Clampitt’s Oath Keeper membership an embarrassment
I know Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Swain, and he’s a likeable, personable guy whom I disagree with on a lot of…
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The circle of life for Main Street commerce
For several years, The Smoky Mountain News has partnered with the Haywood Chamber of Commerce to publish its annual magazine.
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No big money from outsiders
To the Editor: My name is Carrie McBane and I was a candidate for Town of Sylva Council 2021 in…
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Non-conservatives won’t accept fascism
To the Editor: A recent letter purports to represent conservatives but contains mostly platitudes and hardly anything substantive. The writer’s…
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Always something new around the corner
Travel is one of my favorite soul foods, but it’s also cool to really get to know the place you…
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Newman has my vote in Sylva
To the Editor: I was once a candidate for the Sylva Town Council but withdrew when I realized that I…
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When being a mom breaks your heart
Being a mom is always hard, but there is something uniquely challenging about parenting an adolescent. For me, it felt…
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Does American history deserve a ‘content warning?’
To the Editor: My first impression was that the letter writer’s claim (SMN, Oct. 6) was just the latest bit…
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Why ask Cawthorn to speak to police?
To the Editor: The Macon County Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police had Rep. Madison Cawthorn as the guest…
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This place is changing
To the Editor: This past year plus has been challenging for us all due to a nasty global virus. It…
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Our public health crisis is not over yet
Allison Richmond • Guest Columnist | Haywood County is struggling to cope with a very unusual situation, two separate states…
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One of those moments — the Rolling Stones
I bought my first record when I was 11 years old — a 45-rpm single by the Rolling Stones called…
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Redistricting needs public hearings
To the Editor: Right now, politicians in the North Carolina General Assembly are dividing North Carolina into new legislative and…
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There is some good going on
To the Editor: Promoting and voting our true family interests can unify and rejuvenate this country. But we have become…
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Conservatives won’t accept socialism
To the Editor: He, or they, all seem to be confused about facts, or what they believe to be true.…
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So many good things in one place
The socket wrench felt comfortable in my hands, which was a good thing: a quick look in a nearby box…
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Reminders of humanity after a grueling day
In today’s unpredictable, chaotic world, we’re in search of anything that offers hope for humanity.
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Warning on archives is just too much
To the Editor: One can find treasures in the most improbable places. For me, the Letters to the Editor captures…
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GOP actions weaken republic
To the Editor: Republicans keep claiming that Democrats are destroying the country. They use emotionally laden words like “socialism” and…
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Texas abortion law appears unconstitutional
To the Editor: The anti-abortion law enacted by Texas appears strong and worrisome. But, is it really strong? This major…
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Sewer flies, mice and mold; schools need help
By John deVille & Kenya Donaldson Complaints ranged from undrinkable water, termites and even sewer flies. There was extreme overcrowding near a…
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Blaming unvaccinated is somewhat misplaced
To the Editor: In the Sept. 1 opinion piece titled, “Maskless, unvaccinated bear a responsibility,” Norman Hoffman states that the…
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Enough with the divisiveness
To the Editor: Before I ramble on with my allotted 400 words, entertain these two ideas that I believe we…
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Access to public Records within reach
By Sandy Hurley and Bill Moss Guest Columnists When the 2021 session of the General Assembly began, passage of legislation…
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A new day dawns for downtown Waynesville
It was tough to witness the demise of the Downtown Waynesville Association. The DWA has a long, proud history, one…
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Learning from the young to protect our planet
My 12-year-old son is extraordinarily inquisitive. Since he was a little boy, he’s inquired about everything from politics and finances…
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Truth matters, but some don’t see it
To the Editor: I fear for my country. The cause of my anxiety is the judgment that our nation has…
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Time to end the filibuster
To the Editor: In November 2020, millions of voters like me went to the polls and cast a ballot for…
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Politicians pandering to American paranoia
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist | Two heart-rending articles occupied the front page of the Florida newspaper that I…
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Vaccine mandates a good bellwether
To the Editor: Cops threatening to quit over vaccine mandates is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reform police departments. Let them…
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Climate columnist cherry picked facts
To the Editor: After reading guest columnist Patrick Gleason’s column in the September 7 issue of The Smoky Mountain News,…
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Does Gleason think the earth is flat?
To the Editor: The SMN does not have any comics, but some of the letters to the editor are a…
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Democrats try to destroy America
To the Editor: Our forefathers proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence that we have certain inalienable rights, those being the…
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Gleason’s reality is a fantasy
To the Editor: In his editorial, Patrick Gleason claimed that Dr. Curry’s editorial on climate change was not based on…
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Is this really our democracy?
To the Editor: “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” was a popular statement in George Bush’s presidency during protests…
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Reflections of a 9/11 mental health volunteer
By Scott Hinkle • Guest Columnist | Twenty years ago on September 14, I was one of only two passengers…
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Finding an antidote in baseball
Aside from the global darkness of a pandemic, political strife, natural disasters and the impending anniversary of 9/11, there is…
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The time to act on climate change is now
By Steve Wall • Guest Columnist | The place — Canton; the time — 7 a.m.; the date — September…
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Why WNC remains vulnerable to flooding
By Milton Ready • Guest Columnist | Psst! Have you heard that remnants of Tropical Storm Fred passed over Western…
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Climate alarmism is not based in reality
By Patrick Gleason • Guest Columnist | The alarmist rhetoric and proclamations found in Mary Jane Curry’s recent column published…
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Pay close attention to these names
To the Editor: Pay close attention to the following names: Darin Hoover, Rosario Pichardo, Nicole Gee, Hunter Lopez, Daegan Page,…
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SMN opinion pages are required reading
To the Editor: The opinion pages of the August 18 edition of your excellent paper should be required reading.
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Maskless, unvaccinated bear a responsibility
To the Editor: In the Aug. 11 edition, a letter from a Franklin man was posted in both print and…
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Cawthorn should think before he speaks
To the Editor: For many years I served as a Child Medical Examiner for Haywood County. I was also a…
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Devastation all around, but there is a light
The time stamp on the photo from my iPhone reads 7:29 a.m. It was Wednesday, Aug. 18, a mountain morning…
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It’s an important time to remain vigilant
By Mark Jaben • Guest Columnist | Two big things are happening in Haywood County this week. First, a tremendous…
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