Regional

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Press graphic

Cherokee to open marijuana sales for non-tribal adults

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Following through on its tribal mandate, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open its recreational cannabis sales to all adults age 21 and up on Sept. 7. The tribal-owned dispensary Great Smoky Cannabis Co. announced fully open sales after formal approval by the Tribal Council on June 6.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon Early College student Daniel Pope and Foxfire peer mentor Maddie Perdue talk about the upcoming magazines at the Macon County Public Library on July 17.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Macon Early College student Daniel Pope and Foxfire peer mentor Maddie Perdue talk about the upcoming magazines at the Macon County Public Library on July 17.

Foxfire students, staff discuss history, future

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
A staffer, recent student and current student of the Foxfire program in Rabun County spoke about efforts to return to its roots.
Photo/Eric Haggart. An aerial view showing a transfer truck traveling through the Cullasaja Gorge.

Photo/Eric Haggart. An aerial view showing a transfer truck traveling through the Cullasaja Gorge.

Cullasaja Gorge truckers bill now law

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Starting in December, truckers will now have to worry about a fine that is several times the current one if they decide to take Highlands Road through the narrow Cullasaja Gorge. This is the result of a state bill more than one year in the making that became law on July 8. Starting Dec.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The new Nantahala Community Library on White Oak Lane.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The new Nantahala Community Library on White Oak Lane.

New Nantahala library set to open July 22

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
After months of construction and years of planning, the new Nantahala Community Library is set to open to the public on Monday, July 22. Fontana Regional Library Director Tracy Fitzmaurice gave the update during her report at the July 9 Board of Trustees meeting.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Dr. Mark Messino speaks to Affiliated Monitors during its Franklin meeting on Thursday, June 20.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Dr. Mark Messino speaks to Affiliated Monitors during its Franklin meeting on Thursday, June 20.

New hospital monitor holds community meeting

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
A new independent monitor of HCA Healthcare encouraged the Franklin community to report the good and bad about the hospital as part of their review process. The sparsely attended meeting took place in the conference room at the Robert Carpenter Community Building on Thursday, June 20.
Photo/The Highlander - Old Edwards Inn and its related properties have sold to James and Jessica Whitley of Athens, Georgia.

Photo/The Highlander - Old Edwards Inn and its related properties have sold to James and Jessica Whitley of Athens, Georgia.

Old Edwards Inn’s Highlands properties sold

(not verified)
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Ryan Hanchett rhanchett@highlandsnews.com Highlands’ largest hospitality company has been sold. Old Edwards Hospitality Group’s assets, including Old Edwards Inn, 200 Main, and the Old Edwards Club golf course have been purchased by James and Jessica Whitley, of Athens, Georgia.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Stephanie Almeida, founder and executive director of the Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction (right) and Lisa Hartman, mother of Brian Dills, speak during a May 6 press conference in downtown Franklin.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Stephanie Almeida, founder and executive director of the Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction (right) and Lisa Hartman, mother of Brian Dills, speak during a May 6 press conference in downtown Franklin.

‘Hope Box’ offers kits to save lives

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
A local nonprofit used a statewide release of a report asking for expanded Good Samaritan law protections regarding drug use to place a “Hope Box” full of Narcan/naloxone kits at the site of an April 2017 overdose death in downtown Franklin.
Photo/Great Smoky Cannabis Co. - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will offer medical marijuana sales through the Great Smoky Mountain Cannabis Co., located on Bingo Loop Road in Cherokee.

Photo/Great Smoky Cannabis Co. - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will offer medical marijuana sales through the Great Smoky Mountain Cannabis Co., located on Bingo Loop Road in Cherokee.

Cherokee starts medical cannabis sales April 20

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
As the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians plan to begin medical marijuana sales on April 20, eyes turn to the areas surrounding the Qualla Boundary, where it is still illegal. “Our world-class dispensary is a seed-to-sale operation.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - While the morning this plane was landing was clear with little wind, many pilots seek out additional training before flying in the mountains.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - While the morning this plane was landing was clear with little wind, many pilots seek out additional training before flying in the mountains.

Potential airport upgrades on the way

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Sometimes when a plane lands at the Macon County Airport during the daytime, students at the neighboring Iotla Valley Elementary School can be seen at the fence looking on.
Photo submitted - A rendering of the new Community Health Hub Vecinos will open at the old Smoky Mountain Systems building in Franklin.

Photo submitted - A rendering of the new Community Health Hub Vecinos will open at the old Smoky Mountain Systems building in Franklin.

Vecinos celebrates 20th anniversary

News Staff
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Owen Marsten, Intern - thefranklinpressnews@gmail.com Vecinos is a nonprofit health agency that provides free health care to uninsured people, with a focus on farmworkers and the Latino community in Western North Carolina. The entirely bilingual program marked its 20th anniversary on Feb. 27.