Giving voters advice and attacking Sen. Davis
To the Editor: Most letters to the editor are benign or overly active, but the one in the July 2…
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Honest survey or deceitful phone ad?
To the Editor: Recently “SSI” surveys popped up on my called ID and in a moment of curiosity I answered…
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‘Trust’ is insufficient check on any elected official
Most anyone who has worked for a living, volunteered, or held elected office has stood at the edge of the…
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Column blaming Rep. Presnell was wrong
To the Editor: The column by Editor Scott McLeod two weeks ago taking after Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville, for stopping…
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Man of action and education proves popular
There are movies that I simply cannot turn off once I stumble into them when I am switching channels, which…
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A few problems with one-sided letter
To the Editor: In his column, Martin Dyckman disparages supply-side economics but contradicts himself two paragraphs later stating that teachers…
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Your property rights are at risk
To the Editor: Republican Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, co-sponsored SB 786, which is now law. • It fast tracked fracking…
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The truth about Common Core
To the Editor: Common Core and understanding the ramifications of the future of our children’s education are something all citizens…
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Can anyone afford to get sick?
By John Beckman • Guest Columnist About eight months ago I had a misunderstanding with a pile of lumber which,…
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Strawberry wine and its place in the Smokies
To the Editor: I have never met George Ellison, but I am appalled as a result of his referring to…
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Time to accept reality of climate change
To the Editor: Alduous Huxley once said, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” Recently, in a…
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Is there a ray of hope in the stampede to frack?
To the Editor: The cage is open and the monster is on the loose. Despite promises of comprehensive safeguards for…
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Changing mind now won’t undo the damage
“Absolutely ridiculous.” Those are the words of Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, to describe the actions of Rep. Michelle Presnell,…
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The Tillis-Berger-McCrory axis hoping that N.C. ain’t like Kansas
By Martin A. Dyckman • Guest Columnist Although Kansas is among the reddest of red states, its Republican governor, Sam Brownback,…
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Now that he’s president, I’m first in line for tickets
A few weeks ago, my brother called me to ask if I thought he should apply for the job as…
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State lawmakers are shifting tax burden
To the Editor: Actions speak louder than words. North Carolina residents need to pay attention. The loud, false, words of…
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Let’s stop yellow journalism politics
To the Editor: I am a politician — a local one — and while I make jokes about politics, I…
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Litter in Sunburst was just heartbreaking
To the Editor: I am writing today with a heavy heart. I am saddened, frustrated and embarrassed. We live in…
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A lesson in equality and economy 101
To the Editor: We continually hear the myth about how the rich are greedy, but what we don’t hear is…
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Please be smart about black bears
To the Editor: Thank you for Holly Kays’ excellent article covering the recent shooting of a bear in Maggie Valley,…
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Get facts about teacher pay, performance
To the Editor: Having lived in North Carolina for a year, I’ve noticed that low teacher salaries are a hot…
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All that talk of the tourists? True that
True story. My wife Lori and I were enjoying a delicious, refreshing IPA at the Wedge Brewery on Sunday afternoon,…
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Frank may be gone, but not frugality
Some people say I can be cheap, or at the very least, my priorities are out of whack. They say,…
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The life-long legacy of a few brushmarks
By Lew Garnett Without his ever knowing it, Blaine Richardson was one of my heroes. It was a recent breezy…
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Declare war on incumbents
By Marshall Frank • Columnist Time to send a message to our government leaders. Our democracy is ruled by the…
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Tailgate markets a reminder of something too valuable to lose
Every year when the local tailgate farmers markets begin opening, it’s a good time to ponder just what it means…
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The past, present and future on Alarka
By Dawn Gilchrist-Young (Editor’s note: Writer Dawn Gilchrist-Young is conducting a series of interviews with mountain natives to gauge their reaction…
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Science helps us find God’s truths
To the Editor: I am writing this letter for the sakes of my fellow creationists and any questioning minds who…
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GOP works to make Haywood better
To the Editor: This is in response to Mitchell E. Powell’s letter to the editor, “‘Group is hurting Haywood GOP,”…
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Remind leaders that we are tired of political games
By Kathy Ross • Guest Columnist In the last few weeks, I’ve been stuck between speaking my mind and doing what…
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Franklin Gem Museum is a gem indeed
To the Editor: What to do? On a recent pouring-down-rain Saturday when my daughter and grandsons were here for their…
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The flim-flam men at work in Jackson
To the Editor: I thought that I would warn you about a multimillion dollar foreign-owned operation that is attempting to…
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GOP leaders take on regulatory reform
To the Editor: Now that the state legislature is in short session, one of the themes is regulatory reform. Let’s…
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Bear shooter should be prosecuted
To the Editor: On Monday June 2, a man shot and killed a bear because she supposedly tried to attack…
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Standing up for Haywood GOP and its future
To the Editor: I am a 55-year-old native of Haywood County, who has been a registered Republican from the time…
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If war is not the answer, then what is?
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist A group calling ourselves “Neighbors for Peace” have been holding a peace vigil in front…
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Why not moment of silence, not prayer?
To the Editor: We live in a country where we are free to pray wherever, whenever and within whatever religion…
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While you were looking the other way
To the Editor: With the business of making a living that each of us has to address in any given…
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GOP has done real harm to state
To the Editor: Look past the claims and misleading “facts” that the Republicans are putting out to see the reality.…
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Meat industry pollutes too much
To the Editor: I am delighted that EPA has finally moved to abate the disastrous impacts of climate change by…
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‘Group’ is hurting Haywood GOP
To the Editor: My name is Mitchell E. Powell and I was elected vice chairman to the Haywood GOP on…
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Obstacles to voting and fair elections are intolerable
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Occasions such as Memorial Day and the D-Day anniversary remind us of the fallen…
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Medicaid expansion was a no-brainer
To the Editor: Thank you for your recent very informative article about the status of Medicaid expansion In North Carolina.…
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We just didn’t see it coming
To the Editor: “A date which will live in infamy.” I was just 6 years old and vividly recall the…
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Wishful thinking about needed changes
To the Editor: It’s probably always been that way. People tend to forget lessons of the past and focus only…
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Suddenly dad is interesting — as artifacts go
The kids and I are in this strange new bonding phase of our relationship. For years, they displayed not the…
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Don’t leave dogs in hot cars
To the Editor: It’s that time of year again when the cool mountain air can rise rapidly by noon. I…
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GOP has done much to help state
To the Editor: Asheville is a town full of smart, aggressive people and a town with a lot more winners…
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Haywood’s economic path was set early last century
The rapid pace of change these days often leaves many of us feeling helpless in its wake. Things change, then…
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The Pope’s message twisted by ideologues
To the Editor: A friend of mine just bitterly complained that the new pope is a communist. It seems that…
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