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File photo – First United Methodist’s Day of Famine will help the community in a variety of ways. After a long 30 hours of fasting and making improvements to the Outreach Center, the church will have some very hungry youth members to feed.

File photo – First United Methodist’s Day of Famine will help the community in a variety of ways. After a long 30 hours of fasting and making improvements to the Outreach Center, the church will have some very hungry youth members to feed.

30-Hour Famine collects food and funds

Will Woolever
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
One of Franklin’s most unique charitable drives is preparing for its big day. For the past 30 years, the 30-Hour Famine has brought together congregations from around the world to raise funds and awareness for victims of extreme hunger.
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Play ball

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Macon County’s state legislators are taking aim at policies that keep crowds small at sporting events and other large venue attractions. Senate Bill 116, titled “Let Them Play and Let Us Watch”, was filed in the NC Senate on Feb.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Above, South Macon Elementary School teacher Allisha Mason reads Dr. Seuss’ “Fox in Socks” to her kindergarteners during Read Across America Week.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Above, South Macon Elementary School teacher Allisha Mason reads Dr. Seuss’ “Fox in Socks” to her kindergarteners during Read Across America Week.

Read Across America

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Macon County elementary school students and staff spent last week celebrating their favorite books for Read Across America. While March 2 is the National Education Association’s official Read Across America Day, the schools dedicated their entire school week to the movement.
Photo/ Fred Alexander - Barbara McRae was often spotted in her birding gear along the Greenway in Franklin.

Photo/ Fred Alexander - Barbara McRae was often spotted in her birding gear along the Greenway in Franklin.

McRae: Vice-mayor, local historian remembered

News Staff
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
When Barbara McRae died March 2 at her Harrison Avenue home after a battle with cancer, her adopted hometown lost much more than its vice mayor. Franklin lost a prized historian, a chronicler and defender of the area’s natural beauty, and a voice for right.
Press photo/Jake Browning - Macon County Schools superintendent Chris Baldwin addresses the county commissioners at a special called meeting on Feb. 26.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Macon County Schools superintendent Chris Baldwin addresses the county commissioners at a special called meeting on Feb. 26.

County rejects new school infrastructure plan

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
An ambitious plan to upgrade infrastructure for Macon Middle and Franklin High schools failed to gain enough traction to proceed during the Macon County Board of Commissioners’ special called meeting Feb. 26.
Photo submitted - Backlot Cinema teamed up with the Macon County Schools STEM program for a unit on video technology and production careers, demonstrated here with the use of a green screen.

Photo submitted - Backlot Cinema teamed up with the Macon County Schools STEM program for a unit on video technology and production careers, demonstrated here with the use of a green screen.

Macon STEM education growing, getting smarter

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Despite all of the challenges that have faced Macon County Schools this year, there are still plenty of innovative ideas stemming from the school system’s science, technology, engineering and math curriculum.
Photo submitted - The new vaccine center at Western Carolina University is now available to all residents. To register, go to vaccine.wcu.edu.

Photo submitted - The new vaccine center at Western Carolina University is now available to all residents. To register, go to vaccine.wcu.edu.

Teacher vaccinations underway

Jake Browning
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Macon County Schools had a productive first week of getting vaccinations to teachers and staff, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Macon County Schools faculty members were allowed to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccines after Gov.
Groundbreaking at new hospital

Groundbreaking at new hospital

Hospital groundbreaking set for April 30

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Construction of a replacement hospital for Angel Medical Center – promised when HCA acquired Mission Health but met with skepticism by some in the community – is now set to get underway with a groundbreaking ceremony in April.
Press photos/Jake Browning - Second-grader Ryder Murphy is a big Star Wars fan, as evidenced by the figures of Yoda and Baby Yoda at right.

Press photos/Jake Browning - Second-grader Ryder Murphy is a big Star Wars fan, as evidenced by the figures of Yoda and Baby Yoda at right.

Learning with LEGO

Jake Browning
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
South Macon Elementary School students exercised their creativity recently when the school invited them to participate in LEGO Week. Inspired by the company’s National LEGO Day that was held in January, South Macon’s LEGO Week was a tradition that began last year in the media center.
Photo submitted With the Crawford Senior Center closed, Lynn Rigg’s tai chi class has moved to Zoom.

Photo submitted With the Crawford Senior Center closed, Lynn Rigg’s tai chi class has moved to Zoom.

Senior Center works to keep clients active

News Staff
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
In a year where people have had to trade face-to-face contact with phone calls and computer screens, many have been forced to alter their routines drastically.