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November 3, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 219 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

$55 million budget proposed by city By MITCH SNEED Editor

The Alexander City City Council got its first look at a proposed $55 million budget for Fiscal Year 2017/18 Thursday. The proposed numbers include $48.9 million in operating expenses and $6.2 million in capital improvements. The city is currently operating on a continuation of last year’s budget until the new budget can be passed. The numbers presented

Thursday do not include any across the board pay increases for employees, but does have regularly scheduled step increases and several adjustments that were identified to clear up inequities on several individual grades for employees whose duties did not match their classification. “This has taken longer than I thought, but we are all working very hard to get to a point where we can input information quickly,” Finance Director Sandy

Volunteers still needed for cleanup

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Funding limits road projects County said it is forced to put band aids on issues

Donald Campbell / The Outlook

Above, keynote speaker Mike Lutzenkirchen talks with students Thursday morning during the “UR KEYS 2 DRV” event, encouraging them to be responsible and learn from the death of his son, former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. Below, Local State Farm Insurance agent Karen Channell presents the ASF Foundation with a check as part of the company partnering with non-profit organizations to help sponsor the “UR KEYS 2 DRV” program.

More than 300 attend session on driving decisions at CACC By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

More than 300 students representing 18 high schools, including Benjamin Russell, Homewood and The Donoho School in Anniston gathered in the auditorium of the Betty Carol Graham Center Thursday morning for a special program, “UR KEYS 2 DRV.” Sponsored by State Farm Insurance, the program is aimed at teenagers to See DRIVE • Page 3

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

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There is something about hopping in the car and taking a drive to relax, maybe go visit family and friends. Everyone loves to drive a smooth straight road without potholes and other road problems that can cause problems for automobiles from tire problems to alignment issues. In Tallapoosa County and the rest of Alabama a lack of funding have left officials with little they can do except put band aids on the problem. “We patch roads as we can,” Tallapoosa County Engineer David Moore said. “We just can’t do much.” For the county, funds for repaving come from the federal government. “The only money that we can rely on each year is federal money,” Moore said. “That amounts to about $533,000 a year for projects that have to bid through ALDOT.” According to Moore, the federal money does not go far, considering it costs about See ROADS • Page 3

Horseshoe Bend FCCLA takes first at Alabama National Fair

Today’s

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By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

See CLEANUP • Page 3

High

Alex City Mayor Jim Nabors listens as budget numbers are presented at a work session Thursday night.

‘UR KEYS 2 DRV’

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

John Thompson and the Lake Martin Resource Association are still looking for help removing litter from roadways and shorelines this weekend in the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup. Thompson says it does not take much to help out. “They don’t need to ask where to go,” Thompson said. “They will know where trash is at. They can find a spot and pick it up.” Thompson said volunteers will be at the Wind Creek Marina, the Kowaliga public boat ramp and the Union public boat ramp will have supplies like garbage bags, snacks and water. LMRA’s John Thompson explained some of the trash has been there for decades and the group’s efforts are finally paying off. “We are making a big dent in this, especially the old trash,” Thompson said. “We are making an

Stanbrough said. “That will enable us to get accurate monthly and quarterly financial reporting. We have forward movement, but we think as these audits get complete and we get more proficient in our own processes, this will all come more easily. Until then, we appreciate all the hard work and your patience.” Stanbrough said that the current numbers show a shortfall of about $1.4 million, she anticipates that See COUNCIL • Page 2

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LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443

laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

As part of the Alabama National Fair being held this week in Montgomery, students of the FCCLA at Horseshoe Bend created an educational display to be showcased in one of the fairground exhibit halls. “Each year, the Alabama National Fair has six booths set up for displays from FCCLA, six for the FFA and six for the 4-H,” Horseshoe Bend FCCLA Advisor Felicia Williams said. “The fair tries to pick specific clubs in a rotation. We usually apply to submit a display every other year.” Having to fit in a space 12 feet wide by 8 feet deep and able to display information up to 8 feet high, Williams said all submissions have to be

Starting Friday:

something that would either be taught in the classroom or through the club. “The theme we chose this year was distracted driving,” she said. “We made sure it was colorful, informed the public and clearly told the story we wanted to tell.” A number of students worked on the project, and Williams said she selected three students she felt had done a large part of the work to travel to Montgomery and set the display up. Once all 18 displays were put together, a group of judges came by and evaluated the presentations, according to Williams. Though she was unsure of the exact specifics, Submitted / The Outlook she said there was a detailed rubric the judges used, which Kayla Hall, Cheyenne Peppers and Kristal Cortez of the Horseshoe Bend FCCLA See FCCLA • Page 3 pose for a photograph with their Alabama National Fair exhibit.

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Girl sees red flags in her online friendship overseas

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Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Audra Spears Art Director, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Angela Mullins Business Manager, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com

Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com Grant Peterson Advertising Sales, Ext. 209 grant.peterson@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.

Information

How to Submit Obituaries

DEAR ABBY: I met this guy through a dating site. We began chatting and hit it off. We talk almost every day, and have Skyped a few times. We’ve been getting closer and closer. I really like him, and he has told me he feels the same. The thing is, I’m not sure if he’s telling me the truth. We live in different countries, and for all I know, he could have a girlfriend and be messing with me. I also don’t know how to tell my parents. They don’t support online dating, and they don’t think I’m ready for a relationship. Please help me. I’m really confused. -- CHATTING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY DEAR CHATTING: It is hard to keep emotions in check and think clearly when the adrenaline is pumping and our hearts are beating a mile a minute. Because you are a minor, you have to respect your parents’ decisions until such time as they agree you’re ready for a relationship. A way to earn

DEAR ABBY Advice

their trust and prove that you are mature enough would be to be honest about what you are doing and thinking, rather than sneak around hoping to slip something by them. When that time comes, finding someone closer to home, somebody you can introduce to them IN PERSON will make your life easier. In the meantime, concentrate on school and the opportunities it provides. DEAR ABBY: A good friend of my husband’s, “Eric,” offered us a very generous wedding present. It was something we needed in our home, and he told us he would like to build it for us. Time went on, the project was delayed and my

Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by e-mail at obits@alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550. For more information, call (256) 234-4281.

