News

Fontana Regional Library Board Chair Bill McGaha speaks about fund distribution at the June 15 FRL meeting. (Press photo/Shelby Powell)

Fontana Regional Library Board Chair Bill McGaha speaks about fund distribution at the June 15 FRL meeting. (Press photo/Shelby Powell)

Judge orders halt to FRL fund distribution

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Swain County filed a complaint seeking to temporarily stop the Fontana Regional Library from dispersing funds to Macon, Jackson and Swain counties.
County Commissioner Chair Josh Young hears discussion on the county’s 2026-27 budget. (Press photo/Shelby Powell)

County Commissioner Chair Josh Young hears discussion on the county’s 2026-27 budget. (Press photo/Shelby Powell)

County passes 2026-27 budget

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
The Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026-27 budget, holding steady the 27-cent property tax rate.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - County Commissioner Chair Josh Young hears discussion on the county’s 2026-27 budget.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - County Commissioner Chair Josh Young hears discussion on the county’s 2026-27 budget.

County passes 2026-27 budget

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026-27 budget, holding steady the 27-cent property tax rate.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Karen Smith speaks to the Macon County Planning Board to recommend the board support district voting for its redistricting recommendation.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Karen Smith speaks to the Macon County Planning Board to recommend the board support district voting for its redistricting recommendation.

Planning Board recommends at-large voting

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The Macon County Planning Board voted unanimously on June 11 to recommend an at-large system for county redistricting efforts, furthering a conversation which should transfer back to commissioners after next month’s Planning Board meeting.
Press photo/Mia Overton - The proposed Hospice House on Maple Street remains unfinished seven years after the groundbreaking. Although Hospice House Foundation of WNC has received a $600,000 judgement in a case involving the contractor, representatives remain unsure of the project’s future.

Press photo/Mia Overton - The proposed Hospice House on Maple Street remains unfinished seven years after the groundbreaking. Although Hospice House Foundation of WNC has received a $600,000 judgement in a case involving the contractor, representatives remain unsure of the project’s future.

Hospice House receives $600,000 judgement

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
As work on the proposed hospice house on Maple Street has been paused for more than four years, many who contributed to the project, or needed its services, have been left wondering what happened.Hospice House Foundation of WNC received a “Certificate of Need” from the state in 2012.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Liz Birolin speaks to the Macon County commissioners to request they choose qualified members for the Macon County Library Board.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Liz Birolin speaks to the Macon County commissioners to request they choose qualified members for the Macon County Library Board.

Macon County votes to leave FRL

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The Macon County Board of Commissioners voted June 9 to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library, beginning a “year of demonstration” which may result in the FRL dissolving in 2027.
Photo/Bob Scott - Crews from multiple fire departments responded to a Sunday morning fire at Village Plaza on Highlands Road.

Photo/Bob Scott - Crews from multiple fire departments responded to a Sunday morning fire at Village Plaza on Highlands Road.

Fire consumes Franklin shopping center

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Franklin Fire and Rescue was dispatched at 8:28 a.m. Sunday to a fire in the Village Plaza shopping center on Highlands Rd.According to Franklin Fire Chief Justin Setser, FFR’s Squad 4 was on scene at 8:30 a.m. and the first engine arrived at 8:31.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kim Terrell, from the Macon County Cooperative Extension, leads a balance class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the Crawford Senior Center.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kim Terrell, from the Macon County Cooperative Extension, leads a balance class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the Crawford Senior Center.

Senior Center needs outlined

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Macon County Senior Center has needed a new location for years, dealing with inadequate space inside, limited parking, and working to make do with a building not built to accommodate seniors’ needs.The Macon County Board of Commissioners has been discussion office space needs for years.
Press file photo - The Franklin Town Council is considering a temporary moratorium on data center development and will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 6.

Press file photo - The Franklin Town Council is considering a temporary moratorium on data center development and will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 6.

Franklin to consider data center moratorium

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Franklin Town Council voted last week to hold a public hearing next month to get input on a proposed ordinance that would establish a temporary moratorium on the development of new data centers.