DOT could stand for the Department of Trash
 

DOT could stand for the Department of Trash

“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous…
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Symbols matter, and so does removing them
 

Symbols matter, and so does removing them

Complicated. Ignorant. Entrenched. It’s easy to come up with words to describe the state of race relations in this country…
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Relationship — and innocence — lost, just like that
 

Relationship — and innocence — lost, just like that

Many years ago, in a time and a place that seems so far away to me now, I courted a…
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Do people really believe this stuff?
 

Do people really believe this stuff?

To the Editor: Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the scientific discoveries made on almost a daily basis,…
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Reacting to changing climate of medicine
 

Reacting to changing climate of medicine

To the Editor: As a pediatrician, it has been my privilege to serve the families of Western North Carolina for…
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One split-second separates heroism from its alternative
 

One split-second separates heroism from its alternative

I remember someone once telling me that all the seemingly trivial, decidedly unimportant choices you make every day prepare you…
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Animal shelter needs proper planning
 

Animal shelter needs proper planning

To the Editor: There has been recent news coverage and public discussion about the plans for the new Haywood County…
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Our elected leaders are out of control
 

Our elected leaders are out of control

To the Editor: It has appeared for a long time that the American people have turned into a flock of…
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Making the case for my future career
 

Making the case for my future career

By the time I was in the fifth grade, I knew I wanted to grow up to be a lawyer.…
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Coach’s article was great, but let’s clarify
 

Coach’s article was great, but let’s clarify

To the Editor: First, and foremost, I want to thank you for the article in The Smoky Mountain News, your…
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Comment

Playing the blame game in Jackson County
 

Playing the blame game in Jackson County

To the Editor: Have you noticed when officeholders (elected or unelected) are attempting to wiggle out from responsibility for some…
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Reflections on ‘Sweet 16’ and the future
 

Reflections on ‘Sweet 16’ and the future

What’s your dream job? Recent college graduates are perhaps honing in on the difficult task of searching for a satisfying…
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Finding a balance in Frog Level won’t be easy
 

Finding a balance in Frog Level won’t be easy

I don’t know if it reaches the magnitude of a moral dilemma, but I feel for the Frog Level merchants…
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Challenge those who would censor you
 

Challenge those who would censor you

To the Editor: Referring to a recent letter to the editor, the writer suggested that anything or any opinion that…
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Last Shot weekend was a great success
 

Last Shot weekend was a great success

To the Editor: Our Last Shot Fired May weekend, titled “The Battle of Waynesville and the Surrender of the Western…
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Drug testing good students won’t help
 

Drug testing good students won’t help

To the Editor: I read with dismay that the Jackson County school system was planning to waste more money on…
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Our veterans deserve to be honored all year
 

Our veterans deserve to be honored all year

It is just a beautiful day, this Memorial Day. I am able to get a little work done in the…
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Out of the headlines, but not out of the woods
 

Out of the headlines, but not out of the woods

The rioting in Baltimore has settled down and we haven’t heard much out of Ferguson, Missouri, recently. The uproar and…
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Comment

Madam, you are indeed a thief
 

Madam, you are indeed a thief

To the Editor: My family and I were enjoying a meal at a local buffet restaurant (on Mothers Day 10…
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Thanks to Waynesville town employees
 

Thanks to Waynesville town employees

To the Editor: The Waynesville Public Art Commission would specifically like to thank Waynesville town employees Dave Foster, Daryl Hannah,…
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Fast track legislation a threat to democracy
 

Fast track legislation a threat to democracy

To the Editor: Fast Track legislation that was prepared in secret by some 600 lobbyists of the largest transnational corporations…
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Exotic pests a continuing threat to our mountains
 

Exotic pests a continuing threat to our mountains

By Jason Love • Guest Columnist I am writing on behalf of the Western North Carolina Public Lands Council, an advisory…
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In WNC, economic development is a different game
 

In WNC, economic development is a different game

He was tall, maybe 6 feet 8 inches or taller, and was standing at an intersection studying a map. My…
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The mystery of U.S. foreign aid
 

The mystery of U.S. foreign aid

To the Editor: One of the great mysteries of government in America is how and why we give over $50…
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If you’re not ‘of the beach,’ it’s just a nice place to visit
 

If you’re not ‘of the beach,’ it’s just a nice place to visit

Even though she’s an Indiana girl who had only seen the ocean once before we met, there is something about…
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Baltimore and the failure of liberalism
 

