Phil Drake, chief executive officer of Drake Enterprises, and Kenny Messer, an executive with Milliken Corp., are the two newest members of the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors elected Drake, of Franklin, and Messer, of Greenville, S.C., to four-year terms on the WCU board. The UNC system governing body also re-appointed current trustees Edward Broadwell Jr. of Asheville, retiring in November as chairman and CEO of Home Trust Bank, and Southern Pines businessman George Little to four-year terms.

The appointments, effective July 1, are contingent on submission of statements of economic interest and vetting by the State Ethics Board. The UNC board is scheduled to confirm the appointments at its June meeting.

Macon County began the year with one less magistrate than it has had in past years. The 2011-2012 budget put in place a variety of cuts across the board in North Carolina and as a result, Highlands is without a magistrate for the first time in 30 years.

The Town of Highlands may get a reprieve in next year’s budget if Gov. Pat McCrory gets his way. In the budget that he has presented to the N.C. General Assembly, he has included language to restore positions to many of the rural areas in the state.

When asked about the 2013-2015 biennial budget, the Hon. John W. Smith, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, stated that the AOC will be asking for the restoration of 28 magistrate positions statewide, news Macon County officials were happy to hear.

The Macon County Planning Board gathered last Thursday to discuss the current floodplain ordinance that was established in 2008. Of particular note was the no-fill portion of the ordinance that states that no dirt may be used to fill in land that is located in the floodplain.

By definition, a floodplain acts as a reservoir. Its function is to provide land and space for floodwaters to slow down. FEMA allows the use of fill in a floodplain. though the county has stricter reegulations.

The North Carolina National Guard's 210th Military Police Company hosted a mobilization ceremony yesterday at Southwestern Community College's Sylva campus.

More than 25 soldiers will be deploying to Afghanistan to provide security and enforcement operations for military bases.

The North Carolina National Guard's 210th Military Police Company hosted a mobilization ceremony yesterday at Southwestern Community College's Sylva campus.