A month after a story appeared in The Meadville Tribune about inadequate electric shopping carts at the Vernon Township and Edinboro Wal-Marts, the problem has been rectified.

Tim Mason, a disabled veteran, had voiced frustration about the carts and a year-long lack of response from Wal-Mart officials about the problems he encountered. In that Jan. 15 Tribune story, he said he would have to wait as long as an hour to have access to carts because so many of them were not operable.

Wal-Mart officials agreed there was a problem because many carts were old, got a lot of use and parts were sometimes difficult to secure quickly for repair.

That has all changed.

Mason said he went shopping two weeks after the article appeared and found “all the carts were in great shape, fixed up and easy to access.” He added he was thrilled with the carts and the fact he now has the ability to shop with ease. “It’s wonderful,” he said

Mason, 58, of Conneautville, is confined to a wheelchair, suffering from peripheral neuropathy — damage to the long nerves radiating from his spine to his arms and legs. His condition is a result of being exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Army.

Mason said the condition makes causes him to experience stabbing pains in his feet. It feels like that all the time, he said, but worsens when he tries to walk.

That’s why he uses the electric carts for shopping. His own wheelchair has no basket and must be pushed.

He voiced his appreciation to Wal-Mart for the improvements.

Asked if he believed the newspaper report prompted the improvements, Mason said, “I don’t know.” However, he added, he was grateful to the store.

When asked about the improvements, James Kennedy, manager of the Vernon Township Wal-Mart store, said, “I would rather not comment.”