Baltimore and the failure of liberalism

To the Editor: As events unfold in Baltimore, the failure of liberal ideologies becomes clear. We’ve also seen the failures…
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FOX News has been bad for the country
 

FOX News has been bad for the country

To the Editor: Imagine that in 2015, you, as an American citizen, don’t feel at home in your own town.…
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GOP is the party of higher taxes
 

GOP is the party of higher taxes

To the Editor: The people have been told for years, particularly by Republican candidates running for the General Assembly, “We…
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The longer it lasts, the more meaningful it becomes
 

The longer it lasts, the more meaningful it becomes

Dozing in and out of sleep on the flight home from Leon, Nicaragua, I was thinking about circles. More to…
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The kids cope with Lucy the tomcat’s gender crisis
 

The kids cope with Lucy the tomcat’s gender crisis

Sixth grade was not so kind to my daughter. She did better than she expected on the social part —…
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Creating a healthier future
 

Creating a healthier future

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have embarked on exciting futures for our hospitals and communities.   Early this…
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Criminals fear those who carry guns
 

Criminals fear those who carry guns

To the Editor: As a long-time N.R.A. member, I wish to respond to Publisher Scott McLeod about his recent gun…
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Comment

More rhetoric from the liberal press
 

More rhetoric from the liberal press

To the Editor: It appears the long arm of the liberal press has made it to your publication. Scott McLeod’s…
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Foy ranks among Waynesville’s most respected leaders
 

Foy ranks among Waynesville’s most respected leaders

“You bet I’m happy. I feel this was only right. My goal is to improve Waynesville and set it apart…
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Pseudo police force would lead to bigger problems
 

Pseudo police force would lead to bigger problems

Nothing would reflect better on this country than to have a rational, reasoned debate on gun violence and what steps…
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A big thank you to Sen. Jim Davis
 

A big thank you to Sen. Jim Davis

To the Editor: Thank you Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, for raising my taxes. As with the majority of North Carolina…
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Time to get re-acquainted with an old friend
 

Time to get re-acquainted with an old friend

It is just mid-April and already too hot to sleep, but too early in the year to resort to air…
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A birthday slap from Gov. Pat McCrory
 

A birthday slap from Gov. Pat McCrory

To the Editor: In March the North Carolina State Parks system celebrated its 100th anniversary with events, gathering and celebrations…
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Comment

Teaching is not for everyone
 

Teaching is not for everyone

To the Editor: The letter from Deanna Lyles, “I quit teaching because I love children,” (April 1, The Smoky Mountain…
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An opportunity for Dillsboro, Sylva
 

An opportunity for Dillsboro, Sylva

To the Editor: A representative from the N.C. Department of Transportation recently briefed Dillsboro board on plans to replace the…
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Comment

Living in fear is no way to live at all
 

Living in fear is no way to live at all

“Many of us are not living our dreams because we are living in fear.” Not sure where I came across…
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A son grows up, a father faces the future
 

A son grows up, a father faces the future

My cousin has always been an inspiration. Wilton Collins Jones Jr. — he’s always been called “Corky” — is one…
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Comment

Finally, we know just what road we are traveling on
 

Finally, we know just what road we are traveling on

“She can wiggle her toes.” This text message — a simple statement of fact pertaining to my mother — would…
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I quit teaching because I love children
 

I quit teaching because I love children

To the Editor: Recently, I had to make a tough but necessary decision. As I entered my 23rd year of…
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Comment

Constitution protects people, not corporations
 

Constitution protects people, not corporations

To the Editor: On behalf of the Western Carolina Affiliate of the National Move To Amend and We the People…
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Comment

Fracking potential leads to need for education
 

Fracking potential leads to need for education

To the Editor: Last week I attended a really good workshop in Swain County on landowner rights that was sponsored…
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Comment

Too many weighing in on annexation issue
 

Too many weighing in on annexation issue

To the Editor: I was disturbed by the article by Becky Johnson regarding the annexation of Lake Junaluska into the town…
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Comment

I don’t want to smell smoke on Main Street
 

I don’t want to smell smoke on Main Street

To the Editor: Regarding the letter titled, “Waynesville smoking ban just a bad idea” printed in the March 18-24 issue…
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Comment

New leaders of Haywood GOP must prove their mettle
 

New leaders of Haywood GOP must prove their mettle

Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is…
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Comment

Is Sen. Tom Tillis some kind of traitor?
 

Is Sen. Tom Tillis some kind of traitor?

To the Editor: Sen. Tom Tillis, R-N.C., is probably not a traitor, but he surely is an embarrassment to the…
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