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On Sept. 3, the attorneys representing the opposing group sent a letter to Highlands town manager Josh Ward and Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor requesting several documents, meeting minutes from past meetings and conversations between the Town, Mayor, commissioners, planning board members and attorneys in regard to short or long term rentals in town.

On Sept. 3, the attorneys representing the opposing group sent a letter to Highlands town manager Josh Ward and Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor requesting several documents, meeting minutes from past meetings and conversations between the Town, Mayor, commissioners, planning board members and attorneys in regard to short or long term rentals in town.

Town attorney releases statement on STR's, opposing group attorneys send letter requesting documents

Highlander Editor
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
In a special called meeting on Aug. 24, the Town of Highlands Board of Commissioners reached a verbal consensus to enforce all its residential ordinances, which bans short term rentals in R-1.
Both the Dahlia Festival and the Dahlia Show are free and are outdoors socially distanced events.

Both the Dahlia Festival and the Dahlia Show are free and are outdoors socially distanced events.

Dahlia Festival set for next weekend

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Highlands Historical Society’s 11th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday Sept. 11-12, from 10 a.m., to 5 p.m., all around Highlands. The 11th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Show will be held Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Bascom, from 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School welcomed the 2021-2022 school year on Aug. 25 and officially opened its Early Learning Center with PreK3. Pictured, PreK3 student Emery Selness, of Highlands, enjoys the playground.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School welcomed the 2021-2022 school year on Aug. 25 and officially opened its Early Learning Center with PreK3. Pictured, PreK3 student Emery Selness, of Highlands, enjoys the playground.

Rabun Gap opens school year with record enrollment

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School started the first day of the 2021-2022 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 25, ushering in a historic year with record enrollment and a new Early Learning Center.
Full Circle is set to take the stage Sept. 11, at 6 p.m., at Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park.

Full Circle is set to take the stage Sept. 11, at 6 p.m., at Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park.

Full Circle set to take stage at Saturdays on Pine

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
A group of Suwanee, Ga., musicians are ready to take the stage in Highlands for Saturdays on Pine. 20 years ago, Full Circle began playing together during church and decided to form a band.
Photo by Christopher Smith/Staff First Citizens Bank and Old Edwards contributed $5,000 each for the new scoreboard.

Photo by Christopher Smith/Staff First Citizens Bank and Old Edwards contributed $5,000 each for the new scoreboard.

New scoreboard at HHS

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
The Highlands School soccer teams will now be able to keep time and score better with a new scoreboard that was installed last week. “This means everything to the soccer teams,” HHS athletic director Brett Lamb said. “We were having trouble with the other one.
According to a statement from the Highlands Police Department, Robert Baty and Richard Errington got into a verbal argument outside of 4118 Kitchen + Bar

According to a statement from the Highlands Police Department, Robert Baty and Richard Errington got into a verbal argument outside of 4118 Kitchen + Bar

Highlands police make arrest in assault case

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Two men have been charged in connection with a fight that occurred outside of 4118 Kitchen + Bar on the night of Wednesday, Aug. 25. According to a statement from the Highlands Police Department, Robert Baty and Richard Errington got into a verbal argument outside of the business.
Chris Byrd was happy to receive his booster Covid vaccine shot, thanks to Jack Appel one of the many volunteers.

Chris Byrd was happy to receive his booster Covid vaccine shot, thanks to Jack Appel one of the many volunteers.

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau Vaccine Initiative hosts vaccine clinic

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau Vaccine Initiative held a vaccine clinic on Saturday and Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor said it exceeded expectations. “I was talking to Tom Neal about a week ago and we thought that it would be a small group of people,” Taylor said.
A group of citizens started a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees to fight back against the town's decision to enforce an original ordinance that bans short-term rentals in zones R-1, R-2 and R-3.

A group of citizens started a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees to fight back against the town's decision to enforce an original ordinance that bans short-term rentals in zones R-1, R-2 and R-3.

Group of citizens band together to raise money for legal fees following the towns decision on STR’s

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
At a special called Board of Commissioners meeting, the board verbally agreed to start enforcing its current zoning ordinance, not allowing short term rentals in zones R-1, R-2 and R-3, starting Jan. 3, 2022.
The need for a mask will be required as long as test positivity rate in the “RED” category per the CDC. The need for mask will be reevaluated weekly.

The need for a mask will be required as long as test positivity rate in the “RED” category per the CDC. The need for mask will be reevaluated weekly.

Commissioners vote to reinstate town-wide mask mandate

Highlander Editor
Thursday, September 2, 2021
At a special meeting, Friday, Aug. 27, the Highlands town board passed an order reinstating the wearing of masks in all business zones, in both inside and outdoor spaces. There are no inside capacity limits as a part of this order.