News

(Press photo/Vickie Carpenter) Children and their families participating in the annual Easter Egg drop presented by LifeSpring Community Church. See more photos on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

(Press photo/Vickie Carpenter) Children and their families participating in the annual Easter Egg drop presented by LifeSpring Community Church. See more photos on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Celebrating Easter

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Hundreds of children and their families ran onto the field at South Macon Elementary School after a helicopter dropped plastic Easter eggs as part of LifeSpring Community Church’s annual event on Saturday, March 28. Children also enjoyed pony rides, a petting zoo, food and games.
Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt (left) and his fraternal twin brother Kellen perform “Girl Crush” on Braden’s initial audition performance on American Idol. Rumfelt has been a contestant on the 24th season of the popular talent program. Having made the top 20, he is entering the live voting portion of the season. The show airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.

Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt (left) and his fraternal twin brother Kellen perform “Girl Crush” on Braden’s initial audition performance on American Idol. Rumfelt has been a contestant on the 24th season of the popular talent program. Having made the top 20, he is entering the live voting portion of the season. The show airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.

Murphy’s Rumfelt makes top 20 in American Idol

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Nicole Wright Staff Correspondent Cherokee Scout   Hollywood – Cherokee County has a vested interest in the latest season of “American Idol” with one its own onstage.
Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt of Murphy with his parents Chris (left) and Crystal during his Hawaiian Ohana Round of American Idol. Crystal Douthit Rumfelt is from Franklin and a 1995 FHS graduate.

Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt of Murphy with his parents Chris (left) and Crystal during his Hawaiian Ohana Round of American Idol. Crystal Douthit Rumfelt is from Franklin and a 1995 FHS graduate.

Rumfelt: ‘I love it, I’m so proud’

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Crystal Douthit Rumfelt, mother of “American Idol” season 24 contestant Braden Rumfelt, said the experience of seeing Braden’s success is exciting – and stressful. “It’s a really positive thing, you know?” she said. “Watching your kid do what he’s always dreamed about is really fun.
Press photo/Shelby Powell. Cody and Alex Norris prepare their lunches at the March 21 cookout.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. Cody and Alex Norris prepare their lunches at the March 21 cookout.

2026 A.T. Celebration begins

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Cookouts and music await Appalachian Trail travelers as they pass through Franklin in March and April as the A.T. Celebration begins in earnest.
Press photo/Shelby Powell. Jason Love speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the March 10 meeting.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. Jason Love speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners at the March 10 meeting.

How clean are Macon County’s rivers?

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Jason Love of the Water Quality Advisory Committee would like to see water treated as a precious resource rather than taking it for granted.
Highlander photo/Mitch Stone. Board Chairman Jim Breedlove (second from left) discusses fundraising requests during the Macon County Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 23, at Highlands School.

Highlander photo/Mitch Stone. Board Chairman Jim Breedlove (second from left) discusses fundraising requests during the Macon County Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 23, at Highlands School.

Needs assessment slated for East Franklin

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Mitch Stone reporter@highlandsnews.com   Highlands School hosted the Macon County Board of Education on Monday, March 23, as members heard facilities updates and approved a resolution to rename Bartram Academy.
A USGS map showing the epicenter of the March 23 earthquake that was heard and felt in Macon County. The epicenter was near the Macon-Jackson county line.

A USGS map showing the epicenter of the March 23 earthquake that was heard and felt in Macon County. The epicenter was near the Macon-Jackson county line.

Earthquake rumbles Macon County

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, March 23, people around Macon County heard a loud rumble then a boom. Others felt their houses shake; dogs started barking. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 2.7 magnitude earthquake was detected about 10 km (6.2 miles) southwest of Dillsboro.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21. Additional photos are on page B1 of the March 25 paper and on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21. Additional photos are on page B1 of the March 25 paper and on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Mr. & Miss FHS 2026 crowned

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Franklin High School seniors Addix Sutton and Abigail Pope were crowned Mr. and Miss FHS at the annual court presentation on March 21 at the FHS Fine Arts Center. Originally scheduled for Jan. 31, the event had been postponed due to winter weather.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kyle Davidek, Caden Davidek and Cooper Creel walk around downtown Franklin looking for history to fill out their “Passport to the Past.”

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Kyle Davidek, Caden Davidek and Cooper Creel walk around downtown Franklin looking for history to fill out their “Passport to the Past.”

Hunting for women’s history in downtown Franklin

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Participants strolled along Franklin’s Main Street Saturday while learning local women’s history with a “Passport to the Past.
Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers wait for a ride on the Macon County Transit hiker shuttle

Photo/Bob Scott - Hikers wait for a ride on the Macon County Transit hiker shuttle

Free shuttle pays off for town

Mia Overton
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
The TDA heard funding requests for a retreat for veterans’ widows and a music festival at its March 9 meeting. The board also voted to provide advertising funds for Macon County Transit’s Hiker Route.