News

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Superintendent Josh Lynch and Finance Director Alayna Ledford present requests for the 2025-26 Macon County Schools Budget.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Superintendent Josh Lynch and Finance Director Alayna Ledford present requests for the 2025-26 Macon County Schools Budget.

County holds first budget session

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The Macon County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, May 22, at 9 a.m. to talk budget with Macon County Schools, Southwestern Community College, Davenport and Company LLC, Emergency Medical Services and several volunteer fire departments.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Bus Driver Connie Dills requests additional support for Macon County Schools bus drivers, including increased pay and updated benefits.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Bus Driver Connie Dills requests additional support for Macon County Schools bus drivers, including increased pay and updated benefits.

Bus driver shortage topic for school board

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The continuing shortage of bus drivers was a topic during the May 19 Macon County Board of Education meeting. The board also received reports on the school system’s many construction projects. The meeting was held early this month to avoid falling on Memorial Day.
Photo/Bob Scott - Members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard present the colors.

Photo/Bob Scott - Members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard present the colors.

Remembering the fallen

News Staff
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
In spite of the threat of rain, the annual Memorial Day Ceremony took place Monday, May 26 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Franklin. Memorial Day is a United States holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Press graphic

Press graphic

No county tax rate increase expected

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
County Manager Warren Cabe presented a proposed budget of $64,711,599 that maintains the current property tax rate of .27 per $100 property value. During the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 13, Cabe said the budget would be slightly larger than the current year’s $63.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Dozens file into the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting chamber to show support for local waterways, the regional library system and to discuss the county’s Community Funding Pool.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Dozens file into the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting chamber to show support for local waterways, the regional library system and to discuss the county’s Community Funding Pool.

Macon has no intention of leaving regional library system

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
With Jackson County considering leaving the regional library system, Macon County residents showed up at the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 13 to voice their support for the library.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Local biologist Jason Love (right) discusses unnecessary damage to local waterways caused by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal efforts. Listening are County Commissioners Gary Shields and John Shearl.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Local biologist Jason Love (right) discusses unnecessary damage to local waterways caused by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal efforts. Listening are County Commissioners Gary Shields and John Shearl.

Lessons learned about river cleanup

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Dozens of locals filed into the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting room during its meeting on Tuesday, May 13, to signal support for public issues, most of which were not on the agenda.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Macon County Board of Commissioners have instructed Burningtown-Iotla and Cowee fire departments to present a plan for merging the departments. This comes after Burningtown-Iotla has been on probation since July 2024.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - The Macon County Board of Commissioners have instructed Burningtown-Iotla and Cowee fire departments to present a plan for merging the departments. This comes after Burningtown-Iotla has been on probation since July 2024.

Fire departments to discuss merger

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
At the closing of its May meeting, the Macon County Board of Commissioners heard an update on the state of Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue from Chairman Mike Yacks.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Mayor Jack Horton displays the award the Town of Franklin received for signing the N.C. League of Municipalities “Commit to Civility” pledge. Franklin was the second town to sign the pledge and the first to have 100% participation. As part of the pledge council members attended a two-hour training and passed a resolution to support a civil, respectful and effective approach to local leadership. Also pictured are Town Council members Rita Salain and Robbie Tompa.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Mayor Jack Horton displays the award the Town of Franklin received for signing the N.C. League of Municipalities “Commit to Civility” pledge. Franklin was the second town to sign the pledge and the first to have 100% participation. As part of the pledge council members attended a two-hour training and passed a resolution to support a civil, respectful and effective approach to local leadership. Also pictured are Town Council members Rita Salain and Robbie Tompa.

Council opposes bills restricting local government

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
During its meeting on May 5, the Franklin Town Council passed a resolution opposing several bills introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Map/USGS - A map showing the area of the earthquake felt in Macon County on May 10, 2025.

Map/USGS - A map showing the area of the earthquake felt in Macon County on May 10, 2025.

Mild earthquake shakes Macon County

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Greenback, Tennessee, rattled the weekend as homes throughout Western North Carolina felt the shaking. The earthquake, which occurred at 9:04 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, alarmed many locals in Macon and its surrounding counties.