Vote Democrat and restore morality
To the Editor: As another Election day approaches, I feel compelled to express my thoughts and opinions to my community.…
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Sept. 11, 2001
September 11 snuck up on me this year. I was listening to public radio this morning when they discussed commemorations…
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Pandemic prompts huge absentee ballot request
What’s happening in North Carolina right now with absentee ballot requests is staggering. Currently there are around 7.1 million registered…
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The shadow pandemic takes its toll
Lately I’ve been feeling tightness in my chest, an inability to take a nice relaxing breath. When I told my…
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Trump has many accomplishments
To the Editor: I keep hearing the term systemic racism. I assume this means racism built into our nation’s systems…
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Southern pride has a dark history
To the Editor: Haywood County 2020: I can’t drive down the street without seeing a representation of a Confederate flag. It’s…
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We were safer before Trump
To the Editor: Trump is fine with the violence and looting. He thrives on drama and chaos. He can continue…
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Vote to end this insanity
To the Editor: When I was a young girl studying my catechism we would read aloud in unison: “Who Loves…
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Racism at WCU is reason to vote
To the Editor: As a student of color at Western Carolina University, I was angered and disheartened by the racist…
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We all have the right to be heard
To the Editor: I have had the pleasure of reading many a fine editorial from SMN Editor Scott McLeod over…
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Restore sanity to the White House
To the Editor: The White House is a broken train wreck. The only way we Americans can restore sanity to…
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Not all police are bad
To the Editor: In response to Margaret Abel’s rhetorical question “what would our Founding Fathers do?” To quote from the…
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If you stay home, just keep quiet
If you don’t vote, then just shut up. You don’t even really deserve the right to be heard. Especially when…
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Craving a president who smiles with his eyes
A while back I noticed President Trump does not smile with his entire face. It struck me one day when…
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What should we publicly honor?
To the Editor: In my opinion all plaques, markers, statues and monuments honoring those who served the Confederacy should be…
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Democracy is not a spectator sport
To the Editor: Would you be able to vote if you had to pass a literacy test? Can you count…
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Cawthorn’s claims about Davis are ridiculous
Keep electing people who are ideologically too far left or right to reach across the aisle, and we’ll have the…
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Pondering fences and their removal
By Rich Byers • Guest Columnist | Robert Frost said that “fences make good neighbors.” I get that. I am…
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DeVos takes money from public schools
To the Editor: One provision of the CARES Act passed by Congress in March, as it is being administered by…
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FOX not on list of reliable news sources
To the Editor: Forbes magazine caters to the millionaires, billionaires, and Wall Street types whose fortunes depend on accurate information.…
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Haywood Health Board supports vaccines
To the Editor: The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency Board unequivocally supports the immunization program of the Haywood…
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Western Carolina University is ready to meet the challenges of a fall semester during unprecedented times
By Kelli R. Brown • Guest Columnist | These are uncertain and challenging times. Our communities, our state and our nation…
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A strange back-to-school season for everyone
From my earliest memories, the back-to-school season has been a flurry of excitement. Both my parents were teachers. I worked…
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Trump trying to end your benefits
To the Editor: Got Social Security? Got a back-up plan for living without it? Payroll taxes fund Social Security. Trump,…
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Cawthorn doesn’t deserve youth vote
To the Editor: Madison Cawthorn, newly 25 and a GOP candidate for the 11th Congressional District, may be a young…
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U.S. Postmaster needs to be fired
To the Editor: I can’t begin to understand the actions of the new Postmaster of the United States Postal Service…
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The common thread — we’re Americans
In the streets of Western North Carolina, mostly young protestors calling for an end to structural and sometimes violent racism…
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Cawthorn’s hubris not surprising
To the Editor: By now, it’s disappointingly clear that Madison Cawthorn, the Republican candidate to represent N.C. District 11 in…
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Support Parsons for Swain Commissioner
To the Editor: Roger Parsons is running for re-election as Swain County commissioner and is a lifelong resident of Swain…
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Cawthorn should support ACA
To the Editor: It is disappointing to see a young, politically inexperienced but passionate and courageous gentleman like Madison Cawthorn…
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Pardon me while I scream
To the Editor: “The Constitution is not a suicide pact” is a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln as he defended…
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Are politicians non-essential?
To the Editor: Would the governor, his staff, his advisors, and cabinet make different decisions if they were determined to…
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Cunningham responds to Tillis attacks
Ever since my days in Scouts, I’ve loved hiking, backpacking, and traveling in Western North Carolina. As adults, my wife…
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I serve every Franklin resident
To the Editor: As the Mayor of Franklin, I represent every man, woman and child in the town, regardless of…
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What would the Founding Fathers do?
To the Editor: “He has erected a multitude of new officers and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our…
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Have you been sprayed by Duke?
To the Editor: Duke Energy, through a contractor, has started aerial spraying of herbicides over the rights-of-way for their transmission…
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Stop using MLK defense
To the Editor: Heather Hyatt Packer would have Haywood County’s School superintendent resign for posting a meme on his Facebook…
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Is this a fit Commander-in-Chief?
To the Editor: The first duty of our Commander in Chief, Donald Trump, is to protect the people of these…
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Look to the stars and beyond
I’ve been looking at the stars a lot lately. It started several weeks ago. It was 10:18 p.m. on a…
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Sen. Tillis disappointed his opponent turned down debate
Opinion from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC | The people of Western North Carolina are traditionally denied a front-row seat to…
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Let’s try to avoid pitfalls when school reopens
By Dale Carpenter • Guest Columnist | North Carolina public schools will reopen while the COVID-19 Pandemic is still with…
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As consultants, beach week is a bit calmer these days
Edisto Beach, SC — As if this year weren’t already weird enough, my son is in the bathroom of our…
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Moe Davis qualified to serve in Congress
To the Editor: As a long-time resident of Haywood County and former contributor to your paper now residing in an…
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Superintendent Nolte should resign
To the Editor: Haywood County’s School Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte sent shock waves through a decent percentage of the community…
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Political opinion, not common sense
To the Editor: The Oxford dictionary has a couple of different definitions of common sense; my favorite being “good judgment…
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Who is your neighbor? Being Black in Waynesville
By Brandi Hinnant-Crawford • Guest Columnist | In 2014, on my 30th birthday, I got a call from my former department head…
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