Military parade is just a bad idea
To the Editor: Have we lost our sanity? A military parade is an unconscionable waste of national resources, particularly galling…
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Vote Phillip Price in Democratic primary
To the Editor: I appreciated Cory Vaillancort’s story “Unseating Mark Meadows” describing the candidates running against the now-millionnaire incumbent representing…
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Let’s fix Confederate Monument issue
The Jackson County, North Carolina Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) wishes to communicate…
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Whatever you think honey, really
“I’m absolutely starving,” my wife says, digging through her purse for something as I walk into the kitchen, clearing my…
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Your gift can unlock a child’s potential
Among the many gifts my parents gave me, both the most powerful and the most mysterious were the books that…
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Meadows protects Trump instead of our democracy
To the Editor: Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, and some of his fellow Republican representatives may just have become a danger…
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Trump’s detractors are the hypocrites
To the Editor: I read the article by Smoky Mountain News columnist Chris Cox titled, “I can’t stomach the hypocrisy…
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Who is it that has blood on their hands?
To the Editor: There is an ad posted on Donald Trump’s campaign website and YouTube page. It states that if…
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Electoral College idea just won’t solve problem
To the Editor: That was a clever rebuttal (Jan. 24) from Samuel Edwards to my column on why North Carolina…
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Life is too short for cheap beer, bad coffee
I’m not a snob. In fact, I’m more of a bleeding heart. But when it comes to beer and coffee,…
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School systems need help with class size mandate
By John deVille • Guest Columnist This is a letter I sent to Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin. Macon County Schools, Haywood…
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Let’s get back to honoring all women
To the Editor: Have you told your mother? Your sister? Your aunt? Your niece? Simply put, have you explained to…
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National park backlog needs attention
To the Editor: I want to commend Holly Kays for her great story on “Breaking the Backlog." I hope that…
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Third party efforts futile in U.S.
To the Editor: I appreciated your article on third parties. The frustration of the people with the two major parties…
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GOP legislature has stolen my vote
To the Editor: My vote has been stolen. It has been stolen by the Legislature of the State of North…
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Electoral College in need of reform
To the Editor: In his guest column in the Jan. 17 edition, Martin Dyckman proposes to “eliminate the power of…
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Too much is based on skin color
To the Editor: Imagine yourselves involved in a delicate negotiation in which feelings run high on both sides. It would…
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We need better than Donald Trump
To the Editor: I am 69, a seven-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and a Vietnam veteran. There are…
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Thanks for sending Simons
Dear friends in beautiful Bryson City, As the mayor of Murphy I want to sincerely thank the Bryson City mayor,…
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Do Republicans in the House and Senate know their voter base?
Republicans in the House and Senate supported a tax bill that was opposed by the majority of Americans. They insisted…
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I can’t stomach the hypocrisy of Trump’s enablers
Imagine, just for a moment, that it is 2010 again. The economy, which was on the verge of a catastrophic…
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The feeling reminds me that journalism matters
That feeling in the pit of my stomach is familiar. I imagine it’s something like what people with ulcers feel…
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Implore leaders to protect environment
To the Editor: I recently read Boyd Holliday’s letter to the editor about the environmental damage our senators are doing…
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A $4 million thank you
To the Editor: As a member of the Swain County community, I believe there is a long overdue amount of…
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A rising tide floats all boats
To the Editor: The column written by Martin Dyckman in the Jan. 3 issue of The Smoky Mountain News attacking…
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I support our state’s treasures
To the Editor: In light of Mr. Holliday’s letter to the editor on Jan. 3, I’d like to take this…
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Duke Energy rate hike request to hurt working families
Working families in Western North Carolina know that when you earn less money, you tend to use less electricity to…
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The future for this region is bright
In last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News we published articles about positive political and economic signs in two…
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I’m just that kind of fan
From the time I was about 10 years old, I have been a rabid sports fan. In the beginning, I…
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‘Everything ahead of me’ for 2018
I have a tattoo on the inside of my right wrist that says, “Everything ahead of me.” I got it…
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My resolve is strengthened by Trump
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist This is a letter my wife and I sent to President Donald Trump: I…
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SMN’s Scott Mcleod and his hypocrisy
To the Editor: “You can’t debate with someone who repeatedly traffics in blatant lies and counterfeit bluster,” wrote Smoky Mountain…
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SMN should rethink use of cuss words
To the Editor: I always enjoy reading your fine publication with its in-depth articles about local news. Today, Dec. 30,…
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Our representatives doing WNC harm
To the Editor: The League of Conservation Voters keeps a “scoreboard” that rates our congressional representatives and senators on their…
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If this is the new normal, God help us
As the new year dawns and I take account of everything that’s happened in the past 12 months, it’s Donald…
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Whom should we admire the most?
To the Editor: My daddy served in the U.S. Army. My oldest brother retired from the U.S. Air Force. One…
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Thank God and Democrats for Medicaid
To the Editor: How can anyone call themselves a Christian and support President Trump and his Republican cronies in Congress…
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Politicians throw children to the wolves
To the Editor: After 29 years as a pediatrician in Western North Carolina, with over 120,000 patient visits under my…
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This is my family, and yours
Except for the year our daughter, Kayden, got the flu and we had to make the best of spending Christmas…
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Futures of WCU and WNC are inextricably linked
By David Belcher • Guest columnist I had the privilege of presiding over Western Carolina University’s Dec. 16 commencement ceremonies…
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Kudos for “Homeless for the Holidays”
To the Editor: Kudos to Smoky Mountain News Staff Writer Cory Vaillancourt on his story, “Homeless in Haywood for the…
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An open letter to N.C. Senator Jim Davis
District 50: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties December 14, 2017 Dear Senator Davis: Perhaps relations between…
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Caught you being good
My dad called the other day and said he had a fun Christmas surprise for my boys. Knowing my dad…
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If you’re reading this, then we thank you
In this holiday season, I have much to be thankful for. At least that’s the way I see it, though…
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Send lawyers and rubles
To the Editor: Special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered more Russian characters mingling with Trump campaign officials than are found…
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A stealth attack on the working class
To the Editor: Unless Congress comes to its senses and rejects the misguided tax legislation currently being considered, working people…
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Tax cut is ill-conceived
To the Editor: I’m confused! The stock market is at all-time high and unemployment is lower than we have seen…
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