Local

The Log Cabin restaurant will be reopened as a new restaurant under the Trailborn Highlands hotel project opening this July.

The Log Cabin restaurant will be reopened as a new restaurant under the Trailborn Highlands hotel project opening this July.

Trailborn to open hotel, restaurant in Highlands

A new hotel coming to town will replace the Highlands Inn Lodge and the adjacent Log Cabin restaurant this July. Called Trailborn Highlands, it’s the second such project by the Trailborn hospitality company planning to debut hotels all over the country at various outdoors wilderness locations.
Highlands School recognized 2024 Valedictorian Olivia Cole and Salutatorian Brooke Fogarty this week. Both will be attending UNC Chapel Hill this fall to continue their education.

Highlands School recognized 2024 Valedictorian Olivia Cole and Salutatorian Brooke Fogarty this week. Both will be attending UNC Chapel Hill this fall to continue their education.

Stellar students honored

Olivia Cole, this year’s Highlands School valedictorian, doesn’t seem afraid to leave town later this year for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study pre-med. “I’m excited,” she said. Her long-term goal is to start on a track to medical school and become an ObGyn.
The playground at The Village Green will be expanded as part of a renovation project on the 13-acre property.

The playground at The Village Green will be expanded as part of a renovation project on the 13-acre property.

The Village Green set to begin playground revamp

The Village Green in Cashiers will soon start renovations on the playground before moving to full scale work on the property. The Village Green sees regular use on its 13 acres during all parts of the year, even during the off season.
The Plateau Pickup collected so much litter and debris that the trash bags overflowed the dumpster at the collection site.

The Plateau Pickup collected so much litter and debris that the trash bags overflowed the dumpster at the collection site.

Plateau Pickup clears litter

What has become a spring tradition in Highlands was once again renewed on Saturday when teams of volunteers grabbed their trash bags, gloves, and orange vests for the 2024 Plateau Pickup, sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce.
The Cashiers Marketplace hearing resumed April 9 with more expert testimony, and will continue on May 6-7.

The Cashiers Marketplace hearing resumed April 9 with more expert testimony, and will continue on May 6-7.

Cashiers Marketplace hearing rolls on

The ongoing Cashiers Marketplace hearing resumed on April 9. While they already scheduled their next four meetings, for May 6 and May 20 at 1 p.m. and May 7 and May 21 at 9 a.m., the proverbial light at the tunnel seems closer.
Members of American Legion Post 370 collected donations to send Moon Pies to active service members across North Carolina during a donation drive  last week in Highlands. More than $1,000 was collected between two locations, Bryson’s Food Store and Mountain Fresh.

Members of American Legion Post 370 collected donations to send Moon Pies to active service members across North Carolina during a donation drive last week in Highlands. More than $1,000 was collected between two locations, Bryson’s Food Store and Mountain Fresh.

A sweet way to give back

The American Legion of North Carolina set a goal of providing Moon Pies to US Armed Forces and Veterans across North Carolina in April. Highlands American Legion Post 370 conducted a fundraiser March 30 at two locations – Bryson’s Food Store and Mountain Fresh Grocery.
Highlands School went from a “C” grade to a “B” grade in the latest grades released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Highlands School went from a “C” grade to a “B” grade in the latest grades released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Macon schools show improvement

All but two Macon County Schools met growth expectations in 2022-23, according to state data presented to the Macon County Board of Education at its March 25 meeting.
The CGVFD opened a new substation near Wade Hampton this week.

The CGVFD opened a new substation near Wade Hampton this week.

CGVFD opens Wade Hampton substation

The Cashiers-Glenville Volunteer Fire Department has officially opened their sixth substation, located at Wade Hampton. It will tie in the full fire district and it is also expected to lower many homeowners’ insurance rates.

Eclipse wows Western NC

The 2024 total solar eclipse might not have brought totality to Macon or Jackson counties as it did in 2017, but those who ventured out to see the sun nearly 85 percent covered got to see glimpses between the clouds on Monday, April 8. The sun was out until around 2:35 p.m.
The Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting a drawing for two free tickets to Bear Shadow.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting a drawing for two free tickets to Bear Shadow.

Bear Shadow free ticket giveaway

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC is pleased to offer residents of Highlands and Scaly Mountain an opportunity to win two free general admission tickets to the Bear Shadow music festival being held May 11-12, 2024.