On Monday, Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor announced that Town Hall is closed to the public due to a COVID outbreak. Several employees have tested positive for the virus. The mayor said specialty cleaning equipment is […]
The first mass vaccination effort in this country was undertaken at the direction of General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. By the time the Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge in 1778, smallpox was […]
At a special called Town Board meeting Monday, commissioners voted unanimously to require masks be worn by employees and visitors inside any town facility, effective immediately. Those facilities include: Town Hall, the Community Building, the […]
I called a special meeting of the town board last Monday afternoon to discuss the governor’s new orders concerning wearing masks in state facilities. Governor Cooper had encouraged local governments to consider doing the same. […]
New vaccine clinics in Highlands In the coming week there will be two new opportunities on the Plateau to receive a vaccination. There will be a clinic from 2-5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9 with […]
On June 18, Macon County closed the COVID Call Center. The Macon County COVID Call Center opened on January 16 to handle the high volume of calls in response to the launch of public vaccination […]
Vaccination figures are climbing but not fast or high enough. Macon County is the leading region in Western North Carolina’s 19 counties with a vaccination rate of 39.3%. The Highlands Plateau which for vaccine purposes includes Sapphire, Lake Glenville, Cashiers, […]
All Fontana Regional Library locations in Macon, Jackson, and Swain Counties are now open for walk-in browsing without an appointment. This includes the Hudson Library in Highlands and the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Because of high […]
By Highlands-Cashiers Hospital CEO Tom Neal We owe all frontline healthcare workers a huge debt of gratitude for their selfless devotion to their patients, willingness to risk contracting the COVID-19 virus themselves or bringing it […]
COVID policies can change fast. Two weeks ago, in accordance with Governor Cooper’s new executive emergency order, the town changed the signs downtown to read, “Masks are suggested in crowded areas.” On Thursday of last […]
A couple of extra issues were on the budget workshop agenda last Thursday that didn’t have anything do to with navigating finances for FY 2021-2022. First, Town Attorney J.K. Coward presented the Town of Highlands […]
The wording on the masks signs downtown has been changed to read, “masks suggested in crowded areas.” I know some may think that weak mayor caved in and changed the mask requirement. Others might say […]
Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation (HCHF) and Dogwood Health Trust have joined forces in support of expanding primary care services on the Plateau through establishment of Blue Ridge Health – Highlands Cashiers, a new health center […]
The Town Board decided wearing a mask in the commercial district of Highlands should remain a requirement despite the relaxed requirements by Gov. Cooper at April’s town board meeting on April 15. The decision comes […]
State continues to strive to get two thirds of adults at least partially vaccinated Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. gave an update on […]