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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.
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.