Local

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

News Staff

Thursday, April 11, 2024

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.

CGVFD opens Wade Hampton substation

News Staff

Thursday, April 11, 2024

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

News Staff

Thursday, April 11, 2024

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.

Bear Shadow free ticket giveaway

News Staff

Thursday, April 4, 2024

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.

The Highlands Town Board is considering changes to weekend work hours and board appointments.

Weekend work hours, board appointment changes mulled

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, April 4, 2024

How advisory board members are appointed, and for how long they serve, may change following a discussion about the continuity of the Highlands planning board and the zoning board on Thursday night.

Pictured is the newly amended site plan for the Cashiers East Village project.

East Village amendments proposed

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, April 4, 2024

You know what they say about the best laid plans. After having a special use permit approved in 2022, and undertaking more than a year of engineering work, representatives from the Kessler Collection decided to pivot.

Members of the Mountaintop Rotary Club and staff from the Highlands Emergency Council gathered on Thursday to collect the final coats for the 2024 coat drive. This year’s drive brought in nearly 3,000 cold weather clothing items.

Coat drive sets new record

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Mountaintop Rotary Club’s annual coat drive continued its record-setting tradition in 2024. The event brought in 2,976 individual clothing items, which marked a new record according to coat drive organizer Duncan Greenlee.

Brookings Anglers has added a new location on Cashiers Lake.

Brookings opens new location

News Staff

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Brookings Anglers has had a few weeks in their new location nestled on Cashiers Lake behind Cornucopia. The fly tying outdoor shop officially opened their Blue Line Bar last week. Blue Line Bar is a small wine and beer corner of the store with a handful of local taps and other domestic choices.

Highlands Festivals Inc. presented an economic impact study focused on Bear Shadow and Highlands Food and Wine to the town board on Thursday.

Turning festivals into funds

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Highlands’ two largest festivals generated more than $5 million in economic impact in 2023 according to a study conducted by Western Carolina University. Jack Austin, with Highlands Festivals Inc.

Highlands overcame a strong early defensive showing by Blue Ridge to claim a 4-0 victory on Monday night.

Highlands shuts out Blue Ridge

Ryan Hanchett

Thursday, March 21, 2024

On a day that could only be described as brutally cold, Highlands got its offense warmed up enough to take down Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference rival Blue Ridge on Monday night.