Our Damn County! North Georgia's mountain areas are breathtakingly beautiful and so exhilarating! With all the charm and appeal anyone would hope to find, it is not surprising that the area attracts so many newcomers.They seek tranquility and quiet, country living. They come to put down new roots, or perhaps, to find that vacation getaway that takes them from urban sprawl to God's green country. Vast valleys are bathed with colorful foliage, lining the landscape as far as the eye can see. "It's almost like heaven on earth", some were heard to say. One could almost get high from that fresh, clear, sky-high mountain air! These mountain ranges have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. Many jugs of moonshine have been hauled away, bringing great financial gain to some, while fulfilling that demand for homegrown 'mountain-dew'. Yes, the men loved their brew, and the cookers capitalized in this 'win-win' situation. Fear of law enforcement intervention was minimal, at best, because this is 'our damn county!' 'We do as we please.' 'We are entitled'. 'We own this county'! Years rolled by and times changed, but people still wanted that home-grown stuff. Home brew and 'mary-jane' were the big money makers. Demand plus supply means the money keeps rolling in. Lawmen, judges, lawyers and doctors, in fact, anyone with money could invest and get richer! Many did just that. Turfs were claimed by smaller groups, but the 'big-boys' kept the cream of the crop to themselves. Protected all the way around, 'this is our damn county'. What would happen if anyone interfered or was perceived to be a threat to this lucrative empire? How would they be dealt with? What if newcomers innocently moved in and found themselves inadvertently at odds with the 'power machine'? Who would defend the little man? Where would he turn for help? Certainly not to law enforcement, as that could be a huge mistake. WHERE would the little man turn? Was any help available to him? What if one of the local citizens decided to speak out against such lawlessness? What could he expect, in return for his respect for law and order? Would he be protected, or would he be left to the mercy, (or lack thereof), of the cartel clique? Some found out the hard way. Follow this amazing story of one woman's eye opening experiences as she found herself on the wrong side of the cartel. Becoming an adversary, simply because she was a friend to a victim, Brenda Brahm learned a few lessons about what happens to those who are perceived as being dangerous to the 'bigboys'. Yes, indeed, the Georgia mountains can be hazardous to your health.
