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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Telling Washington just what we will do
To the Editor: Tried to take a nap but couldn’t get my mind off of some of the enormous problems…
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Skip the theatrics and let’s debate issues
To the Editor: Recent letters have presented opposing views on the future funding for Planned Parenthood. Some are based on…
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Valuing the process more than the outcome
This is one tradition that could just die and I don’t think many will care. I’m talking about the recently…
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Asheville baristas’ behavior a sad commentary
I had never heard of “The Red Pill Theory” or the “manosphere” until I saw references to them in the…
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Smart action on cell towers in Jackson
By Craig Pendergrast • Guest Columnist I am writing to applaud the Jackson County commissioners for recently completing a difficult re-write…
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Community needs supporters to step up
To the Editor: This past weekend I had the privilege of working beside my fellow students and colleagues in an…
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When faith and government collide
To the Editor: In Rowan County, Kentucky, Kim Davis has been ordered to jail for contempt of court. Her confinement…
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Canton can rebrand itself, but it won’t be easy
With the right leadership, it can happen. If the national and regional economy continues chugging along for another few years…
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Friday night lights still shining bright
“So, you’re a band parent, huh? Boy, is your life about to change.” My wife and I heard that a…
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A bag of stories and an oil can
By John Beckman • Guest Columnist Forty-two years ago a very interesting man moved into the broken, haunted brick mansion two…
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Despite Sanders’ rhetoric, nothing is free
To the Editor: Such a nice man, this Bernie Sanders, we just love him, he just wants to help everyone!…
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Tourism figures point to a post-recession recovery
Recently released figures on the impact of tourism in Western North Carolina are encouraging. More visitors are spending more money,…
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Lawmakers simply need to do more for education
Editor’s note: The following letter was recently sent to all members of the North Carolina General Assembly As students and…
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We need more veggie options in schools
To the Editor: With the new school year just starting, parents’ attention is on school clothes, supplies and lunches. Yes,…
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Sanders has unique vision for U.S.A.
To the Editor: Like many across America, I’ve become very tired of politicians of both parties talking out of both…
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This is one ride I’m not gonna miss
Some of them arrive four or five days early, packed up and just sitting there on the Haywood County Fairgrounds…
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Macon citizens want to help the homeless
To the Editor: Thank you Macon County. It was truly humbling to see the community turnout for the Homeless Symposium.…
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You can choose your own worldview
To the Editor: I am a human being, a member of a family, an American, and a Democrat, in that…
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Trump may be best choice for president
To the Editor: Traditionally, Americans have sent lawyers to congressional offices in Washington. The assumption was that they would be…
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My ‘year of lasts’ is officially underway
I was watching my son’s soccer game last night and the old Al Stewart tune, “Time Passages,” kept running through…
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Shining Rock was not prepared for hearing
To the Editor: The August 17 Town of Waynesville Planning Board meeting provided first-time meeting participants a crash course in…
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Don’t mix faith with government
To the Editor: In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm gave us this valuable observation. He wrote, “Because of the fact…
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Bernie Sanders excitement builds
To the editor: July 29 Bernie Sanders spoke to the entire country using the Internet. It was an incredible event.…
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The Democrats’ war on babies is in trouble
To the Editor: Now Democrats have once again dredged up the fabricated notion that Republicans are waging a war on…
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Thoughts on my Southern heritage
To the Editor: The controversy in South Carolina revolving around the Confederate Flag has made me think about my Southern…
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Pay attention to new charter school
To the Editor: Every person who pays taxes in Haywood County needs to be aware of, and pay attention to,…
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GOP’s Trump problem won’t be easily resolved
I would wager that I despise politics just about as much as you do. Whatever your political affiliation, we would…
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Another constitutional crisis for Obama
To the Editor: Dear House and Senate national representatives: Are you going to allow Obama to precipitate another constitutional crisis…
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Ashamed of Cherokee Bear Zoo
To the Editor: I am a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee who has not lived in Cherokee since…
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Some concerns about charter school
To the Editor: Since the proposed Shining Rock Classical Academy Charter School has been in the news lately, I would…
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The public – not the newspaper – deserves to know
I’m sure the founders of Haywood County’s new charter school — Shining Rock Classical Academy — never imagined a week…
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Meaningful gun control deserves passage
To the Editor: House Speaker John Boehner boasted in a mass e-mail that he had gotten ahead of President Obama…
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It seemed like a great idea at the time ...
It looked so good on paper, the way terrible ideas always do. Instead of boarding our miniature dachshund as we…
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Tribal council takes the wrong stand on openness
The Tribal Council kicked us out again. Holly Kays, a reporter for The Smoky Mountain News, was told on July…
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Old steel should be used for footbridge
To the Editor: I have an idea for reducing the cost of the footbridge at the end of the Cullowhee…
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The Battle Flag was indeed about slavery
To the Editor: To get past the emotionality regarding the Virginia Battle Flag, we need to examine its history and…
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Hillary has way too much baggage
To the Editor: When Bill Clinton was president, Hillary assumed authority over health care reform. Even after threats, she couldn't…
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Parents should teach children to drive
To the Editor: The problem of how to fund driver's ed could be easily solved. Since when did it become…
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How can we be proud to be Americans?
To the Editor: USA Today has reported that on average there were 96 cases of a white police officer killing…
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The Confederate flag flap: Rapid policy change? yes; rapid shift in public opinion? no
By Gibbs Knotts & Chris Cooper A longstanding social science finding holds that collective public opinion is fairly sticky on…
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Folkmoot is about more than dancing, watching
By Hannah McLeod • Guest Columnist We all have those memories that lurk in the back of our brain, the hazy,…
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