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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
“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
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
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
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
To the Editor: In March the North Carolina State Parks system celebrated its 100th anniversary with events, gathering and celebrations…
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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
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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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
My cousin has always been an inspiration. Wilton Collins Jones Jr. — he’s always been called “Corky” — is one…
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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
To the Editor: Recently, I had to make a tough but necessary decision. As I entered my 23rd year of…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Waynesville smoking ban just a bad idea
To the Editor: For years I have promoted downtown. I tell my friends to shop locally, eat at our local…
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It just couldn’t get any better for young Hornets fan
Over the past few months, my 10-year-old son, Jack, has developed an insatiable appetite for all things basketball. We spend…
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Raleigh does a job on senior citizens
To the Editor: You're 83 years old, on a fixed income of out-of-state retirement and Social Security, living in Franklin.…
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All information is not created equally
Google is a wonderful thing, but it sometimes makes things harder for journalists. That’s why a new emphasis on transparency…
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Consortium of docs could do house calls
To the Editor: If you are over 65 (and maybe even younger) you will remember a wonderful phenomenon of the…
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Too many people a big part of problem
To the Editor: Religious folk love to talk about Armageddon and the Apocalypse with almost all major religions predicting some…
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Both parties are destroying our country
To the Editor: Political parties have almost destroyed our country. The greed and self-interest of both political parties have consciously…
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We need Marshall Plan for Middle East
To the Editor: If we really want to defeat ISIL, restore calm, and some semblance of peace in the Middle…
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The delicious taste of the wait is disappearing
It must have been 20 years or more since I heard a futurist telling a skeptical crowd the extent to…
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Medicaid expansion equals economic growth
To the Editor: A recent letter suggested that its author does not believe in economic projections. He may not realize…
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N.C. loses by not expanding Medicaid
To the Editor: An earlier letter requires concrete proof of the success of the Affordable Care Act. Those truly interested…
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Jackson votes supports real free speech
To the Editor: Thank you, Jackson County Commissioners for your courage in passing a resolution calling on the North Carolina…
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N.C. GOP leadership likes to bully opposition
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Whether they strut across schoolyards or along the polished halls of a state capital, all…
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Time for universal, free pre-K is long overdue
“… the long-term benefits of a high-quality pre-K program can be substantial. These include higher high school graduation rates, lower…
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For some, facts just don’t matter
“It is an Internet Age paradox: We have more information than ever before and yet, seem to know less. Indeed,…
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Beware the company you keep
To the Editor: Jackson County Commissioners, I want to congratulate you on the entertaining meeting on Jan. 29 and your…
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In my world, estimates are different from facts
To the Editor: Ed Morris’s recent letter to this newspaper criticized a letter I had written to The Franklin Press…
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Use Lent to try a meat-free diet
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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Appreciate community support for 5K run
To the Editor: On behalf of Dryman’s Chapel United Methodist Church please allow me to express thanks and grateful appreciation…
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Let’s re-think attitudes toward wood
To the Editor: Have you ever heard the expression “waiting for the other shoe to drop”? I thought of it…
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Does Maggie Valley need 200-foot cross?
To the Editor: At first blush the idea of a 200-foot cross seemed kind of cool. It could make Maggie…
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The sweet dreams of snow days
“Dad, do you think we’ll get out of school tomorrow?” My son, Jack, is standing in the doorway of our…
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Waynesville missing an opportunity
To the Editor: It’s true, you only get one chance to make a good one. Entering Waynesville from any direction…
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Sen. Tillis wasted no time becoming an embarrassment
To the Editor: It took newly elected Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C., merely a month in Washington to make himself…
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