I swear, it’s really much ado about nothing
 

I swear, it’s really much ado about nothing

Sometimes in the world of journalism, the story becomes more about the reaction than the original news event. By my…
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Allow tree harvesting in new forest plan
 

Allow tree harvesting in new forest plan

To the Editor: Please allow common sense to prevail in the forest management discussion. Trees are the ultimate gift —…
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False information from Sen. Tillis’ office
 

False information from Sen. Tillis’ office

To the Editor: As a North Carolina citizen, I could not understand why our senators voted against a bill that…
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It’s really OK to just let kids be kids
 

It’s really OK to just let kids be kids

“OK, everybody, huddle up, huddle up!” But nobody really seems to want to huddle up. Our point guard is standing…
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Let’s play pretend politician: what issues would you own?
 

Let’s play pretend politician: what issues would you own?

I’m not running for office and never will, but as a citizen of Haywood County and Western North Carolina and…
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Comment

Diverse coalition coalesces to support forest plan
 

Diverse coalition coalesces to support forest plan

By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist In recent months I have watched a tense and difficult relationship play out nationally…
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Thanks for helping feed the hungry
 

Thanks for helping feed the hungry

To the Editor: Thanks to many, many individuals and businesses, the 2015 Turkey Drive sponsored by the Maggie Valley Area…
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Comment

Social injustice and our universities
 

Social injustice and our universities

To the Editor: In last week’s letter to the editor (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/16807), Mr. Jones commented on the politicizing of WCU. Let…
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Comment

Economic injustice needs to be addressed
 

Economic injustice needs to be addressed

To the Editor: It is time to wake up and take a big whiff of reality. The shape of our…
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Comment

Forest Service needs capacity to manage
 

Forest Service needs capacity to manage

To the Editor: As the U.S. Forest Service proceeds through the plan revision for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests,…
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Comment

We can find a better cell tower location
 

We can find a better cell tower location

To the Editor: I hope to be understood that my family is as pro-wireless communication as anyone in Cashiers. Verizon…
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Comment

Candidates would strip us of rights
 

Candidates would strip us of rights

To the Editor: Below are several of the solutions proposed by many of the candidates running for president to end…
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Investing in what’s best about WNC
 

Investing in what’s best about WNC

While I was living in Elizabethtown in southeastern North Carolina in 1988, Walmart opened a brand-new store. Most everyone was…
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Comment

HRMC praised for patient care
 

HRMC praised for patient care

To the Editor: This is in praise of our new hospital, “new” meaning the Haywood Regional Medical Center, now run…
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Comment

Politicizing at WCU is just a bad idea
 

Politicizing at WCU is just a bad idea

To the Editor: It is my understanding from an article written in the Asheville Citizen Times that Western Carolina University…
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Comment

This holiday, it’s a family united
 

This holiday, it’s a family united

When I was 12 years old, there were few things I liked better than the Dallas Cowboys. Definitely my Farrah…
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Is the free market free for everyone?
 

Is the free market free for everyone?

To the Editor: “I am a conservative Republican, a firm believer in free market capitalism. A free market system allows…
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Comment

Does Lake Junaluska need Waynesville?
 

Does Lake Junaluska need Waynesville?

To the Editor: Here we go again. Another article (Nov. 18 Smoky Mountain News or at www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/16735) regarding the annexation…
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Comment

Now is the time to finish Green Energy Park
 

Now is the time to finish Green Energy Park

To the Editor: Currently, Jackson County’s Green Energy Park is not self-sustaining. Neither are parks and public schools. Perhaps if…
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Comment

A banquet table of issues, one bite at a time
 

A banquet table of issues, one bite at a time

So much going on locally and around the world that it’s just a tough week to bear down on a…
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Comment

If it’s good vs. evil, only one outcome is tenable
 

If it’s good vs. evil, only one outcome is tenable

When terrorism strikes like it did this weekend in Paris, the first reaction to the horror is shock from the…
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Comment

When a part of you goes missing
 

When a part of you goes missing

Mike and I were not exactly a match made in heaven. In fact, I didn’t think we were much of…
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In the end, Haywood leaders make the right call
 

In the end, Haywood leaders make the right call

Hindsight is indeed 20-20, and this time Haywood County commissioners very likely saw things exactly as they should have. The…
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Comment

Pisgah High Millennials ready to voice their opinions
 

Pisgah High Millennials ready to voice their opinions

Somewhere at this very moment, a political science major is writing a dissertation on why young people these days are…
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Comment

Some capitalism not so admirable
 

Some capitalism not so admirable

To the Editor: In 2008, the CEO of BBT, John Allison, gave $1 million to Western Carolina University. Some have…
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Comment

