United States Postal Service mail carriers nationwide held a canned food drive for local food banks across the U.S. Saturday, May 11. In Madison, carriers (above) from the Madison Post Office collected more than 7,500 pounds of canned and non-perishable food in the drive in the 30650 zip code area. The food was gathered and given to Morgan County's Caring Place food distribution service. Postal customers were given special bags and placed the food from Thursday to Saturday for pick up by carriers. According to Madison Post Office Postmaster Becky Manley the carriers were struck by the "overwhelming generosity" of postal customers during the food drive. Manley also commended the crew of carriers for there hard work and diligence during the collection period. photo by p. yost

To the Editor:
   
The National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 11 was a fantastic success. The canned good collected completely filled both a pick-up truck and a van. Our sincere thanks to our very dedicated Morgan County City and Rural Mail Carriers who worked so hard collecting all of the hundreds of bags of food, and of course to the hundreds of very caring and generous people who took the time and care to see that the Postal Service received their filled bags.   
The Caring Place is averaging 200 families coming for food each week. These many non-perishable items will save us money and we are so grateful to you all for the generosity of heart that is exemplified in such a huge-out-pouring of kindness to our neighbors in need.   

Nancy Pluckhahn
Director, Madison-Morgan County
Caring Place, Inc.
Hand-delivered

Printed in the May 16, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

The Young Life Committee of Morgan County would like to thank the Morgan County Lions Club and all of the volunteers, sponsors and participants who made this year’s Madison in May 5K/10.2K/1 Mile Fun Run an overall success. On Saturday morning, May 11 over 443 runners from four states participated in the road race through the beautiful historic district of Madison. The Lions Club race supports Young Life, a faith-based outreach organization for Morgan County High School and Middle School students.
It could not have been done without our sponsors: A Superior Answering Service, Breco Realty, Briarcreek Farm Inc., Colleen Lizardi, Dock 103.9 FM, DuBose Massey Bair & Evans, Edward Jones, Georgia Power Company, Ingles Markets, Jolene’s Perk Avenue, Jones & Jones Premier Builders, Jones Ewing Dobbs and Tamplin,  Madison Car Care, Madison Fitness, Madison Studios, Morgan County Citizen, Morgan Stanley, NuArt Printers, Oconee Sand & Gravel, Pagett & Whetzel Family Dentistry, Paschal Orthodontics, Pennington Seed, Prior Daniel & Wiltshire Attorneys, Scherer Family Dentistry, State Farm Insurance, Sunflower Farm, Tequila Express, The Herald-Journal, The Medicine Shoppe and United Bank.
A special thank you to the Madison First United Methodist Church for the gracious use of their facilities, to Madison Main Street Director Ann Huff, Chief of Police Bill Ashburn, Madison Police Sergeant Colin Campbell, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department and to the host of volunteers who made it all come together so effortlessly.
We all look forward to a successful 13th annual race on May 10, 2014.
Thank you again!

Macy Johnson
Race Director, Morgan County
Young Life Committee
Via e-mail

Printed in the May 16, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

Enclosed are prints of two tintypes that I came across and have no idea who these women are. The person who gave these pictures to me did not know who they were but thought they were fron the Eugene Henry Aiken family– they lived in the Morgan and Jasper County area. Sarah Scott, Eugenia, was called Miss Jeanice and taught school at Hickory Hill School between Pennington and Madison.
I know these pictures are not very clean but thought maybe if you could run them in the paper, someone working on genealogy might have these same pictures and would help me find out who these people are.
Thank you.
Sincerely,

Jean B. Bullington
Fayetteville, Tenn.
Via USPS

Editor's note: If you think you can assist with this matter, send us a query and we will get back to you with contact info.

Printed in the May 9, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

The Ashburn Chorale presented a Benefit Concert for The Caring Place at the Madison Baptist Church last Thursday evening and benefits The Caring Place it certainly did with $2022 being donated for the purchasing of food for those in need in our county.   
The concert was really a wonderful gift for everyone in our community. The musical selections were so diverse, everything from jazz standards to an African hymn. Some touched your heart, some evoked sweet memories, some were new sounds to enjoy and some touched your soul.
We sincerely thank all of the talented performers who gave so generously of their time and talents: Concert Director W. H. Ashburn; the members of the Ashburn Chorale directed by W. H. Ashburn; soloists Phalanda Perriman, Kathleen Bryant, and Marilyn Elliot; accompanist Macy Johnson; the Presbyterian Church Bell Ringers directed by David Boardman; the Madison Baptist Church Bell Ringers directed by David Shytle; and Master of Ceremonies Ed Latham.
We are so grateful to the audience members who gave so generously to help others in their community.
With our thanks to you all,

Nancy Pluckhahn
Director, Madison-Morgan County Caring Place, Inc.
Hand-delivered

Printed in the May 2, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

I would like to thank all the fire stations that were called out to the fire at the home of Percy and Louise Tiller on April 1, 2013. I would like to acknowledge with sincere appreciation for the generous outpouring of love and compassion we have been receiving from our friends and family during our most difficult time. I would like to thank all the churches, stores and everyone for all the donations, calls, food and prayers that we received from each of you.
May God bless each and every one of you.   
Thanks,

Percy and Louise Tiller and Family
Buckhead
Hand-delivered

Printed in the May 2, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

When we are young we never realize God's will in our lives. Many years ago I met this young man, but because of his military career and me being so young, we parted ways and lost contact. We each married others, raised a family, and never looked back.
However, this is not where the story ends. By the Grace of God, we were able to reunite. There is more to this story, but time and space will not allow me to expound.
However, since our reconnection, he discovered a suspicious area on his back. With my insistence, he had it “looked at,” and was told it was cancer. He had surgery in December and also in January. He was scheduled for clinical trial studies. Yet, with the various testing prior to this, it was discovered that he has Melanoma Stage III Metastatic Cancer therefore, under his doctor’s advice, he is unable to proceed.
Now, the really sad part, neither one of us is working. He is disabled due to his illness, and with the economy, I too am unemployed. We make weekly 80 mile “one-way” trips to Emory Healthcare Hospital in Atlanta, for his treatments.
With all this being said, if any of you have a mind to help us during our time of need, it would be greatly appreciated. We also covet an interest in your prayers.
With our heartfelt thanks for your kindness and prayers,

Anne Wolfcale for Dean Yoho
Buckhead
Via e-mail

Printed in the April 25, 2013 edition