Commentary on the bizarre

Terry Vance Garner, a 70-year old Oregonian pig farmer was eaten alive by his animals last week.
Question 1: If we barbecue and eat the guilty hog, does that make us cannibals?
In all seriousness, the death came as quite a blow to his wife, who found nothing but his dentures in the pen after he had been gone for several hours.
Garner’s brother, Michael described the situation that led up to his death.
“He said he was going to kill it, but when I asked him about it later, he said he had changed his mind.”
In this kill-or-be-killed world, Garner apparently chose the latter.
The police department is exploring the possibility that foul play might be involved, while some speculate that it is might be porcine.
“For all we know, it was a horrific accident, but it’s so doggone weird that we have to look at all possibilities,” said District Attorney Paul Frasier.
Enough said.
Michael Garner reiterated that his brother loved his farm and the farming lifestyle.
“Those animals were his life,” Garner told the Eugene Register-Guard.
Apparently, the irony was lost on the brother.

Printed in the October 4, 2012 edition.

The Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit’s Vicki Lynn takes a stand in local courtrooms on behalf of victims

Ellen Ianelli (left to right), of the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce; Ann Huff, of the City of Madison; and Stephanie Hudak, City of Madison volunteer, attended the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Women In Business meeting last week at the Chamber. Hudak talked about the importance of the 42 flower containers throughout the City of Madison that she creates and nurtures throughout the year. photo by d. yost

Printed in the August 23, 2012 edition

By Isabela Rzeznik
Staff Writer

Wade Johnston, a 2002 graduate of Morgan County High School, won a bronze level award from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). The three awards are given to three different groups, based upon school size, group one, two and three, with Johnston’s video placing in group two. The award levels are gold, silver and bronze. Johnston received the award for the 2011 Upstate Volleyball Intro Video that he shot.

After graduating from Georgia College and State University with a degree in mass communication in 2007, Johnston spent almost six years attempting to break into the video production industry specifically for athletics. As a high school student Johnston played tennis and became involved in technology, learning the basics of video editing. He watched ESPN growing up and knew that he wanted to be involved in making sports videos. Through assertive networking Johnston was finally able to seize the position of athletics video director at the University of South Carolina Upstate, where he shot the award-winning video. Johnston is now working at the University of Memphis in Tennessee as the athletics’ web videographer, where he is in charge of “everything broadcast-wise.”

story by michael prochaska  photos special

Madison native Jesse Triplett plays for Jay Leno, Morgan Freeman

When Madison native Jesse Triplett, 28, tours the U.S., playing for people of all ages and musical tastes, one thing stays constant – he always plays for God.

But last Wednesday was the first time he had someone who played God on the big screen in his audience.

“He was exactly like I thought he would be,” said Triplett, referring to Morgan Freeman, a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where Triplett performed. “He’s super classy. His cool factor is off the roof.”

After filming the show, Triplett, a guitarist, and the rest of the band accompanying country artist Jana Kramer, hung out with Freeman, Leno and the Tonight Show Band, talking about music and movies.

“I want him to narrate my life,” Triplett Tweeted soon after.

Triplett and band members even got to watch themselves perform that night at a restaurant because the late night talk show is actually filmed between 4 and 5 p.m.

Right now, Kramer and her band are on the road non-stop, playing almost every day and on tour with Brad Paisley, but back in the day, Triplett was playing gigs in downtown Athens and in Morgan County.

“He always knew he wanted to go into music,” said his father, Steve Triplett. “He shares himself through his music. That’s what he does and what it will always be.”

Triplett comes from a lineage of musical talent. His father a singer and his grandfather a singer-songwriter and pianist, Triplett began playing drums for Madison Church of God and his friends’ birthday parties beginning at age 10.

All things equine are divine.
Just ask those who participated in and attended Morgan County’s Equifest event Saturday at the county’s Ag Center.

photos by angelina bellebuono

Printed in the April 26, 2012 edition