The Macon County SpringTime to Forward DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME & Shopping Guide 2 am Sunday, March 14 March 11, 2021 • 24 Pages Volume 38 Number 42 FREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER www.themaconcountynews.com Franklin Fire & Rescue, town officials and others gathered on Wednesday morning to break ground for a new fire substation in NP&L Loop just off Sylva Road. The Town of Franklin purchased the prop- erty in August 2019 and hired Ritter Architecture to assist with site drawings, plans and formal bid proposals. The contract was awarded to Western Builders for $399,019 to construct the substation.Con- struction is set to begin this spring. Pictured (L-R) are Bob Scott, Jack Horton, Joe Collins, Michael Lewis, Dinah Mashburn, Summer Woodard, Tom Ritter, Asst. Chief Ryan Hursey, Max Houston, Captain Justin Setser, Chief Ben Ormond and Chuck Norton. Photo by Vickie Carpenter IN THIS ISSUE Board hires Sylva lawyer as county attorney Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer Manager Derek Roland.” Ridenour began his career by joining the Macon County leaders began the search firm of Haire & Bridgers in 1995 upon for a new county attorney last October after graduating law school at Washburn Uni- Chester Jones announced his retirement versity. He made partner in 1998 and while after serving the county for more than a the firm has changed names and faces Ri- decade. denour, had been the firm’s mainstay. In After more than four months utilizing the private practice, Ridenour focuses his prac- services of interim county attorney Kim tice on civil litigation, real estate, and local Carpenter, the Macon County Board of government law. Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday Ridenour has handled thousands of night to appoint Eric Ridenour of Ridenour cases, both civil and criminal, in Western & Goss in Sylva as the new county attorney. North Carolina. His current matters in- The approved contract states that Ride- clude: right-of-way disputes, condemna- nour’s salary will not exceed $120,000 a tion/eminent domain proceedings, breach year and allows Macon County Attorney Eric Ridenour of contract lawsuits, and employer de- Derek Roland to execute the contract. fense of a wrongful termination lawsuit. Page 2 The vote to hire Ridenour came after a Ridenour also represents local contractors in construction lengthy closed session meeting during the March meeting of disputes, property owners' associations, and many small GO grant means outdoor classroom for SME the board of commissioners, which resulted in the unanimous business owners. Additionally, while the firm does not gen- vote. erally handle appellate matters, Ridenour has successfully “I am honored and excited to be joining Macon County as 828.369.6767 argued a number of cases before the North Carolina Court of PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID their next county attorney,” Ridenour said Wednesday morn- www.themaconcountynews.com PERMIT 22 [email protected] GOODER PUBLISHING CORP. ing. “I have been so impressed with the professionalism and FRANKLIN, NC 28734-3401 dedication of county staff, the commissioners, and County See COUNTY ATTORNEY page 3 2 THE MACON COUNTY NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE VOLUME 38 NUMBER 42 THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 Outdoor classroom planned at South Macon courtesy of GO grant The North Carolina Schools Go Outside The project, which will renovate an exist- (GO) Grant was created to address the main ing path to be fully handicap accessible will barrier to getting kids outside during the provide students with safe access following school day – funding. Field trips and out- the bank of a creek to be able to conduct door experiences offer students opportuni- hands-on learning and experience in science, ties to explore and learn in hands-on social studies, math, language arts, STEM, environments. With limited dollars available counseling, and career exploration. The from local school systems, such engaging project space will be used by all of the more and active styles of learning are becoming than 500 students at South Macon Elemen- things of the past. tary School. South Macon Elementary kindergarten The walking trail, which Sanders ex- teacher Kim Sanders found out last week plained took some creativity and engineer- that after two attempts to receive the grant, ing to make ADA accessible, will lead the state approved her outdoor classroom students to an outdoor classroom. Due to the project totaling more than $12,000. cultural and historical significance of the “I am so excited that we will be able to area where the walking trail is located — show the students who first came to me with concrete and asphalt were not permitted – so the idea when they were just in kinder- Sanders and her students began working on garten,” said Sanders. “We had hoped to ideas to improve the trail. have it completed before they graduated GO