If this were the wild, he would already be gone
 

If this were the wild, he would already be gone

When next week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News hits the streets Wednesday, June 15, my youngest will be a…
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Finally got a tattoo, and it’s raising a few eyebrows
 

Finally got a tattoo, and it’s raising a few eyebrows

I got a tattoo a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t on a whim. I wasn’t intoxicated. I wasn’t in…
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Legislators passed smart coal ash plan
 

Legislators passed smart coal ash plan

To the Editor: This is a critical time for our community and all North Carolinians. Decisions being made right now…
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Let’s build animal shelter to do the job adequately
 

Let’s build animal shelter to do the job adequately

To the Editor: I am seeing and hearing various opinions about the need for a new animal shelter in Haywood…
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Trump’s ‘nativism’ is just frightening
 

Trump’s ‘nativism’ is just frightening

To the Editor: For one who has never held an elected office, Donald Trump is a brilliant politician. His TV…
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Sheriffs misrepresented
 

Sheriffs misrepresented

To the Editor: If you value honesty as an important trait for a Supreme Court justice, it should interest you…
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Still free to mix it up in the marketplace of ideas
 

Still free to mix it up in the marketplace of ideas

Over this past Memorial Day weekend I found myself reading essays and columns about freedom, about military men and women…
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Vote ‘Yes’ for education sales tax
 

Vote ‘Yes’ for education sales tax

By David Belcher • Guest Columnist Voters in Jackson County will have the opportunity on Tuesday, June 7, to take…
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Nothing brings back memories like that first car
 

Nothing brings back memories like that first car

My daughter is turning 15 this weekend. Every 15 minutes, she reminds me that she will be driving a car…
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Trying times for school leaders in Haywood
 

Trying times for school leaders in Haywood

Haywood County Schools has been a part of my life for 24 years now — as a journalist, the husband…
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The bugle never stops
 

The bugle never stops

One day recently as I was walking through the parking lot at Waynesville Middle School, a car slowly pulled up…
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Vote for Rick Bryson in June 7 primary
 

Vote for Rick Bryson in June 7 primary

To the Editor:    Rick Bryson is running as a Democrat for the congressional seat currently held by Republican Mark…
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Bryson is best choice to challenge Meadows
 

Bryson is best choice to challenge Meadows

To the Editor: On June 7 citizens of the 11th Congressional District will be asked to vote again. Because of…
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Are we near the ‘who cares’ point for legal pot?
 

Are we near the ‘who cares’ point for legal pot?

The last couple of years have brought a sea change in attitudes about marijuana. I’m convinced pot will be legal…
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That’s us, using our children as ‘escape goats’
 

That’s us, using our children as ‘escape goats’

My wife and I like to host small parties or entertain our friends every three years or so, not because…
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HB2 could be called ‘Hate Bill 2’
 

HB2 could be called ‘Hate Bill 2’

To the Editor: Recent letters have provided more smoke than light regarding HB2, also known as House Bill 2, which…
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Trump cares only about being the winner
 

Trump cares only about being the winner

To the Editor: For one who has never held an elected office, Donald Trump is a brilliant politician. His TV…
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The Left still has something to learn about tolerance
 

The Left still has something to learn about tolerance

I’ve been observing something for years — though recently it has snowballed  — and it has always struck me as…
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Let’s work toward a better Maggie Valley
 

Let’s work toward a better Maggie Valley

To the Editor: Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “The republic is a dream. If we stop dreaming, we will…
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Governor’s office is still in the dark
 

Governor’s office is still in the dark

To the Editor: There you are, governor of North Carolina, and somebody pushes a stack of papers in front of…
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Racism is not in the ‘eye of the beholder’
 

Racism is not in the ‘eye of the beholder’

To the Editor: Sorry Dad, but in your column in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17607), you…
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Connecting a new generation to 9/11
 

Connecting a new generation to 9/11

Recently, a group of Waynesville Middle chorus students were at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and when they…
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WCU students learning valuable lessons on civil discourse
 

WCU students learning valuable lessons on civil discourse

It’s not the 1960s in terms of political activism, but recent episodes at Western Carolina University and across the country…
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A music nut makes the Merlefest pilgrimage
 

A music nut makes the Merlefest pilgrimage

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am a complete nut about music. There are people for…
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No negative connotation in resignation
 

