News

Press photo Mia Overton - Mayor Jack Horton is sworn in during the Dec. 4 Franklin Town Council meeting. Macon County Clerk of Court Shawna Thun Lamb administered the oath of office for the mayor and three council members.

Press photo Mia Overton - Mayor Jack Horton is sworn in during the Dec. 4 Franklin Town Council meeting. Macon County Clerk of Court Shawna Thun Lamb administered the oath of office for the mayor and three council members.

Social district public hearing set

Mia Overton
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
The Town of Franklin opened its Dec. 4 meeting with the swearing in of the mayor and three council members elected in the November town election. All candidates ran unopposed.
Press file photo - County Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and District 2 Commissioner Josh Young will be up for re-election in 2024.

Press file photo - County Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and District 2 Commissioner Josh Young will be up for re-election in 2024.

Filing opens for 2024 election, Dec. 4

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
From county Soil and Water Conservation to county commissioners, state legislators and the presidency, the 2024 Election begins with the candidate filing period Dec. 4-15. Candidates for local and state races can begin filing at noon on Monday, Dec. 4, through noon on Friday, Dec.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Franklin Town Council member David Culpepper and Town Manager Amie Owens.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Franklin Town Council member David Culpepper and Town Manager Amie Owens.

County takes no action on social district request

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
The Macon County Board of Commissioners stonewalled a request by Town of Franklin officials to allow alcohol at the gazebo and clock tower square as part of a planned social district.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County EMS station on Hyatt Road in Franklin.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County EMS station on Hyatt Road in Franklin.

Staffing shortage strains EMS system

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Isolated receiving times for ambulances at HCA Mission Hospital and a strained emergency response system are some of the issues Macon County Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe brought to the public’s attention at the Nov. 14 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - School Board Chair Jim Breedlove reviews the agenda prior to the start of the Nov. 27 meeting at East Franklin Elementary School.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - School Board Chair Jim Breedlove reviews the agenda prior to the start of the Nov. 27 meeting at East Franklin Elementary School.

School board opposes partisan elections

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
All five Macon County Board of Education members decried a plan to make their elections partisan during its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 27, at East Franklin Elementary. Board Chair Jim Breedlove added the discussion to the agenda just before approval.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioner John Shearl

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioner John Shearl

Shearl calls for Roland’s resignation

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, November 20, 2023
The Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, lasted more than five hours and included multiple quarrels between commissioners, the crowd and a call from one commissioner for the county manager to resign.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Heather Johnson speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners about the Fontana Regional Library during the Tuesday, Nov. 14 meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Heather Johnson speaks to the Macon County Board of Commissioners about the Fontana Regional Library during the Tuesday, Nov. 14 meeting.

Commissioners pass proposed library contract changes

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, November 20, 2023
Direct regional board appointments by commissioners, shorter terms, transparency mandates and verbal public comment at meetings were some of the changes the Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved and hope to get finalized in the revised Fontana Regional Library inter-local...
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioners Josh Young and John Shearl at the Nov. 14 board meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioners Josh Young and John Shearl at the Nov. 14 board meeting.

Commissioners split on board restructuring

Thomas Sherrill
Monday, November 20, 2023
Two election related resolutions resulted in a heated back and forth between commissioners during the five-plus hour Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 14.   At-large commissioners approved Board Chair Paul Higdon championed a resolution to change commissioner representation.
Map/Town of Franklin - A map showing the proposed broadcast area for the free Wi-Fi access that will be available downtown beginning next spring.

Map/Town of Franklin - A map showing the proposed broadcast area for the free Wi-Fi access that will be available downtown beginning next spring.

Free Wi-Fi coming to downtown

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Free public Wi-Fi access is coming to downtown Franklin next spring. During its November meeting, the Franklin Town Council approved a $58,255.91 contract for Aerolina of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, to install a public Wi-Fi network.