Standby . . . Do not adjust your newspaper. . . This is not test. . . Repeat . . . This is not a test. The trickster ruler of the universe is at work as you read this very second! Breakdowns in communications. Stupid car episodes like knocked down stop signs and such! Wacked out fights your honeybunbun! Electronic meltdowns! Face it y’all! It’s Mercury Retrograde! And, trust me: I know of what I buzz ‘bout ‘cause I check my horoscope every ding dang day on FaceBook, makin’ me a bona fied expert on this topic! Let’s just say Mercury Retro is kind of like a full moon on Momma’s White Lightnin’! Exactly! So to survive this retro honky-tonk from March 12 to April 4 is to Relax. Get creative! Take it easy honey! Grab your favorite beverage and your most favorite newspaper in the entire beautiful universe and check out all the all in Morgan County! You got it! I’m flat with you! Wow! All we need is a drummer and honey we’ll have the band back together! I love it! Let’s check out the buzzin’ biz news then y’all can flip to the blotter to see Mercury Retrograde in full force!

Watch out! Momma’s done done it now! That’s right y’all! I was drivin’ real slow and safe like down Hancock Street, mindin’ my own sweet business, when Momma started slappin’ me into next week for no apparent reason which, in turn, caused me to SLAM BAM DOWN the stop sign on East Washington Street at Hancock! What the? I mean really! The good news is that Jon Owen, owner of Classic Collision Center located at 1011 Commerce Drive in Madison, can sure fix you right on up before you have to tell your handsome husband ‘bout crashin’ the car! Whew! The good news is I found me a right nice bike basket at Walmart so I’m gonna trade my ride for my bike for a few days!
Now somebody sweep the pollen off the porch ‘cause honey it is slap time for a porch party! Right! The Bottle Shop, located at 1510 Eatonton Road in Madison, can put the spirit into the party y’all! Owner Russ Weaver called over here the other day to let me know all ‘bout the deals and steals goin’ on over there and I flat couldn’t believe it! Honey, Russ is running some big special deals on Bourbon and Rum! Get over there immediately to check it out and don’t forget to invite Momma to the porch party! Hey and check out The Bottle Shop ad in this week’s Citizen!
Spring is flat here and so are Old Gringo Boots at Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. on South Main Street in Madison! Oh. My. Gosh! Honey I sure hope the Easter Bunny brings me a pair in a size 6! Lord have mercy! They are the best lookin’ boots in the WORLD! Vickie Hunt says, “Y’all come and get ‘em Sistas!” Oh and check out the Barkin’ Dogs Shoe ad in this week’s Citizen! It’s the one with the fab boot and cute little Dachshund puppy River, owned by Amelia’s owner Kim Watts!
Big news! The Variety Works, owned by Jane and Everett Royal and located in the

There’s so much ding dang Biz Buzz buzzin’ all over Morgan County I’m just a spinnin’ like a twister! And, trust me: My hair looks it! I’m talkin’ it’s a tangled, torn-up, frizzed-up mess! And you know what that means? You guessed it! It’s time for a fabulous Brazilian Blow Out Straightening Service from Petals Hair Salon! Somebody make me an appointment immediately! In the meantime, y’all check out all the great Buzz! New shops, new businesses and fun events! Dig in!
South’tiques is our newest shop located at 132 W. Jefferson Street in downtown Madison! It’s owned by Alisia Lewis and her momma, Pat Lewis, and they currently have nine dealers and will soon have 12! Honey they’ve got antiques, chests, tables, lamps, chairs, rugs, china, glassware, crystal, silver, stained glass and to-die-for Aubusson pillows all handmade with velvet backs. Y’all have flat gotta get over there to check it all out! Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Hey and you can find them online at www.southtiques.com.
Joey Eidson has opened a new real estate office: Morgan County Land and Homes! OK so this new business is located at 191 West Jefferson Street in Madison in the former Ella’s space and it’s flat beautiful! Right! So I popped over there the other day and found out that Madisonian Jean Triplett did all of the interior decoratin’! Jean! Get over to my house immediately! Anyhow, y’all pop over and check it out and tell Joey hello! The phone number is 706-342-8820 and the Web address is www.morgancountylandandhomes.com!

story and photos by emily patrick

Morgan County’s Big Kev’s BBQ combines a family effort with entrepreneurial spirit

By Dick Hodgetts
Contributing Writer

Ellen Warren, chair of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners, presented an overview of county government to the local Rotary Club. She noted the decline in property tax revenues and its impact on operations, and consideration of new initiatives. She suggested that the decline in property values continues to be a major concern both to property owners, the county government and the school system. Until the backlog of foreclosed properties is factored into property values, it is likely the tax revenues will decline or remain static, she said. She was joined by Chamber of Commerce President Bob Hughes who discussed the importance of the upcoming vote on SPLOST. The 1 percent sales tax revenue is important to our school system and to keeping county property tax rates at current levels. Among the many positives cited by Warren include: the Public Safety building that was brought in on time and underbudget, the success of the aquatics center and the team effort to keep county operations stream-lined in the face of declining tax revenues. Warren cited an initiative to hold a continuing series of meetings with local officials, the City of Madison and others who impact government services.
Rotary is composed of professional men and women who act to serve the community. They meet at noon on Tuesdays at Madison ChopHouse Grille.

Printed in the March 1, 2012 edition.