To the Editor:

Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision on women’s reproductive rights, has been in the news related to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court of the United States. I am not alone when I worry that her record of supporting anti-abortion actions coupled with ultra-conservative social and religious beliefs could result in a vote in favor of repealing Roe v. Wade. I support a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion. Here’s why.  

Question: My doctor has told me I have "prediabetes" - what does this mean?

What began as a traffic stop ended with a jury finding a Waynesville man guilty last week on methamphetamine-related charges, Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeff Jones said. 

This year’s Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance may very well be the most challenging yet, with millions across the U.S. in need of health care after losing their job-related health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Vecinos Farmworker Health Program was honored to receive a $10,000 grant from Nantahala Health Foundation, which partners and collaborates with local organizations to improve the health and well-being of Western North Carolinians, to fund a new vehicle to safely transport farmworkers to-and-from medical appointments.

Haywood County Public Health received notice of 33 new cases of COVID-19 since Oct. 23. As of 5 p.m. Oct. 29, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded 726 cases in Haywood County.

Macon County has identified that a sixth Macon County Public Health employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch’s office intends to seek the death penalty against a Haywood County man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 10-month-old child.

By the Officers of Digali’i

As enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the officers of Digali’i, Western Carolina University’s Native American student organization, we take great pride in the culture and history that make us Cherokee.

More than six years ago, Southwestern Community College officials started looking into making necessary safety improvements at their firing range in Dillsboro. 

Tuesday night at approximately 5 p.m. Haywood County received notice that a local bear hunter, Richard Warren, had been injured in a fall above Sunburst campground off of Lake Logan Road. 

The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster at a child care center.

By Ethel Klein —

In the past four years, Americans have experienced a series of large-scale events and shocks to our political system. The day after the Trump January inauguration, the massive 2017 Women’s Marches brought together over a million people in the nation’s capital and 5.6 million worldwide.

George Vanderbilt first opened Biltmore, his magnificent private estate, to family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895. Today, 125 years later, his descendants continue welcoming guests with that same spirit of gracious hospitality.

As we age many of us want to remain independent ("free-range") and healthy for as long as possible. Our nutritional  and physical status play a big role in this. If you are elderly or if you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbors - here are some things to think about and watch for. Talk to your health care provider about: 

To the Editor:

Of all the childhood films I can still bear to watch as an adult, I love “Superman.” There’s something about an awkward corn-fed kid from Kansas who becomes an almost omnipotent yet benevolent alien being known simply as Superman. When tragedy strikes, and it often does, Superman is there to save the day.

To the Editor:

In most professions work experience is a major factor as to whether you get the job or not. I believe experience in the courtroom is especially important for a judicial position and that’s why I cast my vote for Justin Greene for District Court judge.

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to Ted Carr’s letter in the October 21 edition of your paper. Unlawful, destructive acts by Trump supporters are at an unprecedented level and, true to form. Carr’s reference to “rioting and destroying property in Seattle, Portland and other cities” was right out of the Trump playbook. 

To the Editor:

I support Randy McDowell for a seat on the Haywood County Board of Education.

To the Editor:

There were 8,820 bills and joint resolutions submitted to Congress in 2019. Two-thirds were submitted in the House. Our representative should be someone who has shown the ability to study, analyze, and has the initiative to act in the best interest of Western North Carolina’s citizens and not be a rubber stamp for a political party. 

To the Editor:

Filling a Supreme Court vacancy a week before the election is wrong. Spray as much rose water on it as you want, it still stinks.

To the Editor:

Don’t you get it? Mask (keep your germs to yourself), socially distance (don’t stand close to each other), wash ( send germs down the drain), stay home (unless absolutely necessary). As of this morning (October 19), no matter how you choose to rationalize it, there are almost 221,000 deaths from Covid in the United States — our formerly United States of America. 

To the Editor:

Do you believe that your vote doesn’t matter? Your vote doesn’t matter to the Democrats. Here’s an example. The Green Party spent tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours gathering tens of thousands of signatures to gain ballot access in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Then the Democrats,  with their well-financed lawyers, took the Greens to court to have ballot access denied over technicalities.

To the Editor:

In my faith tradition when someone is baptized, everyone in the congregation renews their promises to God and their neighbors. I love the service of Holy Baptism. For me the most powerful line is “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” The congregation responds, “I will with God’s help.” This line informs how I try to walk in the world. 

