It welcomes you with a green sign off the William H. Natcher
Parkway. Past the Butler County High School and another sign proclaiming itself
as “Catfish Capitol of the World.” There’s a pull off drive at the sign for
selfies or family photo. An old river town that hasn’t strayed. Grain silos
dominate a side of the commercial strip opposite a Subway, McDonald’s, Family
Dollar, Sonic Drive In, Dollar General Market, IGA, and other newly sprung
establishments. An impressive spread for a town this size. It continues to the
tiny cluster of downtown near the courthouse. Call it three blocks of the city
center, give or take a half. Every other storefront full. Every other
storefront empty depending on how you look. A few “coming soon” flyers in dusty
windows. A Civil War solider statue standing guard over the whole scene.
Progressive brickwork in the crosswalks. Honest to goodness stoplights.
Banks, a newspaper, a FM radio station, churches, library,
men’s wear store, insurance office, therapists, pharmacy, and a couple of auto
parts stores continue the layout. Then it’s back towards the next parkway exit.
On the way, a Hardee’s, and other local restaurants including the Farmboy. An
industrial spread with full parking lots and open gates shows a population at
work, whether in the service jobs throughout town or assembly lines here. And
not to forget those silos, the ever obvious farm economy present as well. A
city, while not as booming as its southern neighbor, is not faltering either.
Paychecks are earned here, and by the looks of things openly spent here.
I like the slow pace of the town. The lack of traffic on the
main drag. The ease of a drive across town or a walk around. The friendliness
of folks in stores where I stopped in. Those small town virtues lost on larger
towns, no matter how much they strive to contain them.
To the next dot on the map…