Local

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

News Staff
Thursday, December 7, 2023
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

News Staff
Thursday, December 7, 2023
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, December 7, 2023
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

News Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2023
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

News Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2023
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, November 30, 2023
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.
The Macon County commissioners will ask the state legislature to approve a new election process following a vote in November.

The Macon County commissioners will ask the state legislature to approve a new election process following a vote in November.

County commissioners change election process

News Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Two election related resolutions resulted in a heated back and forth between commissioners during the five-plus hour Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 14.   At-large commissioners approved Board Chair Paul Higdon championed a resolution to change commissioner representation.
County commissioner John Shearl called for county manager Derek Roland's resignation during an open meeting in November, to no avail.

County commissioner John Shearl called for county manager Derek Roland's resignation during an open meeting in November, to no avail.

Shearl calls for county manager's resignation

News Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023
The Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, lasted more than five hours and included multiple quarrels between commissioners, the crowd, and a call from one commissioner for the county manager to resign.
Photo by Ryan Hanchett Members of the Rotary Club of Highlands donated 25 turkeys for families in need prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Photo by Ryan Hanchett Members of the Rotary Club of Highlands donated 25 turkeys for families in need prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Season of giving underway for Rotary Clubs

Ryan Hanchett
Monday, November 27, 2023
The season of giving is underway and both of the Rotary Clubs that call Highlands home got into the act on Friday by partnering with the Highlands Emergency Council. Representatives from the Rotary Club of Highlands dropped off 25 turkeys for families in need ahead of Thanksgiving.
The Macon County EDC held their November meeting just as the Highlands Food and Wine Festival kicked off.

The Macon County EDC held their November meeting just as the Highlands Food and Wine Festival kicked off.

EDC gets update on Highlands tourism

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, November 16, 2023
On the opening night of Highlands’ biggest event of the year, the Macon County Economic Development Commission got a firsthand look at tourism in town.