A big bowl of politics and football
By David Curtis College football and presidential primary politics make strange bedfellows, but in this New Year I think they…
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Jackson students need a balanced education
By Michael Sanera • Guest Columnist In what appears to be a first in Jackson County, planners from a private…
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Recycling requirement passes costs on to rightful party
One is a new law that just took effect Jan. 1, and the other is a hoped-for statute that we…
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A little moss, hopefully, is forever
By Stephanie Wampler A thick, green sheet of moss is growing across my roof. When I first noticed it the…
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In WNC, voters showing support for Edwards, Huckabee
By Tom Jensen • Guest Columnist John Edwards and Mike Huckabee are the most popular Presidential candidates in their own…
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The honesty of a cat’s purr opens my eyes
By John Armour We have two cats: Weasel, a grey female calico, and Orion, a male orange and white tabby.…
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Blessed be the tin-eared hymn singer
By David Curtis “Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King.”
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Mountain protections gained wide support in 2007
For those of us who have been beating the drum about the need for mountain communities to get serious about…
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Disappearing fringes threaten national forests
By Brent Martin We see it everywhere we look in Western North Carolina — land advertised and marketed for its…
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Ten yers after Harrah’s, Cherokee is a better place
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino quietly marked its 10th anniversary in November, but it’s impossible to ignore exactly what it has meant…
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Foy’s influence will endure
The praise for outgoing Waynesville Mayor Henry Foy has been plentiful. Both of the other newspapers in Haywood County have…
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You cats dressed in blue, this is for you
(Editor’s note: Smoky Mountain News columnist Chris Cox delivered this address to the graduating class at Southwestern Community College this…
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The maples face an emotional buzz saw
By David Curtis Trees are making the news again in Haywood County as two commissioners are debating the sugar maples…
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Canton gains ground as mill’s dominance recedes
Things are changing in Canton. That in itself is somewhat newsworthy.
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Rankings show quality health care is available in Haywood County
By David Rice • Guest Columnist The results of a survey of nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide indicate Haywood Regional Medical…
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Christmas past is what we’re aiming for
As you know, the Christmas season these days begins about 20 minutes after the last of the trick or treaters…
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Community colleges should admit children of all immigrants
Too often debates about immigration veer way off course, inhabiting some netherland of hysteria that is so far from reality…
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Haywood County Arts Council marks 30 successful years
As the Haywood County Arts Council celebrates 30 years of work, it’s a good time to reflect on how effective…
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Making a list, forgetting to check it
By David Curtis Wool socks, silk long johns, cotton turtleneck, boots, down vest, wool jacket, Gortex insulated camo gloves. Deer…
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Jonathan Creek project is just not a good fit
Rumors have been circulating for years about the proposed mega-development in the Jonathan Creek area, the one with a thousand…
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Today’s youth are missing in action
I was 22 years old in 1967. Although it’s become fashionable to downgrade the sweeping changes brought about by my…
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Even Grinch knows Christmas isn’t in the store
“And they’re hanging their stockings!” he snarled with a sneer. “Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s practically here!” Then he growled, with…
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How the cookie crumbles
I look at you. You look at me. We’re dancing sort of, but I’m not much of a dancer and…
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Charlotte voters make tough, smart choice
These days Americans aren’t known for making tough choices. To the contrary, our national reputation is one of being soft.…
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Dark and empty night skies — a thing of the past
By Brent Martin For those who have read Charles Frazier’s excellent Western North Carolina tale, Thirteen Moons, you will most…
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Filling up a room with more than a table
By Sarah Kucharski Sunlight streams in our house’s south facing windows. The rays bring out the color in the Kiatt…
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Election shows counties they have work to do before new funding OK’d
Last Tuesday’s vote was as illuminating as any recent elections, and it should send a few good signals to those…
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Gauging a country’s greatness
By David Curtis Making the rounds in teacher’s email inboxes is a story about an educator from Arkansas who taught…
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Some memories just spell T-R-A-U-M-A
I am pretty sure I am going to get lashed for saying this, especially as an English teacher, but I…
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Macon makes mistakes in quest to pass school bonds
Macon County Schools superintendent Dan Brigman, school board attorney John Henning Jr. and the school board as a whole did…
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Burmese need our voices our courage
By Michael Beadle The tired diatribes of partisan politics may continue to capture the headlines in the coming campaign months,…
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Macon citizens deserve better from DOT on Siler Road project
A major road is in the planning stages, and neighbors and others in the community feel like it’s more of…
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The nice ones are all red and shiny
By David Curtis If you are driving west along U.S. 23/74 and nearing exit 102, the Waynesville exit, you will…
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Some people really can work miracles
By Stephanie Wampler I walked across the floor, the crowds cheering, the woman smiling as she handed me an award.…
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Days like these can go on forever
I miss all those Sundays at my grandma’s house, so many Sundays, so many years. Once upon a time, it…
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Free press and tribal politics
The decision by Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, to do away with a column in The…
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A health care fix is needed
Our story last week about a fund that helps women pay for breast cancer testing and treatment pointed out cracks…
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The right too often hides behind the children
On a political talk show recently, a well-known Republican political consultant spent a lot of time attacking public schools in…
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Sharing the moments as time marches on
By David Curtis Does time go by faster the older you get, or do we just have a better way…
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Breaking the made in China addiction
By Angela Faye Martin My husband is unwittingly celebrating my month-long, albeit relative, independence from Chinese goods. He sits across…
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Where do postage stamps come from?
By Sami Felmet • Columnist My muse seems to be marred in divorce and family issues lately. I think it…
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In local elections, support those who embrace planning
How’s this for a political endorsement: cast your votes in the upcoming municipal elections for those candidates who support land-use…
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Drive-thru decision-making is maddening
Let me say this first. This is not really a column about restaurants. The last time I wrote a column…
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In the heat of summer, it’s every tomato for itself
By Stephanie Wampler With a long flash of silver, the golf club revolved in a wide, smooth arc. The glinting…
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It’s all over but the texting
By David Curtis The 21st Century arrived at the Curtis residence this past Friday. We have evolved from caveman, cavewoman…
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DOT needs to hit the brakes on Southern Loop
There’s one fundamental reason the Southern Loop needs more discussion before it is considered a done deal — the simple…
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In the wake of death, new life
By Marsha Crites • Guest Columnist Much has been written in this paper and others about what is causing our…
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Ending the curse of Babel may be our only, best chance
By Arthur Hancock Anyone who is among the living has hope — even a live dog is better off than…
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The menagerie grows by one well-trained possum
By David Curtis I would like to think Haywood County is still considered a rural county. At least to me,…
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Preservation is good for the economy; time for all to get on board
Haywood County commissioners have taken a first step forward — albeit a small one — to protect farmland in the…
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