January
Revamped SnowFest draws big crowd
Snow Fest was blessed with near perfect conditions in 2023. Saturday, Jan. 28 featured temperatures in the 50’s and sunny skies. Children took turns on the snow tube merry-go-round operated by volunteers from the Mountaintop Rotary Club, made snow angels, joined in snowball fights and took advantage of the snow slide.
The Highlands School booster club operated a s’more making station and collected donations, while hot chocolate was provided by Highlands Cashiers Hospital and the Eckerd Living Center and hot apple cider was provided by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty.
February
HCCDC opens at Church of the Incarnation
A new day donned on the Highlands Community Child Development Center and the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation on Tuesday.
The organizations welcomed members of the public for an open house to see the new childcare classrooms in the first floor of the church. With the new classrooms at the church now in use, HCCDC can accommodate 25 additional children.
The new classrooms at the Church of the Incarnation are fully stocked with all the learning essentials that three and four year-olds require. There is an outdoor play area, art and craft supplies, books and other interactive materials.
March
Town hires full-time firefighters
Highlands took the final step toward 24/7 fire department coverage on March 12 when the town board of commissioners approved the hiring of six new paid firefighter positions during the board’s annual budget retreat.
On the heels of opening a brand new state-of-the-art fire station on Franklin Road, Highlands Fire Chief Ryan Gearhart presented his plan to staff the facility. Gearhart’s proposal included a set budget for part-time help and overtime allowances. The total cost to add the six positions with salary and benefits is approximately $600,000 annually.
Ultimately the town board approved Gearhart’s plan and the department hired six full-time firefighters to staff the new station and provide 24/7 coverage.
April
Plateau Pickup sets records
A record number of community volunteers turned out for the 2023 Plateau Pickup on Saturday, April 15 and the result was a massive amount of litter being pulled from area roadsides.
At the end of the day, a commercial dumpster stationed at the parking area of Lake Sequoyah on Franklin Road was packed to the point the lid wouldn’t close. More full trash bags lined area roads awaiting pickup by the Town of Highlands Sanitation Department and US Forest Service personnel.
School board addresses Highlands project
Macon County Board of Education Chair Jim Breedlove took the bull by the horns in April during the board’s regular monthly meeting in an attempt to clear the air about the Highlands School expansion project and where it stands on the school board’s priority list.
The meeting began with public comment, which included multiple speakers advocating for the school board to reinstate the Highlands School project, which was defunded in February. The project would include two Pre-K classrooms, four new classrooms in the middle school building, a remodel of the media center/library, a remodel of the computer lab, and two classrooms remodeled for career and technical education – at an estimated cost of $4.7 million.
To date, the full project has not been funded.
May
TLLC announces new Pre-K
The tradition of educational advancement at The Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands will continue when TLLC opens its North Carolina Certified Pre-K program. The program was unveiled in May 2023.
There are approximately 70 children on the Pre-K waiting list in Highlands. The program at TLLC will be able to accommodate 25 children.
The Pre-K program at TLLC in Highlands will offer a comprehensive curriculum that aligns with the rigorous standards set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Through a play-based and child-centered approach, young learners will engage in activities that enhance their language and literacy skills, develop mathematical and scientific thinking, nurture social-emotional well-being, and promote physical growth.
June
Motoring Festival brings record crowds
The Highlands Motoring Festival continued to build on its reputation as one of the premier classic car events in the Southeast with a stellar four-day run over the weekend.
With an assist from some picture-perfect weather, the festival drew a massive crowd to downtown Highlands as automotive enthusiasts brought out their finest rides. The featured marque for 2023 was BMW, and the iconic brand didn’t disappoint.
July
Mountain True work near Highlands
Mountain True, a non-profit that engages in conservation resource management in western North Carolina, spoke about their conservation work in and near Highlands.
Originally formed in Franklin, Mountain True works at the local, state, and federal levels to address conservation. They were one of the first litigants who sued Duke Power for their mishandling of coal ash in North Carolina.
Mountain True has been helping residents impacted by development at Chinquapin for nearly two years. They have also been aware of the efforts to dredge Mirror Lake for over two decades.
McCloskey steps down at Post 370
For nine years, Ed McCloskey has been the go-to guy at American Legion Post 370 in Highlands. As post commander, McCloskey has tackled everything from fundraising, to recruitment of new members, to the implementation of community service programs, all while increasing the post’s visibility and viability.
