Do something together for Nikwasi Mound
To the Editor: I have read the opinions going back and forth regarding the Nikwasi Mound in Franklin and am…
Read More
Doing just as he accuses others
To the Editor: Regarding Bob Wilson’s latest letter on negative campaign rhetoric, Wilson exemplified the hate-filled distorted rhetoric that he…
Read More
Franklin and Cherokee should work together on Nikwasi
By Bob Scott • Guest Columnist In a letter to the editor published in the Nov. 5 edition of The…
Read More
Classrooom contemplations: Showing up is always half the game
Absenteeism in American public schools has reached epidemic proportions. Six million students, one in eight, miss 30 days of school…
Read More
Trade you an itchy shirt for a little shiver
We called it “in-between weather,” too warm for a coat, too chilly for short sleeves. Back then, just about every…
Read More
Political rhetoric reaches a new low
To the Editor: It was very sad to witness all the hateful rhetoric tossed around during elections this year. I…
Read More
Make Lake Junaluska annexation more fair
To the Editor: Your opinion piece from the summer titled "Changing mind now won't undo the damage" left out a…
Read More
There is no moral equivalent to ISIS
To the Editor: A recent letter to the editor states a moral equivalence between ISIS weird beards who behead journalists, crucify…
Read More
Big mistake not to return Nikwasi Mound
To the Editor: I am writing in regards to the Nikwasi Indian Mound. I am concerned for the community of…
Read More
As students change how they learn, teachers must adapt
Every attentive person knows there is a revolution occurring in language, and much of what was once communicated by words…
Read More
Give Cullowhee a chance to fulfill potential
Cullowhee rising. Sounds like a fitting name for some aspiring college band, but it best describes what’s happening at Western…
Read More
You have permission to vote Democrat
To the Editor: Recently I have heard folks say things like, “My daddy” or “Momma” would “roll over in their…
Read More
Best choice for school board is Goode
To the Editor: Don’t we all desire what’s best for our kids? The best schools. The best teachers. The best…
Read More
Thanks for coverage of candidates
To the Editor: I would like to applaud The Smoky Mountain News for the articles on the Haywood County Commission…
Read More
We should fear the puppet politicians
To the Editor: In the campaign financial reports from 2012, Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Yancey, spent $107,039 with $3,611 from individuals…
Read More
Goode is fresh choice for school board
To the Editor: Eleven years ago, I came home from work to find my wife — Wende Goode — holding…
Read More
Keep all school staff in mind when voting
To the Editor: Most of the talk regarding education has been about teacher pay, which is critical such that we…
Read More
Tillis clear over incumbent Sen. Hagan
To the Editor: The Senate race in North Carolina is the most important election in our state this year. Sen.…
Read More
Choose science over a salesman’s snake oil
To the Editor: I’m really impressed with Tom Hill, candidate for District 11 of the U.S. Congress, hoping to unseat…
Read More
This is what GOP legislature did for us
To the Editor: Are you better off now than you were, say, a year ago? For most of us that…
Read More
Hunter Murphy best option for Appeals Court
To the Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Mr. Hunter Murphy for election to the North…
Read More
A letter to Gov. McCrory and the Legislature
To the Editor: The actions taken in the last few years under Republican leadership have awakened a sleeping giant of…
Read More
Vote for Hill, send Meadows home
To the Editor: I truly believe Tom Hill will stand up for us, the common person. If you haven’t seen many…
Read More
Time for new county commissioners
To the Editor: What have the incumbent county commissioners brought to Haywood County? I am a 55-year resident of Haywood…
Read More
Students will rise – or fall – to our level of expectations
My weekdays begin at 5 a.m. I have time to drink coffee with my husband, thank him for making my…
Read More
‘Remember, the flying itself is the thing’
It is a fine day for a cookout, this Father’s Day. It is hot enough that most of the younger…
Read More
No, school board race is not about our children’s ‘souls’
Getting an education is about reducing ignorance. Whether it’s in a rural second-grade classroom or at one of this nation’s…
Read More
Leaders steer U.S. ever closer to becoming an oligarchy
To the Editor: What kind of country is ours? That’s more than an idle question to a foreign-born gentleman who…
Read More
Obama wasting energy on climate change talk
To the Editor: Speaking at the U.N. Climate Change Summit last month, our esteemed president made the following statement. Climate…
Read More
EMS crew provided fantastic service
To the Editor: When someone you love has a sudden onset of an acute illness, there are numerous fears to…
Read More
Vote for change, get GOP out of Raleigh
To the Editor: Overall quality of life in North Carolina has drastically deteriorated during the past four years due to…
Read More
Haywood incumbents should be reelected
To the Editor: How fortunate we are in Haywood County to have three county commissioners running for reelection, commissioners who…
Read More
Jim Moore is best choice for DA
To the Editor: I am writing to you on behalf of my good friend and mentor, Jim Moore. He is…
Read More
Letter writer had it wrong about GOP
To the Editor: The letter on Oct. 15 from my friend in Franklin titled, “Why doesn’t the GOP protect our…
Read More
Let’s send GOP leaders home this election
To the Editor: The Republican Party in North Carolina has repeated, time after time, that the public schools were broken.…
Read More
Rep. Mark Meadows needs to go
To the Editor: I am no Paul Revere, but like him I am providing warning that we are threatened. The…
Read More
Elect Republicans, keep state moving forward
To the Editor: Beam me up Scotty if you have heard of any big oil or gas companies prowling the…
Read More
Jane Hipps is the right choice for Senate
To the Editor: From many perspectives, North Carolina is in big trouble. Rather than governing to provide the best direction…
Read More
Cullowhee planning will take away rights
To the Editor: On Tuesday night, Oct. 7, I along with many property owners attended the presentation of the “Cullowhee…
Read More
Sen. Davis votes against will of people
To the Editor: “Tis a puzzlement.” How can any elected representative currently in office perpetually insist on being proud while consistently…
Read More
No, Mr. Clampitt, fracking is an issue
To the Editor: Suppose we turn history upside down, we might have heard the following from famous and infamous people:…
Read More
District attorney hopeful needs an answer
To the Editor: Two weekends ago I went to the district attorney debate in Canton at the Colonial Theater. The…
Read More
Everyone reads the local free papers
To the Editor: I was just thumbing back through recent issues of SMN and read your piece about supporting local…
Read More
Support Sen. Jim Davis in the coming election
To the Editor: When I read letters to the editor demanding more government spending, it is clear many do not…
Read More
Why isn’t GOP protecting property rights?
To the Editor: Republican leaders like Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, Rep. Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, and Rep. Roger West, R-Marble, voted to…
Read More
In this election, vote for education
To the Editor: I am a 1953 graduate of Waynesville Township High School, received my undergraduate degree from Furman University…
Read More
I’ve had enough of Donnie Earl Dipstick at 5 a.m.!
Though I will wear one sometimes as a “fashion statement,” on most days I do not wear a watch. I…
Read More
Protect the treasures of WNC from frackers
To the Editor: This is my first written word, publicly in 20 years. I pray that it be as in…
Read More
Tillis, Davis responsible for increased premiums
To the Editor: Rep. Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, has been running ads that say N.C. citizens are paying more for health…
Read More
Preserving air and water quality important
To the Editor: Becky Johnson’s report on the Canton and paper mill landfills gives me a much-needed better understanding of…
Read More
