Pockets of happiness have become lifelines
For a week I’ve been thinking about what to write in this week’s column, and very little clarity came until…
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Sen. Davis and reverse Robin Hood tactics
To the Editor: The N.C. Republican Party sent out a flyer stating Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, voted for a middle-class…
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Sen. Jim Davis’ mailers make false claims
To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and his surrogates in Raleigh recently sent out a series of expensive glossy…
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Sen. Jim Davis raised taxes on farm families
To the Editor: If you are like many residents of Western North Carolina, you probably cut hay, raise a few…
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Yes, there are some bikers for Clinton
To the Editor: I am a female motorcyclist who actually rides my motorcycle across the country, not one who hauls…
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We need a senator who is for the people
To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, has unleashed a series of negative flyers against his opponent, Jane Hipps. His…
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N.C. leaders remain – indignantly – on wrong side of HB2
When it comes to HB2, our state’s Republican leadership will eventually prove to be on the wrong side of history.…
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Remember when you were ‘16 going on 17?’
When I was 16 years old — going on 17 — I had a poster of Stevie Nicks, the mystical,…
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There are plenty of good reasons to vote for Hillary
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both have their liabilities, but his are so much more…
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True patriotism comes in many colors
We drove through the small town of Clyde on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, right in the midst of the commemoration…
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Finding my way in this season of change
Not long ago my front porch was a barren, pathetic place with a few pieces of hard, wooden furniture, zero…
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I remember John Snow, and what GOP did to him
To the Editor: I remember John Snow. For those that don’t, he was the three-term state senator from this district who…
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Hillary does not deserve support of women
To the Editor: In the August 31 edition of The Smoky Mountain News, guest columnist Hannah McLeod asked “Where are…
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Rep. Meadows should open up discussions
To the Editor: I was one of the people who was turned away from Rep. Mark Meadows’ meeting at the…
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A hint of autumn, a sense of pride
When we got out of the car on Sunday at the parking area in Jackson County at the end of…
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So this is what hell feels like
Beware, gentle readers. This story is not for the faint of heart. It is a story of betrayal, corruption, and…
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We should welcome political refugees
To the Editor: Widespread reports of Muslim terrorist activity in the media of late, and the incessant drumbeat of political…
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I love living in a small town
To the Editor: I have said many times that I love living in a small town; yesterday, something happened that…
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We must deal with affordable housing problems
If you don’t think there is an affordable housing problem in the mountain region, you’re just not paying attention. In…
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The before and the after — living with grief
There are only a handful of life experiences that result in a definitive before and after. I now know that…
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Where are all the women?
As my siblings and I became more interested and engrossed in politics growing up, my father always tried to impress…
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Democrats need to learn their history
To the Editor: A recent letter-writer states, “most Republican politicians will continue to tell you that tax cuts are the…
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A little perspective is in order, please
To the Editor: There are those who would have us fear going about our daily lives due to possible terrorist…
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Supporting transparency is never a bad move
Let’s be completely honest: the Haywood County School Board’s long-time practice of recording its work sessions makes it one of…
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Summer’s fading, and it’s all happening much too fast
On my Sunday afternoon jog around Lake Junaluska, I can actually feel for the first time that summer is slipping…
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Thoughts on diversity from a white guy
By David Teague • Guest Columnist More than 20 years ago, I attended a diversity training in Raleigh. A component…
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Mark Meadows: A flashback to Nixon?
To the Editor: Oh, boy. It’s like 1974 all over again. A high-profile elected official is doing his best to…
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Wilderness is an asset, not a museum
To the Editor: Mr. Jim Gray’s letter concerning wilderness conservation in last week’s SMN, while well written, is based on…
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HB2 and Voter ID controversies boost Cooper’s campaign
North Carolinians can debate whether a few of the controversial laws enacted by the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly and…
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Trickle-down economics just doesn’t work
To the Editor You may have noticed that we have an election coming up. With that, one hot topic will…
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Trip to Trump Tower teaches powerful lesson
To the Editor: Glittering gold and gleaming glass Dominating the miserable humans Huddled in the shadows Of the Trump Tower.…
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More wilderness areas not a good idea
To the Editor: I want to commend the U.S. Forest Service and district ranger staffs for an excellent job in…
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Build greenway bridge, and they will come
To the Editor: I was very happy to read the article, “Greenway use rising in Jackson County” in The Smoky…
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Bashing teachers does nothing to help public education
When the back-to-back national political conventions finally ended, it was like a benevolent deity had provided a merciful pardon, finally…
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There is something special in the slow unknown
We made our first trip to Edisto Beach 10 years ago and almost immediately, we wondered what we had gotten…
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Why is Mark Meadows ducking WNC women?
To the Editor: Chapters of the League of Women Voters in Henderson County and Macon County recently invited the congressional…
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Time to take a look at independent candidates
To the Editor: A friend recently asked me if I could give her a short answer to a question and…
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Open carry gun laws make us less safe
To the Editor: I encountered a customer openly carrying a pistol at a local business. I inquired as to the legality…
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Trump not perfect, but he’ll do us good
To the Editor: Most papers lean to the left a little and some a lot. I believe your newspaper is…
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Thanks for supporting law enforcement
To the Editor: This is a letter of appreciation to the people that live in Haywood County as well as…
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Symposium will, hopefully, provide some food for thought
When Christopher Holt contacted me in March about a trip he was about to embark on to Cuba, I was…
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Keep life simple and family close
I’ve always felt this in my gut, but I’ve learned with keen certainty lately that things we think matter actually…
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Ron Mau: the commissioner we need
To the Editor: My dad, Ron Mau, is running for Jackson County Commissioner. I am voting for my dad because…
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Trumpeting fear to a gullible electorate
To the Editor: After listening to Donald Trump’ s speech, I got the feeling that the earth was spinning out…
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I’ll be calling, and you might want to listen
To the Editor: About those phone calls -— you know the ones I mean — an unknown person is calling,…
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School closing lawsuit should move forward
I hope the lawsuit by Mark Melrose against the Haywood County School System has its day in court, and was…
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If neither candidate suits you, well, we can help
On our way back from the coast on Saturday in bumper-to-bumper traffic just outside Charleston, I saw a billboard that…
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So this is who we are, and I didn’t see it
Amidst a raucous crowd of nearly 600 runners — and probably just as many spectators — a couple of Saturday…
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God really does work in mysterious ways
Until 18 days ago, the Bible had always been an afterthought in my spiritual journey. It was a book I…
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Lawsuit could bring about a more righteous process
By David Teague • Guest Columnist Possibly the best perspective I’ve ever read about the importance of open government, and the…
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