News

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The American Legion and VFW Color Guard lead the Veterans Day parade.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The American Legion and VFW Color Guard lead the Veterans Day parade.

Macon County honors veterans

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
A 50-degree drizzle didn’t stop Macon County from honoring its veterans on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month this past Saturday. The festivities started with a parade.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County Board of Elections board members and staff watch the new voting equipment tabulate the ballots on Tuesday night.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Macon County Board of Elections board members and staff watch the new voting equipment tabulate the ballots on Tuesday night.

Town election 2023

Mia Overton
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
A total of 98 ballots were cast in the 2023 Town of Franklin election. As there were no contested races, the low turnout had been expected. The unofficial vote totals are listed below. The Board of Elections will hold its Canvass Day meeting at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 to certify the results.
Press photo/Will Woolever Senior Ulises Padron-Perez heads the ball in Franklin’s second-round playoff match at A.C. Reynolds Nov. 2.

Press photo/Will Woolever Senior Ulises Padron-Perez heads the ball in Franklin’s second-round playoff match at A.C. Reynolds Nov. 2.

Soccer falls to A.C. Reynolds

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Panther men’s soccer’s journey is at an end. After a big Mountain Seven win over West Henderson to end the season, on the week of Oct. 30 Franklin kicked off their state playoff run.
A map showing the newest changes to U.S. House District 11.

A map showing the newest changes to U.S. House District 11.

Few changes in legislative maps

News Staff
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Local representatives will remain with mostly intact districts after the North Carolina General Assembly passed new district maps into law recently. Votes on the three maps – the U.S. House, N.C. Senate and N.C. House - took place on Oct. 24 and 25.
Photo/The Cherokee Scout As of Tuesday morning, the Collett Ridge fire had burned 2,919 acres. A burn ban is now in effect throughout Western North Carolina, including Macon County and the towns of Franklin and Highlands.

Photo/The Cherokee Scout As of Tuesday morning, the Collett Ridge fire had burned 2,919 acres. A burn ban is now in effect throughout Western North Carolina, including Macon County and the towns of Franklin and Highlands.

Burn ban in effect

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
With severe drought conditions and dead leaves all over, Western North Carolina residents are banned from burning debris until further notice. “Several counties in Western North Carolina are currently in a severe drought, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill Franklin Mayor Jack Horton, seated right, speaks to Ronald Winters of Gibbins Advisors during a Nov. 1 community meeting.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill Franklin Mayor Jack Horton, seated right, speaks to Ronald Winters of Gibbins Advisors during a Nov. 1 community meeting.

Locals vent HCA concerns

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
A recent investigation announced by the Attorney General’s office and displeasure with the owners of Angel Medical Center overshadowed a Wednesday, Nov. 1 community meeting that gave an update on the hospital.
Photo/Bob Scott The McConnell family was able to safely escape a fire at their Roller Mill Road home on Friday.

Photo/Bob Scott The McConnell family was able to safely escape a fire at their Roller Mill Road home on Friday.

Mother and child die in house fire

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
A mother and her four-year-old daughter died in a house fire Saturday morning in Franklin, and a Friday morning house fire left a family of six without a home. Franklin Fire Chief Ben Ormond said the Silver Spruce Lane fire was called in at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Press graphic

Press graphic

No charges filed in Iotla teacher incident

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
An Iotla Valley teacher was suspended for an alleged assault on a student, but law enforcement won’t file any charges. According to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged assault occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 24, and was reported the next day, Wednesday, Oct. 25.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Representatives from the Folk Heritage Association’s Women’s History Trail and the Town of Franklin joined together on Oct. 27 to break ground for the new “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” sculpture to be installed next spring.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Representatives from the Folk Heritage Association’s Women’s History Trail and the Town of Franklin joined together on Oct. 27 to break ground for the new “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” sculpture to be installed next spring.

‘Sowing the Seeds of the Future’

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Five years after its launch, the Women’s History Trail has reached a milestone in its journey to bring a monumental display of public art to downtown Franklin. The Folk Heritage Association of Macon County introduced the Women’s History Trail “Walk in Her Steps” on Oct.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - One person died in a multi-car wreck on Georgia Road on Oct. 20.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - One person died in a multi-car wreck on Georgia Road on Oct. 20.

One person dead, three hospitalized after wreck

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
One person died in a four-car wreck on Georgia Road on Oct. 20. The N.C. State Highway Patrol is still investigating the wreck. Trooper Courtney Barker said the incident was called in at 4:05 p.m. on Friday, Oct.