On Friday, July 14, the members of Post 370 gave McCloskey a fitting sendoff as he stepped down from his post commander role. McCloskey was honored with a banquet at the Mountain Laurel Tennis Club.
August
DOT merging Highlands and Cashiers sheds
Wanda Payne, NCDOT division 14 engineer, confirmed plans to close the Cashiers DOT office and merge it with Highlands beginning in the spring. Payne said Cashiers and Highlands will still be serviced, but both areas will only be serviced by the Highlands DOT shed. DOT workers, currently stationed in Sylva, will need to drive to Highlands before turning around to service Cashiers.
Cashiers Fire Chief Randy Dillard said it will be “devastating” for Cashiers.
Changes to Highlands School leadership
Brian Jetter, who was principal at Highlands School for 17 years, announced his retirement and the conclusion of his nearly five-decade long career in education. Jetter said it was rewarding working in a smaller K-12 school to form relationships and watch children grow.
After Jetter’s retirement, Highlands announced Sarah Holbrooks would take his helm as principal with Alyssa DeBois as vice principal. Holbrooks worked with Macon County Schools for about 14 years and served as Jetter’s vice principal for five years. DeBois relocated from Arizona, but was excited about bringing her family to a smaller community. Both Holbrooks and DeBois want to support students and staff as well as they can.
September
State funds $10 million in projects
At September’s “Coffee with the Mayor” program, Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor informed the audience that the state of North Carolina had issued two grants totaling $10 million to cover two important projects.
One check for $5 million will cover the replacement of the water clarifier tank at the Highlands water treatment plant. A second $5 million check will be used to begin dredging Mirror Lake – an ecologically important water source.
NC Sen. Kevin Corbin and Rep. Karl Gillespie, who were instrumental in securing the funding in Raleigh, delivered ceremonial checks to Highlands in December to celebrate the funding officially being approved.
October
Community Care Clinic expanding services
The Community Care Clinic, a free health services provider on the plateau, wants to expand services to better serve community health needs.
David Moore, chair of the clinic, said patients and expenses have risen this year. Part of this is the addition of a behavioral health therapist.
The clinic polled patients, many of which are working poor and/or visa workers who may not have access to or money for insurance. Patients indicated needs for referrals, expanded hours, and more outreach and education.
Patient credits HCH with improved quality of life
Jordan Vaughn, 22, has been battling dystonia and seizures since she was 14. However, Vaughn credits new treatment at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital with better quality of life.
Dystonia is known to cause tight, locked muscles that can leave the patient unable to move or breathe, taking an intense toll on the body.
Vaughn credits Benadryl and promethazine transfusions with restoring body mobility and autonomy. Vaughn also said she never has to fight to be heard or understood at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.
November
Election reshapes town board
When the Nov. 7 results rolled in, they showed Highlands with one new town board member following the 2023 municipal election.
Three seats were contested on the board of commissioners and decided among five candidates. Incumbents Brian Stiehler and John ‘Buz’ Dotson each retained their post. Jeff Weller will take over the board seat vacated by Marc Hehn, who opted not to seek reelection.
Stiehler emerged as the leading vote getter in the election with 285 ballots cast in his favor. Weller finished second in the voting with 255 votes and Dotson finished third with 235 votes.
Burn ban enacted, retracted
The North Carolina Forest Service cited dry conditions and foliage as chief concerns when they enacted a burn ban Nov. 5. The burn ban was expanded to include 30 counties in western North Carolina Nov. 8. Open burnings and issuance of burn permits was prohibited during this period.
Dry conditions prompted a municipal state of emergency in Highlands. Residents were asked to reduce water usage during this period. Highlands water restrictions lasted until early December.
The area received slight rainfall during the burn ban, and received significantly more rainfall when the ban was lifted. Steve Troxler, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner, lifted the burn ban Nov. 22. Open burnings and the issuance of burn permits were once again allowed. Any permits issued prior to the burn ban were no longer valid and had to be issued again. Some worried if the rainfall was significant enough to stop drought conditions, but further complications have been at bay thus far.
December
HANDS dinner returns
For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, HANDS hosted its Christmas Day Dinner to raise funds for area nonprofit organizations.
Highlands Area Nonprofit Donation Sharing is a 501C3 organization that supports a variety of community nonprofits through pooled giving. The annual Christmas Dinner, hosted at Highlands Country Club, is the groups biggest fundraiser of the year. Tickets for the 2023 event sold out in less than four hours.
The event raised more than $35,000 to be split between The Gordon Center, The Literacy and Learning Council, and the Highlands Community Child Development Center.