Lavonia VFW Post Commander Jim “Chief” Bright wrap presents during Saturday’s Shop with a Cop event sponsored by the Northeast Georgia chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. (Photos by Scoggins)

Lavonia Officer Blake Andrews and Lavonia VFW Post Commander Jim “Chief” Bright wrap presents during Saturday’s Shop with a Cop event sponsored by the Northeast Georgia chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. (Photos by Scoggins)

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Shop with a Cop spreads Christmas cheer

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
LAVONIA – Thirteen families got police escorts Saturday while shopping for gifts. The children were part of the Shop With a Cop program sponsored locally by the Fraternal Order of the Police’s Northeast Georgia Lodge #105.
Franklin County Schools chose to continue classes this week – the last before the Christmas holidays – when some other systems in the state and area stopped in-person classes early.

Franklin County Schools chose to continue classes this week – the last before the Christmas holidays – when some other systems in the state and area stopped in-person classes early.

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Schools soldier on during surge

News Staff
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
CARNESVILLE – Franklin County Schools chose to continue classes this week – the last before the Christmas holidays – when some other systems in the state and area stopped in-person classes early.
A change in state law regarding the local act authorizing the Franklin-Hart Airport Authority could be coming in the next legislative session.

A change in state law regarding the local act authorizing the Franklin-Hart Airport Authority could be coming in the next legislative session.

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Powell to consider airport authority legislation changes

News Staff
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
By Grayson Williams The Hartwell Sun HARTWELL – A change in state law regarding the local act authorizing the Franklin-Hart Airport Authority could be coming in the next legislative session. At a joint public meeting between the Hart County and Franklin County boards of commissioners, State Rep.
Law enforcement officers blocked off High Road in Carnesville Tuesday after a man threatened to blow up his home. The man was later injured when he did set off an explosion.

Law enforcement officers blocked off High Road in Carnesville Tuesday after a man threatened to blow up his home. The man was later injured when he did set off an explosion.

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Man threatens, then blows up home on High Road

News Staff
Friday, December 11, 2020
CARNESVILLE – A Carnesville man was injured Tuesday after he threatened to blow up his home on High Road and later did set off an explosion. Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies received a complaint Tuesday around 4 p.m. of a person intending to blow up his residence.
Franklin County Commissioners voted to proceed with a plan for a Veterans’ Memorial Plaza on the Courthouse Square in Carnesville.

Franklin County Commissioners voted to proceed with a plan for a Veterans’ Memorial Plaza on the Courthouse Square in Carnesville.

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Commissioners OK plan for new Veterans' Memorial Plaza

Shane Scoggins
Thursday, December 10, 2020
CARNESVILLE – A new addition to the Franklin County Courthouse Square will honor the community’s heroes. Commissioners voted Monday to move forward with a plan to build a Franklin County Veterans’ Memorial Plaza on the southeast corner of the Courthouse Square.
The number of cases of the coronavirus are hitting all-time highs statewide, and while Franklin County isn’t at record levels, the surge is beginning to show locally. Concerns over the virus’ latest increase also led Royston officials Tuesday to cancel the city’s annual Christmas parade.

The number of cases of the coronavirus are hitting all-time highs statewide, and while Franklin County isn’t at record levels, the surge is beginning to show locally. Concerns over the virus’ latest increase also led Royston officials Tuesday to cancel the city’s annual Christmas parade.

Coronavirus surge draws concern, cancels parade

Shane Scoggins
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
The number of cases of the coronavirus are hitting all-time highs statewide, and while Franklin County isn’t at record levels, the surge is beginning to show locally. Concerns over the virus’ latest increase also led Royston officials Tuesday to cancel the city’s annual Christmas parade.