Opinion
Town council misplays tax district
Regardless of what one thinks of special tax districts, the Smithfield Town Council is bungling its bid for one around Carolina Premium Outlets.
Opinion
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COLUMNS
Should we drill in N.C.?
But what exactly will be the size of these economic impacts? And how significant might be the environmental and other costs? Since there is a high level of interest in this issue in North Carolina, I collected relevant geological information and applied standard economic-analysis techniques to provide...
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader writes: I’ve done nothing wrong
Several years ago, a dear friend shared with me a story about an Amish farmer who was tending his land one spring afternoon. A traveling stranger approached and asked the farmer if he was a Christian. The farmer stopped what he was doing, wiped the sweat from his brow and replied, “It really...
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EDITORIALS
Crony capitalism alive and well
For an upcoming yard sale along U.S. 301 in Johnston County, town councils are agreeing to protect their brick-and-mortar restaurants from the evil of food trucks. Specifically, the towns are moving to ban “mobile vendors” from selling their fare during the yard sale, which will take...
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader writes: Student deserves better
I do not personally know Cole Withrow, nor anyone associated with him. However, I am appalled at how this young man is being treated. From reports, he is one of the upstanding young people whom we want in our schools and one who tried to do the right thing. Yet he is being treated like a criminal.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader writes: Let’s open Smithfield government
A new bridge opened recently in Smithfield. One town council member, Emery Ashley, is trying to open Smithfield town government. Accordingly, all Smithfield residents who believe in fair and open government should give Mr. Ashley a much-deserved “thank you” for his determination to...
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader writes: Free Cole Withrow
First, the school system suspended Eagle Scout Cole Withrow for 10 days and had him charged with a felony violation of G.S. 14-269.2, despite the fact that a change in the law, effective Dec. 1, 2011, requires that the violation occur “knowingly,” which was clearly not the case with...
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COLUMNS
Hog farmers turn green
Who would have thought two decades ago that North Carolina hog farmers would prove pivotal in preserving an environmental law?
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OPINION
Town needs to maintain ‘public realm’
It’s not often that a book review in The Wall Street Journal has import for Smithfield, but a recent one does.


