Local

Recently elected Highlands town board members Brian Stiehler, John ‘Buz’ Dotson, and Jeff Weller were sworn in by Macon County Clerk of Court Shawna Lamb during the board’s monthly meeting on Thursday.

Recently elected Highlands town board members Brian Stiehler, John ‘Buz’ Dotson, and Jeff Weller were sworn in by Macon County Clerk of Court Shawna Lamb during the board’s monthly meeting on Thursday.

Changing of the guard

The Highlands Board of Commissioners underwent a slight changing of the guard on Thursday night as newly-elected Jeff Weller took his spot on the dais in place of departing commissioner Marc Hehn.
The staff at CHHS are stuffing stockings for shelter pets this holiday season.

The staff at CHHS are stuffing stockings for shelter pets this holiday season.

CHHS stuffs stockings for pets

The Cashiers Highlands Humane Society is hosting its seventh annual “Stuff the Stockings” event to benefit the more than 110 animals currently in the facility’s care.
Mountain Theatre Company’s “Home for the Holidays” is on stage now through Dec. 24 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

Mountain Theatre Company’s “Home for the Holidays” is on stage now through Dec. 24 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

Home for the Holidays in Highlands

Wherever you call home, Highlands has a winter remedy full of family fun. “Home For The Holidays,” the last Mountain Theatre Company production of the year, brings an inside look at holiday magic.
Members of the Mountain Garden Club have been performing a dance routine to kick of the Highlands Christmas Parade each year since 1998.

Members of the Mountain Garden Club have been performing a dance routine to kick of the Highlands Christmas Parade each year since 1998.

25 years of dancing in the street

This month’s Olde Christmas Parade marked a special silver anniversary for the dancing ladies of the Mountain Garden Club. This year marked 25 years of dancing in the annual parade, a tradition that has grown to a local favorite since 1998.
NC Sen. Kevin Corbin filed for re-election surrounded by family and friends on Monday.

NC Sen. Kevin Corbin filed for re-election surrounded by family and friends on Monday.

Election filing period opens for candidates

From county Soil and Water Conservation to county commissioners, state legislators and the presidency, the 2024 Election cycle officially begins with the candidate filing period Dec. 4-15. Candidates for local and state races started filing at noon on Monday, Dec.
The Macon County Board of Education voted to draft a resolution to keep its elections non-partisan during a recent meeting.

The Macon County Board of Education voted to draft a resolution to keep its elections non-partisan during a recent meeting.

School board officially opposes making elections partisan

All five Macon County Board of Education members decried a plan to make their elections partisan during its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 27, at East Franklin Elementary. Board Chair Jim Breedlove added the discussion to the agenda just before approval.
Photo by Ryan Hanchett/Staff Students from The Literacy and Learning Center in Highlands manned a reading themed float for the Olde Mountain Christmas Parade on Saturday in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Photo by Ryan Hanchett/Staff Students from The Literacy and Learning Center in Highlands manned a reading themed float for the Olde Mountain Christmas Parade on Saturday in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Parade brings smiles despite rain

Highlands’ Olde Mountain Christmas Parade took to Main Street on Saturday, and officially ushered in the holiday season with dozens of floats, marching bands, bagpipers and of course, the dancers from the garden club.
Representatives with the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau officially broke ground on the new teen center at the club’s campus in Cashiers.

Representatives with the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau officially broke ground on the new teen center at the club’s campus in Cashiers.

Boys and Girls Club breaks ground on teen center

Standing as a beacon of the future, a bright blue door faces northwest and looks to the gray sunset, an excavator and a ladder fire truck bearing the American flag behind it. In the future, this door will be the entrance to a new teen center.

Trumbly to retire from Highlands PAC

Mary Adair Trumbly, the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Center for the past 13 years, has announced plans to retire at the end of 2024. The PAC board of directors has begun the process of finding a highly qualified successor.
Highlands’ JD Head (4) looks for an open teammate between Andrews defenders during their basketball game on Tuesday night.

Highlands’ JD Head (4) looks for an open teammate between Andrews defenders during their basketball game on Tuesday night.

Highlands falls to Andrews on the hardwood

A fast start was stymied by a slow second quarter as Highlands dropped a 43-26 decision to Andrews in girls’ basketball on Tuesday night. Hunter Conner got the Lady Highlanders on the board first with an early free throw and the teams proceeded to trade baskets throughout a tight first quarter.