By Kathryn McBroom
Staff Writer

With a sweet Southern accent and a flair for food, Rutledge resident Pam Jones is giving another Georgia native, Paula Deen, a run for her money.

Jones recently filmed a segment for 11Alive News's weekend programming that showcases her talents in the kitchen. Jones will be showing how to create her husband Paul’s famous macaroni and cheese.

Last Thanksgiving, while participating in a food-themed online chat on the 11Alive Web site, Jones mentioned that her husband’s macaroni and cheese was the best out there.

After some of her fellow chatters, as well as station employees, used Paul’s recipe, it was agreed that he did in fact have the best macaroni and cheese.

The recipe, which came from a now out-of-print cookbook called “Granny’s Drawers” according to Jones, has been tweaked here and there by her husband until it is absolutely perfect.

On Oct. 5, Jones and a fellow chatter, Kerry Kruegler of Lawrenceville, were filmed by the 11Alive crew detailing how to use the recipe.

“My husband didn’t want to be on TV, but they wanted this recipe to be on TV. I had been on TV with them before, for the open house and different things, so they asked me if I would cook it with Kerry,” said Jones.

The segment is scheduled to air this Saturday, Nov. 6, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on 11Alive’s “Weekend Morning News with Valerie Hoff and Chis Holcomb.”

Jones adds that anyone concerned about catching all the details of the recipe shouldn’t worry.

“Kerry and I will be on the live chat, so if people have questions or comments, they can talk to us online while they air it.”

Deluxe Macaroni and
Extra Sharp Cheese Casserole

Madison Locally Grown connects farmers to residents

By Kathryn Schiliro
Managing Editor

Eat your (local) veggies, Morgan County.

Last week, newly established Madison Locally Grown launched its operation, set to bring locally produced food to county residents. Considering it a community service, Madison Locally Grown organizer Betsy Garrard wants to make it easy for Morgan Countians to get their hands (and mouths) on local food, and to support local farmers.
And, thanks to the organization, it's now as easy as your weekly trip to the grocery store.

Similar to a co-op, where you take out a membership to get a box of groceries from local growers, but different in that you choose (and pay for) the goods you receive instead of getting the same pre-determined box of food that everyone else in the co-op gets, Madison Locally Grown allows customers to go online, sign up for accounts, and become members. The process works in that farmers have to have their weekly selection to Garrard, who runs the Web site, by Sunday; she sends out an e-mail with the list of the week's offerings to members, who then have until Tuesday evening to place their orders. Farmers have Wednesday to harvest the needed goods and deliver them to Betsy, stationed at Madison Produce Company, by 4 p.m.; finally, members can pick up their orders at the downtown Madison location between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"A lot more people will buy from the local farmers if it's as easy as a once-a-week pick-up," Garrard said. "A mom like me isn't going to schlep out to all the different farms to get groceries."

By partnering with Madison Produce Company, a business not only locally owned and operated but that carries locally produced goods, it's Garrard's hope that Madison Locally Grown members will go in the store and continue their shopping for the week, further supporting local farmers.

    • The Greenspace Commission had another look at Madison's Tree Ordinance in their Tuesday, Oct. 20 meeting in a joint effort with the Madison City Council to streamline the ordinance and allow for healthy tree maintenance while maintaining good tree cover. The commission also discussed The Ricketts Environmental Excellence  program, which helps fund the purchase and planting of trees on private property in the City of Madison. The 8-year-old program has planted over 100 trees.

MADISON
City of Madison Animal Control, in partnership with Altered Feral State (an Oxford, Ga.-based "Trap-Neuter-Release" program that addresses feral cat populations), began the task of decreasing the city's feral cat population Saturday by setting up traps at a private residence and behind Waffle House and Arby's. According to Animal Control officer Cindy Wiemann, the group caught nine cats in all; they were transported to Watkinsville to be spayed and neutered Monday and will be returned to their colonies in Madison Wednesday. Returning the now-altered, feral cats to their colonies will prevent breeding within the colony, but will also keep other cats from joining the colony and growing the overall population.

LOCAL NEWS
 Denny's has arrived at the Pilot truck stop on Eatonton Rd. as part of a nation-wide partnership between the two companies. The store opened on Wednesday, October 7 and district manager Marion Harrell said that business has been good since then.
"We're putting Denny's in several Pilot locations," Harrell said, "and Madison was picked because of its location at I-20, 441 and GA129, all major thoroughfares.
The restaurant is never closed and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 24-hours daily.

In case you were wondering, Adrian's Place is no longer open and owner Albertha Burke has retired. "I am closed right now as far as lunch is concerned," Burke said. "But I am still catering."
Burke believes that the restaurant may re-open at a later date.
Interested in Burke's catering? Call her at (706) 474-0093.

Municipalities

•  Boswick City Council members Monday moved to reduce the speed limit on Echols Road in Bostwick from 55 mph to 35 mph. The council opted not to change the speed limit on Gilbert Road.

Education in Morgan County

• Following an extensive audit by Georgia Power, Morgan County Schools Director of Operations Bob Monk found that the school system could've saved more than $30,000 last year simply by negotiating with the power company as to which rate was used on the school system's 30 meters.
    Monk has plans to have the school system's power measured by "Time of Use," a rate determined between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m daily. "It's a matter of holding Georgia Power's feet to the fire," Monk said, at Monday's Board of Education meeting.
    "How do you know the rate you're charging us is the best you can do?"
• As of this month, there are currently 3,380 students enrolled in Morgan County schools, a number that includes those in the Pre-K program at Morgan County Primary School (the school is at its capacity with 80 Pre-K students) as well as those in Morgan County CrossRoads School.
    The primary school plays home to 821 students; elementary, 761; middle, 779; high, 999; and CrossRoads, 20. All of the county's schools have seen an increase in enrollment over the end of last school year.
• According to Superintendent Dr. Stan DeJarnett, there has been at least one unconfirmed case of H1N1 influenza (or "Swine Flu") at each of Morgan County's schools. However, precautions--namely handwashing--are being carefully observed at all schools.
    "I think we do have the cleanest children we've ever seen," DeJarnett said.