To the Editor:

All of us are heartbroken with the recent reports of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. Texas of all places! The state where we are told everyone would be safer if they had a gun. I’d be shocked if most shoppers in the El Paso Walmart weren’t packin’! Where was the in-store response to the shooting? It failed, along with the bogus notion that more guns means a safer community. Actually, the opposite is true.

To the Editor:

As a nurse practitioner who treats opioid addiction, I am appreciative of The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage of the opioid crisis. Our community benefits from increased visibility of the opioid crisis. Increased visibility leads to decreased stigmatization of addiction as well as increased empathy for those suffering from it, which, in turn, increases access to care. 

To the Editor:

Regularly, for four years, both the Mountaineer and The Smoky Mountain News have published articles lambasting the Shining Rock Classical Academy’s records and activities.

To the Editor:

Lindsay Graham had it right. In 2015, he described Donald Trump as “a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” Merriam-Webster defines bigot as: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. That definition clearly encompasses racism and perfectly describes Mr. Trump.

Fifteen high school students from across the region who are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians had an opportunity to experience college life first-hand as the second annual Judaculla Camp was held June 17-21 at Western Carolina University.

According to Medicalassistantadvice.com, Haywood Community College’s Medical Assisting program has been ranked number 10 in North Carolina for the year 2019. 

Lake Junaluska residents Pat and Don Rankin are the 2019 recipients of the Chief Junaluska Award, an honor bestowed annually during Associates Weekend at Lake Junaluska.

The N.C. Justice Center posthumously bestowed a Champion of Justice Award on former board member and community advocate Jane Hipps for her lifetime of service to her community and the state of North Carolina.

A man died in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week following a cardiac event near the Greenbrier Ranger Station Aug. 9. 

The Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association has a new executive director in Natalie Britt.

Widening work will begin on Interstate 26 in Buncombe County this fall, a project that will include replacing the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over I-26, bridges over the French Broad River and two other bridges.

The column that appeared in this space last week, “Death, violence and too many guns,” was not written by John Beckman, as indicated. Beckman, a Cullowhee resident who has written many columns for SMN over the years, forwarded the column to SMN from a blog he follows. We assumed he had written in, and it was timely, so we published it. Our apologies to the original author and to Beckman, who says it has felt good this week to have received many complimentary emails from those who have mistaken him for a gifted writer who does very good research.

To the Editor:

On a visit to Bryson City this past weekend, I picked up the most recent copy of your weekly. What a wonderful surprise and enjoyable read! As a former journalist and long-term professional writer, I was so pleased to see that true journalism is alive and thriving in Western North Carolina. My expectations of a local or regional publication were surpassed by your perfect blend of hard news, opinion, arts/entertainment and more. To top it off, the writing was excellent. Well done and keep up the good work!

Hugh Findlay, freelance writer/poet

Durham

To the Editor:

I am an registered nurse, and have been for more years than I’ll admit. Understanding my HIPAA responsibilities, here is a true but masked story about a night shift in the late 1960s in the ICU of a large city hospital. One of my patients that night was a teenage girl; I even remember her name. We were doing everything we could to keep her alive, but she died — died from a tetanus infection after an illegal back alley abortion several days earlier. I was there when she died. Her family didn’t even bother to show up that night. She experienced a horrible death. As I prepared her body for transfer to the morgue, I cried. With reflection, my personal and professional beliefs and values about abortion landed softly in my heart and have remained steadfast.    

Fast forward to 2019. Abortion has been legal since 1973, several years too late for my young patient. It is settled law, says Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (2018). Moreover, there are numerous methods of birth control, some more reliable than others. That said, some people wonder why abortion is still necessary. Why were there about 27,000 abortions performed in North Carolina last year, about 87 percent within in the first trimester (12 weeks)?

Here’s a sampling of reasons culled from personal and professional experience, as well as stories from an anonymous OB/GYN physician. I am a divorced mother with a full-time job; I can’t afford to feed the children I already have. I am in an abusive relationship and can’t leave. I went into heart failure last time. My tubes were tied; I never intended to have more kids. I’m 14 weeks along and addicted to heroin. I’m married and had an affair; I made a mistake and don’t want to lose my family. I got drunk and don’t know who the father is. I was raped. I am 13 years old. He had a vasectomy; I never thought I could get pregnant. I am 48 years old. I have breast cancer and am getting chemotherapy. I think I want children someday but I am not ready to be a mother now. My uterus ruptured during my last pregnancy. My diabetes is out of control and I not eligible for Medicaid. My baby has multiple anomalies. I have a full ride scholarship to Princeton starting next month. I am scared I will kill myself. That’s why. 

