Local

Press photo/Lee Buchanan Lance Holland discusses his new book, The Nantahala River – a History and Guide.

Press photo/Lee Buchanan Lance Holland discusses his new book, The Nantahala River – a History and Guide.

Book reveals secrets of Nantahala River

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Lance Holland has lived and worked around the Nantahala River for 40 years, so he figured he knew pretty much everything there was to know about the area. While researching his new book, The Nantahala River – a History and Guide, he learned otherwise.
Grandview Manor has started letting residents meet outside with a friend or relative while observing social distancing protocols.

Grandview Manor has started letting residents meet outside with a friend or relative while observing social distancing protocols.

Nursing home helps residents endure lockdown

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic put the world on lockdown and prevented most physical interaction between people, the restrictions forced many to live several weeks in near-isolation.

County attorney to retire this month

Jake Browning
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Macon County attorney Chester Jones will retire this month after nearly 11 years of service. The search for a new county attorney has already begun. Following a closed-session on Sept.
COVID update

COVID update

COVID cluster in sheriff’s office

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Active COVID-19 cases have edged up, with four more in schools and a cluster identified at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. Reports of a cluster at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office preceded news of four new positive cases in Macon County Public Schools.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Papa’s Pizza To Go owner Eric Olvera opens a bag of flour while preparing for the day’s service. Olvera does not know whether Papa’s will be allowed to stay in its current location during renovations.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Papa’s Pizza To Go owner Eric Olvera opens a bag of flour while preparing for the day’s service. Olvera does not know whether Papa’s will be allowed to stay in its current location during renovations.

Holly Springs Plaza tenants uncertain of future

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Plans for a new Ingles super store at Holly Springs Plaza  have caused uncertainty for the locations still doing business at the shopping center.
File photo Patti McClure provided some of the entertainment at her annual Entertainment Tonight fundraiser.

File photo Patti McClure provided some of the entertainment at her annual Entertainment Tonight fundraiser.

Macon County says goodbye to ‘Miss Patti’ McClure

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Franklin has lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of Patti McClure, affectionately known throughout the community as “Miss Patti.” McClure died on Monday, Sept. 28, and friends and family were quick to honor her life of service.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Scottish Tartan Museum director Jim Akins and new Blair Building owner Stacy Guffey examine a piece of artwork in the museum’s basement.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Scottish Tartan Museum director Jim Akins and new Blair Building owner Stacy Guffey examine a piece of artwork in the museum’s basement.

Scottish Tartans Museum gets new lease on life

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
One of downtown Franklin’s most historic buildings has changed hands.  For much of the past two years, former Macon County planner Stacy Guffey has been renovating the Blair Building, otherwise known as the building that houses the Scottish Tartan Museum.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Students in Cynthia Trawick’s fourth-grade class at Cartoogechaye Elementary School practice social distancing.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Students in Cynthia Trawick’s fourth-grade class at Cartoogechaye Elementary School practice social distancing.

K-5 students go back to class four days a week

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Macon County’s K-5 students will be going to school for in-person instruction Monday through Thursday starting in October.
County commissioners and other local officials meet around a pot-bellied stove in the old courthouse in this photo from about 1970. That’s Dick Jones standing by the stovepipe, next to Sheriff George Moses. Press editor Bob Sloan is standing to the right of a poster for an Ox Roast Festival. County manager Ron Winecoff is in front of Sloan and County Chairman Oscar Ledford is sitting beside him. Also shown are the two other county commissioners and members of the Highlands town board.

County commissioners and other local officials meet around a pot-bellied stove in the old courthouse in this photo from about 1970. That’s Dick Jones standing by the stovepipe, next to Sheriff George Moses. Press editor Bob Sloan is standing to the right of a poster for an Ox Roast Festival. County manager Ron Winecoff is in front of Sloan and County Chairman Oscar Ledford is sitting beside him. Also shown are the two other county commissioners and members of the Highlands town board.

Dick Jones: 60 years of fond legal memories

News Staff
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Barbara McRae bmcrae60@gmail.com Relaxed on his comfortable back porch last week, Dick Jones reminisced over the cases and characters he has known during nearly six decades as a Franklin lawyer.
File photo - Randy Hughes, who heads up Smoky Mountain Toys for Tots, expects higher demand and less donations this year.

File photo - Randy Hughes, who heads up Smoky Mountain Toys for Tots, expects higher demand and less donations this year.

Toys For Tots finds new home

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
The Smoky Mountain Toys for Tots campaign has a new home. When Randy Hughes learned he had to move Toys for Tots’ headquarters out of Holly Springs Plaza earlier this year, the regional coordinator was left with a storeroom full of toys and no idea where he might be able to put them.