Why not place a new farmers’ market in Northeast instead of near stadium, reader asks

Better location, please

The proposal to have a farmers’ market in Richland County is terrific; however, why locate it close to the current one where it may compete and take revenue away from vendors who already provide valuable services?

As a resident of northeast Columbia – one of the fastest growing areas in Richland County – I don’t use the current farmers’ market as much as I should, could or would because it takes me more than 30 minutes to get to the current one.

On the other hand, if a farmers’ market was located in northeast Columbia, I would shop there several times a month – as would many of my northeast area neighbors.

According to recent reporting, State Rep. Todd Rutherford is all for “bringing the farmers’ market back to Richland County,” and, many of us who live in Richland County wholeheartedly agree.

So while many of us believe that Richland County should have a farmers’ market again, it seems that we also believe it should be located in an area where it can serve the most people without competing with the current one.

Terry M. Frame, Columbia

The color purple

South Carolina has joined with 12 other states in adopting a purple paint law as a means of protecting forest landowners from trespassers.

South Carolina has 12.9 million acres of forest land and more than 200,000 forest landowners, who provide the foundation for the state’s $21 billion wood and paper products industry. Unfortunately, however, trespassing onto private timberland is a problem across our state.

Gov. McMaster recently signed into law House Bill 3291, known as the purple paint bill. The law allows property boundaries to be marked with “a clearly visible purple-painted marking.”

The marks “must be affixed to immovable, permanent objects that are not more than 100 yards apart and readily visible to any person approaching property.”

The markings may be used in lieu of traditional signage that can be removed or destroyed by weather, etc.

Purple was chosen for two reasons: purple is not a color used in the practice of forestry, and purple is likely to be seen by people with color blindness.

The Forestry Association of South Carolina, working with Rep. Tommy Pope and Senator Wes Climer, actively supported the enactment of this new law.

Cam Crawford, Forestry Association of S.C., Columbia

Authoritarian fear

I have watched each of the Jan. 6 hearings, and I’ve become more disturbed about the state of our country with each hearing. Then I read Levitsky and Ziblatt’s disturbing book ”How Democracy Dies.”

The authors trace the history of countries in which their democracies died, and they listed four warning signs of the rise of an authoritarian leader. Donald Trump met all four signs.

Even more disturbing, however, is that neither Senator Graham or Scott, or any of our South Carolina representatives, except for Rep. Clyburn, has fulfilled his constitutional duty to stop Mr. Trump’s attempts to destroy our democracy.

Unless our elected officials follow the oath they swore, we will fall further and further into authoritarian rule, and our partisan politics will continue to destroy our country.

Stan Frick, Columbia

Vote carefully

South Carolina women, vote out elected officials who will have you believe the Roe v. Wade decision started abortions in our country. Don’t believe it.

When abortions became legal, women’s health and well-being improved dramatically.

Prior to the famed decision, women of means could always obtain a fairly safe abortion, but others either had to give birth to unwanted children or seek a backstreet abortion. Some women were left with permanent scars. Some died. Others saw their life’s dreams evaporate when they were thrust into parenthood without maturity or preparation.

Since Roe, parents have been better able to plan for their children, and women’s health has improved greatly.

And consider the cases of prospective parents who become aware of severe fetal abnormalities during pregnancy. Abortion has been a painful option.

We should be in charge of our own bodies and those put in our care.

Elect those who will write laws to grant us that freedom.

Nina Newcomb, Chapin