The Mornin’ Mail polled several business on the square on their thoughts of the farmer’s market and whether or not they would be in favor of the market rotating. The majority said they preferred it on the north side and a few stated they didn’t have a preference to which side it was on.

Carthage Eye Care Clinic employee Susan Lowrey expressed that she wishes the market to remain on the north side. Lowrey explained that the clinic has alot of elderly patients and to park and walk a long distance is difficult for some patients.

Tracy Willis, of Four State Office Supply stated that she was in favor of the market being on the square but it has drawbacks when it is on the south side.

"When it’s on our side," said Willis, it hurts our business but I like the farmer’s market, on my lunch break my sister and I buy from the market."

James Spradling Law Office Secretaries Lyla Orr and Angie Harwell expressed that they were in favor of the market being anywhere on the square.

The Front Page Manager Sherry White stated that she was happy they are on the north side and that it draws extra traffic to their store.

From the Heart Craft Mall owner Renay Minshew said she didn’t mind it being on the north side and that she is pleased with the extra traffic it creates.

"Parking is tough on court days too," said Minshew. "I don’t know why anyone would complain, it’s not that big of a deal. The market helps businesses and the tourist comment on how neat it is the city has a farmer’s market on the square."

Carthage Deli owner Chris Brown stated that he was in favor of the market being on the north side or rotating if the need be. He said it draws more people to his deli and doesn’t feel that parking is an issue.

"People come to the market," said Brown, "and come in for a drink and I’ve seen them with shopping bags from other businesses. It is very unique to our square and I am in support of all the events that come to the square."

The annual Farmer’s Market will begin this Saturday at 7 a.m. on the north side of the square. Police Chief Dennis Veach stated to the Mornin’ Mail that the market will begin on the north side.

"Until they hear otherwise," said Veach. "We may need to change it at sometime, but for now it will be on the north side, same as last year."

Carthage Hardware owner Ray Mathis and his wife Lana Mathis are sponsoring the farmer’s market this year. Ray Mathis explained that the farmer’s market was handled by Main Street Carthage since the early 1990’s and the Mathis’ took over last year.

Looks like the Farmer’s Market will be off to a great start this Saturday. From what I’m told there will be plenty to choose from.

Those we’ve talked to on the Square like the Market and think it draws a lot of folks to the downtown. Good for business and helps keep the Square in the center of things.

‘Course the Square continues to be a viable place to locate a business and has the natural advantage of bein’ in a historic district that attracts visitors from all parts of the county.

It has developed in the last twenty years or so into a center for those with nostalgic interests and less of a traditional business hub. It does continue, however, to contribute significantly to the sales tax base as well as keepin’ property values stable.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am trying to weigh the safety and convenience benefits of the Volvo SUV versus the Volvo Cross Country versus a minivan like the Honda Odyssey. While the extra seating in the Volvo SUV is a very valuable feature — as are the curtain air bags and steel frame — I can’t get a straight answer from anyone as to whether these benefits are irrelevant compared with the increased danger of rolling over in an SUV and its other downsides. Can you help me decide? — Judy

TOM: Well, we will give you as straight an answer as we can, Judy. You picked three good vehicles. The real question is: "What’s most important to you?"

RAY: If you really need seating for seven people, then the Honda Odyssey is the clear choice. It’s the only one of them that has seven truly usable seats. The Cross Country is available with a rear-facing third seat (a "puker seat," my kids call it), which is only for kids who don’t get carsick easily. The XC90 SUV has a front-facing, folding third seat, but it can only be accessed by little kids, contortionists or Kentucky Derby jockeys.

TOM: So, if you’re really going to carry six other people on a regular basis, then get a minivan.

RAY: If the extra seating is just "nice to have" rather than necessary, and your overriding concern is safety, then consider one of the Volvos. The Cross Country is certainly very safe. It’s a solid car with a low center of gravity, all-wheel drive, and it has just about every safety feature currently known to man. It’s also easy to get in and out of, it gets better gas mileage than Volvo’s SUV and it handles better.