There’s cool ... and then there’s Glenda cool
 

There’s cool ... and then there’s Glenda cool

Her name was Glenda. She was a senior and one of the more popular girls in school, a volleyball star…
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Say no to those who support fracking
 

Say no to those who support fracking

To the Editor: Fracking is a contentious and potentially disastrous environmental and social issue heading for North Carolina and possibly…
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Surveys reveal serious climate change issues
 

Surveys reveal serious climate change issues

To the Editor: On Sept. 9 the National Audubon Society released the results of several years’ worth of studies that…
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Elect Tom Hill to replace Rep. Meadows
 

Elect Tom Hill to replace Rep. Meadows

To the Editor: I generally find that when I cast a ballot for anyone in a national election, I’ve voting…
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Hipps will help state ban fracking
 

Hipps will help state ban fracking

To the Editor: Jane Hipps wants fracking banned in North Carolina. Her opponent, state Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, is a…
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Sen. Jim Davis dancing on a beach ball
 

Sen. Jim Davis dancing on a beach ball

To the Editor: It seems that state Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, has found his beach ball, and it’s called fracking.…
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Anti-fracking crowd is just wrong
 

Anti-fracking crowd is just wrong

To the Editor: Vic Drummond has written several times about the silliness of the anti-fracking group, and I would have…
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Comment

What does Webster hope to achieve with planning initiative?
 

What does Webster hope to achieve with planning initiative?

To the Editor: I read the news that Webster had obtained a planning grant with mixed emotions. Local planning is…
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Tillis out of step on birth control issue
 

Tillis out of step on birth control issue

To the Editor: Thom Tillis is one slick fellow. During his debate with Sen. Kay Hagan last Wednesday, he slithered…
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Evergreen paper and the fracking debate
 

Evergreen paper and the fracking debate

By Avram Friedman Last year Becky Johnson of The Smoky Mountain News interviewed me about Evergreen Packaging’s plans to convert…
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Beer town bragging rights go west of Asheville
 

Beer town bragging rights go west of Asheville

I heard about this story from the Facebook crowd, so I imagine some of you have already read it. There…
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GOP has not kept its promises
 

GOP has not kept its promises

To the Editor: How can you tell if a politician is lying .... his lips are moving. It’s an old joke;…
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PETA got it right at Osborne Farm
 

PETA got it right at Osborne Farm

To the Editor: As one who blew the whistle on Osborne Farm Inc., I can attest that PETA’s footage shows…
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Celebrating this region’s culture part of our identity
 

Celebrating this region’s culture part of our identity

Anyone who reads The Smoky Mountain News regularly knows we emphasize in-depth, investigative stories when that’s what is called for…
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The chronic complainers will never change
 

The chronic complainers will never change

Some people complain all the time, about everything. They complain about the weather, the price of gasoline, their neglectful friends,…
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When should government help private industry?
 

When should government help private industry?

“Government’s job is NOT to fund private industry!” “Shouldn’t the mill pay to keep themselves up to par as far…
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Our leaders are noticeably absent
 

Our leaders are noticeably absent

To the Editor: Ah, August. Vacation time. Yeah!!   Never mind that ISIS is beheading its way through Syria and…
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Thank Sen. Davis for losing $51 billion
 

Thank Sen. Davis for losing $51 billion

To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and other Republican state legislators voted not to expand Medicaid. Early studies showed…
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Don’t believe what fracking supporters say
 

Don’t believe what fracking supporters say

To the Editor: Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The majestic mountains, the lush green…
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Sen. Davis’ comments come as no surprise
 

Sen. Davis’ comments come as no surprise

To the Editor: I’m really not surprised about the Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, quote, “I’m getting really frustrated with these…
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Unraveling the story of Horace Kephart’s ‘drying out’
 

Unraveling the story of Horace Kephart’s ‘drying out’

George Ellison’s response to Gwen Breese’s letter regarding his article on Horace Kephart and his condition when he arrived at…
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Is America’s future now the past?
 

Is America’s future now the past?

To the Editor: “Freedom, freedom is a hard won thing and every generation has to win it again.” This is…
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Why the raging war against fracking?
 

Why the raging war against fracking?

To the Editor: Have you wondered why worldwide the leftists, environmentalists, and most media are waging a war against that…
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Kindness can make difference between ‘waving’ and ‘drowning’
 

Kindness can make difference between ‘waving’ and ‘drowning’

The reason that the death of Robin Williams seemed so particularly shocking, so cruel, even so personal, very nearly like…
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State gives lip service to fracking concerns
 

State gives lip service to fracking concerns

To the Editor: The Johnny-come-lately public hearing on fracking scheduled by the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) at Western…
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Comment

Cell towers, fracking, and food trucks
 

Cell towers, fracking, and food trucks

To the Editor: First, kudos to Gerald Green and the Jackson County Planning Council for requiring Verizon to use cell…
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Comment

Is torture an aberration or a trend?
 

