Don’t let ‘conservatives’ destroy our ideals
To the Editor: This is in regards to Sen. Thom Tillis email of 3:10 a.m. Saturday morning, Dec 4, “Preventing…
Read More
Disgraceful redistricting commonplace in N.C.
By Gary St. Arnauld • Guest Columnist | North Carolina’s General Assembly has a long and not so honorable history…
Read More
A unique kind of holiday
Every year of our girlhood, my sister and I woke up early on Thanksgiving Day, sat at the kitchen barstools…
Read More
You can’t un-develop land
To the Editor: I grew up in what used to be a small town in New Jersey. Everything was peaceful…
Read More
Thankful we passed infrastructure bill
To the Editor: In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the coming holidays, I’m writing to express my gratitude to Senators…
Read More
We can all learn by listening to each other
Letter to the Editor: I enjoyed reading Dr. Norman Hoffman’s opinion piece in the Friday, November 12, issue. I appreciate…
Read More
Trump remains a danger to the republic
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist | Some people may still wonder how the Germany of a century ago could…
Read More
Let’s talk honestly about social programs
To the Editor: Communism, socialism and Democrats are all the same, always bad, all the time. Democratic-leaning relatives, friends, and…
Read More
Cawthorn in line for Pinocchio award
To the Editor: I recently received an email from Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-Hendersonville. If only there was a Pinocchio award, so…
Read More
Thankful for infrastructure bill
To the Editor: At long last after years of inaction, there will be greatly needed improvements to the infrastructure of…
Read More
Inspiration from Mary Oliver, Sadhguru and Ted Lasso
“Sometimes I need / Only to stand / Wherever I am / To be blessed.” — Mary Oliver
Read More
Now we know what the COVID police will do
I’ve had mixed feelings about the “COVID police” since the beginning of the pandemic’s lockdowns.
Read More
Development does not fit Waynesville
To the Editor: I find myself perplexed over the “housing crisis” in Waynesville. It seems all our town does is…
Read More
De-mock-racy and gerrymandering
To the Editor: Folks, it is gerrymandered maps time again.
Read More
History is complicated, let’s teach it that way
There has been a lot of hype about Critical Race Theory (CRT) — most of it false. CRT actually involves…
Read More
Back to near normalcy is a treasured gift
When practice begins each year for the new high school marching band season, summer is still bearing down, the sun…
Read More
Cawthorn’s fears should worry us
To the Editor: As each new report comes to light about Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s concealed weaponry, we should be asking…
Read More
No guarantee the republic will survive
To the Editor: I’ve been giving much thought recently to what the framers had in mind when contemplating the creation…
Read More
Clampitt’s Oath Keeper membership an embarrassment
I know Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Swain, and he’s a likeable, personable guy whom I disagree with on a lot of…
Read More
The circle of life for Main Street commerce
For several years, The Smoky Mountain News has partnered with the Haywood Chamber of Commerce to publish its annual magazine.
Read More
No big money from outsiders
To the Editor: My name is Carrie McBane and I was a candidate for Town of Sylva Council 2021 in…
Read More
Non-conservatives won’t accept fascism
To the Editor: A recent letter purports to represent conservatives but contains mostly platitudes and hardly anything substantive. The writer’s…
Read More
Always something new around the corner
Travel is one of my favorite soul foods, but it’s also cool to really get to know the place you…
Read More
Newman has my vote in Sylva
To the Editor: I was once a candidate for the Sylva Town Council but withdrew when I realized that I…
Read More
When being a mom breaks your heart
Being a mom is always hard, but there is something uniquely challenging about parenting an adolescent. For me, it felt…
Read More
Does American history deserve a ‘content warning?’
To the Editor: My first impression was that the letter writer’s claim (SMN, Oct. 6) was just the latest bit…
Read More
Why ask Cawthorn to speak to police?
To the Editor: The Macon County Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police had Rep. Madison Cawthorn as the guest…
Read More
This place is changing
To the Editor: This past year plus has been challenging for us all due to a nasty global virus. It…
Read More
Our public health crisis is not over yet
Allison Richmond • Guest Columnist | Haywood County is struggling to cope with a very unusual situation, two separate states…
Read More
One of those moments — the Rolling Stones
I bought my first record when I was 11 years old — a 45-rpm single by the Rolling Stones called…
Read More
Redistricting needs public hearings
To the Editor: Right now, politicians in the North Carolina General Assembly are dividing North Carolina into new legislative and…
Read More
There is some good going on
To the Editor: Promoting and voting our true family interests can unify and rejuvenate this country. But we have become…
Read More
Conservatives won’t accept socialism
To the Editor: He, or they, all seem to be confused about facts, or what they believe to be true.…
Read More
So many good things in one place
The socket wrench felt comfortable in my hands, which was a good thing: a quick look in a nearby box…
Read More
Reminders of humanity after a grueling day
In today’s unpredictable, chaotic world, we’re in search of anything that offers hope for humanity.
Read More
Warning on archives is just too much
To the Editor: One can find treasures in the most improbable places. For me, the Letters to the Editor captures…
Read More
GOP actions weaken republic
To the Editor: Republicans keep claiming that Democrats are destroying the country. They use emotionally laden words like “socialism” and…
Read More
Texas abortion law appears unconstitutional
To the Editor: The anti-abortion law enacted by Texas appears strong and worrisome. But, is it really strong? This major…
Read More
Sewer flies, mice and mold; schools need help
By John deVille & Kenya Donaldson Complaints ranged from undrinkable water, termites and even sewer flies. There was extreme overcrowding near a…
Read More
Blaming unvaccinated is somewhat misplaced
To the Editor: In the Sept. 1 opinion piece titled, “Maskless, unvaccinated bear a responsibility,” Norman Hoffman states that the…
Read More
Enough with the divisiveness
To the Editor: Before I ramble on with my allotted 400 words, entertain these two ideas that I believe we…
Read More
Access to public Records within reach
By Sandy Hurley and Bill Moss Guest Columnists When the 2021 session of the General Assembly began, passage of legislation…
Read More
A new day dawns for downtown Waynesville
It was tough to witness the demise of the Downtown Waynesville Association. The DWA has a long, proud history, one…
Read More
Learning from the young to protect our planet
My 12-year-old son is extraordinarily inquisitive. Since he was a little boy, he’s inquired about everything from politics and finances…
Read More
Truth matters, but some don’t see it
To the Editor: I fear for my country. The cause of my anxiety is the judgment that our nation has…
Read More
Time to end the filibuster
To the Editor: In November 2020, millions of voters like me went to the polls and cast a ballot for…
Read More