Regional

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Teams participating in the Smoky Mountain Relay stopped for a free breakfast hosted by Cowee School volunteers. Each member of this team was from the Southeast, with members from Bryson City, Chattanooga, Nashville, Sylva and Asheville.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Teams participating in the Smoky Mountain Relay stopped for a free breakfast hosted by Cowee School volunteers. Each member of this team was from the Southeast, with members from Bryson City, Chattanooga, Nashville, Sylva and Asheville.

Smoky Mountain Relay stops at Cowee School

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
More than 573 runners passed through Macon County April 24-25 as part of the annual Smoky Mountain Relay from Brevard to Bryson City.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Bobby Bradley speaks about the importance of reducing light pollution for both humans and animals.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Bobby Bradley speaks about the importance of reducing light pollution for both humans and animals.

How to preserve the night sky

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Macon County has the potential to protect some of the darkest skies on the east coast — here are some of the things you can do to keep light pollution low.
Photo submitted - Macon County Veteran Services director Leigh Tabor (left) speaks with other veterans and veteran advocates at the Governor’s Institute on a panel to bring awareness to organizations and activities that can provide community and support to vets.

Photo submitted - Macon County Veteran Services director Leigh Tabor (left) speaks with other veterans and veteran advocates at the Governor’s Institute on a panel to bring awareness to organizations and activities that can provide community and support to vets.

Veterans Services director advocates for federal bills

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Macon County Veteran Services director Leigh Tabor has been busy lately, advocating for veterans at the local, state and federal level.  Tabor, who also serves as the president of the N.C.
Press photo/Shelby Powell. A helicopter crew brings in more water to support ground operations in fighting a forest fire in the Needmore area on Friday, April 3.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. A helicopter crew brings in more water to support ground operations in fighting a forest fire in the Needmore area on Friday, April 3.

Aircraft respond to wildfire

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
A wildfire spreading in the Needmore area started Thursday afternoon and kept burning over the weekend. Local firefighters and the North Carolina Forest Service fought the fire, staging at the intersection between Needmore Road and Wiggins Creek Road in Swain County.
Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt (left) and his fraternal twin brother Kellen perform “Girl Crush” on Braden’s initial audition performance on American Idol. Rumfelt has been a contestant on the 24th season of the popular talent program. Having made the top 20, he is entering the live voting portion of the season. The show airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.

Photo submitted. Braden Rumfelt (left) and his fraternal twin brother Kellen perform “Girl Crush” on Braden’s initial audition performance on American Idol. Rumfelt has been a contestant on the 24th season of the popular talent program. Having made the top 20, he is entering the live voting portion of the season. The show airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.

Murphy’s Rumfelt makes top 20 in American Idol

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Nicole Wright Staff Correspondent Cherokee Scout   Hollywood – Cherokee County has a vested interest in the latest season of “American Idol” with one its own onstage.
Press graphic

Press graphic

VA gives out free tablets

Shelby Powell
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Local veterans had the opportunity Friday to take home a free tablet by participating in a skills assessment conducted by the Asheville Veterans Affairs Hospital.  The event took place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Highlander photo/Mitch Stone - The FRL Board of Trustees met for their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Highlander photo/Mitch Stone - The FRL Board of Trustees met for their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Fontana Regional Board discusses interlocal agreement

News Staff
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Mitch Stone - reporter@highlandsnews.com  The Fontana Regional Library Board kicked off the new year addressing topics ranging from the 2024-25 audit to the interlocal agreement.  As the FRL board was meeting in Sylva on Jan.
Photo/ Ryan Gearhart - The stump dump fire can be seen smoldering following hours of firefighting on Jan. 1.

Photo/ Ryan Gearhart - The stump dump fire can be seen smoldering following hours of firefighting on Jan. 1.

About 1 million gallons of water used to contain Highlands fire

News Staff
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Mitch Stone - reporter@highlandsnews.com Highlands Fire and Rescue were alerted to a stump dump fire at the end of Wilson Gap Road at about 11:55 p.m. Dec. 31. After battling the fire for three days, crews left the scene around 3 a.m. Jan. 2, with the fire still smoldering but contained.
Press photo/Shelby Powell - Dr. John Walker explains the history of a white pine forest experiment that demonstrated the ability of forests to reduce streamflow and the tendency of pine forests to use more water than hardwood forests.

Press photo/Shelby Powell - Dr. John Walker explains the history of a white pine forest experiment that demonstrated the ability of forests to reduce streamflow and the tendency of pine forests to use more water than hardwood forests.

Coweeta Lab maintains Appalachian research legacy

Shelby Powell
Monday, December 22, 2025
Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory continues to serve as a premier facility for studying rainfall and watersheds in the mountains, its data made all the more relevant by Hurricane Helene.  Dr.