Local

Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Social Security office in Franklin remains open despite the federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1. A sign on the door states local offices cannot replace Medicare cards or issue proof of income letters (though both services are available online) or update and correct earnings records.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Social Security office in Franklin remains open despite the federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1. A sign on the door states local offices cannot replace Medicare cards or issue proof of income letters (though both services are available online) or update and correct earnings records.

Government shutdown has little effect on local services

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
A federal government shutdown started on Oct. 1, closing various government offices and furloughing thousands of federal employees. In Macon County, most services remain operational, but FSA payments to farmers could be delayed.
Press file photo - The Franklin Town Council met Oct. 6 and approved an infrastructure incentive grant program to help local businesses retain and recruit jobs. Pictured: Franklin Town Hall on East Main Street.

Press file photo - The Franklin Town Council met Oct. 6 and approved an infrastructure incentive grant program to help local businesses retain and recruit jobs. Pictured: Franklin Town Hall on East Main Street.

Town offers grants to help retain jobs

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The Franklin Town Council has approved a grant program meant to help businesses with infrastructure needs that would in turn retain or create new jobs.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Michelle Ortega (right) was crowned Franklin High School Homecoming Queen as Maid of Honor Abigail Pope and principal Blair King look on.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Michelle Ortega (right) was crowned Franklin High School Homecoming Queen as Maid of Honor Abigail Pope and principal Blair King look on.

Ortega crowned Homecoming Queen

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The 2025 Franklin High School homecoming ceremony was held during halftime of the Franklin vs. Tuscola game at Western Carolina University on Oct. 3. Due to construction at the high school, Franklin’s “home” games are being played at WCU this season.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Logan Dennis (left) and Alejandro Martinez (right) talk to Job Corps guests about masonry tools.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Logan Dennis (left) and Alejandro Martinez (right) talk to Job Corps guests about masonry tools.

Learning in-demand skills at Job Corps

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
In an open house last week, the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps students showed off the projects they have been working on, talked about their respective programs, and demonstrated the skills they’ve gained. The open house on Friday, Sept.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Newly appointed Board of Health members Ava Ammons and Dr. Michael Toedt at their first meeting on Sept. 23.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Newly appointed Board of Health members Ava Ammons and Dr. Michael Toedt at their first meeting on Sept. 23.

Health board discusses consolidation

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
The health board is open to building a Consolidated Human Services Agency but wants more details on what departments would be consolidated before supporting the shift. At the Sept.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Diedre Breeden (right) discusses cell phone policy at the Board of Education’s Sept. 22 meeting as board member Melissa Evans listens.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Diedre Breeden (right) discusses cell phone policy at the Board of Education’s Sept. 22 meeting as board member Melissa Evans listens.

No cell phone use in Macon schools

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
The Macon County Board of Education approved a new policy banning wireless devices from “bell to bell.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Macon Schools seek to improve absentee rate

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a time to put some extra attention on the ongoing issue of chronic absenteeism in North Carolina schools. Chronic absenteeism is defined as students missing 10% or more of their school year.
Press file photo - The Little Tennessee River as seen on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, after Helene brought heavy rain to Macon County.

Press file photo - The Little Tennessee River as seen on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, after Helene brought heavy rain to Macon County.

Hurricane Helene, one year later

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Between Sept. 26 and 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck the U.S. and carved up devastation through several southeastern states, including many communities in Western North Carolina. A year later, much of the recovery has been completed, while some efforts still have a long way to go.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Emergency personnel respond to a plane crash Thursday afternoon in a field west of Iotla Valley Elementary School. The three people aboard will killed.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Emergency personnel respond to a plane crash Thursday afternoon in a field west of Iotla Valley Elementary School. The three people aboard will killed.

Three lost in plane crash

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Three people were killed Thursday afternoon when a single-engine aircraft crashed in the Iotla community. Grammy award-winning songwriter Brett James, 57, was killed in the crash alongside his wife, Melody Wilson, 59, and stepdaughter, Meryl Wilson.
Press photo - The old Ball Creek Weir, part of the Coweeta Creek basin at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in Otto, where rain data has been collected for more than 90 years.

Press photo - The old Ball Creek Weir, part of the Coweeta Creek basin at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in Otto, where rain data has been collected for more than 90 years.

Coweeta Hydrologic Lab could be on chopping block

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
The Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory could face closure if a federal reorganization effort moves forward unchallenged. A memo from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins outlined a reorganization effort for the U.S.