The Macon County Republican Party had a new membership ribbon cutting at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently.

Among the numerous members who attended were Macon GOP Chairman Chris Murray, Vice-Chairman Jim Tate, Former NC Senator Bob Carpenter, Commissioners Brian McClellan, Kevin Corbin and Ron Haven, and Macon County School Board member Gary Shields.

At the latest school board meeting, Paula Ledford and Nancy Cantrell sought the approval of board members for an Early Childhood Literacy Campaign that they wish to begin in this area.

Ledford and Cantrell presented research that indicates that 40% of children are not at the desired cognitive level when they reach kindergarten. Based on assessments created by a school board member in Washington state, student testing scores show that this trend is on the rise. This is why the Reading Foundation was created.

Ledford commented that if children begin school already behind in learning, then they will most likely remain behind throughout their educational careers. Therefore, according to Ledford, it is time to “catch the kids up before that learning gap gets worse.”

On Saturday morning, June 18, at 10:30, Scottish clan banners will fill Main Street during the “15th Annual Taste of Scotland Parade.” Local families with Scottish heritage are encouraged to walk in the short parade and carry their banner. Assembly is in the parking lot of the New Town Hall. Casual clothes are acceptable. Large groups are encouraged. The Museum is making a collection of these banners. The number now stands at 71. Review the following list to see if your clan is available. (Sometime the spelling is a little different. Mc and Mac are the same.) Volunteers from the Friends of the Scottish Tartan Museum are available to help.

Macon County non-profit organizations have until July 30, 2011, to apply for county funds through the Macon County Community Funding Pool (CFP). Application forms and instructions are available on the Macon County website, www.maconnc.org, or may be picked up at the Macon County Public Library on Siler Farm Road in Franklin, the Hudson Library on Main Street in Highlands, and the Nantahala Public Library on Nantahala School Road.

Organizations applying for CFP funds must provide financial statements such as budgets and federal tax-exempt reports, organization goals and objectives and program descriptions, and board/staff roster.