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Sandali Rockwell (left) has been named the 2025 STAR Student for Franklin County High School. She chose teacher Kenny Floyd (right) as STAR Teacher. (Photo by Eavenson)

Sandali Rockwell (left) has been named the 2025 STAR Student for Franklin County High School. She chose teacher Kenny Floyd (right) as STAR Teacher. (Photo by Eavenson)

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Rockwell earns STAR Student, honors Floyd

News Staff
Thursday, January 16, 2025
By Charlie Eavenson Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE – Franklin County High School senior Sandali Rockwell has been named STAR Student for the class of 2025.  She selected engineering instructor Kenny Floyd as STAR Teacher.
A new board of Franklin County commissioners (from left) Josh Smith, Elizabeth Busby, Chairman Courtney Long, Cory Pulliam and Wanda Thompson held its first meeting of 2025 Monday in Carnesville. (Photo by Scoggins)

A new board of Franklin County commissioners (from left) Josh Smith, Elizabeth Busby, Chairman Courtney Long, Cory Pulliam and Wanda Thompson held its first meeting of 2025 Monday in Carnesville. (Photo by Scoggins)

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Debut debate

News Staff
Thursday, January 9, 2025
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – Franklin County’s new board of commissioners found itself divided Tuesday on the first non-routine item on the agenda at its first meeting Monday.
A mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow will begin to move into western Georgia early Friday morning and cover much of North and Middle Georgia by sunrise. 

A mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow will begin to move into western Georgia early Friday morning and cover much of North and Middle Georgia by sunrise. 

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Georgia braces for mix of wintry weather

News Staff
Thursday, January 9, 2025
By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA – The state Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin treating roads, bridges, and overpasses in Northwest Georgia at 7 p.m.
Sheriff Scott Andrews talks with officers during a standoff with a suspect at a home on Rainbow Drive in Lavonia. (Photo courtesy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff Scott Andrews talks with officers during a standoff with a suspect at a home on Rainbow Drive in Lavonia. (Photo courtesy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

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Man arrested, charged after standoff Sunday

News Staff
Thursday, January 9, 2025
From staff reports   LAVONIA – A Commerce man was arrested Sunday after a standoff with law enforcement at a home on Rainbow Drive in Lavonia. Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Citgo in Lavonia Sunday at about 6:50 p.m.
Probate Judge Ken Eavenson administered the oaths of office to newly-elected members of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Monday. Taking the oath were incoming Commission Chairman Courtney Long (right photo), who was joined by husband Jeremy and children Nathan and Sidney; new District 2 Commissioner Cory Pulliam (below left photo), who was joined by wife Carrie; and new District 1 Commissioner Wanda Thompson (below right photo), who was joined by husband Stephen. The new commissioners will officia

Probate Judge Ken Eavenson administered the oaths of office to newly-elected members of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Monday. Taking the oath were incoming Commission Chairman Courtney Long (right photo), who was joined by husband Jeremy and children Nathan and Sidney; new District 2 Commissioner Cory Pulliam (below left photo), who was joined by wife Carrie; and new District 1 Commissioner Wanda Thompson (below right photo), who was joined by husband Stephen. The new commissioners will officia

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Three C’s

News Staff
Monday, December 23, 2024
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   CARNESVILLE – The incoming chairman of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners will aim for three C’s when she takes office Jan. 1. Courtney Long said her approach is “collaboration, cooperation and communication.
211 Main Street Restaurant founders Bob and Trish Toews have sold the cornerstone business in downtown Lavonia to Top Dawg Grillers owners Chris and Kim Rice. (Photo by Eavenson)

211 Main Street Restaurant founders Bob and Trish Toews have sold the cornerstone business in downtown Lavonia to Top Dawg Grillers owners Chris and Kim Rice. (Photo by Eavenson)

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211 Main Street Restaurant changing ownership

News Staff
Monday, December 23, 2024
By Charlie Eavenson Staff Writer   LAVONIA – “It’s been a good run; we’ve really enjoyed it,” Trish Toews said last week, as she and her husband Bob sat down to talk about the upcoming sale of their 211 Main Street Restaurant.
Franklin County Sheriff-elect Scott Andrews (left) was sworn in to the post in a ceremony Friday at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Franklin County Sheriff-elect Scott Andrews (left) was sworn in to the post in a ceremony Friday at the Franklin County Courthouse.

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Scott Andrews sworn in as next sheriff

News Staff
Monday, December 23, 2024
CARNESVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff-elect Scott Andrews (left) was sworn in to the post in a ceremony Friday at the Franklin County Courthouse. Andrews was given his oath of office by Senior Superior Court Judge John H.
Jason Oliver (with wife Candace) was inducted to the Georgia Dugout Club’s Softball Hall of Fame Saturday at a ceremony at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta.

Jason Oliver (with wife Candace) was inducted to the Georgia Dugout Club’s Softball Hall of Fame Saturday at a ceremony at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta.

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Hall of Fame

News Staff
Thursday, December 19, 2024
By Shane Scoggins Publisher   Part-way through the first softball game he had ever watched all the way through, Franklin County Lady Lion Head Coach Jason Oliver went to the mound to talk with his pitcher and infield.
The Franklin County Board of Education made it clear at their Dec. 10 meeting that they intend to opt out of the new floating homestead exemption law.

The Franklin County Board of Education made it clear at their Dec. 10 meeting that they intend to opt out of the new floating homestead exemption law.

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School board sets hearings to opt out of assessment cap

News Staff
Thursday, December 19, 2024
By Charlie Eavenson Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE – The Franklin County Board of Education made it clear at their Dec. 10 meeting that they intend to opt out of the new floating homestead exemption law.
Franklin County Middle School held a signing ceremony Thursday for three students selected as REACH Scholars for the Class of 2029. Those in attendance were the REACH Scholars (seated from left) Khang Tran, Braylen Morrison and Selma Alicic, (standing, from left) FCMS Principal Dr. David Cawthon,; Trang Le and Kha Tran; Shanda Morrison; FCMS Assistant Principal Meredith Kilgore; FCMS Assistant Principal John David; and Mirzeta, Denis and Mirza Alicic. (Photo by Eavenson)

Franklin County Middle School held a signing ceremony Thursday for three students selected as REACH Scholars for the Class of 2029. Those in attendance were the REACH Scholars (seated from left) Khang Tran, Braylen Morrison and Selma Alicic, (standing, from left) FCMS Principal Dr. David Cawthon,; Trang Le and Kha Tran; Shanda Morrison; FCMS Assistant Principal Meredith Kilgore; FCMS Assistant Principal John David; and Mirzeta, Denis and Mirza Alicic. (Photo by Eavenson)

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FCMS students sign REACH Scholarships

News Staff
Thursday, December 19, 2024
By Charlie Eavenson Staff Writer   CARNESVILLE – Three eighth graders at Franklin County Middle School recently signed commitment contracts that put them on track to earn $10,000 REACH scholarships when they graduate in 2029.