Local

Press photo/Shelby Powell - County attorney Eric Ridenour discusses options for building a consolidated human services agency.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - County attorney Eric Ridenour discusses options for building a consolidated human services agency.

Commissioners back off health department takeover

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Commissioners heard options for building a consolidated Human Services Agency that would pair the Health Department with another county department, but the board agreed to put off a decision pending further research. The Macon County Board of Commissioners’ Sept.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Burningtown-Iotla Fire & Rescue Chief Kenneth McCaskill at the Sept. 9 commissioners meeting.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Burningtown-Iotla Fire & Rescue Chief Kenneth McCaskill at the Sept. 9 commissioners meeting.

County terminates fire department contract

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
The Macon County Board of Commissioners terminated the county’s contract with Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue after the volunteer department spent more than a year on probation. The vote at the Sept. 9 commissioners meeting was made following a failed fire scene setup exercise on Sept. 5.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin Police Officer Jonathan Lauffer and Sgt. Matthew Bingham present flags for the 9/11 memorial service.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin Police Officer Jonathan Lauffer and Sgt. Matthew Bingham present flags for the 9/11 memorial service.

Never Forget

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
A 9/11 remembrance ceremony was held Thursday morning at the gazebo in downtown Franklin. The event was organized by Franklin Fire and Rescue Chief Ben Ormond, Dave Linn, Chaplain Bonnie Peggs and Franklin Police Chief Devin Holland. Men’s Challenge of the Smokies sang the National Anthem.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Stephanie Almeida of Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Stephanie Almeida of Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction

Harm reduction strategy same for new drugs

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Additives slipped into illegal drugs can have tragic and unpredictable consequences, but the damage can be mitigated. The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office recently put out a warning for an illicit drug called “Zene,” short for Isotonitazene or nitazene.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Macon County Schools Superintendent Josh Lynch speaks at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues Business Forum on Sept. 5.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Macon County Schools Superintendent Josh Lynch speaks at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues Business Forum on Sept. 5.

Lynch: CTE benefits students and community

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Macon County Schools’ CTE program makes graduates an attractive hiring choice to many local businesses. Superintendent Josh Lynch gave an update on the school system and the Career and Technical Education program at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues Business Forum on Sept. 5.
Press file photo - Former Sheriff Homer Holbrooks pins the sheriff’s badge on his son, Brent, following his election in 2022.

Press file photo - Former Sheriff Homer Holbrooks pins the sheriff’s badge on his son, Brent, following his election in 2022.

Former Sherriff Holbrooks passes at 77

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Homer Holbrooks, Macon County Sheriff from 1986 to 2002 and father of Sheriff Brent Holbrooks, passed away at age 77 on Aug. 29. Holbrooks was born on March 23, 1948, and grew up in the Cartoogechaye and Burningtown communities.
Press photo/Mia Overton - An electronic sign on Town Hill alerts drivers to their speed as they approach Main Stree

Press photo/Mia Overton - An electronic sign on Town Hill alerts drivers to their speed as they approach Main Stree

Putting the brakes on speeders

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The Franklin Town Council approved the purchase of 10 speed cushions last week in an attempt to further combat speeding issues in town.
Press photo/Mia Overton. The First Presbyterian Church Men’s Group and 828 Vets are teaming up again for the annual Help Homeless Veterans Week. Donation buckets will be placed at 55 businesses around town. (Front, from left) Dave Porter and Bill Garren of 828 Vets and Ned Kraft of the Presbyterian Men’s Group along with Men’s Group members (back row) Carl Winter, Jeff Stevens and Tom Fagg. Franklin Mayor Jack Horton presented a proclamation on Aug. 4 designating Sept. 7-13 as Help Homeless Veterans Week.

Press photo/Mia Overton. The First Presbyterian Church Men’s Group and 828 Vets are teaming up again for the annual Help Homeless Veterans Week. Donation buckets will be placed at 55 businesses around town. (Front, from left) Dave Porter and Bill Garren of 828 Vets and Ned Kraft of the Presbyterian Men’s Group along with Men’s Group members (back row) Carl Winter, Jeff Stevens and Tom Fagg. Franklin Mayor Jack Horton presented a proclamation on Aug. 4 designating Sept. 7-13 as Help Homeless Veterans Week.

Groups team up to help veterans

Mia Overton
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
As you are out and about town in the coming week, you may see donation collection buckets from the Franklin First Presbyterian Church Men’s Group. This is the week they set aside each year to raise money to help veterans in the area. Last year they raised $13,200.
Press photo/Shelby Powell. The Macon County Board of Health elected Garrett Higdon as its new chair.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. The Macon County Board of Health elected Garrett Higdon as its new chair.

Board of Health elects new chair

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The Macon County Board of Health elected Garrett Higdon as its new chair following the resignation of former chair Jerry Hermanson. At the Aug.
Press photo/Mia Overton. A Macon County school bus as it navigates the roundabout at Wayah and Depot streets. A shortage of bus drivers has left some parents struggling to get their children to school on time and having to leave work early for afternoon pickups.

Press photo/Mia Overton. A Macon County school bus as it navigates the roundabout at Wayah and Depot streets. A shortage of bus drivers has left some parents struggling to get their children to school on time and having to leave work early for afternoon pickups.

Parents: We need more bus drivers

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Some Macon County parents are struggling to get their children to school with the school system down five drivers for its bus routes. Just days before school started on Aug. 25, Macon County Schools was short drivers for seven bus routes. A local parent stepped up to fill one vacancy.