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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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?
By Chris Cooper • Guest Columnist If I had to use one word to describe the North Carolina primary, it…
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Let’s get the ‘dump Presnell’ train rolling
Let the campaign to unseat Rep. Michele Presnell begin. During her two terms in office Presnell has been an obstructionist…
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Me and your pet rabbit can now share a meal
A few weeks ago, I suddenly developed a thirst that I could not seem to quench. No, this is not…
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Wilderness and recreation areas are good for WNC
By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist Setting aside a modest portion of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest as Wilderness and National…
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Sometimes you wonder why
To the editor: I wonder: • Why do people in the so-called “Bible belt” seem to trust guns more than God?…
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Maggie Valley should make town center happen
When small towns think and act big, amazing things can happen. Anyone who has traveled has come across communities that…
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Donald Trump, you haven’t fooled me
I’ve been watching the Trump shenanigans from afar, laughing it off as a collective momentary lapse in judgment, but as…
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Trump is leading somewhere I just won’t go
With the North Carolina primary election just days away on March 15, Donald Trump continues his march toward the Republican…
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Sanders shows a true measure of leadership
To the Editor; Many people do not have enough information about Bernie Sanders to decide, on a rational basis, whether…
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It’s completely logical that Trump is winning
To the Editor: Presidential candidates for both parties have been on the political or public dole for years even decades.…
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Elect a real rebel for president
To the Editor: I consider myself to be a natural-born, modern rebel! I grew up in a family very proud…
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Market economics not relevant to all our human endeavors
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist I had planned to call this commentary “Dirty Money.” I would begin by quoting Teddy…
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It is past time for a new animal shelter
By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist Our current Haywood County Animal Shelter is overcrowded, outdated, and unsafe for staff and the…
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Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits ... right
When I was growing up, it seemed that I spent most of my time at Mark Dozier’s place. Mark was…
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Fortunately, the ‘ups’ outweigh the ‘downs’
Sometimes I forget why I love it so much. The truth is that newspaper work is partly satisfying, partly frustrating.…
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Senate needs to do its constitutional duty
To the Editor: I understand that our Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is a member of the Senate Judiciary…
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Sanders would be a refreshing change
To the Editor: Imagine, if only there was a viable candidate for President who for decades has spoken with honesty,…
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Wording change on Statue of Liberty
To the Editor: I have recently learn was told that the wording on the base of the Statue of Liberty…
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Love, marriage ... and a sharp paring knife
The other night I cut a skin tag off my husband’s face with a really sharp paring knife and some…
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Apple or Uncle Sam? I don’t like my choices
Who you going to trust, Apple or Uncle Sam? By deciding not to obey a court order to unlock the…
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An oddly familiar photo brings back memories
I hate having my picture taken. The simple truth is that I have found clever ways to avoid it for…
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Who changed words on Statue of Liberty?
To the Editor: I have recently learned from a D.C. resident that the wording on the base of the Statue…
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Time for a little torture, a la Trump?
Stephanie Wampler • Guest Columnist Good news, fellow citizens. It’s only a matter of time before we can all sleep easily,…
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No reason to believe N.C. will fix redistricting mess
Maybe North Carolina will be a shining star of a state working to resolve petty partisanship, and maybe it won’t. …
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Say goodbye to stripper boobs
“Out: so-called stripper boobs. In: a woman’s natural shape.” I read that sentence a couple of months ago in a…
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We need more wilderness areas
To the Editor: Here are three reasons why we should designate more federal land as wilderness to protect it from…
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Bond initiative would waste taxpayer money
To the Editor: Voters should vote AGAINST the $2 billion “Connect NC” bonds on the March 15 ballot. Gov. Pat…
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Support Connect NC bond initiative
To the Editor: One of the greatest resources our state has is the University of North Carolina System with its…
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Bottom line: State needs to do more for public schools
It’s a fundamental question and voters will be the ultimate arbiters: is North Carolina spending adequately on education? The short…
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Haywood County Schools: Response from Rep. Michelle Presnell
Enrollment has fallen in Haywood County Schools every year since at least 2008, and Jimmy Rogers was on the school…
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Self-esteemers having trouble with Panther loss
For some time, I have been worried that my children are not learning the coping skills they will need in…
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WCU should stay away from Koch money, influence
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist In Sons of Wichita, Daniel Schulman relates a story about Charles Koch’s attempt to…
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The diet of Lent is healthy
To the Editor: This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter, when many Christians abstain from…
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Are women treated differently?
To the Editor: Have you ever heard of a man being fired for his “strong leadership style”? Ella Kliger Franklin
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Atlas’ big smug shrug
By Ron Robinson • Guest Columnist The other day I attended a basketball game at Western Mountain University. I could not…
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Let’s ease off the throttle on Central closing
By John Sanderson • Guest Columnist I have hesitated to make a comment about this issue, because I know personally…
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We believe war is never the answer
To the Editor: Any who frequent Main Street Waynesville on Wednesday afternoons will know that a group calling ourselves Neighbors…
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Lopez’s role in Koch gift, center is fair game
To the Editor: I would like the economics professors who wrote a letter in last week’s Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17086)…
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Happiness now, not in the ever after
There was a time in my life where I thought being wild would lead to a sense of freedom and…
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GOP policies to blame for Central closing
By Jimmy Rogers • Guest Columnist If Central Elementary in Waynesville is forced to close because of budget cuts and losing…
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Colleagues dismayed at attacks on Lopez
To the Editor: We the undersigned, Western Carolina University’s economics faculty, wish to express support for our colleague Dr. Ed…
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Consider spending more on our schools
To the Editor: Regarding the school district’s budget shortfall, rather than the proposed drastic reductions in the public schools programs…
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