'For Rent' Signs Draw Criticism
The sign on one of the Carthage buildings. John Chappell
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The signs of the times in Carthage are nothing to brag about, the town commissioners said at their November meeting.
They found two recently posted “For Rent” boards particularly vexing. Town Manager Carol Sparks said she hates the look they give the county seat.
“It makes it look like Carthage has gone out of business,” she said, looking at a 4-by-8 rough wooden panel nailed to the front of one of the most historic buildings downtown. It’s the last remaining structure from the Tyson & Jones Buggy Works still standing in the town’s historic district.
The town celebrates that part of its history on Mother’s Day weekend every May with the Carthage Buggy Festival.
Across the street, on another building with a vacant business space, a second 4-by-8 sign is also nailed over the front window. Both signs are simply hand-lettered in bright red paint, pencil lines drawn to mark off the lines before painting still clearly visible.
The telephone number on the signs reaches Rick Fleming, an agent with Fonville Morisey Realty, a Raleigh firm.
Commissioner Lee McGraw called the number and spoke to Fleming, twice.
“I called the cell number posted on the crude wood,” McGraw said. “We had two conversations. A couple of months ago, he assured me that he would have the sign down in a week or two from that conversation. That didn’t happen.”
Fleming is coming to Carthage next week and said he hopes to work something out — either make a deal with new tenants and take the signs down, or just take these signs down and post others. It isn’t entirely Fleming’s call. He said he has to deal with a number of people, the owner, prospective renters and others.
“I spoke with Lee,” Fleming said in a telephone interview late Tuesday afternoon. “Let me just say this: I have asked them to take the signs down, and I will do my part next week when I come into town. They are affixed to the buildings. I’ve asked them to take them down, and I will see what I can do next week.”
When he and Fleming spoke by telephone, McGraw said he tried to explain to the real estate agent just how bad these crude advertisements are making historic Carthage look.
“I asked him if he would put such a ‘sign’ in front of his own business,” McGraw said. “He never said he would. He just gave me the smart comment of ‘It got your attention didn’t it?’ I said, ‘Well, drool gets attention as well, but not the desirable kind.’ He said that his client paid someone local — like that boosted the economy — to paint the piece of OSB board. It’s similar to plywood, only cheaper and not made for signs.”
Fleming thinks McGraw misunderstood his response, which he meant to lighten the discussion without making light of town concerns.
“I love Carthage,” Fleming said. “I go to the Buggy Festival. I’ve always had a fond — personally — a very fond love for the town.”
McGraw and others on the board, along with everybody at the town office, abhor these signs. They hate the way they make the town look to visitors.
“At risk of losing a painter’s vote, as signs go, it may as well say ‘Welcome to Hell,’” McGraw said. “I asked him to put one of his signs in place instead. This has not happened. Obviously his remark to me about getting attention is his advice to his client.”
The signs went up. Now, they may — or may not — be coming down. Fleming hopes new tenants will solve the problem, but says the signs meet current code.
Carthage town ordinances allow signs up to 4-by-8 feet in size. There are no specific regulations about appearance.
These signs are entirely legal, according to both Fleming and Sparks. Those town ordinances are likely to be revised in the future. At their meeting, the town commissioners began making plans to re-examine the wording of Carthage sign rules.
“In the meantime, we are working on a better sign ordinance — and fast!” McGraw said in an e-mail about the situation.
Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.
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Comments
recondo 2 years, 5 months ago
Ok lets see if i got this right. Downtown is lacking renters and businesses. making the town look like a ghost town and the town is bitching about the for rent signs that may attract someone looking to rent these buildings and turn them back into shops,offices and stores... seems like the town needs to look at owww say incentives to a person who opens a business like free water for 6 months or first years town business licences at half price not complain about what a sign looks like because trust me the vacant windows and lack of shops looks a whole lot worse
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
The signs on Ray St are not the only hand painted ones, so Fleming shouldn't be singled out. There are others on north side of McReynolds St, too. In fact, since the huge federal sized JAIL/Detention Center is going to be built, lots of stores have closed up and some have moved elsewhere.
samiam 2 years, 5 months ago
Why on earth would they complain to the agent and not the owner? And personally I think they are making Carthage "sound" bad!! God forbid if a sign that's less than aesthetically pleasing goes up!!
