Local

Press photo/Shelby Powell. Jason Love speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the March 10 meeting.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. Jason Love speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the March 10 meeting.

How clean are Macon County’s rivers?

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Jason Love of the Water Quality Advisory Committee would like to see water treated as a precious resource rather than taking it for granted.
Highlander photo/Mitch Stone. Board Chairman Jim Breedlove (second from left) discusses fundraising requests during the Macon County Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 23, at Highlands School.

Highlander photo/Mitch Stone. Board Chairman Jim Breedlove (second from left) discusses fundraising requests during the Macon County Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 23, at Highlands School.

Needs assessment slated for East Franklin

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Mitch Stone reporter@highlandsnews.com   Highlands School hosted the Macon County Board of Education on Monday, March 23, as members heard facilities updates and approved a resolution to rename Bartram Academy.
A USGS map showing the epicenter of the March 23 earthquake that was heard and felt in Macon County. The epicenter was near the Macon-Jackson county line.

A USGS map showing the epicenter of the March 23 earthquake that was heard and felt in Macon County. The epicenter was near the Macon-Jackson county line.

Earthquake rumbles Macon County

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, March 23, people around Macon County heard a loud rumble then a boom. Others felt their houses shake; dogs started barking. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 2.7 magnitude earthquake was detected about 10 km (6.2 miles) southwest of Dillsboro.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21. Additional photos are on page B1 of the March 25 paper and on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21. Additional photos are on page B1 of the March 25 paper and on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Mr. & Miss FHS 2026 crowned

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21 at the FHS Fine Arts Center. Originally scheduled for Jan. 31, the event had been postponed due to winter weather.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kyle Davidek, Caden Davidek and Cooper Creel walk around downtown Franklin looking for history to fill out their “Passport to the Past.”

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kyle Davidek, Caden Davidek and Cooper Creel walk around downtown Franklin looking for history to fill out their “Passport to the Past.”

Hunting for women’s history in downtown Franklin

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Participants strolled along Franklin’s Main Street Saturday while learning local women’s history with a “Passport to the Past.
Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers wait for a ride on the Macon County Transit hiker shuttle

Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers wait for a ride on the Macon County Transit hiker shuttle

Free shuttle pays off for town

Mia Overton
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
The TDA heard funding requests for a retreat for veterans’ widows and a music festival at its March 9 meeting. The board also voted to provide advertising funds for Macon County Transit’s Hiker Route.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Clay Bryson requests funding to light the horse arena at the Macon County Fairgrounds.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Clay Bryson requests funding to light the horse arena at the Macon County Fairgrounds.

Funding Pool: County to light up fairgrounds

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Three Community Funding Pool applications were approved during the Macon County Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, finishing off the last of the pool for 2025-26 and giving a total of $42,732.85 to different projects.
Press graphic

Press graphic

County puts redistricting on hold

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
The Macon County Board of Commissioners held its fourth consecutive month of conversations about redistricting Tuesday, March 10, voting 4-1 to shut down a motion to change the board’s structure.
Photo/Bob Scott - Nancy Siler Scott (second from left) was honored as the 2026 Macon Matriarch. The award is presented by the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County. Scott is pictured at the Sowing the Seeds of the Future sculpture with FHAMC board members Claire Suminski, Theresa Ramsey, Janet Greene, Anne Hyder, Marty Greeble, Mia Overton and Mary Polanski. Susan Ervin, not pictured, also served on the selection committee.

Photo/Bob Scott - Nancy Siler Scott (second from left) was honored as the 2026 Macon Matriarch. The award is presented by the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County. Scott is pictured at the Sowing the Seeds of the Future sculpture with FHAMC board members Claire Suminski, Theresa Ramsey, Janet Greene, Anne Hyder, Marty Greeble, Mia Overton and Mary Polanski. Susan Ervin, not pictured, also served on the selection committee.

Macon Matriarch: History runs through Nancy Siler Scott’s veins

News Staff
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Submitted by Theresa Ramsey - Folk Heritage Association of Macon County   On March 14 as part of Women’s History Month, the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC) announced their selection for this year’s WHT Macon Matriarch – Nancy Siler Scott.
Press photo/Mia Overton - The Macon County Board of Elections members and Board of Elections Supervisor Melanie Thibault (standing) during Early Voting counting on March 3. Board members are (from left) Chair John Vanhook, Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley, Paul Niskanen and Lynne Garrison

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Macon County Board of Elections members and Board of Elections Supervisor Melanie Thibault (standing) during Early Voting counting on March 3. Board members are (from left) Chair John Vanhook, Gary Dills, Kathy Tinsley, Paul Niskanen and Lynne Garrison

Holbrooks to hold seat as sheriff

Shelby Powell
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The votes are in for the 2026 primary and incumbent Brent Holbrooks will retain his seat as Macon County Sheriff. The election also determined the Republican candidates who will face Democratic challengers for District 1 and District 2 seats on the Macon County Board of Commissioners in November.