Market economics not relevant to all our human endeavors
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist I had planned to call this commentary “Dirty Money.” I would begin by quoting Teddy…
Read More
It is past time for a new animal shelter
By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist Our current Haywood County Animal Shelter is overcrowded, outdated, and unsafe for staff and the…
Read More
Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits ... right
When I was growing up, it seemed that I spent most of my time at Mark Dozier’s place. Mark was…
Read More
Fortunately, the ‘ups’ outweigh the ‘downs’
Sometimes I forget why I love it so much. The truth is that newspaper work is partly satisfying, partly frustrating.…
Read More
Senate needs to do its constitutional duty
To the Editor: I understand that our Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is a member of the Senate Judiciary…
Read More
Sanders would be a refreshing change
To the Editor: Imagine, if only there was a viable candidate for President who for decades has spoken with honesty,…
Read More
Wording change on Statue of Liberty
To the Editor: I have recently learn was told that the wording on the base of the Statue of Liberty…
Read More
Love, marriage ... and a sharp paring knife
The other night I cut a skin tag off my husband’s face with a really sharp paring knife and some…
Read More
Apple or Uncle Sam? I don’t like my choices
Who you going to trust, Apple or Uncle Sam? By deciding not to obey a court order to unlock the…
Read More
An oddly familiar photo brings back memories
I hate having my picture taken. The simple truth is that I have found clever ways to avoid it for…
Read More
Who changed words on Statue of Liberty?
To the Editor: I have recently learned from a D.C. resident that the wording on the base of the Statue…
Read More
Time for a little torture, a la Trump?
Stephanie Wampler • Guest Columnist Good news, fellow citizens. It’s only a matter of time before we can all sleep easily,…
Read More
No reason to believe N.C. will fix redistricting mess
Maybe North Carolina will be a shining star of a state working to resolve petty partisanship, and maybe it won’t. …
Read More
Say goodbye to stripper boobs
“Out: so-called stripper boobs. In: a woman’s natural shape.” I read that sentence a couple of months ago in a…
Read More
We need more wilderness areas
To the Editor: Here are three reasons why we should designate more federal land as wilderness to protect it from…
Read More
Bond initiative would waste taxpayer money
To the Editor: Voters should vote AGAINST the $2 billion “Connect NC” bonds on the March 15 ballot. Gov. Pat…
Read More
Support Connect NC bond initiative
To the Editor: One of the greatest resources our state has is the University of North Carolina System with its…
Read More
Bottom line: State needs to do more for public schools
It’s a fundamental question and voters will be the ultimate arbiters: is North Carolina spending adequately on education? The short…
Read More
Haywood County Schools: Response from Rep. Michelle Presnell
Enrollment has fallen in Haywood County Schools every year since at least 2008, and Jimmy Rogers was on the school…
Read More
Self-esteemers having trouble with Panther loss
For some time, I have been worried that my children are not learning the coping skills they will need in…
Read More
WCU should stay away from Koch money, influence
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist In Sons of Wichita, Daniel Schulman relates a story about Charles Koch’s attempt to…
Read More
The diet of Lent is healthy
To the Editor: This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter, when many Christians abstain from…
Read More
Are women treated differently?
To the Editor: Have you ever heard of a man being fired for his “strong leadership style”? Ella Kliger Franklin
Read More
Atlas’ big smug shrug
By Ron Robinson • Guest Columnist The other day I attended a basketball game at Western Mountain University. I could not…
Read More
Let’s ease off the throttle on Central closing
By John Sanderson • Guest Columnist I have hesitated to make a comment about this issue, because I know personally…
Read More
We believe war is never the answer
To the Editor: Any who frequent Main Street Waynesville on Wednesday afternoons will know that a group calling ourselves Neighbors…
Read More
Lopez’s role in Koch gift, center is fair game
To the Editor: I would like the economics professors who wrote a letter in last week’s Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17086)…
Read More
Happiness now, not in the ever after
There was a time in my life where I thought being wild would lead to a sense of freedom and…
Read More
GOP policies to blame for Central closing
By Jimmy Rogers • Guest Columnist If Central Elementary in Waynesville is forced to close because of budget cuts and losing…
Read More
Colleagues dismayed at attacks on Lopez
To the Editor: We the undersigned, Western Carolina University’s economics faculty, wish to express support for our colleague Dr. Ed…
Read More
Consider spending more on our schools
To the Editor: Regarding the school district’s budget shortfall, rather than the proposed drastic reductions in the public schools programs…
Read More
Jonas swept in with a hammer-like hello
I was dreaming, I can’t say exactly what. It was that kind of dream you have that floats away like…
Read More
N.C.’s laws should be changed to provide accountability
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist People generally don’t care to hear how things are done better elsewhere, but there…
Read More
Voters will ultimately decide if firing was a mistake
Former county commissioner, mayor and longtime Haywood County political player/observer Mary Ann Enloe was dead on in her column last…
Read More
Believe it or not, fear can kill you
To the Editor: Startling new findings show that if you are a middle-aged white person, your life expectancy is dramatically…
Read More
Thankfully, we are about over Obama’s reign
To the Editor Closing the stable after the horse has bolted describes Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech last…
Read More
If it means reconnecting with my gypsy soul, I’m in
One Friday night in October my husband and I were dining at the bar at Frog’s Leap when I realized…
Read More
It’s a great plan, just work on the free throws
I was in my early twenties before I knew what I wanted to do with my life. My son, Jack,…
Read More
Proposed Koch gift to WCU a bad idea
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist The proposed $2 million gift from the Charles Koch Foundation to Western Carolina University…
Read More
Beware the politics of the anglerfish
To the Editor: The political season has kicked in full bore, and what we are about to witness is politics…
Read More
Let’s stand up to injustice, hatred, fear
To the Editor: The Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century brought about real positive change: the end of legalized…
Read More
Wilderness for all, all ways, always
To the Editor: Two happenings in the past 12 months led me to some end-of-the-year musings. The happenings were related,…
Read More
And the 2015 award winners are ...
The idea to start handing out annual spoof awards instead of the traditional year-in-review that most newspapers do was the…
Read More
Weather doesn’t trip up traditions
When we wake up on Christmas Eve, it is nearly 70 degrees and raining so hard that when our miniature…
Read More
Haywood just not prepared for growth
If there was ever a time in recent memory when Haywood County leaders and its citizens need reminding that they…
Read More
People of Franklin in good hands
To the Editor: Kudos to Bob Scott, mayor of Franklin, for his decision to take his oath of office on…
Read More
Roberts Burns Night a unique event
To the Editor: Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, is the only poet or musician that has a worldwide…
Read More
Forest plan does not need more wilderness
To the Editor: I vehemently oppose designating more wilderness areas within the Pisgah and Nantahala Forests. These lands are already…
Read More
Put aside Fry Street prejudices
To the Editor: I have been a proud employee of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) for nine years and an active…
Read More
I swear, it’s really much ado about nothing
Sometimes in the world of journalism, the story becomes more about the reaction than the original news event. By my…
Read More