Mark106 2 years, 5 months ago
Maybe the County Commisioners should vote and buy the buildings for $1.5 million and let the tax payers pay for them. Then the signs could belong to them and they could do what they want with them.
weteachers2 2 years, 5 months ago
If the signs are such an issue, then the folks complaining need to pull their cash together and rent the space themselves. I live in Pinehurst where people gripe about senseless things that dont really matter (too many trees on a property, grass is too tall, trash cans left out after 7pm etc.)
Sounds to me that these Carthage folks are also getting obsessed with similar things and losing sight of reality and what really matters. Then to make it worse, The Pilot gives these people top billing on the front page! ARRRRGH!!!
Zoey 2 years, 5 months ago
What a spectacle ! What exactly does the "Buggy Festival" represent ? I bet Tyson & Jones would roll over in their graves, if they saw that marvelous picture. The LAST remaining building, Just look at it ! All those proceeds being taken in, parading right by it, year after year. NO concerns until now, That Ugly Sign. Historic Carthage is Doomed !
On that note, with the influx of bail bondsmen and taxi's, even crooks need to eat. I keep seeing a mobile concession stand by the name of "Deputy Dog", maybe he/she could start a business here. They could serve the famous "deputy dog", maybe a "bigger is better burger", the "gold bar fries", a "southern software sub", and for the vegans, a "wetland salad"...
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey says...and you have made my Sunday morning ~ laughing with tears on my cheeks. I can't stop laughing....but wait - taxi's are needed to transport those with court business to town since parking will have to be in another part of the county.
Anyone wonder why nothing is said about the fleet of county transport vans in the city limits? It looks like an adjunct lot to the local Ford dealership. That 34 acres of Kirby land is beginning to look a bit more inviting. Perhaps if Kirby Construction could work out a deal with Larry and Lisa Caddell to build their new home for free and then give them something, that land would go for about 3.5 million or more. Johnnie Grimm got his land bonus for virtually unbuildable dirt.
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey,
That was absolutely perfect. Great piece! What a true picture of what is coming to Carthage.
dustyrhoades 2 years, 5 months ago
I know why at least one of those businesses tanked and I can assure you, it had NOTHING to do with the jail.
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
If it were just a 'jail' nobody would be complaining about it. At least The Pilot knows to call it a 'Detention Center'. The future $95,000+ federal sized prisoner detention cells, each one costing enough to build one of those shelters for homeless mothers and their children that SCAP was turned down by our illustrious three commissioners 2 weeks before they rammed this boondoggle down our throats by denying a public vote on the $55+ million bond that undoubtedly will suck up any county employee pay raises, benefits and cause cutbacks on a myriad of other worthy causes so we can provide luxury for federal prisoners that the same three promise not to take in unless forced to (wink, wink).
The future of this county has everything to do with this kind of blatant disregard for the staggering economic conditions facing everyone except those who have future corporate benefits already built in with this 'detention center' for there 'golden years' while the rest of us pay for it for decades.
ObserVant 2 years, 5 months ago
My husband and I looked at downtown Carthage for our business. We were coming from another historic downtown area, where we lived as well as worked. What convinced us NOT to locate in historic Carthage was that the town's municipal services complex is out on the highway. What are the prospects for downtown revitalization when even the city management and police don't seem to want to be there?
Ms. Sparks blaming legal, if unattractive, signs for making it look like Carthage went out of business is nothing short of bizarre. The town itself did that.
OneNativfe 2 years, 5 months ago
I agree with most of what everyone has commented here. This is absurd. Sure, let's take down the "For Rent" signs so those buildings can be empty forever. I think Carthage is trying hard to become Pinehurst #2 and is killing itself in the process. The Pilot is of course all about this and feasts on these kinds of stories. These kinds of things have been going on long enough and it is time for some common sense to be applied instead of the government trying to get in every detail of everyone's private business.
