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Mayor Courtney Umbehant and council members Eddie Floyd and Andrew Murphy were sworn in to new terms this week.

Mayor Courtney Umbehant and council members Eddie Floyd and Andrew Murphy were sworn in to new terms this week.

Lavonia officials sworn in

LAVONIA – Mayor Courtney Umbehant and council members Eddie Floyd and Andrew Murphy were sworn in to new terms this week. Council member Jeremy Madden was also sworn in as the city’s new mayor pro tem. The mayor and council members were joined by family for the ceremonies.
Now former Mayor Harris Little presents Patsy Watkins with a plaque to commemorate her eight years of service on the Carnesville City Council.

Now former Mayor Harris Little presents Patsy Watkins with a plaque to commemorate her eight years of service on the Carnesville City Council.

Watkins honored for council service

CARNESVILLE – Now former Mayor Harris Little presents Patsy Watkins with a plaque to commemorate her eight years of service on the Carnesville City Council. Watkins served on the council from 2015 until the end of 2023.
Drive-through customers at the Chick-fil-A in Lavonia enjoyed a winter wonderland with Santa Thursday.

Drive-through customers at the Chick-fil-A in Lavonia enjoyed a winter wonderland with Santa Thursday.

Santa brings snow to the drive-thru

LAVONIA – Drive-through customers at the Chick-fil-A in Lavonia enjoyed a winter wonderland with Santa Thursday. The Lavonia Police Department was also present giving out candy canes, stickers and a limited supply of Santa Cow stuffed animals.
Winnie Lou Parten Patterson is the last living child of Bennett and Tersie Parten and celebrated her 94th birthday on Nov 28th.

Winnie Lou Parten Patterson is the last living child of Bennett and Tersie Parten and celebrated her 94th birthday on Nov 28th.

94-year-old recalls home, family being sucked up into tornado

By Gillian Raese Staff Writer   ROYSTON – Winnie Lou Parten Patterson is the last living child of Bennett and Tersie Parten and celebrated her 94th birthday on Nov 28th. Winnie was one of 11 children.
Lavonia Elementary School will have a new traffic pattern when students return to school Jan. 4.

Lavonia Elementary School will have a new traffic pattern when students return to school Jan. 4.

Lavonia school to shuffle bus, car rider procedures starting Jan. 4

From staff reports   LAVONIA – Lavonia Elementary School will have a new traffic pattern when students return to school Jan. 4. Car-riders will pick-up and drop-off in the back of the school.
Author Vallorie Wood’s newest book, “Royston,” is a fictional story about a detective who joins the Royston Police Department and investigates a murder.

Author Vallorie Wood’s newest book, “Royston,” is a fictional story about a detective who joins the Royston Police Department and investigates a murder.

Royston author’s new novel inspired by true murder

By Gillian Raese Staff Writer   ROYSTON – A Royston resident has released a fictional murder mystery with the setting based on a true murder that happened in the city back in 1995. “Storytelling sparks the imagination and takes the reader on a journey,” said author Vallorie Wood.
The 2023 fall valedictorians were George Nathan Perkins of Cornelia and Kaleigh Nichole Fowler of Bowersville.

The 2023 fall valedictorians were George Nathan Perkins of Cornelia and Kaleigh Nichole Fowler of Bowersville.

Emmanuel celebrates firsts at fall graduation

By Ashley Westbrook Emmanuel University   FRANKLIN SPRINGS – On Dec. 8, Emmanuel University celebrated several firsts as the fall graduating class walked across the stage at the Charles F. Stanley Chapel.
Taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for a planned Jarrett Foods Plant in Lavonia are (from left) Royston Mayor Keith Thurman, Franklin Springs Mayor Lee Moore, Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant, Jarrett Foods Plant Manager Johnny Willis, Jarrett President Terry Willis, CEO Heath Jarrett, CFO Toni Jarrett, Lavonia City Manager Charles Cawthon, Franklin County Commissioner Kyle Foster and Franklin County Industrial Building Authority Executive Director Tonya Powers.

Taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for a planned Jarrett Foods Plant in Lavonia are (from left) Royston Mayor Keith Thurman, Franklin Springs Mayor Lee Moore, Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant, Jarrett Foods Plant Manager Johnny Willis, Jarrett President Terry Willis, CEO Heath Jarrett, CFO Toni Jarrett, Lavonia City Manager Charles Cawthon, Franklin County Commissioner Kyle Foster and Franklin County Industrial Building Authority Executive Director Tonya Powers.

Jarrett Foods, IBA officials hold ceremony for new plant

By Gillian Raese Staff Writer   LAVONIA – Jarrett Foods held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the company’s chicken processing and debone plant off Grady School Road.
Wayne Braswell and Lee Strickland were presented plaques to commemorate their service on the city council by Mayor Keith Turman.

Wayne Braswell and Lee Strickland were presented plaques to commemorate their service on the city council by Mayor Keith Turman.

Royston honors outgoing pair of council members

ROYSTON – The City of Royston honored two outgoing council members Monday with a reception at City Hall. Wayne Braswell and Lee Strickland were presented plaques to commemorate their service on the city council by Mayor Keith Turman.
Members of Lavonia Boy Scout Troop 51 and parents helped load boxes filled with food for holiday meals Saturday and delivered them to needy senior citizens and families in Franklin, Hart and Stephens counties. The boxes are part of the Brighter Holidays ministry each year that delivers food boxes at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Members of Lavonia Boy Scout Troop 51 and parents helped load boxes filled with food for holiday meals Saturday and delivered them to needy senior citizens and families in Franklin, Hart and Stephens counties. The boxes are part of the Brighter Holidays ministry each year that delivers food boxes at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

New home sought for Food Bank

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   LAVONIA – Members of Lavonia Boy Scout Troop 51 loaded boxes of food, bags of sweet potatoes, cartons of eggs and bowls of cool whip on a trailer Saturday outside the Lavonia Community Center.