When should government help private industry?
“Government’s job is NOT to fund private industry!” “Shouldn’t the mill pay to keep themselves up to par as far…
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Our leaders are noticeably absent
To the Editor: Ah, August. Vacation time. Yeah!! Never mind that ISIS is beheading its way through Syria and…
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Thank Sen. Davis for losing $51 billion
To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and other Republican state legislators voted not to expand Medicaid. Early studies showed…
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Don’t believe what fracking supporters say
To the Editor: Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The majestic mountains, the lush green…
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Sen. Davis’ comments come as no surprise
To the Editor: I’m really not surprised about the Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, quote, “I’m getting really frustrated with these…
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Unraveling the story of Horace Kephart’s ‘drying out’
George Ellison’s response to Gwen Breese’s letter regarding his article on Horace Kephart and his condition when he arrived at…
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Is America’s future now the past?
To the Editor: “Freedom, freedom is a hard won thing and every generation has to win it again.” This is…
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Why the raging war against fracking?
To the Editor: Have you wondered why worldwide the leftists, environmentalists, and most media are waging a war against that…
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Kindness can make difference between ‘waving’ and ‘drowning’
The reason that the death of Robin Williams seemed so particularly shocking, so cruel, even so personal, very nearly like…
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State gives lip service to fracking concerns
To the Editor: The Johnny-come-lately public hearing on fracking scheduled by the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) at Western…
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Cell towers, fracking, and food trucks
To the Editor: First, kudos to Gerald Green and the Jackson County Planning Council for requiring Verizon to use cell…
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Is torture an aberration or a trend?
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist Based on actual events, the movie “The Railway Man” tells the story of how British…
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N.C. citizens do not want fracking
To the Editor: “I not only voted for the law, I was one of the co-sponsors,” Davis said. “I’m really…
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Sylva’s ETJ attempt a bad idea
To the Editor: Paige Roberson, Sylva’s town manager, says she would be surprised if anyone opposes Sylva’s plans to extend…
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Visions of a kitten color this beach trip
EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. – My daughter has ordered an elaborate omelet, with spinach and cheese and who knows what else,…
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Fracking in a perfect world still problematic
To the Editor: The issue of fracking by the oil and gas industry — already one of the most controversial…
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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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