Local

Photo/Eric Haggart - Aerial views show the extent of the road repair work on Cowee Mountain, which has traffic down to one lane in each direction.

Photo/Eric Haggart - Aerial views show the extent of the road repair work on Cowee Mountain, which has traffic down to one lane in each direction.

Cowee Mountain repair plans switching to stone

News Staff
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
The slide of U.S. 441 on Cowee Mountain may be stabilized by the end of the year as a contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation changes construction plans.
Fatality

Fatality

Franklin teens killed

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Two 17-year-old boys, James Sweeten and Dakota Williamson, both of Franklin, were killed in a wreck May 24 on Sanderstown Road. According to North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Hunter Gass, a Chevy Tahoe traveling toward U.S.
File photo - Longtime FHS football coach Josh Brooks coaches up his players from the sideline against Hendersonville March 12.

File photo - Longtime FHS football coach Josh Brooks coaches up his players from the sideline against Hendersonville March 12.

Brooks returns to FHS

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
A Franklin High School fixture is returning to his longtime post.  When head football coach Josh Brooks announced his intent to step down from the top job last month, it appeared the reign of FHS’s all-time winningest coach would come to an end.
Health

Health

COVID cases reach lowest number since last spring

Jake Browning
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Local health officials see a light at the end of the tunnel over a year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a meeting of the Macon County Board of Health on Thursday, Public Health Director Kathy McGaha had good news to share.
Budget

Budget

Roland previews 2021-22 county budget

Jake Browning
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Jake Browning reporter@thefranklinpress.com County manager Derek Roland addressed the Macon County Board of Commissioners and gave county residents their first look at the next fiscal year during a meeting of the board on May 25.
news

news

Events return to downtown Franklin

News Staff
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
About 45 merchants and vendors are scheduled to participate in one of the first big events downtown since the governor lifted the COVID safety restrictions earlier this month. The Streets of Franklin Heritage Association will present Hometown Spring Market Day on Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m.
Read2Me held a dedication for the newest Little Free Library on May 18 at Macon Middle School. The library was dedicated in honor of long-time educator Clayton Ramsey. Pictured are members of Friends of the Library, Rotary of Franklin, Macon County Library staff, Clayton Ramsey’s family, Read2Me and Macon Middle School. (Front, from left) Lenny Jordan, Sally Dyar, Matthew Vargas, Laura Vargas and Janet Greene; (back row) Mike White, Tom James, Karen Wallace, Sharon and Jeff Gillette, Bill Swift, Debbie Tall

Read2Me held a dedication for the newest Little Free Library on May 18 at Macon Middle School. The library was dedicated in honor of long-time educator Clayton Ramsey. Pictured are members of Friends of the Library, Rotary of Franklin, Macon County Library staff, Clayton Ramsey’s family, Read2Me and Macon Middle School. (Front, from left) Lenny Jordan, Sally Dyar, Matthew Vargas, Laura Vargas and Janet Greene; (back row) Mike White, Tom James, Karen Wallace, Sharon and Jeff Gillette, Bill Swift, Debbie Tall

Little Free Library dedicated at Macon Middle School

News Staff
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Macon County’s newest Little Free Library was dedicated on May 18 at Macon Middle School. The non-profit group Read2Me, through donations from Rotary Club of Franklin, installed the library, which is dedicated in honor of Clayton Higdon Ramsey.
Press photo/Linda Mathias Ninth grade students in the Earth Environmental Science class at Macon Early College used art to demonstrate ideas about climate change and solutions. Their art is on display at the Macon County Public Library through June.

Press photo/Linda Mathias Ninth grade students in the Earth Environmental Science class at Macon Early College used art to demonstrate ideas about climate change and solutions. Their art is on display at the Macon County Public Library through June.

Connecting Science and Art

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Macon Early College students in Gloria Painter’s earth environmental science class recently completed a project that paired lessons on climate change with art. The Climate Solutions unit encouraged students to investigate solutions for climate change and present their ideas through art.