News

Visitors on their way to Dry Falls can now purchase day passes online, or via their smartphone, through www.recreation.gov.

Visitors on their way to Dry Falls can now purchase day passes online, or via their smartphone, through www.recreation.gov.

USFS day passes now available online

News Staff
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Visitors to the Nantahala, Pisgah and Croatan National Forests will have a convenient new way to pay day-use fees at nine recreation areas. Visitors also have the option to purchase annual passes for most of these areas.
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 11, 2021
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 11, 2021
 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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 11, 2021
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 US Forest Service will be conducting several prescribed burns across WNC in coming weeks.

The US Forest Service will be conducting several prescribed burns across WNC in coming weeks.

Prescribed burns scheduled for Macon, Jackson counties

News Staff
Thursday, March 11, 2021
The US Forest Service is planning 10 prescribed burns on the Nantahala Ranger District in Macon and Jackson counties in the coming months to reduce the risk of wildfires.
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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

News Staff
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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.