News

McRae’s seat on Town Council could remain vacant

News Staff

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

While the Franklin community mourns the loss of vice mayor Barbara McRae, the Franklin Town Council still has a decision to make about how to fill the seat she left vacant on the board. The Town Council has the authority to appoint a new member who would serve until the next municipal election.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Center director Arthur Phalo said LBJ Center staff did not miss a beat when the center closed due to COVID-19, but he is happy to be welcoming students back to the Macon campus.

LBJ Job Corps students are returning to campus

Jake Browning

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

COVID-19 pushed them out of the campus, but students and staff at the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center never stopped working. When the virus shut down schools and businesses last March, the staff at the Job Corps didn’t panic.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Students at East Franklin Elementary School participate in the school’s wax museum in February. This year’s wax museum had to be held outside and students were stationed six feet apart from each other, both measures to comply with COVID-19 prevention plans.

Back to school

News Staff

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

In compliance with new orders from the state government, Macon County Schools will be offering more in-person learning for students starting after spring break.

Press photo/Macon County Health - Lauren Hickman, a Macon County nurse, received the 10,000th vaccination given in Macon County.

Macon hits 10,000 mark

Jake Browning

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Macon County Public Health administered its 10,000th COVID-19 vaccination last week, just over three months after vaccine rollouts began in the United States.

Photo/Eric Haggard - Highway 64 at Bridal Veil Falls will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and will operate in a one-lane pattern with a traffic signal overnight from March 29 to April 16.

Safety repairs needed on U.S. 64 at Bridal Veil Falls

News Staff

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

N.C. Department of Transportation crews will perform a difficult repair on U.S. 64 at Bridal Veil Falls in Macon County from March 29 to April 16. The highway will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fired up: Cowee adds wood kiln

News Staff

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Members of the Cowee Pottery School are all fired up about a new wood kiln that they’ll get to start baking in later this year. The wood kiln is a long-anticipated project made possible by financial assistance from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

Rabies Clinic

Rabies cases on the rise in Macon County

News Staff

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Macon County has identified additional rabies-positive raccoons, bringing the total of rabies-positive wildlife detected in Macon County to seven since December 2020. Last week, a citizen’s dog was attacked by a raccoon.

Eric Ridenour selected as county attorney

Jake Browning

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Sylva-based private attorney Eric Ridenour has been chosen to serve as Macon County’s next county attorney. Former county attorney Chester Jones retired last October and was succeeded in the interim by Swain County attorney Kim Carpenter.

Press photo/ Will Woolever - A small twin-engine Cessna crashed at the Macon County Airport on Thursday afternoon. Emergency response units extinguished the fire and secured the scene. The pilot and two passangers were unharmed.

Plane crashes at MCA

Will Woolever

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

At roughly 3:15 p.m. Thursday, March 11, first responders were called to the Macon County Airport regarding reports of a downed aircraft.

Arthur Grover Browning

News Staff

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

FRANKLIN – Arthur Grover Browning, 89, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2021 in the Bryant-Grant Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m.