Local

Photo/Nantahala Fire Dept. The county will accept proposals to establish broadband in Nantahala. The expansion must include all county facilities including the fire department, EMS base, library and community center and the recreation center.

Photo/Nantahala Fire Dept. The county will accept proposals to establish broadband in Nantahala. The expansion must include all county facilities including the fire department, EMS base, library and community center and the recreation center.

County to accept proposals for Nantahala broadband

At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to request proposals to establish broadband in the Nantahala community. County Manager Derek Roland said this project is similar to the South Macon fiber optic project.
Source/Macon County Tax Office At the Jan. 10 Board of Commissioners meeting, Tax Administrator Abby Braswell shared this showing the taxable properties in each township.

Source/Macon County Tax Office At the Jan. 10 Board of Commissioners meeting, Tax Administrator Abby Braswell shared this showing the taxable properties in each township.

Property value increases average of 58%

The value of taxable properties in Macon County has increased by an average of 58.58% since the last revaluation four years ago, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s property taxes are going up that much.
Source/Macon County Schools Macon County Schools issued this statement on Jan. 13 concerning an incident at Iotla Valley Elementary School.

Source/Macon County Schools Macon County Schools issued this statement on Jan. 13 concerning an incident at Iotla Valley Elementary School.

MCSO investigates Iotla Valley incident

A classroom incident involving a now-former substitute teacher at Iotla Valley Elementary School and a student is being investigated by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. Dr. Chris Baldwin, superintendent of Macon County Schools, confirmed the incident in question allegedly occurred on Dec.
Photo submitted A pipe in the REACH shelter’s sprinkler system burst causing the ceiling to collapse and flood the entire shelter. The computer lab (pictured) and adjoining rooms sustained ceiling and wall damage.

Photo submitted A pipe in the REACH shelter’s sprinkler system burst causing the ceiling to collapse and flood the entire shelter. The computer lab (pictured) and adjoining rooms sustained ceiling and wall damage.

Burst pipe floods REACH shelter

A burst pipe on Christmas Eve has left the REACH shelter without a permanent home for several months as staff search for a temporary rental home.
Sheriff's office logo

Sheriff's office logo

Ongoing dispute leads to death

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Franklin man on Jan. 1. Deputies were dispatched at about 12 p.m. to a residence in the Walnut Creek area following a 911 call that had been placed in reference to a dispute that was ongoing, according to the MCSO.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill The Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees at their Dec. 20 meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill The Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees at their Dec. 20 meeting.

Library board reviews complaint policy

After listening to concerns about LGTB-focused book displays, the Macon County Public Library is developing an “intellectual freedom in libraries” process that would address how members can object to materials or displays.
Photo submitted - MMS students finalizing the details on their latest mural, which pays homage to Dolores Huerta, an activist for migrant farm workers in the 20th century.

Photo submitted - MMS students finalizing the details on their latest mural, which pays homage to Dolores Huerta, an activist for migrant farm workers in the 20th century.

Student art adds color to MMS

For the first time in nearly a decade, students at Macon Middle School are back in the art room. When the program was cut in 2012, fellow educators and community supporters formed “ARTS for MCS,” a movement dedicated to the preservation of visual and fine arts education.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education held a joint meeting on Dec. 21 to discuss school improvement projects.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education held a joint meeting on Dec. 21 to discuss school improvement projects.

Board questions school projects

Strong public comments in favor, including from a mother of a special needs child who struggles to get around Franklin High School, buoyed a sense of moving forward with the new Franklin High School project during a joint meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education on...
Press file photo - Steps are being taken to correct a finding of “lack of controls over cash controls” in the transit department, as indicated in a recent report on the county audit.

Press file photo - Steps are being taken to correct a finding of “lack of controls over cash controls” in the transit department, as indicated in a recent report on the county audit.

Transit gets red flag on audit

Macon County Transit had a “red flag” related to cash controls in its annual financial audit, according to a presentation made at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 13.
Photo provided

Photo provided

County to reopen landfill sections

The county is aiming to temporarily reopen two full landfill sections and vertically expand the cell currently in use, giving the solid waste department time pay off debt and build a new cell.