Minerva Books Closing in August

Kristy Bell, owner of Minerva Books, the only book store in Petersburg has announced the closing of her bookstore. Stating, "business is all about numbers and demographics. A town with an essentially stagnant population of approximately 32,000 is borderline for a business such as mine to begin with. Factor in the 42% illiteracy rate, disability rates that some sources estimate as high as 40%, and the highest real estate tax rate in the state, and you have a recipe for some frustrating days."