Letter a sad example of misinformation
To the Editor: Since Obama took office Jan. 20, 2009, the DOW has risen 48 percent, the S&P 500 is…
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Hitting the trail not so easy in Jackson – at least not yet
Thanks to work obligations that have put me in Franklin several days at a time these last few weeks, I've…
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Celebrating a society built on open government
We — this country, its leaders and all of us — are imperfect. We're human, and that means we get…
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WCU’s literary festival promises raft of talented wordsmiths
From written word to silver screen, Western Carolina University's Spring Literary Festival will celebrate its 10th year by featuring two…
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The gorilla on the state’s back is getting heavy
Government at all levels needs to spend money judiciously. It is, after all, our money. I’m not convinced either major…
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Pleasantly unearthing a few long-dormant memories
I unpacked my *euphonium recently — my first love was music; writing was a fallback position — and started fooling…
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Lottery funds are a boost for Haywood schools
To the Editor: A headline on a Feb. 29 article in The Smoky Mountain News creates a misleading impression of…
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Brigman story needed a second opinion
To the Editor: It is interesting that The Smoky Mountain News in its reporting on superintendent of Macon County Schools…
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Headline showed SMN’s political bias
To the Editor: Somewhere during my school years I was taught about slanted journalism. One of the best examples of…
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Time to send Barack down the road
To the Editor: Over the weekend we heard from our 44-year-old niece. She was fretting over her 401k. She is…
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Critics off mark in planning board attacks
To the Editor: Back in the 1990s, I was privileged to serve several years on the Macon County Planning Board,…
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We should provide health care to all
To the Editor: As of 2010, 50 million people in the U.S. had no health insurance (no doubt more now).…
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Lest we forget: Whitney was a criminal
Pardon my insensitivity. Whitney Houston was a great singing talent, indeed. That was a gift of nature. She was also…
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Ordinance revisions deserve public scrutiny
To the Editor: The Jackson County Planning Department is methodically revising sections of the subdivision ordinance. In the fall, the…
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Justice delayed is justice denied
To the Editor: For centuries, the citizens of our state have extolled the virtues of a fair and judicious court…
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Racial Justice Act should remain intact
To the Editor: It is painful and, frankly, disgusting to witness North Carolina’s prosecutors and their allies in the General…
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When it’s all about the writing, I’m all in
Even after laboring for some two decades at various news publications I can’t say that I ever particularly considered myself…
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The secret life of Quintin Ellison
In a time-wasting exercise, I was giving thought recently about my earliest memory, which is of getting my knee stuck…
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Taxpayers deserve easier access to voting
To the Editor: My name is John Herrin and I am a registered voter in Swain County, and I wrote…
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Swain needs to keep one-stop voting site
To the Editor: Ms. Sallie Smith Bradley will celebrate her 98th birthday on Saturday, March 3, at her residence in…
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My go-to source for a shot of inspiration
Do you have a muse? At different times in my life that role has been filled by different entities. As…
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Safer, smarter and nostalgic about a more reckless past
In the 1960s and 70s, everybody smoked, everybody but my mother, who didn’t smoke, drink, or do anything that Ann…
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Alzheimer’s letter draws needed attention
To the Editor: My heartfelt gratitude to John Corkran of Black Mountain for his letter (Asheville Citizen-Times, Feb. 6) titled…
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LTLT strives to be non-partisan, helpful
To the Editor: A letter appearing in The Smoky Mountain News two weeks ago incorrectly characterized the mission, work, and…
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Cherokee bear zoos need to be shut down
To the Editor: How many times do the roadside zoos in Cherokee have to be cited for violations of federal…
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Planning board needs to be controlled
To the Editor: One of the most memorable days of my life was Jan. 19, 2001. Macon County had tried…
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Can Macon County make a decision?
To the Editor: At times when difficult decisions are being considered, leaders may seek the counsel of community-minded, experienced individuals…
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Earning the right to indulge myself
I was recently among a group of friends who were discussing habits — what they are and why we have…
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Shuler’s ‘no’ ends successful run in politics
No. It’s the biggest word in politics, often setting off a firestorm when delivered at a crucial moment. Gov. Beverly…
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Newspaper criticism was just off the mark
To the Editor: I had to read “Shame on you, SMN, for poking fun” (Smoky Mountain News, Feb. 1 edition)…
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An old friend comes for what I hope is a short visit
A good friend of old came to stay last week. A great respecter of proper etiquette, she provided ample warning…
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A citizens’ scroll should replace library plaque
To the Editor: In a recent article in The Smoky Mountain News, Jackson County Commissioner Jack Debnam was quoted as…
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Who does Sen. Jim Davis really represent?
To the Editor: State Sen. Jim Davis had an excellent idea. He suggested that anyone who wondered about contributions to…
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Counties don’t need to be in the banking business
In this country built on capitalism, it’s a constant source of antagonism among politicians and citizens. I’m talking about the…
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We need to stop the Great Outdoor Giveaway
Over 100 years ago, Republican President Theodore Roosevelt said to the American people: Of all the questions which can come…
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Protesting against war remains important
To the Editor: Thanks for the kind words you have for me and our peace vigilers in last week’s issue…
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WNC Alliance also a Needmore partner
To the Editor: As Quintin Ellison notes in her article, “By Land and By Water— (Jan. 18 Smoky Mountain News)…
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Joe Paterno’s fall from grace has Oedipus-like storyline
When the legendary — and former — Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno died on Sunday morning, the first…
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Selfish Me and Harried Woman
“Why didn’t you tell me?” the woman — wild-eyed, disbelieving and somewhat hysterically — called over to where I was…
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New LTLT an important voice for the region
Western North Carolina residents will be well served by the merger of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and…
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The time is ripe for garden planning
January is a time for new beginnings; nowhere is that more true than in the garden. A difficult task for…
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A reminder of the inhumanity that is war
It was pouring last Wednesday as I drove home, the cold rain painting the winter landscape a dull grey. Standing…
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NCAE needs to work for schools, not Democrats
In spite of Scott McLeod’s assertion that “it would be hard to argue otherwise” in his column (“Vote on NCAE…
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Locke Foundation critical of tactics
To the Editor: It’s unclear where Justin Conley (“Vindictive measure should send message,” The Smoky Mountain News, Jan. 11 issue)…
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Unexpected pleasures from a trip across the state
Sometimes what we expect to happen doesn’t: On vacation this week, I stopped in Raleigh and viewed the “Rembrandt in…
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Bothwell would be better than Shuler
To the Editor: Cecil Bothwell is running for U.S. Congress in Western Northern Carolina. He is looking to unseat the…
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Whole tax system needs an overhaul
To the Editor: We have been hearing much about taxing the rich more in order to help our debt problem,…
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Vindictive measure should send message
To the Editor: My grandmother always told me that, “nothing good happens after midnight.” I never quite grasped why until…
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Vote on NCAE dues like a slap in the face to teachers
When the state House voted to override Gov. Beverly Perdue’s veto and stop letting teachers use payroll deductions to pay…
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Warm weather brings unseasonable activity
Cutting collards this past weekend, I was surprised to find colonies of purplish-colored aphids under many of the leaves. That…
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