Barnyard wisdom arrives, but at its own speed
I am learning to move at the speed each task demands. This is a lesson the barnyard teaches. It is…
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Obama’s stumbles open door for conservatives
By Kirkwood Callahan • Guest Columnist Two years ago, America’s newest political superstar, Barack Obama, walked across campaign stages to…
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Excuses, excuses – don’t give me that
I remember my outrage bubbling up as she spoke. “Mrs. Langley,” my fellow first-grade classmate and yellow-bellied, snitch-of-a-former friend said…
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Miller is choice in 11th District
To the Editor: If you are unfamiliar with Jeff Miller, the Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District, or if…
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Don’t muzzle public input in Haywood
To the Editor: As citizens of Haywood County, we would like to call your attention to some proposals that the…
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Incumbents are best for commissioner seats
To the Editor: The race is on now that Labor Day has come and gone. For a while we will…
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Democrats are the problem solvers
To the Editor: I am a proud Democrat. An intelligent, articulate Democrat became President and he brought back America’s honor…
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Why we need a public forum in Jackson County
To the Editor: Why did the Jackson County Home Builders Association organize the upcoming Jackson County Town Hall Forum at…
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I go to carnivals, therefore I love my children
Part of becoming a parent is making peace with the proposition that virtually everyone in the world except you knows…
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Incumbents are best to represent Jackson
To the Editor: This year we have three county commissioners running for re-election in Jackson County. Brian McMahan is running…
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Understanding others is the way to peace
To the Editor: We write with deep concern over recent attacks on Muslims and Muslim communities in our country. One…
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Forest Hills needs to look before it leaps
To the Editor: Having been involved when Forest Hills sought to impose an ETJ on surrounding communities several years ago…
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Forest Hills should consider its future
To the Editor: I have several concerns about the Forest Hills annexation after attending the second extended meeting between Forest Hills and Western…
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Scotts Creek still has its pollution problems
To the Editor: The article titled “Creeks now flow clean through Waynesville and Sylva” (Sept. 8 Smoky Mountain News) described…
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Missed forum was bad timing, not apathy
To the Editor: I would like to respond to the Cindy Solesbee letter to the editor in the Sept. 8…
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Judging a society by what it values
A lot of ink has been spilled over the new $10.3 million crafts education building at Haywood Community College, and…
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Sometimes you just know when it’s right
I felt sure this morning the thermometer was telling lies. It read 48 degrees, but the chill in the air…
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Independent candidates might deserve a look
To the Editor: With the occurrence of each election cycle, more and more Americans are choosing to support and vote…
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Good ideas can’t get past Democratic leadership
To the Editor: Congressman Heath Shuler just sent out an email talking once again about the wisdom of his “S.A.V.E.…
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GOP was blamed for good reason
To the Editor: I want to thank the League of Women Voters in Franklin for holding candidate forums for our…
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What’s the game, living longer or looking better?
“Pssst!” I was just finishing up my lat pull-down exercise when I heard it, but I was too busy thinking…
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Incumbents were not very open-minded
To the Editor: The League of Women Voters is to be commended for conducting a forum in Franklin on Aug.…
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Green building is the right choice
To the Editor: The move towards sustainability is of paramount importance for the future of our local communities, our nation…
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Bucks, does, pullets and cockerels ... huh?
Auctioneer Mike Cagle’s patter mingles with the crows of roosters, quacking of ducks and chatter of the crowd. “These homer…
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Main Street grant doesn’t help economy, it hurts it
By Lynda Bennett • Guest Columnist Protestors in Waynesville recently dismissed Gov. Beverly Perdue’s stimulus grants as simply “baking up”…
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It’s past time to fill extension director’s post in Jackson-Swain
I admit to being slightly irked when I initially thought about writing this column. It has been about a year…
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HCC building vetted and dissected; it’s time to build
“Do I want to dictate what the college does? That is not my job. As county commissioners, it is my…
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Wheels Through Time is a great place to visit
To the Editor: I recently had occasion to take a 10-day camping and motorcycling trip. Maggie Valley was selected as…
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Nothing good about another Wal-Mart
To the Editor: The dollar signs twinkling in the aldermen’s eyes were glaringly visible at the town of Franklin meeting…
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Honor suffragists by voting in November
To the Editor: In a column dated Aug. 13, Gail Collins of The New York Times reminds us that August…
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Shuler vote keeps public servants at their jobs
To the Editor: I commend Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., for his support of H.R. 1586, the “Education, Jobs, and Medicaid…
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Our thanks to the Haywood health board
To the Editor: Tuesday night (Aug. 10) the Haywood County health board voted to table the amendment (for 90 days)…
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Kituwah was the wrong place for development
To the Editor: Some locations just aren’t suitable for development, let alone to be utilized by a major utility project.…
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On this vacation, we were definitely packing heat
Edisto, SC – Heat like this has a relentlessness that is unnerving. You try giving it the slip, it follows…
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A refreshing victory for what started as a grassroots effort
In this business of covering the news, we often bear witness as apathy wins the day. Citizens sit back and…
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HCC’s green dream requires money and faith
By Kirkwood Callahan • Guest Columnist Haywood County Commissioners on Aug. 16 will conduct a public hearing on a $12…
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Misguided leaders tout benefits of new Wal-Mart
To the Editor: The standing-room-only Aug. 2 public hearing of the Franklin Town Board of Alderman regarding the development of…
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Jackson salary hikes just plain wrong
To the Editor: In response to Jim McCarthy’s Aug. 3 letter, “County pay raises gone afoul,” I want to thank…
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HCC needs first-rate, enlarged arts building
To the Editor: HandMade in America fully supports Haywood Community College’s new Creative Arts Center to expand a program that…
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Forest Hills and CuRvE could fulfill Cullowhee’s potential
A meeting that could lead to a completely new personality for the Cullowhee area will be finished by the time…
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Taking the pulse of a region
We in the news business provide historians with some of the crucial data necessary to write the story of any…
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Thanks to all who helped with July 4 in Franklin
To the Editor: On behalf of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, I would like to thank those who helped to…
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Haywood Garden Tour was a great success
To the Editor: We are writing to express our gratitude for your excellent coverage of the 2010 Haywood County Garden…
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Energy industry is not all bad
To the Editor: I wish the article written by Thomas Crowe (“The terrorists are right here among us,” July 23…
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Poll improper, but results will be revealed
To the Editor: Last week I announced that I would be conducting an online poll seeking input about public sentiment…
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Small is not only beautiful, but necessary
There are books that get your attention, and then there are books that GRAB your attention. The new book by…
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Federal investment in the outdoors a good thing for WNC
The federal government, the nation’s largest land manager, has a responsibility ... to help develop a conservation agenda worthy of…
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Shuler’s TVA lies show he can’t be trusted
To the Editor: Since November, the whole district has known that Shuler told us all an endless stack of lies…
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Sen. Burr is not a fiscal conservative
To the Editor: North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, a self-defined fiscal conservative, has a lot of explaining to do. He…
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Tourism data simply not that hard to obtain
To the Editor: I read with great interest your recent column about the tourism industry in Western North Carolina. As…
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