Local

Ethan Farrell

FHS student critically injured in wreck

Jake Browning

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Franklin High School rising junior and cross-country athlete Ethan Farrell was critically injured in a head-on collision on Cowee Mountain last week. Farrell was driving north on US-441 on Saturday, July 25 when his car hydroplaned, causing him to hit a southbound vehicle.

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland addresses the crowd that packed town square for the Back the Blue event.

Back the Blue draws huge crowd

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Hundreds of people turned out to show their support of law enforcement at a Back the Blue event held July 25 in downtown Franklin. Supporters walked up Main Street, then surrounded the town gazebo to hear several speakers urge them to back police.

News

Back the Blue event set for downtown

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Macon County residents will have a chance to show their support for local law enforcement at a Back the Blue walk and ceremony scheduled for Saturday, July 25. Organized by sheriff Robert Holland, the event will support local law enforcement officers and their families.

Ingles provides details of new store

News Staff

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Ingles unveiled plans for a new super store at the Holly Springs Plaza during a presentation to the Macon County Planning Board. The new store, which would include a 205,522-square-foot Ingles grocery store, multiple retail shops, an eight-pump gas station and a car wash.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Teachers get ready for more digital learning

Teachers get ready for more digital learning

Jake Browning

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

One way or another, classes are going to resume this August, and Macon County teachers all over Macon County are preparing for the worst as case numbers for COVID-19 continue to suggest that at least part of the semester will be held from a distance.

Intruder shot in home invasion

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Lee Buchanan editor@thefranklinpress.com An elderly man turned the tables on suspects in a home invasion, pulling a .38-caliber handgun from a basket attached to his walker and shooting one of the intruders.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Rockin’ Rollie Pollies, in owner Roland Mock’s words, welcomed customers back “at 5:01 the day the governor said we could at 5”. From left, customers Amy Evans-Fisher, George Fisher, Virginia Brubeck and Phil Walker.

Restaurants report surge in business

Jake Browning

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Jake Browning reporter@thefranklinpress.com Macon County restaurants were given permission to reopen their dining rooms on May 22, and for many of them, business has been good.

COVID-19

COVID cluster found at farm

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Lee Buchanan editor@thefranklinpress.com Total cases of COVID-19 in Macon County climbed to 336 as of July 13 after the health department identified a cluster of nine people who tested positive at a county farm.

Jake Browning/Franklin Press - The restaurant wants to build an outdoor seating area.

Root and Barrel requests more outdoor seating

Jake Browning

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Root and Barrel co-owner Brett Murphy proposed expanding his restaurant’s outdoor seating capacity during the July 6 Franklin Town Council meeting. Murphy proposes adding a 41-seat seating area to a 20-foot wide space between the restaurant and Town Hall.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Devyn Blackburn, who is fighting to recover from severe injuries he suffered in a wreck, has been embraced by the community.

Devyn’s homecoming

Jake Browning

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

A crowd of well-wishers welcomed Franklin High School rising junior Devyn Blackburn home after a lengthy hospital stay in Charlotte.