Local

Press graphic

Press graphic

County, town relax mask rules

(not verified)
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Carter Giegerich for The Franklin Press With COVID-19 case numbers in rapid decline throughout the state, Macon County followed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to no longer require masks for schools and local governments effective March 7.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Ballot set for May primary

Mia Overton
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Candidate filing closed at noon on Friday, March 4, setting the ballot for the May 17 primary. Local races will include sheriff, county commissioners (District 1 and District 2), Clerk of Superior Court and Register of Deeds. Incumbent Register of Deeds Todd Raby is running unopposed. Rep.
Macon County Schools

Macon County Schools

School Board extends optional mask policy

News Staff
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com With COVID-19 cases slowing, the Macon County Board of Education approved extension of the mask optional protocol, as well as extending the option to school buses. On Feb.
Highlander photo/Christopher Lugo - Children drawing at Highlands Community Child Development Center. A demand for pre-K in Highlands has led the Advancing Highlands Education Committee to request $8.6 million in funding for renovations at Highlands School that would include two pre-K classrooms as well as other improvements to the K-12 campus.

Highlander photo/Christopher Lugo - Children drawing at Highlands Community Child Development Center. A demand for pre-K in Highlands has led the Advancing Highlands Education Committee to request $8.6 million in funding for renovations at Highlands School that would include two pre-K classrooms as well as other improvements to the K-12 campus.

Board hears Highlands pre-K plan

News Staff
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com   Lack of space, staffing and COVID-19 are just some of the things that formed a perfect storm to bring childcare to a crisis situation across the nation.
Pastor D’Andre Ash with his wife and daughter.

Pastor D’Andre Ash with his wife and daughter.

Ash sees opportunities to bridge the gap

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
The Smoky Mountain District of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church has 65 churches. Among those 65 churches, there is one black pastor. One might expect that distinction to come with a little bit of drama, but D’Andre Ash says he’s had no such problems.
Press photo/Mia Overton - The Franklin Board of Adjustment denied a variance for this mobile home in the Alpine Cottages neighborhood off Bellview Road. The community’s restricted covenants were amended to allow the mobile home, but that conflicts with the town’s zoning regulations for that area.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Franklin Board of Adjustment denied a variance for this mobile home in the Alpine Cottages neighborhood off Bellview Road. The community’s restricted covenants were amended to allow the mobile home, but that conflicts with the town’s zoning regulations for that area.

Board denies zoning variance request

Mia Overton
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
A Macon County couple bought a doublewide and put it on property they bought last spring only to recently learn that mobile homes are not permitted in the neighborhood under the town’s zoning regulations. During a meeting of the Board of Adjustments on Feb.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Downtown signs honor Black inventors

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Did you know that the modern potato chip was invented by a Black chef named George Crum? Or that the refrigerated truck, the home security system and the gigahertz computer chips that allow for color displays were also created by Black people?
Press graphic

Press graphic

Macon County hits 100 COVID-related deaths

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Two deaths reported on Friday, Feb. 11 brought the COVID-19 death toll in Macon County to 100. On Friday, Macon County Public Health said it was notified that two COVID-19 patients had passed away, both of them over the age of 65.
Photo submitted/SCC An instructor leads training on the firing range in Sylva.

Photo submitted/SCC An instructor leads training on the firing range in Sylva.

FPD to offer paid training tuition

Mia Overton
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
The Franklin Town Council approved at its Feb. 7 meeting a new policy that will help the police department recruit officers. As part of the agreement, the town will pay for tuition for Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and the person must commit to work for the police department.
Press photo/Jake Browning Macon County Schools is currently accepting applications for the Pre-K program for the 2022-2023 school year. The Board of Commissioners and Macon County Schools are exploring ways to expand the program so more children can attend. Pictured are Pre-K students at South Macon Elementary School enjoying a sunny winter day on the playground for Pre-K students.

Press photo/Jake Browning Macon County Schools is currently accepting applications for the Pre-K program for the 2022-2023 school year. The Board of Commissioners and Macon County Schools are exploring ways to expand the program so more children can attend. Pictured are Pre-K students at South Macon Elementary School enjoying a sunny winter day on the playground for Pre-K students.

Pre-K enrollment opens for 2022-2023

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Macon County Schools is now accepting applications for Pre-K enrollment in the 2022-23 school year, and teachers in the program believe parents should consider applying.