Local

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin has entered a contract with the option to buy this building on Carolina Drive to house the ABC store, which would move from its current location in Macon Plaza.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin has entered a contract with the option to buy this building on Carolina Drive to house the ABC store, which would move from its current location in Macon Plaza.

Town looks to buy building for ABC store

Mia Overton
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Following a closed session on Sept. 3 to discuss property and personnel matters, the Franklin Town Council unanimously voted to enter a contract to purchase a building for the ABC store.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Jason Love (at left with laptop computer) shares a presentation with the Water Quality Advisory Committee during an Aug. 28 meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Jason Love (at left with laptop computer) shares a presentation with the Water Quality Advisory Committee during an Aug. 28 meeting.

Water Quality Committee to make report to County Commissioners

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Ahead of the possible votes on changes to land management and floodplains in Macon County, a group works to convince the county commissioners to halt the changes. The Water Quality Advisory Committee was formed in the last couple of weeks, first meeting the week of Aug. 19.
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Absentee ballots to be mailed out Sept. 6

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Absentee ballots will be mailed starting this Friday, Sept. 6, for the 2024 General Election, and North Carolina’s ballot will include seven presidential candidates. Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot where absentee voting is permitted.
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Macon County makes gain in farmland production

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
The recently completed Macon County Farmland Protection Plan found more land is farmed locally than 15 years ago, and the number of producers and products sold is up in that period. This plan is the result of a 2022 N.C.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Main Street in Franklin is a state highway and is on the DOT’s schedule to be paved in 2028. Town of Franklin officials are working to get the DOT to make the needed improvements before then.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Main Street in Franklin is a state highway and is on the DOT’s schedule to be paved in 2028. Town of Franklin officials are working to get the DOT to make the needed improvements before then.

Town of Franklin wants DOT to make Main Street a priority

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
The condition of Main Street was a topic of conversation during the Street Department’s report at the August Franklin Town Council meeting. Mayor Jack Horton said someone had recently asked him when the town was going to pave Main Street.
(From left) Matt Holland, chair of the Macon County Young Progressive Voters, and Betsy Baste, third vice chair of the Macon County Democratic Party speak at the beginning of the school board forum on Aug. 25 with candidates Jim Breedlove and John deVille.

(From left) Matt Holland, chair of the Macon County Young Progressive Voters, and Betsy Baste, third vice chair of the Macon County Democratic Party speak at the beginning of the school board forum on Aug. 25 with candidates Jim Breedlove and John deVille.

Macon County school board candidates quizzed

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
The Sunday evening before school started on Monday found two retired teachers pitted against school board candidates in an “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” match up on the stage at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center. The trivia contest on Aug.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Schools’ Nutrition Director David Lightner (standing, center) is joined by Board of Education members Hilary Wilkes and Jim Breedlove in asking for county funds to cover free lunch for students at Franklin High School and Highlands School for the coming school year.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Schools’ Nutrition Director David Lightner (standing, center) is joined by Board of Education members Hilary Wilkes and Jim Breedlove in asking for county funds to cover free lunch for students at Franklin High School and Highlands School for the coming school year.

Free lunches for all

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
By a 3-2 commissioners’ vote, Macon County will fund up to $200,000 for free lunches for Franklin High School and Highlands K-12 School in the 2024-25 school year.
NEWS Graphic - County passes change to erosion control plan

NEWS Graphic - County passes change to erosion control plan

County passes change to erosion control plan

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
After cutting public comment short due to reaching the time limit and telling roughly a dozen attendees that they could voice their thoughts on proposed changes to the Soil and Erosion Sediment Control plan at next month’s meeting, the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to loosen those...