News

Over the past decade, the Highlands Food and Wine Festival has become one of the biggest events of the fall. The 2020 installment of the festival, originally scheduled for Nov. 12-15, has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past decade, the Highlands Food and Wine Festival has become one of the biggest events of the fall. The 2020 installment of the festival, originally scheduled for Nov. 12-15, has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Food and Win off the table

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 27, 2020
One of Highlands’ biggest events will not take place in 2020. Organizers of the Highlands Food and Wine Festival informed the town board of commissioners on Thursday night that the event scheduled for Nov. 12-14 has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Students and parents are advised to read and respond to the COVID-19 checklist prior to entering Highlands School each day.

Students and parents are advised to read and respond to the COVID-19 checklist prior to entering Highlands School each day.

Macon County closes four schools

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Macon County is hitting the reset button on in-person student instruction at four of its schools following action by the board of education on Monday night.

Labor Day fireworks pushed back

Dan Brown
Thursday, August 27, 2020
The already postponed Fourth of July fireworks rescheduled for Labor Day, have been postponed again due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
NCDOT crews will replace a culvert across NC106 on Aug. 30-31.

NCDOT crews will replace a culvert across NC106 on Aug. 30-31.

Culvert replacement to close NC106

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 27, 2020
The busiest route into and out of Highlands will be closed from 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30 until approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31.
Two Macon County departments have sent employees home to quarantine due to COVID-19 in the past week.

Two Macon County departments have sent employees home to quarantine due to COVID-19 in the past week.

COVID-19 hits two county departments

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Officials with a pair of Macon County public service departments confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 among employees on Monday. Macon County Emergency Services Coordinator Warren Cabe notified the public that two EMS employees tested positive and have been sent home to self-isolate.
Highlands School administrators and staff members greeted elementary school students outside on Monday for the first day of in-person classes during the 2020-21 school year.

Highlands School administrators and staff members greeted elementary school students outside on Monday for the first day of in-person classes during the 2020-21 school year.

Highlands goes back to school

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Smiles may have been hidden by face coverings at Highlands School on Monday morning, but the enthusiasm of teachers, students and parents shined through as the school welcomed pupils for the first day of the 2020-21 school year.
Firefighters were on scene at 275 Foreman Road for more than three hours on Friday morning fighting a blaze that totaled the structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Firefighters were on scene at 275 Foreman Road for more than three hours on Friday morning fighting a blaze that totaled the structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Foreman Road home destroyed by fire

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Fire leveled a home on Foreman Road in the early hours of Friday morning and required response from multiple fire departments as crews worked to get the blaze under control. According to the Macon County 911 computer aided dispatch report, a neighbor called in the fire at 4:38 a.m.
Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor is encouraging all Macon County residents to fill out the 2020 census.

Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor is encouraging all Macon County residents to fill out the 2020 census.

Census participation lagging across WNC

Dan Brown
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Macon County has a problem with its census, and the problem is not everyone is responding.
Macon County Public Health has confirmed an employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

Macon County Public Health has confirmed an employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

MCPH employee tests positive for COVID-19

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Macon County Public Health officials confirmed that a public health employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. According to MCPH Director Kathy McGaha, the employee has been sent home to self-isolate and is doing well.