Making the case for my future career
By the time I was in the fifth grade, I knew I wanted to grow up to be a lawyer.…
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Coach’s article was great, but let’s clarify
To the Editor: First, and foremost, I want to thank you for the article in The Smoky Mountain News, your…
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Playing the blame game in Jackson County
To the Editor: Have you noticed when officeholders (elected or unelected) are attempting to wiggle out from responsibility for some…
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Reflections on ‘Sweet 16’ and the future
What’s your dream job? Recent college graduates are perhaps honing in on the difficult task of searching for a satisfying…
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Finding a balance in Frog Level won’t be easy
I don’t know if it reaches the magnitude of a moral dilemma, but I feel for the Frog Level merchants…
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Challenge those who would censor you
To the Editor: Referring to a recent letter to the editor, the writer suggested that anything or any opinion that…
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Last Shot weekend was a great success
To the Editor: Our Last Shot Fired May weekend, titled “The Battle of Waynesville and the Surrender of the Western…
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Drug testing good students won’t help
To the Editor: I read with dismay that the Jackson County school system was planning to waste more money on…
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Our veterans deserve to be honored all year
It is just a beautiful day, this Memorial Day. I am able to get a little work done in the…
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Out of the headlines, but not out of the woods
The rioting in Baltimore has settled down and we haven’t heard much out of Ferguson, Missouri, recently. The uproar and…
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Madam, you are indeed a thief
To the Editor: My family and I were enjoying a meal at a local buffet restaurant (on Mothers Day 10…
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Thanks to Waynesville town employees
To the Editor: The Waynesville Public Art Commission would specifically like to thank Waynesville town employees Dave Foster, Daryl Hannah,…
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Fast track legislation a threat to democracy
To the Editor: Fast Track legislation that was prepared in secret by some 600 lobbyists of the largest transnational corporations…
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Exotic pests a continuing threat to our mountains
By Jason Love • Guest Columnist I am writing on behalf of the Western North Carolina Public Lands Council, an advisory…
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In WNC, economic development is a different game
He was tall, maybe 6 feet 8 inches or taller, and was standing at an intersection studying a map. My…
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The mystery of U.S. foreign aid
To the Editor: One of the great mysteries of government in America is how and why we give over $50…
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If you’re not ‘of the beach,’ it’s just a nice place to visit
Even though she’s an Indiana girl who had only seen the ocean once before we met, there is something about…
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Baltimore and the failure of liberalism
To the Editor: As events unfold in Baltimore, the failure of liberal ideologies becomes clear. We’ve also seen the failures…
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FOX News has been bad for the country
To the Editor: Imagine that in 2015, you, as an American citizen, don’t feel at home in your own town.…
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GOP is the party of higher taxes
To the Editor: The people have been told for years, particularly by Republican candidates running for the General Assembly, “We…
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The longer it lasts, the more meaningful it becomes
Dozing in and out of sleep on the flight home from Leon, Nicaragua, I was thinking about circles. More to…
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The kids cope with Lucy the tomcat’s gender crisis
Sixth grade was not so kind to my daughter. She did better than she expected on the social part —…
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Creating a healthier future
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have embarked on exciting futures for our hospitals and communities. Early this…
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Criminals fear those who carry guns
To the Editor: As a long-time N.R.A. member, I wish to respond to Publisher Scott McLeod about his recent gun…
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More rhetoric from the liberal press
To the Editor: It appears the long arm of the liberal press has made it to your publication. Scott McLeod’s…
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Foy ranks among Waynesville’s most respected leaders
“You bet I’m happy. I feel this was only right. My goal is to improve Waynesville and set it apart…
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Pseudo police force would lead to bigger problems
Nothing would reflect better on this country than to have a rational, reasoned debate on gun violence and what steps…
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A big thank you to Sen. Jim Davis
To the Editor: Thank you Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, for raising my taxes. As with the majority of North Carolina…
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Time to get re-acquainted with an old friend
It is just mid-April and already too hot to sleep, but too early in the year to resort to air…
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A birthday slap from Gov. Pat McCrory
To the Editor: In March the North Carolina State Parks system celebrated its 100th anniversary with events, gathering and celebrations…
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Teaching is not for everyone
To the Editor: The letter from Deanna Lyles, “I quit teaching because I love children,” (April 1, The Smoky Mountain…
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An opportunity for Dillsboro, Sylva
To the Editor: A representative from the N.C. Department of Transportation recently briefed Dillsboro board on plans to replace the…
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Living in fear is no way to live at all
“Many of us are not living our dreams because we are living in fear.” Not sure where I came across…
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A son grows up, a father faces the future
My cousin has always been an inspiration. Wilton Collins Jones Jr. — he’s always been called “Corky” — is one…
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Finally, we know just what road we are traveling on
“She can wiggle her toes.” This text message — a simple statement of fact pertaining to my mother — would…
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I quit teaching because I love children
To the Editor: Recently, I had to make a tough but necessary decision. As I entered my 23rd year of…
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Constitution protects people, not corporations
To the Editor: On behalf of the Western Carolina Affiliate of the National Move To Amend and We the People…
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Fracking potential leads to need for education
To the Editor: Last week I attended a really good workshop in Swain County on landowner rights that was sponsored…
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Too many weighing in on annexation issue
To the Editor: I was disturbed by the article by Becky Johnson regarding the annexation of Lake Junaluska into the town…
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I don’t want to smell smoke on Main Street
To the Editor: Regarding the letter titled, “Waynesville smoking ban just a bad idea” printed in the March 18-24 issue…
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New leaders of Haywood GOP must prove their mettle
Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is…
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Is Sen. Tom Tillis some kind of traitor?
To the Editor: Sen. Tom Tillis, R-N.C., is probably not a traitor, but he surely is an embarrassment to the…
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Waynesville smoking ban just a bad idea
To the Editor: For years I have promoted downtown. I tell my friends to shop locally, eat at our local…
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It just couldn’t get any better for young Hornets fan
Over the past few months, my 10-year-old son, Jack, has developed an insatiable appetite for all things basketball. We spend…
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Raleigh does a job on senior citizens
To the Editor: You're 83 years old, on a fixed income of out-of-state retirement and Social Security, living in Franklin.…
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All information is not created equally
Google is a wonderful thing, but it sometimes makes things harder for journalists. That’s why a new emphasis on transparency…
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Consortium of docs could do house calls
To the Editor: If you are over 65 (and maybe even younger) you will remember a wonderful phenomenon of the…
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Too many people a big part of problem
To the Editor: Religious folk love to talk about Armageddon and the Apocalypse with almost all major religions predicting some…
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Both parties are destroying our country
To the Editor: Political parties have almost destroyed our country. The greed and self-interest of both political parties have consciously…
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We need Marshall Plan for Middle East
To the Editor: If we really want to defeat ISIL, restore calm, and some semblance of peace in the Middle…
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