LIVINGSTON, TX – The annual Texas Craft Fair in Polk County had residents buzzing with excitement this past weekend as vendors from all over East Texas showcased their handcrafted goods. Among the assortment of items for sale were meticulously knitted scarves, intricately wood-carved figurines, and exquisitely painted ceramics.

However, some eagle-eyed shoppers began to notice a pattern: many of the items being sold bore a striking resemblance to products commonly found in big-box stores such as Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Suspicion rose as attendees caught sight of identical “handmade” signs and familiar tags still attached to some items.

“I thought it was a bit odd when I saw the same ‘Made in China’ sticker on a wooden bowl that was supposedly hand-carved by a local artisan,” remarked one attendee, who wished to remain anonymous. “But hey, at least it’s supporting the local economy, right?”

The craft fair organizers have denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all vendors were thoroughly vetted before being allowed to participate. “We stand by the authenticity and originality of each and every item sold at the fair,” declared the head organizer, who declined to comment on the suspiciously low prices of the items in question.

Despite the controversy, the craft fair was considered a success, with many attendees leaving with bags full of “handmade” treasures that may or may not have been mass-produced in a factory overseas.

In other news, reports of black panther sightings near Lake Livingston have been dismissed as “probable hallucinations” by local officials, and the ongoing saga of the city’s murky public water supply continues to be a hot topic at the next HOA meeting.

And that’s all the news from Polk County for now, where the fish may be big but the scandals are even bigger.