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husband offered him numerous opportunities to back out. Each time the friend continued to support his offer. When it was finally finished, Eric admitted it had pushed him beyond capacity. It has become obvious that Eric feels resentful, and now he’s holding his generosity over my husband’s head. He recently asked my husband to help with a project in his own home, and when my husband couldn’t do it that week, the conflict came to a head. My husband has reached out trying to explain that he wants to help his friend, but he needs to plan for it. We haven’t heard back from Eric, and my husband is very sad. I’m good friends with Eric’s wife, and this conflict has made it uncomfortable for us to see each other. I want to mediate, but it’s difficult to objectively step back and see where my husband has wronged and needs to make amends. I realize that

nothing in life is black and white, and I need an unbiased perspective on how we can move forward. -- GOOD FRIENDS DEAR GOOD FRIENDS: I agree that few things in life are black and white, but after reading your letter, I can’t see how Eric was wronged. Your husband didn’t refuse to help with the project; he just said he couldn’t do it unless it was scheduled in advance. I don’t know why Eric is nursing a grudge and neither do you. Not all friendships last forever. That’s why, if you are smart, you will refrain from inserting yourself in the middle of this. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Obituaries Mrs. Umerlauer Glenn

Horace Brummitt

Sarah Tuck

Funeral service for Mrs. Umerlauer Glenn 94 of Alexander City, AL; Friday, November 3 2017; 11 a.m.; Armour’s Memorial Chapel, Alexander City, AL. Burial, New Elam #1 Baptist Church Cemetery, Alexander City, AL.

Funeral Service for Horace Brummitt will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2014 at Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville, Alabama with burial following in Brummitt Cemetery in Camp Hill, Alabama. Professional Service provided by Wright’s Funeral Home,

Funeral Service for Sarah Tuck will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4, 2014 at Wright’s Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in William- Glenn Cemetery in Daviston, Alabama. Professional Service provided by Wright’s Funeral Home, LLC.

Final Arrangements Entrusted to Armour’s Memorial Funeral Home.

Kenneth Wayne Hill Sr. 1949 - 2017

Postal

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.

Friday, November 3, 2017

The Outlook

Memorial Service for Kenneth Wayne Hill Sr., 68, of Jacksons Gap, will be Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the Radney Funeral Home. Pastor Dick Stark will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Hill passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at Russell Medical

David Earl Westbrook 1953 - 2017 Funeral Service for David Earl Westbrook, 64, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 10:00 am at the Radney Funeral Home. Bishop William Ted Cogburn will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 3, 2017 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Westbrook passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at Grandview Medical Center. He

Mr. Simmie D. Wilson of Goodwater passed away Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at Regional Medical Center, Anniston, Alabama. Funeral Services are incomplete and will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.

Center. He was born on June 21, 1949 in Tallassee, Alabama to Dewey Hill and Mary Wills Champion Hill. He was a Vietnam War Army Veteran, loved his family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them, enjoyed fishing, Alabama Football, riding on his golf cart, country music, the outdoors and sitting around fires. He is survived by his wife, Roxanna Hill of Jacksons Gap; sons, Kenneth W. Hill Jr.(Christine) of Gloucester, VA and David Hill of Jacksons Gap; daughter, Trisha Lynn Reed(Derrick

Cotney) of Daviston; sister, Carol Killingsworth(Gary) of Panama City, FL; eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jerry Hill; sisters, Diane Leonard and Barbara Sherlock. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

was born on October 17, 1953 in Sylacauga, Alabama to Emmit Westbrook and Geneva Richardson Westbrook. He was retired after 39 years including 26 years active duty as Sergeant First Class in the Army National Guard serving two tours in Iraq, active member of The Church of God, loved his family and the military dearly, enjoyed the pistol range, hunting, fishing, gardening, nature and the outdoors. He also had a love for wood and metal working. He is survived by his wife, Debra “Debbie” Westbrook of Alexander City; son, Jeremy Westbrook (Anna) of Alexander City; daughter, Jennifer

Westbrook Tenfold(Josh) of Alexander City; sisters, Charlotte(Arnold) of Vicksburg, MS and Glenda Jernigan of Phenix City; brother, Damon Westbrook of Jacksons Gap; grandsons, Gavin Tenfold, Hayden Tenfold, and granddaughter, Piper Westbrook. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

Council amount being reduced significantly before the council looks at a final draft sometime next week. “There are several things that we know will change, so by the time it is ready for a vote, those number will be much different,” Stanbrough said. Council member Buffy Colvin asked about a wage study that Auburn University is almost two years behind in completing. “I know that we haven’t paid anything to them yet,” but the reason our employees are disgruntled is because they have been banking on this study to get them to where they need to be. Instead, they are tired of waiting and going elsewhere in some cases.” Stanbrough said they have pushed the issue, but have just about given up on ever getting the information from them. If the council is able to vote on the budget at its Nov. 20, it will still be almost eight months ahead when it was finally able to formulate and pass its 2016/17 budget. The council also received an audit report on the budget year ending Sept. 30, 2015 from the Birmingham-based accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram. CRI’s Jason Harpe said the city showed progress, but still needs to conduct a detailed inventory and evaluation of its infrastructure assets. Stanbrough said it also shows that the city still has work to do in implementing internal controls and procedures. The audit showed it took the city about $61,000 per day to operate during that budget year and the $2.6 million in unassigned funds on hand at the end of the cycle gave the city about 43 days of reserves. Harpe said ideally the city should work toward building a 90-day cushion in unassigned funds to be prepared for emergencies.

Mr. Simmie D. Wilson

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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“Just as we saw in the last audit, we are seeing some funding issues in enterprise entities which includes water, sewer, electricity and golf,” Harpe said. “For example, you bring in more in water than it takes to operate, but you are severely underfunded in the sewer fund. So typically you move money from water to fund sewer. That says you may need to look at rates or some way to get those funds closer to what they need in reality.” CRI is preparing to start the audit for the budget year ending on September 30, 2016 and hopes to have it ready to present in the spring on next year. Business recruiting specialist NextSite from Birmingham gave a presentation on how the firm could help the city attract retailers and developers. NextSite Managing Partner Chuck Branch said he sees Alexander City with several positive factors to help land new business and help existing businesses grow. “Alexander City sits between Sylacauga that is in the process of getting a new retail development and the Opelika-Auburn area with all that they offer,” Branch said. “While some would say those are too close, I will make the case that you are far enough from Opelika and Auburn at 40-some miles that they aren’t a competitor. I would also say with Sylacauga being 22 miles away that they are far enough away for then not to be a competitor either.” Branch gave an overview of the extensive research and data they company would gather to help the city attract retailers and developers. Alexander City Chamber of Commerce CEO Ed Collari said the approach by NextSite differed from what is being used with the current contractor.

