Local

Mask Mandate

School Board votes to keep mask mandate 4-1

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

The Macon County Board of Education heard a lot of backlash about face coverings during the monthly meeting on Monday night, but in the end, their support for requiring them actually grew stronger.

Press photos/Mia Overton - Volunteers with Appalachian Animal Rescue Center work on their booth at the Macon County Fair on Monday morning.

‘Here We Grow Again’

News Staff

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

The Macon County Fair opens today (Sept. 22) with the theme “Here we grow again.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Local veterans received a variety of services and a free lunch during the Veteran Stand Down event on Sept. 16.

Veteran Stand Down returns to Franklin

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

After taking last year off due to COVID-19, the Smoky Mountain Veteran Stand Down returned to the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building on Sept. 16.

EMS

EMS under massive strain during COVID-19

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

It should come as no surprise, but working in emergency medical services during a global pandemic is quite an undertaking. Macon County EMS Director Warren Cabe wrote a letter to Highlands-Cashiers Hospital CEO Tom Neal last month that was publicly presented at Highlands’ called town meeting Aug.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Angel Medical Center’s new CEO Clint Kendall will oversee the opening of the new hospital, which is scheduled to begin accepting patients in Fall 2022.

New Angel CEO prioritizes outreach

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) acquired Mission Health and Angel Medical Center over three years ago. In the time since, there have been concerns about lost personnel and declining services. Many have lost confidence in HCA, but new CEO Clint Kendall intends to earn people’s trust back.

Covid

24 inmates test positive at county jail

Mia Overton

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office has suspended inmate visitation until further notice due to the increase in COVID exposure at the detention center, where 24 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Press photo/Jake Browning - The old Pine Grove School has been restored thanks to the efforts of the Pine Grove Community Club. The club is disbanding due to a decline in membership and difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pine Grove Community Club disbanding

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

The Pine Grove Community Club had its final meeting on Sept. 9, and the final vote was to end the club after nearly two decades. The club was initially formed as an effort to save the old Pine Grove School building, a one-room schoolhouse that operated from 1855-1949.

Owens hired as new town manager

Mia Overton

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Franklin’s new town manager, Amie Owens, began work on Monday, Sept. 13, just in time for a meeting about the town’s proposed skate park that evening.

Press photo/Jake Browning SK828 organizer Tim Shaw and Franklin Town Planner Justin Setser speaking at the Town Council’s meeting at the Whitmire property on Monday night.

Town Council moves skate park to Whitmire

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

During a continued session on Monday night, Franklin’s Town Council decided that the Whitmire property would serve as the home of Franklin’s new skate park.

Press photo/Jake Browning - The NCWorks Job Fair featured a dozen regional employers including Macon Program for Progress, Harrah’s Cherokee and Parkdale, each of whom had at least one available position that pays $15 an hour or more.

NCWorks sees increase in turnout for job fair

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

NCWorks got the job done with their latest job fair, which leveraged big wages for a big showing from the local workforce. COVID-19 has had a major impact on NCWorks job fairs since 2020.