If you would never have an abortion because your religion says it’s is wrong, I respect your choice. If you believe that your fertilized ovum is already a baby, I respect your belief. If you would never have an abortion because you believe that abortion is murder, I respect your belief. If you are impregnated by a rapist and believe you have the duty to carry the pregnancy to term, I respect that too. In fact, I respect whatever choices you make and beliefs you hold about YOUR reproductive rights. I am not going to try and change your mind. I speak on behalf of the girls and women who make different choices or have different beliefs. Please show us the same respect. Respect choice. 

Elaine Slocumb

Bryson City

To the Editor:

Actually, this letter is especially to Republican and Republican-leaning unaffiliated voters. 

Editor’s note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of those interviewed for this story. 

Five miles down an Appalachian dirt road 45 minutes from nowhere is where Daphne Laurel was raised, right in the heart of the sparsely populated mountainous region hit hardest by the ongoing opioid crisis. 

Following a national search, Dogwood Health Trust, a private, non-operating foundation whose sole purpose is to improve the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina, has selected philanthropic and health equity leader Antony Chiang as Dogwood’s initial chief executive officer.

I unwrapped my ground beef and it was red on the outside but gray/slightly brown on the inside! What’s going on?

By John Beckman • Guest Columnist

It is time that we honestly faced up to the basic issues concerning gun violence. For too long people on both sides have skirted around the core of the issue with worn out platitudes, specious arguments, and canned sound-bite justifications. 

The latest shootings in El Paso and Dayton raised our unbelievable tally of mass shootings to 251 in the last 216 days. They are commonplace in the U.S.; a daily occurrence.

To the Editor:

Mr. Patrick Gleason, we agree with part of your guest column that appeared in The Smoky Mountain News two weeks ago (www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/27352). There is no such thing as free money. Everything comes at a cost, our tax dollars do not come free, they come right out of our pockets, and they aren’t to be wasted by this legislature. That is why I will not stop working to expand Medicaid in North Carolina until we get it done. We should all be sick and tired of the waste of our federal tax dollars that we endure every single year that we refuse to expand Medicaid. 

North Carolinians pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, and we pay our federal taxes! Our Legislature is just refusing to let $5 billion of those tax dollars come back home. 

Every single year, North Carolina pays more than $2.5 billion in federal taxes for Medicaid expansion. That’s over $5 billion in this two-year budget. For nearly a decade, we have been paying, year after year, for Medicaid expansion. All of it wasted. 

When you take away the spin, the real question is, do we want to pay for our own healthcare or do we want to ship our tax dollars off, out of state, never to be seen again? 

Do we want to waste $5 billion for absolutely nothing in return, or do we want to see 500,000 of our neighbors gain healthcare coverage, 6,000 – 8,000 in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain?

Do we want to waste $5 billion for nothing, or do we want to lower every North Carolinian’s insurance premiums by an average of 7 percent by closing the coverage gap and stopping the cost shifting? 

Do we want to waste $5 billion for nothing, or do we want to create over 40,000 new healthcare jobs in North Carolina, more than 400 in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain?

Do we want to waste $5 billion for nothing, or do we want to take the single most important step we can to fight the opioid crisis and save thousands of lives every single year, 20 to 30 in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain?

It’s high time we start taking our federal taxes and the lives of hard-working North Carolinians seriously. It’s time to expand Medicaid in North Carolina. 

Rep. Joe Sam Queen

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I recently heard someone refer to Western North Carolina as a political backwater, populated with paranoid conspiracy theorists. I disagree. I have talked to many well-informed local people who are capable of critical, independent thinking. But I also hear from many good, intelligent, hard-working people who do not have the time to properly educate themselves on local and national political issues. Between working endless hours to earn enough money to raise a family, seeing to church responsibilities, and just trying to stay healthy, these folks just do not have the time to pay much attention to the real issues facing this community and nation. 

Now, I try to see the good intentions in the endeavors of all people. I assume that our political leaders are working in the best interest of the people they represent. Just like you and I would. I assume that the vast majority of the people working the local, state, and federal governments are good honest people, professionals who take pride in their work. Just like you and me. Politics is something they mostly think about during election season, but they are otherwise just heads down working just like you and me.

