The honesty of a cat’s purr opens my eyes
By John Armour We have two cats: Weasel, a grey female calico, and Orion, a male orange and white tabby.…
Read More
Blessed be the tin-eared hymn singer
By David Curtis “Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King.”
Read More
Mountain protections gained wide support in 2007
For those of us who have been beating the drum about the need for mountain communities to get serious about…
Read More
Disappearing fringes threaten national forests
By Brent Martin We see it everywhere we look in Western North Carolina — land advertised and marketed for its…
Read More
Ten yers after Harrah’s, Cherokee is a better place
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino quietly marked its 10th anniversary in November, but it’s impossible to ignore exactly what it has meant…
Read More
Foy’s influence will endure
The praise for outgoing Waynesville Mayor Henry Foy has been plentiful. Both of the other newspapers in Haywood County have…
Read More
You cats dressed in blue, this is for you
(Editor’s note: Smoky Mountain News columnist Chris Cox delivered this address to the graduating class at Southwestern Community College this…
Read More
The maples face an emotional buzz saw
By David Curtis Trees are making the news again in Haywood County as two commissioners are debating the sugar maples…
Read More
Canton gains ground as mill’s dominance recedes
Things are changing in Canton. That in itself is somewhat newsworthy.
Read More
Rankings show quality health care is available in Haywood County
By David Rice • Guest Columnist The results of a survey of nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide indicate Haywood Regional Medical…
Read More
Christmas past is what we’re aiming for
As you know, the Christmas season these days begins about 20 minutes after the last of the trick or treaters…
Read More
Community colleges should admit children of all immigrants
Too often debates about immigration veer way off course, inhabiting some netherland of hysteria that is so far from reality…
Read More
Haywood County Arts Council marks 30 successful years
As the Haywood County Arts Council celebrates 30 years of work, it’s a good time to reflect on how effective…
Read More
Making a list, forgetting to check it
By David Curtis Wool socks, silk long johns, cotton turtleneck, boots, down vest, wool jacket, Gortex insulated camo gloves. Deer…
Read More
Jonathan Creek project is just not a good fit
Rumors have been circulating for years about the proposed mega-development in the Jonathan Creek area, the one with a thousand…
Read More
Today’s youth are missing in action
I was 22 years old in 1967. Although it’s become fashionable to downgrade the sweeping changes brought about by my…
Read More
Even Grinch knows Christmas isn’t in the store
“And they’re hanging their stockings!” he snarled with a sneer. “Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s practically here!” Then he growled, with…
Read More
How the cookie crumbles
I look at you. You look at me. We’re dancing sort of, but I’m not much of a dancer and…
Read More
Charlotte voters make tough, smart choice
These days Americans aren’t known for making tough choices. To the contrary, our national reputation is one of being soft.…
Read More
Dark and empty night skies — a thing of the past
By Brent Martin For those who have read Charles Frazier’s excellent Western North Carolina tale, Thirteen Moons, you will most…
Read More
Filling up a room with more than a table
By Sarah Kucharski Sunlight streams in our house’s south facing windows. The rays bring out the color in the Kiatt…
Read More
Election shows counties they have work to do before new funding OK’d
Last Tuesday’s vote was as illuminating as any recent elections, and it should send a few good signals to those…
Read More
Gauging a country’s greatness
By David Curtis Making the rounds in teacher’s email inboxes is a story about an educator from Arkansas who taught…
Read More
Some memories just spell T-R-A-U-M-A
I am pretty sure I am going to get lashed for saying this, especially as an English teacher, but I…
Read More
Macon makes mistakes in quest to pass school bonds
Macon County Schools superintendent Dan Brigman, school board attorney John Henning Jr. and the school board as a whole did…
Read More
Burmese need our voices our courage
By Michael Beadle The tired diatribes of partisan politics may continue to capture the headlines in the coming campaign months,…
Read More
Macon citizens deserve better from DOT on Siler Road project
A major road is in the planning stages, and neighbors and others in the community feel like it’s more of…
Read More
The nice ones are all red and shiny
By David Curtis If you are driving west along U.S. 23/74 and nearing exit 102, the Waynesville exit, you will…
Read More
Some people really can work miracles
By Stephanie Wampler I walked across the floor, the crowds cheering, the woman smiling as she handed me an award.…
Read More
Days like these can go on forever
I miss all those Sundays at my grandma’s house, so many Sundays, so many years. Once upon a time, it…
Read More
Free press and tribal politics
The decision by Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, to do away with a column in The…
Read More
A health care fix is needed
Our story last week about a fund that helps women pay for breast cancer testing and treatment pointed out cracks…
Read More
The right too often hides behind the children
On a political talk show recently, a well-known Republican political consultant spent a lot of time attacking public schools in…
Read More
Sharing the moments as time marches on
By David Curtis Does time go by faster the older you get, or do we just have a better way…
Read More
Breaking the made in China addiction
By Angela Faye Martin My husband is unwittingly celebrating my month-long, albeit relative, independence from Chinese goods. He sits across…
Read More
Where do postage stamps come from?
By Sami Felmet • Columnist My muse seems to be marred in divorce and family issues lately. I think it…
Read More
In local elections, support those who embrace planning
How’s this for a political endorsement: cast your votes in the upcoming municipal elections for those candidates who support land-use…
Read More
Drive-thru decision-making is maddening
Let me say this first. This is not really a column about restaurants. The last time I wrote a column…
Read More
In the heat of summer, it’s every tomato for itself
By Stephanie Wampler With a long flash of silver, the golf club revolved in a wide, smooth arc. The glinting…
Read More
It’s all over but the texting
By David Curtis The 21st Century arrived at the Curtis residence this past Friday. We have evolved from caveman, cavewoman…
Read More
DOT needs to hit the brakes on Southern Loop
There’s one fundamental reason the Southern Loop needs more discussion before it is considered a done deal — the simple…
Read More
In the wake of death, new life
By Marsha Crites • Guest Columnist Much has been written in this paper and others about what is causing our…
Read More
Ending the curse of Babel may be our only, best chance
By Arthur Hancock Anyone who is among the living has hope — even a live dog is better off than…
Read More
The menagerie grows by one well-trained possum
By David Curtis I would like to think Haywood County is still considered a rural county. At least to me,…
Read More
Preservation is good for the economy; time for all to get on board
Haywood County commissioners have taken a first step forward — albeit a small one — to protect farmland in the…
Read More
What I don’t know about parenting
The central paradox of parenting is that by the time you have it figured out, it’s over. Now that I…
Read More
Time to fix NCLB to better reflect the real world
Congress is likely to re-authorize the No Child Left Behind Act sometime this fall. If that is indeed the case,…
Read More
Dillsboro Dam important part of Jackson’s heritage, economy
By Susan Leveille Editor’s note: This letter, which contains some updates, was sent by Susan Leveille to the Maggie Salas,…
Read More
School gets scant attention out in the jungle
By David Curtis As a teacher in the public school system I have often heard teachers express their frustrations by…
Read More
For gays, desperation too often a way of life
A few years ago, I received a letter from a reader that I have never forgotten. Upset over the suicide…
Read More
