Local

Photo submitted - Vecinos uses a mobile clinic to reach out to Latino communities.

Helping Latino neighbors

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Macon County’s Latino community has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but their neighbors have stepped up to help reduce their risk and slow the spread of the virus.

How salaries stack up

Local LE struggling to fill positions

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Local law enforcement agencies are finding it more and more difficult to fill positions with qualified officers, and officials say that the areas they serve are suffering as a result.

Press photos/Barbara McRae - Rita St. Clair, secretary of the FROG board, examines hops found growing on the Greenway. They were probably cultivated by Timoxena Siler Sloan, who farmed this land in the 19th Century.

Hops on the Greenway

(not verified)

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Barbara McRae bmcrae60@gmail.com. The Greenway section known as the Old Airport Trail evokes memories of aviation’s early, adventure-filled days, but its history goes back much, much farther.

Covid

Macon suffers three COVID-related deaths

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Macon County Public Health reported three more coronavirus-related deaths on Aug. 31, bringing the number of total fatalities to seven since the pandemic began. All of the deaths have occurred with people over the age of 65.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Rowan Morgan is now a full-time homeschool student, a decision his mother made due to frustrations with virtual learning.

Remote learning gets mixed reviews

Jake Browning

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

With four Macon County schools shutting down in-person instruction because of COVID cases and quarantines, remote learning is becoming more important to local education than ever, but parents and teachers have very different ideas about how the practice has worked so far this school year.

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Andrew Latorre shares a laugh with Tom Tyre as he works on the mechanical Democracy Machine at their home in Otto.

Finding art in unexpected places

Jake Browning

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Most people wouldn’t look at a printer someone ditched on the side of the road and see a piece of a sculpture, but most people don’t work for Cinnamon Hill Art. Andrew Latorre and Tom Tyre have been in their house in Otto for the past 19 years.

Press photo/Linda Mathias ECBI chief Richard Sneed, left, and Franklin mayor Bob Scott man the shovels at the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Chief breaks ground at Nikwasi Mound

Jake Browning

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Over a year after the Town of Franklin transferred the deed to the Nikwasi Mound to the Nikwasi Initiative, the project took a step forward with a ceremonial ground breaking on Monday morning.

Press photo/Jake Browning Cartoogechaye Elementary School third-grade teacher Katie Kennedy sets up a tablet in preparation for her students’ return on Monday.

Teachers gearing up for return to school

Jake Browning

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

There’s less than a week left before Macon County Schools begin their most unconventional school year ever, but teachers and administrators are doing their best to keep a level head as they prepare for students on Monday, Aug. 17. Job number one is going to be keeping kids safe.

New roundabout

DOT: Roundabouts to be open for school

Jake Browning

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

It’s going to come down to the wire, but the remaining roundabouts should be open in time for school. NCDOT communications officer David Uchiyama said that the remaining two roundabouts are about 80 percent complete. The one at Maple Street is now open to traffic while work continues.

COVID testing

Free COVID tests Aug. 13

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Macon County Emergency Management and Macon County Public Health will conduct a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic at Macon Middle School from 8-11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.