News

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Unaffiliated? Choose your ballot

Mia Overton
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Macon County Board of Elections Director Melanie Thibault says she is getting many phone calls from people registered as Unaffiliated who think they cannot vote in the primary election.
Press photo/Mia Overton The five candidates running for sheriff participated in a April 26 forum presented by the Fraternal Order of Police. Pictured (from left) are Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck E. Jones, Clay Bryson and Chris Browning.

Press photo/Mia Overton The five candidates running for sheriff participated in a April 26 forum presented by the Fraternal Order of Police. Pictured (from left) are Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck E. Jones, Clay Bryson and Chris Browning.

Five in running for Macon sheriff

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Five Republican candidates are vying to be the next sheriff of Macon County. Long-time Sheriff Robert Holland announced his retirement in June 2021; he was first elected to the office in 2002.
Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin High School juniors Bethany Daniel and Callie Barnett attended the Youth Legislative Assembly held April 8-10 in Raleigh.

Press photo/Mia Overton Franklin High School juniors Bethany Daniel and Callie Barnett attended the Youth Legislative Assembly held April 8-10 in Raleigh.

FHS students attend Youth Legislative Assembly

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Two Franklin High School students who are aspiring lawyers recently had the opportunity to attend the Youth Legislative Assembly in Raleigh. Bethany Daniel served on the judiciary committee and Callie Barnett served on the general government committee.
A digital rendering of the clock and landscaping planned for the roundabout at Womack Street.

A digital rendering of the clock and landscaping planned for the roundabout at Womack Street.

Clock project proposed for Womack St. roundabout

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
During its May 2 meeting, the Franklin Town Council members agreed on a design for a proposed clock to be placed in the roundabout at Womack Street. Council member Mike Lewis advocated for the project saying that area is the gateway to town. The cost of the clock is $23,165.
Press photo/Mia Overton The Town of Franklin’s new human resources director, Nicole Bradley, was introduced at the May 2 Town Council meeting. She is pictured with Mayor Jack Horton.

Press photo/Mia Overton The Town of Franklin’s new human resources director, Nicole Bradley, was introduced at the May 2 Town Council meeting. She is pictured with Mayor Jack Horton.

Bradley hired as town’s new HR director

Mia Overton
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Mayor Jack Horton introduced the Town of Franklin’s new human resources director, Nicole Bradley, at the May 2 Town Council meeting. Bradley graduated from Western Carolina University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
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Seven running for County Commission seats

(not verified)
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Carter Giegerich for The Franklin Press   Three seats on the Macon County Board of Commissioners are up for grabs in this year’s county election – the District 1 representative and two District 2 representatives.
Press photo/Will Woolever The South Macon Elementary Chorus performed at the April 25 School Board meeting. The chorus which was made possible in part by the addition of full-time art and music teacher at South Macon and Iotla Valley Elementary, funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief monies approved by Congress during the coronavirus pandemic.

Press photo/Will Woolever The South Macon Elementary Chorus performed at the April 25 School Board meeting. The chorus which was made possible in part by the addition of full-time art and music teacher at South Macon and Iotla Valley Elementary, funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief monies approved by Congress during the coronavirus pandemic.

School board approves addition of AIG specialists

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Macon County’s gifted students have another year of specialized curriculum.
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Town begins 2022-23 budget process

News Staff
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
The Town of Franklin began its budget planning session for the 2022-2023 fiscal year with a work session on April 19. Town Manager Amie Owens said the town continues to rebound. “That’s the good news,” she said.
Press photo/Benito Garcia El Centro Comunitario of Macon County, a local non-profit organization focused on bringing awareness and resources to the Latino community, hosted a forum for the five sheriff candidates to speak about their platforms and answer questions from the Latino community. The event took place Thursday, April 21 at the Macon County Public Library. Topics including the drug epidemic, racial profiling and safety were all discussed with each candidates saying they will make a commitment to be

Press photo/Benito Garcia El Centro Comunitario of Macon County, a local non-profit organization focused on bringing awareness and resources to the Latino community, hosted a forum for the five sheriff candidates to speak about their platforms and answer questions from the Latino community. The event took place Thursday, April 21 at the Macon County Public Library. Topics including the drug epidemic, racial profiling and safety were all discussed with each candidates saying they will make a commitment to be

Early voting begins April 28

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Early voting for the primary election begins Thursday, April 28 with polling at the Macon County Community Building and the Highlands Civic Center. The early voting sites will be open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Photo/Bob Scott - An Appalachian Trail thru-hiker makes a stop at the autograph board near the gazebo on Town Square.

Photo/Bob Scott - An Appalachian Trail thru-hiker makes a stop at the autograph board near the gazebo on Town Square.

TDA approves hiker-related projects

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
This is the time of year that the local tourism economy gets a boost from all the people hiking the Appalachian Trail. Anyone driving through town the last several weeks has likely seen pack-laden folks stopping a shops and restaurants as they take a break from their trek.