A champion of our mountain way of life

To the Editor: How do we decide whom to vote for? As a recent letter to the Smoky Mountain News…
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Separating news and facts from opinions

A message came back to me from an advertiser via one of our ad reps. He said we needed to…
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Socialist America has done pretty well

To the Editor: Recent letters have railed against a Democratic plan to make America into a “socialist country.” History shows…
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Do you really want Biden?

To the Editor: On a full-page ad in the October 7 edition of The Smoky Mountain News, Joe Biden supporters…
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I will be voting for Cal Cunningham

To the Editor: I received several campaign ads for Thom Tillis over the past several weeks. The ads say “I’ve…
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With Biden, we’re headed for a Black Hole

To the Editor: Recently we have read about the discovery of the universe black hole by astronomers. The United States…
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How the GOP will steal the election

To the Editor: If you’re a Republican planning to steal the election, here’s how you do it.
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Vote for indoor pool for Jackson County

To the Editor: As a Jackson County resident, I am excited to vote for the indoor pool at the Jackson…
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Pless’ behavior should worry voters

By Heather Hyatt Packer • Guest Columnist | When our government leaders deliberately mislead or lie to us, there is…
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Trump’s re-election important for U.S.

To the Editor: “I hope they both die” are words expressed by some lefty Trump haters when they heard that…
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Trump just doesn’t care

To the Editor: I recently received a mailer from the Trump campaign purportedly to tell the truth about what Trump…
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Democrats want to take away rights

To the Editor: I noticed in your Sept. 30 edition that all your letters to the editor are nothing but…
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Sign stealers should be denounced

To the Editor: Trump tends to project onto others what he is planning to do or has done. When he…
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Sign drove me away from Waynesville

To the Editor: Simply put, I’m a Texas tourist (airline pilot on leave of absence) who was on my first…
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Nolte’s remarks were off the mark

To the Editor: First, we had to deal with Haywood County School Superintendent Bill Nolte’s ridiculous posting of white kids…
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Queen represents mountain values

To the Editor: In the upcoming District 119 House of Representatives race between Rep. Joe Sam Queen and Mike Clampitt,…
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GOP wants to Destroy ACA

To the Editor: If you or any of your loved ones has a pre-existing medical condition and private medical insurance,…
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GOP wants to end Social Security

To the Editor: President Trump issued an executive order that between September 1 and the end of this year, employees…
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Trump is the Bully in chief

To the Editor: There is a defiant child in the White House, and he is our President.  He is not…
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RBG’s passing hardens my resolve

To the Editor: I woke up the day after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a mix of…
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Cawthorn is not ready for Congress

To the Editor: Madison Cawthorn says he is a “Washington outsider.” Who is he kidding? His campaign has worked with…
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Say no to drilling in Alaska

To the Editor: The Western North Carolina Climate Action Coalition (CAC), a Haywood County-based organization, supports efforts to protect the Arctic…
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Vote yes for the indoor aquatics center

To the Editor: We have a lot to decide this November on the 2020 ballot, but one thing I hope…
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Clampitt is gunning for your Social Security

To the Editor: Folks we have a big decision to make. House District 119 — covering Swain, Jackson and Haywood…
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How can anyone Vote for Trump?

To the Editor: “Trump lied, people died.” I can’t even begin to describe the range of emotion I felt when…
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Don’t send Cawthorn to Congress

To the Editor: Madison Cawthon’s website states: “Send a fighter to Congress.” In fact, the term “fight” is referenced several times throughout…
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N.C. 11 race is a no contest

To the Editor: I am a native Western North Carolinian and a member of Generation Z. I understand that my…
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GOP is a party in crisis

To the Editor: I’m not a Republican, but I know a party in crisis when I see one. The “Party of…
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As school gets going, a lingering anxiety

Elementary schools will open their doors and welcome students back over the next few days, and middle and high schools…
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What to expect as you prepare to vote

By Kirk Stephens • Guest Columnist | Our nation will hold an election this November, as it has always done,…
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Who is the real ‘sucker’ and ‘loser’?

By Mike Leatherwood • Guest Columnist | When I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of…
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Cawthorn’s integrity 
is a problem

To the Editor: Whatever categories are on a home-schooled student’s report card, “works well with others” is probably not one…
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Vote as if the Earth 
depended on it

To the Editor: I recently hiked to the top of Wayah Bald. Stunning views, and sobering to see the remnants…
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Just what is ‘appropriate' for a newspaper?

Our readers have spoken. You won’t find a single case of the F-word in this article, and perhaps never again…
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The power of music amidst the chaos

When I was a little girl we had a Victrola sitting atop the stairs in our split-level home. Occasionally my…
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Consider the kind of leader you want

To the Editor: Consider this case study in trust: A meteorologist reports the track of a category 2 hurricane, explaining that…
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Davis puts public health before politics

To the Editor: If you were hanging around outside one of the NC-11 Congressional debates at WCU’s main campus in…
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Cawthorn wrong about health care

To the Editor: As the campaign for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District enters its final months, I’d like to draw…
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Vote Democrat and restore morality

To the Editor: As another Election day approaches, I feel compelled to express my thoughts and opinions to my community.…
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Sept. 11, 2001

September 11 snuck up on me this year. I was listening to public radio this morning when they discussed commemorations…
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Pandemic prompts huge absentee ballot request

What’s happening in North Carolina right now with absentee ballot requests is staggering.  Currently there are around 7.1 million registered…
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The shadow pandemic takes its toll

Lately I’ve been feeling tightness in my chest, an inability to take a nice relaxing breath. When I told my…
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Trump has many accomplishments

To the Editor: I keep hearing the term systemic racism. I assume this means racism built into our nation’s systems…
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Southern pride has a dark history

To the Editor: Haywood County 2020: I can’t drive down the street without seeing a representation of a Confederate flag. It’s…
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We were safer before Trump

To the Editor: Trump is fine with the violence and looting. He thrives on drama and chaos. He can continue…
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Vote to end this insanity

To the Editor: When I was a young girl studying my catechism we would read aloud in unison: “Who Loves…
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Racism at WCU is reason to vote

To the Editor: As a student of color at Western Carolina University, I was angered and disheartened by the racist…
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We all have the right to be heard

To the Editor: I have had the pleasure of reading many a fine editorial from SMN Editor Scott McLeod over…
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