After a lengthy debate Friday night, Macon County is set to close on the Parker Meadows property by the April 30 deadline. During a special called meeting Friday night, the Macon County Board of Commissioners listened to testimony from County Planner Matt Mason regarding the feasibility of developing the Parker Meadows Property with the intention of constructing a recreation facility.

Friday's meeting was a continuation of last Tuesday night's regularly scheduled meeting and was planned to allow time to answer questions concerning the property. Commissioners Ron Haven and Paul Higdon originally voiced concern last Tuesday night about the possibility of developing Parker Meadows...

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Young leadership steps up to rejuvenate Macon County Democratic Party

During its annual convention on Saturday, the Macon County Democratic Party voted to elect Corey Duvall as its next chairman. At just 21 years old, Duvall stands as the county's youngest chairman in recent history, and the second youngest Democratic chairman in the state. “My initial reaction was that of surprise,” said Duvall. “But I also knew that I could not back down from this. Macon County deserves to have a bright future, and I know that I am willing to work hard so that we have strong leaders such as Ronnie Beale on our county board of commissioners.”

Great Smoky Mountains Parkway reopens after January landslide

Just 90 days after a devastating landslide erupted in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson, North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Michell Hicks, and Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) Construction Operations Engineer Emmett Melton reopened the road to traffic, finishing the project 30 days ahead of schedule. On January 16, torrential rainfall caused a landslide to wash away a portion of U.S. 441 near Newfound Gap Road, taking away thru-access from Cherokee to Tennessee.

County, town offers letters of support for grant funding.

The addition of a new child care facility in Macon County is one step closer to reality since Franklin Town Manager Warren Cabe issued a letter of approval on behalf of the town in support of the Macon Child Care and Educational Center (MCEC). The letter was issued on March 18 to the Rural Economic Development Center in Raleigh. MCEC is currently in the process of securing a grant from the Building Reuse and Restoration Program that would allow them to proceed with their plan to open the childcare facility. The center was also required to get a letter from the county commissioners expressing the same sentiment.