Don’t succumb to fears in Beaverdam
 

Don’t succumb to fears in Beaverdam

To the Editor: I would like to elaborate on the comments I made at the hearing on Oct. 19 on…
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Comment

Duke profits take precedence over state’s public interest
 

Duke profits take precedence over state’s public interest

By Avram Friedman • Guest Columnist By proposing to replace its Lake Julian coal plant in Asheville with a new…
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Comment

Steep slope protections a very real economic incentive
 

Steep slope protections a very real economic incentive

Jackson County commissioners are going to pass a smart steep slope ordinance that will help as this region shakes off…
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Comment

Little-known Cherokee history, from the archives
 

Little-known Cherokee history, from the archives

When I used to work for the Cherokees, there were occasions when there was little to do. When that happened,…
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Comment

Reelected Hamlet, Mull to Canton board
 

Reelected Hamlet, Mull to Canton board

To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for Ralph Hamlett and Gail Mull for Canton aldermen.  …
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Comment

Waynesville needs Mayor Gavin Brown back in office
 

Waynesville needs Mayor Gavin Brown back in office

I sincerely hope Waynesville citizens support Mayor Gavin Brown for reelection. Municipal elections carry more import than most people realize.…
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Comment

Rep. Mark Meadows not a worthy congressman
 

Rep. Mark Meadows not a worthy congressman

To the Editor: Politics is often described as the art of the possible. The recent resignation of Rep. John Boehner,…
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Comment

Signed letters better than mystery ads
 

Signed letters better than mystery ads

To the Editor: Letters to the editor in a newspaper illustrate the highest tradition of a free press. Letters represent…
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Comment

Letter writer was wrong about Republicans
 

Letter writer was wrong about Republicans

To the Editor: A recent letter writer has gone over the top with the surreal allegation that the Republican Party…
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Comment

War on men evidently is going strong
 

War on men evidently is going strong

To the Editor: Seventeen pages of your Oct. 7 issue (including the cover) were dedicated to “Women in Business,” more…
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Comment

Corporate charm rebuttal misses mark
 

Corporate charm rebuttal misses mark

To the Editor: The BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at WCU has responded to my letter regarding BB&T bank’s practice…
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Comment

Support Gavin Brown for Waynesville mayor
 

Support Gavin Brown for Waynesville mayor

To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for the re-election of Gavin Brown as mayor for Waynesville.…
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Comment

Raymond Fairchild recognition long overdue
 

Raymond Fairchild recognition long overdue

To the Editor: Congratulations to legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild for his induction into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and…
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Comment

Pisgah-Tuscola rivalry is as good as it gets
 

Pisgah-Tuscola rivalry is as good as it gets

When my daughter, who is a freshman this year at Tuscola High School, made the Color Guard this summer, the…
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Comment

Former park biologist honored for conservation
 

Former park biologist honored for conservation

Kim DeLozier, conservation program manager for the eastern U.S. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, won the title of Wildlife Conservationist of…
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Comment

In search of the uplifting and the ephemeral
 

In search of the uplifting and the ephemeral

“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point,…
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Comment

Waynesville library slipping in quality
 

Waynesville library slipping in quality

To the Editor: When I moved to Waynesville in 1987 the library was the pride of the mountains. It was…
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Comment

The ugly truth about tribal politics
 

The ugly truth about tribal politics

To the Editor: As the tribal elections drew closer and closer, it became fairly obvious early on that Patrick Lambert…
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Comment

Free enterprise gives people the freedom to flourish
 

Free enterprise gives people the freedom to flourish

In his Oct. 7 letter to the editor, Franklin political activist Dan Kowal cautioned readers not to “buy the corporate…
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Comment

America’s ‘culture of me’ has got to change
 

America’s ‘culture of me’ has got to change

If we are ever going to have any hope of stemming the bloody tide of mass shootings — which happens…
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Comment

Help children stay warm with clothing donation
 

Help children stay warm with clothing donation

To the Editor: October is the last month for donations to the 2015 Coats for Kids of Jackson County Coat…
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Comment

Don’t buy the corporate charm offensive
 

Don’t buy the corporate charm offensive

To the Editor: This week we’ve heard from the BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at Western Carolina University, hyping the…
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Comment

Legislature pushes state into a freefall to the right
 

Legislature pushes state into a freefall to the right

Just a few more dollars, that’s all. When you get your car fixed or a new dishwasher installed, now you’ll…
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Comment

Let’s avert another shutdown
 

Let’s avert another shutdown

To the Editor: If Congress fails to reach a federal budget resolution by midnight, September 30, the Great Smoky Mountains…
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Comment

GOP has too many contradictory views
 

GOP has too many contradictory views

To the Editor: I am not much of a religious scholar, but I did have 16 years of excellent Catholic education.…
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