It’s an event you don’t want to miss as the Senior Expo and Health Fair comes back to Macon County on Thursday.

The free event sponsored by 1050 WFSC in partnership with the Senior Games of Macon County will provide seminars, various health screenings, entertainment and refreshments all free of charge.

Nearly 40 different sponsors are participating this year and will have booths set up inside the Community Building.

The Senior Expo and Health Fair will be going on at the Macon County Community Facilities Building Thursday,

April 29th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

An annual event founded in honor of a Macon County teenager tragically killed in a car accident is expected to once again help a student go to college.

On Saturday May 1st, the Grayson Hall Memorial 5K Run will get underway at 9:00 a.m. at the Tassee Bridge on the Little Tennessee River Greenway.

Again the funds raised will help provide a scholarship.

Email denise.davis@macon.k12.nc.us to obtain a registration form.

The latest endeavor aimed at helping the community during challenging financial times continues to cultivate.

All plots in the much anticipated Community Garden have been sold and according to County Commission Chairman Ronnie Beale the project is just about ready for planting, “You rent a plot for $25 and whatever you grow on that plot, 50 percent is to be donated to Care-Net and the rest of it you can keep or spread around to your neighbors for sweat equity. We do have water at the site thanks to Mike Breedlove and the folks at Soil Conservation.”

A cistern was tapped on the Siler Farm to provide water to the garden.

An access road leading down to the garden has also been developed on the end of Siler Road, “The folks who are going to be the gardeners seem to be excited and we’re excited. Not only can it provide some much needed food resources to Care-Net but it’s going to be a community event. We have several clubs and individuals who are partnering for the garden and we look forward to it,” said Beale.

Planting is expected to begin during the first week of May.

On Tuesday May 4th, a Democratic Candidate for Sheriff in Macon County will be decided by voters in the primary election.

Richard Davis, George Lynch and Ricky DeHart are vying for the chance to go onto the General Election in November.

With just a few days left before Election Day we will take a closer look at these candidates and we’ll also hear from incumbent Sheriff Robert Holland a Republican running unopposed who won’t have to run in the primary but will be in the General Election.

We begin our series with candidate Richard Davis.

Background:

•    Davis is a native of western North Carolina, married for 23 years.
•    Has three children and one adopted child.
•    Davis has 14 years of law enforcement experience.
•    Was former Chief Deputy under Sheriff Homer Holbrooks

His decision to run:

•    Was inspired by hearing of recent break-ins and property thefts.

•    Wants to assign Deputies in communities

•    Says number one priority will be making homes safe from thieves and drug users

Two key issues in Macon County that need addressed:

•    Breaking and entering incidents and larcenies

•    Reaching young people

•    Wants to come up with “innovative” plans to work with young people to keep them in school and help them become productive citizens

•    Says he works well with young people

In closing:

•    Says he is budget minded
•    Wants to look at ways to trim current Sheriff’s Department budget

Be sure to join us again as our series continues with candidate George Lynch.

Newly released information is indicating Census participation is up across North Carolina.

County Planner Derek Roland announced Monday that Macon County is also seeing more participation than in 2000, “We’re thrilled to say that as of April 23rd, 2010 Macon County had a response rate of 74 percent. This is up 23 percent from the response rate in 2000.”

According to a Pew Research Center Survey the biggest reasons people didn’t fill out a Census form in 2000 was lack of information or they didn’t understand why it was worth their effort.

Roland says that problem was addressed as a Complete Count Committee was formed, “This committee was made up of volunteers from across the county. They represent the local government, education, businesses, religious organizations, Hispanic communities, senior citizens and the media. The sole purpose of this committee was to increase awareness and motivate residents to respond to the Census.”

The Census Road Tour also stopped in Franklin in March to help spread the word on the importance of responding.

Participation is also up in the towns of Franklin and Highlands respectively.

However, the Census is not officially wrapped up yet.

Census workers will be visiting homes that did not send their form back in through July.

Those who haven’t responded yet can now do so over the phone by calling 1-866-872-6868.

For more information log onto www.2010census.gov

A seven year old Franklin boy is injured after he is attacked by the family dog.

According to incident reports the attack happened at 186 Crane Circle around 8 a.m. on April 23rd.

Animal Control Investigator John Hook tells us the boy received severe lacerations to the face after he inadvertently startled the English bulldog.

The boy, whose name was not released, was taken to Angel Medical Center for treatment.

Hook says the family has had no previous problems with the animal and no charges were filed.

Work has started on a future ordinance for Macon County that will regulate slope development.

On Thursday the Macon County Planning Board began discussions with the Slope Development sub-committee who recently presented several “recommendations” when it comes to developing on slopes.

County Planner Derek Roland says their aim is two-fold.

They want to protect personal property rights, while providing guidelines for safe development.

Roland says the two groups started off the process by looking at relevant documents, “This included ordinances from Haywood, Jackson and White Counties and two bills from the General Assembly that deal slope regulations.”

Those bills are 1756 and 782 which deal with local governments regulating slope.

The existing slope sub-committee will continue to meet as they begin putting the ordinance together and they will report back to the Planning Board monthly.

These meetings however will be unique as they want to involve the community in the process, “Not one bit of this ordinance will be created behind closed doors,” Roland adds.

“The public is going to be very involved. We want to hear their input and we want to hear what they have to say and most importantly we want them to be educated on the process of what we’re going through in Macon County. It will let them realize that there is a need for what we’re doing here.”

The community meetings will include a presentation on why they’re creating the slope ordinance and also a time for the public to provide their input.

Roland says they also hope to publish information regarding the ordinance online as it’s being developed.

The community is invited to come celebrate the realization of a regulation soccer field in the town of Highlands as a special ribbon cutting ceremony will take place today at 4:30 p.m.

County Commission Chairman Ronnie Beale says it will be a good time to recognize those who helped make it possible and to see the impressive facility for yourself, “This is to recognize all the volunteers that helped make that a reality to bring Highlands their first regulation soccer field ever. It turned out great. It’s located directly behind Highlands School. The county committed dollars to it and we had a great group of volunteers that made this happen.”

The field was constructed at a cost of just over $235,000 which included new field lighting.