But Chief Mark Macon was not deterred and plans another session for sometime in January at a different restaurant.

“We're looking at issues and solving problems in our community,” Macon told two town residents attending the forum at the Weldon Waffle House. “We've sent officers to the Louisville, Kentucky to see how to solve issues in the community. We don't have an agenda today.”

The discussion topics ranged from trying to create more recreation opportunities in the town for children to addressing issues about senior citizen safety.

Macon with Waffle House manager Cheryl Allen showing the forum logo.

One of the women attending, Modessa, a senior herself, said, people in her age group need to be more careful when shopping. “People leave their pocketbooks in shopping carts. They leave pocketbooks in their front seat. You don't do that in the big cities. They will break windows out. If you don't watch yourself they will work hard to get your stuff.”

Macon said he will take the things discussed this morning and build upon them for the next meeting. “I learned a lot,” he said. “I learned that working together can make things happen.”