Let’s eliminate the power of the Electoral College
By Martin A. Dyckman • Guest Columnist Americans are asking why we now have a president whom they wouldn’t trust to…
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Lessons learned on the black diamond
While standing atop a black diamond run at Beech Mountain last weekend, several thoughts crossed my mind. It’s been a…
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GOP supports childrens’ health care
To the Editor: It is easy to understand Dr. Stephen Wall’s compassion for young children. Knowing Dr. Wall well, I…
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I’ll have a beer and hash browns
To the Editor: It’s been interesting to read the controversy about the Sunday “brunch bill” enactment in Bryson City, Jackson…
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Smokies benefit from license plate sales
License plate sales raised nearly $815,000 to support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year, with the grand total…
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The fight over what it means to be an American
I turned 18 three weeks too late to vote for Ronald Wilson Reagan for president of the United States, but…
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State budget hurts Swain’s needy children
“The smartest countries tend to be those that have acted to make teaching more prestigious and selective; directed more resources…
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Traditions help us deal with change, loss
Since my mom’s passing in August, many people have given me books and resources to help with the grief. They’ve…
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Mainstream media has lost its credibility
To the Editor: Nothing in a recent letter (“Please, just check the facts,” Dec. 14, The Smoky Mountain News) rings…
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The media is just not doing its job
To the Editor: Have we ever seen such hypocrisy? The Russians have now hacked the 2016 election, really? Liberal news…
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WOW wraps up fifth year of giving back to community
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that…
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I love newspaper readers, but please read carefully
Some things never change, and the reality of collateral damage from news stories is one of them. Plus the fact…
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Story damages Jukebox Junction’s reputation in Bethel community
To the Editor: There was a story with the headline “Haywood County wipes the dust off the bottle” in the December…
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Please, just check the facts
To the Editor: In the recent edition of The Smoky Mountain News, Carl Iobst’s letter seems to indicate that traditional…
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A public servant retires
To the Editor: To my friends in Western North Carolina, I will be retiring on December 31.
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Novel idea is surely just too far-fetched
I am writing a fictional spy novel. Here is the draft outline of it.
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A thank you to local media
By Greg Christopher • Guest Columnist This time of year, as many people are counting their blessings, they also realize…
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All one can do is keep fighting the good fight
I don’t know about you, but I need a quiet place about now. I need to turn off the news…
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Life in Gitmo was idyllic, but the danger was real
Fidel Castro’s death should remind us that we are oftentimes more powerless and rudderless than our country’s leaders like to…
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We must remain vigilant on environment
To the Editor: As President Obama’s impressive term winds down and the focus shifts to speculation about an uncertain, perhaps…
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Media clueless to how it has killed itself
To the Editor: The traditional news media (newspapers) have killed themselves through poor writing, a lack of balanced reporting, advocacy…
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A small-town weekend packed with big meaning
After three months of internal darkness and coping with grief, this past weekend offered some soothing reprieve. Over the years,…
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In a season of feasting, finding food for the soul
I’ve always embraced change, perhaps to my detriment. I suspect it has something to do with a youth where we…
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Still can’t get my bearings in this alternative universe
It has been a few weeks now since the election, and I feel like someone who just came out of…
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Social media is new ‘opiate of the masses’
To the Editor: I would like to thank you for your excellent opinion piece in the Nov. 22 issue of…
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The media have always lied, so what’s new?
To the Editor: While I agree with many of the concerns you have with fake news (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/18865), it didn’t start…
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Historians discover lifeless remains of the truth
So this, perhaps, is how we in the traditional — and dare I say legitimate — media will meet our…
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Glad to live in a republic and not a democracy
To the Editor: Thank you for publishing The Smoky Mountain News. We enjoy reading it every week. I would like…
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A community that is truly stronger together
Don’t worry. This column isn’t about the election. There’s plenty of that going on elsewhere. With that being said, I…
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Once again, Electoral College plays controversial role
We are a democratic republic, not a pure democracy. I was reminded of that in a most unusual way at…
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The GOP has the ball, so let’s see what they do
I needed nearly a full day after the election before I could formulate a response to the election of Donald…
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Haywood needs a voice at the table
To the Editor: On a personal level, I am quite unhappy with last Tuesday’s election results. As a “community leader,”…
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Choose physical therapy over painkillers
By Shannon Icenhour • Guest Columnist Fall is almost over, but October was not just for trick-or-treating; it also represented…
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Sorry, but Bob Dylan did deserve the Nobel
I’d like to take a few minutes to say a few words about the column by Jeff Minick two weeks…
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Wildfire Response in Western NC
To the Editor: I live by Standing Indian Campground on West Old Murphy Road. Last Wednesday I watched the helicopters…
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Together we can create something
To the Editor: As someone who is regarded as white, why am I a member of the Jackson County NAACP?…
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When the dust settles, we’ll keep moving forward
I feel strongly about politics. I hope — with all the hope I can muster — that Donald Trump loses…
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Comey’s threat to democracy is unprecedented
Editor’s note: This is a letter former FBI agent Mark Swanger Jr. sent to current FBI Director James Comey. Swanger…
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My Halloween failings follow me into adulthood
I am old enough and comfortable enough with my shortcomings to just admit it: I am not very good at…
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Calling a place home is not to be taken for granted
My 18-year-old son, Liam, departed the mountains for Charlotte two weeks ago when his fall break had ended. He’s our…
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Loving and kicking my way through October
I recently wrote a blog post about September being the worst month of my life. One day seemed to awkwardly…
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Trump enablers themselves unfit for office
To the Editor: It would be dreadful enough if Donald Trump were merely the most unfit, unprepared, unworthy and uncouth…
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A clarification on last week’s column
To the Editor: In last week’s guest column about Colin Kaepernick I wrote, “His protest is by kneeling (in prayer)…
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Relishing common ground amid the political divide
I am at the salad bar, evaluating the freshness of the broccoli and spinach, deciding whether I want croutons or…
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‘Get the hell out’ is not an answer
By Dave Waldroup • Guest Columnist Legendary former Chicago Bears head football coach Mike Ditka has now joined the chorus of…
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Negativity is infesting our politics
To the Editor: The greatest problem facing our country today and in the future is not from abroad but from…
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Raleigh ‘magicians’ must be held accountable
To the Editor: A key skill for magicians is misdirection. Look this way so you won’t see what I’m actually…
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Twenty questions for America’s citizens
To the Editor: The future of the American system of representative government is under attack, and who is heeding the…
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We are all going to be losers this election
To the Editor: Thank you for your honest opinion regarding Trump running for our highest office (www.smokymountainnews.com/opin-ion/item/18589). I respect your…
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