News

Press photo/Mia Overton - Gracie Parker presents Mayor Jack Horton a copy of the book “Shattered: Stories of Lives Broken by Substance Abuse and How We Put the Pieces Back Together.” Parker’s story is included in the book. Parker spoke at the Feb. 5 Town Council meeting and requested a street closure for her second annual youth mental health rally. The event will be held on Sunday, April 28.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Gracie Parker presents Mayor Jack Horton a copy of the book “Shattered: Stories of Lives Broken by Substance Abuse and How We Put the Pieces Back Together.” Parker’s story is included in the book. Parker spoke at the Feb. 5 Town Council meeting and requested a street closure for her second annual youth mental health rally. The event will be held on Sunday, April 28.

Town adopts fund balance policy

Mia Overton
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The Franklin Town Council voted unanimously to adopt a new fund balance policy that sets a minimum amount the town will keep in its fund balance, freeing up previously reserved money for capital expenditures.
Photo/NCDOT - Crews work to fix the washed-out section of Highlands Road on Jan. 29.

Photo/NCDOT - Crews work to fix the washed-out section of Highlands Road on Jan. 29.

NCDOT: Highlands Road may re-open next week

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Less than a month after closure, U.S. 64/Highlands Road going through the Cullasaja Gorge could be open to the public early next week.
Map/Town of Franklin - Map showing the Franklin Fire Department district. The light area within the circle is the Town of Franklin. The blue is the five-mile response area, and the orange designates the six-mile response area.

Map/Town of Franklin - Map showing the Franklin Fire Department district. The light area within the circle is the Town of Franklin. The blue is the five-mile response area, and the orange designates the six-mile response area.

Franklin to get new fire truck

Mia Overton
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
In a split vote on Jan. 27, the Franklin Town Council voted to allocate $200,000 toward a new truck for Franklin Fire and Rescue. The need for two new fire trucks was discussed during last year’s budget sessions.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Board of Education attorney John Henning speaks to the school board during its Jan. 22 meeting at Iotla Valley Elementary.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon County Board of Education attorney John Henning speaks to the school board during its Jan. 22 meeting at Iotla Valley Elementary.

Roadblocks frustrate school board

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Frustration and incredulity were some of the emotions expressed about the lack of action by the county on multiple capital needs projects during the Macon County Board of Education meeting on Jan. 22.
Press graphic

Press graphic

School board approves 2024-25 calendar

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Students and teachers in the Franklin area, Nantahala and Highlands will have the same school calendar in 2024-25 as unanimously approved Monday, Jan. 22, by the Macon County Board of Education.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The aftermath of the Jan. 4 fire at 796 Prentiss Bridge Road, as photographed on Jan. 19.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The aftermath of the Jan. 4 fire at 796 Prentiss Bridge Road, as photographed on Jan. 19.

Fire ruled murder-suicide, arson

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
A Jan. 4 house fire on Prentiss Bridge Road where two people were found dead has been determined to be a murder-suicide, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office stated on Friday, Jan. 19.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Law enforcement vehicles converged at Mountain View Intermediate School on Tuesday, Jan. 16, to respond to a threat against the school.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Law enforcement vehicles converged at Mountain View Intermediate School on Tuesday, Jan. 16, to respond to a threat against the school.

Shooting threat leads to school lockdown

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Multiple “threatening calls” to 911 caused a hectic hour of police sirens and panicked parents at Mountain View Intermediate School on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt presents Macon County and Macon County Schools with a grant for $62 million to build a new Franklin High School. Pictured from left are County Commissioners Chair Gary Shields, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Sen. Kevin Corbin, School Board Chair Jim Breedlove and Superintendent Josh Lynch.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt presents Macon County and Macon County Schools with a grant for $62 million to build a new Franklin High School. Pictured from left are County Commissioners Chair Gary Shields, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Sen. Kevin Corbin, School Board Chair Jim Breedlove and Superintendent Josh Lynch.

County gets $62 million for new FHS

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
A presentation turned into a surprise midday Tuesday as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt presented Macon County and Macon County Schools with a grant for $62 million to build a new Franklin High School.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Josh Young speaks to GeoServices’ Danny Williams during the Jan. 9 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting, as Board Chair Gary Shields looks on.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Josh Young speaks to GeoServices’ Danny Williams during the Jan. 9 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting, as Board Chair Gary Shields looks on.

County picks pickleball court design firm

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Negotiations for contracts for pickleball and tennis courts at the Macon County Recreation Park and the Macon Middle School track got approval from the Macon County Board of Commissioners at its Tuesday, Jan. 9 meeting.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Matt Saenger, director of sales and marketing with BalsamWest, speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Matt Saenger, director of sales and marketing with BalsamWest, speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners.

Broadband projects set for construction

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
The first phase of the Nantahala broadband project could be completed in the next three months, and new broadband lines are slated for construction between Otto and Highlands within the year. This news was part of a presentation made at the Jan.