Local

Source: Franklin TDA - A billboard the Franklin Tourism Development Authority as purchased to promote Franklin.

Source: Franklin TDA - A billboard the Franklin Tourism Development Authority as purchased to promote Franklin.

Franklin TDA promotes experiences, mountain life

Mia Overton
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Franklin visitors are looking for experiences in the mountains. During the Feb. 9 Franklin Town Council meeting, Stewart Communications presented a report on marketing efforts for the Franklin Tourism Development Authority.
Source: Macon County Finance Office - A comparison of sales tax collections for the first five months of fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Source: Macon County Finance Office - A comparison of sales tax collections for the first five months of fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

County in a good place at mid-year

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Macon County is in a good place so far in the 2025-26 budget, according to County Manager Warren Cabe as of the Feb. 10 Board of Commissioners meeting.  Cabe presented the information as part of a mid-year budget review as the county prepares for budget season.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - District 1 and District 2 candidates for the Macon County Board of Commissioners participated in a forum on Feb. 7.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - District 1 and District 2 candidates for the Macon County Board of Commissioners participated in a forum on Feb. 7.

Candidates talk on pay, fund balance spending

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
This is part two of the coverage from the forum with the candidates for the Macon County Board of Commissioners held on Feb. 7. The first part was published on Feb. 11.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Lisa Walker speaks about the proposed redistricting at the Feb. 10 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Lisa Walker speaks about the proposed redistricting at the Feb. 10 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Community speaks out on redistricting

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Thirteen speakers showed up for the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 10 to voice opposition to a proposed new election structure for the board.  Commissioners have been discussing redistricting since their Dec. 9 meeting, reigniting an effort from 2023 to restructure the board.
Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin has received $4.3 million in federal funding for work at the water treatment plant. Pictured at the Feb. 7 check presentation are Town Council members Rita Salain, Travis Higdon, Jeff Berry, Mayor Stacy Guffey, Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Kyle Pocquette, Congressman Chuck Edwards, Public Works Director Bill Deal and Town Manager Amie Owens.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The Town of Franklin has received $4.3 million in federal funding for work at the water treatment plant. Pictured at the Feb. 7 check presentation are Town Council members Rita Salain, Travis Higdon, Jeff Berry, Mayor Stacy Guffey, Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Kyle Pocquette, Congressman Chuck Edwards, Public Works Director Bill Deal and Town Manager Amie Owens.

Town receives funding for water treatment plant

Mia Overton
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Congressman Chuck Edwards stopped by Franklin Town Hall on Saturday morning to present a $4,320,000 check to the town.  The funds will be used to help cover the cost of a new clear well and two pump replacements at the town’s water treatment plant.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Candidates at the commissioners forum (from left) District 2 candidates Nick Lofthouse, David Culpepper, Dylan Castle and Kellie Burns; Republican Party Chair Patti Trick at the microphone; and District 1 candidates John Shearl, Joey Wilson and Don Willis.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Candidates at the commissioners forum (from left) District 2 candidates Nick Lofthouse, David Culpepper, Dylan Castle and Kellie Burns; Republican Party Chair Patti Trick at the microphone; and District 1 candidates John Shearl, Joey Wilson and Don Willis.

Commissioner candidates speak at forum

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
This is part one of coverage from the forum with county commissioner candidates held Feb. 7. Part two will be published Feb. 18.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Early Voting begins Feb. 12

News Staff
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election begins on Thursday, Feb. 12, and continues through Saturday, Feb. 28. Early voting will be conducted in two locations and you can vote in either one: • Robert Carpenter Community Building, 1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin • Highlands Civic Center, 600 N.
Press photo/Rachel Hoskins - Citizen of the Year Dr. Jennifer Brown speaks at the Chamber of Commerce banquet on Feb. 3.

Press photo/Rachel Hoskins - Citizen of the Year Dr. Jennifer Brown speaks at the Chamber of Commerce banquet on Feb. 3.

Brown named Citizen of the Year

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Dr. Jennifer Brown has served children and Macon County for decades as a pediatrician and as a founding member of KIDS Place. On Feb. 3, she was awarded Citizen of the Year from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - New CHSA director Kim Dills (left) attends her first board meeting as Garrett Higdon is selected as the board’s chair.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - New CHSA director Kim Dills (left) attends her first board meeting as Garrett Higdon is selected as the board’s chair.

Consolidated board holds first meeting

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The Macon County Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA) Board held its first meeting Jan. 27, which was also the first meeting for new CHSA Director Kim Dills.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Students from Franklin High School Student Leadership dropped by the Macon County Schools office to deliver gifts to the school board for School Board Appreciation Month. From left: Jim Breedlove, Hilary Wilkes, Arlene Perez, Ashlee Hernandez, Stephanie Laseter, Meliah Mason, Diedre Breeden and Josh Lynch.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Students from Franklin High School Student Leadership dropped by the Macon County Schools office to deliver gifts to the school board for School Board Appreciation Month. From left: Jim Breedlove, Hilary Wilkes, Arlene Perez, Ashlee Hernandez, Stephanie Laseter, Meliah Mason, Diedre Breeden and Josh Lynch.

BOE renews contract for student mental health services

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The Macon County Board of Education started off the new year on a high note, voting to expand a mental health contract to allow a nonprofit to conduct counseling sessions on-campus.