Local

Press photo/Mia Overton - Alpine Cottages resident Ted Pitcher addresses the Franklin Town Council about the community’s $9,000 water bill after a leak in the development’s water system.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Alpine Cottages resident Ted Pitcher addresses the Franklin Town Council about the community’s $9,000 water bill after a leak in the development’s water system.

Residents ask for relief with $9,000 water bill

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Two residents from the Alpine Cottages community came to the Franklin Town Council after their community received a $9,000 water bill. Town Manager Amie Owens said a pipe on the property had burst and leaked about 2,000 gallons an hour, resulting in a total of about 900,000 gallons over 19 days.
Photo/Shelby Powell - Children and their families rush the field at the fifth annual Easter Egg Drop at South Macon Elementary.

Photo/Shelby Powell - Children and their families rush the field at the fifth annual Easter Egg Drop at South Macon Elementary.

Church air drops 10,000 Easter eggs

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
LifeSpring Community Church heralded the coming of Easter with its fifth annual egg drop at South Macon Elementary School on Saturday, dropping more than 10,000 Easter eggs for a crowd of children as young as two up to pre-teens.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kevin Sinden of Countryside Chevrolet said the country’s three big automakers are working on a plan to address the auto tariffs.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kevin Sinden of Countryside Chevrolet said the country’s three big automakers are working on a plan to address the auto tariffs.

Local dealerships have mixed responses on auto tariffs

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
As worldwide markets reel from President Donald Trump’s broad application of tariffs, which include a 25% tariff on automobiles and auto parts from Canada and Mexico, local car dealers appear to be taking their cues from corporate, implementing sales and deals or awaiting further advice on how the...
Press photo/Christian A. Ray - In conjunction with demonstrations held across the country, a “Hands Off” rally was held in downtown Franklin on Saturday, April 5, with about 300 people attending.

Press photo/Christian A. Ray - In conjunction with demonstrations held across the country, a “Hands Off” rally was held in downtown Franklin on Saturday, April 5, with about 300 people attending.

Protestors to government: ‘Hands Off’

News Staff
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Christian A. Ray, Intern thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com About 300 people gathered at the gazebo on Saturday, April 5, for the “Hands Off” rally in downtown Franklin. Similar demonstrations were held across the 50 states to voice concerns about Trump’s management of the country.
Press photo/Mia Overton. Public Health Finance Director Melissa Setzer presents the department’s budget requests at the March 25 Board of Health meeting.

Press photo/Mia Overton. Public Health Finance Director Melissa Setzer presents the department’s budget requests at the March 25 Board of Health meeting.

Staff shortage, pay concerns top Health Department concerns

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Filling vacant positions and pay rates for Public Health employees were among the topics of discussion during the department’s budget presentation at the Macon County Board of Health meeting on March 25.
Graphic/NC Forest Service

Graphic/NC Forest Service

Area wildfires continue to burn

News Staff
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Shelby Powell reporter@thefranklinpress.com Wildfires have peppered Western North Carolina for weeks amid a statewide burn ban from the North Carolina Forest Service and separate bans from the Macon County and Franklin governments.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Veterans receiving Quilts of Valor from Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild on March 27. More photos are posted on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Veterans receiving Quilts of Valor from Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild on March 27. More photos are posted on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Honoring veterans

News Staff
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Staff Reports The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild presented six Quilts of Valor during the 828 Vets open house on Thursday, March 27. Receiving quilts were (seated) Nichole Garcia, Trina Pullian, Daniel Fenimore; (back row) Douglas Adams, Richard Cancellier, Michael “Oppie” Sewell and Bill Hutson.
Press photo - The front entrance of East Franklin Elementary, originally constructed in 1950.

Press photo - The front entrance of East Franklin Elementary, originally constructed in 1950.

New East Franklin School on capital project list

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
A plan for the senior center, rebuilding an elementary school and the first two phases of refurbishing the Macon County Recreation Park were part of a preliminary five-year Capital Improvement Plan presented last week to the Macon County Board of Commissioners.
Press file photo - Macon Early College senior Laura Covarrubias takes first place for Franklin in the 100-meter dash at the Western Carolina University Kickoff Invitational March 7. After more than three years of MEC athletes competing for Franklin, the school plans to field its own athletic teams beginning next school year.

Press file photo - Macon Early College senior Laura Covarrubias takes first place for Franklin in the 100-meter dash at the Western Carolina University Kickoff Invitational March 7. After more than three years of MEC athletes competing for Franklin, the school plans to field its own athletic teams beginning next school year.

Macon Early College ‘ready to play’

News Staff
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Ryan Hanchett - rhanchett@highlandsnews.com Athletics was the theme of the night during the Macon County Board of Education meeting at Highlands School on Monday, March 24.