News

Submitted photo - Carmen Waite, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, stands beside Caroline Cox, Programs Director of The Literacy & Learning Council, after both spoke about early childhood care at a Highlands Chamber chat.

Submitted photo - Carmen Waite, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, stands beside Caroline Cox, Programs Director of The Literacy & Learning Council, after both spoke about early childhood care at a Highlands Chamber chat.

Chamber discusses child care needs

News Staff
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
By Nick Childs - reporter@highlandsnews.com The Highlands Chamber of Commerce hosted speakers from the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau and The Literacy & Learning Center last week to discuss the ongoing childcare needs in Highlands.
State government officials present a check for $62 million to the Macon County Board of Education on Tuesday.

State government officials present a check for $62 million to the Macon County Board of Education on Tuesday.

County receives $62 million grant for high school project

News Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
A presentation turned into a surprise midday Tuesday as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt presented Macon County and Macon County Schools with a grant for $62 million to build a new Franklin High School.
The January meeting of the Highlands Board of Commissioners covered a wide variety of topics.

The January meeting of the Highlands Board of Commissioners covered a wide variety of topics.

Commissioners discuss water plant upgrades

News Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Highlands commissioners held their first meeting of the year last week. As has been tradition for the past few months, it was preceded by a workshop. Most notable at the workshop was discussion on the water treatment plant.
SnowFest, presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, will take over Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Saturday and Sunday.

SnowFest, presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, will take over Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Saturday and Sunday.

SnowFest brings winter wonder

News Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
While frigid temperatures brought winter fears, Highlanders and visitors can look forward to some frosty fun this weekend. SnowFest will fall in Highlands Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kelsey Hutchinson Park. The best part? The event is free, and ice skating is $5.
Steve and Janet Sweimler at Mesa Verde in Colorado, where they enjoyed learning about the communities the Ancestral Pueblo people built on the mesas and in the cliffs over a period of 700 years.

Steve and Janet Sweimler at Mesa Verde in Colorado, where they enjoyed learning about the communities the Ancestral Pueblo people built on the mesas and in the cliffs over a period of 700 years.

Otto couple visits every National Park

News Staff
Thursday, January 18, 2024
An Otto couple has wrapped up a journey that started 11 years ago when they set a goal to visit all the National Parks. Steve Sweimler achieved that milestone when they visited American Samoa in October. Janet still has one park left to visit – Petrified Forest in Arizona.
Jim Paul Hogg, of Glenville, was killed in a head-on collision near the intersection of NC107 and Three Ponds Road in Cashiers.

Jim Paul Hogg, of Glenville, was killed in a head-on collision near the intersection of NC107 and Three Ponds Road in Cashiers.

Glenville man killed in wreck

News Staff
Thursday, January 18, 2024
A head-on collision resulting in one death occurred just after 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Jim Hogg Paul, 78, of Glenville was in the left passing lane heading south on NC 107 when he was struck and killed by Aubrey Eugene Holley III, 21, of Sylva. Holley illegally passed another north-bound vehicle.
NC Department of Transportation crews assess 80-feet of washed out shoulder along US 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge.

NC Department of Transportation crews assess 80-feet of washed out shoulder along US 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge.

Gorge Road repairs expected to last until end of January

News Staff
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Eighty feet of embankment damage to U.S. 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge has ripple effects through Macon County as a major artery from Franklin to Highlands is closed for the rest of the month. The washout under a section of U.S. 64/Highlands Road near Cullasaja Falls occurred midday on Tuesday, Jan.
Amythyst Kiah performed during the 2023 Bear Shadow Festival at Winfield Farm. The 2024 music lineup was announced on Tuesday.

Amythyst Kiah performed during the 2023 Bear Shadow Festival at Winfield Farm. The 2024 music lineup was announced on Tuesday.

Bear Shadow unveils 2024 lineup

News Staff
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Highlands Festivals, Inc. has made public the music lineup for the 4th annual Bear Shadow spring music festival, set to be held May 11-12, 2024 in Scaly Mountain. The two-day festival will feature headlining performances by seven-time Grammy-nominated duo Black Pumas and JJ Grey & Mofro.
Highlands PD saw a decrease in nearly all categories of crime in 2023.

Highlands PD saw a decrease in nearly all categories of crime in 2023.

Statistics show crime decrease in 2023, fire call increase

News Staff
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Highlands’ first responders shared statistics from 2023. While overall crime was lower on the police front, the fire department responded to more calls than in 2022. Highlanders may be reassured to know overall crime statistics were down in 2023.