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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What I don’t know about parenting
The central paradox of parenting is that by the time you have it figured out, it’s over. Now that I…
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Time to fix NCLB to better reflect the real world
Congress is likely to re-authorize the No Child Left Behind Act sometime this fall. If that is indeed the case,…
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Dillsboro Dam important part of Jackson’s heritage, economy
By Susan Leveille Editor’s note: This letter, which contains some updates, was sent by Susan Leveille to the Maggie Salas,…
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School gets scant attention out in the jungle
By David Curtis As a teacher in the public school system I have often heard teachers express their frustrations by…
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For gays, desperation too often a way of life
A few years ago, I received a letter from a reader that I have never forgotten. Upset over the suicide…
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Is oil like a mineral, vegetable or animal?
By S. Michael Hewitt • Guest Columnist Remember the game of 20 Questions? One person thinks of a thing. A…
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Defending their turf
Four-wheel drive enthusiasts are prepared to defend their use of the Tellico Off-Road Area in the Graham County section of…
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SCC ranking a sign of the high quality of community colleges
In this day and age, as the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen and this country’s manufacturing…
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Osama, this is George: I need you, man
By Arthur Hancock • Guest Columnist I had a dream that the following communication came into my hands. I read…
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Roll the credits, please – ASU 34, Mich. 32
For the last 24 hours, I have felt like a character in a movie. You have seen the movie, probably…
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Heaven in a bucket, a hillside and some blueberries
By Stephanie Wampler Have you ever doubted the existence of Heaven? If so, then I will jump to the hasty…
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Mills new owners have a strong legacy to live up to
When the new owners of the Canton paper mill announced a few weeks ago that company headquarters were being moved…
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When did the need for AC move up the mountain?
When we were having record and near record heat back in August, I did what any overheated mountain dweller would…
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Vick a poster child for depraved stars
Has any professional athlete ever made more a mess of his life than Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick? At the…
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Voting in North Carolina just got easier
The U.S. Justice Department gave final approval last week to a new North Carolina law allowing people to register and…
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TDA changes ramrodded by county manager
By Scot Warf As past chairman of the Swain County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), I feel compelled to share with…
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It’s always somebody’s fault, isn’t it
We are a nation of blamers. When something goes wrong, or something tragic happens we, as Americans, are quick to…
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Duke just hasn’t offered much to the region
The phrase “do the right thing,” the name of an early Spike Lee movie, has become a part of the…
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Hats off to Jackson County commissioners
Last week Jackson County commissioners passed what is being called the strongest set of development regulations in North Carolina. They’ve…
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Bury Ed in Appalachia
By Brett Martin Western North Carolina is rich with great literature written on the region, and there are still a…
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Is summer over already?
When I went back to teaching full time about three years ago, one of the things I looked forward to…
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Use the ‘front porch’ barometer for politicians
By John Armour If you’ve read many of these columns you know I’m addicted to politics. My spouse, among others,…
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For teachers, success is in smell
By David Curtis As a schoolteacher you always wonder how your students will remember you. “She was a good teacher,…
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Poo by any other name is still...
What’s in a name? What about Scat? Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Maybe. Shakespeare seemed…
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Energy bill weak, but a good start
There are serious problems with the energy legislation passed this session in the North Carolina General Assembly, but the bill…
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Is anyone counting the losses?
By Sami Felmet • Guest Columnist The birds and the bees. We’re losing them, you know. How will we explain…
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Macon takes a stand, and developer is OK with it
It used to be the “revenooers” who were considered the most vile characters in the mountains, but now we have…
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Give me a deck of cards and no sand
My dad hated the beach. At least, that is how I remember it. We only went a couple of times…
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It’s not about the trees at all
I really don’t think we are as stupid as they think we are. Developers of commercial retail shopping centers have…
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Town elections are important for future of WNC
A coin toss. That’s what decided the race for mayor two years ago in the Jackson County town of Forest…
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Here’s what is wrong with the debates
By Marshall Frank As of this writing, five presidential debates — three Republican and two Democratic — have been held,…
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