HB2 could be called ‘Hate Bill 2’
To the Editor: Recent letters have provided more smoke than light regarding HB2, also known as House Bill 2, which…
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Trump cares only about being the winner
To the Editor: For one who has never held an elected office, Donald Trump is a brilliant politician. His TV…
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The Left still has something to learn about tolerance
I’ve been observing something for years — though recently it has snowballed — and it has always struck me as…
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Let’s work toward a better Maggie Valley
To the Editor: Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “The republic is a dream. If we stop dreaming, we will…
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Governor’s office is still in the dark
To the Editor: There you are, governor of North Carolina, and somebody pushes a stack of papers in front of…
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Racism is not in the ‘eye of the beholder’
To the Editor: Sorry Dad, but in your column in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17607), you…
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Connecting a new generation to 9/11
Recently, a group of Waynesville Middle chorus students were at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and when they…
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WCU students learning valuable lessons on civil discourse
It’s not the 1960s in terms of political activism, but recent episodes at Western Carolina University and across the country…
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A music nut makes the Merlefest pilgrimage
Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am a complete nut about music. There are people for…
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No negative connotation in resignation
To the Editor: As a founding member of the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council, I offer for readers the following…
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Wallet issues and the legislature
To the Editor: They’re baaaaaaaaack. Yes, your N.C. Legislature is back in session and talking tax cuts. Hold on to…
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Vaccines important for pets
By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist As a pet owner, there are many things we do to keep our fur babies…
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Rep. Queen critical of GOP’s leadership, methods
“I feel like a one-legged man at an ass kicking. They don’t care for me because I call them out.…
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Carden mixes up the facts in book review
To the Editor: Gary Carden, in his book review in the April 6 issue (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/17428), claims that the McCarthy hearings…
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Little choice for Lake J. except merger
To the Editor: To this day, I have no doubt that the Lake Junluska and the City of Waynesville annexation issue will eventually…
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Completing Waynesville half marathon was a real thrill
There was a time when running was my saving grace. If I didn’t run at least four times a week,…
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New charters stir emotions, but time is a healer
When we reported that Mountain Discovery Charter School and Swain County commissioners were working together to hopefully build a gymnasium,…
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Kobe’s swan song turned out to be a masterpiece
“Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the…
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Socialism is not really such a dirty word
To the Editor: So much paranoia about socialism. We can talk about socialism in theory, in practice, as mixed with other…
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HB2 should be repealed immediately
To the Editor: As members of the Reconciling Conversation Group of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, we are striving…
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What HB2 is really about — exerting power
To the Editor: The motivation for HB2 has nothing to do with bathroom safety. The motivation was to slap down…
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The ‘rich’ show less empathy
To the Editor: A recent research project with 200 students at University of California at Berkley explored the effects of…
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Help build a community that fights child abuse
By Julie Schroer • Guest Columnist As April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I want you to hang in…
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Call the hunting of bears what it is
To the Editor: I would like to request of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that you stop referring to the…
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Manage forests for wildlife, too
To the Editor: With recent news stories of elk doing damage to farms and the surprising number of bear living…
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Who would want to lead Waynesville?
To the Editor: I read your article on the hiring of a new town manager with some amusement and dismay.…
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My adopted state is an embarrassment
By Stephanie Wampler • Guest Columnist As a North Carolina woman who may or may not have a vagina (NOYB), I…
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N.C. conservatives go off the deep end
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist There are two major strains of conservatism in American politics, economic and social, and the…
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Stuttering, understanding race and Merle Haggard
When I was a little girl, I had a stuttering problem. The memories of struggling with words that started with…
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Community involvement is the key
To the Editor: I won’t be voting for Michele Presnell, but it seems silly for this newspaper and local elected…
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Opening Day brings renewed sense of hope
I have turned off the talk shows, put down the newspapers, avoided barbershops and changed the subject at family gatherings.…
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The arts thrive only if we support them
“The arts are so incredibly vital to a quality of life, smart business and the health of a community. The…
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On being a columnist for a small-town newspaper
Three months into this, I’ve decided that being a columnist for The Smoky Mountain News is potentially more challenging than…
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Questions for the legislature
By Dave Waldrop • Guest Columnist The North Carolina legislature has abandoned its responsibilities to public education under the guise…
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What lessons from the 2016 primary?
By Chris Cooper • Guest Columnist If I had to use one word to describe the North Carolina primary, it…
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Let’s get the ‘dump Presnell’ train rolling
Let the campaign to unseat Rep. Michele Presnell begin. During her two terms in office Presnell has been an obstructionist…
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Me and your pet rabbit can now share a meal
A few weeks ago, I suddenly developed a thirst that I could not seem to quench. No, this is not…
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Wilderness and recreation areas are good for WNC
By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist Setting aside a modest portion of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest as Wilderness and National…
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Sometimes you wonder why
To the editor: I wonder: • Why do people in the so-called “Bible belt” seem to trust guns more than God?…
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Maggie Valley should make town center happen
When small towns think and act big, amazing things can happen. Anyone who has traveled has come across communities that…
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Donald Trump, you haven’t fooled me
I’ve been watching the Trump shenanigans from afar, laughing it off as a collective momentary lapse in judgment, but as…
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Trump is leading somewhere I just won’t go
With the North Carolina primary election just days away on March 15, Donald Trump continues his march toward the Republican…
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Sanders shows a true measure of leadership
To the Editor; Many people do not have enough information about Bernie Sanders to decide, on a rational basis, whether…
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It’s completely logical that Trump is winning
To the Editor: Presidential candidates for both parties have been on the political or public dole for years even decades.…
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Elect a real rebel for president
To the Editor: I consider myself to be a natural-born, modern rebel! I grew up in a family very proud…
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Market economics not relevant to all our human endeavors
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist I had planned to call this commentary “Dirty Money.” I would begin by quoting Teddy…
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It is past time for a new animal shelter
By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist Our current Haywood County Animal Shelter is overcrowded, outdated, and unsafe for staff and the…
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Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits ... right
When I was growing up, it seemed that I spent most of my time at Mark Dozier’s place. Mark was…
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Fortunately, the ‘ups’ outweigh the ‘downs’
Sometimes I forget why I love it so much. The truth is that newspaper work is partly satisfying, partly frustrating.…
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Senate needs to do its constitutional duty
To the Editor: I understand that our Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is a member of the Senate Judiciary…
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