In the latest Discover The Triad guide a reporter writes: "Madison serves as the shopping hub for the area. It has a shopping center, anchored by Kmart. By the end of the year, a Wal-Mart Superstore is slated to open there."

"There?" News flash. The Wal-Mart is slated to open in Mayodan. Wal-Mart is being constructed on property the owners asked the Town Council of Mayodan to annex into the city limits. They willingly pay Mayodan city taxes and will be provided Mayodan services, including water, sewer, fire and police protection. The address is Highway 135, Mayodan.

Being a lifelong resident of Mayodan, I'm very proud of my town, its own identity, people, businesses, heritage, government and commerce.

Mayodan isn't just a town sleeping in the shadow of everyone else. We have had and will continue to have many things to offer residents and visitors alike. Mayodan isn't sitting back and letting the world grow up around us. We're out there carving out our own signature with a mix of parks, commercial districts and a growing downtown.

Although we love our sister city, we're not Madison. We're uniquely Mayodan.

Melessa Hopper
Mayodan