Local

Press photo/Jake Browning - Employees and volunteers at the Macon County COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center were recognized for providing more than 800 hours of service to the county and answering over 23,000 calls earlier this year.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Employees and volunteers at the Macon County COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center were recognized for providing more than 800 hours of service to the county and answering over 23,000 calls earlier this year.

Commissioners honor citizens behind coronavirus call center

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
The Macon County Board of Commissioners had a special recognition ceremony on Aug. 10 for people who helped combat the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year by lending their efforts to the Macon County Public Health COVID-19 call center.
Voting Districts

Voting Districts

Commissioners hesitant on new electoral districts

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
There may not be a perfect way to allocate representation on the Macon County Board of Commissioners, but the current system doesn’t seem poised to change anytime soon. In Macon County, commissioners serve four-year staggered terms, with two or three of them up for reelection every two years.
Roundabout

Roundabout

Roundabout installed at Wells Grove Rd

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has made a change to traffic flow outside of Macon Middle School and Mountain View Intermediate School in the form of a mini-roundabout.
Mask Mandate

Mask Mandate

Board requires masks in schools

News Staff
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
In one of their longest and most fraught meetings in recent years, a divided Macon County Board of Education chose to start the school year with a face covering requirement. There was ample drama leading up to the meeting.
Press photos/Jake Browning - Ten-year-old Annabelle Gunter, dressed as Hulk Hogan, shows off the parade float she made with her mom built around classic 80s toys.

Press photos/Jake Browning - Ten-year-old Annabelle Gunter, dressed as Hulk Hogan, shows off the parade float she made with her mom built around classic 80s toys.

Totally rad 80s weekend

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
After taking a year off due to COVID-19, 80s Flashback Weekend came roaring back to much fanfare in Franklin last weekend. After “An Evening with Madonna” at Lazy Hiker featuring raffle prizes and a silent auction on Friday night, the main event kicked off on Saturday with the 80s Flashback Parade.
News

News

Two dead in murder-suicide

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Two Franklin residents are dead after a domestic dispute last Thursday night. On Thursday, Aug. 5, at 10:43 p.m., Deputy Jay Wright responded to a report of a domestic situation at 78 Johnson Road.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Kim Terrell leads her class at the library in a few warmup exercises before they start on the day’s nutrition lesson.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Kim Terrell leads her class at the library in a few warmup exercises before they start on the day’s nutrition lesson.

Summer class teaches healthy eating habits

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Some kids spend their whole summer vacation sitting on the couch and overindulging in sweets and unhealthy snacks. Others don’t eat much at all when they can’t go to their school cafeteria for two meals per day. In either case, those kids would benefit from a trip to the Macon County Public Library.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Marty Greeble, Juanita Wilson and Mary Polanski at the July 31 dedication ceremony for the Na’ha Rebecca Morris plaque on the Women’s History Trail.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Marty Greeble, Juanita Wilson and Mary Polanski at the July 31 dedication ceremony for the Na’ha Rebecca Morris plaque on the Women’s History Trail.

WHT honors Cherokee woman

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
The newest installment in the Women’s History Trail is a plaque at the Nikwasi Mound dedicated to Na’ha Rebecca Morris, one of the most famed women of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian to ever call the Nikwasi area home.
Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin Police Chief Bill Harrell presented Brandy Burns and James Hampton with certificates of valor at the Town Council meeting on Aug. 2. Harrell thanked Hampton and Burns for their “courageous assistance” when they came to his aid during an incident on June 11 at Macon Plaza. The suspect lunged at Harrell knocking him off balance and tried to drive away in the police chief’s car. Hampton and Burns helped Harrell subdue the suspect until other officers arrived on the scene. “Thei

Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin Police Chief Bill Harrell presented Brandy Burns and James Hampton with certificates of valor at the Town Council meeting on Aug. 2. Harrell thanked Hampton and Burns for their “courageous assistance” when they came to his aid during an incident on June 11 at Macon Plaza. The suspect lunged at Harrell knocking him off balance and tried to drive away in the police chief’s car. Hampton and Burns helped Harrell subdue the suspect until other officers arrived on the scene. “Thei

Resident concerned about skate park location

Mia Overton
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
The proposed skate park was again the topic of discussion during the public session of the Franklin Town Council meeting held Aug. 2. Tim Shaw and Olga Lampkin spoke in favor of the park. Shaw gave an update on the efforts of local residents to support the construction of a skate park.