Please be smart about black bears
To the Editor: Thank you for Holly Kays’ excellent article covering the recent shooting of a bear in Maggie Valley,…
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Get facts about teacher pay, performance
To the Editor: Having lived in North Carolina for a year, I’ve noticed that low teacher salaries are a hot…
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All that talk of the tourists? True that
True story. My wife Lori and I were enjoying a delicious, refreshing IPA at the Wedge Brewery on Sunday afternoon,…
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Frank may be gone, but not frugality
Some people say I can be cheap, or at the very least, my priorities are out of whack. They say,…
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The life-long legacy of a few brushmarks
By Lew Garnett Without his ever knowing it, Blaine Richardson was one of my heroes. It was a recent breezy…
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Declare war on incumbents
By Marshall Frank • Columnist Time to send a message to our government leaders. Our democracy is ruled by the…
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Tailgate markets a reminder of something too valuable to lose
Every year when the local tailgate farmers markets begin opening, it’s a good time to ponder just what it means…
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The past, present and future on Alarka
By Dawn Gilchrist-Young (Editor’s note: Writer Dawn Gilchrist-Young is conducting a series of interviews with mountain natives to gauge their reaction…
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Science helps us find God’s truths
To the Editor: I am writing this letter for the sakes of my fellow creationists and any questioning minds who…
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GOP works to make Haywood better
To the Editor: This is in response to Mitchell E. Powell’s letter to the editor, “‘Group is hurting Haywood GOP,”…
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Remind leaders that we are tired of political games
By Kathy Ross • Guest Columnist In the last few weeks, I’ve been stuck between speaking my mind and doing what…
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Franklin Gem Museum is a gem indeed
To the Editor: What to do? On a recent pouring-down-rain Saturday when my daughter and grandsons were here for their…
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The flim-flam men at work in Jackson
To the Editor: I thought that I would warn you about a multimillion dollar foreign-owned operation that is attempting to…
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GOP leaders take on regulatory reform
To the Editor: Now that the state legislature is in short session, one of the themes is regulatory reform. Let’s…
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Bear shooter should be prosecuted
To the Editor: On Monday June 2, a man shot and killed a bear because she supposedly tried to attack…
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Standing up for Haywood GOP and its future
To the Editor: I am a 55-year-old native of Haywood County, who has been a registered Republican from the time…
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If war is not the answer, then what is?
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist A group calling ourselves “Neighbors for Peace” have been holding a peace vigil in front…
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Why not moment of silence, not prayer?
To the Editor: We live in a country where we are free to pray wherever, whenever and within whatever religion…
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While you were looking the other way
To the Editor: With the business of making a living that each of us has to address in any given…
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GOP has done real harm to state
To the Editor: Look past the claims and misleading “facts” that the Republicans are putting out to see the reality.…
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Meat industry pollutes too much
To the Editor: I am delighted that EPA has finally moved to abate the disastrous impacts of climate change by…
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‘Group’ is hurting Haywood GOP
To the Editor: My name is Mitchell E. Powell and I was elected vice chairman to the Haywood GOP on…
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Obstacles to voting and fair elections are intolerable
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Occasions such as Memorial Day and the D-Day anniversary remind us of the fallen…
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Medicaid expansion was a no-brainer
To the Editor: Thank you for your recent very informative article about the status of Medicaid expansion In North Carolina.…
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We just didn’t see it coming
To the Editor: “A date which will live in infamy.” I was just 6 years old and vividly recall the…
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Wishful thinking about needed changes
To the Editor: It’s probably always been that way. People tend to forget lessons of the past and focus only…
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Suddenly dad is interesting — as artifacts go
The kids and I are in this strange new bonding phase of our relationship. For years, they displayed not the…
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Don’t leave dogs in hot cars
To the Editor: It’s that time of year again when the cool mountain air can rise rapidly by noon. I…
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GOP has done much to help state
To the Editor: Asheville is a town full of smart, aggressive people and a town with a lot more winners…
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Haywood’s economic path was set early last century
The rapid pace of change these days often leaves many of us feeling helpless in its wake. Things change, then…
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The Pope’s message twisted by ideologues
To the Editor: A friend of mine just bitterly complained that the new pope is a communist. It seems that…
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PCs for GED grads a grand success
To the Editor: Seventeen. Seventeen, as a number, doesn't normally mean much when compared to other numbers, does it? But,…
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County leaders need to help public education
For school systems in relatively poor, rural areas where resources are scarce and student achievement is low, there’s no magic…
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Court rules in favor of clean air, water
To the Editor: Human health, wildlife resources and sportsmen had a big win recently in the Federal Appeals Court. The…
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Raising minimum wage is a mistake
To the Editor: On the way to Wilmington using the smaller roads off the interstate, I found it depressing to…
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Obama’s socialist agenda has failed
To the Editor: It appears that Bob Wilson, a frequent letter writer, is stuck in a 1950’s time warp. He’s…
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Steep slope issue headed for a November showdown
I think Jack Debnam was wise to delay action on the rewrite of the Jackson County steep slope rules until…
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Making adjustments for mom’s new job
Friday afternoon on the deck. The kids are home from school, and the three of us are enjoying another beautiful…
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Americans not stupid, just complacent, about Congress
By Don Livingston • Guest Columnist Congress is not our most popular branch of government, not by a long shot.…
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Don’t let anyone buy your vote
To the Editor: Rumor has it that once again vote buying may be taking place in Swain County and on…
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The Republicans are right
To the Editor: This may be liberal heresy, but it is true. Republicans are right about many things: “Family Values,”…
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Same-old, same-old just won’t work
To the Editor: I read with interest the article regarding Western Carolina University and the regional tourism conference with hopes…
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Pigs in a Poke
To the editor: The election season is here. Several candidates are promising to cut government costs or taxes, but they…
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Make your vote count this election
To the editor: Children are our future and as a former educator, I’ve been concerned about the cutbacks in spending…
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Cheerios are clean, but what about other foods?
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist Good news! General Mills has recently announced that — in response to consumer pressure —…
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GOP’s simple truths just aren’t true
To the Editor: Bob Wilson’s most recent published letter (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/12729-kids-can-endure-a-little-stress) typifies the callous oversimplification and blanket insults typical of today’s…
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Jackson commissioners doing some good
To the Editor: There are several people running in Jackson County for public office this year and many are claiming…
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Don’t penalize prosperous industry
To the Editor: As the economy sputters along, members of Congress and the Obama Administration are singling out one of…
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Haywood GOP is out of control
To the Editor: Wow, I’ve seen a lot of small-town politics in this area but the Haywood County Republicans are…
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Emergency management plan helps when disaster hits
By Mark Swanger • Guest Columnist Regardless of their magnitude, all disasters — natural or man-made — are local events and…
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