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Perhaps a spokes person for the Moore County Board of Realters or an agent who works in the Carthage area could provide insight into what impact - if any - the Gold Bar Hilton has on real estate values for commercial rental properties and/or residential sales?
clodfelter37 2 years, 5 months ago
I think the feeling was that the signs were just too large. They have now been removed and smaller signs in their place. There sure are a lot of negative people in Moore County, hope this will change during the Christmas season.
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Mark106 => I think you are saying that tongue-in-cheek? No doubt Lee McGraw and the Caddells' are hitching up a plan to have the Moore County Taxpayers purchase that property. It could be used after several million in rennovations for one of the county offices that will be razed when the big spending launches with the Lane Carter Gold Bar Hilton....Maybe a ten car parking deck ¿[;-) Any suggestions?
Mark106 2 years, 5 months ago
Toda=> That was sarcasm, but with TPof3 nothing can be taken as sarcasm in Moore County. Anything is a possibility with these big spenders in charge of OUR money!
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
clodfelter37,
We can either eat nonexistant 'optomism cake' or face the sad reality that TPo3 and $300 million McSwain have saddled our county with and try to do something about it.
Consider the following; "At the end of this school year, $738 million of federal stimulus money will come to an end and Governor Perdue is considering cuts at either 5%, 10% or 15%." John Dornan, Executive Director, Public School Forum of NC, Nov 27, 2010 Rocky Mount Telegram
"The combination of the two would mean that K-12 schools could be facing cuts from $1.32 billion to $1.921 Billion." Rocky Mount Telegram, Nov 27, 2010
"Legislators face a budget gap of $3.2 billion. There will be no federal stimulus money to fill the gap." Rocky Mount Telegram, Nov 27, 2010
In face of this statewide financial catastrophe we have three commissioners who boldly vote against the people's right to decide our own financial future and instead take $55.2 million by force in order to build $95,000+ cells for federal prisoners in Carthage. You wonder why things aren't all rosy on the blogs. These facts might give a clue.
OneNativfe 2 years, 5 months ago
I can't really tie all that to the signs, but it is a fact that local governments are getting out of control with regard to zoning laws and what they think they can do.
str8one 2 years, 5 months ago
well if the rent wasn't so high in these places then people could rent them & help out other people in town
None 2 years, 5 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
November 28, 2010 at 5:47 p.m. And which rule did I violate this time? If Codfelter can't see what is going on in Carthage and with TPo3, obviously he has an issue with his vision!
Flabbergasted 2 years, 5 months ago
They should have a big sign when entering the city limits saying, Welcome to Carthage, Were Sorry!
str8one 2 years, 5 months ago
There is so much more that Carthage could be doing with our money & the buildings that are for rent. There is too many people out of jobs & living on a fixed income for the town to be worried about a stupid sign...
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Our $300,000,000 bond man, County Manager T. Cary will have Carthage looking like the seedy side of Columbia, SC (where he came from) in no time. He voiced this plan back in 2007, not long after he arrived here fron his position as County Administrator in charge of his county's jail there for 12 years and he appears to know just what he is doing and to be good to his word.
plumblevel 2 years, 5 months ago
Now let me get this right - McGraw is calling Fleming to complain about his signs. Who is calling McGraw to complain about McGraw's neon Tattoo parlor sign in Carthage? Was it not turned on with all its neon splendor over the Thanksgiving holidays for all to enjoy? Since McGraw is working on a new town ordinace for signs maybe he should include his own.
greentara13 2 years, 5 months ago
oh my goodness! you are too funny Zoey! "a bigger is better burger!" HA!
What about how ugly the stupid jail is going to look like? Hmm, some towns are proud of their school buildings and some people's "baby" is a jail. Makes you wonder........ drove by the sight the last few days... so ugly and depressing.
