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.