By Michael Beadle

Like artists inspired by the drama of their own lives, some art studios have their own back story.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

A new outpatient clinic designed to serve 3,200 area veterans will open in Franklin in spring 2007, Department of Veterans Affairs officials said Thursday, Aug. 24.

Ho-hum.

Franklin voters approved the sale of mixed drinks and beer in a vote held last week. Few were surprised the measure passed. In truth, few seem to care too much.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

The Franklin Board of Elections went to work Tuesday morning (Aug. 1) to certify results of a referendum in which voters passed beer and liquor sales, opening the door for local businesses to begin submitting permit applications to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Preliminary master plans and architectural designs for Franklin’s new mixed-use, smart growth style development were presented last Thursday night (July 17). It was the first chance local residents and government officials had to see what the future looks like for the 23-acre housing complex to be located just outside downtown.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Macon County residents have the opportunity to help design the first New Urbanist traditional neighborhood in Western North Carolina — a neighborhood that will rely on mixed use and smart growth development practices to create a 22-acre housing complex just outside downtown Franklin.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

A month into her new job as Franklin’s Main Street Program Coordinator, Nancy Deeks is just starting to get things organized.

She helped out with the town’s annual Taste of Scotland Festival, held this past weekend. And now, with town aldermen having recently appointed the last remaining board members to which Deeks will answer, Deeks is sorting through the bylaws of eight other Main Street organizations trying to come up with something specifically tailored to Franklin’s needs.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Western North Carolina boasts more people of Scottish descent than Scotland itself — and for that Franklin hosts its annual Taste of Scotland this weekend, June 16 and 17.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

This summer residents of Franklin will vote on whether to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages, following a town board decision to hold a referendum on the issue.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Repairs along a section of trail on the Little Tennessee Greenway in Macon County damaged by hurricane flooding have been completed and the trail reopened for use, marking the end of a successful season for Friends of the Greenway.