Those cute buildings downtown are neat, I love old brick, would be a fabulous mixed use space. A decent restaurant (no offense Pik and Pig! Love you!) but like a nice Italian rest. in a cute down town brick building. No such luck now.
lawdog 2 years, 5 months ago
looks like all the crying paid off, sign has been removed..
dustyrhoades 2 years, 5 months ago
I see plumblevel's still carrying on her feud with Lee McGraw (spitefully sniping from behind her thin alias--give it up, hon, everyone knows who you are) and maude's still hollering about how the town is ruined, RUINED, I say.
Jeez, girls, you hate it here so much why don't you just move? Or do something about it, like Lee and the people who actually care about this place are trying to do?
cpuguru 2 years, 5 months ago
I came here from St. Louis about 5 years ago and I have seen the best and worst of making new uses for old buildings. My favorites being a bakery just for the wonderful smell. The worst of course just having abandoned city blocks where they decay and fester with crime. Logically having a Jail nearby isn't a bad thing as criminals will not really be attracted to the jail itself. By the same token who wants to be within a mile of a population of known criminals. Why criminals get a brand new facility and our children are sent to schools where teachers are underpaid and books are old is a fair question. In my opinion the absolute best place for a Jail is right behind the police station that sits off the highway.
JoeGarrison 2 years, 5 months ago
The sign is not very nice and is not visually appealing, however it's legal, and in code. They should have a fair and honest debate as to the ordinances regarding the appearance of such signs. I know that they mean well and they do have a point, but cleaning up signs is not the biggest issue Carthage faces. I'm sure they know that better than anyone. It's also nice to hear from Carol again, I know that she has a hard year. Praying for you Carol:) @Lee McGraw-Hope you had a nice holiday, funny quote on the "drool":)
lawdog 2 years, 5 months ago
while on the subject of signs, i laugh each time i pass the old movie gallery building, with the little sign out front and half the numbers on the window..they could atleast make sure all their numbers are visible...
SoPinesNo1 2 years, 5 months ago
Some do nothing but complain, no matter what.
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
In addition to the huge JAIL coming to Town, the building owners are so conservative that they will not spend any money to improve the appearance of the buildings. It will soon look like downtown Siler City that has really deteriorated. The pride of ownership has gone out of Carthage as people take a wait and see on the new JAILton.
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Dusty ~ you are aware of the subliminal approach to zoning by the Carthage Board on the lack of public feedback and full disclosure on the Caddell/Grimm unbuildable dirt? McGraw should re-post the request for zoning language: Municipal Buildings; miss-leading like every statement coming out of the Prison Colony formerly Carthage or perhaps Mayberry.
You are aware that Caddell and Caddell serve on the Town and County Boards as well. You are aware that the Town of Carthage will benefit from the Limited Liability Bond for improving water and sewer to the tune of 2 million dollars => Carol ~ Caddell ~ Caddell. No vote of the people!!!
You are aware that public taxpayer funds are being used to provide water and sewer to Little River Farm which is a privately held company from out of state? Recall Larry Caddell was mayor and he wanted to reach out half-way to Pinehurst and buy a public golf course. Now we see what his vision was for taxpayers. Southern Software continues to use public money for to their benefit. What to hear more on that topic?
And the comment about the Town of Carthage Offices being located on the outskirts of town resonates volumes about how administration feels about being in town like most admin offices. Funny - town police receive a call to come to town to investigate an emergency….It’s all about the subliminal intentions of GOP George and his Political Machine known to most as TPo3. It’s all about them and not smaller government (300 million), the people, or taxpayers. Picerno still sits on his hands and refuses to explain leaving 19.2 million of taxpayers’ money on the table. Who has the biggest EGO? Picerno or Caddell?
None 2 years, 5 months ago
CORRECTION:What [[WANT]] to hear more on that topic?
dustyrhoades 2 years, 5 months ago
The signs, as lawdog says, are now replaced with something more reasonable, no doubt due to all the good efforts of maude and plumblevel. You go, girlfriends!
