Local

Photo/Highlander - NC106 reopened on Christmas Eve following repairs to the road which was damaged during Hurricane Helene. Over this past weekend there was a small rockslide, but it has been cleaned up and the road is clear.

Photo/Highlander - NC106 reopened on Christmas Eve following repairs to the road which was damaged during Hurricane Helene. Over this past weekend there was a small rockslide, but it has been cleaned up and the road is clear.

Highway 106 reopens after Helene repairs

News Staff
Monday, December 30, 2024
Ryan Hanchett - rhanchett@highlandsnews.com While it didn’t reach the level of a Christmas miracle, motorists in Highlands and surrounding communities were treated to a pleasant surprise on Christmas Eve when NC106 reopened to vehicle traffic following an eight-week closure.
Press file photo - The Macon County Planning Board is slated to discuss the Lake Emory Dam at its Jan. 2 meeting. This follows a request made in 2024 by now-former Commissioner Paul Higdon to research the possibility of removing the dam. Higdon said removing the dam would make the Little Tennessee River more free-flowing and a great recreational asset. The 36-foot-high, 463-foot-long gravity dam is owned by Northbrook Carolina Hydro II LLC.

Press file photo - The Macon County Planning Board is slated to discuss the Lake Emory Dam at its Jan. 2 meeting. This follows a request made in 2024 by now-former Commissioner Paul Higdon to research the possibility of removing the dam. Higdon said removing the dam would make the Little Tennessee River more free-flowing and a great recreational asset. The 36-foot-high, 463-foot-long gravity dam is owned by Northbrook Carolina Hydro II LLC.

Floodplain fill back on agenda for Jan. 2 meeting

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, December 30, 2024
For the last year, there has been much discussion and debate about proposed amendments to Macon County ordinances regarding flood damage prevention, soil erosion and sedimentation control, and water supply watershed protection.
Press file photo. The 11th annual New Year’s Eve Ruby Drop will include two drops (9 p.m. and midnight), live music, carriage rides and a photo booth.

Press file photo. The 11th annual New Year’s Eve Ruby Drop will include two drops (9 p.m. and midnight), live music, carriage rides and a photo booth.

Ruby Drop 2024

News Staff
Monday, December 23, 2024
Residents need not be alarmed when they see a big red object hovering over downtown Franklin on New Year’s Eve. Unlike the recent phenomenon elsewhere in America, this object is identified and familiar.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill. School board members Jim Breedlove and Hilary Wilkes listen to a presentation at a Dec. 16 meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill. School board members Jim Breedlove and Hilary Wilkes listen to a presentation at a Dec. 16 meeting.

Highlands School heating mistake ‘unacceptable’

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, December 23, 2024
Recent tensions and finger-pointing between Macon County Schools officials and Highlands School construction officials regarding project specifics have led to blunt questions and demands to fix those issues.
Press photo/Eric Braham. The nativity scene on the Courthouse square, Main Street in Franklin.

Press photo/Eric Braham. The nativity scene on the Courthouse square, Main Street in Franklin.

Merry Christmas

News Staff
Sunday, December 22, 2024
After weeks of anticipation, shopping and wrapping gifts, school and church programs, decorating and cooking, Christmas arrives Wednesday, Dec. 25. Due to the holiday being on our usual publication day, The Franklin Press will publish early this week.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Health Chair Dr. Jerry Hermanson presents a request for an animal shelter attendant.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Health Chair Dr. Jerry Hermanson presents a request for an animal shelter attendant.

Commissioners delay action on animal control position

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
A request to transition funding to hire an animal shelter attendant got stonewalled by the Macon County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10, with one commissioner suggesting the county should divest from animal control due to what he feels is animal services’ ineffectiveness.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Teacher charged with having gun on campus

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
An East Franklin Elementary fourth-grade teacher is facing a felony charge for allegedly bringing a firearm to campus. According to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 12 a school resource officer reported an employee had brought a firearm to East Franklin Elementary.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The large cracks in the Mountain View Intermediate main parking lot are a constant trip hazard and a top priority for repaving.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The large cracks in the Mountain View Intermediate main parking lot are a constant trip hazard and a top priority for repaving.

School Board approves capital outlay requests

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Resurfacing the Mountain View Intermediate parking lot and adding carpet to Macon Middle School are two of the 14 capital outlay changes the Macon County Board of Education unanimously approved Monday, Dec. 2.