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Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

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Photos from my photoblog.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

Franklin Board of Aldermen Names Summer Woodard Interim Town Manager

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen held a special called meeting to select an Interim Town Manager to replace the resigning Warren Cabe, who is returning to the Emergency Services Department to replace the outgoing Director David Key, who replaced Warren Cabe when he resigned last year to take the Town Manager's position with the Town of Franklin after the retirement of Sam Greenwood..

The meeting lasted three and half minutes and the video is below, followed by a press release from he Town of Franklin that gives some background on the new Interim Town Manager.





PRESS RELEASE

TOWN OF FRANKLIN
PO BOX 1479 FRANKLIN, NC 28744
(828) 524-2516



Summer Woodard, Assistant tot he Town Manager for the Town of Franklin, was named Interim Town Manager by the Franklin Board of Aldermen at a special called meeting Monday, April 28. Woodard was appointed to the position following the resignation of Warren Cabe, who will be rejoining Macon County Government's Emergency Services May2.

Woodard, a native of Franklin, is a 2004 graduate of Franklin High School. She graduated Western Carolina University in 2008 with a BA in History and Political Science. At WCU, Woodard was a member of the WCU Honors College. Following her undergraduate program at WCU, she attended WCU graduate school in 2008 earning a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 2010. As part of her MA program she had to complete a 300 hour internship program which she accomplished at the Town of Franklin.

Following graduation from WCU, Woodard became a part-time employee of the town working in customer service. In December 2010 she was offered the full-time position of Assistant to the Town Manager.

She completed the Municipal Administration Course of the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012.

In 2013 Woodard assumed the dual roles as Assistant to the Town Manager and Human Resources Officer.

She is active in other government functions serving on the Franklin Tourism development Authority, Macon County's Tourism Development Commission, Macon County Transit Board, Macon County Care Network Board, Town of Franklin Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment.

She will begin her new duties on May 2.


###

Friday, April 25, 2014

Looking for a Witness on Main Street in Franklin, NC

The Kiss


I was walking down Main Street this afternoon on my way to shoot a video at a local business when I heard someone shouting. I stopped in front of Anna Bedell's and turned back to see a man, a woman and a preteen boy standing on the corner of Main Street and Iotla Street next to the county courthouse. I turned and did a slow 360 to see who they were shouting at and there were no obvious alternatives to me. I did an exaggerated "Who, Me?" gesture, pointing at myself.

The couple nodded and they started toward me and me toward them. I was curious at what was up. I imagined they were tourists, looking for directions.

We met at the corner of Main Street and Phillips Street next to the water fountain.I said, "Hello. Can I help you?" The man nodded and asked me if I would be a witness at their wedding.

I said, "Okay, if I can take pictures and post them on my Internet news site."

They said I could and I went with them to the third floor of the courthouse where I witnessed the ceremony that was performed by magistrate Miciah Leatherman.

Here are some of the photos I took during the ceremony.

Congratulations to Miguel and Venessa Jimenez and may they have many happy years together.


The Ceremony


The Ring Exchange





Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Macon County Democratic Men's Club hold forum for candidates

April 14th Candidate Forum


The Macon County Democratic Men's Club hosted a forum for candidates running in the Democratic Party primary. I attended and recorded video of the candidate speeches. The full video of the event is below, and below that, are the individual speeches separated out by candidate, with the exception of Vic Perry, who is running unopposed for Clerk of Superior Court of Macon County. His was the first speech and was only 28 seconds long. It's no wonder he is running unopposed.



Macon County Democratic Men's Club Forum


Micheal David Rogers, a candidate running for Macon County Commissioner in District I


Commissioner Ronnie Beale candidate running for Macon County Commissioner in District II


Nikki Tallent, a candidate running for the Register of Deeds of Macon County


Kenneth Blaine, a candidate running for the Register of Deeds of Macon County


Todd Raby, a candidate running for the Register of Deeds of Macon County


Jane Hipps, candidate for NC Senate in the 50th District


Ron Robinson, candidate for NC Senate in the 50th District



PATREON CAMPAIGN

I'd appreciate any help you can provide so that I can continue to provide complete video coverage of local government meetings. Check out http://www.patreon.com/maconmedia for more information. A dollar a month would mean great deal to me and help me obtain better equipment and cover more meetings and advance to the next stage in my plans for a digital news platform for Macon County.

Key Election Dates in the North Carolina 2014 Primary

Thursday, April 24, 2014
One-Stop early voting begins for May 6 Primary. For locations, check with your county elections office.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Last day to request absentee ballots by mail

Saturday, May 3 2014
One-Stop early voting ends at 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Primary Day (polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.)
Last day to return absentee ballots by mail (by 5:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Community Town Hall Discussion Series: The Town Gazebo

Town Hall Discussion Series 
Hosted by 
The League of Women Voters
and
Venture Local Franklin

On Monday night, the League of Women Voters and Venture Local Franklin hosted the first in the Town Hall Discussion Series. The topic of discussion was proposed designs for the town gazebo. Several people brought designs and displayed them for people to discuss.

Video of the moderated discussion portion of the event is below.



I am running a Patreon Campaign to raise funds to help me to continue covering events like these. Please consider a modest monthly donation to help me out. Click here to learn more about how you can help.