Call the Sheriff! Momma’s storm spittin’, feet stompin’, crow cryin’, mule kickin’ mad as a cold wet hen in a ding dang downpour ! She says those ludicrous, leechin’, lyin’, lawless, lallygaggin’ Leprechauns are livin’ large and lavish all over the forests of Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge! Plus Momma says they ain’t just sippin’ dandelion tea neither! Oh no siree! Honey, those small Irish green-suited, pointy-shoed elves are dousin’ their tea with a heap of White Lightning’ ‘cause they flat stole barrels and barrels of Momma’s famous spirited recipe! Ding dang is right y’all! Well don’t worry none ‘cause Momma’s cooked up a scheme and cooked it up good! I mean those leapin’ Leprechauns will wish they’d never met Momma!

See, word on the street is those rowdy Rutledge Irish fairy lovin’ party-havin’ residents are hostin’ their Third Annual Rutledge Downhome Soiree Saturday, March 9 for the Rutledge Beautification Luck ‘O The Irish Fun’ Raiser beginnin’ at 7 p.m. at The Caboose! Right so Momma’s gonna spring a trap to catch all those lame, lowly Leprechauns and hold ‘em ransom til she gets her White Lightnin’ back! Sounds like a plan y’all! You do not want to miss this event! Tickets are only $15 per person and that includes fun, hors d’oeuvres and libation – oh and unprecedented front-page worthy Leprechaun-catchin’ entertainment!

 story and infographic by kathryn schiliro
 photo by jesse walker

The viability of Morgan County housing an area food hub was brought up for discussion among roughly 40 local farmers and producers at a Town Hall-style meeting– hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Madison-Morgan Conservancy and Cattlemen's Association, among others– on Thursday, Jan. 31.

What the? Well there sure wasn’t nothin’ small ‘bout Bruce Weiner’s international auction sale of his miniature car collection last weekend! Word on the street is it made upwards of $9.1 million and that ain’t no small change (pun intended)! Ding dang is all I got to say ‘bout that! Oh but we did get lots of world travelers poppin’ ‘bout in our local restaurants and shops! In fact Patricia Lewis of South’Tiques said she recalls visitors from all over the United States and around the world! I’m talkin’ England, Germany, South Africa and Brazil plus Kansas, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Southern California and of course Georgia! WOW! Congratulations Bruce! We flat can’t wait to see what you’ll start collectin’ next!
Movin’ on up! Ding Dang y’all it’s official! Ricardo Casillas of Tequila Express along with an investment group has acquired The Ice House restaurant property and Ricardo is working to get the restaurant in tip-top shape to open! To all y’all who’ve been lucky enough to have dined at his current restaurant Tequila Express, you know he is one of Morgan County’s top restaurant operators! In fact, Ricardo received the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce’s Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2010! What’s he gonna do with the Ice House? Well, I’m right certain he’s gonna change the name and he’s gonna serve up an awesome menu but y’all will just have to keep checkin’ this column for updates ‘cause Ricardo’s keepin’ all his plans super secret! I’ll let all y’all know as soon as I get the scoop! 

Momma’s got a serious case of Hollywood-itis! She’s flat feverishly moon-struck by all the ding dang MOVIE STARS sashayin’ all ‘round town! Honey, those Movie Stars are pert near like real live people! I’m talkin’ they shop and eat out in restaurants just like US! Well I’ll be!  Ok so here’s the deal! I heard it from a little bitty baby bird over at The Madison Flea Market that beautiful Movie Star Maria Bello went over there and shopped for some perf items for her kitchen! Yes! Ok so then I heard she was spotted at Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. and then over at Town 220 restaurant! Oh and she very well could be stayin’ (but I ain’t sayin’) at the beautiful James Madison Inn! What the what! But, that ain’t all y’all! Maria Bello is workin’ on a right scary movie with handsome wolverine-ish Hugh Jackman and crazy cutie Jake Gyllenhaal! It’s called Prisoners and they’re shootin’ the show over in Conyers ‘cause Conyers is like scary! Ah Conyers . . . you know I’m joshin’, right? Anyhow we’re right pleased as punch all y’all movie stars are hangin’ out in Morgan County! And, now that you’ve been written up in the Biz Buzz you are OFFICIALLY FAMOUS! Congratulations Famous Movie Stars! I just hope I spelled your names right or one of them mean Hollywood publicists will slap me into next week!

Huddling against freezing temperatures, a quarter until ribbon-cutting time and about two dozen people waited outside the locked doors of the Madison Goodwill.

Love ain’t just in the air honey! It’s also in this ding dang newspaper! I’m talkin’ all ‘bout Say Yes! – an annual wedding and celebrations magazine from your local teams at the Morgan County Citizen and Lake Oconee Living Magazine! You’ll find it for yourself in the award-winnin’ newspaper you’re holdin’ in your hands right this second!
Hey and the good news is that the Madison Morgan Wedding Association is hostin’ a Bridal Show & Venue Tour Feb. 9 and 10! And, Say Yes! will be there!  Ok so the show is gonna take place at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center’s The Hall! The Bridal Show will take place Saturday only (Feb. 9) from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m.! The Venue Tour is both Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 9 and 10)! We have 65-plus exhibitors, demonstrations, fashion shows and more! It’s gonna be a BLISSFULLY FUN! Visit www.madisongabridalshow.com  for tickets and info! More info on this FAB SHOW can be found inside the Say Yes! magazine startin’ on page 39! Check it all out and I’ll see you at the show!