Local

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Gary Shields, Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young vote for solid waste fee hikes during a special called meeting on Monday, June 26. Commissioner John Shearl, sitting next to Young, voted against the fee increases. Also pictured is Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl (far left) and County Finance Director Lori Carpenter (far right).

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Gary Shields, Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young vote for solid waste fee hikes during a special called meeting on Monday, June 26. Commissioner John Shearl, sitting next to Young, voted against the fee increases. Also pictured is Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl (far left) and County Finance Director Lori Carpenter (far right).

County approves solid waste fees increase

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Contention and confusion, specifically by one commissioner, over solid waste fee increases, led to a vote that approved those hikes after an hour-long Board of Commissioners meeting Monday morning.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Franklin Chamber of Commerce was one of two buildings damaged after a man rammed his truck into the buildings on the morning of June 23. The other building hit was First Bank, where the man was seen hitting the ATM with a helmet.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Franklin Chamber of Commerce was one of two buildings damaged after a man rammed his truck into the buildings on the morning of June 23. The other building hit was First Bank, where the man was seen hitting the ATM with a helmet.

Otto man arrested after hitting buildings

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
An Otto man is facing felony fleeing charges after leading Franklin Police officers on an early morning chase and then driving into the Franklin Chamber of Commerce building. According to FPD Chief Devin Holland, on Friday, June 23, at 4:01 a.m.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Gary Shields (left) makes a point about the Macon Middle School track during a discussion at the June 13 commissioners’ meeting. Also pictured are Commissioner Danny Antoine and Chair Paul Higdon.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Gary Shields (left) makes a point about the Macon Middle School track during a discussion at the June 13 commissioners’ meeting. Also pictured are Commissioner Danny Antoine and Chair Paul Higdon.

Higdon property lease approved

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
By a 4-1 vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement that will lease the Higdon property across from Franklin High School to Macon County Schools. The county entered a $1.
Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
The Franklin Town Council held a special called meeting on June 15 and unanimously approved its $11,080,577 budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioner Josh Young discuss the county’s 2023-24 budget during a special called meeting on June 19.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioner Josh Young discuss the county’s 2023-24 budget during a special called meeting on June 19.

County passes budget, pay raises

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
It took two meetings, four votes, and several angry shouts from county employees in the audience, but by a 4-1 margin, the Macon County Board of Commissioners passed a $63,754,537 budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioners Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young talk with County Manager Derek Roland about the budget during the June 13 board meeting. The board recessed the meeting and will reconvene on June 19.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioners Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young talk with County Manager Derek Roland about the budget during the June 13 board meeting. The board recessed the meeting and will reconvene on June 19.

Commissioners vote 3-2 against budget

Thomas Sherrill
Thursday, June 15, 2023
By a 3-2 margin, the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted against the proposed 2023-24 fiscal year budget during their meeting on Tuesday, June 13, necessitating a continuation of the meeting on Monday, June 19, for a new vote.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Brent Martin, executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, cuts the ribbon for the new kiosk and re-route of the Bartram Trail through Franklin during a June 7 ceremony.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Brent Martin, executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, cuts the ribbon for the new kiosk and re-route of the Bartram Trail through Franklin during a June 7 ceremony.

New Bartram Trail route opens

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
With the snip of a ribbon, local officials and conservationists unveiled a new kiosk and re-routing of the Bartram Trail that connects to the Little Tennessee River Greenway from the Macon County Fairgrounds in a Wednesday, June 7, ceremony. “We are now standing officially at milepost 63.
Press photo/Thomas Sherill - Improvements to the AARC intake building.

Press photo/Thomas Sherill - Improvements to the AARC intake building.

AARC building on hold as costs increase

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Work on the new intake building at the Appalachian Animal Rescue Center has been halted due to a lack of funds, but a new trail for AARC dogwalkers recently opened.
Press file photo - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon says the number for the 2023-24 proposed budget needs to decrease.

Press file photo - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon says the number for the 2023-24 proposed budget needs to decrease.

Higdon: Number needs to decrease

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
The Macon County Board of Commissioners concluded nearly 10 combined hours of talks with department heads and discussions regarding the 2023-24 budget in its second budget workshop on Thursday, June 8.
Photo submitted - The “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” statue depicts three women and two children from different backgrounds who all lived and worked on a settlement on the banks of the Little Tennessee River in what is now Franklin. Pictured at the foundry with the statue are Women’s History Trail team members Mary Polanski, Marty Greeble, sculptor Wesley Wofford, and Claire Suminski.

Photo submitted - The “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” statue depicts three women and two children from different backgrounds who all lived and worked on a settlement on the banks of the Little Tennessee River in what is now Franklin. Pictured at the foundry with the statue are Women’s History Trail team members Mary Polanski, Marty Greeble, sculptor Wesley Wofford, and Claire Suminski.

‘Sowing the Seeds’ statue finished

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
After five years, the “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” statute honoring a trio of women who lived and worked near the Nikwasi Mound in Franklin in the 1800s is getting closer to being unveiled.