Local

Press photo/Mia Overton - Members of the Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department listen during a report at the July 8 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Members of the Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department listen during a report at the July 8 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Fire department reports recruitment, training progress

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue (BIFR) says it has improved recruitment and training and will comply with state standards ahead of the July 31 deadline set by the county commissioners.
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Ballots set for town elections

News Staff
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Filing for the Town of Franklin and Highlands municipal elections closed at noon Friday, July 18.   Town of Franklin Mayor: Stacy J. Guffey and Matthew D. Holland Town Council (3 seats): Kelton Bailey, Jeff Berry, Tim Cook, Travis Higdon, Kore P. Newman, Rita Salain, Bob Scott and Paul A.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin mayor candidate Matthew Holland.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin mayor candidate Matthew Holland.

Holland makes run for Franklin mayor

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Just before filing closed on Friday, Matthew Holland added his name as the second candidate to run in the Town of Franklin mayor’s race. Holland will join current Vice Mayor Stacy Guffey on the ticket. Mayor Jack Horton announced in June that he would not run for reelection.
Press photos/Shelby Powell - A sizable crowd fills the Macon County Board of Health’s meeting room, where 15 community members spoke at a special meeting.

Press photos/Shelby Powell - A sizable crowd fills the Macon County Board of Health’s meeting room, where 15 community members spoke at a special meeting.

Public speaks out on Health Department

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
A public comment period at the Macon County Board of Health’s special meeting on July 17 saw 15 speakers comment on ongoing leadership struggles at the health department and the county commissioners’ recent proposal to bring the department under county control.
Photo submitted - An ingress/egress site, used by contractors to move equipment into and out of the river, yet to be remediated as of June 22, shows signs of erosion.

Photo submitted - An ingress/egress site, used by contractors to move equipment into and out of the river, yet to be remediated as of June 22, shows signs of erosion.

Locals petition county leaders on waterways

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
More than 90 Macon County residents signed a letter to the Board of County Commissioners condemning the county’s lack of oversight on contractors charged with waterway cleanup and urging the county leaders to more closely monitor the remediation of riverbanks by those same contractors.
Plan for park at the Whitmire property in East Franklin. The first phase will be an inclusive playground with construction set to begin in August.

Plan for park at the Whitmire property in East Franklin. The first phase will be an inclusive playground with construction set to begin in August.

Plan for Whitmire property moves forward

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
The plan for a new playground at the Whitmire property is moving another step forward. Construction of the $1.15 million inclusive playground is expected to begin in mid-August.
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Macon County looks to extend alcohol sales

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Sipping an adult beverage at a restaurant outside the Franklin city limits might be on the menu one day. County Commissioner Barry Breeden asked that the topic be added to the July 8 Board of Commissioners agenda and several residents spoke in favor of it during the public comment session.
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.