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
A question was asked earlier about sales in Mayberry/JAILton. There have been 4 homes sold in the last 4 months. One on Dowd @ $40,000, 1 on McNeill @ $40,000, 1 on Currie @ $52,500 and 1 on McReynolds @ $98,500. Sales are very slow and at giveaway prices. There were no commercial sales verifiable on local MLS. Register of deeds wasn't checked.
The appearance of more and more vacant commercial buildings in downtown indicates not only a serious downturn of the economy but the impact the huge JAIL is going to have on downtown Carthage, the full impact of which hasn't been experienced yet.
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Since we have not reached T. Cary's $300,000,000 bond debt for Moore County yet as projected by him in 2007 to be on the way, maybe The Pilot can ask the right questions of Mr. McSwain and get an update on what he has planned next for Columbia's, I mean Carthage's beautification. Maybe they could ask him how his 12 years as Administrator over that county's jail for 12 full years from 1994 to 2006 went for him. Could his vision have been the driving force for bringing federal sized detention cells to Moore County? Maybe ask him if he left that job voluntarily or otherwise. Does he have any plans on the table that just might give him a top floor suite in another monster building to the tune of $26 - $30 million more in county debt? I'm won't be holding my breath for any answers any time soon.
listenup 2 years, 5 months ago
I love how the most common reason that towns like Carthage start to fail is being avoided. Simply put, the people that live in the more populated areas of our county have only two reasons typically to go to Carthage: Court and BBQ. That's it. You could put a dozen little shops in that tiny "downtown" and I sill would not leave the SP, Pinehurst, Aberdeen area to go there unless I am craving some Pik-n-Pig. Then the residents complain about a new jail, which along with county government is the only real employer in a town that if not for the courthouse and jail, would have had tumbleweeds in the streets decades ago. If you want to live in a fairly secluded, rural area Carthage is great for you. Just don't fool yourself into thinking its going to grow to be a thriving downtown area.
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Since Mr. McSwain is already committed to massive spending, why not take the $26 - $30 million proposed for another Columbia, SC type monstrocity and spread that money around on 8, 10 or 12 vacant downtown buildings for the use of our county government offices. That would provide uses that would never go away for these now vacant spaces. County government would draw people to them to conduct their county business and provide the appearance of a thriving county seat instead of tumbleweed alley.
Zoey 2 years, 5 months ago
I agree with listenup, if you don't have "some" type of affiliation/niche with the Criminal/Justice System (even more so, now), you will probably exceed the town's needs, and eventually Fail.
dustyrhoades says..."I know why at least one of those businesses tanked and I can assure you, it had NOTHING to do with the jail."
NO disrespect Dusty, but it seems you're sitting in "the catbird seat".
I expect to see the town flourish with bail bondsmen, bounty hunters, finance companies/loan sharks, pawn shops, tattoo parlors, taxi hubs, and the occasional "On the Run" eating establishment; Deputy Dogs !
The dessert menu will consist of: "no-parking pudding" and "jail-break cheesecake"
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey,
Perfectly stated again.
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
At one time there were nice shops in downtown Mayberry/JAILton and some county offices, and they eventually moved. In the past there were several antique stores and some thrift stores, and most have moved elsewhere or closed. There is one more antique store going to close up soon and the for rent sign is in the window. And for those that don't know, the Pik n Pig is on the outskirts of town at the Carthage International Airport. :))
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey says... Here you go again stating the obvious and eventhough I see your remarks as tongue-in-cheek, or sarcasim ~ but you do know your labels could be branded before Moore County Employees have to resort to 2nd jobs to meet their family obligations. But just think, all of those maladjusted sexual preditors, drug dealers, and scam artists' will have rooms in the Lane Carter Gold Bar Hilton.
Our school children will have to bring lunches - if their parents are working, as opposed to unemployed (they can sit and watch the children of republicans eat), teachers will have twice as many in the classrooms, and the big check administrators will probably give up and forego their raises - I would as well if I were knocking down over 100 grand a year.
