We’ve got to control kudzu

To the Editor: Whether we like it or not, tourism sustains a quality of life for all WNC residents. This…
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Democracy is not a given, especially now

The delegates had spent a sweltering Philadelphia summer behind sealed doors and windows debating and drafting a constitution for what…
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Abortion is an economic issue

To the Editor: The Supreme Court recently shot down American women’s right to choose. Now conservative politicians are trying to convince…
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Just say no to crazy GOP plans

To the Editor: Well folks the Republican leadership has been mum this past summer in revealing what they intended to do…
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For the common good, please check ‘facts’

To the Editor: When letter-writers lambaste a political party or official by repeating terrible accusations, they spread lies that can get…
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Is Ted Budd a hypocrite?

To the Editor: Ted Budd is one of the wealthiest U.S. politicians. He and his family have received millions of dollars…
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The rise of the unaffiliated voter

Early voting has started. In North Carolina and across the nation there are many close races that will likely be…
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GOP wants to control our lives

To the Editor: Rep. Kevin McCarthy has been plainspoken about a tired and failed strategy of cutting taxes and regulations and…
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God bless Elon Musk

To the Editor: We hear a lot these days about threats to “our democracy,” but we don’t have one to be…
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Why I’ll vote for Democrats

To the Editor: I am voting Democratic this election season and I would like to tell you why.
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Pless is a bully, let’s vote him out

To the Editor: We need change in North Carolina’s 118th House District. Incumbent Rep. Mark Pless believes he does not answer…
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Stop Biden by voting for GOP

To the Editor: Barack Obama put it succinctly when he said he wanted to “fundamentally transform” our country. His plans were…
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Yellow journalism and blue leanings

To the Editor: Your October 29 issue titled “Saving the Safety Net” borders on yellow journalism. Conflating the statement of one GOP…
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Keep West as tax collector

To the Editor: With the election date drawing near, I am apprehensive about the Republican candidate for Haywood County Tax Collector.…
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‘Granny over the cliff’ just doesn’t work

To the Editor: You have to laugh at the way liberals in the news portray the big bad Republicans. They are…
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GOP wants to cut entitlements

To the Editor: Who cares if you’re a Republican or Democrat? Who cares if you like Biden? Who cares who will…
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Planned Parenthood supports Democrats

To the Editor: Cheri Beasley is a liar. Without providing any proof she claims that the majority of folks in North…
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Into the woods on my 43rd birthday 

The sound of falling leaves crunched under our feet as we searched for the white blazes along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.…
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Conservatives’ concerns helped our schools

To the Editor. I wholeheartedly agree with Editor Scott McLeod’s article in the October issue regarding removing politics from school boards and…
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Vote Platt for N.C. House 119

To the Editor: Al Platt will be a terrific N.C. 119 District representative. 
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Medicaid expansion would boost WNC economy

A strong and healthy economy will benefit everyone in Western North Carolina, which is why we need Medicaid expansion. As…
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Destroying democracy is GOP’s agenda

To the Editor: The MAGA Republican agenda has nothing to do with making America great. It has everything to do…
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Two candidates invited, only one likely to show

To the Editor: The sheriff is our highest elected official in Jackson County and has the duty to “keep the…
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Election deniers threaten democracy

To the Editor: The office of secretary of state (not usually considered a high-profile post) this year may well represent…
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Stop voting by political affiliation

To the Editor: I believe voting straight ticket, R or D, is this country’s downfall. Too many voters refuse to…
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Inspired by Haywood’s assistant superintendent

The cool thing about elementary students is they still get excited about the events and activities going on at their…
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Keeping politics out of public schools

Education and public schools have never been completely immune from the shifting winds of politics, but events of the last…
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GOP ad made baseless claims

To the Editor: The print ad published by the Haywood GOP in the 2022 Haywood County Fair Guide was full…
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Time to ‘Man up for women’

To the Editor: Men, especially young men, need to speak out and vote for a woman’s right to a safe,…
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Finding real news is just not that hard

National Public Lands Day dawned crisp and cool Saturday, Sept. 24, a celebration of everything most beloved about fall in…
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Moral decay in U.S. is abominable

To the Editor: Most Americans who care about their country and who vote faithfully want desperately to believe that the…
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Ted Budd is a troubling candidate

To the Editor: I am an independent voter. I belong to no political party, but rather base my choices on…
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Ghost Town’s obituary is written

To the Editor: Frankie Wood conned Alaska Presley into believing he could bring Ghost Town back and was able to…
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Elton John and the value of forever friends 

Many moons ago, when I attended a seventh-grade sleepover, I met a new girl in town. Her name was Lana.…
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Support elected leaders who support teachers

To the Editor: Why are teachers leaving?
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Reaction to accident is disheartening

To the Editor: It makes me sick to think people would applaud Helping Hands not getting funding from Waynesville after…
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Loose canines are a cyclist’s nightmare

To the Editor: I became a cyclist in June 2020, and it has changed my life for the better. I…
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Swain ‘Rally’ was a huge success

To the Editor: The Swain County “Rally for Health, Hope and Recovery” was a huge success. The event included about…
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Haywood School Board misses an opportunity

When the Haywood County School Board announced that it had chosen Trevor Putnam as the system’s new superintendent, I can’t…
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A cautionary tale of Covid’s resilience

Last week I was among five friends on an outdoor excursion. It was a lovely early fall day, the river…
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We need to stop the overspending

To the Editor: The article regarding the backlash over Biden’s forgiveness of student loans was another, “Well, Susie did it!”…
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We can't normalize Trump’s criminality

To the Editor: Every American should be troubled, attentive and very concerned about the mishandling of classified documents by the…
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Thoughts on hunting and being vegan

I know next to nothing about hunting, but a random man in the gas station got me thinking about the…
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Preserving WNC’s culture and natural beauty

Bluegrass and mountain music. American Indian culture. Unparalleled natural beauty. The most-visited national park in the United States. The tallest…
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Rep. Clampitt’s values aren’t mine

To the Editor: The current issue of The Smoky Mountain News (September 7) has a sticker affixed to the front…
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