Mayor on Duty

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Neal said one step people can take to reverse the toll of COVID-19 on the Plateau is get vaccinated From a public health perspective, there is no more important step that the residents of the […]

After this past vaccination clinic on Saturday, Tom Neal sent out a message to volunteers that it was time to shift strategies in getting people vaccinated. While there may still be opportunities for mass vaccination […]

From April 6-12, Macon County Public Health (MCPH) will receive an additional shipment of vaccine (in addition to the 600 Moderna, sent weekly), which will include 700 doses of the Johnson and Johnson Janssen COVID-19 […]

As we move into spring, many activities are underway on the plateau. I know the construction in the downtown area is disruptive, as well as disturbing, for some folks. The refurbishing of the sidewalk in […]

Macon County Appointments are available now for everyone over the age of 18. Those who want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must call Macon County’s Vaccine Call Center at 828-524-1500 to register and schedule an […]