Grants are grants that are provided to from South Macon and now with this grant, access field study locations and assist with we will be able to do that.” other expenditures that result from taking A few years ago, Sanders was questioned students outdoors. Qualifying for grants re- by her kindergarten class as to why an out- quires instructors to demonstrate how the door trail wasn’t as easy to access as it Pictured at the beginning of the walking trail in no particular order are South Macon Principal Alli- experience will address topics currently should be. Inspired by their thoughtfulness, son Guynn, STEM coordinator Jennifer Love, N.C. Rep. Karl Gillespie, kindergarten teacher Kim being taught in class and that the experience Sanders took the question and turned it into Sanders, teacher assistant Kim Ledford and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chris Baldwin. meets the goals of the Outdoor Heritage a lesson for the students. The kindergarten Trust Fund plan. The program also allows class researched, developed several hy- North Carolina House of Representative ing back to our district and am excited for the staff at field study sites to apply on behalf potheses, and created — and debated — so- member Karl Gillespie presented Sanders students to see this project come full circle.” of teachers with their permission. lutions for the problem. Now, as those same with a grant award to fully renovate an out- Gillespie was joined by Sanders, South The NC Go Grant will not only complete students are in the middle of their third-grade door classroom space last Friday. Macon Principal Allison Guynn, Macon the 350 feet long ADA-compliant trail to the year at South Macon Elementary School, “I am honored to present South Macon El- County Schools STEM Coordinator Jennifer outdoor classroom, but it will help fund a Sanders was able to take the students back to ementary School with the North Carolina Love, and Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin safe building for the school to store science where it all began to show them what their School GO outside Grant,” said Rep. Gille- on Friday afternoon to tour the project space equipment that will be used at the classroom hard work —and their brainwork — accom- spie. “This is definitely one of the highlights and hear how the space will be utilized for all without impacting the archaeological sig- plished. of the job. I am glad to see state dollars com- students. nificance of the area. Quilters present ‘patches of comfort’ to DA Quilters at Sassy Stitches in Franklin recently presented patches of comfort to District Attor- ney Ashley Welch, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The gift was their way to offer encouragement and support as she continues her journey. “We want to give back,” said Pauline Luther, one of the quilters. A tearful Welch thanked the group members. She told them, “You have no idea how much this means to me.” Pictures are (L-R) Donna Orford, Christine Leonhardt, Debbie Maund, Pauline Luther, Barbara Macfarlane, Jennie Terry, Margaret Lewis, Karen Stoltz, Welch and Lindy Blanton. Photo by Quintin Ellison THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 42 THE MACON COUNTY NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE 3 Grocery chain Food Lion will not confirm takeover of Franklin BILO Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer works, most recently on Saturday. “At Food Lion, we regularly assess our With less than a month left before the store footprint to ensure we deliver the prod- Franklin BILO was slated to close in lieu of ucts and services our neighbors need at the an interested buyer, the grocery store an- everyday low prices they expect,” said Matt nounced over the weekend that the store has Harakal with Food Lion’s Public Relations been purchased by Food Lion. BILO had an- Team. “We have a strong presence in the re- nounced the closing in the Fall of 2020 cast- gion and are always looking for opportuni- ing the future of the Macon Plaza shopping ties to deepen that connection. If we have center in uncertainty. anything to share about this specific loca- Much speculation had been leveled on tion we will keep you notified.” what would replace BILO — Food Lion, Although Food Lion will not confirm Publix, an Aldi — but until this weekend, no their acquisition of the Highlands Road SOFA $ WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! official confirmation had been forthcoming. BILO, the Franklin BILO’s social media ac- 549 After BILO corporation announced the count posted over the weekend that Food FREE LOCAL DELIVERY company was going out of business last year, Lion did, in fact, purchase the grocery store. Food Lion released a statement that said they Employees of the store also commented to would be purchasing more than 50 BILO lo- share what information they had been pro- cations across the southeast and transition- vided regarding their continued employ- MACON FURNITURE MART ing them to Food Lion stores.