Regional

Press Graphic

Press Graphic

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.
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.
Press photo/Mia Overton - Dr. Thomas Belt talks about Cherokee history at the Watauga Mounds (pictured below) as Joseph Owle and Brett Riggs listen. Staff members from the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources visited the Cherokee mound sites in Macon County last week.

Press photo/Mia Overton - Dr. Thomas Belt talks about Cherokee history at the Watauga Mounds (pictured below) as Joseph Owle and Brett Riggs listen. Staff members from the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources visited the Cherokee mound sites in Macon County last week.

Traveling through history

Mia Overton
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Traveling down Highway 28, just a few miles outside town, drivers may not even realize they are driving by a historic site dating back thousands of years.
Unemployment map

Unemployment map

Unemployment rate up statewide

News Staff
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Macon County had a workforce of 15,005 in January with 507 people unemployed (3.4%). That was an increase over the 2.
EDC graphic

EDC graphic

Economic indicator report shows growth in 2021

Mia Overton
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
The Economic Development Commission reviewed the 2021 Economic Indicator Report at its meeting on March 10. Most categories show steady growth with some numbers even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. “Recovery from the pandemic has been stronger than expected,” said EDC Director Tommy Jenkins.
Photo submitted - Senior Center volunteer Victor Forbes prepares for his route delivering meals. In 2021, volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours for the home-delivered meals program offered through the Crawford Senior Center in Franklin.

Photo submitted - Senior Center volunteer Victor Forbes prepares for his route delivering meals. In 2021, volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours for the home-delivered meals program offered through the Crawford Senior Center in Franklin.

Senior Center volunteers recognized

News Staff
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Christopher Lugo - editor@highlandsnews.com On March 8, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in recognition of the Crawford Senior Center volunteers.
Photo submitted The First Baptist Church offers daily hiker breakfasts from March 15-April 15 with all-you-can eat pancakes and bacon served at 7:30 a.m.

Photo submitted The First Baptist Church offers daily hiker breakfasts from March 15-April 15 with all-you-can eat pancakes and bacon served at 7:30 a.m.

AT 110 Events

Mia Overton
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
It’s that time of year when you’ll start seeing folks coming down off the mountain. They’re weighed down with heavy packs, they’re likely more than a little tired, hungry and may look like they haven’t bathed in several days.
Press photo/Benito Garcia

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 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.

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.
Press photo/Will Woolever Rep. Karl Gillespie files to run for re-election on Tuesday morning as his wife Janet and election specialist Judy Fritts look on.

Press photo/Will Woolever Rep. Karl Gillespie files to run for re-election on Tuesday morning as his wife Janet and election specialist Judy Fritts look on.

Candidate filing resumes

News Staff
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
After being delayed since December, candidate filing for the 2022 election resumed on Friday, Feb. 24. Filing continues through Friday, March 4. The statewide primary will be Tuesday, May 17. One-stop, in-person early voting will run April 28 through May 14 at 3 p.m.