Waynesville street art belongs to the public
To the Editor: The enthusiasm was very evident! The Waynesville Public Art Commission would like to thank everyone who came…
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New North Carolina ID law turns away voters
To the Editor: The North Carolina Legislature has passed, and Gov. McCrory has signed, a bill requiring a photo ID…
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Meadows should re-think vote on food for poor, elderly
By Doug Wingeier • Guest Columnist Back in March, my wife and I, together with a couple from Brevard, paid a…
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New ID law turns away voters
To the Editor: The North Carolina legislature has passed, and Gov. McCrory has signed, a bill requiring a photo ID…
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Class Notes: The new reality for teachers
By Dawn Gilchrist-Young I’m writing this because I teach three sections of senior English at Swain High School, where I’ve…
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This should be heaven – and a little hell – on wheels
My people are rooted in the South. On both mom’s and dad’s sides of the family, very few have moved…
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State is on the way up
To the Editor: North Carolina has the 49th highest unemployment rate in the USA, tied with Rhode Island and followed…
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McCrory gets defensive about voter law
To the Editor: The national criticism of his voter suppression law — yes, he signed it, so it’s his — must…
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Government for the rich, by the vindictive
To the Editor: In January, Republicans swept into state government on a mission of frugality, vowing to trim fat from…
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Needed: a just, humane immigration policy
By Doug Wingeier • Guest Columnist With all the current media attention being focused on Syria, budget deadlines, Obamacare, and the…
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At least the rich got a tax cut
To the Editor: Congratulation, the Republican legislature just gave everyone in the state a tax cut. Well, maybe not, just…
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Hoping memories last until next election
To the Editor: In a recent letter titled “New laws bring advantages to N.C. citizens,” the writer stated “It’s time…
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National spotlight shines on N.C.
To the Editor: The 2013 North Carolina legislature has enacted numerous measures to benefit corporations and attract new business to…
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Let’s keep the AT as pristine as possible
To the Editor: In the winter of 1979, in the midst of studying for a degree at a large university,…
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What a great day in Western North Carolina
From the very first few days I lived in the mountains — as an 18-year-old freshman at Appalachian State University…
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Wrong priorities causing problems
To the Editor: The 50th anniversary of the “March on Washington” and Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech…
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Gov. McCrory, GOP have turned business loose
To the Editor: We live in the greatest country the modern world has ever known. Our president has not been…
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New attempt to help domestic abuse victims
To the Editor: Domestic abuse, according to statistics, has increased. Although the exact reasons cannot be pinpointed, the latest analysis…
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War-weary Americans don’t want to get involved in Syria
By Doug Wingeier • Guest Columnist It doesn’t seem to matter which political party a president belongs to: if he…
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Cutting education spending is like eating your seed corn
I’ve always loved school. Consequently, I detest what the General Assembly is doing to education. As a kid, I knew…
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Students food insecure as school starts
As children return to school this week, the joy of seeing their friends, sharing summer stories, wearing new shoes or…
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Meals on Wheels needs volunteers
To the Editor: I volunteer with Jackson County Meals on Wheels, and I also serve on the volunteer committee. I…
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GOP declares war on all except the rich
To the Editor: Since the radical cabal of Republican reactionaries has taken control of our state government, much has been…
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Is it too much to ask for an honest election?
To the Editor: All I want is an honest election. Is that too much to ask? Why are some Democrats,…
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Legislature did a lot for this state’s citizens
To the Editor: It’s time to speak the truth about the gains for North Carolina citizens made by the state…
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Dr. Gates is fine addition to Sylva Orthopedics
To the Editor: I was pleased to see in my most recent issue of The Smoky Mountain News that Dr.…
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New voting law doesn’t pass the smell test
The photo ID requirements included in the new voting law passed by the General Assembly and recently signed by Gov.…
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Specialty plate renewal a victory for everyone
To the Editor: We won! The vibrant green bear Friends of the Smokies specialty license plate has been rescued from…
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Poor leadership will drag down the state
To the Editor: Once again Jim Mueller, vice chair of the Jackson County Republican Party enlightens us with his Tea…
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Judicial hearings should remain open to public
To the Editor: When sponsors can’t give a good reason for proposed legislation, it usually means there are bad ones. It’s…
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You can’t take a ‘pig in a poke’ to the bank
It’s difficult for me to believe that the new leadership in Raleigh would purposely sacrifice development in the state’s rural…
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Saving specialty license plates great for WNC
The General Assembly’s renewal of the specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers surprised many only because it seemed such…
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It’s painful, but state is on the right path
To the Editor: On Monday this first week of August, a group of people showed up in Raleigh complaining about…
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Some things Macon citizens may not know
To the Editor: I’ve had several citiznes ask me why I voted against this or that. It’s time to clear the…
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Waynesville Jake break laws good for in town
To the Editor: Referencing the article of two weeks ago about the Jake brakes in Waynesville and in reply to…
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Haywood residents can take part in research
To the Editor: When I was told I had cancer, I wondered what caused it. I had always been very…
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State GOP leaders are bought and paid for
To the Editor: In a recent letter to the Editor, Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-Wilmington, changed his name for the weekly…
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Runway widening will harm rural valley
To the Editor: An article in a local paper on July 5 states that the Macon County Airport Authority met…
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Jake brakes are a needed safety measure
To the Editor: I absolutely object to the conclusions in your article about Jake brakes in last week’s edition of…
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GOP-led legislature has wrong priorities
To the Editor: The Republicans in Raleigh have approved their “tax reform” and budget, and we will suffer for both. …
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Being in the right place at the right time
Ever know you are in a good place at the right time? Every now and then that sentiment — about…
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Keeping college affordable
Some time this holiday weekend, my nephew Sterling will come for a visit at my mother’s house. He’s a high…
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Cullowhee traffic woes deserve attention
To the Editor: Had I been a student at Western Carolina Teachers College (WCTC) in the late 1920s, I might…
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We are going wrong way on abortion issue
To the Editor: I am old enough to remember the time before Roe v. Wade was passed. Almost every family…
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Rep. Presnell should keep out of merger
To the Editor: We are thankful for The Smoky Mountain News coverage of the Lake Junaluska-Waynesville merger process. I am…
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N.C. should take politics out of redistricting
By Martin Dyckman Blackbeard, North Carolina's most famous pirate, was a fitting precursor to the modern brigands at Raleigh. As…
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Expanded Macon runway is a bad idea
To the Editor: An article in a local paper stated that the Macon County Airport Authority met in early July…
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Legislature leading us down to new depths
“Thank you sir, may I have another.” The line by Kevin Bacon from the now-classic film “Animal House” kept popping…
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High mileage, some rust, still running
By John Beckman • Columnist I’ve had quite a few cars on the road in the past 40 years, and I’ve…
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DOT decision could finally lay the Southern Loop to rest
I’m not sure it represents a new philosophy or perhaps is just an acknowledgement of reality, but the decision by…
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