News

Unemployment

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.
File photo - The owners of Root and Barrel want to build a patio in the alley between restaurant and town hall.

File photo - The owners of Root and Barrel want to build a patio in the alley between restaurant and town hall.

Council tables Root and Barrel patio plan

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Franklin’s Town Council voted to table a proposal that would allow Root and Barrel to build a patio in the alley between their restaurant and Town Hall. After co-owner Brett Murphy made the pitch to the town at last month’s meeting, co-owners Gary and Virginia Murphy followed up on Monday night.
COVID update

COVID update

COVID outbreak found at Drake Cottage

News Staff
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Macon County Public Health has identified an outbreak of COVID-19 at a congregate living facility in Franklin. Four individuals at Drake Cottage tested positive and are now isolated and doing well, according to the health department.
File Photo - PumpkinFest

File Photo - PumpkinFest

PumpkinFest falls victim to COVID-19

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Franklin’s Town Council voted unanimously to cancel PumpkinFest, the town’s biggest and most successful festival. The annual fall festival, had a 23-year uninterrupted run, but council members decided that coronavirus-related public restrictions are still too strict to have a traditional festival.
Press photo/Linda Mathias - Families and loved ones take photos as students participated in a graduation ceremony at Macon Early College.

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Families and loved ones take photos as students participated in a graduation ceremony at Macon Early College.

Graduations like never before

Jake Browning
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Nearly five months after the COVID-19 pandemic cut their senior year short, Macon County’s class of 2020 finally graduated this past weekend. Franklin High School students voted early in the summer to postpone graduation to Aug.
Courtesy of Bella View Farm Sanctuary - Volunteers Erin Erickson, left, and Diane Wildermuth tend to goats, some of which require wheelchairs to get around.

Courtesy of Bella View Farm Sanctuary - Volunteers Erin Erickson, left, and Diane Wildermuth tend to goats, some of which require wheelchairs to get around.

Second chances

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Tucked away in a holler near Ellijay lie 25 acres of meadows and forests that make up Bella View Farm. The farm is home to the usual assortment of barnyard animals, but there’s nothing typical about the goats, horses, rabbits and chickens who live there.
Press photo/Linda Mathias - Volunteers bring food to vehicles lined up at Mountain View Intermediate School on Monday, July 27.

Press photo/Linda Mathias - Volunteers bring food to vehicles lined up at Mountain View Intermediate School on Monday, July 27.

MANNA feeds greater need in pandemic

News Staff
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
MANNA Food Bank held its monthly pop-up market at Mountain View Intermediate School on Monday, July 27, and the need in the community was on full display.
COVID Update

COVID Update

Second death linked to COVID-19

Lee Buchanan
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Macon County has recorded its second death related to COVID-19. The county public health department said on July 21 that a Macon County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 had died.  The person was over the age of 65 and had underlying health conditions, according to the health department.