Zoey=> what about the student/teacher bake sales held in Carthage? Any branding ideas on your chart?
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Bflat says... And the old hotel where the WWII German Pillbox sits soon to be the new county library (county residents can use the Sandhills Community College Library since we pay for it), gave Carthage the ambiance of Mayberry. Rudy and Dot Womack were the pillars of the community, and their southern style accommodations were mirrored only by the prestigious Carolina Hotel. Now we can look forward to a more accommodating hotel for criminals. The Lane Carter Gold Bar Hilton with plush and lavish double occupancy, built for the craftiest Federal Inmates. Thanks to The Power of Three ~ Caddell – Picerno – Melton.
Lee McGraw complaining as if anyone thought he was serious about that sign; has he driven into Carthage lately on his Harley from Melton? How many bail bondsman with neon lights can one little town support. I bet Nick, Larry and Jimmie have a plan for establishing a foothold on that market as well. And I thought the metal buildings in the downtown historical district looked bad, and the scenic drive to Pinehurst on highway 5, but Carthage has Aberdeen beat since we don’t have one bail bondsman to brag about.
listenup 2 years, 5 months ago
Wow, maude. Very classy response. Please explain what in the world would "attract interest" in Carthage. I assume its something other than these: -antique shops -ladies boutiques -"country style" restaruants -knick knack shops Because the more populated area of our county already has plenty of these, and most folks are pretty tired of them anyway, and I seriously doubt that they will drive an extra 25 minutes up the road to see them. Unless you are going to propose something really special, people are not going to drive there for any other reason than having to because of court or needing to go to a county government branch for something.
It drives me crazy to hear people in this area who live in their particular area to complain to no end about it. Everybody knows Carthage is a tiny, rural area, Pinehurst is a tourist and retiree dominated area, and Southern Pines and Aberdeen are more shopping oriented. LIVE IN THE AREA THAT SUITS YOU. Don't complain, just move. If you want peace and quiet and open space, go to Carthage or the northern part of the county. If you want a more busy area move to the SP and Aberdeen limits, and if you want golf and resort setting go to Pinehurst.
Its like moving to NYC and complaining that its too loud and crowded, or moving to the middle of North Dakota and complaining that it's lonely and there is nothing to do.
None 2 years, 5 months ago
listenup=> well ~ most of us are fully aware that Carthage has become the armpit of Moore County by involving themselves with the Political Machine or TPo3. They have single handedly removed any prospects of being known as a family oriented community, losing their tax base except on those buildings rented or owned by attorney's, or the ones like that pictured. No wonder the municipal offices moved out of town - stands to reason. It's all about public persona and image. Cross those two off the list of the most desired places to live in Poorer County. Now for the criminal element…what a nice place to visit. Like the Disney World of crime and punishment with all the accommodations of the federal facilities paid for by taxpayers. Perhaps a name change is in order for Mayberry….?
MooreNorth 2 years, 5 months ago
listenup~ Don't encourage these nuts to move to my neck of the woods. Our nuts, self included, try to work things out or move on. Haven't seen any problems solved by constant, sometimes feverish, Pilot comment/discussion posts to date. Toda~ I know of some government buildings, and/or developments that criminals like to hang around. Jails and Law Enforcement aren't a part of that group. Wait, wasn't this article about signs? Please continue.
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Zoey 2 years, 5 months ago
Toda,
I'm sorry that you feel I have stuck the "hot iron" to Carthage. The home to the county's Injustice System. A place where political and/or financial wealth can obtain you a "get out of jail, free" card. Point being, the seedy nature of the "mega-business" permeates into the surrounding community, to feed. Remember TPo3 ? Ready for some taxi wars outside the so-called, "Lane Carter Gold Bar Hilton" ?
On the topic of Jobs, sore subject. Can a person's principles/wallets stand the test of time ? The future is Bleak !
