Macon County Public Schools Start Today Safety Tips and School Calendars

Today, August 24th, is the first day of the 2015-2016 school year in Macon County. Be careful and watch for children on the side of the road who may dart into the road and watch for school buses. Give the buses plenty of lead room in front of you and know when to stop for school buses.  Here are links to download the school calendars for the 2015-2016 School Year: Franklin Area Schools Highlands School (New school day is...

Read More

Superior Court Cases Afternoon Session August 17, 2015

Superior Court for Macon County was called into session for the afternoon of August 17, 2015 with the Honorable William H. Coward presiding. Macon Media and The Franklin Press were the only local media organizations with reporters physically present in this session of court. This article contains a list of dispositions and decisions in chronological order, augmented with with information from notes taken while the court was in...

Read More

State Seeks Death Penalty for Charles Andrew Cochran

The State will be seeking the death penalty for Charles Andrew Cochran for the murder of Day Williamson, of Franklin, NC after numerous attempts to get the defendant to accept a plea deal for life without parole that avoided the death penalty. The State will file paperwork by 5:00 pm today to get that process moving and get an additional attorney appointed to assist Belzer in the defense of his client. An additional administrative hearing...

Read More

Superior Court Cases Morning Session on August 17, 2015

Superior Court for Macon County was called into session with the Honorable William H. Coward presiding. Macon Media and The Franklin Press were the only local media organizations represented in this session of the court. Here are a list of most of the court dispositions and decisions that took place on the morning of August 17th, augmented with brief notes taken while the court was in session. Any errors are mine and all defendants are presumed...

Read More

August 2015 Meeting Macon County Board of Education

The Macon County Board of Education held their regular August 2015 meeting at the central offices located at 1202 Old Murphy Road on August 17th. The video above covers the meeting until the board went into closed session to discuss matters relating school safety under North Carolina General Statute § 143-318.11(7). Upon declaring that no further business would be discussed during open session, members of the media did not wait for the board...

Read More

Merritt Founts Named Honorary Historian of Macon County

Pictured (L-R) are Macon County Commissioner Gary Shields, Margaret Ramsey, Barbara McRae, Merritt Fouts and Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale. Ramsey was recognized an an honorary historian in 2011, Barbara McRae in 2010 and Merritt Fouts in 2015. Merritt Fouts was recognized Saturday at the Macon County Heritage Center (located at Cowee School) as a Honorary Historian of Macon County in appreciation for his efforts to preserve...

Read More

Parker Meadows Grand Opening Set for August 25th

Here is a copy of the press release from Macon County regarding the grand opening of the Parker Meadows Recreation Facility on August 25, 2015: Parker Meadows Press Releas...

Read More

Macon County Commissioners Regular August 2015 Meeting

**Update** Here is the full video of the meeting: MEDIA ROLL CALL (media outlets with reporters at the meeting) Macon Media (me) WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM Macon County News and Shopping Guide The Franklin Press During the public comment section, Dr Gordon Mercer spoke about his church on Jim Mann Road, which is being used as a homeless shelter. He handed out copies of an article posted on the WECT-TV website.  Karen Wallace, Director...

Read More

Refuse and Recycling Workers/Vehicles added to NC Move Over Law

Starting October 1st, workers collecting refuse and materials for recycling will be added to to the state's move over law that requires drivers to move over one lane away (when it is safe to do so) from police, emergency, public service, highway maintenance or utility vehicle that is parked within 12 feet of the highway and is flashing warning lights. Failing to slow down or move over could result in a citation that comes with a mandatory fine...

Read More