Georgia Rambler

In the 1970s a reporter named Charles Salter wrote a column for the Atlanta Journal called "Georgia Rambler." He'd get into his car, head out to some small town, and ask around until he found a story. This week, nine of us go to Georgia to try it out for ourselves, in small towns all over the state. Prologue: Ira Glass speaks with Charles Salter, the original Georgia Rambler, about his column from the 1970s. (3 minutes) Meriwether County: David Kestenbaum finds that the most unforgettable person in this county is a dead guy. A guy named Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Who had some secrets in Meriweather. David's with Planet Money, a collaboration between NPR News and This American Life. (9 minutes) Hall County: Comedian Eugene Mirman meets three friends all named Matt who claim they are the most unforgettable people in this county: Quiet Matt, Big Matt and Artist Matt. (6 minutes) Pickens County: Allen Wigington, former Chief Deputy at the Pickens County Sheriff's department, now magistrate judge, tells the story a soldier killed in Iraq—Specialist David Collins—arriving back home in Georgia to be buried. (3 minutes) Chattooga County: Producer Lisa Pollak learns some of the things people in Chattooga are talking about, thanks to a Summerville News column called "Soundoff." (7 minutes) Coffee County and Bacon County: Producer Jane Feltes speaks with Adam Vickers, one of the owners of Vickers Music in the town of Douglas. (6 minutes) Twiggs County: Sarah Koenig drives to Jeffersonville, a town of about 1200, and when she asks who is the most interesting person in town, she's led to Sonya Mallory. (10 minutes) Elbert County: Chuck Salter, son of Georgia Rambler Charles Salter, Sr., visits a man named Windell Cleveland, who was interviewed by his father 33 years ago. Chuck is a senior writer at Fast Company Magazine. (10 minutes)