Last Friday, Eric Cooper, the owner of True Value, visited the Taft Union High School campus to answer questions and chat with students in Mr. Van Roekel’s classroom during 4th and 5th periods. After giving a brief overview on the history of businesses in Taft, he touched on the subject of big corporations taking over the “Ma and Pa” shops in Taft. “It was a different world.” claimed Cooper when comparing the present economic climate and business in the 1970s, when his parents opened the hardware store he presently owns. He then asked the class what kind of stores would do well in Taft; most students agreed that a Walmart would be useful in place of K-Mart. Some also mentioned the idea of a sporting goods store, since the closest one is in Bakersfield. This Q & A seemed helpful, considering, according to Cooper, that our small town’s demographics aren’t very desirable to attract big businesses.