An evil creepiness floats like thick fog over Morgan County calling forth ghosts, vampires and witches from the dark recesses of nightmares. I’d turn to Sports if I were you.

Momma turn on the flashlight! We’ve got to find Bella the Cat! She’s been gone for days and PawPaw suspects foul play! Lord have mercy! Bella … come get a treat! “Meeowww.”  Stop the Presses! Did you hear that Momma? “Meeowwww!” It’s comin’ from that abandon house next door! Oh. My. Ever. Livin’. Gosh! There’s Bella pokin’ her cat head out of that broken window on the second floor! Momma, why are you knockin’ on the front door? Ain’t nobody in there! Creeeeeeek . . . . “How do you do? I’m your new neighbor Barnabus Collins. Won’t you come in while I get your cat?” Ding dang! This scary parlor has the atmospherics of a haunted mansion! Shhhh! Here comes Barnabus! Ding dang! Don’t look now but his reflection ain’t reflectin’ on the mirror like it’s supposed to and you know what that means? VAMPIRE! I’ll take that cat Barnabus! Let’s split this Vampire Scene Momma! We’ll come back on Halloween night with a crucifix, wooden steak, holy water and white lightnin’! That Barnabus is gonna be a goner!

And, speakin’ of Halloween . . . y’all get on your scary costume and head over to Antique Sweets located at 127 South Main Street in downtown Madison on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from   10 a.m. til 6 p.m. and get you a free huge marshmallow hand-dipped in yummy chocolate! But, you must have on a Halloween costume! That’s right! The scariest shop keepers IN THE WORLD will be dressed in their Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes handin’ out treats all ding dang day!! I ain’t kiddin’ y’all! Get over there next Wednesday! 

Wow! Rutledge’s Spooky Fall Fest was a HIT! Rutledge resident Molly Lesnikowski wanted me to tell all y’all that the first place winners of the costume contests were: 0 to 24 months Chloe Brand; 2 and 3 year olds Ava Poole; 4 and 5 year olds Ellis Knight; 6 and 7 year Phillip Cawley; 8, 9 and 10 year olds Josie Crawford; 11. 12, and 13 year olds Jacob Sorrells; and 14 15 16 and 17 year olds Rebecca Huckaby! The Scare Crow contest winner was "Wanda Sue" submitted by the Rutledge garden Club! Talk ‘bout Spooky!

Wow! The Morgan County Flea Market is all set to open up across from Youngblood Ford in Madison on the Athens Highway on Thursday, Nov. 1 just smack in time for the Holidays! OK y’all this new flea market is owned by Karen and Dave Griffith and they are workin’ real hard to get this huge space ready! They are still acceptin’ dealers so if you’re interested in space just shoot Karen an email at karenpgriffith@gmail.com!
Ham Ham Ham it UP! The Morgan County Kiwanis Club is hammin’ it up for the Holidays y’all! That’s right! It’s time for their Holiday Fundraiser! Get Momma a big, juicy seven-to-eight pound spiral cut Virginia Ham for only $40! And, honey that gives Momma more time for cookin’ those grits n’ greens! The hams are available for purchase by calling 706-342-7702 or by visitin’ at Town & Country, Amelia’s or from any Kiwanis member to reserve your ham! But wait! Quantities are limited so reserve that ham today!  Proceeds from this fundraiser go to Boy Scouts, Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club, Kiwanis Morgan County High School Scholarship and more!

Hey! Y’all check out the Breast Cancer Awareness section in Local Color! A big thanks goes out to our section sponsors: Amelia’s, Artisan Alley, Barkin Dogs Shoe Co., Byer Realty, Complete Accounting Solutions, Creative Mark, Ferst Book Foundation, Gigi’s Salon, Just Out of the Kloset Consignments, Madison ChopHouse Grille, Madison Gift Mart & Café, Morgan Memorial Hospital, Pure Bliss and Town & Country! Support these great shops, businesses and organizations! They all support a cure for breast cancer!

Yikes! I pert near forgot! Lake Oconee Living magazine is flat out on newsstands EVERYWHERE! This issue features superstar chef Nathalie Dupree on the cover and honey we want you to join our magazine staff and Nathalie for an afternoon tea on Nov. 8 at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee! Honey! Nathalie is the Julia Child of Southern Cooking and she’s the author of 12 cookbooks and more than 300 TV programs that have aired nationally on PBS, the Learning Channel and the Food Network! Ding dang y’all! She’s gonna join Ritz Chef Yann Chupin in a cooking demonstration at 2 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton’s Georgia's Bistro located at 1 Lake Oconee Trail, in Greensboro! A book-signing will follow featuring her latest book "Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking," co-authored by Cynthia Graubart. Tickets are $40 and seating is limited! Get your tickets before Nov. 1 by visiting www.LakeOconeeLivingMag.com! Sign up today y’all!

That’s it! We’re outta space. Outta time! Y’all come back next week for more buzz on biz in Morgan County! In the meantime, y’all shop local, do business local, dine local and ADVERTISE LOCAL!

Printed in the October 25, 2012 edition