Ronald Reagan was an economic powerhouse
To the Editor: Even his critics agree that Ronald Regan did great things for the U.S. economy. Just look at…
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Bigger not better when it comes to health care
To the Editor: My husband’s recent illness caused me to have several strong reactions regarding medical care at Haywood Regional…
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Watching grief from across the street
By Melanie Threlkeld McConnell • Guest Columnist He usually arrives in the late afternoon, always before dinner time, and he doesn’t…
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Students are searching for a good life
My seniors are writing letters to themselves today, an activity I have students do every year just before the holidays.…
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The meaningful moments that make memories
Moments, mostly the ones unplanned, are the stuff of important and lasting life memories. We had a great Thanksgiving day…
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Old Democratic Party is just a memory
To the Editor: For the most part, family traditions have been important in helping to bind families together. There are…
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Ebola nothing compared to gun violence
To the Editor: News has recently come of the death of a second ebola victim on U.S. soil — a doctor…
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Obama plan sticks it to legal immigrants
To the Editor: If Editor Scott McLeod thinks that Obama is giving the finger to the GOP with his amnesty for illegals,…
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Social problems permeate classrooms
One in 30 American children are homeless, and, overwhelmingly, the two most common causes are economics and parental abuse. That’s…
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Sorry, I don’t buy meat out of the back of a truck
I cannot take a nap, at least not on purpose. Whenever I try, I twist and turn as if my…
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Erasing ignorance expands opportunities
By Deborah Miles • Guest Columnist As the Director of the Center for Diversity Education, I and other educators have been…
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Don’t make sophs live on campus
To the Editor: First, let me say that I greatly respect Dr. Sam Miller and the administration at Western Carolina…
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Junaluskans should pay for upgrades
To the Editor: Your opinion piece a few months back, “Changing mind now won’t undo the damage,” left out a…
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A briefcase of possibilities
I grade about 2,000 essays a year. I do so because I am a high school English teacher, and because…
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Obama poised to give the GOP the finger
Just as President Obama seems poised to sign an executive order preventing the deportation of up to 5 million illegal…
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SMN editor lacks journalist ethics
To the Editor: Journalists like Scott McLeod, SMN Editor, usually follow a code of ethics that includes fairness and impartiality…
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Do something together for Nikwasi Mound
To the Editor: I have read the opinions going back and forth regarding the Nikwasi Mound in Franklin and am…
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Doing just as he accuses others
To the Editor: Regarding Bob Wilson’s latest letter on negative campaign rhetoric, Wilson exemplified the hate-filled distorted rhetoric that he…
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Franklin and Cherokee should work together on Nikwasi
By Bob Scott • Guest Columnist In a letter to the editor published in the Nov. 5 edition of The…
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Classrooom contemplations: Showing up is always half the game
Absenteeism in American public schools has reached epidemic proportions. Six million students, one in eight, miss 30 days of school…
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Trade you an itchy shirt for a little shiver
We called it “in-between weather,” too warm for a coat, too chilly for short sleeves. Back then, just about every…
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Political rhetoric reaches a new low
To the Editor: It was very sad to witness all the hateful rhetoric tossed around during elections this year. I…
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Make Lake Junaluska annexation more fair
To the Editor: Your opinion piece from the summer titled "Changing mind now won't undo the damage" left out a…
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There is no moral equivalent to ISIS
To the Editor: A recent letter to the editor states a moral equivalence between ISIS weird beards who behead journalists, crucify…
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Big mistake not to return Nikwasi Mound
To the Editor: I am writing in regards to the Nikwasi Indian Mound. I am concerned for the community of…
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As students change how they learn, teachers must adapt
Every attentive person knows there is a revolution occurring in language, and much of what was once communicated by words…
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Give Cullowhee a chance to fulfill potential
Cullowhee rising. Sounds like a fitting name for some aspiring college band, but it best describes what’s happening at Western…
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You have permission to vote Democrat
To the Editor: Recently I have heard folks say things like, “My daddy” or “Momma” would “roll over in their…
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Best choice for school board is Goode
To the Editor: Don’t we all desire what’s best for our kids? The best schools. The best teachers. The best…
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Thanks for coverage of candidates
To the Editor: I would like to applaud The Smoky Mountain News for the articles on the Haywood County Commission…
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We should fear the puppet politicians
To the Editor: In the campaign financial reports from 2012, Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Yancey, spent $107,039 with $3,611 from individuals…
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Goode is fresh choice for school board
To the Editor: Eleven years ago, I came home from work to find my wife — Wende Goode — holding…
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Keep all school staff in mind when voting
To the Editor: Most of the talk regarding education has been about teacher pay, which is critical such that we…
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Tillis clear over incumbent Sen. Hagan
To the Editor: The Senate race in North Carolina is the most important election in our state this year. Sen.…
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Choose science over a salesman’s snake oil
To the Editor: I’m really impressed with Tom Hill, candidate for District 11 of the U.S. Congress, hoping to unseat…
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This is what GOP legislature did for us
To the Editor: Are you better off now than you were, say, a year ago? For most of us that…
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Hunter Murphy best option for Appeals Court
To the Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Mr. Hunter Murphy for election to the North…
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A letter to Gov. McCrory and the Legislature
To the Editor: The actions taken in the last few years under Republican leadership have awakened a sleeping giant of…
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Vote for Hill, send Meadows home
To the Editor: I truly believe Tom Hill will stand up for us, the common person. If you haven’t seen many…
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Time for new county commissioners
To the Editor: What have the incumbent county commissioners brought to Haywood County? I am a 55-year resident of Haywood…
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Students will rise – or fall – to our level of expectations
My weekdays begin at 5 a.m. I have time to drink coffee with my husband, thank him for making my…
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‘Remember, the flying itself is the thing’
It is a fine day for a cookout, this Father’s Day. It is hot enough that most of the younger…
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No, school board race is not about our children’s ‘souls’
Getting an education is about reducing ignorance. Whether it’s in a rural second-grade classroom or at one of this nation’s…
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Leaders steer U.S. ever closer to becoming an oligarchy
To the Editor: What kind of country is ours? That’s more than an idle question to a foreign-born gentleman who…
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Obama wasting energy on climate change talk
To the Editor: Speaking at the U.N. Climate Change Summit last month, our esteemed president made the following statement. Climate…
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EMS crew provided fantastic service
To the Editor: When someone you love has a sudden onset of an acute illness, there are numerous fears to…
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Vote for change, get GOP out of Raleigh
To the Editor: Overall quality of life in North Carolina has drastically deteriorated during the past four years due to…
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Haywood incumbents should be reelected
To the Editor: How fortunate we are in Haywood County to have three county commissioners running for reelection, commissioners who…
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Jim Moore is best choice for DA
To the Editor: I am writing to you on behalf of my good friend and mentor, Jim Moore. He is…
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Letter writer had it wrong about GOP
To the Editor: The letter on Oct. 15 from my friend in Franklin titled, “Why doesn’t the GOP protect our…
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