News

Press photos/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Senior Services Director Kim Crawford and Macon County representative for the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature Pat Hedrick lead the Elder Abuse Awareness Day Walk in downtown Franklin on June 17.

Press photos/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Senior Services Director Kim Crawford and Macon County representative for the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature Pat Hedrick lead the Elder Abuse Awareness Day Walk in downtown Franklin on June 17.

Walking to stop elder abuse

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
In synchronization with groups across the region, the Macon County Elder Abuse Awareness Walk took to the streets of downtown Franklin on June 17 to get people to protect what one speaker called “our seasoned citizens.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Jeff McDougall found space debris at his home in the Holly Springs community. It is believed to be from the SpaceX Dragon Crew-7. For reference, an 18-inch ruler is shown on a piece of the debris.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Jeff McDougall found space debris at his home in the Holly Springs community. It is believed to be from the SpaceX Dragon Crew-7. For reference, an 18-inch ruler is shown on a piece of the debris.

Space debris found in Macon County

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Multiple Western North Carolina residents, including at least two from Macon County, now can claim something from space landed in their yard. Jeff McDougall of the Holly Springs community recalls finding something interesting in early June. “It was about 100 yards from the house.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Danny Antoine, Gary Shields and Josh Young vote in favor of the $63.7 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year at the June 11 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Danny Antoine, Gary Shields and Josh Young vote in favor of the $63.7 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year at the June 11 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Macon County budget, Franklin Fire District tax passes

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
By a 3-2 vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved the 2024-25 fiscal year budget with a 1.76-cent tax increase for the Franklin Fire District.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Work for the initial phase of the new Franklin High School got underway Monday, June 17. Crews will work throughout the summer on pipes below Panther Drive and the lower parking lot in advance of major building work expected to start this October. A groundbreaking ceremony planned for June 20th has been postponed.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Work for the initial phase of the new Franklin High School got underway Monday, June 17. Crews will work throughout the summer on pipes below Panther Drive and the lower parking lot in advance of major building work expected to start this October. A groundbreaking ceremony planned for June 20th has been postponed.

Commissioners frustrated with school construction projects

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
A discussion on interlocal agreements between the school board and county commissioners led a couple of commissioners to vent about issues they had with certain projects. The four agreements would outline responsibility and oversight for upcoming capital outlay projects.
Press photo/Will Woolever - The Town of Franklin is foreclosing on this Hillside Street house as it does not meet the minimum housing requirements. It has not had water and sewer service in nearly three years and taxes are owed.

Press photo/Will Woolever - The Town of Franklin is foreclosing on this Hillside Street house as it does not meet the minimum housing requirements. It has not had water and sewer service in nearly three years and taxes are owed.

Town to foreclose on house for taxes owed

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
The Town of Franklin has started the foreclosure process on a house that does not have water and sewer service, yet people have been living there, and the taxes have not been paid in seven years. During the June 3 Town Council meeting, Town Attorney John Henning Jr.
Press file photo - Flooding this past January along the Little Tennessee River Greenway near the Tassee Shelter on Ulco Drive in Franklin.

Press file photo - Flooding this past January along the Little Tennessee River Greenway near the Tassee Shelter on Ulco Drive in Franklin.

Franklin Planning Board to review flood plain ordinance

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
As Macon County debates an amendment that would allow the use of fill in the flood plain, the Town of Franklin will begin an overall review of its flood plain ordinance.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Southwestern Community College President Don Tomas requested $1.5 million in increased costs, touting the economic value of the school, at the Macon County Board of Commissioners budget workshop on June 4.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Southwestern Community College President Don Tomas requested $1.5 million in increased costs, touting the economic value of the school, at the Macon County Board of Commissioners budget workshop on June 4.

Franklin Fire requests tax increase

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Franklin Fire and Rescue is requesting Macon County raise its fire tax, although one county commissioner tried to steer the discussion into his grievances with the Franklin fire district and firefighting in general.
Graphics/Town of Franklin. The Franklin social district graphic is set to open on June 22. Businesses displaying the green sign will allow alcohol on premises; those with the red sign will not. The ABC-permitted businesses selling the required cups for use in the social district will display a sign stating cups are available. The boundaries of the social district also will be marked with signs.

Graphics/Town of Franklin. The Franklin social district graphic is set to open on June 22. Businesses displaying the green sign will allow alcohol on premises; those with the red sign will not. The ABC-permitted businesses selling the required cups for use in the social district will display a sign stating cups are available. The boundaries of the social district also will be marked with signs.

Franklin Social District to begin June 22

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
During the June 3 Franklin Town Council meeting, Town Manager Amie Owens said the town’s new Social District will go into effect Saturday, June 22.  Owens said it will take a couple of weeks to get everything in line and that the signage and boundary markers will be installed by June 14.
Press photo/Mia Overton. County Manager Derek Roland presents the proposed 2024-25 budget at a meeting on May 21. Also pictured are commissioners Paul Higdon, Danny Antoine and Chair Gary Shields.

Press photo/Mia Overton. County Manager Derek Roland presents the proposed 2024-25 budget at a meeting on May 21. Also pictured are commissioners Paul Higdon, Danny Antoine and Chair Gary Shields.

County proposes $63 million budget

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
County Manager Derek Roland took a look back over the past decade when presenting the proposed 2024-25 county budget to the Macon County Board of Commissioners on May 21.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill. The Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education held a joint meeting on May 28 to discuss school improvement projects and the budget in the coming year.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill. The Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education held a joint meeting on May 28 to discuss school improvement projects and the budget in the coming year.

Sticker Shock: $137 million price tag on new FHS

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Sticker shock from higher-than-expected price tags didn’t stop votes on the Franklin High School and Highlands School projects at a May 28 joint meeting of the Macon County Commissioners and Board of Education in the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center.