July 9, 2026
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Margaret Pickett speaks to the Macon County Planning Board to advocate against its recommended 3-2 structure for electing commissioners.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
The Macon County Planning Board voted on July 2 to recommend a new system for electing county commissioners.The Planning Board's 4-1 vote approved creating three equally sized districts with one commissioner representative from each and two at-large commissioner seats.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Town of Franklin celebrated Independence Day with the annual parade along Main Street on Saturday morning. See more photos in the July 8 edition of The Franklin Press and on our Facebook page.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Cory Spychalski of The Grove Hostel writes out a draft visioning statement for Franklin identifying its recreation, arts and culture as a draw for the town.
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Press photo/Shelby Powell - Mark Masters of Masters Architecture proposed four options to build a new Highlands soccer field, ranging in cost from $1 million to $3.4 million to build an Astroturf soccer field on site at Highlands School or at Zachary Park.
Highlander photo/Mitch Stone - FRL Board Chair Bill McGaha and Cynthia Womble discuss whether Swain County should receive a higher percentage of net surplus funds due to the free rent it has provided for FRL headquarters.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Teams participating in the Smoky Mountain Relay stopped for a free breakfast hosted by Cowee School volunteers. Each member of this team was from the Southeast, with members from Bryson City, Chattanooga, Nashville, Sylva and Asheville.
Knox Strum (foreground) and David Hernandez swim a close race in the boys 11-12 100-yard individual medley at the Macon County Rec Park July 2. (Press photo/Will Woolever)
Conference Field Event MVP Kamden Reis competes in the long jump during the Mountain Eight Outdoor Championships at North Henderson April 30. (Press file photo)
Overall female winner Chelsea Ellwood of Cullowhee nears the finish line in the Braveheart 5K. (Photo/Bob Scott)