Is torture an aberration or a trend?

By Doug Wingeier • Columnist Based on actual events, the movie “The Railway Man” tells the story of how British…
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N.C. citizens do not want fracking
 

N.C. citizens do not want fracking

To the Editor: “I not only voted for the law, I was one of the co-sponsors,” Davis said. “I’m really…
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Comment

Sylva’s ETJ attempt a bad idea
 

Sylva’s ETJ attempt a bad idea

To the Editor: Paige Roberson, Sylva’s town manager, says she would be surprised if anyone opposes Sylva’s plans to extend…
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Visions of a kitten color this beach trip
 

Visions of a kitten color this beach trip

EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. – My daughter has ordered an elaborate omelet, with spinach and cheese and who knows what else,…
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Comment

Fracking in a perfect world still problematic
 

Fracking in a perfect world still problematic

To the Editor: The issue of fracking by the oil and gas industry — already one of the most controversial…
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Giving voters advice and attacking Sen. Davis
 

Giving voters advice and attacking Sen. Davis

To the Editor: Most letters to the editor are benign or overly active, but the one in the July 2…
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Comment

Honest survey or deceitful phone ad?
 

Honest survey or deceitful phone ad?

To the Editor: Recently “SSI” surveys popped up on my called ID and in a moment of curiosity I answered…
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Comment

‘Trust’ is insufficient check on any elected official
 

‘Trust’ is insufficient check on any elected official

Most anyone who has worked for a living, volunteered, or held elected office has stood at the edge of the…
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Column blaming Rep. Presnell was wrong
 

Column blaming Rep. Presnell was wrong

To the Editor: The column by Editor Scott McLeod two weeks ago taking after Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville, for stopping…
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Comment

Man of action and education proves popular
 

Man of action and education proves popular

There are movies that I simply cannot turn off once I stumble into them when I am switching channels, which…
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A few problems with one-sided letter
 

A few problems with one-sided letter

To the Editor: In his column, Martin Dyckman disparages supply-side economics but contradicts himself two paragraphs later stating that teachers…
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Comment

Your property rights are at risk
 

Your property rights are at risk

To the Editor: Republican Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, co-sponsored SB 786, which is now law. • It fast tracked fracking…
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Comment

The truth about Common Core
 

The truth about Common Core

To the Editor: Common Core and understanding the ramifications of the future of our children’s education are something all citizens…
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Comment

Can anyone afford to get sick?
 

Can anyone afford to get sick?

By John Beckman • Guest Columnist About eight months ago I had a misunderstanding with a pile of lumber which,…
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Strawberry wine and its place in the Smokies
 

Strawberry wine and its place in the Smokies

To the Editor: I have never met George Ellison, but I am appalled as a result of his referring to…
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Comment

Time to accept reality of climate change
 

Time to accept reality of climate change

To the Editor: Alduous Huxley once said, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” Recently, in a…
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Is there a ray of hope in the stampede to frack?
 

Is there a ray of hope in the stampede to frack?

To the Editor: The cage is open and the monster is on the loose. Despite promises of comprehensive safeguards for…
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Comment

Changing mind now won’t undo the damage
 

Changing mind now won’t undo the damage

“Absolutely ridiculous.” Those are the words of Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, to describe the actions of Rep. Michelle Presnell,…
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Comment

The Tillis-Berger-McCrory axis hoping that N.C. ain’t like Kansas
 

The Tillis-Berger-McCrory axis hoping that N.C. ain’t like Kansas

By Martin A. Dyckman • Guest Columnist Although Kansas is among the reddest of red states, its Republican governor, Sam Brownback,…
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Now that he’s president, I’m first in line for tickets
 

Now that he’s president, I’m first in line for tickets

A few weeks ago, my brother called me to ask if I thought he should apply for the job as…
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State lawmakers are shifting tax burden
 

State lawmakers are shifting tax burden

To the Editor: Actions speak louder than words. North Carolina residents need to pay attention. The loud, false, words of…
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Let’s stop yellow journalism politics
 

Let’s stop yellow journalism politics

To the Editor: I am a politician — a local one — and while I make jokes about politics, I…
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Litter in Sunburst was just heartbreaking
 

Litter in Sunburst was just heartbreaking

To the Editor: I am writing today with a heavy heart. I am saddened, frustrated and embarrassed. We live in…
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Comment

A lesson in equality and economy 101
 

A lesson in equality and economy 101

To the Editor: We continually hear the myth about how the rich are greedy, but what we don’t hear is…
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