Jim Baird has worked and traveled throughout the mid and south U.S. He has been a photographer for over 30 years and has recently turned his hobby into a second career.

Donna DeRonde

Donna DeRonde is a full-time mom of two and an avid lifelong video game player. She enjoys saving the world just as much as controlling her virtual dollhouse. When not juggling kids, work and gaming she enjoys sci-fi/fantasy and shoe shopping.

Brandon Fant

Brandon Fant is a producer and artist who manages the record label Unknown Famous Productions. Hear his music and contact him for interviews at www.myspace.com/sweendip or sweendip@yahoo.com

Laura Hagan, Attorney at Law

Laura Hagan is an attorney practicing with the firm of Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle & Van Zant with offices in Bowling Green and Elizabethtown. She is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and her practice involves assisting individuals with their intellectual property needs, such as patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. She can be reached at (270) 782-8160 or at lhagan@kscvlaw.com.

Clay B. Hodges

Clay is a native of Bowling Green Kentucky and proud of his Hillbilly/Irish lineage. He studies Creative Writing and Religious Studies at WKU. He loves his dogs Apollo and Prudence. He is comfortable only when outdoors and on the water. And his food must have hot sauce.

Chris Houchens

Chris is the Online Director for all the online properties of the Daily News including bgdailynews.com, The Amplifier, and Soky411.biz. He is also a freelance marketing speaker, writer, and blogger. Find out more at http://www.ChrisHouchens.com

Husky Stache

The comedy team Husky Stache is: Jason Harbison, Chris Tabor, Jeff Wilson, Chris Kitchens, Rob Levesque, Todd Stone, LeeAnne and Sara McKinney. See more Husky Stache at http://www.youtube.com/HuskyStache

Ronnie Jaggers

Ronnie has been a master crafter and fine artist for years. Her work can be seen on Chiseled-Features.com. She reminds other artists Trust the beauty of your art, for if you see the beauty, others will too. To be considered for the featured artist call Ronnie at 791-3505 or email ronnie@chiseled-features.com

Kim Mason

Kim started the Amplifier (http://www.myspace.com/theamplifier) in 1995 and began publishing online the same year. In 2007 she joined the Daily News bringing the publication with her and continues to serve as its online content manager and Daily News online specialist. She has three children. Kim’s other endeavors include web design and work with http://BGInternationalFest.com and http://bowlinggreenskatepark.com.

Kevin “Mello Joe” Mercer

Kevin “Mello Joe” Mercer is a former radio personality and a lifelong gamer. You can find him on Xbox Live and Playstation Network, Gamertag: Mellojoe. View the world as he sees it at www.youtube.com/user/mellojoe. www.myspace.com/charlesk

Jack Montgomery

Jack Montgomery is a librarian, author and associate professor at Western Kentucky University where he handles bookings for musical acts in University Libraries, Java City coffeehouse. Jack has also been a professional musician since 1969 and performs with a local folk duet called “Shadowdancer” with Graham Hudspeth.

Jeff Noise

STRIPWAX is the world’s only comic strip record review, created weekly by Jeff Noise and Team STRIPWAX deep in the bowels of the Noise Media Labs! Formerly known as HOST on the (almost) pirate music television program NOISE BAZAAR from 1990 to 1996, Jeff Noise left the states in 1997 to rule a remote Phillipine island colony until 1999. He returned to the US and began STRIPWAX in 2000. www.stripwax.com/ or www.myspace.com/stripwax

Pennman

Pennman bought his first 45 at age nine and has been hooked on rock ever since. He has spent much of his disposable income on music, especially live performances. He writes reviews of the shows he sees and keeps a keen lookout for upcoming shows in or near Bowling Green. He has a BA in Communications, specializing in journalism, and has dabbled in music himself, both as a player and instructor. Find more of Pennman’s work at www.associatedcontent.com/user/165511/pennman.html

John Redick

John Redick was and is a boomer audio-phile of extreme proportions. He is a hairdresser who works at the Cache Salon in B.G. His one fantasy in life has always been to be a black disc jockey.

