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Students and faculty from Southwestern Community College did their part by volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at the Highlands Rec Center on Sunday.

Students and faculty from Southwestern Community College did their part by volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at the Highlands Rec Center on Sunday.

Honoring healthcare professionals

The Highlands Cashiers Plateau COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative continued its efforts to provide shots to members of the community on Sunday. The second-shot clinic at the Highlands Rec Center led to more than 300 people receiving their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
US64 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day from March 29 to April 16 so North Carolina Department of Transportation crews can repair a damaged drain pipe and eroded bank near Bridal Veil Falls. Traffic will be detoured to Buck Creek Road while the work is being completed.

US64 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day from March 29 to April 16 so North Carolina Department of Transportation crews can repair a damaged drain pipe and eroded bank near Bridal Veil Falls. Traffic will be detoured to Buck Creek Road while the work is being completed.

Emergency repairs scheduled

North Carolina Department of Transportation officials have decided to close a portion of US 64 near Bridal Veil Falls from March 29 to April 16 to do emergency road repairs. The highway will be completely closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A Town of Highlands sanitation crew picks up commercial trash along Oak Street on Wednesday morning.

A Town of Highlands sanitation crew picks up commercial trash along Oak Street on Wednesday morning.

Trash pickup rate increase proposed

 potential increase to the Town of Highlands monthly sanitation fees will be among the topics for discussion during the board of commissioners’ retreat on Thursday.
Macon County has confirmed five cases of rabies thus far in 2021, already the most cases in a single year since the NC Department of Health and Human Services began tracking the data in 1999.

Macon County has confirmed five cases of rabies thus far in 2021, already the most cases in a single year since the NC Department of Health and Human Services began tracking the data in 1999.

Fifth case of rabies raises concern

Macon County Animal Services has confirmed a fifth case of rabies following the examination of a raccoon that was deemed potentially rabid by a county resident last week. Animal services staff brought the raccoon back to the animal shelter where it was euthanized and sent for testing.
The Highlands Motoring Festival is gearing up for its 14th year with a four-day event scheduled for June 10-13.

The Highlands Motoring Festival is gearing up for its 14th year with a four-day event scheduled for June 10-13.

Summer events get green light

In hopes that COVID-19 case numbers will continue to decrease, organizers of several events are making plans to host their annual gatherings for 2021.
The Bear Shadow music festival is scheduled for April 23-25 at Winfield Farm in Scaly Mountain.

The Bear Shadow music festival is scheduled for April 23-25 at Winfield Farm in Scaly Mountain.

Bear Shadow moves to Winfield Farm

The Bear Shadow music festival has found a new home one month after voluntarily moving out of Horse Cove. Organizers unveiled a new plan to hold the “base camp” portion of the festival at Winfield Farm in Scaly Mountain.
As COVID-19 case numbers continue to trend downward, Mission Health has announced it is now allowing visitation at its hospitals.

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to trend downward, Mission Health has announced it is now allowing visitation at its hospitals.

Mission Health allowing visitation

With COVID-19 active case numbers declining across Western North Carolina and an increase in the number of citizens receiving the coronavirus vaccine, Mission Health has decided to begin allowing visitation at its hospital facilities. Visitation has been restricted since March of 2020.
Highlands School will host kindergarten registration for parents only on March 12.

Highlands School will host kindergarten registration for parents only on March 12.

Kindergarten registration set for March 12

Kindergarten registration is a special time for both parents and students. On March 12, kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year will begin, for parents only, at 10 a.m. in the Highlands School cafeteria. Children who reach the age of five on or before Aug.
Crews work to remove cement dividers from the intersection of NC 28 and Satulah Road. The area is scheduled to be resurfaced as part of a larger project covering Main Street and US 64 in Highlands.

Crews work to remove cement dividers from the intersection of NC 28 and Satulah Road. The area is scheduled to be resurfaced as part of a larger project covering Main Street and US 64 in Highlands.

Paving plan put into place

The final plans for paving Main Street in Highlands have come into focus as representatives from the NC Department of Transportation and Town of Highlands collaborated on a schedule.