Local

Press photo/ Will Woolever - A small twin-engine Cessna crashed at the Macon County Airport on Thursday afternoon. Emergency response units extinguished the fire and secured the scene. The pilot and two passangers were unharmed.

Press photo/ Will Woolever - A small twin-engine Cessna crashed at the Macon County Airport on Thursday afternoon. Emergency response units extinguished the fire and secured the scene. The pilot and two passangers were unharmed.

Plane crashes at MCA

Will Woolever
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
At roughly 3:15 p.m. Thursday, March 11, first responders were called to the Macon County Airport regarding reports of a downed aircraft.
File photo – First United Methodist’s Day of Famine will help the community in a variety of ways. After a long 30 hours of fasting and making improvements to the Outreach Center, the church will have some very hungry youth members to feed.

File photo – First United Methodist’s Day of Famine will help the community in a variety of ways. After a long 30 hours of fasting and making improvements to the Outreach Center, the church will have some very hungry youth members to feed.

30-Hour Famine collects food and funds

Will Woolever
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
One of Franklin’s most unique charitable drives is preparing for its big day. For the past 30 years, the 30-Hour Famine has brought together congregations from around the world to raise funds and awareness for victims of extreme hunger.
News

News

Play ball

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Macon County’s state legislators are taking aim at policies that keep crowds small at sporting events and other large venue attractions. Senate Bill 116, titled “Let Them Play and Let Us Watch”, was filed in the NC Senate on Feb.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Above, South Macon Elementary School teacher Allisha Mason reads Dr. Seuss’ “Fox in Socks” to her kindergarteners during Read Across America Week.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Above, South Macon Elementary School teacher Allisha Mason reads Dr. Seuss’ “Fox in Socks” to her kindergarteners during Read Across America Week.

Read Across America

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Macon County elementary school students and staff spent last week celebrating their favorite books for Read Across America. While March 2 is the National Education Association’s official Read Across America Day, the schools dedicated their entire school week to the movement.
Photo/ Fred Alexander - Barbara McRae was often spotted in her birding gear along the Greenway in Franklin.

Photo/ Fred Alexander - Barbara McRae was often spotted in her birding gear along the Greenway in Franklin.

McRae: Vice-mayor, local historian remembered

News Staff
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
When Barbara McRae died March 2 at her Harrison Avenue home after a battle with cancer, her adopted hometown lost much more than its vice mayor. Franklin lost a prized historian, a chronicler and defender of the area’s natural beauty, and a voice for right.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Macon County Schools superintendent Chris Baldwin addresses the county commissioners at a special called meeting on Feb. 26.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Macon County Schools superintendent Chris Baldwin addresses the county commissioners at a special called meeting on Feb. 26.

County rejects new school infrastructure plan

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
An ambitious plan to upgrade infrastructure for Macon Middle and Franklin High schools failed to gain enough traction to proceed during the Macon County Board of Commissioners’ special called meeting Feb. 26.
Photo submitted - Backlot Cinema teamed up with the Macon County Schools STEM program for a unit on video technology and production careers, demonstrated here with the use of a green screen.

Photo submitted - Backlot Cinema teamed up with the Macon County Schools STEM program for a unit on video technology and production careers, demonstrated here with the use of a green screen.

Macon STEM education growing, getting smarter

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Despite all of the challenges that have faced Macon County Schools this year, there are still plenty of innovative ideas stemming from the school system’s science, technology, engineering and math curriculum.
Press photo/Jake Browning - KIDS Place executive director Alisa Ashe said the county funding cut comes on the heels of a decrease in state funding.

Press photo/Jake Browning - KIDS Place executive director Alisa Ashe said the county funding cut comes on the heels of a decrease in state funding.

Nonprofits face cut in county funding

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
With money matters still complicated by the pandemic, Macon County’s nonprofits can’t count on quite as much help from the county government and their community funding pool this year.
Photo/Macon County Public Health Macon - County EMT Joey Gibson receives his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Jennifer Garrett, the county’s director of nursing.

Photo/Macon County Public Health Macon - County EMT Joey Gibson receives his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Jennifer Garrett, the county’s director of nursing.

3,000 on wait list for vaccine

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
A shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses has forced Macon County Public Health to reschedule vaccination appointments.  With more than 3,000 Macon County residents on a vaccination waiting list, the county is scheduled to receive just 300 doses per week from the state over the next three weeks.