No negative connotation in resignation

To the Editor: As a founding member of the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council, I offer for readers the following…
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Wallet issues and the legislature
 

Wallet issues and the legislature

To the Editor: They’re baaaaaaaaack. Yes, your N.C. Legislature is back in session and talking tax cuts. Hold on to…
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Vaccines important for pets
 

Vaccines important for pets

By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist As a pet owner, there are many things we do to keep our fur babies…
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Rep. Queen critical of GOP’s leadership, methods
 

Rep. Queen critical of GOP’s leadership, methods

“I feel like a one-legged man at an ass kicking. They don’t care for me because I call them out.…
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Carden mixes up the facts in book review
 

Carden mixes up the facts in book review

To the Editor: Gary Carden, in his book review in the April 6 issue (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/17428), claims that the McCarthy hearings…
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Little choice for Lake J. except merger
 

Little choice for Lake J. except merger

To the Editor: To this day, I have no doubt that the Lake Junluska and the City of  Waynesville annexation issue will eventually…
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Completing Waynesville half marathon was a real thrill
 

Completing Waynesville half marathon was a real thrill

There was a time when running was my saving grace. If I didn’t run at least four times a week,…
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New charters stir emotions, but time is a healer
 

New charters stir emotions, but time is a healer

When we reported that Mountain Discovery Charter School and Swain County commissioners were working together to hopefully build a gymnasium,…
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Kobe’s swan song turned out to be a masterpiece
 

Kobe’s swan song turned out to be a masterpiece

“Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the…
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Socialism is not really such a dirty word
 

Socialism is not really such a dirty word

To the Editor: So much paranoia about socialism. We can talk about socialism in theory, in practice, as mixed with other…
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HB2 should be repealed immediately
 

HB2 should be repealed immediately

To the Editor: As members of the Reconciling Conversation Group of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, we are striving…
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What HB2 is really about — exerting power
 

What HB2 is really about — exerting power

To the Editor: The motivation for HB2 has nothing to do with bathroom safety. The motivation was to slap down…
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Comment

The ‘rich’ show less empathy
 

The ‘rich’ show less empathy

To the Editor:  A recent research project with 200 students at University of California at Berkley explored the  effects of…
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Help build a community that fights child abuse
 

Help build a community that fights child abuse

By Julie Schroer • Guest Columnist As April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I want you to hang in…
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Call the hunting of bears what it is
 

Call the hunting of bears what it is

To the Editor: I would like to request of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that you stop referring to the…
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Comment

Manage forests for wildlife, too
 

Manage forests for wildlife, too

To the Editor: With recent news stories of elk doing damage to farms and the surprising number of bear living…
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Who would want to lead Waynesville?
 

Who would want to lead Waynesville?

To the Editor: I read your article on the hiring of a new town manager with some amusement and dismay.…
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My adopted state is an embarrassment
 

My adopted state is an embarrassment

By Stephanie Wampler • Guest Columnist As a North Carolina woman who may or may not have a vagina (NOYB), I…
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N.C. conservatives go off the deep end
 

N.C. conservatives go off the deep end

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist There are two major strains of conservatism in American politics, economic and social, and the…
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Stuttering, understanding race and Merle Haggard
 

Stuttering, understanding race and Merle Haggard

When I was a little girl, I had a stuttering problem. The memories of struggling with words that started with…
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Community involvement is the key
 

Community involvement is the key

To the Editor: I won’t be voting for Michele Presnell, but it seems silly for this newspaper and local elected…
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Opening Day brings renewed sense of hope
 

Opening Day brings renewed sense of hope

I have turned off the talk shows, put down the newspapers, avoided barbershops and changed the subject at family gatherings.…
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The arts thrive only if we support them
 

The arts thrive only if we support them

“The arts are so incredibly vital to a quality of life, smart business and the health of a community. The…
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On being a columnist for a small-town newspaper
 

On being a columnist for a small-town newspaper

Three months into this, I’ve decided that being a columnist for The Smoky Mountain News is potentially more challenging than…
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Questions for the legislature
 

Questions for the legislature

By Dave Waldrop • Guest Columnist The North Carolina legislature has abandoned its responsibilities to public education under the guise…
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What lessons from the 2016 primary?
 

What lessons from the 2016 primary?

By Chris Cooper • Guest Columnist If I had to use one word to describe the North Carolina primary, it…
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