Local

Image/Macon County Schools. A drawing of the new FHS campus as presented in October 2023.

Image/Macon County Schools. A drawing of the new FHS campus as presented in October 2023.

Public hearing on FHS financing set for August

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Macon County will hold a public hearing on the financing for the Franklin High School project in August as the county aims to get state approval in September. Construction could begin in October or November.
Graphic/Metro Creative

Graphic/Metro Creative

School Board approves lunch, Pre-K tuition increases

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
School lunches at Franklin High School and Highlands School will be $4 for the upcoming school year and Pre-K monthly rates will increase 50% in the next three years as part of what were termed necessary adjustments Monday by the Macon County Board of Education.
Photo/Bob Scott. Eight fire departments from throughout the county responded to a July 17 fire at Liberty Wood Products. The company has temporarily halted work while they wait to get information about repairs to the building.

Photo/Bob Scott. Eight fire departments from throughout the county responded to a July 17 fire at Liberty Wood Products. The company has temporarily halted work while they wait to get information about repairs to the building.

Liberty Wood Products fire under investigation

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
A July 17 fire damaged a Macon County business and has left its employees temporarily out of work. An investigation into the cause of the fire continues. A call came into the Macon County 911 center at 6:05 a.m.
Source: Little T Broadband - A map of the broadband projects in Macon County, including the new BalsamWest CAB Grant in red, as of July 9, 2024.

Source: Little T Broadband - A map of the broadband projects in Macon County, including the new BalsamWest CAB Grant in red, as of July 9, 2024.

Update on Macon County broadband projects

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Macon County’s second broadband project this decade is finished and three more that will bring service to 4,000 new locations are starting soon.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Due to the large number of people attending, the July 9 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting was moved from the boardroom to the courtroom on the fourth floor of the Courthouse. Thirty-eight people spoke during the public hearings.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Due to the large number of people attending, the July 9 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting was moved from the boardroom to the courtroom on the fourth floor of the Courthouse. Thirty-eight people spoke during the public hearings.

County pauses flood plain changes

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Before the public comments started, Macon County Board of Commissioners Chair Gary Shields told the overflow crowd at the July 9 meeting that he would ask to table three ordinance changes after each public hearing.
Photo submitted - Local drone pilot Eric Haggart

Photo submitted - Local drone pilot Eric Haggart

Local drone pilot concerned after gun incident

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
A local drone pilot hopes more people’s suspicions of drones relax following a recent incident where a landowner tried to shoot one down while the pilot searched for a lost pet. Macon County photographer Eric Haggart is an eight-year licensed drone operator.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Most Macon County 2024 elections will be uncontested

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
The clock striking noon on Friday, July 5, signaled the end of a month-long registration period for Macon County’s four nonpartisan political offices up for re-election this November. But only one of those elections will have more than one name on the ballot.
Press file photo - Pictured are the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education meeting in May at the FHS Fine Arts Center. It has been suggested that the two boards hold joint monthly meetings to talk about the ongoing construction projects.

Press file photo - Pictured are the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education meeting in May at the FHS Fine Arts Center. It has been suggested that the two boards hold joint monthly meetings to talk about the ongoing construction projects.

School board members respond to commissioners about construction experience

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
One Macon County school board member said recent county commissioner comments decrying their experience were “infuriating” as the board expressed a desire for more joint meetings as major capital projects get underway.
Press photo/Mia Overton - During the July 1 Franklin Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Bill Deal (right) recognized his staff members who recently completed certification training. Jon Sanders (left) received Collections 1 certification and Rusty Cortopassi completed Collections 2 training. Both are equipment operators with the public works department. Water treatment plant operator Korah Shepherd (not pictured) received B Certification.

Press photo/Mia Overton - During the July 1 Franklin Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Bill Deal (right) recognized his staff members who recently completed certification training. Jon Sanders (left) received Collections 1 certification and Rusty Cortopassi completed Collections 2 training. Both are equipment operators with the public works department. Water treatment plant operator Korah Shepherd (not pictured) received B Certification.

Town mulls ways to spend ARPA money

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
The clock is ticking on the Town of Franklin’s remaining $421,761 in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded during the COVID pandemic.
Press graphic

Press graphic

County sees uptick in drug overdoses

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, July 1, 2024
A string of overdose deaths in Macon County has local law enforcement and outreach nonprofit groups trying to find ways to combat more potent drugs in the area. In one week in late May/early June, there were five overdoses in Macon County, three resulting in deaths.