Authorities in Macon County are turning to the public for help in solving a string of fires that have ensued over the past month. On Monday, Franklin Police Chief David Adams said that with no solid leads to go on, investigators are asking the public to notify the police station with any information regarding suspicious behavior or activity.

The string of fires began about a month ago and have all been in a relatively close proximity to one another, according to Franklin Fire Chief Warren Cabe.

Compensation study revealed underpaid employees.

Almost two years after a compensation study was completed for Macon County employees, in a 3-2 vote, the Board of Commissioners voted to implement the findings of the study, without raising taxes.

The study, which was conducted in August 2011 with findings being presented to the board last July, was conducted by Springsted Incorporated, a highly touted firm closely associated with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. According to County Manager Jack Horton, based on the market data used by Springsted, the current pay plan in place in Macon County reflects minimum, maximum and midpoints...

Ordinance against shooting would require a rewrite.

Macon County is home to two shooting ranges, both of which present challenges to the user. The Dirty John shooting range is closer to Nantahala than Franklin, about an hour to an hour and a half round trip for most Franklin residents while Moss Knob, the range on Ellijay, is only slightly closer in distance. Neither are much more than a flat area with a few posts meant to hold up user provided targets, but even those have been so damaged by the guns being shot repeatedly at them that they hardly serve the purpose well anymore. Both ranges require users to travel quite a ways off of the beaten path and both are outdoors.

When we think of solicitors, often we think of phone numbers popping up on our caller I.D. that are usually unrecognizable and therefore receive none of our attention as we push the ignore button. If only it were that simple when the solicitor is approaching your car as you sit at a stop light in the Franklin city limits trying not to make eye contact as he or she extends a bucket for your donation, and you hope the light turns green quickly.

This may not be an overwhelming issue in Franklin, but none the less there are moments throughout the year where individuals soliciting funds for their chosen cause may be out in force and in response, town officials may look to form some guidelines for these groups or individuals to follow.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Investigators were able to make several charges on individuals in regards to property crimes in the Glenville and Cashiers area of Jackson County which have occurred over the past month. Some individuals have been charged and arrested. Others still have outstanding warrants.

For those with outstanding warrants noted below, please contact Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Crimestoppers at (828) 631-1125 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Highway Patrol ended its Operation Slow Down campaign on Sunday, March 31. The campaign which began on Monday, March 25, was focused on reducing speed related collisions on North Carolina highways. The campaign was conducted in combination with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program No Need to Speed campaign.

Speed remains the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in North Carolina as well as across the country. Last year the Highway Patrol investigated 1,801 fatal collisions on North Carolina. Of those, 245 deaths were contributed to speed, compared to 244 deaths in 2011.

The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen held its monthly meeting Monday night to discuss a variety of different issues ranging from a rezoning issue to a number of proclamations and ending with discussion of some legal issues that the board hopes to resolve.

Re-zoning petition for Pauline Avenue

Property owners brought forth a request for the re-zoning of three parcels of land located off of Pauline Avenue totalling 13.47 acres. The properties are owned by Gary and Edith Holland and their former daughter-in-law, Natasha Tallent. The request before the board was to rezone the residential area from an R-1 to an R-2.

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If the key to finding a job is networking, don’t miss Southwestern Community College’s Job Fair Thursday, April 4, on the Jackson campus. More than 50 employers will be represented at the free event that will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Burrell Building Conference Center.

“This is a unique opportunity for job seekers in the community because we are bringing all these employers together in one location,” said organizer Patty Kirkley, SCC Career Planning and Placement Coordinator. “If you want to know more about several employers, this will be your one-stop shop. We’ve done all the leg work to bring them together for you.

Reception held to offer best wishes on his retirement.

The Town of Franklin hosted a reception last Friday for the retiring Town Manager Sam Greenwood.

Greenwood has been Franklin's Town Manager since 2008 when Franklin began to use a council-manager form of government. In a council-manager form of government, the manager works at the will of the elected aldermen.

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On Tuesday afternoon, the Macon County Sheriff's Office assisted local agencies in a high-speed chase that started in South Carolina, moved into Georgia, and ended with a crash at the Macon County Recreation Park.

According to Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland, the suspect was driving a stolen 2000 Lincoln Town Car. The suspect, Jeffrey Bryant Davis of Williamston, S.C., caused a MCSO's Deputy to drive his patrol car into an embankment in front of Huddle House in order to avoid hitting an innocent motorist.