Local

Jake Browning reporter@thefranklinpress.com After numerous delays, plans to renovate Macon County’s convenience centers haven’t been scrapped yet. Scaly Mountain’s new convenience center has been finished and open for over a month, and construction has wrapped up for the Junaluska Center in Nantahala. The latter isn’t open yet, however, because the site is partially located in a floodplain and a topographical survey had to be done to make sure newly installed compactor controls weren’t at risk of flooding.

Jake Browning reporter@thefranklinpress.com After numerous delays, plans to renovate Macon County’s convenience centers haven’t been scrapped yet. Scaly Mountain’s new convenience center has been finished and open for over a month, and construction has wrapped up for the Junaluska Center in Nantahala. The latter isn’t open yet, however, because the site is partially located in a floodplain and a topographical survey had to be done to make sure newly installed compactor controls weren’t at risk of flooding.

Two recycling center renovations done; Carson next

Jake Browning
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
After numerous delays, plans to renovate Macon County’s convenience centers haven’t been scrapped yet. Scaly Mountain’s new convenience center has been finished and open for over a month, and construction has wrapped up for the Junaluska Center in Nantahala.

Arnold to fill Goldsmith’s seat on school board

Jake Browning
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Carol Arnold will fill the remaining two years of Fred Goldsmith’s term on the Macon County Board of Education. Goldsmith announced earlier this month that he would be resigning from his seat on the board so that he could attend to a family matter in Georgia.
Press photo/Jake Browning - The first of two Winter Wonderland celebrations in Franklin culminated with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. Look for more photos of the Christmas parade and Winter Wonderland in next week’s issue.

Press photo/Jake Browning - The first of two Winter Wonderland celebrations in Franklin culminated with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. Look for more photos of the Christmas parade and Winter Wonderland in next week’s issue.

Christmas Magic

Jake Browning
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Franklin residents and visitors alike rung in the holiday season with the first Winter Wonderland on Saturday night and the Christmas Parade on Sunday afternoon.
File photo - MANNA’s pop-up food markets are drawing about double the number of clients since the pandemic set in.

File photo - MANNA’s pop-up food markets are drawing about double the number of clients since the pandemic set in.

Pandemic fuels need for food programs

Jake Browning
Monday, November 23, 2020
A growing number of Macon County families are turning to food banks to help get them through the holidays and beyond.
Photo submitted - One of the projects the grant funded will be used to expand the Pinnacle Park view shed in Jackson County.

Photo submitted - One of the projects the grant funded will be used to expand the Pinnacle Park view shed in Jackson County.

Grant funds four Mainspring conservation projects

Lee Buchanan
Monday, November 23, 2020
Mainspring Conservation Trust has been awarded an $800,000 grant to support four projects in three counties, including the protection of a stretch of the Little Tennessee River in Macon County that includes a rare wetland.
File photo - The property will be the site of a new burn building for SCC training. The current burn building was found to be structurally deficient in 2017.

File photo - The property will be the site of a new burn building for SCC training. The current burn building was found to be structurally deficient in 2017.

County offers 25-year lease of armory to SCC

Jake Browning
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The Macon County Board of Commissioners agreed to grant Southwestern Community College a 25-year lease for the National Guard Armory Building after an extensive debate at the board’s Nov. 10 meeting.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Ivonne Rios is in charge of medication assistance for the clinic

Press photo/Jake Browning - Ivonne Rios is in charge of medication assistance for the clinic

Community Care Clinic expanding services

Jake Browning
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The Community Care Clinic of Franklin is as important as ever during the pandemic, and the organization is taking steps to be more accessible to patients in need. Cathy Stiles, the clinic’s executive director, said the clinic hasn’t seen a decrease in the number of patients seen this year.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Stephanie MCall and Fred Goldsmith were presented with certificates of recognition of their work on the board.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Stephanie MCall and Fred Goldsmith were presented with certificates of recognition of their work on the board.

Goldsmith resigns from school board

Jake Browning
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The November meeting of the Macon County Board of Education was the last for two members of the board.
vote count official

vote count official

Macon vote count official

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
During the most divisive election in memory, it was business as usual in Macon County. “We’re very pleased,” said Gary Tallent, deputy director of the Macon County Board of Elections. “We had very, very few issues.” County election officials completed the vote canvass on Friday, Nov.
Hazard Pay

Hazard Pay

County workers get COVID hazard pay

Jake Browning
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Macon County employees will get $750 in hazard pay for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the November meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners, county manager Derek Roland thanked all county departments for efforts to maintain services during a particularly trying year.