News

Snow Fest, presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, filled Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park with visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

Snow Fest, presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, filled Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park with visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

Snow Fest shines in year two

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Bigger and better. That was the goal of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands NC when planning got underway for the second annual Snow Fest at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. As Saturday and Sunday showed, the festival was a “mission accomplished.
Election workers test equipment during a simulation.

Election workers test equipment during a simulation.

No equipment issues during election simulation

News Staff
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Macon County’s first wholesale election hardware change in nearly two decades passed its big test last week. The election simulation with the HART Verity Touch Writer ballot counters was originally scheduled to take up to three days starting Jan. 25.
The 2023-24 school calendars for Highlands and Franklin were unveiled Monday night.

The 2023-24 school calendars for Highlands and Franklin were unveiled Monday night.

Board of Education approves 2023-24 calendars

News Staff
Thursday, January 26, 2023
A first semester ending days before Christmas, spring break the first week of April and a start date complying with state law are some parts of the 2023-24 Franklin area and Highlands school calendars unanimously approved by the Macon County Board of Education on Monday night.
Broken water pipes in the ceiling caused damage throughout the Peggy Crosby Center and the Literacy and Learning Center.

Broken water pipes in the ceiling caused damage throughout the Peggy Crosby Center and the Literacy and Learning Center.

Nonprofits dealing with flooding effects

News Staff
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Multiple Highlands locations are temporarily closed due to water damage caused by broken pipes, these locations include the Literacy and Learning Center and the Peggy Crosby Center which houses multiple community organizations such as the International Friendship Center, the Counseling Center of...
The Highlands ice skating rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park is in the midst of what may be its busiest season ever.

The Highlands ice skating rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park is in the midst of what may be its busiest season ever.

Perfect winter conditions create demand for recreational activities

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Highlands has its fair share of recreational resources for a small town. One item that has become a critical part of the winter in Highlands is the outdoor ice rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Now in its eighth season, the rink’s humble beginnings are a thing of the past.
The Placemakers Academy is accepting registrations for the annual Winter Garden Design Immersion Workshop, which will begin on Jan. 19.

The Placemakers Academy is accepting registrations for the annual Winter Garden Design Immersion Workshop, which will begin on Jan. 19.

Placemakers Academy seeking students

News Staff
Thursday, January 12, 2023
The Placemakers Academy officially opened registration for their third annual Winter Garden Design Immersion Workshop for 2023. Award-winning landscape architect and author Mary Palmer Dargan and academy co-founder and assistant instructor Arielle McIntyre lead the course each year.
Members of the Mountaintop Rotary Club dropped off coats to the Highlands Emergency Council as part of the club’s ongoing coat and toy drive. Since the coat drive began in November, more than 700 coats have been collected, cleaned, and distributed to those in need.

Members of the Mountaintop Rotary Club dropped off coats to the Highlands Emergency Council as part of the club’s ongoing coat and toy drive. Since the coat drive began in November, more than 700 coats have been collected, cleaned, and distributed to those in need.

Coat drive seeing record demand

News Staff
Thursday, January 5, 2023
The Highlands Emergency Council and the Mountaintop Rotary Club held their annual toy and coat drives to ensure that everyone in the Highlands community stays warm throughout the winter season.
The Macon County Sheriff's Office is investigating a death on Walnut Creek Road on Jan. 1.

The Macon County Sheriff's Office is investigating a death on Walnut Creek Road on Jan. 1.

Ongoing dispute leads to New Year's Day death

News Staff
Thursday, January 5, 2023
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Franklin man on Jan. 1. Deputies were dispatched at about 12 p.m. to a residence in the Walnut Creek area following a 911 call that had been placed in reference to a dispute that was ongoing, according to the MCSO.
Bridal Veil Falls provided a frozen souvenir for a young visitor on Saturday. Temperatures in the single digits and wind chills below zero hit Highlands during the holiday weekend.

Bridal Veil Falls provided a frozen souvenir for a young visitor on Saturday. Temperatures in the single digits and wind chills below zero hit Highlands during the holiday weekend.

Feeling the Christmas freeze

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, December 29, 2022
It took a while for winter to come to Highlands, but near record low temperatures ushered in the Christmas holiday. Many residents found themselves stuck at home on Friday morning following a period of freezing rain late Thursday that was covered by a dusting of snow.