News

Press photo/Mia Overton Sen. Kevin Corbin (left) presented retiring Police Chief Bill Harrell the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. Harrell is pictured with his family and Mayor Jack Horton, who presented Harrell with a plaque of appreciation.

Press photo/Mia Overton Sen. Kevin Corbin (left) presented retiring Police Chief Bill Harrell the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. Harrell is pictured with his family and Mayor Jack Horton, who presented Harrell with a plaque of appreciation.

Town honors retiring police chief

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The Town of Franklin recognized several of its employees, including retiring Police Chief Bill Harrell, during the monthly Town Council meeting Monday night.
Press photo/Anissa Holland The Town of Franklin and First United Methodist Church are working on an agreement that will allow the town to operate the skatepark at the church until the new skatepark at the Whitmire property is constructed.

Press photo/Anissa Holland The Town of Franklin and First United Methodist Church are working on an agreement that will allow the town to operate the skatepark at the church until the new skatepark at the Whitmire property is constructed.

Skatepark plans roll forward

News Staff
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Anissa Holland thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com On Tuesday, Nov. 1, an informal public discussion about the future of skateboarding in Franklin was held at Town Hall.
Press photo/Anissa Holland Local Vietnam veterans are featured in a new photo exhibit at the Macon County Public Library.

Press photo/Anissa Holland Local Vietnam veterans are featured in a new photo exhibit at the Macon County Public Library.

New photo exhibit features Vietnam veterans

News Staff
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The Macon County Public Library unveiled a new veterans photo gallery on Friday, Nov. 4. The display showcases the work of Highlands photographer Bernard “Bernie” Coulson, who is honoring several Vietnam veterans of Macon County through a portrait exhibit.
Press photos/Anissa Holland Willow Wright made her rounds at East Franklin as the student body cheered her on before she traveled to the cancer center in Asheville to begin treatment.

Press photos/Anissa Holland Willow Wright made her rounds at East Franklin as the student body cheered her on before she traveled to the cancer center in Asheville to begin treatment.

Standing strong for Willow

News Staff
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
On Friday, Nov. 4, Willow Wright wanted to pay a visit to her class at East Franklin Elementary School. What she didn’t know was waiting for her was a crowd of students and faculty lining the road with signs, balloons, and cards to wish her well. East Franklin P.E.
Tyto Care Macon County Public Health will introduce a new telehealth program for students in January.

Tyto Care Macon County Public Health will introduce a new telehealth program for students in January.

Telehealth will reduce missed class time

News Staff
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Anissa Holland thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com Macon County Public Health will introduce a telehealth program for students beginning in January. Julie Rogers, physician extender with the Macon County Health Department, presented information about the program at the Oct.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Learning Loss: Schools work on COVID recovery

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Macon County students are making gains in the learning loss that occurred due to the COVID pandemic and the resulting school closings and online learning. Associate Superintendent Josh Lynch reviewed information from the state school report card at the Oct. 24 Board of Education meeting.
Press graphic

Press graphic

County sees high early voting turnout

Mia Overton
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
More than 5,000 people have voted in the November General Election since early voting started on Oct. 20. As of the Monday evening, 5,935 people had voted (including 487 vote-by-mail ballots), according to the Macon County Board of Elections.
Aerial view

Aerial view

FHS Designs

News Staff
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Schematic designs of the proposed new Franklin High School presented by LS3P at the Oct. 18 joint meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education. The new building would sit where the upper practice field is now located.
A computer-generated graphic showing an aerial view of the proposed new Franklin High School. Design drawings of the interior plan and the stadium are post on the website and The Franklin Press Facebook page.

A computer-generated graphic showing an aerial view of the proposed new Franklin High School. Design drawings of the interior plan and the stadium are post on the website and The Franklin Press Facebook page.

FHS plans to be submitted for state review

Mia Overton
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Following a joint meeting of the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education last week, the schematic designs for a new Franklin High School and stadium will be submitted to local and state review agencies.
Photo provided

Photo provided

Woman dies in house fire

News Staff
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
An 88-year-old Franklin woman died in a house fire early Monday morning. Cowee Fire/Rescue was dispatched to a fire at 391 Bradley Creek Road at 12:38 a.m. The person calling 911 said an elderly woman was trapped inside. The structure was fully engulfed when the first crew arrived at 12:44 a.m.