The school bake sale. Man, I had the embers ready until you mentioned, "held in Carthage". You lost me...
Wow, "Here I go again stating the obvious". My Bad...
If the future of Faginsville is anything less than I predict, I guess ole Deputy Dogs will be serving up some CROW...
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey => another good one - I must say ~ on point. ""held in Carthage". You lost me..." Wow ~ think Central Office staff and SALARIES! Want to hustle up some pork for a pig-pick’n? Could buy fuel for a bus since NC is losing 3.2 million next year. Just wait to hear the Whiners who voted to stop the Stimulus funds from Washington…Just ask TEA –DEE.
MooreNorth says..."I know of some government buildings, and/or developments that criminals like to hang around. Jails and Law Enforcement aren't a part of that group."
Well my backwoods nemesis’, I see by your statement your knowledge of our prison system, that you are not well informed.
Fact: North Carolina has the highest recidivism rate in the country - bar none! Having worked with the North Carolina Department of Corrections for four years in a medium custody facility at Cameron Morrison – school years – I have seen inmate’s assault custody staff just so they could receive a major infraction and get another extended stay. Now having alluded to the fact many inmates prefer the accommodations’ of state detention facilities, I’m sure the medical facilities with four examination rooms, meals prepared by a registered dietician, roaming staff to watch over them and their belongings, no bills or taxes to pay, warm beds, and daily exercise is a good reason not to hang around a public supported home away from home. Especially when it is much nicer digs than what they go home to upon release. As one returning inmate who never left the grounds told me after assaulting an officer, “I have never lived so well, and I’m not about to leave!” Signs are of the time when Carthage is slowly becoming a ghost town with a prison colony. I find it so amusing that Lee McGraw complains about a sign, where is the Carthage Historical Commission? But hasn’t most historical landmarks been razed like the old hotel and replaced with the WWII German Pillbox replica?
But those Conservative County Board of Commissioners are long gone...just like TPo3 will be 4 years from now and leaving with historical debt to the tune of 300 million if T. Cary and his group of Mafia Misfits continue to have it "their way"!
dustyrhoades 2 years, 5 months ago
"I am totally in support of the owner keepng his signs up. I had nothing to do with them coming down. In fact I called and left him a message that he should put the back UP, until they make him take them down."
You agree that they're ugly, and you told him to put them back up? So, maudie, why should anyone believe you want anything good for this town? This really does take your bitterness to new depths.
deidretg 2 years, 5 months ago
Zoey,
You are spot on again! Great read, anytime. It actually adds a little humor to an otherwise very depressing situation.
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
If the sign was legal, then what is the problem? Ugly, that's what. A real estate agent should install professionally done signs. In fact all signs should be professionally painted and of a size that does not restrict free commercial speech. The real issue of the complaint has come up because there are now so many for rent/for lease signs in many of the windows or on buildings.
Yes, the big change in Mayberry all started with building the "new" courthouse on the former hotel site. Even that gave protest back in the 70s that it was the wrong place. Cartoons equated it to disneyland and even the CFD didn't have a ladder tall enough to reach the top. As I was touring Cub Scouts through the FD, one asked "then, what would people do if there is a fire?" and Mr Barber without a blink said, "Them people would just have to jump out from up there."
The huge federal sized JAIL will forever change the landscape and the Town of Carthage. The problem with Cathage is that not enough people have cared and didn't know soon enough what was taking place. Building owners are doing nothing to improve the appearance of the buildings. Business owners are trying to watch expenses, too. The town is becoming a ghost town as more and more close up and move out.
dustyrhoades 2 years, 5 months ago
Buh-bye, maudie.
None 2 years, 5 months ago
Opps' my bad..."NC is losing 3.2 million next year." Did I say million ~ try Billion with a "B". 48.2 Billion - 9.2 Billion just for education alone...gets worse....
http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/North_Carolina_state_budget
Susan it's time to get your bus drivers license for next year so you and the other PHD's can ride like the rest of the lower class....
Todo 2 years, 5 months ago
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