Members of the community gathered around Town Square last Friday to honor North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2012.

Master of Ceremonies Al Caiata, Sergeant At Arms, FOP Lodge #81, led the ceremony to remember the fallen officers.

Guest Speaker Congressman Mark Meadows addressed the crowd to share his gratitude for the service of all the officers that protect the citizens of North Carolina.

Grand Jury hands down 56 True Bills of Indictment

Fifty-six True Bills of Indictments were handed down against Christopher Burk of Franklin on Monday after a special called session of the Macon County Grand Jury was conducted.

According to Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland, investigators with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and State Bureau of Investigation provided testimony against defendant Burk during the session that resulted in 56 of 56 True Bills of Indictment being handed down by the Grand Jury.

Children at East Franklin Elementary poured into the gym last Thursday to be fitted for a brand new pair of Nike tennis shoes. Biltmore Baptist Church, based in Arden, worked with school officials to target the students who would benefit the most from the give-away.

“Biltmore Baptist Church understands that there are needs throughout the community but after working with Macon County Board of Education we determined that the greatest need at the time would be with East Franklin Elementary,” said Amanda Bullman, communications project coordinator for Biltmore Baptist Church.

Franklin was bursting with color on Saturday, May 11, for the third annual Airing of the Quilts celebration.

Homeowners and businesses alike participated in the event, with hundreds of quilts on display downtown and throughout Franklin.

The event grew this year, with newly added workshops, demonstrations, presentations, a wreath laying ceremony by the Daughters of the Confederation and Civil War reenactors.

The celebration takes place every year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

The Franklin High School Drama and Music Departments presented “Once Upon a Mattress” this past weekend at the Fine Arts Center.

Directed by Robert Jessup and Buddy Huckabee, “Once Upon a Mattress” was based on the classic tale “The Princess and the Pea.”

Almost 50 people were involved in the production and execution of this year’s spring musical.

League of Women Voters hosts nostalgic forum.

The League of Women Voters hosted its monthly meeting at the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church last Thursday. The public was invited to the forum that saw a variety of past Macon County Commissioners from the 1970s to the early 1990s offer up stories, advice, and overall views of the current political climate in Macon County.

The meeting was well attended by members of the community who hoped to hear from the former officials, many of whom even worked with them in one form or fashion. In a role that mirrored his first job as county manager, Ron Winecoff started the event off providing a structure that would be followed by the five commissioners in attendance.