PCs for grads program thanks supporters
To the Editor: A little over a year ago, the concept of annually awarding donated and refurbished PCs to Haywood…
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Predator beetles work for all hemlocks
To the Editor: Congratulations to the National Park Service for getting the word out about the predator beetles being used…
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State GOP decimates public education
To the Editor: North Carolina’s once proud public education system is under siege by the radical Republican gang in control…
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This time I’m sure of it; at least I think so
When I sat down to write a piece for this week’s paper my topic was already chosen. I was going…
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Where do we go when the public square fractures?
The “fractured public square” refers to the loss of the place where a community discusses ideas, politics and values. The…
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Tribal Council vote on bear zoos disappointing
To the Editor: I am extremely disappointed in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Council (except members Perry Shell, Terri…
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Meadows in the wrong on background checks
To the Editor: This is an open letter to Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., our district’s freshman congressman: Your vote to…
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What will you do about jack booted thugs?
To the Editor: Watching the YouTube videos (since removed) of the “jack booted thugs” trampling on our Third, Fourth, Fifth,…
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Sen. Davis going way too far to the right
To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and his extreme right-wing partisans have no problem wasting taxpayer money as long…
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Despite failure, time will come for gun legislation
The defeat of gun control legislation in the Senate wasn’t as much surprising as it was disappointing. This is one…
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When will Americans learn that ‘blowback’ is real?
In 1953, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, at the urging of the British M16, overthrew democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister…
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MedWest Haywood appreciates volunteers
To the Editor: A smile, a touch, a simple “how are you today?” are some of what I hear and…
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Don’t allow filling in of floodplain
To the Editor: I am a local biologist and an avid outdoorsman and spend a great deal of my time…
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Tell your reps to vote against fracking
To the Editor: Most of us have heard the term fracking by now. In states where this underground energy extraction…
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I will miss my conversations with Roger Ebert
I cannot credit film critic Roger Ebert, who died just a couple of weeks ago after a lengthy battle with…
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Democrats need to unite behind Christopher
To the Editor: I’m deeply troubled to learn that some Haywood Democrats are still disgruntled about the appointment of Greg…
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Career politicians are the problem
To the Editor: Career politicians are ruining this country. Unfortunately, once elected, most of our politicians’ concerns are to become…
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Dillsboro and Jackson need railroad back
To the Editor: How will the saga of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad end? There have been many letters written…
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Presnell not interested in freedom of religion
To the Editor: I was horrified to learn that my representative in the N.C. House, Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, co-sponsored…
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Drive a hard bargain with railroad
To the Editor: I’d like to ask the Jackson County Commissioners why, in the midst of high unemployment and a…
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Rep. Presnell violates oath of office
To the Editor: There are conflicting lights in which to view the co-sponsorship by Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, of the…
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Legislators should support Haywood room tax hike
The room tax hike being sought by Haywood leaders needs to pass and deserves the support of the legislative delegation…
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Recent charm offensive will influence Obama legacy
We have been hearing a lot lately about President Barack Obama’s charm offensive. He has been traveling a short distance…
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Prescription drug industry needs to be reined in
What’s deadlier than a crazed maniac in a kindergarten class with a loaded assault weapon? In the most horrifying massacre…
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It’s our home, keep it clean
To the Editor: Every time I drive to and from Bryson City, I become distressed by the volume of litter…
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Meadows’ vote just doesn’t make sense
To the Editor: I am a white woman and a God-fearing Democrat. I could not sleep well this Easter Sunday.…
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Nuclear proliferation just needs to stop
To the Editor: How many nuclear weapons does it take to make us “safe?” According to a recent report by…
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Taking it easy on the obnoxious street preacher
Cigar smoke swirled around my face as the eardrum splitting street preacher invaded the festive mood of the thousands meandering…
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Consider safety issues related to steep slopes
To the Editor: I once again would like to bring up the safety issues regarding fire, rescue and sheriff’s department…
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Dillsboro will welcome railroad back
To the Editor: There seems to be some confusion as to the withdrawal of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad from…
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Return train to Dillsboro, but not as proposed
To the Editor: Let’s remember when talking about the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR), we are talking about two different…
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Voter ID issue just keeps getting better
To the Editor: The radical Republican regime in Raleigh has a new pretext for the voter ID scheme North Carolina…
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Investing in the region’s creative minds
When the city of Asheville decided that this year’s Bele Chere street festival would be the last it funded, little…
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Chavez did some real good in Venezuela
To the Editor: With the recent death of Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, there has been much speculation in the…
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Voter ID law a waste of time, money
To the Editor: The voter suppression monster has reared its ugly head again in Raleigh. Although details are not known…
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My journey to the center of the Earth, and back
By Stephanie Wampler • Columnist Our Saturday morning cave adventure started out innocently enough. We would need flashlights. Check. I had…
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My cousin the Keynesian and his mistaken ideas
By Kenn Jacobine I have this cousin, let’s call him Giovanni. He is a great guy – industrious, hospitable, great…
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Don’t forget First Amendment as we debate the Second
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” For years I had ascribed those words to Thomas Paine, the fiery British-American…
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Don’t be in a rush to cut courthouse trees
To the Editor: I am concerned that the decision to remove the trees at the courthouse was hasty and ill-judged.…
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Once again, we need to save Needmore
To the Editor: After all the time and effort put forth by the citizens of Macon and Swain counties, the…
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The roots of the U.S. gun culture
To the Editor: In all the current commentary about gun violence in the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy…
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A great night of music at the Bardo Center
To the Editor: What a wonderful evening recently at the Bardo Arts Center. Western Carolina University School of Music presented…
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Joining Waynesville right move for Junaluska
To the Editor: From my perspective, much of the discussion of whether or not to allow annexation of Lake Junaluska…
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Give McCrory, GOP a chance before piling on
To the Editor: Ms. Abel’s letter said that the state’s Democratic ideals are fading fast since the last election (“State’s…
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Making tourism sustainable as economic development
By Ken Stahl • Guest Columnist There appears to be controversy concerning the proposed 2 percent occupancy tax increase. This…
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Increasing Medicare coverage could lower healthcare costs
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist The United States spends twice as much on health care as most other modern…
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MV Lodging Association opposes TDA tax hike
To the Editor: Contrary to articles recently published in our local papers, there is much opposition to the proposed law…
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State’s democratic ideals are fading fast
To the Editor: Our founding fathers, framing our Constitution, created a representative democracy. They formed a republic, a government where…
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Writer spouted false facts about Obamacare
To the Editor: A recent letter writer makes a number of unsubstantiated and flat out erroneous claims about Obamacare, otherwise…
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Time to be rid of all Cherokee bear zoos
To the Editor: Little has changed in Cherokee since a 1989 Parade Magazine cover story, “Are Our Zoos Humane?” named…
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