A lot has been going on in the Highland community, but I’ve had to put my research on hold as I deal with chronic pain. Doctor visits have taken up a lot of my time and money! In short, here’s what’s going on in the community.

Municipal Elections. Walker Reid is renewing his bid for mayor, running on a record of improving relations with businesses and local governments. He is being challenged by Leonard Geter, a vocal black resident mentioned in my post about the Confederate monument, and Kim Price, a retired banker. Two Highland natives–Donyel Barber and Charles Odom–are running for city council (Donyel is running in Ward 6, outside of Highland). If they both win, the city would have more than one black councilmember for the first time in history.

Law and Order. On July 14, a Gaston County Sheriff’s deputy chased a drunk driver onto a small Highland street. One or the other struck two men standing in their front yards, killing one. The drunk driver was charged with the death, but witnesses and the wider community remain skeptical. Tensions were high at a community meeting that brought few answers. As I talked about in this post, Highland residents have always felt resentment toward local police, even though the Sheriff is a long-time Democrat. The state has taken over the investigation.

I will continue my series about How Highland Lost Its Land in the coming months.

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