News

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Macon Public Health held a free drive-thru testing event at Macon Middle School.

Testing draws a crowd; health employee tests positive

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

A free drive-thru testing event at Macon Middle School on Aug. 13 attracted a steady stream of residents. “The line hasn’t stopped all morning, so there’s definitely a need in the community,” said Lisa Browning with Macon County Public Health.

Photo submitted - A helicopter sprays herbicide along power lines in Cowee.

Duke calls a halt to herbicide spraying

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

In the face of mounting criticism, Duke Energy has halted the spraying of herbicides in Western North Carolina. Doug Woodward, who lives in the Oak Grove community, said that neither he nor his neighbors were notified in advance of the spraying.

News

County seeks proposals for broadband expansion

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Lee Buchanan editor@thefranklinpress.com Macon County has issued a request for proposal to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas of the county. County manager Derek Roland said he hopes the RFP could be a major step toward bringing Macon County up to speed.

Press photo/Jake Browning - Students and their parents all need to get their temperature checked before entering a school building. From left: Danielle Bryson, sixth-grader Jet Carroll and Mountain View Intermediate School principal Nancy Breedlove

Macon goes back to school

Jake Browning

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Five months after they were ordered to shut down, Macon County Schools reopened on Monday with a hybrid schedule and a robust slew of measures designed to enhance virtual learning and keep kids safe. There have already been a couple of scares. On Aug.

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.

Earthquake

Earthquake shakes Macon

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Macon County residents had their quiet Sunday morning shaken when an 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Sparta, 230 miles away. The quake, which hit shortly after 8 a.m. on Aug. 9, shook houses and rattled windows throughout Macon County.

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.

Unemployment

Macon’s unemployment rate lowest in region

Lee Buchanan

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Macon County’s jobless rate fell to 6.6 percent in June, down from 10.9 percent in May. The county’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the seven far-western counties. Graham County had the highest rate at 9.3 percent, followed by Haywood and Jackson counties at 8.1 percent, Swain at 8.