The cracks are beginning to deepen
There has never been a president like Donald Trump. There has never been a campaign like the campaign that Trump…
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Article’s premise was totally unfounded
To the Editor: The article ”Unfair collection practices in tax collector’s office?” (Feb. 25 edition) wisely includes a question mark…
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Why I still vote Democrat
To the Editor: For the last decade, I have questioned my party allegiance, as well as the allegiance of others…
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Listening can work magic
To the Editor: Democrats might well consider that you can’t justify your actions based on the idea that, “we are…
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We should all rally for the environment
To the Editor: The right to clean air and clean water seems to have become a partisan issue in our…
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Remember the 1970s before gutting EPA
To the Editor: We have made much progress in our long-term protections of air, water and the environment since President…
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We deserve the truth from Trump
To the Editor: In these days of political bickering, I believe that words we use must be precise in order…
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We were the original immigrants
To the Editor: It is interesting that the U.S. is so outraged over Mexican illegal immigration when Mexico was actually…
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Tax collector likely too easy on too many
We reported last week that Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews may have been showing favoritism to some local Republican…
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The next war must not happen
By Stephen Wall • Guest Columnist On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb exploded 1,500 feet over Hiroshima. Only 1.5 percent…
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An escape into a magical world
I was in the Disney bubble for seven days straight, so it was rather depressing driving home with the daily…
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The world joins in supporting democracy
To the Editor: The Constitution guarantees the right to assembly, and Americans continue to exercise that right throughout history. In…
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NATO is too important to scrap
To the Editor: Our fathers and grandfathers fought in World War II to save the world from Nazi domination. Over…
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Defining pro-choice, pro-life
To the Editor: Unfortunately, anti-abortion supporters named themselves pro-life, thereby labeling pro-choice supporters pro-death. This serves to demonize the pro-choice…
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Please take time to give feedback
Many thanks to The Smoky Mountain News for the recent article by Becky Johnson (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/19193) to update the citizens of…
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What to make of Trump’s eruptions
To the Editor: It’s gotten to the point that I’m hesitant to listen to or read the news. President Trump’s…
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Valuable lessons from failed annexation
To the Editor: Thank you Smoky Mountain News and Becky Johnson for writing an article bringing to a close the…
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Most presidents learn from criticism — not this one
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist The press must be the keyboard on which the government can play. — Joseph…
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Two essays that left a lasting influence
They were both quiet, their voices barely audible even during roll call, and absolutely silent otherwise. Even as a new…
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New commissioner stumbles out of the gate
Brandon Rogers almost certainly disappointed — and surprised — many of his supporters during Monday’s Haywood County Commissioners meeting. Apparently…
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Newspapers with real reporters and editors matter
By Frank Queen • Guest Columnist I was surrounded by newspapers growing up. Dad worked for the government in the…
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Trump’s bigotry exposed in immigration order
To the Editor: The very first section of President Donald Trump’s order banning immigrants from seven nations refers to the…
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No room for alternative news
“Ignorance and misinformation, if allowed to prevail in foreign policy, handicaps the country’s security. In a world of complex and…
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Internet availability a problem in WNC
To the Editor: Regarding Scott McLeod’s piece last week about the availability of internet service (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/19234), it is a big…
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Why rush to repeal ACA?
To the Editor: I am writing to express my concern about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.”…
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A once happy week now darkened
We leave for Disney World this weekend. I should be more excited, but with all that’s going on in our…
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Our allegiance is to the ideals, not to a president
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then…
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How much did legislators get from Duke?
To the Editor: Those job killing North Carolina Republicans are at it again. The Republican General Assembly has cost North…
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The digital divide is still way too wide
It was just a press release, one among the dozens a week that media outlets receive and that may or…
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Appreciate the opinion
To the Editor: Mr. McLeod, am writing to commend your timely Opinion piece. You made a number of excellent points.…
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Please keep your dogs leashed
To the Editor: I am writing this letter in hopes that people walking their pets will be more considerate to…
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Why are white males left out?
To the Editor: When you write “Looking for more ideology, less politics,” what exactly does that imply? And when you…
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We all need to get informed
To the Editor: Scott McLeod’s recent editorial “Looking more for ideology, less politics” (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/19140) truly resonated for me and I…
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Celebrating the wit of Robert Burns
Although many poets and musicians have won awards, there is only one person who has a world-wide celebration every year…
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Parenting nostalgia during a big birthday week
It’s birthday week for the Barbee boys. Our two boys are exactly three years and one day apart, one born…
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Looking for more ideology, less politics
As the holidays drew to a close, I began preparing for the reporting we will do on the upcoming session…
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Not TDA’s job to hire downtown director
To the Editor: Given the recent suggestion in The Sylva Herald that the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority possibly fund…
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Rep. Meadows should have recused himself
To the Editor: The Oxford Dictionary of the English Language defines ethics as: “moral principles or code.” The Office of…
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Trump just too ignorant for the job
To the Editor: Is it just me? Or are any of your readers just a wee bit concerned about (this…
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Waiting in a winter wonderland
My wife was stranded in Mississippi. She was supposed to get home late on Friday night, but then the big…
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It’s 2017, let’s talk about something else
Now that it’s 2017, I can’t bear the thought of continuing to fixate on politics and its atmosphere of pomposity…
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Another side of the Cuban revolution
To the Editor: I very much appreciated your comments about Castro and Cuba, particularly your childhood experience at Guantanamo. I…
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A heavy but hopeful heart for the new year
Throughout my entire life, I’ve awoken on New Year’s Day energized to be more, do more, see more. This year…
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The best opportunity for health insurance
To the Editor: How many people do you know who are old enough to be eligible for Medicare insurance but…
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So retirees should relinquish rights?
To the Editor: I am completely mystified by a recent letter writer’s response to my letter questioning the legitimacy of…
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Cutting the apron strings
I’m entering a new phase of motherhood. Since becoming a mom in 2009, one or both of my boys have…
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Remember all the good taxes do
To the Editor: Government and taxes are common complaints among conservatives, even though they benefit from both. Opinions in our…
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Meadows makes his mark in the swamp
Where’s Mark? As in Rep. Mark Meadows, our Republican congressman who reportedly represents the rural and economically challenged residents of…
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We don’t really ‘do’ camping
When my wife brought up the possibility of camping at this year’s Merlefest — a four-day and three-night music festival…
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Health care needs reasoned, open debate
To the Editor: My organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AARP, the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association…
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