Trump’s detractors are the hypocrites
 

Trump’s detractors are the hypocrites

To the Editor: I read the article by Smoky Mountain News columnist Chris Cox titled, “I can’t stomach the hypocrisy…
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Who is it that has blood on their hands?
 

Who is it that has blood on their hands?

To the Editor: There is an ad posted on Donald Trump’s campaign website and YouTube page. It states that if…
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Whatever you think honey, really
 

Whatever you think honey, really

“I’m absolutely starving,” my wife says, digging through her purse for something as I walk into the kitchen, clearing my…
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Your gift can unlock a child’s potential
 

Your gift can unlock a child’s potential

Among the many gifts my parents gave me, both the most powerful and the most mysterious were the books that…
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Unseating Mark Meadows
 

Unseating Mark Meadows

Asheville Republican Congressman Mark Meadows’ extreme partisanship, attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and hypocritical fiscal responsibility make him…
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A look ahead: Candidates to file for partisan offices
 

A look ahead: Candidates to file for partisan offices

Election season is right around the corner, as candidates begin filing paperwork to run for a variety of partisan offices…
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Pathways Center receives grant
 

Pathways Center receives grant

Haywood Pathways Center in Waynesville is the recipient of The John William Pope Foundation’s 2018 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant…
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The preliminary design by artist Aaron Harris will likely undergo some tweaks before the final version is painted on the Ward’s Plumbing & Heating building. Aaron Harris image
 

Sylva selects muralist

A muralist has been chosen to create the painting that will soon decorate a blank white wall on Mill Street’s…
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Franklin businesses wary of proposed river district
 

Franklin businesses wary of proposed river district

Franklin Town Council seemed poised to approve a new zoning designation — the River Overlay District — until a packed…
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The town of Franklin has owned the Whitmire property sine 2004, but still hasn’t made a decision about what to do with the 12.7 acres.
 

Best uses offered for Franklin’s Whitmire property

The results of a $14,000 study that assessed the best uses of the town-owned Whitmire property revealed to the Franklin…
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A long-vacant former service station will see new life this spring. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

A Bridge to Frog Level: Cathey family to breathe new life into Walker Service

For generations, the people of Waynesville looked to the auto repair shop at the intersection of Branner Avenue and Depot…
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David Allen, owner of A1 Marine in Glenville, tells commissioners why he believes the no wake zone issue should be dropped. Holly Kays photo
 

Glenville no wake zone request will go to Raleigh

An effort to get a no wake zone instituted on Lake Glenville will move forward following a split vote of…
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Sneed survives suspension attempt
 

Sneed survives suspension attempt

An attempt to have Principal Chief Richard Sneed suspended during an investigation into the legality of settlement payouts he approved…
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Amanda Swimmer’s family members, standing around her, laugh as she cracks a joke during her remarks following Tribal Council’s decision to name her a Beloved Woman. Holly Kays photo
 

Amanda Swimmer named Beloved Woman

A lifelong potter, storyteller and keeper of Cherokee traditions, 97-year-old Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer was given the Eastern Band of Cherokee…
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Onita Bush, of Snowbird, asks Chairman Adam Wachacha, also of Snowbird, for time to speak on the alcohol issue. Holly Kays photo
 

Tribe will hold alcohol vote

What began as an effort to get rid of alcohol permits granted in conjunction with a 2015 state law ended…
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Elliott named Jackson schools superintendent
 

Elliott named Jackson schools superintendent

The Jackson County Board of Education has chosen Kimberly Elliott, Ph.D., to serve as the new Superintendent of Schools.
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Ever since you left town: Louisville honky-tonk band rolls into Waynesville
 

Ever since you left town: Louisville honky-tonk band rolls into Waynesville

For the better part of the last four years, Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters have zigzagged to and fro every…
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This must be the place: ‘And the morning came with bells on’
 

This must be the place: ‘And the morning came with bells on’

Hola. I’ve been saying that an awful lot while currently down here in Cancun, Mexico. Ten days of feet-in-the-sand with…
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Cartoon, Jan. 31, 2018
 

Cartoon, Jan. 31, 2018

By Will Studenc
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Let’s get back to honoring all women
 

Let’s get back to honoring all women

To the Editor: Have you told your mother? Your sister? Your aunt? Your niece? Simply put, have you explained to…
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National park backlog needs attention
 

National park backlog needs attention

To the Editor: I want to commend Holly Kays for her great story on “Breaking the Backlog."  I hope that…
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Third party efforts futile in U.S.
 

Third party efforts futile in U.S.

To the Editor: I appreciated your article on third parties. The frustration of the people with the two major parties…
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GOP legislature has stolen my vote
 

GOP legislature has stolen my vote

To the Editor: My vote has been stolen. It has been stolen by the Legislature of the State of North…
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Life is too short for cheap beer, bad coffee
 

Life is too short for cheap beer, bad coffee

I’m not a snob. In fact, I’m more of a bleeding heart. But when it comes to beer and coffee,…
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School systems need help with class size mandate
 

School systems need help with class size mandate

By John deVille • Guest Columnist This is a letter I sent to Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin. Macon County Schools, Haywood…
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Elk habitat projects underway on Silver Game Lands
 

Elk habitat projects underway on Silver Game Lands

When The Conservation Fund began acquiring the land that would eventually become the William H. Silver Game Lands near Maggie…
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Indian Creek runs through the William H. Silver Game Land. The Conservation Fund photo
 

