Franklin County Chamber Recognizes Three at Awards Banquet

Three Franklin Countians were honored at the annual Franklin County Chamber of Commerce awards banquet last Thursday.

The Chamber held its annual award function at the North Georgia Tech Currahee Campus.

Three awards were presented and they include the Charles E. Bradshaw award for Good Citizenship, the Bruce Knighton Award for Best Small Business of the Year, and the Non-profit of the Year award.

Former Franklin Co School Superintendent Chris Forrer received the Charles Bradshaw Good Citizen of the Year award posthumously.

Chris Forrer passed away last November after a long battle with cancer.  Accepting the award on his behalf was his son, Christopher.

Acting School Superintendent and close friend Chuck Colquitt said Forrer would have loved receiving the award.

“I know he would be ecstatic and loving the fact he had received the awarded,” Colquitt said. “He was a great person to work with. He was passionate about Franklin County. He was passionate about the kids and passionate about the people he worked with. He loved everybody and wanted the best for the kids of Franklin County.”

The Bruce Knighton award for Best Small Business went to Kelly Tamplin, owner of the Old Corner Hardware Store Sandwich shop in Royston.

Tamplin said she was honored to be recognized by the Chamber.

“It’s such a nice surprise. I feel so honored. There are so many great businesses in Franklin County. So, to be even considered for this award was very humbling. And I appreciate all the support that we have from the County, our customers, and our Chamber of Commerce,” Tamplin said.

The Old Corner Hardware Store re-opened last year after being damaged in 2021 by a fire in the building next door.

Since then, the restaurant has grown to include a dinner menu on Monday nights.

And the Non-Profit of the Year award went to Dr. Beverly Oxley founder of the Ark Family Preservation Center in Franklin Springs.

The Ark recently held a ribbon cutting for their new building on Springs Station Drive.

The Ark’s mission is to provide supervised family visitation for children in foster care and in homes of contentious divorces.

Other services include parent coaching, family therapy, anger management classes, support groups for sexual abuse, survivors of suicide, and families with grief and loss.