News

The Highlands Planning Board made no recommendations regarding two possible regulations related to STRs.

The Highlands Planning Board made no recommendations regarding two possible regulations related to STRs.

Planning Board hears comments on STRs

Ryan Hanchett
Thursday, July 28, 2022
A packed house of concerned citizens welcomed the Highlands Planning Board on Monday night for the board’s July meeting. The lone agenda item under “new business” was public comment and discussion of two proposed options regarding the regulation of short term rental units in town limits.
The second annual Snow Fest at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park has been approved for January 2023.

The second annual Snow Fest at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park has been approved for January 2023.

Snow Fest renewed for 2023

News Staff
Thursday, July 28, 2022
The Highlands Chamber of Commerce is set to hold its second-ever Snow Fest in January after the Highlands Board of Commissioners approved the event. Kaye McHan, Highlands Chamber director, said they are expecting to hold the event a little differently than last year.

Firefighter dies in swimming accident

News Staff
Thursday, July 28, 2022
A Clark’s Chapel volunteer firefighter died Saturday evening while swimming at Secret Falls in Highlands. A Facebook post from the fire department said Joseph Orr, 25, of Franklin, died doing what he loved – enjoying the great outdoors.
Photo by Ryan Karcher Photography The full cast sings the finale song, “Heart Behind These Hands” from Brooklyn: The Musical at Mountain Theatre Company’s Spotlight Benefit Event.

Photo by Ryan Karcher Photography The full cast sings the finale song, “Heart Behind These Hands” from Brooklyn: The Musical at Mountain Theatre Company’s Spotlight Benefit Event.

Mountain Theatre Company hosts Spotlight event

News Staff
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Mountain Theatre Company at the Highlands Playhouse hosted their annual fundraising benefit event, Spotlight, on July 10, 2022, at Highlands Falls Country Club. They promoted this unique “Interactive Entertainment Benefit” as unlike any other, and the event sold out in only ten days.
Submitted Photo The event will be held on July 23 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will boast multiple kids activities, food, music, $10 rabies vaccinations, free nail trimmings and professional pet portraits by Marty Boone.

Submitted Photo The event will be held on July 23 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will boast multiple kids activities, food, music, $10 rabies vaccinations, free nail trimmings and professional pet portraits by Marty Boone.

CHHS to host open house celebrating 35th anniversary

News Staff
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Cashiers Highlands Humane Society and they’re inviting the community to come help them celebrate at the return of their annual open house event.
Photo by Kaylee Cook/Staff The farm was first opened in the 1970s by Pelham Thomas, a former math professor at Western Carolina University.

Photo by Kaylee Cook/Staff The farm was first opened in the 1970s by Pelham Thomas, a former math professor at Western Carolina University.

National Blueberry Month: Local ‘you-pick’ blueberry farm gearing up for busy season

News Staff
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
July is national blueberry month, and a Cullowhee based farm allows visitors the opportunity to pick their own berries while enjoying the peaceful landscape. Thomas Berry Farm is a ‘pick-your-own’ blueberry farm located at 78 Medallion Dr. in Cullowhee along the Tuckasegee River.
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.