Constitutents angry with Rep. Meadows’ actions
To the Editor: This is an open letter to Rep Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers. Rep. Meadows, your actions have already denied…
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More Medicaid lies from McCrory
To the Editor: In my business, I deal with many people who are at the bottom of the economic ladder.…
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McCrory’s efforts paying off for state
To the Editor: In most of the Western Carolina newspapers’ letters to the editor section, we can count on one…
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Meadows, Maniscalco did not attend forum
To the Editor: I attended the Maggie Valley aldermen candidate forum and read with interest your coverage of this event.…
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Citizens should not tolerate shutdown
To the Editor: My name is David Monteith and I oppose the government shutdown. We Americans have given enough. When…
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GOP shouldn’t blame this on Democrats
To the Editor: The Republicans, including our own Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, who have repeatedly stated dislike for the federal…
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Please explain what is so bad about Obamacare
To the Editor: I do so hope that Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, read the Oct. 2 issue of The Smoky…
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Rep. Meadows is proud of poster boy status
To the editor: In a Sept. 27 CNN article, Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, was identified as “the architect of the…
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Meadows playing up to Tea Party
To the Editor: Regarding a recent op-ed piece by Doug Wingeier on Congressman Meadows, R-Cashiers, and his feigned interest in…
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Shutdown particularly bad for our region
To the Editor: The federal government shutdown is probably the most counter-productive action that Congress could have taken during this…
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The system isn’t broken, it’s fixed
To the Editor: If we hadn’t figured it out by 2008, we should have at least gotten a clue. The…
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Jackson’s new tourism logo is lacking
To the Editor: Neither of the logos considered by the Jackson County TDA convey the proper message for tourism development.…
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‘We have met the enemy, and he is us’
To the Editor: Does John Boehner like what he’s seeing in the mirror these days? Maybe not, but the problem…
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Why is McCrory’s approval rating so high?
To the Editor: Governor Pat McCrory’s approval rating stands at 35 percent. Given the way he’s stuck it to the…
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Lawmakers in denial about plight of poor
By Dawn Gilchrist-Young Of the 120 or so 12th-graders I teach each year, about two-thirds have jobs outside of school.…
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First United Methodist Church to celebrate 125th anniversary
First United Methodist Church in Sylva will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a Homecoming on Sunday, Oct. 6. Bishop Larry…
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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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