Franklin County man charged with making moonshine

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Isn't this one of those "dog bites man" things? I.e., is it really newsworthy that someone is making moonshine in Franklin County?

Franklin County man charged with making moonshine

Virginia ABC said its agents discovered and destroyed two 800-gallon stills.

by Zach Crizer | 981-3234
Duncan Adams | 981-3324
Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A Franklin County man was arrested this week on charges of manufacturing moonshine, according to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The arrest Monday of Ricky Nelson Matherly, 54, of Penhook was the result of a nine-month investigation by the department’s Bureau of Law Enforcement into an illegal still operation in a heavily wooded area of eastern Franklin County, according to a news release from the agency.

After spending months performing an undercover surveillance operation near the stills, agents discovered and destroyed two operational 800-gallon black-pot stills, according to the news release. The investigation, which was sparked by a July 2012 tip from a citizen, resulted in the seizure of 1,600 gallons of mash, 182 gallons of untaxed liquor and various liquor-making supplies.
....

Morris Stephenson is a longtime journalist in Franklin County and author of “A Night of Makin’ Likker - Plus Other Stories from the Moonshine Capital of the World.” ... Stephenson said Tuesday that the bust in Penhook described by the ABC sounded like one of the bigger operations shut down in recent years, “even though it would be a drop in the bucket compared to what used to come out of here.”

[phylny]

1. What "used to come out of here"?

Bwahahaha!

I live next door in Bedford. Moonshine being made is no big surprise, even now, you're right!