Rotating Controversy.


The Public Safety Committee held their regular meeting Monday evening in the Fire Station. Council member and former committee member Davis Woods was present to discuss his merchant polling around the square about rotating the farmers market. Woods informed the committee that most merchants were in favor of the market rotating and some hoped it would remain on the north side at all times. Woods said that one merchant on the east side expressed strong opposition to the market taking place on the east side.

In early April the Mornin’ Mail polled several businesses on the square. The majority said they preferred it on the north side, with a few stating they didn’t have a preference to which side its on.

Committee member Jim Woestman stated that he felt that the east side should be omitted from the rotation due to the fact that parking on Wednesday for sheriff’s vehicles would be impossible.

"The City Hall side should stay out of it," said Woestman, "and just do the other three sides, both days."

Council member and former Main Street board member Diane Sharits stated that in the past, rotating the market on a monthly basis was less complicated than rotating each week.

Public Safety Committee Chairman Mike Harris stated that he was unsure why this issue was even being discussed.

"We could do nothing," said Harris. "There has been no outside motivation to change the farmers market."

Police Chief Dennis expressed his concern about the rotation.

"Each year there has been a controversy," said Veach. "Except for the last two years that it has stayed on the north. I think we’re inviting problems to mess with what is already working."

Committee members Woestman and Jackie Boyer both stated that if some merchants want it on their side of the square, it would only be fair to have it rotate.

Woestman made the motion to allow the market to rotate on the north, west and south sides on a monthly basis.

The committee agreed in a three to one vote to rotate the farmer’s market on a monthly basis starting with the north side and exclude the east side from the rotation. Committee member Ron Ferguson voted against the rotation and committee members Mike Harris, Jackie Boyer and Jim Woestman voted in favor.

Harris stated that he would inform the farmers market coordinator Ray Mathis of the rotation.

"If there are any problems," said Harris, "we welcome looking at it anytime."

I got into another one a those, you go, no you go, no you go, speechless discussions at the intersection the other day. This time it was with a motorcycle rider. Had his (I think it was a he) face shield down so I couldn’t tell his expression, but we had quite a discussion decidin’ who was gonna balk first. After a couple a false starts, the biker won out. I can only take so much of bein’ mister nice guy and after a while I go on through just ta prove a point. The problem is, I haven’t figured out what the point is. I find myself talkin’ to myself sayin’ somethin’ like, ‘well, if you’re gonna be that way, I just show you’ and off I go. Guess I just don’t have the stamina I used too. When I was younger I could sit at a corner longer than anyone. That really showed ‘em too I suppose.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

• "I have a shoebox full of keepsakes from when my child was an infant. I kept moving the box around until finally I decided that I would display them. I bought a shadowbox at the crafts store, and now the items are proudly displayed for all to see. I am thinking of doing more of these shadowboxes for trips and such. They really cut down on clutter in the closets and get the keepsakes out in view." — Marie O., via e-mail

• "I keep grocery lists on my computer. When I am going to go shopping, I print out a list and fold the paper in half. Then I slip my coupons into the fold. It keeps them handy when I am shopping." — Reader in Maryland

• "To clear smells out of my garbage disposal, I use 1 cup of lemon-fresh ammonia. It really clears out the odor." — Joseph DeM. in Memphis, Tenn.

• "Here is a sewing tip for your column: I prewash fabrics that tend to shrink before I use them to make clothing items. That way, the fit is more accurate." — Gillian V. in South Bend, Ind.