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Absentee ballots pouring in

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Absentee ballot requests continue to flood the county election office. About 4,000 Macon County voters have requested absentee ballots for the 2020 election, up from 956 for the entire 2016 election cycle.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Nine-year-old Ariana Velazquez is part of the PALS program with Franklin High School’s FFA and is raising a cow for this year’s livestock shows.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Nine-year-old Ariana Velazquez is part of the PALS program with Franklin High School’s FFA and is raising a cow for this year’s livestock shows.

No fair, but online livestock shows go on

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Like so many events in 2020, the Macon County Fair won’t happen in its traditional format, but some aspects of it will go on in a digital space. This fall’s fair, scheduled for Sept. 23-26, would have been the 67th annual edition of an event. Because of the COVID pandemic, it was not to be.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon County Historical Museum curator Robert Shook explains the history behind Civil War artifacts in the museum’s collection. The museum will unveil a new exhibit – an original 19th century log cabin – next door to its building in November.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon County Historical Museum curator Robert Shook explains the history behind Civil War artifacts in the museum’s collection. The museum will unveil a new exhibit – an original 19th century log cabin – next door to its building in November.

Museum reopens with new exhibit

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
The Macon County Historical Museum has opened its doors again and will soon be getting a new exhibit. Just a few weeks after receiving permission to reopen under the state’s Phase 2.5 social distancing guidelines, the museum is planning to unveil an artifact too large to fit inside its building.
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Macon schools weigh options

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Gov. Roy Cooper has given his blessing for students in kindergarten through fifth grade to return to full-time, in-person instruction. The decision on whether to return to full in-person instruction will be left up to individual school districts. At press time on Sept.
Press photos/Will Woolever - Laura Gamble revived a family tradition this year when she began canning vegetables from her home garden.

Press photos/Will Woolever - Laura Gamble revived a family tradition this year when she began canning vegetables from her home garden.

Preserving a tradition

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic virtually shut down the nation’s economy and forced many Americans to shelter in place this spring, some worried how they might feed themselves and their families.
Press photo/Linda Mathias - Tom Pruett, school resource officer at East Franklin Elementary, watches as students board buses.

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Tom Pruett, school resource officer at East Franklin Elementary, watches as students board buses.

Closed schools return to Plan B

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Macon County Board of Education have decided to return closed schools to the schedules put in place at the beginning of the school year.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Ingles project manager Preston Kendall shows the Franklin Town Council a schematic of the store’s proposed new location at Holly Springs Plaza.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Ingles project manager Preston Kendall shows the Franklin Town Council a schematic of the store’s proposed new location at Holly Springs Plaza.

Town council green-lights new Ingles

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Franklin’s Town Council approved development of a new Ingles at the former site of the Holly Springs Plaza Walmart. Representatives from Ingles presented plans to the town council at its Sept.
Press photo/Will Woolever - The Gazebo is a popular place to gather.

Press photo/Will Woolever - The Gazebo is a popular place to gather.

Town halts gazebo events

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Town Gazebo will not be available for any public events until further notice. During the latest meeting of Franklin’s Town Council, town staff brought up concerns about public safety related to large public events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo submitted - Local musicians (from left) Ron Van Beuning, Chuck Dorling, Jay Baird, Dave Stewart play a concert under the Big Bear shelter at the Little Tennessee River Greenway recently. For the past few months Macon Music has hosted weekly music gatherings at the greenway.

Photo submitted - Local musicians (from left) Ron Van Beuning, Chuck Dorling, Jay Baird, Dave Stewart play a concert under the Big Bear shelter at the Little Tennessee River Greenway recently. For the past few months Macon Music has hosted weekly music gatherings at the greenway.

New group aims to rev up local music scene

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
A new organization is turning up the volume on local music in Franklin. For the last 50 years, Frank Smith has been writing, recording and performing songs in different acts across the country.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Patty and Steve Raby founded Kaylee’s Closet to provide essential items to foster families and children in need.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Patty and Steve Raby founded Kaylee’s Closet to provide essential items to foster families and children in need.

Kaylee’s Closet overflows with love and donations

Jake Browning
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Kaylee’s Closet isn’t at risk of being emptied out any time soon, which is good news for families coping with financial difficulties in the era of COVID-19. Patty and Steve Raby founded Kaylee’s Closet in honor of their foster daughter Kaylee, who came to live with them 13 years ago.