Good newspaper piece. Was Andy Griffith the sheriff back then? We all know the South, nor for that matter the rest of the country, was not really that idyllic back then, but its a good story nonetheless.

http://www.salisburypost.com/area/324992926940660.php

I dunno -- I like to call Winnsboro "Mayberry meets the Dukes of Hazard." We've got an old-time barber shop run by Gary Brown, who also videotapes the Town Council meetings. Quay McMaster has been Mayor since 1972. He's up for reelection this year, but I give his opponent, Dr. Gaddy, about as much chance of upsetting him as an ice cube has on a hot stove in summertime. People still call the paper I work at "The News & Herald" even though the name changed to "The Herald Independent" in 1983. Most folks in town know most other folks in town, and know a good bit of their business, too -- the Town only has 3000 residents, after all. For the most part, the Town folks leave us kooks out at Rockton pretty much alone to play choo choo, but after owning the railroad for 20 years and running it for 10 they're finally starting to take us more seriously.

I'd say Winnsboro comes pretty close to that idylic picture of the "Old South." It's scary how close it comes, sometimes. And that's exactly why I like living here.