County leaders need to help public education
For school systems in relatively poor, rural areas where resources are scarce and student achievement is low, there’s no magic…
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Court rules in favor of clean air, water
To the Editor: Human health, wildlife resources and sportsmen had a big win recently in the Federal Appeals Court. The…
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Raising minimum wage is a mistake
To the Editor: On the way to Wilmington using the smaller roads off the interstate, I found it depressing to…
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Obama’s socialist agenda has failed
To the Editor: It appears that Bob Wilson, a frequent letter writer, is stuck in a 1950’s time warp. He’s…
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Steep slope issue headed for a November showdown
I think Jack Debnam was wise to delay action on the rewrite of the Jackson County steep slope rules until…
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Making adjustments for mom’s new job
Friday afternoon on the deck. The kids are home from school, and the three of us are enjoying another beautiful…
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Americans not stupid, just complacent, about Congress
By Don Livingston • Guest Columnist Congress is not our most popular branch of government, not by a long shot.…
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Don’t let anyone buy your vote
To the Editor: Rumor has it that once again vote buying may be taking place in Swain County and on…
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The Republicans are right
To the Editor: This may be liberal heresy, but it is true. Republicans are right about many things: “Family Values,”…
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Same-old, same-old just won’t work
To the Editor: I read with interest the article regarding Western Carolina University and the regional tourism conference with hopes…
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Pigs in a Poke
To the editor: The election season is here. Several candidates are promising to cut government costs or taxes, but they…
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Make your vote count this election
To the editor: Children are our future and as a former educator, I’ve been concerned about the cutbacks in spending…
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Cheerios are clean, but what about other foods?
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist Good news! General Mills has recently announced that — in response to consumer pressure —…
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GOP’s simple truths just aren’t true
To the Editor: Bob Wilson’s most recent published letter (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/12729-kids-can-endure-a-little-stress) typifies the callous oversimplification and blanket insults typical of today’s…
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Jackson commissioners doing some good
To the Editor: There are several people running in Jackson County for public office this year and many are claiming…
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Don’t penalize prosperous industry
To the Editor: As the economy sputters along, members of Congress and the Obama Administration are singling out one of…
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Haywood GOP is out of control
To the Editor: Wow, I’ve seen a lot of small-town politics in this area but the Haywood County Republicans are…
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Emergency management plan helps when disaster hits
By Mark Swanger • Guest Columnist Regardless of their magnitude, all disasters — natural or man-made — are local events and…
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Sen. Hagan is for the people, not big money
To the Editor: Sen. Kay Hagan’s path to Washington began in high school when she helped elect her uncle Lawton Chiles…
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County oversteps its authority
To the Editor: The Haywood County Emergency Management Ordinance was signed into effect Nov. 16, 2009, by J.W. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick,…
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Kids can endure a little stress
To the Editor: Wondering what all the fuss is over the use of Common Core standards in school, I looked…
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Enough of the labels, I’ve got band practice
Words sometimes change meaning. It may take a few years, but it happens, and it especially happens in politics. A…
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Vouchers won’t help low-income families
To the Editor: Recently, I became curious about the N.C. Opportunity Scholarships (a new name for vouchers) that are being…
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Voting challenges may overwhelm system
To the Editor: It should be reassuring that so many groups are concerned about “voter integrity” on Election Day, making…
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Create Eden, drop animal products
To the Editor: TV host Glenn Beck and other stalwarts of the Christian right have attacked the recent blockbuster “Noah”as…
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Rep. Presnell will get my vote again
To the Editor: We must speak out against this proposed room tax increase. The county leaders may want it, but…
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Has Rep. Presnell lost her memory?
To the Editor: In a recent article about the sad state of North Carolina teacher salaries, Rep. Michele Presnell was…
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There are reasons for Presnell’s opposition
To the Editor: I find it noteworthy that in the March 26 column on Rep. Michele Presnell’s opposition to the…
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Support fair trade but beware free trade
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist For some years now I have been promoting fair trade products as a means of…
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You often get the results that you plan for
To the Editor: Here is what I think about Jackson County’s revised steep slope ordinance: self-serving, self-serving and self-serving. But…
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What’s up with all the litter in Haywood?
To the Editor: Just an observation that I am sure others have made also, but what about all the trash…
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Election laws target the wrong groups
To the Editor: I attended a political club meeting last night. I purchased tickets for a fundraiser — a dinner…
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The enduring myth of welfare cheats
To the Editor: Welfare cheats. It seems that every conservative has a favorite story about how someone on public assistance…
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To shoot or not to shoot?
To the Editor: Every two or three years I read in the newspaper that a homeowner shot an intruder. Typically,…
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In Rep. Presnell’s view, it’s local leaders be damned
Some teacher a long time ago explained to my class of intro to political science undergrads the difference between a…
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Politics does make strange bedfellows
To the Editor: Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. The recent edition of The Smoky Mountain news said this: “Carla…
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Robinson will support education, teachers
To the Editor: As I discuss the upcoming District 50 senatorial campaign with my neighbors, it is becoming clear to…
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Dealing with those who are just ‘wrong’
By Doug Wingeier • Columnist Recently my wife and I attended the showing of a documentary film on animal rights.…
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Spring beckons, but don’t forget the moment
By John Beckman • Columnist After the hard winter of sub-zero temperatures, heavy snows and power outages our region and much…
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It’s not really about Obamacare
To the Editor: The drumbeat of complaints about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) from the political right wing leave me…
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Elect Robinson to replace Sen. Davis
To the Editor: I’m writing as a citizen and resident of Jackson County to voice my support for Ron Robinson…
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Government is always less efficient
To the Editor: I was having an otherwise intelligent conversation with one of my more liberal acquaintances the other day…
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This state’s GOP has violated the Voting Rights Act
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Even authoritarian regimes like Russia’s pretend to respect the right to vote. The contrast with…
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Ron Robinson supports education for all
To the Editor: Ron Robinson, a Democrat and Sylva businessman, has launched his campaign to become the next senator from…
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Do not encroach on our freedoms
To the Editor: Our basic freedoms in the Bill of Rights are encroached on almost daily by some branch of…
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N.C. 107 is a plain disaster
To the Editor: Jackson County's main business corridor, Highway 107 South, is a disaster. By allowing all the main…
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Local tourism leaders aren’t qualified
To the Editor: In response to Mr. Robert Jumper's letter in the Feb. 19 edition and the Jackson County TDA,…
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Ridgetop houses are too common
To the Editor: Regarding Clark Lipkin's guest opinion column in the Feb. 26 opinion, I find it incredulous that he…
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Tools to help cope with an uncertain future
“The less you know, the more you believe.” – Bono Quality journalism is a powerful force. I’ve been fortunate to…
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We are doomed to repeat history
To the Editor: We repeat our mistakes because we never seem to learn the lessons of history and, in our…
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