Jeremy Richey

Jeremy is a student at W.K.U. working on finishing an English Degree. He has a lifelong interest in film and music and writes daily on my favorites at http://mooninthegutter.blogspot.com

He also has a side project dedicated to the neglected career of Nastassja Kinski at http://nostalgiakinky.blogspot.com Visit him at http://www.myspace.com/jeremy_richey

Tommy Starr

Tommy Starr is the host of Home Cookin’ with Tommy Starr which airs every Sunday night at 7pm on D-93. Visit him at www.myspace.com/emaheevul

Past Contributors

The following have contributed to the Amplifier in the past. Their articles can be found in our archives or featured story index.

Aaron Dugger

Aaron Dugger has worked as a park ranger, freelance writer, and Spanish teacher. He recently earned his master’s degree from Western Kentucky and is currently a reference librarian at the Warren County Public Library. http://dugger.aaron.googlepages.com/home

Mark Griffin

Mark is the publisher of Quake (http://www.myspace.com/quakezine), President of the Logan County Arts Council and a photographer, writer and historian who lives in Russellville.

Jeremy Hohman

Jeremy is the writer, producer and host of GameBytes a 30 minute weekly game news and review show. Jeremy is currently traveling across the U.S. hosting gaming competitions for GameZnFlix at the Midnight Gaming Championship 2007. To see where Jeremy will be simply go to http://www.gameznflix.com

Koufax

Koufax is the host of Local Shots every Wednesday night on Revolution 91.7. He can be contacted at sales@revolution.fm.

Scott A. Lewis

Scott A. Lewis is the Director of Marketing and Development at the Shutterbug Photo Mall in Bowling Green; the only stand alone photography lab in South Central Kentucky. Although he’d like to take all of the credit, he must say thank you to Carol and Terri in his office for their contributions to this article. Scott can be reached with questions or photo-related story ideas via telephone at 270-781-3315 or email at scott@sbphotomall.com.

Marilyn Mattingly

Marilyn Mattingly worked thirty years for the Kentucky Dept. for Libraries and Archives as a reference librarian. She is now a reference librarian at the Warren County Public Library and is the group leader for one of the existing Great Books discussion groups.

Mike-C

Mike-C is a musician, producer and hopeful author who is working towards launching a successful debut album and learning about how to compete in the Winter Olympics and working on his first controversial novel directed towards American big business chains. visit him on the web at http://www.myperfectapathy.com/ or on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/myperfectapathy

Kara Ripley

Kara Ripley is a librarian at the Warren County Public Library in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She earned her BA in English and Philosophy and her Masters in Library Science from Indiana University. Kara lives with her husband Matt, and spends most of her time reading and/or knitting.

Galen A. Smith Sr.

Galen A. Smith Sr., is a native of Memphis, Tenn., has lived in Bowling Green with his wife and son since 1988. His web-site is www.myspace.com/galenasmithsr

Sundance

Sundance records as “Xcess” and “Rat Gibson”. He is a promoter and works with Darkside Records in Bowling Green. He runs a graphic design company for Serial Killin Records based in New Mexico called SKR Designz producing inexpensive, quality work. myspace.com/xcessmusic, myspace.com/ratgibson, myspace.com/skrdesignz

Jeffrey Sweeney

Jeffrey is the General Manager of FYE; a local musicologist and pop culture guru.

Kathy Thomason

Kathy is an avid reader and runs a successful jewelry design business at http://www.brightfacedesigns.ecrater.com

Wesley Adam Willoughby

Wesley Adam Willoughby is a Business Management and Communication major at WKU. He hails from Scottsville and books hardcore shows in the area. His band, The Sanctity of Marriage, composed of high school friends, has played over 200 over them. www.myspace.com/weshimself, www.myspace.com/thesanctityofmarriage