Kill The Messenger

Chapter 7 - The Un-Person

This chapter reveals what life was like in McCormick County in the mid 1980's. Leslie's perspective is a main focus, as she was the subject of various forms of "rural redneck guerrilla warfare". On one trip over to Washington, GA to pick up the latest edition of the Messenger, some teenagers tried to run her off the road. This incident was followed up weeks later by a logging truck speeding up behind Ken to "send him a message," while he was on a return trip from Georgia to get the newspapers from the printer. Some sad stories from the Big Court of McCormick County are recounted. We also get to see how Sheriff Gable treats some of the most dangerous inmates in his custody. ------------------------------------------------------------- This podcast is based on and read directly from the book Kill The Messenger by Ken Fortenberry. For more Kill The Messenger and behind the scenes info, make sure to follow @killthemessenger1986 on Instagram. To buy the book, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.KenFortenberry.com [www.kenfortenberry.com]

Chapter 6 - Bootleggers and Bullies

Its March 1986 and there has been a theft of the latest edition of The Messenger from the loading dock of the McCormick post office and from the newspaper racks around town. A local female teenager takes the rap in an effort to cover up for her other accomplices. Tom Wall stops by the newspaper office to express his dislike of the obituary for his brother. Tom challenges Ken to come outside for a small town punch out. We get to hear a portion of the 60 Minutes episode that focuses on Harry Reasoner interviewing the 'Do Nothing Club' and hear their view of the obituary of W.C. Wall. Leslie reads an excerpt from her diary dated May 15, 1986. Ken gets a visit and a tip from a local lady in town that leads to a stakeout of a runway and a discovery of a pot field. Chapter 6 ends with Jimmy Gable Jr. stopping by the office to give Ken a message. Here is a link to the October 1987 60 Minutes episode titled "The Editor": https://youtu.be/-bi8iN0sUD4?si=c-Clt5O2vgAa8jdO This podcast is based on and read directly from the book Kill The Messenger by Ken Fortenberry. For more Kill The Messenger and behind the scenes info, make sure to follow @killthemessenger1986 on Instagram. To buy the book, visit ⁠⁠⁠www.KenFortenberry.com [www.kenfortenberry.com]

Chapter 5 - Rumors, Rufacts, and Good News

We find out how much the residents of McCormick love rumor-mongering. This helps explain why McCormick has had a hard time attracting business and industry to the county. The Messenger loses a major advertiser in Gurley's Supermarket. We are introduced to Clark H. Hill and his column where he creates the tern Rufacts - half rumor and half fact. Anna and Ken learn they are expecting......twins! - all while Ken continues to get threats from a caller to the Fortenberry residence. This podcast is based on and read directly from the book Kill The Messenger by Ken Fortenberry. For more Kill The Messenger and behind the scenes info, make sure to follow @killthemessenger1986 on Instagram. To buy the book, visit ⁠⁠www.KenFortenberry.com [www.kenfortenberry.com]

Chapter 4 - The Investigation

An investigation into Sheriff Gable is started. The November 21, 1985 issue of The Messenger was a sellout and carried the headline "Audit Investigation Focuses on Sheriff". Ken is given a copy of an audit report from 1982 by an anonymous source - a source that he reveals in this episode. Sheriff Gable is called into a meeting with county officials. Harassment of the Fortenberrys is ramped up by some McCormick locals, all while advertisers begin deserting The Messenger. While rumors circulated that Sheriff Gable was going to resign, SLED began its own investigation into the sheriff. Ken gets a call from what will become a familiar voice, late one Tuesday night, while working in his office. This podcast is based on and read directly from the book Kill The Messenger by Ken Fortenberry. For more Kill The Messenger and behind the scenes info, make sure to follow @killthemessenger1986 on Instagram. To buy the book, visit ⁠www.KenFortenberry.com [www.kenfortenberry.com]

Chapter 3 - Readin', Ritin', and Race

Ken takes the 'high tech' family van into the repair shop and is pressed by the mechanic on where he is going to enroll his kids in school. We get a deep dive into the educational system in McCormick County and are introduced to Miss Mary. Culture comes to town in the form of MACK. The Messenger strongly supports MACK in their editorials, while Anna leads a grassroots effort to get MACK to become a reality. Despite some opposition, MACK is born, but so are the first set of attacks against the Fortenberry family. This podcast is based on and read directly from the book Kill The Messenger by Ken Fortenberry. For more Kill The Messenger and behind the scenes info, make sure to follow @killthemessenger1986 on Instagram. To buy the book, visit www.KenFortenberry.com [www.kenfortenberry.com]