When commissioners finalized the FY ’20-’21 budget in July, the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) raise usually given to town employees was temporarily nixed. Due to the pandemic, commissioners didn’t know if citizens would […]
For years the town has talked about developing a Comprehensive Plan. Now that the state has ordered one on the books by July 1, 2022, the crunch is on. Planning done town and countywide over […]
Despite pleas from Dr. Patti Wheeler, the Hehn family, and CEO/CNO of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Tom Neal; commissioners recently voted 4 to 1 to deny water/sewer to HCA for proposed workforce housing on its property alongside the entrance […]
People in Highlands have been known to feed bears that happen through their yards. So now there is an ordinance against intentionally doing so with financial repercussions. At October’s Town Board meeting, Mayor Pat Taylor […]
With a guaranteed maximum price of $6,897,000 for the construction of the new fire station on the corner of Oak and Main streets, and with contractors lined up and ready to go, pending weather, Highlands […]
At 80 years old, Ran Shaffner has decided to retire from the Highlands Historical Society as its Archivist but it’s not likely Highlands has heard the last of him. To honor all the work he […]
Half of the students in the state returned to in-person instruction Monday for the Fall 2020 semester, but before students even made it to the classroom, Macon County Schools learned a member of the staff […]
On Sunday, Aug. 14, the community turned out to watch the First Presbyterian Church of Highlands during its annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans parade which celebrates Scottish heritage. Adhering to COVID19 restrictions, masked church members […]
Humankind is living in a new world, the world of Covid-19 Chaos, the 2020 version of the Twilight Zone. Everyone misses gathering together to enjoy a meal, a church service, a concert or a play. […]
We are bombarded daily with COVID statistics globally, nationally, statewide and locally. Yet people in Highlands ask, “Does anyone actually know someone with COVID?” The answer of course is yes, as more and more people […]
Every year, before the new school year starts up, school personnel in the Macon County School system name a co-worker Teacher of the Year. This year, Highlands School picked Dave Cashion who is the Vocational and […]
Due to their size, Highlands and Nantahala Schools are reopening Aug. 17 under different guidelines than the Franklin-area schools. During the Monday night Macon County School Board meeting, Superintendent of Macon County Schools Dr. Chris […]
NC Governor Roy Cooper paved the way for school superintendents to put a plan in place for when school starts Monday, Aug 17 – as concrete as can be expected given the mercurial virus. At […]
Staying afloat amidst COVID restrictions, has meant thinking outside-the-box for nonprofits across Highlands and Cashiers. Many have offered “virtual” programming which while a nice gesture, hasn’t done anything to bolster the bottom line. At June’s […]