Curtis Chitwood

Early voting for the May 19 primaries will open Monday at the Franklin County Elections and Registration Office in Carnesville. Voters in the primary will have to choose from the ballots for the Republican primary (pictured) and Democratic primary. All local races are on the Republican ballot.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Franklin County and most of Georgia is at least at “extreme drought” levels.

By Shane Scoggins Publisher CARNESVILLE – Franklin County commissioners and members of the county’s Planning Commission sat down Tuesday to discuss possible changes to the Unified Development Code (UDC). Commissioners have discussed possible revisions to the comprehensive planning and zoning law. Tuesday’s meeting centered around a 12-page UDC update proposal drafted by members of the county’s staff, led by Planning Director Michael Norwood. Commissioners and planning board members were led through the doc

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was in downtown Lavonia Friday as part of its investigation into a lengthy standoff between a Lavonia resident and law enforcement officers Thursday. The resident, Alan Joseph Chandler, died after he came out of his home firing a weapon at officers and members of the Georgia State Patrol SWAT Team and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office returned fire, a GBI press release said. (Photo by Charlie Eavenson)

Coach Blackie Swart (left) and Dian Huisemen of Rustenburg High School in South Africa stand at the triple jump pit during Saturday’s John Scott Hartness Invitational track and field meet at Franklin County High School. (Photo by Shane Scoggins)

It took attending the March Franklin County Commissioners Work Session for a White County businessman to get water connected to his Franklin County businesses.

Franklin County Commissioners denied a rezoning request Monday for a new eight-house poultry farm on Corbet Chappelear Road.

A request to rezone the former Vandiver estate in Lavonia was voted down Monday after the property was listed for sale by current owner Sonya Kay Legg.

CARNESVILLE – The annual Franklin County Special Olympics was held Thursday at Jeff Davis Field at Ed Bryant Stadium. The special athletes were the stars and focus of the day, as they competed in events with the help of their Buddies from Franklin County High School. For more photos from the day, see Page 11A. (Photo by Charlie Eavenson)