Local

Photo/Franklin Police Department - A Georgia woman driving a U-Haul led police on a chase through Macon County and into Mountain City, Georgia, on Saturday. According to FPD, the incident began when she hit a gas station employee with the truck door after being asked to move the truck away from the gas pumps.

Photo/Franklin Police Department - A Georgia woman driving a U-Haul led police on a chase through Macon County and into Mountain City, Georgia, on Saturday. According to FPD, the incident began when she hit a gas station employee with the truck door after being asked to move the truck away from the gas pumps.

Moving violation: Chase ends in Georgia

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
What started as an assault call led to a woman driving a U-Haul leading officers on a chase through southern Macon County and into Georgia, where the truck flipped on its side. Franklin Police Department received a call around 3:41 p.m. Saturday, Oct.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin High School students Reid Laseter, Samantha Wilson and Arianna Soto speak against the Macon County Board of Education’s bell-to-bell cell phone policy.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin High School students Reid Laseter, Samantha Wilson and Arianna Soto speak against the Macon County Board of Education’s bell-to-bell cell phone policy.

School board recalls cell phone ban

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
On Sept. 22, the Macon County Board of Education banned cell phones during school hours. On Oct. 20, it changed its mind.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - School board members Stephanie Laseter, Hilary Wilkes and Jim Breedlove discuss capital projects for the school system.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - School board members Stephanie Laseter, Hilary Wilkes and Jim Breedlove discuss capital projects for the school system.

Macon school board approves capital projects

News Staff
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
The Macon County Board of Education met in a special meeting last week to approve funding for time-sensitive and important capital outlay projects.  Projects with bids set to expire soon and projects that could pose a hazard for students, visitors or faculty were discussed.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Early voting for town elections starts Oct. 16

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Early voting for the Franklin and Highlands municipal elections begins Thursday, Oct. 16, and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 1 Voters can cast their ballots at the Robert Carpenter Community Building (1288 Georgia Rd.) or at the Highlands Civic Center (600 N. 4th St.).
Press photo/Mia Overton - An Amazon delivery truck parked at the Franklin facility in the Macon County Industrial Park. The company has been leasing the space from Tek-Tone but plans to close the delivery hub before the end of the year as a new facility opens in Hayesville.

Press photo/Mia Overton - An Amazon delivery truck parked at the Franklin facility in the Macon County Industrial Park. The company has been leasing the space from Tek-Tone but plans to close the delivery hub before the end of the year as a new facility opens in Hayesville.

Amazon closing Franklin delivery hub

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Workers at the Amazon delivery center in Franklin were notified on Oct. 8 that the facility would be closing. The closing, expected to happen before the end of the year, coincides with a new facility opening in Hayesville.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Community health programs coordinator Jennifer Germain speaks at the Sept. 23 Board of Health meeting.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Community health programs coordinator Jennifer Germain speaks at the Sept. 23 Board of Health meeting.

Community health program shows signs of progress

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The Macon County Health Department’s community health plan report card is online, tracking local progress toward addressing the county’s biggest public health priorities.  The annual Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is the 2025 counterpart for the annual Community Health Assessment (CHA).
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin High School students enrolled in the aviation program use flight simulators housed in the old terminal building at the Macon County Airport.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Franklin High School students enrolled in the aviation program use flight simulators housed in the old terminal building at the Macon County Airport.

Airport Authority expands use of old terminal

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
A new roof is coming to the old terminal building at the Macon County Airport, a step closer to finishing a refurbishment project and creating a new meeting space complete with a flight simulator.  Approval of the $114,758 contract with Carolina Builders took place at the Airport Authority’s Sept.
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.