“You need to find people who are willing to come in and move dirt, build and invest in our community,” Collari said. “That’s what NextSite specializes in is working with the developers.” The city and Chamber will evaluate the proposals from both NextSite and Retail Strategies and evaluate which to continue with at the end of the calendar year. The council got an update on the Arts and Entertainment District from City Attorney Larkin Radney and Richard Wagoner. Committee member Henry Foy said he hasn’t seen the district result in more alcohol on downtown streets. “Since this was created I think maybe once have we had someone who asked for a cup to take their drink with them to go somewhere else,” Foy said. “Most of the time, they either finish their drink or leave half a glass of wine on the table when they leave.” Radney said the idea of the District was to get the city out of the permitting business. So as people seek to have events, they should go to the committee first to see if they can handle the group’s needs. “The idea of the district is not to have everything centered around alcohol,” Wagoner said. “The idea is to have more events like art walks, children’s events. We’ve done that but I still think we can do more. “ Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson talked with the council about his department taking over responsibility for the youth baseball and softball leagues. He said that over time it has been difficult to find parent volunteers with enough time to dedicate to running and governing the league.

Friday, November 3, 2017

The Outlook

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Cleanup impact.” This year’s event is set for today and Saturday. Thompson says volunteers are already lining up to help. “We have a lot of volunteers stepping up,” Thompson said. “We have a fishing group coming from Auburn. They will be out at Paces Point at the boat ramp and that area. “We have school groups coming out. We will have the BRHS Navy JROTC. Scouting groups will be at Wind Creek. Russell associates will be out on Highway 63 from Ourtown to the thrift store Friday.” Thompson said some of the cleanup is already underway by one group he is proud of. “We have a crew from Atlanta in the Sturdivant area,” Thompson said. “They are already bagging trash.” Volunteers will be manning dumpsters at the Real Island Marina, Kowaliga public boat ramp, Wind Creek Park Marina and the Union Public boat ramp. Last year’s cleanup saw over 20 tons of trash collected, including 140 automotive tires, by more than 300 volunteers. Thompson says the

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Cliff Williams / The Outlook

new Treasured Mile program has been effective at helping keep trash from the lake over the past year. “It has been making an impact,” Thompson said. Thompson says the higher water levels than years past will affect this year’s cleanup. “It is still shaping up to be a good year,” Thompson said. “The water levels are too high to be as productive as last year’s. If you are going to be out on the shoreline rubber boots are in order.”

Roads

Stephens Elementary School student Ava Barrett’s design was selected for the back of this year’s Renew Our Rivers cleanup tshirt. Barrett and her classmates held a peprally Thursday to encourage all to cleanup. Barrett along with the other 15 finalists were recognized at the rally. They include Linley Brown, Aaron Perez, Kylee Sanders, Jackson Padgett, Mason Kim, Amanda Cantrell, Bella Westbrook, Carmyn Thomas, Paulina Torres, Riki Lin, Elodie Waller, Cayleigh Collier, Campbell Richardson, Avery Harrelson and Emma Swindall.

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Drive

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Cliff Williams / The Outlook

County road crews apply a surface treatment to Crayton Road in Jacksons Gap recently.

$120,000 a mile to put down asphalt plant mix. In Tallapoosa County there are 750 miles of paved road and about 300 miles of unpaved road. That total does not include state and federal highways like Highway 49 and U.S. Highway 280 which fall on the Alabama Department of Transportation to keep up and city streets that fall on municipalities like Alexander City, Jacksons Gap, New Site, Camp Hill and Dadeville to keep up their own. Funding in the county is based on sales and property taxes, much of which is used already for things like education, courts and law enforcement. For fiscal year 2018, Tallapoosa County has a $16,000,000 budget with just over $500,000 for paving coming from federal funds. Moore explained the county has a priority system to for selecting roads to pave. He said first they look at major and minor collectors. These are roads which usually run from one state or federal road to another. From there Moore said they look at traffic counts and condition of the roads. Finally they look at local

roads which are often serving just small neighborhoods. Besides asphalt plant mix, the county does have another option, surface treatment. When it comes to surface treatment, the county does own the equipment to do much of the work itself but it still comes down to funding and the priority system. In Jacksons Gap, the town recently teamed up with Commissioners Emma Jean Thweatt and John McKelvey, whose districts meet near town hall, to surface treat many of the roads in the town. “The town requested it,” Moore said. “We could not afford to do plant mix with the funds available.” “Jacksons Gap put up some money,” McKelvey said. “I put up some of my discretionary money and Emma Jean Thweatt put up some money too.” Moore says until the funding is fixed, the can will be kicked down the road again and again. “Every county in the state of Alabama does not have enough funds for roads,” Moore said. “We are all just putting band aids on the issue.”

FCCLA includes certain things each organization’s display had to incorporate. When the judging was done, Williams said she received an email informing her that the display her students worked so hard to create had won first place of all the presentations at the fair. “We’ve finished third three times and second twice. This was our first time finishing first,” Williams said. “We were overwhelmed with joy. We were really excited.

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Our principal and assistant principals were happy for us as well.” For all their hard work and first-place finish, Williams said the group was awarded $550. “I’ve also been told there’s a beautiful blue ribbon hanging on the display,” she added. For those interested in seeing the Horseshoe Bend FCCLA display at the Alabama National Fair, Williams said it would be set up in Montgomery until Sunday night when the fair closes. “We may use some of

the props in the display for some other projects we will work on, but we won’t be rebuilding the display once we take it down,” she said. Williams added that the next major project the FCCLA at Horseshoe Bend would be taking on was the annual Iron Bowl canned food drive, held in conjunction with the FFA, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the TRUTH Club. “We’ve always got something going on,” she said.

Donald Campbell / The Outlook

More than 300 students from across eastern Alabama gathered at Central Alabama Community College Thursday morning for a presentation of the “UR KEYS 2 DRV” program.

teach them about being a responsible driver using a more hands-on format. “This is our third year of offering this program,” Emily Clark from the State Farm public affairs office said. “Teen driving safety is an important issue. There are so many distractions for drivers today, so we want to do whatever we can do to help educate teenagers.” The keynote speaker for Thursday’s program was Mike Lutzenkirchen, father of former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen killed in a car accident three years ago. Looking to use his son’s tragic death as a teaching tool for others, Lutzenkirchen said Philip had a lot of qualities everyone should have. “Your legacy is what people remember you for. You could also call it your brand,” Lutzenkirchen said. “Philip had a memorable brand. He simply loved people.” Redefining the word tithing as being four distinct things (time, talent, treasure and tenderness) one person can give to another, Lutzenkirchen said everyone has a tender spot in their heart and was one of the easiest ways to show someone else you care. “Being available is also important,” he said. “You can become more available by meeting new people.” Lutzenkirchen ended his talk by asking the students to be more than a good friend, be a great friend. “Live like Lutz, love like Lutz, but learn from Lutz,” he added. Following Lutzenkirchen’s presentation, the students moved

around the campus with their preassigned groups, taking part in four breakout sessions, including a driving simulator, an interactive quiz and presentations from both Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Children’s of Alabama. Volunteers from professional agencies were on hand to help guide the students around from session to session, as were several local high school students. “I feel it’s really important to share information on this issue,” Horseshoe Bend senior Dakota Blythe said. “I’m leading a group around. I’m glad to help.” Since the program began, Clark estimated they have reached around 2,500 students during sessions offered in 11 different cities. “It’s hard to tell exactly how effective this has been, but we do feel it is making an impact,” she said. “This has definitely been setting an impression on students.” CACC representative Brett Pritchard expressed how happy the college was to be able to host this event. “This is the first time we have hosted this event,” he said. “Any time we can get an educational event like this on campus, it’s a good thing. Any type of event like this, we would be happy to be a partner on.” “I think this is focusing on an issue we need to shed light on,” Blythe said. “If it can save one person’s life, the program is worth it.”

MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213

editor@alexcityoutlook.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page 4

Opinion

Our View

The

Friday, November 3, 2017

Things should be done decently and in order

We want to I hear from you

re you looking for a way to voice your opinion on the current events? Are you tired of only being able to air you opinion with friends? Why not try the public? The Outlook is looking for well thought out letters of opinion. It does not matter if anyone agrees with you. Get involved and make your opinion on issues known. We will even let you do that through the newspaper. What do you think about the way our city government is being run? How about the turnout of community members to any local events? What do you think of the way our tax money is spent? Do you have any praise or concerns regarding our country’s leadership or current administration? Do you have thoughts on how Tallapoosa County can attract more new businesses and industry that will provide jobs for our residents? Have you been on the receiving end of a good deed and would like to give credit where credit is due? Do you have a bone to pick with any of the stories in this newspaper? If you have something to say about any of these questions, then the answer is a letter to the editor or a guest column. This newspaper’s editorial page is an open forum for our community and we encourage you to write us and make your opinion known. It’s free. If you need help writing, our editors will be happy to help you craft a letter. Our rules are simple: no cussin’, no libel, no slander. Basically, if you’d say it around the dinner table with your grandmother, it’s probably acceptable as a letter to the editor. So let’s get the conversation started. What’s on your mind? Write us at editor@ alexcityoutlook.com or Editor, The Alexander City Outlook, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 25011.

Outlook

love the church and have given my life to promoting it. It is the mystical and holy body of Christ, yet it still operates as a social institution. When these two things are combined it is amazing that anything ever gets accomplished. That is why Christ gave us the Holy Spirit to keep the whole thing on track. Of course, in a church even the Holy Spirit has to go through the proper committee to get a hearing. Committees are those safe guards we elect to protect ourselves from ourselves. After a few years they often become more important than the church itself. Here’s what I mean. A while back the building superintendent noticed that there was a leaky faucet in the basement sink. So, he reported it to the Building and Grounds Committee in hopes of getting it fixed. This committee referred it to the Finance Committee to see if funds were allocated in the budget for leaky faucet repairs. When the Finance Committee received the request they in turn formed a sub-committee to study the problem. The sub-committee met and decided that a Feasibility Study Committee needed to review the whole idea of leaky faucets and their impact on the total church program. They had to make sure that no precedence was set in the way

that the janitor had dropped by the hardware store and purchased a 10-cent washer and fixed the leaky faucet. I bet you think I have DR. GERALD exaggerated this process, HALLMARK don’t you? Well, it isn’t too Columnist far off from the way churches want to run God’s business. There are often so many laya leaky faucet was fixed. ers of bureaucracy that the This committee then formed church forgets its main task a Historical Committee to assure the fellowship that no of winning folks to Jesus. one had given this faucet as a It is all too easy to let the memorial to their late momma. church become and end in The Historical Committee itself instead of a means to determined that a similar fau- an end. Paul reminded us to do all cet had been used to fill the things decently and in order, baptistery in 1928, but felt this one was of no significant but never at the expense of the gospel’s message of love importance. Therefore, the Feasibility Study Committee and redemption. Petty turf wars, silly regulations and reported back to the subunreasonable traditions can committee of the Finance Committee that their task was stifle the outreach of any church. The Holy Spirit will done, so fix the leak. lead you in all things accordAfter two weeks of delibing to Christ, so let’s let Him eration over what section of the budget this money should lead. I appreciated the janitor’s come from a vote was taken. willingness to fix the faucet, It was split 3 for, 2 against but I wish he hadn’t submitand 1 abstaining on moral ted a request for reimbursegrounds. The two that voted ment. Now it starts at the against it didn’t like the Finance Committee and goes chairman’s mother because she was a high school cheer- to a sub-committee and from there to… anyway, by now leader in 1954, and had not you know the routine. I think spoken to them one day. I will just give him a dime It had only taken eight and forget the whole thing. weeks, but now the process had made a complete Dr. Gerald Hallmark is a circle and it returned to retired minister who is curthe Building and Grounds rently serving at interim pasCommittee to get the job tor at First Baptist Church done. When the chairman of of Dadeville. His column this committee told the janiappears here each Friday. tor to proceed he discovered

“It is bad luck to be superstitious.” —Andrew W. Mathis

Today’s

Scripture Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. — Exodus 14:13

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Daily Poll Thursday Question: Do you think reinstating the code enforcement officer was a good idea for the city?

Yes – 50%, 13 votes No – 50%, 13 votes

Friday’s Question: Do you think area governments have enough money to repair roads? To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www. alexcityoutlook.com and vote. Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.

Mission

The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

How to

Officials Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following. Governor Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334-2427100. Her office is located at the State Kay Ivey Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama. Steve Marshall was appointed Alabama’s 50th Attorney General. He was appointed in 2017 and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located Steve Marshall at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery.

Mark Tuggle

Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-t7865. Tom Whatley His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn. Clyde Chambliss Jr. represents Senate District 30, which includes portions of Elmore, Autauga, Chilton, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached at 334-343-7883 or at clyde.chambliss@ alsenate.gov

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Our

Know Your

Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256392-2006 or by email at tughd81@ gmail.com. His office is located at 110 Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City.

Today’s

Clyde Chambliss

Letter to the Editor

HUD’s tobacco law is an invasion of privacy Dear Editor, While reading The Outlook today, I felt a “Letter to the Editor” coming on. I was appalled and enraged by HUD’s invasion into the lives of private citizens by their decision to outlaw the use of tobacco in and around their facilities. I could not disagree more with their choice for this. I am no fan of smoking and have been a “recovering cigarette smoker” for some 40 years. When I stopped, however, it was because I realized the danger to me and to those around me.

I did not require the federal government to inform me of this to make the decision to stop. I can think of at least two very large bright pink elephants in the room that HUD is ignoring. I have no stats and cannot prove what I am about to say, but I would wager a bet and do not think I would lose when I say that more hearts, more lost lives, more destroyed families, more property damage and more murder and mayhem have been caused by drugs and alcohol than by tobacco since its use was initiate a very long time ago. HUD if you go after one

killer, I respectfully suggest that you go after them all. When does it end? How long before this kind of invasion eventually finds its way into home that are not part of a HUD development? I wonder if HUD and their tenants might not be better served by making specific rules and consequences regarding property there and leave the tenants to observe their God-given right to make their own decisions, good or bad, and to live with the consequences. Angelyn Edwards Alexander City

The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 75 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.

