story and photos by michael prochaska

Main Street Vet’s Dr. James Williams uses the art of Chinese acupuncture for the benefit of his patients

The needles slide in with ease, protruding a little more than an inch beyond a close-cut coat of salt and pepper fur. His paws slightly shake with fret, but you can detect a familiar buoyancy in Fritz’s dark eyes. He doesn’t bark or whimper but nestles quietly in the arms of veterinarian assistant Michele Marett.

Fritz, a Miniature Schnauzer approaching his 11th birthday, was diagnosed last year with degenerative disc disease, a chronic condition that causes pain along the spine and lower back. His owners, Patricia and Jimmy Stokes had gone to Dr. James Williams last fall with concern that Fritz might soon be unable to get around the house.
Today is not Fritz’s first encounter with needles; that’s clearly seen by his composure and soundlessness. It is, however, the first time his acupuncture session draws a small audience, but by no means does an observer compromise Fritz’s bravery.

Dr. Williams of Main Street Veterinary Hospital begins to explain the specificity of location for each needle. They penetrate the skin on points of a meridian, a linear pathway transporting "qì," or the flow of energy, throughout the body. Meridians are divided up into "Yin" and "Yang" groups, which are categories of opposites that continually merge into each other.

“Everything in Chinese medicine is defined by Yin and Yang,” explains Williams. “It’s a continual thing and always in flux.”

by kathryn schiliro • photos by patrick yost

Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce to honor individuals, businesses at meeting

A yearly tradition, the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors has selected the most deserving of local individuals and businesses to receive awards for their community involvement. Meet this year's “Chamber Superlatives.”

by patrick yost
photos by angelina bellebuono and josiah connelly

For his final address to a graduating Morgan County High School class, Dr. Mark Wilson looked wistfully over the 215 members of the Class of 2012.

This was a special class, he said. This was a class that strived to "fill voids."
They started a newspaper, they started the county's first-ever Special Olympics, they won sports championships that had eluded other classes. They dreamed, he said, and dreamed big.
"Do well finding things that are missing and put your fingerprints on them," he told the class.
For nearly two hours, amid hoopla and cheers, the graduating class crossed the stage on a pleasant spring night.
And they did it together, which is exactly how Valedictorian Kiara Chante' Smith said the class has behaved since entering the halls of Morgan County High School. "The unity of a team is much more powerful than an individual," she reminded the class. "Your common goal should be to leave your mark on the world. You will always be on the team of the Class of 2012."
The team has worked hard, said Salutatorian Laura Margaret Burbach, and has earned their accolades. "The notion that our dreams could only come through hard work is what we learned from day one at Morgan County High School," she said.

Printed in the May 31, 2012 edition

Three women. Mothers each.
Their daughters.
The stories.

Elise, Victoria and Taylor Faust

Annual event draws record crowd

The City of Madison’s annual Madisonfest event, held last Saturday at the city’s Town Park, drew a record crowd.
All manner of animal, vegetable and mineral from around the area flocked to Madison to attend the yearly gardening and arts and crafts-themed event.

Printed in the May 3rd, 2012 edition.