Local

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Joey Gibson speaks at the Aug. 21 Behavioral Health Task Force meeting as Ronnie Beale listens.

Community Care continues making house calls

Shelby Powell

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Macon County’s Community Care Program once managed no more than 15 patients at a time. Today it handles more than 90, all free of charge.

Photo courtesy of Eric Haggart - An aerial view of the Franklin High School construction site.

FHS stadium work on track

Shelby Powell

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Rain caused some delays in the Franklin High School construction over the summer. However, Carroll Daniel construction superintendent Joey Cain, said the weather has not exceeded the company’s projections for the year, and workers were able to make necessary progress ahead of the new academic year.

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Manslaughter charge dismissed

Shelby Powell

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Voluntary manslaughter charges have been dismissed against Ashton Stiwinter after the prosecution conceded it does not have the burden of proof required to convict.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Mrs. Merritt’s fourth grade having fun on their first day back at Cartoogechaye Elementary School.

Back to School

News Staff

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Macon County students headed back to school on Monday, Aug. 25. “The first day of school was full of excitement and joy across Macon County schools.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin is offering incentive grants so businesses can make improvements to their buildings. The first grant was awarded to Kitchen Sink for a new awning.

Franklin offers incentive grants for downtown businesses

Mia Overton

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Franklin Town Council has set aside money to help local businesses and approved its first grant application on Aug. 4. The 2025-26 budget includes $60,000 for economic development. At its retreat in February, council members talked about ways it could offer incentives for downtown businesses.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Macon County Board of Education members at a budget work session on Aug. 12.

Macon County school system faces budget shortfall

News Staff

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

With school starting next week, Macon County Schools faces a $1.7 million budget shortfall in local funding. The Board of Commissioners allocated an increase of $409,380 for the school system, bringing the total local 2025-26 operational budget to $9,816,628.

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FHS, Highlands school lunches set at $4

Shelby Powell

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

After a year of free lunches for everyone, some Franklin High and Highlands School students will pay $4 for school lunches this year. Macon County Schools is encouraging more parents to complete the school meal applications to determine if students qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin will make an offer of $910,000 on the old Angel Hospital site. The town has contracted with DFI to study the possibility of housing and/or retail space on the site.

Town makes offer on old Angel site

Mia Overton

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Town of Franklin is starting negotiations to buy the old Angel Hospital site on Riverview Street. The Town Council met in a closed session Monday morning followed by a vote on a resolution to authorize the purchase of the 14-acre property.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue Chief Kenneth McCaskill at the Aug. 12 Board of Commissioners meeting.

Fire department remains on probation

Shelby Powell

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue found itself again in the hot seat after Fire Marshal Jimmy Teem could not recommend the department be removed from probation.

Graphic submitted - A concept drawing of the Franklin Farm Hub along Lakeside Drive and the Little Tennessee River.

Planting pathways for food access

Mia Overton

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

A new plan to connect people with local food is taking root along the Little Tennessee River.