Mayor on Duty

Let me cover several current items. Some of this information comes from questions folks have sent to my website in recent days. First, Optimum is continuing COVID testing at the Highlands Community Building next to […]

We are about to see 2021 fade away and 2022 rise before us. Looking back, even though it had some challenging moments, 2021 was much better than the COVID dominated 2020. Looks like the Omicron […]

I loved the Highlands Christmas Parade this year. I am always honored as mayor to lead the parade just behind the color guard. Sallie, our grandchildren and Lucy, our dog, had a great time walking […]

American Legion Post 370 will be holding their Veterans Day Ceremony today at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of the police station. After the ceremony, veterans can go to the Blue […]

This time of year, there is a slow period downtown between the end of August where kids return to school and before the leaf season begins. This past Sunday afternoon the Center for Life Enrichment […]

Saturday will be the 20th anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers, September 11, 2001. Hope everyone will take a moment as we usher in a beautiful fall weekend to and remember those innocent […]

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 […]

I had the honor to represent the Town of Highlands at the celebration of life and remembrance for Jane Woodruff. The celebration was held was last Sunday in Atlanta. There were also a number of […]

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. […]

Last week’s town board meeting was a celebratory event in many ways. The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation introduced the two new doctors that they brought to the plateau in conjunction with their funding and opening […]

The agenda for tomorrow’s July meeting of the Highlands Town Board of Commissioners is full. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Highlands Conference Center next to the ball field. The first item […]

The Highlands real estate market is super hot. With that bull market comes the push to build, build without delay. Everyone has to have their project done now, without delay on a nonstop basis. There […]

The summer season is off to a great start. Concerts, car shows, movies, shrimp boils, art shows, farmers markets are all back in full operation, not to mention the wonderful restaurants and shops that are […]

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 […]