So why have some started to look for the evil in the ranks of these hardworking fellow citizens? Conspiracy theories that malign the professionals in organizations such as the FBI, the DOJ, the CIA, the NSA and others fly in the face of common sense. These are hard-working and dedicated people doing the best they can at their work. Just like you and me. These fellow citizens have been toiling tirelessly and diligently for decades defending America ideals. Why would large swaths of these Americans suddenly decide to subvert our Democracy after decades protecting our country from outside attacks and internal subversion? Consider the concept that thousands of government workers sabotaging their own organizations. Where are the voices of the tens of thousands of fellow workers, who would be calling out this alleged widespread corruption? Like you and I would. 

We as a nation have many serious challenges. Drug addition, millions without healthcare, a refugee system bursting at the seams, persistent poverty especially in Appalachia and our inner cities, stagnant wages. Western North Carolina shares all these problems with the rest of our country. Can we please stop conjuring up visions of secret cabals of fellow Americans subverting the good work we expect from our government employees and focus on the real problems facing our country.

John Barry

Franklin

To the Editor:

I just received the July 24 issue of The Smoky Mountain News, which gave the immunization records of Haywood County Schools. The paper reported 4.8 percent of Haywood kindergarten students had not received their immunizations. It is below Buncombe (9.9 percent) and statewide (5.9 percent). Medically, this is a tragic neglect of these children who must suffer the risk of disease which we can prevent.

Of interest, these figures follow closely the performance of the children in the classroom. The lowest percent of unvaccinated children are at Bethel, Junaluska and Riverbend Elementary Schools which are our highest performing schools. The highest percent of unvaccinated children are in Shining Rock Classical Academy (11.4 percent) and Haywood Christian Academy (11.1 percent).

Doris B. Hammett, MD

Waynesville 

After spending four nights lost in the backcountry of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, searchers found 58-year-old Kevin Mark Lynch alert and responsive on Wednesday, July 31. 

Extremely heavy rainfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park caused rockslides, downed trees, flash flooding and a fatality on Thursday, Aug. 1. 

A group of Girl Scouts recently completed 80 hours of service in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as part of a program offered through collaboration by the Student Conservation Association and Girl Scouts of America. 

Fontana Regional Library is stepping out of the stacks to bring “Libraries on Tap: Brewing Scavenger Hunt” to Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. “Libraries on Tap” is a collaboration between Fontana Regional Library and local breweries.

The Cherokee Indian Police Department, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs arranged the purchase of one kilogram of methamphetamine through Walter Paul Linn. 

The Nantahala Health Foundation, a newly formed, public 501(c)(3) organization, has hired its inaugural executive director, Lori Bailey.

Starting the day with some protein can often help you and your children stay more satisfied and last until lunch. Planning for at least 10 grams of protein is a good place to start.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., the northern area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, TN, experienced extremely heavy rainfall causing multiple small rock slides, downed trees, and flash flooding along the Spur and Gatlinburg Bypass.

After spending four nights lost in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kevin Mark Lynch was found by searchers.  At approximately 4:25 p.m. searchers discovered Lynch, alert and responsive, in the southeast area of the park near the Cataloochee Divide Trail.

These days it seems like there's a lot of noise about food. Whether it's coming from your TV or Twitter, from a friend on Facebook or a famous person... how can you make the best decisions about food and what you buy?

By Sandi Sox • Guest Columnist

I have been haunted this week by words Kathryn Stripling Byer wrote in a piece about changes around her home near Cullowhee. “We are losing our homes,” she wrote. 

Denuding paradise to erect strip malls and apartment complexes is certainly heartrending, especially when ugliness slouches ever closer while you watch from your front yard. 

To the Editor:

Here we are in 2019 arguing about worthiness to be an American citizen. Down through time some have wanted race, gender, wealth, property, education, religion, intelligence and other factors to determine/limit citizenship.

Note that two of these factors (race and gender) are beyond each individual’s control. My DNA was determined by my mother and father. I had nothing to do with my racial makeup or my gender. Neither did anyone else who has ever been born. 

In my youth I often heard this — “He can’t help it that he is black.” Oddly no one ever reminded me that I could not help it that I was white. That truth was omitted or ignored as a way to belittle someone who was of African descent.

A guiding principle of Peter Pan, The Golden Rule and Jesus Christ is to take care of someone else. Cain asked God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

America is in deep trouble if we ignore that philosophical/religious truism. Do you worship a god that/who allows you to hate someone or feel superior to them?

Dave Waldrop

Webster

To the Editor:

I read with interest the recent article by Patrick Gleason titled “What Queen didn’t tell readers about budget standoff.” North Carolina is only one of 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid, thus 37 states (including D.C.) have approved Medicaid expansion. The majority of these 14 states are controlled by the Republicans. 

