Local

Juliette Norman and Frances Clark were caught having a good time on the playground at the Highlands Rec Park on Monday.

North Carolina's move into "Phase 2.5" reopens playgrounds, gyms

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Highlands Parks and Recreation Director Lester Norris announced several reopenings and one impending closure during the rec committee meeting on Friday. Norris informed the committee that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement that the state is moving into “Phase 2.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners agreed to go forward with a property purchase to expand Zachary Park.

Zachary Park expansion property to cost county $78,300

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, September 10, 2020

A piece of property adjacent to Zachary Park is going to cost Macon County a little bit more than previously thought.

The Mountaintop Art and Craft Show featured more than two dozen vendors at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Mountaintop Art and Craft Show has successful two-day run

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, September 3, 2020

For the first time in what seems like a very long time, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park was buzzing with people Saturday and Sunday. The park had been nearly silent since February do to the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered dozens of events and made social distancing part of the vernacular.

HCHF will begin offering free COVID-19 tests to students and staff at Highlands School the week of Sept. 14.

HCHF to offer free COVID-19 testing in schools

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, September 3, 2020

As Macon County schools continue to battle COVID-19 infections among students and staff members, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has proposed a new testing program to hopefully stop the spread of the virus in school settings. On Aug.

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park will be filled with classic cars during the one-time only Mountain Motoring event on Sept. 11-13.

Mountain Motoring set for Sept. 11-13

Dan Brown

Thursday, September 3, 2020

While the Highlands Motoring Festival was canceled earlier this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers found a way to keep the motoring festival momentum moving forward while providing car enthusiasts a taste of what this summer’s festival might have been like.

HCH officials are considering construction of an employee housing complex.

HCH pitches employee housing project to town board

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital president Tom Neal presented a unique proposal to the town board of commissioners during their Aug. 20 meeting.

Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau members showed off the club’s proposed new facility site and plans for the future.

Boys and Girls Club buys property

Dan Brown

Thursday, September 3, 2020

The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau will soon have a new home.

Over the past decade, the Highlands Food and Wine Festival has become one of the biggest events of the fall. The 2020 installment of the festival, originally scheduled for Nov. 12-15, has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Food and Win off the table

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, August 27, 2020

One of Highlands’ biggest events will not take place in 2020. Organizers of the Highlands Food and Wine Festival informed the town board of commissioners on Thursday night that the event scheduled for Nov. 12-14 has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Students and parents are advised to read and respond to the COVID-19 checklist prior to entering Highlands School each day.

Macon County closes four schools

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Macon County is hitting the reset button on in-person student instruction at four of its schools following action by the board of education on Monday night.

Labor Day fireworks pushed back

Dan Brown

Thursday, August 27, 2020

The already postponed Fourth of July fireworks rescheduled for Labor Day, have been postponed again due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.