What’s your

Opinion?

We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 234-6550 or e-mailed to editor@ alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!

On the Web

Follow The Outlook on the Internet on our website or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Log on to http://www. alexcityoutloook. com. There you will be able to view stories and multimedia posted by The Outlook. You can also click on the Facebook link to join The Outlook’s fan club or click on the Twitter link to start receiving tweets on your phone as we post updates. You can also subscribe to our RSS (Rich Site Summary) feed on the Outlook’s home page. Check it out today.

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Public Meetings Alexander City Board of Education meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the board office at 375 Lee St. or local school at 5 p.m. Alexander City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in the courtroom at the old city hall at 5:30 p.m. Camp Hill Town Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6 p.m. Dadeville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. with a pre-meeting at 5:30 p.m. in city hall. Daviston City Council meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Daviston Fire Department.

City closes on Russell property After years of angst over the demolition and cleanup of buildings on the former Russell Corp. Complex, a milestone was reached as Alexander City city leaders and Saucier Investments closed on two parcels of land that add up to more than 17 acres last week. The city is looking at many potential uses including industrial interests and municipal use. Thursday crews were busy with the final step in the process, smoothing and seeding grass on the property. “It’s great for the city to be in control of a piece of property along the gateway to downtown,” Mayor Jim Nabors said. “We aren’t sure exactly what it will be used for at this time, but it gives us a lot of flexibility.”

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

Goldville Town Council meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the town hall. Goodwater City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at the Caldwell Center at 6:30 p.m. Jackson’s Gap Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6:30 p.m. Kellyton Town Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the community center in Kellyton. New Site City Council meets the first and third Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Town Hall. Ray Water Authority meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Ray Water Authority Office. Rockford Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 7 p.m. Tallapoosa County Board of Education meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held in the new central office at 679 East Columbus Street, Dadeville, AL 36853.

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CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.

Today is November 3, 2017

Friday, November 3, 2017

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Today’s Birthdays

JyKerius Dubose, Dulce Tinoco, Layton Mask, Ellie Kate Worthy, Justin Lawhorn, Glenn Newman, Kasey Phillips, Tracey Greer, Barbara Patton and

Submit calendar items:

Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. Dakaiya Ware are celebrating their birthdays today.

Today’s Anniversaries

Jonathan and Lashunda Smith celebrate their anniversaries today.

