Local

Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers board a Macon County Transit van during a previous hiker season. The MCT Hiker Route shuttles hikers from the Appalachian Trail at Winding Stair Gap and Rock Gap to various locations around town.

Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers board a Macon County Transit van during a previous hiker season. The MCT Hiker Route shuttles hikers from the Appalachian Trail at Winding Stair Gap and Rock Gap to various locations around town.

AT shuttle starts up for hiker season

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Despite disagreement last year over in-town drop-off points, the Appalachian Trail hiker shuttle offered by Macon County Transit has returned in 2025.
New Board of Health member Steve Grissim (right) and Dr. Carlos Vargas at the Feb. 25 Board of Health meeting.

New Board of Health member Steve Grissim (right) and Dr. Carlos Vargas at the Feb. 25 Board of Health meeting.

Animal Services gets new staff, maintenance work

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Macon County Animal Services has gotten maintenance work and is actively seeking new employees as the surrender rate dropped in January, according to an update given at the Feb. 25 Board of Health meeting.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Some of the newly created handicap parking spaces at Macon Middle School, designed for those attending baseball and track and field events.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Some of the newly created handicap parking spaces at Macon Middle School, designed for those attending baseball and track and field events.

New handicap parking spaces created at MMS

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
People who need handicap parking access now have designated parking spaces at the Macon Middle School track and ball fields. Macon County Schools Maintenance Director Tracy Tallent told the Board of Education on Feb.
Press file photo - The Macon County Board of Commissioners rejected two more bids on the old Gulf station in East Franklin. It was suggested the county keep the building and possibly use it for office space.

Press file photo - The Macon County Board of Commissioners rejected two more bids on the old Gulf station in East Franklin. It was suggested the county keep the building and possibly use it for office space.

New county offices coming to East Franklin?

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The Macon County Commissioners rejected two new bids for the recently in-demand Gulf station property and pondered using the building to house government offices. The 0.37-acre tract of land at 651 E.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter - Otto Volunteer Fire and Rescue members, past and present, celebrate the start of construction of a new firehouse at 8249 Georgia Road, on Monday, Feb. 24.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter - Otto Volunteer Fire and Rescue members, past and present, celebrate the start of construction of a new firehouse at 8249 Georgia Road, on Monday, Feb. 24.

Otto VFD breaks ground on new fire station

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
To meet the growing needs of the Otto community and southern Macon County, the Otto Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department held a groundbreaking on Feb. 24 for its future 15,000-square-foot fire station, slated to be completed in 2026. “It’s not for us.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Joey Cain, FHS project superintendent, gives an update to the Macon County commissioners on Feb. 11. Construction of the new Franklin High School stadium is expected to be completed by spring 2026, which will allow the Panthers to play at home that season.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Joey Cain, FHS project superintendent, gives an update to the Macon County commissioners on Feb. 11. Construction of the new Franklin High School stadium is expected to be completed by spring 2026, which will allow the Panthers to play at home that season.

New FHS stadium on track for spring 2026

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Franklin High School’s new stadium will be finished in roughly 15 months and the new 265,000 square-foot school will be ready by summer 2027, the project superintendent said last week. Joey Cain, Carroll Daniel Construction superintendent shared the news at the Feb.
Photo by Thomas Sherrill - A packed house listens to Joanne Rosner speaking to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Photo by Thomas Sherrill - A packed house listens to Joanne Rosner speaking to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Animal shelter supporters want more funding

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Animal shelter volunteers and workers filled the Macon County commissioners’ chamber on Feb. 11 to press the board to invest in the county’s animal services to combat the local rise in strays and surrenders.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Workers make repairs to the Clock Tower in downtown Franklin on Friday, Feb. 7.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Workers make repairs to the Clock Tower in downtown Franklin on Friday, Feb. 7.

Clock tower renovations underway

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
A plan to replace the trees around the clock tower square is in place as crews work on the tower in downtown Franklin. Scaffolding was installed around the clock tower after the Macon County Commissioners gave approval on Jan. 14 to start.