Linked to the landscape: Community envisions Plott Balsams’ future

The doors opened, and the room filled — with hikers, bikers, ecologists, conservation workers, economic development professionals and Cherokee tribal…
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Worth protecting: Conservation organizations partner to preserve Parkway lands
 

Worth protecting: Conservation organizations partner to preserve Parkway lands

Born in the upstairs of the Post Office building his mom ran in Crabtree, Robert Williams, now 87, has always…
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J.D. Lee. Donated photo
 

Parkway hires new superintendent

The Blue Ridge Parkway has a new superintendent following the hire of J.D. Lee, currently deputy superintendent of Florida’s Big…
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Visitors peer into the sky during the solar eclipse event at Clingmans Dome Aug. 21. NPS photo
 

Smokies sets visitation record in 2017

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw a record number of visitors for the second year in a row, logging…
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Izzy (left) scoops a comb with Maddie. Don Hendershot photo
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Christmas vacation, part deux

The day after our water dance with manatees in Crystal River we headed across Florida to Merritt Island National Wildlife…
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Grandfather Mountain’s story makes for fascinating book
 

Grandfather Mountain’s story makes for fascinating book

Dreamers and schemers. Andre Michaux and Daniel Boone. Yankees and Confederates. Hugh Morton. The mile-high swinging bridge. Tweetsie Railroad. Singing…
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The recent “Sunday at the Opry” hosted by the HCAC at the Colonial Theatre in Canton.
 

This must be the place: WNC art councils: where do we stand?

It’s like pulling teeth. As your arts and entertainment editor for Western North Carolina, I find it difficult sometimes to…
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Caroline and Whitney Miller of The Maggie Valley Band.
 

Meant to be lonesome: Maggie Valley Band launches new album, pushes ahead

The territory, and what comes with it. Being a traveling musician has always been a haphazard and often difficult position…
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HCS Superintendent Dr. Anne Garrett addresses the school board in January, 2016. File photo
 

Haywood school board admits to open meeting violation

Haywood County Schools’ administration recently admitted it may have violated North Carolina’s Open Meeting laws by not properly noticing a…
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Public forums held for WCU chancellor search
 

Public forums held for WCU chancellor search

Members of the public will have several opportunities to share their opinions on the characteristics they would like to see…
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Attorneys (left to right) Adam Melrose, Martha Bradley, Mark Melrose and Jonathan Song speak with Waynesville Development Services Director Elizabeth Teague at a meeting Jan. 24. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Zoning fight, criminal indictments loom for Nudge City

Local business owner Tami Nicholson was indicted Jan. 8 for illegally operating video gaming machines after police raided her Waynesville…
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Clark Nexsen also designed this pool at the Asheville Jewish Community Center, of similar size to the one envisioned for Jackson County. Clark Nexsen rendering
 

Pool vote delayed in Jackson, again

For the second time in two months, a proposal to kick off the process toward a November referendum vote on…
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Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, listens to a question at a recent town hall. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Clampitt town hall goes to pot

To the traditional topics of a legislative town hall meeting — economic development, fake news and even the morality of…
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Macon County Planning Director Jack Morgan speaks to commissioners regarding the proposed changes to the county grading license program in front of a packed room during a Jan. 9 public hearing. Screenshot from meeting
 

Macon County grading license being reviewed

Residents are accusing the Macon County government of impeding their private property rights by proposing new requirements for landowners and…
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Commissioner Boyce Deitz explains his vehement opposition to consolidation. Holly Kays photo
 

Jackson will combine health and social services departments

In a party-line vote that came after a lengthy and impassioned public hearing, the Jackson County Commissioners voted Jan. 29…
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Canton’s Board of Aldermen/women and town staff discuss priorities at a retreat Jan. 27. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Canton sets bold agenda

Officials in the town of Canton have been throwing around the term “Canton Comeback” for a few years now, noting…
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Electoral College in need of reform
 

Electoral College in need of reform

To the Editor: In his guest column in the Jan. 17 edition, Martin Dyckman proposes to “eliminate the power of…
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Too much is based on skin color
 

Too much is based on skin color

To the Editor: Imagine yourselves involved in a delicate negotiation in which feelings run high on both sides. It would…
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Comment

We need better than Donald Trump
 

We need better than Donald Trump

To the Editor: I am 69, a seven-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and a Vietnam veteran. There are…
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Thanks for sending Simons
 

Thanks for sending Simons

Dear friends in beautiful Bryson City, As the mayor of Murphy I want to sincerely thank the Bryson City mayor,…
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Do Republicans in the House and Senate know their voter base?
 

Do Republicans in the House and Senate know their voter base?

Republicans in the House and Senate supported a tax bill that was opposed by the majority of Americans. They insisted…
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I can’t stomach the hypocrisy of Trump’s enablers
 

I can’t stomach the hypocrisy of Trump’s enablers

Imagine, just for a moment, that it is 2010 again. The economy, which was on the verge of a catastrophic…
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The feeling reminds me that journalism matters
 

The feeling reminds me that journalism matters

That feeling in the pit of my stomach is familiar. I imagine it’s something like what people with ulcers feel…
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Breaking the backlog: Deferred maintenance in the billions for national parks
 

Breaking the backlog: Deferred maintenance in the billions for national parks

Drawing more than 300 million visitors each year, the National Park Service is both a reservoir of natural beauty and…
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