I recently chaired the Southwestern Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee meeting. Let me review some of the transportation issues the committee discussed. First, NCDOT engineers stated they were working nonstop to repair and reopen I-40 next to the […]
Tonight is Highlands Town Board of Commissioners’ January meeting. A board workshop will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 7 p.m. Both meetings are at the Highlands Community Building, next to the […]
A recent email from a resident was addressing the issue of workforce housing. Attached to the email was an article that called for a reduction in building code requirements and density standards as a strategy to increase housing supply. I […]
I am thankful for many things, even amid the tragedy and disaster of Helene. Let me express my gratitude to this community. I will never be able to fully thank everyone for their support in the recovery after the storm. People didn’t respond to […]
I want to express my gratitude to all who participated in the public hearing on STR amortization last week. Your input was invaluable in our understanding of this complex issue. The next crucial step will be […]
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, will be a day Maconians will remember for years to come. On that day, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Catherine Truitt, came to Franklin to present a state check of […]
I reluctantly write this piece but feel compelled to do so. To be clear, our Highlands-Cashiers Hospital has been a great asset to our community over the past five years. Tom Neal has provided outstanding […]
A critical shortage of workforce housing plagues communities and economic development across the nation. What are the factors that contribute to the shortage? Let’s start off with off-the-chart building costs, high land prices, interest rates, […]
The picture says it all. The water is just going over the Lake Sequoyah Dam. Highlands has not had significant rain for some time, and I don’t see any in the immediate future. Are we […]
Thursday night is the monthly Highlands Town Board meeting. It will start at 7 p.m. at the Highlands Conference Center next to the ball field. But before this official business meeting, there will be a […]
It’s official, it’s Dahlia Week in Highlands Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor recently signed a decree making it Dahlia Week in Highlands in honor of the annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival happening this weekend. To make the […]
I fired my large kiln this weekend in preparation for the Village Square Art Show that begins on Saturday. I have been making pots since 1968, and after getting out of the Army in 1972, […]
By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News Members of the community gathered to recognize the 30th anniversary of the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital on March 15. HCH CEO Tom Neal spoke about how far healthcare has come on […]
The staff and I meet with various groups that support and supply the town on a routine basis, and this past week Josh, Lamar Nix met with folks from Duke Energy. It was a good meeting. […]