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Photo submitted Jesse Wilson (right) pleaded guilty on Aug. 10 to killing his 3-month-old son in 2017. Pictured with Wilson is one of his defense attorneys, Bill Jones.

Photo submitted Jesse Wilson (right) pleaded guilty on Aug. 10 to killing his 3-month-old son in 2017. Pictured with Wilson is one of his defense attorneys, Bill Jones.

Wilson pleads guilty to killing son

News Staff
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
A Franklin man will serve life in prison after admitting last week in Macon County Superior Court to killing his infant son. Jesse Wilson, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the May 11, 2017, death of 3-month-old Liam Wilson, according to District Attorney Ashley Welch. The plea on Aug.
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Vacancies burden school system

News Staff
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Kaylee Cook - reporter@highlandsnews.com As Macon County residents prepare to send their children back to school on Aug. 29, the school system itself is facing a surge of faculty and staff vacancies.
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Murder charges filed in missing woman case

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
The remains found at a crime scene off Mulberry Road have been identified as that of Tina Walkingstick Frizsell, 42, of Mountain City, Georgia, and formerly of Cherokee. Frizsell’s half-brother reported her as missing on May 19, saying he had not seen her since March 22.
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Trafficking happens everywhere

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
The Zonta Club hosted its annual Red Sand Project on July 30 to help raise awareness of human trafficking. “It happens here, it happens everywhere,” said club president Debra Williams. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and can involve sex acts for profit and/or labor or services.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Police Chief Bill Harrell announced several promotions within the department during Monday night’s Town Council meeting. Pictured (from left) First Sgt. Randy Dula, Street Poisons Enforcement Eradication Directive; Capt. Matt Pellicer, Criminal Investigations Division and Support Services; First Sgt./Detective Justin Norman, investigations; Patrol Sgt. Justin Riles; Patrol Sgt. Matthew Bingham; Master Officer III Kelly Jo Fosler.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Police Chief Bill Harrell announced several promotions within the department during Monday night’s Town Council meeting. Pictured (from left) First Sgt. Randy Dula, Street Poisons Enforcement Eradication Directive; Capt. Matt Pellicer, Criminal Investigations Division and Support Services; First Sgt./Detective Justin Norman, investigations; Patrol Sgt. Justin Riles; Patrol Sgt. Matthew Bingham; Master Officer III Kelly Jo Fosler.

Town to increase police pay

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
The Franklin Town Council voted Monday night to move forward with a plan to adjust salaries within the police department in an effort to be more competitive when recruiting officers.
Press photo/Grace Mains. A customer’s pet is perched outside a restaurant. Without any identification, it is easy to mistake a family pet for a service dog.

Press photo/Grace Mains. A customer’s pet is perched outside a restaurant. Without any identification, it is easy to mistake a family pet for a service dog.

Service Animals helping humans

News Staff
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Grace Mains, The Franklin Press Intern As the town of Franklin begins to be more open to animals and service dogs, are they getting a little too comfy? Recently, there have been reports of “service” animals disrupting the peace amongst transportation vehicles and restaurants in downtown Franklin.
Macon County Health Department Logo

Macon County Health Department Logo

Worker shortage delays permits

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Like many businesses, the county’s Environmental Health department is having a difficult time finding workers to fill open positions. The worker shortage has created a backlog for permits, which leaves some people unable to proceed with projects such as installing wells and septic systems.
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Pay increase for substitute teachers

News Staff
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Grace Mains, The Franklin Press Intern The Macon County Board of Education addressed the lack of substitute teachers and bus drivers at the monthly meeting on Monday.
Submitted photo. Firefighter Joseph Orr.

Submitted photo. Firefighter Joseph Orr.

Firefighter dies in swimming accident

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
itor@thefranklinpress.com A Clark’s Chapel volunteer firefighter died Saturday evening while swimming at Secret Falls in Highlands. A Facebook post from the fire department said Joseph Orr, 25, of Franklin, died doing what he loved – enjoying the great outdoors.