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Macon Program for Progress human resources coordinator Lacy Carpenter discusses openings with a group of nursing students from Southwestern Community College.

Macon Program for Progress human resources coordinator Lacy Carpenter discusses openings with a group of nursing students from Southwestern Community College.

Macon County employers struggle to find workers

When the federal government sent out stimulus payments and expanded unemployment benefits amid the worst of the COVID-19 shutdown last year, the payments helped millions of suddenly underemployed Americans pay their bills and stay in their homes.
Food Lion

Food Lion

New Food Lion opens today

The new Food Lion grocery store is slated to open today, April 28 in Macon Plaza on Highlands Road. Store manager Kristy McGuire said the company converted the store from Bi-Lo to Food Lion in a period of 10 days.
Real Estate

Real Estate

Real estate is hot

Low interest rates coupled with people making work and lifestyle changes due to COVID has resulted in a fast-paced real estate market in Macon County. If you are a buyer, be ready to jump on the home of your dreams, because it could be sold in just a few days.
Photo submitted - Participants in the first monthly Vitality Retreat for Gold Star Widows are pictured with co-founder Jessica Merritt (sitting) at the Special Liberty Project’s Farm and Retreat Center in Franklin.

Photo submitted - Participants in the first monthly Vitality Retreat for Gold Star Widows are pictured with co-founder Jessica Merritt (sitting) at the Special Liberty Project’s Farm and Retreat Center in Franklin.

A place to remember and heal

For the first time in its five-year history, the national veteran and Gold Star organization Special Liberty Project, which expanded to Franklin in September, completed an onsite Vitality Retreat on its own property.
News

News

Town begins search for new manager

Franklin’s Town Council discussed the process for hiring a new town manager during its first annual budget meeting last week. Town Manager Summer Woodard announced that she would be resigning to accept a position as city manager for the City of Reidsville.
File photo - The Nantahala library has been housed in this double-wide trailer since 1999.

File photo - The Nantahala library has been housed in this double-wide trailer since 1999.

County buys land for library in Nantahala

In a close and controversial vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners decided to purchase property in Nantahala as a possible location for a new library. The parcel, located at 36 White Oak Lane, has an area of 1.29 acres and will cost the county $159,800.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Beasley is one of more than a dozen employers who will attend the Job Fair on Friday.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Beasley is one of more than a dozen employers who will attend the Job Fair on Friday.

Help wanted: Job market spikes

After a year of shutdowns, job losses, and economic contraction, Macon County’s economy seems to be recovering.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior fullback/outside linebacker Evan Klatt carries against Smoky Mountain in the final game of his Panthers career April 9. Klatt went out with a bang, recording 183 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27 carries.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior fullback/outside linebacker Evan Klatt carries against Smoky Mountain in the final game of his Panthers career April 9. Klatt went out with a bang, recording 183 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27 carries.

Football ends year with ‘W’

After two straight losses in the Battle of Cowee Mountain, many Panther fans circled April 9’s game with Smoky Mountain as one of Franklin’s toughest tests of the year.