The true story of newspaper editor, Ken Fortenberry, who courageously fought against bigotry and greed in the small town of McCormick, SC. In July 1985, Fortenberry left his position as Exec. Editor of The News Chief in Winter Haven, FL to buy the McCormick Messenger - a weekly newspaper in the smallest and poorest county in South Carolina. What began as a simple request to examine public jail logs in the office of the sheriff led to a series of discoveries that put two separate sheriffs behind bars, bombs set off at Fortenberry's house, and the national news focused on McCormick, SC.
The episode begins in March 1986 as the investigation into Sheriff Gable whips into high gear. South Carolina prosecutor Jim Anders leads an investigation for SLED into misappropriation of funds against the sheriff. The charges initially go to a state grand jury before being handed over to federal investigators and a federal grand jury.
The federal grand jury indicts Sheriff Gable. This becomes headline front page news in The Messenger in mid August.
Sheriff Gable stands trial in the federal courthouse in Aiken where he is found guilty on two counts of stealing taxpayer money. This again becomes front page news in The Messenger.
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)
22 Feb 2026
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.
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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)
27 Jan 2026
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)
12 Jan 2026
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)
1 Jan 2026
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)
12 Dec 2025
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)
3 Dec 2025
Chapter 2 - Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man: Ken has been in McCormick for a few weeks. On July 29th, Ken visits the Sheriff's Department to obtain a copy of the jail log and we get introduced to Press Gable - father of Sheriff Jimmy Gable. Sheriff Gable is not in the office today but THE sheriff is.....Press Gable.
Ken gets a call from the sheriff the next day and he finally gets to meet Jimmy Gable. After politely requesting a copy of the jail log, the sheriff refuses to allow Ken and The Messenger access. When reminded that the jail log in public record, Ken is given the option to get out of the sheriff's office or he will be thrown out.
A mention of an unsolved murder from 1982 makes the papers and draws attention to the lack of law enforcement in McCormick and further angers the sheriff and the Gable family.
Many townsfolk begin to think Ken Fortenberry is some kind of secret agent man the feds have sent to McCormick to get to the bottom of all the drug smuggling that everyone suspects has been going on.
The small weekly paper begins to have lots of news to print.
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)
26 Nov 2025
Chapter 1 - The Dream Begins
The Dream Begins: We are introduced to the author of "Kill The Messenger", Ken Fortenberry, while he is the Executive Editor of the News Chief in Winter Haven, FL.
Ken begins by reading the preface and we get to see McCormick through Fortenberry's eyes. We learn of Ken's deep ties and affection for the Palmetto State, as he prepares to move his family "home" to South Carolina in 1985.
The prologue takes us back to December 15th, 1985 when Ken is startled by a phone call in the middle of the night that would foreshadow things to come for the Fortenberry family in McCormick.
Chapter 1, The Dream Begins, paints a picture of life in Florida for the newspaper editor and his family. The Fortenberry's had plenty of material possessions, but Ken felt his family was being sucked into a lifestyle he despised. After a trip to Salt Lake City to accept a prestigious award for the News Chief, Ken decides to buy The McCormick Messenger, an eighty-year-old weekly newspaper in the smallest county in South Carolina.
On Friday July 12th, Ken's first column as the owner of The McCormick Messenger outlined the many reasons he likes McCormick and was pleased to call it home.
Everything was perfect. For now.
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)
22 Nov 2025
Introducing: KILL THE MESSENGER
It's been 40 years since Ken Fortenberry left his job as the Executive Editor at the News Chief in Winter Haven, FL to return to his small town roots. Leery of raising his family in a material world of designer drugs and designer jeans, he pulled up stakes and moved his household to McCormick, South Carolina where he had just purchased The McCormick Messenger.
Millions of Americans would be introduced to Fortenberry and his family when he was interviewed on "60 Minutes" in 1987 telling of the corruption, greed and violence they encountered in McCormick.
This podcast is a first hand account of the events that began in July 1985, as told by the author himself. Fortenberry details the events of his fight for freedom to print the truth. His chronicle also unfolds a moving family drama as his children are victimized by competing factions, while his wife also gives birth to twins.
Hosted by Jason Payne, this trailer episode gives a small glimpse of what the Charlotte Observer depicted as 'just this side of The Dukes of Hazzard' and previews the big troubles that are about to unfold in a very small town.
-for more details on Kill The Messenger, make sure to follow the story on Instagram @killthemessenger1986
Buy the book at www.KenFortenberry.com
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