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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.
Press graphic

Press graphic

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.
Press photo/Mia Overton. Vecinos Executive Director Marianne Martinez (left) with Valeria Barrera Vizcarra, Farmworker Health Program manager, during an open house at the new clinic site. Vecinos was created to help the farmworker community of Western North Carolina but has expanded its mission to include low-income and uninsured people.

Press photo/Mia Overton. Vecinos Executive Director Marianne Martinez (left) with Valeria Barrera Vizcarra, Farmworker Health Program manager, during an open house at the new clinic site. Vecinos was created to help the farmworker community of Western North Carolina but has expanded its mission to include low-income and uninsured people.

Vecinos to open new clinic in Franklin

News Staff
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Grace Mains, Intern Vecinos launched a capital campaign on July 15 to help fund the creation of a new Community Health Hub in Franklin. The campaign is slated to last four years with the help of board members, outreach teams, donors and partners.
Submitted photos

Submitted photos

Murder suspect flees to Franklin

News Staff
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted for the murder of his estranged wife. Salomon Ramos Santos, 49, is accused of fatally shooting his wife in DeKalb County, Georgia, on July 11.
Press photo/Mia Overton The county will get the old Gulf gas station next to Town Bridge as part of a property exchange with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The building could become the new home for the Friends of the Greenway.

Press photo/Mia Overton The county will get the old Gulf gas station next to Town Bridge as part of a property exchange with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The building could become the new home for the Friends of the Greenway.

County, DOT trade property

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Macon County will now own the old Gulf gas station next to Town Bridge as part of a property exchange with the N.C. Department of Transportation. The exchange was approved during the July 12 Board of County Commissioners meeting. No money will be exchanged as part of the trade.
Press photo/Mia Overton Library supporters raised $30,455 to support salary increases for library employees. The effort came about after a request for a $20,000 increase in funding for the library was not approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Lenny Jordan said the original goal was to raise $20,000, but they exceeded that with 280 people making contributions over a 10-day period.

Press photo/Mia Overton Library supporters raised $30,455 to support salary increases for library employees. The effort came about after a request for a $20,000 increase in funding for the library was not approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Lenny Jordan said the original goal was to raise $20,000, but they exceeded that with 280 people making contributions over a 10-day period.

Donors support library salaries

Mia Overton
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
While the Macon County libraries did not receive the full amount they requested from the Board of County Commissioners, a private fundraising campaign has helped ensure the library staff will get salary increases.