In math, a negative times a negative gives one a positive result.

The same cannot be said however for life, nor can it be said for a city moving forward.

An outstanding six-year debt for the creation of a statue in the likeness of Nina Simone, a famed Tryon native, has finally been settled.

From a productive and positive viewpoint, a group of committed community members came together to clear an obstacle in the way of forward motion for the town.

These individuals – leaders of the Tryon Downtown Development Association and Always Tryon steering committee – made it their aim to raise, through private donations, as much of the $55,000 debt as possible.