–Since 1978–

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One of the area’s Thanksgiving traditions returns again this year as the Alex CIty Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held 25 Years and still going, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Benjamin Russell High School Cafeteria. The cooperative effort between several area churches Selling quality kitchen & bath welcomes those who may not have family or anyone to share a meal with on Thanksgiving. cabinetry at reasonable prices. Guest speaker will be Senior Saturday, November 4 Ben & Peggy Smith, Owners Airman Terri uintini Hale. There will Sunday, November 19 CHURCH SINGING: 49 North Thur & Fri 9-4 | Sat 9-1 be light refreshments following the THANKSGIVING DINNER: will be praising the Lord at the 256-675-0176 1222 Hwy 280, Kellyton, AL ceremony. Kingz United and Men of Honor Kellyton Revival Center Nov. 4 at will be holding a Community 6 p.m. A love offering will be taken Thanksgiving Dinner at the Friday, November 10 for repairs to the church building. AL 96175 Dadeville Community Center on CHURCH SINGING: Eternal Everyone is welcome. East Columbus Street Sunday, Vision will be signing at Bay Pine YARD SALE: Gap Fellowship Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Church is hosting a yard sale, fish Baptist Church Friday, Nov. 10 at POTLUCK DINNER: To 7 p.m. fry and BBQ Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. honor the spirit of sharing and to 2 p.m. There will be great deals The fellowship, join Pastor Richard on designer clothes, hats, shoes, Saturday, November 11 Learning Ellis Taylor and New Style Baptist household items and baby items. FLEA MARKET: The Town of Tree Church for our Thanksgiving FISH FRY: The Family Worship Camp Hill Flea Market is holding Community Harvest Potluck. Helping Children Learn and Grow Center is hosting a fish fry Nov. its second Saturday flea market HEATING & Giving thanks, good food, and 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1676 Nov. 11 at the old airport from 30 The Learning Tree, Inc. is fellowship on Nov. 19, 2017 AIR CONDITIONING Swell Street for donations to the minutes after daybreak to 2 p.m. great Accepting Applications for from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at building project. Vendors please contact James FALL SPECIAL: Weekend Shifts in Direct Care. Woody for space at 256-749-8270 New Style Baptist Church, 294 TUNE UP’S Coosa County Road 20, Equality, for $10. Applications can be Sunday, November 5 STARTING AT $75 picked up at: VETERANS DAY PROGRAM: AL 36026. SUNDAY DINNER: Duncan 367 US H W Y . 280 101 S. Dubois Street Following the dinner at 6 The Goodwater Disabled Memorial United Methodist A L E X A N D E R C I T Y , AL Tallassee, AL 36078 p.m. Richard Taylor Music and Veterans Organization is holding Church is hosting Sunday dinner Or contact Brinda Bell New Style Baptist Church will Veterans Day program honoring Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. The free dinner (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 provide an evening of praise all Veterans Saturday, Nov. 11 at will be served in the clubhouse Email: bbell@learning-tree.org CA RLISLE AC.COM and thanksgiving through song building next to the church at 3997 10 a.m. at the Alabama National in its Command Performance Guard Armory in Goodwater. Hillabee Road in Alexander City. Concert featuring soloist, group COMMUNITY REUNION: The The pastor of Duncan Memorial is ensembles, and choir. Daviston School and Community Rev. Wayne Hicks. All are welcome. Reunion is Nov. 11 starting at 10 All are invited to this free, CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: a.m. with lunch at noon at the casual dinner. New Adka Missionary Baptist Daviston Community Center. The CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: Brown Nursing Church is celebrating their 145th grand opening of the Daviston New Harmony Missionary Baptist and Rehabilitation Church is hosting its 88th Church Museum will be after the reunion. Anniversary Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Guest minister will be PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 Rehabilitation Services Anniversary Rev. R.L. Carter of Bethlehem Comer Methodist Men’s Club is p.m. Guest Minister will be Rev. Missionary Baptist Church in hosting a pancake breakfast Nov. Richard D. Jacobs of New Popular •Physical Therapy Valley. Pastor of New Adka is 11 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. It is eat Spring Missionary Baptist Church •Occupational Therapy Edward Milner. in or carry out for $6 a plate. of Dadeville. Rev. Melvin Kelley •Speech Therapy Jr. is pastor of New Harmony Sunday, November 26 Missionary Baptist Church. Thursday, November 16 2334 Washington Street HARVEST RALLY: The WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Alexander City • 256-329-9061 World Bible Church at 161 Main Haven Memorial United Methodist Tuesday, November 7 www.crownemanagement.com Street is hosting a Harvest Rally Church is hosting the Women’s SOUP LUNCH: Election Day Sunday, Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. Come Visit Us! Bible Study “War Room” Nov. 16 Soup Lunch sponsored by the The pastor is Apostle Wayne and 30 from noon to 1 p.m. Bring United Methodist Women of First Cecily Lee, Administrator and First Lady Minster Brenda your lunch. United Methodist Church will haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing Davis. be Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the church Fellowship Friday, November 17 Thursday, November 30 Hall. All you can eat vegetable MUSIC WORKSHOP: Tony Guy, Owner WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: soup, cornbread, dessert and Richard Taylor Music and New Haven Memorial United Methodist Over 40 Years Experience drink will be served. Carry-outs Style Baptist Church will host Church is hosting the Women’s available. Cost is $7. Proceeds a Community Harvest Music Bible Study “War Room” Nov. 30 will go to local mission projects. Workshop. The workshop will from noon to 1 p.m. Bring your USHER MEETING: The Early be held at 294 Coosa County lunch. Rose District will have an usher Road 20, Equality, AL 36026. The Need your business to meeting Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. at the workshop is designed for singers, H&A Installation, Charge Outs and Repair Early Rose District Center. choral directors, musicians, and Sunday, December 2 anyone interested in singing. The SUNDAY DINNER: Duncan Sheet Metal Work workshop will be held at New Memorial United Methodist from the crowd? Thursday, November 9 FREE Estimates on Style Baptist Church on Friday, Church is hosting Sunday dinner DEMOCRATIC PARTY Call us, we can help! NEW installations Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18 at Sunday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. The MEETING: Doug Jones, 256.234.4281 Service a 30 mile radius of 6 pm. The event is opened to the free dinner will be served in the Democratic Senatorial candidate Alexander City public. Registration for the two-day clubhouse building next to the will be at the Tallapoosa County event is $10. For more information church at 3997 Hillabee Road Democratic Party meeting Nov. 9 Licensed and Bonded #:84887 contact richardetaylormusic@ in Alexander City. The pastor of at 6 p.m. • Alexander City Outlook guysheating@live.com • Dadeville Record Duncan Memorial is Rev. Wayne For more information call Carol gmail. 256–234–4198 • Wetumpka Herald com or newstylebaptistchurch@ Hicks. Gowan at 256-794-7432. • Eclectic Observer 196 Thompson Ridge Road gmail.com. All are invited to this free, • Tallassee Tribune WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Alexander City, AL casual dinner. Haven Memorial United Methodist Church is hosting the Women’s Saturday, November 18 Bible Study “War Room” Nov. 9, HOLIDAY BAZAAR: St. Sunday, December 10 16 and 30 from noon to 1 p.m. James Episcopal Church at 347 CHRISTMAS PARADE: Bring your lunch. S. Central Ave., Alexander The Friends of Dadeville in VETERANS DAY PROGRAM: City, will host the annual concert with the Dadeville Area Dadeville High School is hosting holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. to Chamber of Commerce are its annual Veterans Day Program 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, co-sponsoring the 4th Annual Thursday, Nov. 9 with a reception in the parish hall. Each year, “Spirit of a Hometown Christmas” Darrell Brooks, Owner for Veterans and their families the pottery and art guilds at Parade scheduled for Dec. 10 in beginning at 8:30 a.m. The St. James out-do themselves Dadeville. This annual event Cutting •Edging program will begin at 9 a.m. with beautiful creations for this features a wide variety of floats Weed Eating •Mulch Everyone is invited to attend. event, which funds community and parade participants, Arts Weed Control VETERANS DAY PROGRAM: outreach programs and ministries and Crafts Booths, a Children’s The Town of Rockford is hosting throughout the year. In addition, Venue, Food Booths and more a Veterans Day Recognition church members lend their importantly, Santa Claus. Ceremony Thursday, Nov. 9 at 2 individual talents to crafting If you would like to participate p.m. at Veterans Park on Jackson items for your gift lists, and they in the parade or need additional Street in Rockford. In cse of produce bountiful supplies of information, please contact the inclement weather the ceremony casseroles, cakes, pies, breads Dadeville Area Chamber of will be moved to the Rockford and treats for your holiday tables. Commerce at 256 825-4019. 256.267.0518 Event Center. Arrive early for the best selection!

CARLISLE 256-234-0019

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Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

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LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com

Friday, November 3, 2017

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Game of the Week

Wildcats to host defending state champ By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

As if Benjamin Russell’s football schedule hasn’t been tough enough this season, the Wildcats are hosting the Class 5A defending state champion to end the regular season tonight. Benjamin Russell takes on Beauregard (7-1), which enters tonight’s contest on a sevengame win streak. But with the playoffs beginning next week, BRHS is looking to take down the Hornets and go into the postseason on a high note. “I knew from the get-go that our last two games were going to be very tough games,” Benjamin Russell coach Danny Horn said. “Sometimes you can look at that as an advantage, and sometimes it’s a disadvantage. The advantage is you’re used to playing tough teams, but the disadvantage is when you’re playing good teams, you have to spend a lot of energy doing that. Plus, the confidence level can hurt you if you don’t win, and it can help you if you do win, so there’s pluses and minuses to it.” Coming off a tough loss against Wetumpka last week, it’s not going to get any easier for the Wildcats this week. Horn said after last week’s game, he thought his team faced the best offense in Class 6A and now it’ll be up against what he called the best offense in Class 5A. Beauregard is averaging 46.5 points per game and has never scored less than 31. Benjamin Russell (7-2), on the other hand, has scored more than 31 just once and has not scored more than 38 points in a game. The Hornets also boast arguably the best running back

ACMS kicks off hoops season STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Alexander City Middle School’s basketball season officially began Tuesday with the Wildcats earning a sweep of Sylacauga. The boys team captured a narrow victory, 41-39, while the girls dominated their way to a 27-9 win. The teams’ next games will be Tuesday at Dadeville.

Youth football

Over the last three days, the Alexander City 7- and 8-year old Ravens youth football team has defeated the Raiders twice. On Tuesday, the Ravens won 19-14, then they followed it with a 24-14 victory Thursday night. In 5- and 6-year-old action, the Giants took down the Panthers, 28-12.

