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With Highlands spending large amounts of money to bring people to town, the group said they are worried about the unintended consequence of inviting people to town but making them stay outside of the city limits if there are no short-term rentals available in town.

With Highlands spending large amounts of money to bring people to town, the group said they are worried about the unintended consequence of inviting people to town but making them stay outside of the city limits if there are no short-term rentals available in town.

Save Highlands conducts impact study of STRs

Highlander Editor
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
How much of an impact do short-term rentals make on the economy of Highlands? That is the question that has been asked since the beginning of the discussion of STR’s began last August, and has yet to be answered.
Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Commissioner Marc Hehn combs through the two UDO draft options.

Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Commissioner Marc Hehn combs through the two UDO draft options.

New drafts of UDO presented to Town

Highlander Editor
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Last Thursday, the Highlands Town Board of Commissioners were presented with two options of a Unified Development Ordinance draft proposed by their new attorney Bob Hagemann with Poyner Spruill.
Photo by The Wilson Times A Honda Odyssey van is vacuumed after gunfire shattered its back window at the Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson, NC.

Photo by The Wilson Times A Honda Odyssey van is vacuumed after gunfire shattered its back window at the Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson, NC.

Shooting at all-star game causes Franklin team to withdraw

News Staff
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Franklin’s All-Star Little League baseball team was on the field when shots were fired at the Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson on Sunday morning, July 10. “It was a shock to everyone,” said Scott Manshack, one of the team’s coaches.
Submitted Photo The show features a 12-person cast, including Highlands resident Emanuel Carrero as Frankie Valli, Gianni Palmarini as Tommy Devito, Sam Johnson as Nick Massi and John Mezzina Hannigan as Bob Gaudio.

Submitted Photo The show features a 12-person cast, including Highlands resident Emanuel Carrero as Frankie Valli, Gianni Palmarini as Tommy Devito, Sam Johnson as Nick Massi and John Mezzina Hannigan as Bob Gaudio.

‘Oh What a Night’: Mountain Theatre Company opens Jersey Boys

News Staff
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
The Highlands Playhouse celebrated their seasonal opening on Friday, July 1, with a showing of the award-winning musical, Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys, which was written in 2004, has a run time of just over two hours and details the formation, success and the break-up of 60s rock band The Four Seasons.
The Highlands Town Board of Commissioners will have a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m., at the Highlands Community Building to review proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance regarding short-term rentals.

The Highlands Town Board of Commissioners will have a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m., at the Highlands Community Building to review proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance regarding short-term rentals.

STR groups have differing opinions on compromise

Highlander Editor
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
With the end of the short-term rental situation in Highlands having no end in sight, last week Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor wrote in his weekly newspaper column asking groups in the community to come up with a proposal for compromise.
Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Chainsaw carver and owner of Extreme Sculpting, Chris Lantz, said his overall goal is to carve large pieces that houses are centered around.

Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Chainsaw carver and owner of Extreme Sculpting, Chris Lantz, said his overall goal is to carve large pieces that houses are centered around.

Rev up the saw: Lantz shares carving talent around Plateau, WNC, nation

Highlander Editor
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
13 years ago, Chris Lantz left his home with nothing but the clothes on his back, a twenty-dollar bill, a pack of cigarettes and a dream to become the best chainsaw carver in the world. A couple of days later, Lantz was homeless, sleeping in an onion cellar on two church pews.