News

Photo/Christopher Lugo Mark Meadows and his wife registered to vote using the address of this mobile home in Scaly Mountain.

Voter fraud? Meadows’ residency questioned

News Staff

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com During former N.C. Congressman Mark Meadows’ time as White House Chief of Staff, he was vocal about voter fraud during the general elections in 2020.

Press Graphic

Commissioners approve skatepark funding

News Staff

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com At the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 8, representatives from Sk828 asked the board for funding, and the board approved giving $35,000 toward the new skatepark.

Press graphic

Sales tax increase on the ballot

News Staff

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Carter Giegerich for The Franklin Press Macon County voters will have the opportunity to vote on a quarter-cent sales tax increase during this year's general election in November. The tax increase, which Macon County Manager Derek Roland estimates would raise roughly $1.

Press photo/Benito Garcia

Fire burns 50 acres

News Staff

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

A fire on March 4 burned more than 50 acres along the Dillard Road. District Ranger Benjamin Keener said the call came in just before 3 p.m. with multiple agencies responding including N.C. Forest Service, U.S.

Press file photo Sk828 has been actively raising money for a skatepark since last summer. The organization has raised more the $10,000 but more funding is needed to make the park a reality.

More funding needed for skatepark

Mia Overton

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Representatives from Sk828 came before the Town Council on March 7 to request $35,000 to help pay for concrete and rebar for the skatepark to be built at Sunnyside Park (the Whitmire property).

Press graphic

County, town relax mask rules

(not verified)

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Carter Giegerich for The Franklin Press With COVID-19 case numbers in rapid decline throughout the state, Macon County followed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to no longer require masks for schools and local governments effective March 7.

Press graphic

Ballot set for May primary

Mia Overton

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Candidate filing closed at noon on Friday, March 4, setting the ballot for the May 17 primary. Local races will include sheriff, county commissioners (District 1 and District 2), Clerk of Superior Court and Register of Deeds. Incumbent Register of Deeds Todd Raby is running unopposed. Rep.

Macon County Schools

School Board extends optional mask policy

News Staff

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com With COVID-19 cases slowing, the Macon County Board of Education approved extension of the mask optional protocol, as well as extending the option to school buses. On Feb.

Highlander photo/Christopher Lugo - Children drawing at Highlands Community Child Development Center. A demand for pre-K in Highlands has led the Advancing Highlands Education Committee to request $8.6 million in funding for renovations at Highlands School that would include two pre-K classrooms as well as other improvements to the K-12 campus.

Board hears Highlands pre-K plan

News Staff

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Christopher Lugo editor@highlandsnews.com Lack of space, staffing and COVID-19 are just some of the things that formed a perfect storm to bring childcare to a crisis situation across the nation.

Press photo/Mia Overton - DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and two members of his staff met Feb. 21 with local leaders to discuss issues at the Franklin drivers license office and possible solutions to shorten wait times.

Staff shortages create long wait at DMV

Mia Overton

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

If you’ve had to renew your driver’s license recently, you know it can take a while, even if you make an appointment with the online “skip the line” option.