News

Press photo/Will Woolever - Special Operations Forces veterans Dominique Lewis (front) and Lucas Knighten (back) heft supplies for a raised-bed garden at Lewis’s home in Franklin recently. “Who says Army and Navy can’t work together?” Lewis joked.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Special Operations Forces veterans Dominique Lewis (front) and Lucas Knighten (back) heft supplies for a raised-bed garden at Lewis’s home in Franklin recently. “Who says Army and Navy can’t work together?” Lewis joked.

Gardens offer healing for veterans

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
A local veteran and his family have a new garden, thanks to three local veteran’s groups. Since retiring from the military and moving to Franklin in 2020, Dominique Lewis has developed something of a green thumb, growing potatoes and peppers on a small plot outside his home.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin Town Clerk Nicole Bradley (left) listens as Mayor Jack Horton reads a proclamation for Municipal Clerks Week, May 5-11. In addition to serving as clerk to the Town Council, Bradley is the town’s human resources director.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin Town Clerk Nicole Bradley (left) listens as Mayor Jack Horton reads a proclamation for Municipal Clerks Week, May 5-11. In addition to serving as clerk to the Town Council, Bradley is the town’s human resources director.

Town approves zoning for three housing projects

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The Franklin Town Council held public hearings on three proposed affordable housing complexes during the monthly meeting on May 6. While the council gave approval for the conditional zoning requested for the three projects, it is expected only one project will be selected by the state this year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - A full house at the May 2 Macon County Planning Board meeting as Susan Ervin speaks.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - A full house at the May 2 Macon County Planning Board meeting as Susan Ervin speaks.

People oppose fill dirt in floodplain

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Local residents flooded the Macon County Planning Board’s May 2 meeting with requests for the board to protect or even strengthen the section of county’s floodplain ordinance that bars fill dirt from being used. In total, 24 people spoke in just under 80 minutes.
Press file photo - A new East Franklin Elementary School is one of the items on the Board of Education’s capital outlay request. The current school was built in the 1950s and has seen several additions over the years. The cost of improvements requested for East Franklin is $26,297,545, including a new building.

Press file photo - A new East Franklin Elementary School is one of the items on the Board of Education’s capital outlay request. The current school was built in the 1950s and has seen several additions over the years. The cost of improvements requested for East Franklin is $26,297,545, including a new building.

School Board lists capital outlay requests

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
More than $34 million in requests, not counting the multi-million-dollar construction projects slated to begin this summer, are going to the Macon County Board of Commissioners to parse and decide upon.
Press file photo - The scene of the Prentiss Bridge Road fire where two people died on Jan. 4.

Press file photo - The scene of the Prentiss Bridge Road fire where two people died on Jan. 4.

Autopsy reveals details of murder-suicide

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Warning: This story contains graphic details. An autopsy shows dozens of stab wounds caused by several knives on the body of a 77-year-old woman. The stabbings were likely done by her 75-year-old husband who set their house on fire and died as well.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Led by Gracie Parker, attendees of the second annual Youth Mental Health Rally in downtown Franklin march down Main Street. More photos from the rally will be posted on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Led by Gracie Parker, attendees of the second annual Youth Mental Health Rally in downtown Franklin march down Main Street. More photos from the rally will be posted on The Franklin Press Facebook page.

Rally focuses on youth mental health

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Eleven-year-old Gracie Parker of Franklin led the second annual Youth Mental Health Rally on Sunday, April 28 at the downtown gazebo. The keynote speaker was N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley.
Photo/Bob Scott - A National Guard helicopter was called in to help rescue a man who had fallen down the California Mountain side of the Cullasaja Gorge. After lifting the man from the side of the mountain, the helicopter then returned to lift the rescue workers who had repelled down the mountain.

Photo/Bob Scott - A National Guard helicopter was called in to help rescue a man who had fallen down the California Mountain side of the Cullasaja Gorge. After lifting the man from the side of the mountain, the helicopter then returned to lift the rescue workers who had repelled down the mountain.

Man rescued from Cullasaja Gorge

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Multiple emergency crews responded to the Cullasaja Gorge area over the weekend to rescue a man who had fallen down the mountain. The man told rescuers he had been there about three days, according to the 911 call log. The call came into the Macon County 911 center about 8:57 p.m. Friday.
Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens (standing), town administrative staff, Town Council members and Mayor Jack Horton discuss the proposed 2024-25 budget during a workshop on April 16 at Town Hall.

Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens (standing), town administrative staff, Town Council members and Mayor Jack Horton discuss the proposed 2024-25 budget during a workshop on April 16 at Town Hall.

Franklin projects 6% budget increase

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Franklin residents likely will not see an increase in their tax rate in the coming 2024-25 fiscal year. The Town Council held a budget workshop on April 16 with Town Manager Amie Owens outlining some of the expenses, capital improvements and outside funding requests.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens reviews the plans for Phase 1 of the park on the Whitmire property during a public hearing on April 18. The town is applying for a $500,000 grant to help pay for installation of an inclusive playground.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens reviews the plans for Phase 1 of the park on the Whitmire property during a public hearing on April 18. The town is applying for a $500,000 grant to help pay for installation of an inclusive playground.

Fair play for all

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
The Town of Franklin is applying for a $500,000 grant that would be used to start Phase 1 of the park planned for the Whitmire property in East Franklin. If awarded, the N.C.