Mason and Dixie up for adoption

This week’s featured Pet Picks of the Week were Mason and Dixie, a pair of mixbreed pups who are up for adoption at the Lake Martin Animal Shelter. Mason, a boy, and Dixie, a girl, were littermates and were picked up by the Alexander City Animal Control three weeks ago. They are approximately 3 months old, and their neutering and spaying will be included in the cost of adoption. For more information on Mason or Dixie, contact the Lake Martin Animal Shelter at 256234-5533.

BEAUREGARD VS. BENJAMIN RUSSELL

Dennis Victory / AL.com

Benjamin Russell’s Landon Cotney breaks through the Helena defense for a touchdown run earlier this season.

in Class 5A in La’Damian Webb, a Mississippi State commit. While Wetumpka’s Kavosiey Smoke burned Benjamin Russell’s defense for 143 rushing yards a week ago, Horn said the Wildcats could be in for an even bigger challenge this week. “Webb is not quite as big as Smoke, but he’s probably a little bit shiftier,” Horn said. “His quickness and balance is probably better. One person is just not gonna be able to bring him down; you’ve got to have several people on him, and even then it’s hard to bring him down. He’s just one of those backs that don’t come around very often.”

Webb isn’t Beauregard’s only offensive weapon either. Quarterback Ki Holmes has a host of threatening receivers, including Dainyton Thomas Robinson, Quatavious Seroyer and Zachery Gunter. “They remind me a lot of Wetumpka with their skill people,” Horn said. “Most of our drives have to be eight- to 10-minute drives and most of their drives is one to three plays. We’ve got to find a way to get ahead on them, and the only way we’re going to do it is to get people around the ball. We’ve got to get off blocks and get people to the ball.” Defensively, Beauregard runs a 4-2 and returns a slew

of linemen from its state championship team. For Benjamin Russell, its biggest focus will be making the improvements it needs heading into the playoffs. “In the secondary, we’ve got to defend better, and we’ve got to a do a better job defensively on getting on the perimeter,” Horn said. “We’ve also gotta cause some more turnovers. We haven’t caused a turnover in the last three games. “Offensively, we’ve got to be a little more consistent. Our type of offense and the players we have, we’re not one of those big play teams. We have to grind, and there’s good and bad in that. The good is

Game date: Beauregard Hornets at Benjamin Russell Wildcats ... Tonight, 7 p.m. ... Nonregion game. Media coverage: Follow @liziarbogast on Twitter. Be sure to tune in to Inside the Lines Live on the Alexander City Outlook Facebook page from 6 to 6:30 p.m. for our weekly pregame show. Teams: The Hornets are 7-1 and have won seven straight; BRHS (7-2) is coming off a loss to Wetumpka. Series: Beauregard leads the series, 3-0, and won last year’s contest, 63-35. Outlook prediction: Hornets by 14. you can eat up the clock, but there’s more bad things that can happen when there’s more plays involved.” Despite Benjamin Russell coming off the loss against Wetumpka, which likely will cause the Wildcats to finish No. 2 in Class 6A Region 3, Horn is still pleased with the effort and heart his team continues to show. “We’ve lost to two teams that are 19-1, so that’s two pretty good teams we lost to,” Horn said. “You can’t fault the effort. We’ve been playing hard, and we’re going to continue to play hard. We’ve just got to play better in certain areas.”

Mentored hunt opens pathway to outdoors By DAVID RAINER Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources

Bryan Nettles of Mobile is of a generation that doesn’t have the connection to the outdoors that I and my Baby Boomer hunting buddies have. We stayed outdoors and followed in our fathers’ (or mentors’) footsteps into the world of hunting, for both recreation and sustenance. However, like many from the later generations, Nettles just needed a little nudge to join the hunting community, and he found that encouragement in the form of an Alabama Mentored Hunt. “I had some interest in hunting, but I didn’t hunt at all when I was growing up,” Nettles said. “My father hunted some up in Monroe County, but it was bird hunting and not deer hunting. I’ve got some friends who hunt. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had an interest in hunting. “I’ve been invited by my friends to go a few times. Not knowing much about it, I always turned those down. But my son (7-yearold Michael) started showing an interest last year, so we signed up for the hunter education class.” Daniel Musselwhite, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ South Regional Hunter Education Coordinator, polled the class attendees about their hunting experience. Nettles raised his hand when Musselwhite asked if anyone had never hunted. Musselwhite approached Nettles at the end of the first day’s class and mentioned the mentored hunts, which he and Jeremy Doss, an Alabama State Lands Division Enforcement Officer, had started in Mobile County on the Frey Tract, a piece of property owned by the Forever Wild Land Trust. After a successful launch to the program, the Mobile County School Board learned about the mentored hunts and allowed its Russell Road tract to be used in

went into the woods. We got down and he talked to me about finding where the deer left the field. Then he talked about finding blood and following the trail. It didn’t take long to find the deer. It didn’t go but about 30 yards.” Nettles admitted that experience stoked a desire to continue his hunting career and to bring his son along. Nettles’ mentored hunt was a one-day experience. However, for the ultimate Alabama Mentored Hunt, WFF recently teamed with Forever Wild again to acquire the Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area, a 6,500-acre property in Dallas County. Cedar Creek will hold six mentored hunts, three three-day deer hunts, one-day hunts for rabbits and squirrels and a two-day turkey hunt. The lucky applicants will experience what it would be like at one of Alabama’s commercial hunting lodges for the deer and turkey hunts. “One-day hunts are great, but Submitted / Dept. of Natural Resources what we are wanting to reproduce with this program at Cedar Bryan Nettles bagged his first deer on an Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Creek is the whole hunting club Fisheries Adult Mentored Hunts with the help of NWTF volunteer Gary Turner. experience we all had growing could move. It was nice to be able up,” said Chuck Sykes, WFF the program. The Mobile County Director. “This weekend hunting to find that out with the mentor School Board also allowed the trip will include firearm safety, tree there.” mentored hunt participants to stand safety, habitat analysis, game As is most often the case for use the Girl Scout camp located processing, wild game cooking, deer hunting in Alabama, there between those two tracts for their and most importantly quality are long periods of little action, classroom activities. campfire discussions. It will be followed by heart-pounding After Musselwhite gave him a great experience for the new the information, Nettles signed up excitement. hunters as well as the mentors.” “I was beginning to think we for one of the mentored hunts in Musselwhite said as the Mobile County and gained a great weren’t going to see anything,” average age of hunters in Alabama deal of information even before the Nettles said. “Right at sundown, gets higher, it’s imperative that there was nothing out there. Then, hunt started. outreach focuses on the younger all of a sudden, there were three or “After we had the hunter education part, I was able to talk to four deer out there. Gary talked to generations. Quality mentors are also a a lot of people who were hunters,” me about staying calm and waiting significant factor in the new he said. “Then Jeremy talked to us for the right shot.” hunter’s experience, which is why When the rifle fired, the deer about firearms safety and got us bolted into the woods, and Nettles volunteers from the NWTF are so comfortable shooting at targets at important to the Mobile County had no idea if the shot was 100 yards. The mentor was really hunts. nice. Gary Turner with the NWTF accurate. “The NWTF has been a great “I wasn’t watching as closely as (National Wild Turkey Federation) I should have,” he said. “After the partner,” Doss said. “They not only was my mentor. We went over shot, I was just shaking because of provide mentors for the hunt, they what we were looking for while the rush of the adrenalin. Gary told provide lunches for the hunters, we were sitting in the stand. help us clean deer, clean up or me take my time and pack up my “I didn’t know how quiet you stuff. Gary watched where the deer whatever.” needed to be or how much you

