News

Press photo/Mia Overton - Members of the Franklin Town Council, the Noquisi Initiative and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians gather following the council’s approval Jan. 5 of a resolution authorizing the transfer of the Noquisiyi Mound to the EBCI.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Members of the Franklin Town Council, the Noquisi Initiative and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians gather following the council’s approval Jan. 5 of a resolution authorizing the transfer of the Noquisiyi Mound to the EBCI.

Noquisiyi Mound returns to Cherokee

Mia Overton
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
After 200 years, the Noquisiyi Mound is being returned to the Cherokee people. In what was referred to as a historic, meaningful moment, the Franklin Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Jan.
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Macon County’s economic distress rankings improve

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 29, 2025
Many counties in Western North Carolina dropped in the state’s 2026 economic distress rankings after fallout from Helene left them in dire straits. Macon County showed progress, jumping from 73 to 81 and from Tier Two to Tier Three.  County tier designations, established each year by the N.C.
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Getting Macon County online in 2026

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 29, 2025
A number of broadband projects in place in Macon County are nearing completion and will provide Macon County residents better internet access in 2026, according to Jeff Lee, chair of the Macon County Broadband Committee.
Highlander photo/Josh Bryson - Emergency personnel searched the area from 3rd to 5th Street in Highlands following a second “swatting” threat.

Highlander photo/Josh Bryson - Emergency personnel searched the area from 3rd to 5th Street in Highlands following a second “swatting” threat.

Second ‘swatting’ threat closes downtown Highlands

News Staff
Monday, December 29, 2025
Josh Bryson - editor@highlandsnews.com For the second time in two weeks, a bomb threat prompted a lockdown that closed businesses in downtown Highlands.  Around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, Macon County Dispatch received a bomb threat initially reported to involve the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.
Photo/Bob Scott - Contractors on the Franklin High School construction site have poured concrete for multiple parts of the new campus facilities. Carroll Daniels Superintendent Joey Cain said the last two big pours came out to around 260 cubic yards of concrete with 9,800 cubic yards poured to date.

Photo/Bob Scott - Contractors on the Franklin High School construction site have poured concrete for multiple parts of the new campus facilities. Carroll Daniels Superintendent Joey Cain said the last two big pours came out to around 260 cubic yards of concrete with 9,800 cubic yards poured to date.

FHS progress ‘exciting to see’

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 29, 2025
Franklin High School construction wrapped up 2025 with big strides of progress for the new football stadium.  Director of Plant Operations Tracy Tallent said at the Dec.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Members of a quarter-cent sales tax planning team meet to discuss strategy for promoting the 2026 ballot initiative to residents.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Members of a quarter-cent sales tax planning team meet to discuss strategy for promoting the 2026 ballot initiative to residents.

County sales tax committee holds first meeting

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 22, 2025
After getting a quarter-cent sales tax increase on the ballot for the third time as a county commissioner, Gary Shields is now working with community members to market the change and raise more than $2 million per year for the county.  The first “quarter-cent planning team” met Tuesday, Dec.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Macon County Retired School Personnel presented its teacher grants during the Dec. 15 Board of Education meeting. Fifteen teachers from nine county schools received a total of $4,353 to purchase classroom equipment including sensory equipment and microscopes, bilingual and EC books for students, and materials for class projects and other student opportunities. Lee Berger, president, said 2025 saw the largest grant total to date since the group started issuing grants in 2022.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Macon County Retired School Personnel presented its teacher grants during the Dec. 15 Board of Education meeting. Fifteen teachers from nine county schools received a total of $4,353 to purchase classroom equipment including sensory equipment and microscopes, bilingual and EC books for students, and materials for class projects and other student opportunities. Lee Berger, president, said 2025 saw the largest grant total to date since the group started issuing grants in 2022.

School system earns top grade on audit

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 22, 2025
Macon County Schools earned the best possible opinion on this year’s audit, keeping a longstanding tradition of strong audits going.
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Ballot set for 2026 primary

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 22, 2025
Fifty-six candidates will be on the ballot for Macon County’s 2026 primary election, running for 18 local, state and national seats.  On Thursday and Friday there was an influx of candidates filing before the deadline of noon Friday, Dec. 19.
Press photo/Mia Overton - For 40 years the Sanders family has shared the Christmas spirit by lighting a cross on the hill overlooking East Franklin.

Press photo/Mia Overton - For 40 years the Sanders family has shared the Christmas spirit by lighting a cross on the hill overlooking East Franklin.

Christmas spirit shines brightly

Mia Overton
Monday, December 22, 2025
Forty years ago in December 1985 Joe Sanders first lit the cross that shines over East Franklin. “I wanted people to think about the spirit of Christmas,” Sanders told the Press at the time.  The original cross was 24-feet high with a 12-foot cross post and lit with 24 150-watt bulbs.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Interim Solid Waste Director Jamie Picou speaks to county commissioners about new landfill construction.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Interim Solid Waste Director Jamie Picou speaks to county commissioners about new landfill construction.

County to move ahead with landfill construction

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Macon County commissioners voted 4-1 to enter into a bond agreement with Webster Bank for up to $10.5 million to build a new landfill cell.  At its Nov.