In his charge to the graduates of Southwestern Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #67 Mitch Boudrot, SCC training instructor, said, “You will experience the best of people in the worst of times and conversely, the worst of people in the best of times.”

“Second place with a law enforcement officer and an adversary does not win you a smaller trophy,” he told the class during their graduation ceremony Friday, Sept. 23, at the Jerry Sutton Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. “It could mean the difference between life and death. When you are confronted by an adversary it will not be just about winning, it’s about surviving. That’s why we train you to win.”

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Franklin’s American Legion Post 108 held a free medical clinic to provide area veterans and their families with information about health care opportunities in the region.

Nineteen vendors, some of whom traveled all the way from Asheville, volunteered their Saturday to visit with Macon County veterans and answer any questions they could about their respective areas of expertise.

Donna Alexander, a rural health nurse from the V.A. Hospital in Asheville was on hand to assist veterans in enrolling in the hospital’s program and to answer questions regarding benefits and hospital procedures. “We just want to make it as easy as possible for veterans to get the health care and benefits they deserve,” said Alexander.

Fred Berger of the Rotary Club of Franklin (R) presents Rotary District Governor Bill Parker a check for $2,200 as the contribution to PolioPlus at its Sept. 14 meeting.

Since the PolioPlus program's inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccine.

Rotary's $200 Million Challenge is the Rotary Foundation's response to the two grants totaling $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help eradicate polio.

Every dollar given to PolioPlus will be counted toward the $200 million match.

Anderson wins Grand Champion Prize at Market Steer Show

The 58th annual Macon County Fair was held last week with many contests, shows and exhibits. Several residents were able to demonstrate their agricultural know-how during several competitions, including the Market Steer Show, which took place Saturday morning. Fifteen total contestants entered the market steer show, combining to make up five separate classes.

Ben Carpenter, an employee with The North Carolina Department of Agriculture, judged the contestants and their steers. In the end, the ladies took the top prizes. Kaitlyn Anderson was awarded the Grand Champion Prize and Samantha DeHart was recognized for the runner-up position.