The Franklinton Board of Alderman and Mayor Greg Route met on Tuesday, August 22. The prayer was offered by Pastor Rodriquez Hart with the pledge following. The board approved the minutes of the August 8, 2023, regular meeting and then moved to New Business.
The board heard from Mrs. Tammy Knight representing the Franklinton Christmas Festival. She enthusiastically spoke about the planning for the first weekend in December. The festival will open the holiday season on Friday, December 1 with the lighting of the Memory Trees at the Washington Parish Courthouse in downtown Franklinton.
Around 5:30 pm on Friday, the Franklinton Chamber of Commerce will host a family-friendly Christmas movie at the fairgrounds. Mrs. Knight was pleased to announce that there will also be a Wild West Christmas Show in the rodeo arena with gates opening at 6:00 pm and the show beginning at 7:30 pm. The committee is looking into vendors opening on Friday evening as well and Mile Branch opening with the living "Life of Christ" scenes back for its third year.
On Saturday vendors in the Commercial Building will open for the Varnado Store Museum's annual event, The Festival of Trees. There will also be live entertainment at the Pioneer Christmas held at Mile Branch Settlement. This year there will also be a Flower Show in the Flower House from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The committee is also looking into a possible art show and car show. However, the biggest event will be the Lighted Christmas Parade that will roll through downtown to the fairgrounds starting at 6:00 pm. The parade is the largest nighttime Christmas parade in the tri-parish area and will roll through the fairgrounds and exit through he Knight field. Featured at the end of the parade will be the Candy Cane Court and the Festival Princess riding with Santa.
Mrs. Knight's enthusiasm for the event was evident and she reminded those present that the committee is accepting volunteers and to "remember the reason for the season." The mayor did question where the parade would disband. It was a great concern that last year's floats were directed out through Fairgrounds Road to Highway 25 which created safety worries as well as a terrible traffic snarl. Alderman Darwin Sharp asked if camper spots will be available as he is sure some folks will want to spend the entire weekend in Franklinton. Mayor Route also pointed out that Columbia, Mississippi, will no longer host a Christmas event, and he hopes this will increase attendance in Franklinton.
Mrs. Knight noted that the weekend is possible through the collaborative efforts of the Franklinton Christmas Festival Committee, the Varnado Store Museum, the Washington Parish Fair Association, the Mile Branch Committee, the Rodeo Committee, the Flower House Committee, and the Franklinton Chamber of Commerce. Anyone wanting more information can look on Facebook at the Franklinton Christmas Festival page. She added that several potential events are in the planning stages and to keep up with the festival events on the Facebook page.
In departmental business, Town Clerk Ellen Waskom reported on the monthly statements. The General Fund had a July income balance of $406,263.80. Alderman T J Butler questioned if sales tax was down. Mrs. Waskom reported the sales tax collections were actually up $219,000 year-to-date compared to the same time last year. She also stated that she expects an increase in August's sales taxes as people purchase school supplies and other items for the school year.
Both Chief Justin Brown of the police department and Brandon LaSalle of the fire department were absent from the meeting working with forest fires, so no monthly reports were given for their departments. Superintendent Reginald McMasters was also absent from the meeting, but the maintenance monthly report was in the Aldermen's folders. Each Alderman noted that we are under a state-wide burn band and urged citizens to be vigilant. They also thanked all the firemen and those from this parish and others who have assisted in the recent fires in Washington Parish. Mayor Route offered his sympathy to the man who was found deceased after the recent Woods Road fire and noted that even the smallest spark can start a fire.
Mayor Route also announced that Major Mike Tate is the new Public Relations officer for the Franklinton Police Department and Captain Will Brumfield is the new Safety Supervisor for the town in addition to his police department duties. His job will be to make sure all town employees are following safety regulations and bring instances where they may not be to the attention of the Superintendent. There were no further comments and the meeting adjourned.
