Regional

Library board addresses misinformation and controversy

News Staff

Thursday, August 7, 2025

The Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees voted to form a committee to address misinformation and public comments. The unanimous vote followed a discussion during the Aug. 5 board meeting about whether to respond to public comments.

A sizable crowd fills the Macon County Board of Health’s meeting room, where 15 community members spoke at a special meeting.

Public speaks out on Health Department

News Staff

Thursday, July 24, 2025

A public comment period at the Macon County Board of Health’s special meeting on July 17 saw 15 speakers comment on ongoing leadership struggles at the health department and the county commissioners’ recent proposal to bring the department under county control.

Ballots set for town election

News Staff

Thursday, July 24, 2025

The ballot has been set for the Town of Highlands election this fall. Filing for the 2025 election closed Friday, July 18. Incumbent town commissioners Amy Patterson and Eric Pierson are running unopposed. Mayor Patrick Taylor is running for re-election.

Sen. Kevin Corbin sponsored Senate Bill 124 and joined Gov. Josh Stein as he signed the bill into law.

Senate bill modernizes state hiring process

News Staff

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Senate Bill 124, sponsored by Senator Kevin Corbin, was signed into law as Session Law 2025-34 on July 1. This bipartisan legislation modernizes North Carolina’s state hiring process by removing unnecessary barriers and improving access to public service careers.

Macon County looks to extend alcohol sales

News Staff

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Sipping an adult beverage at a restaurant outside the Franklin city limits might be on the menu one day. County Commissioner Barry Breeden asked that the topic be added to the July 8 Board of Commissioners agenda and several residents spoke in favor of it during the public comment session.

The Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees

Library board discusses next steps

News Staff

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees shared a lengthy discussion about the kinds of policy and budget changes that the system will need to make as Jackson County undergoes the year-long process of withdrawing from the interlocal agreement it shares with Macon and Swain counties.

Matthew Eberz and Ricky Siegel work on sets for the upcoming run of the play “Social Security” staged by the Highlands Cashiers Players.

HCP to stage "Social Security"

News Staff

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Coming off the resounding success of the group’s first production of 2025, the Highlands Cashiers Players are set to present “Social Security,” a heartwarming comedy by Andrew Bergman, from May 15 – 18 and May 22 – 25 at the Martin Lipscomb Theater within the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

The popular Truckin’ event has been renamed “Smoke Signals” for the 2025 Highlands Food and Wine Festival.

Food and Wine ticket dates unveiled

News Staff

Thursday, May 8, 2025

One of the hottest tickets in the entire Southeast will once again become a sought-after commodity when passes for the annual Highlands Food and Wine Festival go on sale on June 10 and June 12. Highlands Food and Wine festival will return to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau from Nov.

The Prince House is at the center of the Highlands Historical Society’s grand opening celebration for 2025.

Highlands Historical Society prepping for anniversary year

News Staff

Thursday, May 8, 2025

With 2025 being a historic year in Highlands, the Highlands Historical Society is getting ready for a banner season. In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Highlands, the Historical Society will host its season opening event on Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historical Village.

David Moore and Darren Whatley recently made a $10 million legacy gift to Western Carolina University.

Highlands couple gives back to WCU

News Staff

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Moore and Darren Whatley place a lot of value on public education, having both attended public universities.