Opinion

Thank goodness for ill-timed rain

Thanksgiving may be over, but there is plenty to be thankful for in Highlands. Even some ill-timed rain. With a crippling drought in full effect, it was music to a lot of ears to hear raindrops falling on Friday night.

Mayor on Duty - 11.30.23

On election night, I went to a couple of parties for the candidates awaiting election results. Needless to say, these kinds of events can be exuberating for some candidates and very disappointing for others.

Homecoming a special weekend

There’s no place like home for the holidays. No, we aren’t going to break into an a’capella version of Perry Como’s classic Christmas song, but rather use the line to showcase all that Highlands has going on this weekend.

Mayor on Duty - 11.16.23

I wish I could say it’s over, but I can’t.  The drought and related restrictions on water use and outside burning remain in place.  The small amount of rain we got over the past weekend did nothing to alleviate the crisis except give firefighters a short period to recover and reset.

Another weekend packed with activity

What a weekend it was in Highlands. The annual Food and Wine Festival drew big crowds as guests made their way to Western North Carolina from all across the South. Every year the sights, sounds, and smells from the festival fill the town with all the best that the area has to offer.

HCA meeting has positive tone

If you’ve spent time on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, you may have heard praises aimed at the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.

Mayor on Duty - 11.9.23

Western North Carolina is in a severe drought that could continue for some time.  Early in the week town made a Stage 1 Water Use Reduction declaration.  On Tuesday, it was upgraded to a mandatory Stage 2.

Mayor on Duty - 11.2.23

Water is just barely going over the Lake Sequoyah Dam. Highlands has not had significant rain for some time, and I don’t see any in the immediate future. Are we in a drought period?  Yes, indeed, but we are not at a point where the mayor has to declare a water emergency or institute a burning band.

Complex problems, no easy fixes

Some problems have easy solutions. If a road is full of potholes, the town paves it. If the community building is in need of repairs, the town renovates it. But some problems require more in-depth thought to solve.

Mayor on Duty - 10.26.23

The decision on the addition of the Shelby sidewalk was finally made at the town board meeting last Thursday. The proposed sidewalk on NC 106 will not be located on the side of the road where the Shelby Place Homeowners Association land is situated.