Reader's Digest - USA (2019-07)

The

PLACES NICESTin

AMERICA

2019

building to make a safe house for
young women, and they are closing
on a bigger property so they can help
more people. “A lot of towns might
push away from what we’re doing,”
says Kathrine. “But here everyone has
been amazingly supportive.”
In fact, when Michael pulled up
in a U-Haul with a houseful of furni-
ture donated by a local store, he got
more than just a warm welcome. “The
house we bought is right off the town
square,” says Kathrine, “and he’s try-
ing to figure out how he’s going to un-
load it all. The next thing you know,
all the men from the bank
walked over and asked, ‘Do
you need some help?’ And
in their suits and ties, they
unloaded the furniture. It
really is the definition of
community here.”
When Shannon looks to
the future, she has a vision
for her adopted hometown.
“I would love for Mount
Vernon to have a square full
of cars because all the busi-
nesses are open and people
are hustling and bustling,”
she says. “In my generation,
kids would graduate high

school and then leave because there

were no jobs and no entertainment

or culture. I would like for these kids

that are approaching adulthood now

to not leave. Especially mine.”

These days, there’s a lot going on,

says Main Street Alliance manager

Carolyn Teague. A new café is open-

ing on the square. A film crew made

a movie featuring hometown legend

Don Meredith, a quarterback for the

Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s. Down the

road, the Lowe’s distribution center is

hiring. Sales tax revenue for the down-

town has increased more than 275 per-

cent in the past four years.

Now, Amy Briscoe says,

“our downtown is the per-

fect balance of quaint

small-town charm with a

progressive something-is-

about-to-happen vibe”—

just as Shannon and others

had envisioned.

“Trevor said to me, ‘Mom,

I wish we had moved here

when I was younger,’” says

Shannon. “And I was like,

‘You know what? You’re

right, buddy. I wish we

would’ve moved here ear-

lier too.’”

National Interest

America is filled

with amazing

communities.

You’ll find 50 of

the best in our

Nicest Places in

America con-

test. Vote for

your favorite at

rd.com/nicest.

He Who Hesitates ...

I like to think the guy who invented the umbrella was going

to call it the “brella,” but he hesitated.

andy field, comic

rd.com 101