Kindness is a powerful force
To the Editor: Political leaders are claiming they want to unite Americans. What they suggest is a top-down system which…
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Me thinks they protest too much
To the Editor: The recent outrage by an ever-increasing number of Democrat talking heads about actions by Elon Musk and…
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Big Pharma ads are lies
To the Editor: Lately there have been video ads on YouTube and TV that say “Biden Raided and Broke Medicare,”…
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Wake up before it’s too late
To the Editor: I made granola today. I know that doesn’t sound like news, or even worth a letter to…
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Watch your bank account
To the Editor: Trump and his puppet master Elon Musk are killing our economy that was recovering better than any…
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Thank God for Trump, Vance
To the Editor: I voted for Donald Trump. I voted for J.D. Vance. I am deeply grateful for them, the…
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Remember now next time you vote
To the Editor: It has been hard to keep up with the news cycles during the first week of President…
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Grab the lifejackets and the suntan oil
To the Editor: This just in! President Trump is recommending everyone in WNC be moved out to somewhere else (maybe…
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GOP budget plan slashes Medicaid
To the Editor: I asked Rep. Chuck Edwards about the massive changes made in our names by Elon Musk and…
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Sen. Tillis should say no to Patel
To the Editor: When it comes to picking leaders, you’d think the minimum qualifications would include experience, integrity and a…
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Cutting USAID hurts farmers
To the Editor: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) buys about $2 billion — billion — in U.S. agricultural…
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Trump sabotages cancer research
To the Editor: Before I started my 30-year career as a pediatrician in Haywood County, I had the honor of…
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Now, all lines are blurred
To the Editor: I was judged rather harshly for a letter, by no less than six people in three newspapers,…
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Democracy’s guardrails are coming off
To the Editor: Democracy thrives on rules that balance power and protect freedom. But recent actions by this new administration…
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Are we safer after the pardons?
To the Editor: In January 2021, Daniel Rodriques travelled to Washington, D.C., to take part in a gathering of supporters…
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Shame on U.S. corporations
To the Editor: What hypocrites we are! As we honor President Jimmy Carter for his worldwide humanitarian efforts, American corporations…
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Godspeed, President Carter
To the Editor: Not being particularly tearful yesterday (Dec. 29) was a terrible moment for me. It was the day…
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Bill was a power grab
To the Editor: I’m not certain, Senator Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, that your constituency thoroughly understands your characterization of Senate Bill 382…
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Here’s to a stronger sense of community in 2025
In listening to the tributes regarding the death of President Jimmy Carter, a phrase from his inauguration speech struck a…
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Community support helps feed the hungry
To the Editor: The Maggie Valley United Methodist Church wishes to thank the community for their overwhelming support of our…
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Holiday china and an ode to Christmas
Several weeks ago, I read an article listing a number of holiday traditions that are disappearing, such as caroling, writing…
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Complaints aren't founded in truth
It is very hard for me to continue listening to the ongoing issues of housing when I know we have…
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A lesson in how lies lead to dangerous outcomes
Facts, once unassailable, have become, well, difficult to quantify. People make up or repeat lies, especially on social media platforms…
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GOP’s rationale for power grab just doesn’t wash
When they are challenged on their authoritarianism, North Carolina Republicans’ most frequent ploy is to retrieve grievances from decades ago.…
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Slow down, spread the joy
To the Editor: I appreciate Scott McLeod’s sage advice to relax for the upcoming Christmas day and following New Years. One…
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Four hundred miles from home, signs of hope
Glass half full, that’s me. Lots of good folks out there doing good things. We had a couple of gentle…
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Viewing the holidays from a different lens
Like everything in life, the holiday season is about perception. On one hand, you can view it as a commercialized…
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Relief bill an insult to WNC
To the Editor: I’m writing to thank Rep. Mike Clampitt, Rep. Karl Gillespie and Rep. Mark Pless for siding with…
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Not sure state will do what’s needed
To the Editor: I do not share Mr. McLeod's optimism that the the legislature "...will do what is needed for…
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Proposed state aid bill is an insult
The number is $53.6 billion. That’s the estimate from the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management for the damage…
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Mencken’s vision
When I asked a friend in the north of England what people there think of our recent election, he did…
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Knowing the difference: fact versus opinion
To the Editor: A few weeks ago Smoky Mountain News Editor Scott McLeod wrote an interesting article spelling out the differences…
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Israeli visit is pure hypocrisy
To the Editor: A recent edition of a local paper described the visit of an Israeli envoy to bring relief…
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The meaningful moments that make memories
(I started writing a Thanksgiving column, paused a moment, did a Google search and realized that I had shared this…
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Lessons from Noah’s flood — confessions of a progressive
After reading the point-counterpoint last week from David Lawson and Tom Powers, I was inspired to offer a third path forward.…
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Destruction from the MAGA storm
To the Editor: Helene brought destruction and chaos! Homes, businesses, cars, people washed away, roads and bridges washed out, people…
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Have we lost our way, America?
To the Editor: As I ponder the implications of the presidential election, I have to ask myself and I ask…
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Beliefs about Biden/Harris just aren’t true
After reading David Lawson’s letter, “Maybe Trump’s Win Was about Policy,” I sympathize with Dr. Lawson’s desire to focus on…
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Helene disaster isn’t over
To the Editor: I was finally able to get through the travel hazards back to Western North Carolina six days…
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Trump’s election tells us a lot
To the Editor: The 2024 presidential election revealed one thing in crystal-clear, proof-positive, light-years beyond any reasonable doubt comprehensibility, that the…
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Moving away from a place of fear
The passion surrounding the 2024 election was monumental, and as I observed my fellow Americans, the overarching emotion that simmered…
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We will reap what we’ve sown
To the Editor: I wish I could blame the outcome of the recent presidential election on yet another “misfire” (as…
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Maybe Trump’s win was about policy
To the Editor: The liberal media, including TV personalities and “journalists,” were really shocked over the Trump victory. “Oh, the…
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Here’s to rolling with the changes
I’m a ripened 64, and I still love real newspapers. However, my affinity for online browsing is also taking root.…
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An epic win for my beloved Dodgers
When my time comes, if there is some gathering for people to pick over my days and ways, I expect…
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Hats off to Mountain Research Station
To the Editor: The Haywood Gleaners wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Mountain Research Station for their recent…
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Be prepared to wait before we have a president
So here we are, days away from this pivotal election, and here’s a word of advice: take a deep breath,…
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Letting go isn’t always so easy
Have you noticed how stunning the fall colors are this year? A plethora of factors affect the autumn hues, making…
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Choose wisely with your vote
To the Editor: This upcoming election is going to be a close call. According to many of the polls being…
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It’s about living our faith
To the Editor: I still remember September 27, 1953. That was the Sunday my brother, Greg, and I were baptized…
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