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Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County Health Department staff, including Public Health Director Kathy McGaha (second from left) listen to issues brought up during the joint meeting of the Board of Health and the Macon County Board of Commissioners on July 9.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County Health Department staff, including Public Health Director Kathy McGaha (second from left) listen to issues brought up during the joint meeting of the Board of Health and the Macon County Board of Commissioners on July 9.

County wants control of Health Dept.

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
The Macon County Board of Commissioners is considering bringing the Health Department under its control. The commissioners and the Board of Health held a joint meeting as part of the commissioners’ July 8 meeting.
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SNAP cuts: ‘More hungry children, families’

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Nearly 10% of Macon County’s residents receive help through SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Legislation passed in Congress on July 3, will see changes to SNAP benefits. The full impact the legislation will have on Macon County’s 3,855 SNAP recipients is not yet known.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Workers maneuver a double-wide prebuilt house into a lot to replace a home lost to Hurricane Helene damage, letting Madeline Maynard move back onto the mountain after nine months without a home.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Workers maneuver a double-wide prebuilt house into a lot to replace a home lost to Hurricane Helene damage, letting Madeline Maynard move back onto the mountain after nine months without a home.

Woman left homeless after Helene finds hope

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Mountain Alliance delivered a prebuilt home to lifelong Franklin resident Madeline Maynard and her 17-year-old son Wednesday, replacing a family home that had been destroyed by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Independence Day parade on Main Street, Franklin.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Independence Day parade on Main Street, Franklin.

July 4th celebration

News Staff
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
The Town of Franklin, Macon County and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce teamed up to present a day full of festivities for the July Fourth holiday.
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County requests proposals for animal services

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
As part of an ongoing effort to manage Macon County Animal Services more effectively, the county put out a request for proposals on June 12 for firms interested in the administration and operation of the animal shelter.
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Press photo

Produce Rx program helps people eat healthier

News Staff
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Christian A. Ray, Intern - thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com The Macon County Health Department has received a grant that will supply fresh, healthy produce to local families. “This initiative is a great example of cross-sector collaboration – linking health, agriculture and social services.
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Filing for town election opens July 7

News Staff
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Filing for the Town of Franklin and Highlands elections opens Monday, July 7. Candidates will have until noon Friday, July 18 to file. The town elections are non-partisan.
Photo/Bob Scott Law - enforcement from multiple agencies converged on Highway 64 in Macon County as they stopped Kelvin Simmons, who is charged in the shooting death of a detention officer in Cherokee County. Simmons led officers on a chase through Clay County into Macon County Monday afternoon.

Photo/Bob Scott Law - enforcement from multiple agencies converged on Highway 64 in Macon County as they stopped Kelvin Simmons, who is charged in the shooting death of a detention officer in Cherokee County. Simmons led officers on a chase through Clay County into Macon County Monday afternoon.

Officer killed in shooting

News Staff
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Randy Foster - editor@cherokeescout.com A federal inmate shot and killed a guard during a medical appointment Monday afternoon in Murphy, then led law enforcement officials on an hour-long chase that ended with his recapture in Macon County. Detention Sgt.