Opinion

Mayor on Duty - Effective policing about more than budget

In recent months there have been confrontations across the nation between police and citizens that bring into question how law enforcement officers should react in certain critical situations. It’s a complicated issue.

No time to relax COVID-19 practices

At some point in the future there will be a time to take a deep breath and look back at all of the ways that COVID-19 changed our daily lives. Right now is not that time.

Drive-thru job fair breaks from tradition

“I would not sit waiting for some vague tomorrow, nor for something to happen. One could wait a lifetime, and find nothing at the end of the waiting. I would begin here, I would make something happen.

Mayor on Duty - White goods pickup

Next week is the town’s annual white goods pickup.  From Monday, Oct. 5 to Friday, Oct. 9 town crews will pick up appliances  such as old washers, refrigerators and dishwashers and haul them to the landfill for proper disposal.

Events continue to adapt, improve

Highlands’ Halloween celebration on Main Street may be cancelled, but that does not mean Halloween itself is cancelled. On Thursday night Highlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kaye McHan notified the town board that the Chamber had decided to nix its annual Halloween bash.

Mayor on Duty - Meeting covers multiple topics

I had hoped we could do a hybrid town board meeting last Thursday night.  The plan was to Zoom the meeting and conduct an in person meeting following standard COVID-19 protocols.   There were technical glitches that I had not anticipated. I take responsibility for not foreseeing the problems.

Mayor on Duty - Board has full slate for September meeting

The September meeting of the Highlands Town Board is tonight at 7 p.m. It is a hybrid meeting so to speak, in that it will be both a Zoom and in person meeting.  The Zoom log on information is posted on the town website.

Reach out to keep seniors in contact

While everyone is encouraged to stay at least six feet apart during the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, there is still something to be said for human contact and basic interaction.

Mayor on Duty - Water and Sewer decisions loom large for decades

I got up late on Labor Day, had my cup of coffee, and perused the morning news. I also caught up on my email and saw the Highlands Chamber announcement that Highlands had made the Southern Living list of the most desirable small towns for retirement.

Wild weather year rolls toward fall

No, it was not your imagination. Thermometers across the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau did officially dip into the 40’s on Sunday and Monday mornings.