The Read all of the Macon County MACON COUNTY NEWSOnline •Free Weekly• & Shopping Guide themaconcountynewsonline.com March 25, 2021 • 24 Pages Volume 38 Number 44 FREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER www.themaconcountynews.com IN THIS ISSUE Page 6 New leader to continue charitable work of Knights The second annual award-winning Franklin High School UNIFY March Madness event was held Tuesday night at the high school gym. Prior to the the much anticipated basketball game, a parade was held honoring the special players and cheerleaders slated to perform at the event. FHS sports teams, students and coaches lent their support to make sure the event was successful. The UNIFY program pairs up students with special needs with volunteer partners who help guide them through practices and games. The Franklin Panther Sports Network (FPSN) live streamed the festivities. The event is organized by FHS business teacher and yearbook advisor Penny Moffitt. For more photos, see page 12. Photo by Ellen Randall Macon schools going to National tool and equipment Page 8 Plan A beginning April 5 chain opening at old Kmart SCC nursing students helping with WCU clinic Diane Peltz - Contributing Writer Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer The Macon County School Board met for its regular When Kmart closed its doors in 2018, the massive build- monthly meeting on Monday, March 22. On the agenda was ing it called home for decades was left empty, which is ex- the recent actions taken by legislators and the governor to actly how it has remained… until now. On Monday, Harbor get kids back in school. North Carolina Governor Roy Freight, a privately held discount tool and equipment retailer, Cooper signed Senate Bill 220 into law on March 11. Sen- announced it will soon be occupying the space. Harbor ate Bill 220 requires local boards of education to provide Freight operates a chain of retail stores, as well as a mail- in-person learning for grade K-5 in Plan "A", and for grades order and e-commerce business. The company employs more 6-12 in either Plan "B" or Plan "A", while meeting all health than 20,000 people in the United States and has 1,000 loca- and safety requirements in the Strong Schools NC Public tions in 48 states. Health Toolkit (K-12). The updated Toolkit no longer re- “We’re very excited about our new location that will be quires schools to do daily temperature checks and symptom coming to Franklin in mid- to late summer,” said Craig Hoff- screenings. man, director of Communications & Content for Harbor While the Macon County School system is currently Freight. “This location will be our first in Macon County and Page 20 meeting the requirements that are outlined in Senate Bill our 46th location in North Carolina. We think it will be more 220, the school system had the choice of allowing all stu- convenient for our customers in the community, as they cur- Blaney thwarts Larson’s dominance with win dents to return to school. Schools are still required to offer rently have to drive about 45 minutes to Seneca, S.C., or to families the option of attending school virtually. 828.369.6767 our location in Henderson which we opened last fall.” PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID On a motion made by Tommy Cabe and seconded by According to Hoffman, Harbor Freight had been working www.themaconcountynews.com PERMIT 22 [email protected] GOODER PUBLISHING CORP. FRANKLIN, NC 28734-3401 See SCHOOLS page 2 See FREIGHT page 2 2 THE MACON COUNTy NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE VOLUME 38 NUMBER 44 THURSDAy, MARCH 25, 2021 Continued back last summer we were overwhelmed with the response from page 1 from the children. I spend much of my time listening to our COVID restrictions eased SCHOOLS children’s hearts in this community, and it is vital to me As North Carolina’s trends continue to show improvement and that they understand, at the very least, with us their pre- vaccine distribution increases with 31.7% of North Carolinians over Carol Arnold, the Macon County Board of Education ap- cious voices matter. These children have been suffering 18 having received at least one dose of vaccine, Gov. Roy Cooper proved by a 5-0 vote to have Mountain View Intermedi- emotionally, and academically, and they are not sure how announced that the state will continue to ease some COVID-19 re- ate, Macon Middle School, and Franklin High School to process through it all. They don’t have the capacity to strictions. Executive Order No. 204 will take effect March 26 at 5 begin operating under Plan "A" when students return from formulate through all of this, the pandemic and our re- p.m. is set to expire April 30 at 5 p.m. The state’s general mask man- spring break on Monday, April 5. By waiting until April 5, sponse to it, in the same manner as the adults that surround date remains in effect. All businesses must continue to maintain the families and teachers will be given adequate time to pre- them. So my point in saying this is, the response and the 6 feet of distance requirement and implement other safety protocols pare for the schedule change and all staff who have chosen results of the response to the pandemic cannot end up being as they expand their capacity. to be vaccinated will have been provided the two weeks worst than the pandemic itself. And that is part of what we The order will also increase mass gathering limits. The number of required to develop immunity to COVID-19. are currently facing. Their hearts are broken because they people who may gather indoors will increase from 25 to 50 and the Mountain View Intermediate School, Macon Middle miss their friends and their teachers, as they often relay to number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 50 to School, and Union Academy will continue to require that us during our family time discussions at the academy. So 100. This Order also fully lifts the restriction on the late-night sale and each Friday be a virtual day in order to adequately interact we continue to serve the families of Macon County and service of alcoholic beverages on bars, restaurants, and other estab- with their virtual students. Franklin High School and continue to try to be one of the many solutions to all of this lishments. Macon Early College will operate under Plan "A" five in the children’s lives. Thanks for giving a listening ear to – Indoors and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject to Masks days per week. Cartoogechaye Elementary, East Franklin this, blessings to all,” he concluded. and 6 ft. Social Distancing Elementary, Iotla Valley Elementary, South Macon Ele- • Museums and Aquariums mentary, Nantahala School and Highlands School will not Public school funding issues • Retail Businesses alter their current schedule of operations. While more stu- John DeVille, Franklin High School Social Studies • Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors dents are allowed back on campuses face coverings are still Teacher, expressed concern over the state legislature in- – Indoors up to 75% and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject required in North Carolina schools. troducing school choice bills that would “divert public to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing funds to privatization schemes.” HB 32 would expand el- Summer Edventure/Learning Camp • Restaurants, Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries igibility for North Carolina’s school voucher programs. • Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing) Summer Edventure Camp will start on June 14. In the HB32 would make five changes to the Opportunity • Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, past, Summer Adventure Camp was made available as a Scholarship program: 1. No prior public school enrollment fitness centers, pools) daycare of sorts for kids to have somewhere to go in the requirement for entering second graders. 2. Increase value • Amusement Parks summer. The camp came at a cost but some parents were of the voucher. 3. Loosening of prior public school enroll- – Indoors and outdoors up to 50% Capacity, Subject to Masks and eligible for subsidized tuition. This year, SEC will address ment requirement in grades 3-12. 4. Diversion of funds to 6 ft. Social Distancing learning loss experienced by students throughout this un- marketing efforts. 5. Increase of administration funding. • Bars, Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs usual season. The camp will be held face to face and will "Private schools would have no accountability, they • Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances run for five weeks. Principals are gathering lists of "at risk" would not be required to administer state tests. Anyone • Sports Arenas and Fields• Meeting, Reception, and Conference students and also putting together staff to assist with the could open a school and public school dollars would be Spaces Camp. taken away from our school budget,” explained DeVille. • Movie theaters and gaming facilities may operate at up to 75% ca- The Summer Learning Program will be four days per "We are a economically diverse community with a very pacity outdoors. week, Monday-Thursday. wealthy section of Macon and a poverty stricken section. Activities and settings are lower risk when they involve interacting Summer Edventure Camp will be five days per week, We need to increase our tax base. We have an under tapped with fewer people, being outside, keeping masks on the entire time, Monday-Friday. Instruction will begin at 7:30 and will end tax base right now, Macon stands at 90-100 of 100 coun- keeping interactions with people short (under 15 minutes), staying at 1:30.