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Press photo/Shelby Powell - DSS Director Patrick Betancourt speaks to commissioners about a proposal to recruit his successor.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - DSS Director Patrick Betancourt speaks to commissioners about a proposal to recruit his successor.

Betancourt set to retire from DSS

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The Nov. 13 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting included a discussion about the process to replace retiring DSS Director Patrick Betancourt. Betancourt plans to retire from the Department of Social Services in May 2026.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Board of Health chair Garrett Higdon speaks to commissioners about the health board’s decision recommending consolidation between Macon County Public Health and Animal Services.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Board of Health chair Garrett Higdon speaks to commissioners about the health board’s decision recommending consolidation between Macon County Public Health and Animal Services.

Health Department to be consolidated

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
After months of discussion, the Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to combine Public Health and Animal Services into a single Consolidated Human Services Agency. The decision was made at the commissioners’ Nov.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Quarter-cent sales tax back on ballot

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
A quarter-cent increase to the Macon County sales tax rate would raise more than $2 million in revenue for the county, though county commissioners declined to earmark the funds.  The decision came during the board’s Nov. 13 meeting, placing the measure on the ballot for the 2026 general election.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Canvass, the process of certifying an election, was held Nov. 14 for the Franklin and Highlands elections. Macon County Board of Elections members and staff pictured (from left) are Chair John Vanhook, BOE Secretary Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley, Deputy Director Judy Fritts, Director Melanie Thibault, Paul Niskanen and Lynne Garrison.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Canvass, the process of certifying an election, was held Nov. 14 for the Franklin and Highlands elections. Macon County Board of Elections members and staff pictured (from left) are Chair John Vanhook, BOE Secretary Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley, Deputy Director Judy Fritts, Director Melanie Thibault, Paul Niskanen and Lynne Garrison.

Board certifies Franklin election

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The Macon County Board of Elections met Nov. 14 to certify the Franklin and Highlands municipal elections. Of the 2,922 people registered to vote in the Franklin election, 573 ballots were cast for a turnout of 19.61%.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Nishelle Henson received the Regional Teacher of the Year award for Western North Carolina. Joining her at a surprise celebration last week in the Macon Middle School gym are her husband Jon and sons Noah and Jacob.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Nishelle Henson received the Regional Teacher of the Year award for Western North Carolina. Joining her at a surprise celebration last week in the Macon Middle School gym are her husband Jon and sons Noah and Jacob.

Macon Middle teacher leads the region

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Students, faculty and administration gathered in the gym at Macon Middle School to surprise Nishelle Henson, the state’s 2026 regional teacher of the year.  The surprise was held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov.
Press photo/Mia Overton - The Macon County Board of Elections met Monday morning to tally the provisional ballots cast in the municipal elections. Pictured: Chair John Vanhook, Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley and Paul Niskanen.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Macon County Board of Elections met Monday morning to tally the provisional ballots cast in the municipal elections. Pictured: Chair John Vanhook, Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley and Paul Niskanen.

Voting in municipal elections

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
The Macon County Board of Elections held an emergency called meeting on Monday to tally and report the provisional ballots cast during the Franklin and Highlands municipal elections.  The board had planned to follow its usual procedure and report the provisional ballots at canvass, Nov. 14.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Construction continues on the new inclusive playground at Sunnyside Park in East Franklin. At the Nov. 3 Town Council meeting, the board approved a contract to build restrooms, parking and sidewalks at the park.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Construction continues on the new inclusive playground at Sunnyside Park in East Franklin. At the Nov. 3 Town Council meeting, the board approved a contract to build restrooms, parking and sidewalks at the park.

Bid approved for Sunnyside Park

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Despite not liking the price tag, the Franklin Town Council approved a bid for work at the new Sunnyside Park. Construction of the new inclusive playground continues at the park, located on what was formerly called the Whitmire property off First Street.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Stacy Guffey will take office as Franklin’s new mayor on Dec. 1.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Stacy Guffey will take office as Franklin’s new mayor on Dec. 1.

Guffey elected Franklin mayor

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
When the Franklin Town Council convenes in December there will be a new mayor and two new council members to take office, along with one incumbent. Stacy Guffey was elected mayor in last week’s election. Guffey has been on the Town Council since 2021 and currently serves as vice mayor.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - World War II veteran Paul Shepherd was recognized as the oldest living veteran in Macon County during the Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - World War II veteran Paul Shepherd was recognized as the oldest living veteran in Macon County during the Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday.

Veterans Day 2025

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Veterans marched up Main Street Tuesday for Franklin’s annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony. The veterans were led by a color guard and sorted according to service era by Scouts from Troops 202 and 4202 and Pack 263.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Marilyn Miller looks at photo album from World War I that belonged to her father, Leon Healy, who is pictured in the middle of the photo at right.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Marilyn Miller looks at photo album from World War I that belonged to her father, Leon Healy, who is pictured in the middle of the photo at right.

Salute to Veterans

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Brittle pages in a photo album give a glimpse back more than 100 years ago to “The Great War.” Leon C. Healy served with the U.S. Army in France during World War I. Pasted within the album are photos showing various scenes from World War I. President Wilson arriving in Brest, France.