In the end, Haywood leaders make the right call
Hindsight is indeed 20-20, and this time Haywood County commissioners very likely saw things exactly as they should have. The…
Read More
Pisgah High Millennials ready to voice their opinions
Somewhere at this very moment, a political science major is writing a dissertation on why young people these days are…
Read More
Some capitalism not so admirable
To the Editor: In 2008, the CEO of BBT, John Allison, gave $1 million to Western Carolina University. Some have…
Read More
Don’t succumb to fears in Beaverdam
To the Editor: I would like to elaborate on the comments I made at the hearing on Oct. 19 on…
Read More
Duke profits take precedence over state’s public interest
By Avram Friedman • Guest Columnist By proposing to replace its Lake Julian coal plant in Asheville with a new…
Read More
Steep slope protections a very real economic incentive
Jackson County commissioners are going to pass a smart steep slope ordinance that will help as this region shakes off…
Read More
Little-known Cherokee history, from the archives
When I used to work for the Cherokees, there were occasions when there was little to do. When that happened,…
Read More
Reelected Hamlet, Mull to Canton board
To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for Ralph Hamlett and Gail Mull for Canton aldermen. …
Read More
Waynesville needs Mayor Gavin Brown back in office
I sincerely hope Waynesville citizens support Mayor Gavin Brown for reelection. Municipal elections carry more import than most people realize.…
Read More
Rep. Mark Meadows not a worthy congressman
To the Editor: Politics is often described as the art of the possible. The recent resignation of Rep. John Boehner,…
Read More
Signed letters better than mystery ads
To the Editor: Letters to the editor in a newspaper illustrate the highest tradition of a free press. Letters represent…
Read More
Letter writer was wrong about Republicans
To the Editor: A recent letter writer has gone over the top with the surreal allegation that the Republican Party…
Read More
War on men evidently is going strong
To the Editor: Seventeen pages of your Oct. 7 issue (including the cover) were dedicated to “Women in Business,” more…
Read More
Corporate charm rebuttal misses mark
To the Editor: The BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at WCU has responded to my letter regarding BB&T bank’s practice…
Read More
Support Gavin Brown for Waynesville mayor
To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for the re-election of Gavin Brown as mayor for Waynesville.…
Read More
Raymond Fairchild recognition long overdue
To the Editor: Congratulations to legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild for his induction into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and…
Read More
Pisgah-Tuscola rivalry is as good as it gets
When my daughter, who is a freshman this year at Tuscola High School, made the Color Guard this summer, the…
Read More
Former park biologist honored for conservation
Kim DeLozier, conservation program manager for the eastern U.S. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, won the title of Wildlife Conservationist of…
Read More
In search of the uplifting and the ephemeral
“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point,…
Read More
Waynesville library slipping in quality
To the Editor: When I moved to Waynesville in 1987 the library was the pride of the mountains. It was…
Read More
The ugly truth about tribal politics
To the Editor: As the tribal elections drew closer and closer, it became fairly obvious early on that Patrick Lambert…
Read More
Free enterprise gives people the freedom to flourish
In his Oct. 7 letter to the editor, Franklin political activist Dan Kowal cautioned readers not to “buy the corporate…
Read More
America’s ‘culture of me’ has got to change
If we are ever going to have any hope of stemming the bloody tide of mass shootings — which happens…
Read More
Help children stay warm with clothing donation
To the Editor: October is the last month for donations to the 2015 Coats for Kids of Jackson County Coat…
Read More
Don’t buy the corporate charm offensive
To the Editor: This week we’ve heard from the BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at Western Carolina University, hyping the…
Read More
Legislature pushes state into a freefall to the right
Just a few more dollars, that’s all. When you get your car fixed or a new dishwasher installed, now you’ll…
Read More
Let’s avert another shutdown
To the Editor: If Congress fails to reach a federal budget resolution by midnight, September 30, the Great Smoky Mountains…
Read More
GOP has too many contradictory views
To the Editor: I am not much of a religious scholar, but I did have 16 years of excellent Catholic education.…
Read More
Telling Washington just what we will do
To the Editor: Tried to take a nap but couldn’t get my mind off of some of the enormous problems…
Read More
Skip the theatrics and let’s debate issues
To the Editor: Recent letters have presented opposing views on the future funding for Planned Parenthood. Some are based on…
Read More
Valuing the process more than the outcome
This is one tradition that could just die and I don’t think many will care. I’m talking about the recently…
Read More
Asheville baristas’ behavior a sad commentary
I had never heard of “The Red Pill Theory” or the “manosphere” until I saw references to them in the…
Read More
Smart action on cell towers in Jackson
By Craig Pendergrast • Guest Columnist I am writing to applaud the Jackson County commissioners for recently completing a difficult re-write…
Read More
Community needs supporters to step up
To the Editor: This past weekend I had the privilege of working beside my fellow students and colleagues in an…
Read More
When faith and government collide
To the Editor: In Rowan County, Kentucky, Kim Davis has been ordered to jail for contempt of court. Her confinement…
Read More
Canton can rebrand itself, but it won’t be easy
With the right leadership, it can happen. If the national and regional economy continues chugging along for another few years…
Read More
Friday night lights still shining bright
“So, you’re a band parent, huh? Boy, is your life about to change.” My wife and I heard that a…
Read More
A bag of stories and an oil can
By John Beckman • Guest Columnist Forty-two years ago a very interesting man moved into the broken, haunted brick mansion two…
Read More
Despite Sanders’ rhetoric, nothing is free
To the Editor: Such a nice man, this Bernie Sanders, we just love him, he just wants to help everyone!…
Read More
Tourism figures point to a post-recession recovery
Recently released figures on the impact of tourism in Western North Carolina are encouraging. More visitors are spending more money,…
Read More
Lawmakers simply need to do more for education
Editor’s note: The following letter was recently sent to all members of the North Carolina General Assembly As students and…
Read More
We need more veggie options in schools
To the Editor: With the new school year just starting, parents’ attention is on school clothes, supplies and lunches. Yes,…
Read More
Sanders has unique vision for U.S.A.
To the Editor: Like many across America, I’ve become very tired of politicians of both parties talking out of both…
Read More
This is one ride I’m not gonna miss
Some of them arrive four or five days early, packed up and just sitting there on the Haywood County Fairgrounds…
Read More
Macon citizens want to help the homeless
To the Editor: Thank you Macon County. It was truly humbling to see the community turnout for the Homeless Symposium.…
Read More
You can choose your own worldview
To the Editor: I am a human being, a member of a family, an American, and a Democrat, in that…
Read More
Trump may be best choice for president
To the Editor: Traditionally, Americans have sent lawyers to congressional offices in Washington. The assumption was that they would be…
Read More
My ‘year of lasts’ is officially underway
I was watching my son’s soccer game last night and the old Al Stewart tune, “Time Passages,” kept running through…
Read More
Shining Rock was not prepared for hearing
To the Editor: The August 17 Town of Waynesville Planning Board meeting provided first-time meeting participants a crash course in…
Read More
Don’t mix faith with government
To the Editor: In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm gave us this valuable observation. He wrote, “Because of the fact…
Read More