This state’s taxpayers forego billions of their tax dollars paid annually to the federal government which — had N.C. expanded Medicaid — would have come back from the federal government to defray Medicaid expansion costs.  

Starting in 2020 the federal government would pay 90 percent of the expansion cost. If Medicaid was expanded, over 600,000 people in this state who are currently without health insurance would be covered. 

Hospitals are required to provide medical treatment to people without insurance. These costs are difficult for the rural area hospitals to absorb and thus many are closing or being absorbed by larger corporations. However, with Medicaid expansion the hospitals would receive financial compensation. It has been estimated Medicaid expansion in N.C. would create up to 40,000 new jobs. These new jobs would be created in not only the medical field but also suppliers, construction, retailers, etc.

Mr. Trumps brags about being a job creator. To this end one would think the N.C. GOP (supporting Mr. Trump) would support the job creation for expansion? These new jobs would generate millions of additional tax dollars for the state coffers. 

Depending on the source, the Northcarolinahealthnews.org states, “The current plan for expansion would cost a total of about $2.13 billion, of which 90 percent, or $1.91 billion, would be paid by the federal government and the remainder by a variety of sources, with assessments on the state’s hospitals being the largest portion.” Mr. Gleason stated the cost to N.C. would be an additional $6 billion over the next two years to be paid in additional taxes by North Carolinians. To this end I support Rep. Queen’s recommendation urging one to contact their elected state official to support Medicaid expansion.

Ron Rookstool

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

I was sad to read the article “Wolf Tales” in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News. Rob Gudger has found the truth about the two sides of wolves, but he only found one side of coyotes.

As a baby, my parents found a puppy beside the road and for two years it was our pet dog. Then the veterinarian had to put it to sleep because it had rabies. Afterward, the vet told my parents that it was not a dog but a coyote.

While alive, I’m told it had been my guardian between the ages of 2 and 4 years old.

There is also a second side to coyotes. No coyote has ever attacked a human. You are doing to coyotes what others do to wolves.

Donna Catheart

Jonathan Creek

To the Editor:

I just finished reading the story in the July 17 issue of The Smoky Mountain News by Cory Vaillancourt concerning Allen’s Creek in Frog Level and the “clear cutting” of the stream bank vegetation behind Frog Level Brewing and Panacea Coffee Shop. 

Kudos to all involved for recognizing the importance of addressing the over-zealous brush removal along the stream. Special credit should go to Waynesville Alderman Jon Feichter and to Haywood Waterways Executive Director Eric Romanisyzn for making a bad situation into a positive one with some creative thinking. 

Kent Stewart

Waynesville

Three new commissioners have been added to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and a new chairman and vice chairman elected following a business meeting held July 18. 

The second annual Smokies Stomp Barn Party raised more than $84,000 for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year, a significant increase over the $60,000 the event raised the first time around. 

The Haywood Community College Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society recently received the Forrest E. Jarrett Wildlife Conservation Award, an annual award presented by a group of wildlife enthusiasts. 

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is expanding beyond Waynesville’s city limits to include the artists and creative workers in Haywood County. Recently, the Waynesville Gallery Association became the Galleries of Haywood County (GHC) under the umbrella of HCAC.   

During its July meeting, the Haywood County Arts Council presented Anna Thibeault with its “Volunteer of the Year” award. 

Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown is meeting with alumni, friends of the university and community members across North Carolina this summer and fall as part of a “Chancellor’s Welcome Tour” designed to introduce WCU’s new chief executive officer to the region and state.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers continue to search for 58 year-old Kevin Mark Lynch who went missing on Saturday, July 27.  Lynch was reportedly last seen walking along the boundary of the park at the Swag resort in Haywood County, NC near the Cataloochee Divide Trail.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are searching for a 58 year-old male near the Cataloochee Divide Trail in Haywood County.

By Patrick M. Gleason • Guest Columnist

What Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, failed to mention in his recent column in these pages is that imposing Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion in North Carolina would require state government to spend an additional $6 billion in taxpayer dollars over the next two years alone. Those additional costs would have to be paid by North Carolina taxpayers. 

To the Editor:

What are you doing to implement the four R’s to help our environment, which are Recycle, Re-use, Reduce and Refuse?

To the Editor:

The article regarding Waynesville’s First United Methodist Church’s from July 10 (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/27236) saddened me greatly. I am a former lesbian that used to attend a church that told me all I wanted to hear, but not what the Word of God said. Believing I was born gay, that is how God created me and that I could not change, I spent many years trying to find peace with God while living in the gay culture.