To the Editor:

Madison Cawthorn’s website states: “Send a fighter to Congress.” 

To the Editor:

I keep hearing conservatives say that the Democratic Party is the party of hate and divisiveness. However, I recently learned from a friend of mine, whose family immigrated from Mexico, about a scary encounter her mother recently had with a group of Trump demonstrators. 

To the Editor:

If you believe permanent one-party rule is desirable; big cities should always determine who becomes President; the judiciary should be stacked to ensure the “correct” ruling; there is no need to be concerned about election irregularities involving “privileged” candidates;

To the Editor:

I must have been 7 or 8 years old when I first realized my grandma hung out a special flag every July 4, Memorial Day — any national holiday. It was simply four stars representing my dad and his three brothers who all enlisted after Pearl Harbor to fight for democracy. One wounded shortly after landing on Omaha Beach. One survived 25 bombing raids over German held Italy … and so on. 

To the Editor:

In normal times, we are not unduly impacted by the actions of our elected officials, whether they are state or national officials. But these are not normal times.

To the Editor:

It’s so past time we shared health care with all North Carolinians

To the Editor:

I am not a big Donald Trump fan. However, this man is the one who proved in 2016 that America was sick of business as usual in Washington.

To the Editor:

I have a tendency to speak my mind. I have intentionally not done so during this election as I believe that there are enough opinions flying around. I have held my tongue and kept my peace. But after seeing the advertisement taken out by the Jackson County Republican Party in the Sylva Herald and The Smoky Mountain News, I can no longer be silent.

To the Editor:

How insulting Joe Biden is to the American public … us the voters, the ones who deserve to know what our candidates think, how they speak, what they look like and who they are. 

The number of political letters we have received from readers in our coverage area (Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, along with the Qualla Boundary) during this election season has been almost overwhelming. We’ve worked to get all of them in print, but we’re not quite going to make it. If you submitted a letter and it is not in this edition, it will be in this section of our website.

After seven years spent laying the groundwork, the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded an honor that Director Rhett Langston likens to the “Heisman Trophy” of the parks and recreation world. 

Allen Nicholas retired in September after nearly five years in charge of North Carolina’s national forests, and James Melonas will now take his place as forest supervisor for the National Forests in North Carolina. 

Fifty people participated in the Big Sweep trash cleanup Haywood Waterways Association hosted Sept. 19, removing 1,500 pounds of trash from roadsides and stream banks across the county. 

A plan to host a sculpture of Harriet Tubman at Bridge Park next year met enthusiastic approval from the Sylva Board of Commissioners Oct. 22. 

The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster associated with a social gathering. 

 By Kristina Smith

Jan. 30, 2020 — My genetic test came back positive for BRCA2. A genetic mutation. The doctor explained how BRCA was the breast cancer gene and that they were tumor-suppressing proteins. Mine, however, were mutated, and may not do their job. He continued, calmly and slowly, with the next steps, the referrals he was making to oncology, geneticist, surgeons, and the list continued.

By Boyd Allsbrook

Agriculture has always been an integral part of the North Carolina culture and economy. Every year, farming and agribusiness bring in over 90 billion dollars—a sixth of the state’s net income. Here, more than in most states, it matters who we elect to oversee this massive industry.

After months of delay, jury trials resume on a limited basis this week in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the state’s seven westernmost counties and overseen by District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch.

Smaller, less-profitable hospital nets twice the price 

By Peter H. Lewis
AVL Watchdog

Years from now, the decision in 2018 by the directors of Mission Health to sell to HCA Healthcare might be seen as a brilliant strategic maneuver, one that guaranteed affordable, high-quality healthcare for future generations of western North Carolinians. This was, and still is, the position of the directors and executives who pushed the deal.

More than 2 years later, secrets and silence continue

By Peter H. Lewis
AVL Watchdog

The news stunned Asheville and Western North Carolina, where Mission Health System Inc. was the area’s largest employer, its main healthcare provider, and a long-time source of civic pride. Seemingly out of the blue, Mission’s directors publicly announced on March 21, 2018, that they had voted to sell the 133-year-old nonprofit to HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, for an estimated $1.5 billion.

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