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65.3%

Of households read one of our products each day.*

www.alexandercityoutlook.com

We are THE print, digital & social media that people look forward to! *Pulse research 2013

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 1

Russell Medical

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From the 8 oz. center cut filet to the shrimp and grits, every dish at Itta Bena is designed to tempt. So come discover this modern day speakeasy and get a taste of something good, plus a little treat on us…it’s our little secret. Present this coupon for a FREE APPETIZER with an entrée purchase. Mention code: LMAGFREEAP. Limit one per player per account. Offer expires 12/28/17.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 3

Letter from the Editor

y heart caught in my throat when I read Steve Forehand’s email last month. I had sent him a quick note to confirm that a reported fire on Lake Martin’s Chimney Rock Island was a controlled burn, but his answer was not what I expected. It was not a controlled burn, his email read. Of course, I reached for the phone and dialed his extension at Russell Lands while I finished reading the email. He assured me the incident ended well, thanks to quick action and an outpouring of support from volunteer firefighters, but that heart-stuck-inthe-throat feeling stayed with me all day and reminded me to not take for granted the exceptional beauty of where we live and work and play. With that in mind, we have crafted an issue that celebrates – and advocates for – the lake we love. For starters, we hiked through Russell Forest, past babbling brooks and trees just starting to show off their fall colors. The Forest now boasts nearly 125 miles of trails that are open to equestrian, bicycle and foot traffic. We caught our breath – and Kenneth Boone caught photos – in just a few of the prettiest places we found. Walk along with us on page 24. We closed out the summer on a Treasured Mile cleanup with members of the Dixie Sailing Club youth program on the last warm and sunny Saturday of the fall extension full pool. The kids found some serious trash and worked hard to bag it all before club activities moved off-water for the winter. Check out their haul on page 40. In this issue, we’re happy to play a part in launching the Lake Martin Resource Association lighted buoy campaign on page 22, and we’re hyped up for this year’s Renew Our Rivers Cleanup at the lake and on adjacent roadways (see John Thompson’s column on page 47). We’ve also included a different sort of crafting in this issue – the kind that pertains to beer. On page 56, Dee Walker of Fermenter’s Market on the Green acquaints us with the history, process and varieties of the lagers, stouts and ales now available locally. Along with Emporium Wine’s Henry Foy – who will continue to help us taste the wine – and Ocie & Belle’s Mark Gilliland – who will treat us to the stories and recipes behind our favorite cocktails – Dee’s column will appear quarterly in Lake magazine. We hope you enjoy reading them all throughout the year. Oh, and be sure to turn to page 32 for a status report on the Chimney Rock Island fire. I encourage you to take a hike; join the cleanup this weekend; donate to the lighted buoy program that protects us on the lake; or just sit in the autumn sunshine on a dock or a lakeside porch to remind yourself of how special the lake is to you and those you love. Get that heart-stuck-in-the-throat feeling.

Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Publisher STEVE BAKER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Managing Editor BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Assistant Magazine Editor AMY PASSARETTI

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

EMILY GREGG

emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com

TABBY EDWARDS

tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com

SCOTT HARDY

scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com

REBECCA CARLISLE

rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com

Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

DARLENE JOHNSON

darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com

HALLIE HOLLOWAY

hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY JULIE HUDSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED GREG VINSON

ROB MCDANIEL J. HAROLD BANKS DONALD CAMPBELL JOHN THOMPSON DEE WALKER BETH DAVIS STEVE FOREHAND All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:

256-234-4281

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011

On the Cover The Lakeview Loop in the center of Russell Forest is among the most scenic of nearly 125 miles of trails that wind through open woods, meadows and across creeks to Kowaliga Bridge on both sides of Hwy. 63. Fall is the perfect time to hike these picturesque roads, which also are open to equestrian and bicycle riders. Photo by Kenneth Boone

6400 Highway 63 South, Alexander City, AL 35010 docksunlimitedllc.com (256) 203-8400 Check out our Facebook Page: Docks Unlimited

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 5

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6 LAKE

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NOVEMBER 2017

Contents

20. MORE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE LMRA launches ambitious plan to increase lighted buoys in high-traffic areas 24. RUSSELL FOREST HIKE Now boasting some 125 miles of trails, Russell Forest shares its simple wonders with fall hikers 34. FIRE ON LAKE MARTIN Chimney Rock Island damage remains unknown after last month's wildfire 36. REBUILD REVEAL A from-the-foundations-up Blue Creek rebuild already is filled with memories 42. DIXIE SAILING CLUB CLEANS UP THE LAKE DSC kids care for their Treasured Mile on their last weekend on the water before winter 44. STICKY BUSINESS Turpentine played an important economic role in the county's early years

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: 9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO

49. LMRA

THE LAKE

50. HEALTHY LIVING

10. LAKE SCENES

53. CHEF'S TABLE

13. WHERE IS LAKE?

54. BIG CATCHES

14. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS

56. HOPPY DAYS

18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS

59. PRO TIP

30. NATURE OF THE LAKE 43. FAB FINDS

- edition

46. LAKE PROPERTY

Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.issuu.com.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 7

8 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month

September 2017 September 2014 September 2011

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

Inventory/ sales ratio

38 26 21

$647,825 $449,846 $512,295

$599,500 $323,250 $365,900

161 132 133

250 346 371

8.55 14.12 20.90

The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)

Renew Our Rivers Lake Martin Cleanup Nov. 3-4

Stop pollution before it starts The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force have partnered to make everyday a drug take-back day with the placement of collection boxes for medications in three different locations. The boxes are located at Hometown Pharmacy in Alexander City, the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Annex and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office location will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership Coordinator Sabrina Wood said she was happy to partner with the task force to keep the drugs from making their way into the water supply. “We are looking at it from a water quality standpoint. We want to educate everyone to not flush their medications, which was the recommended method years ago.” said Wood. Flushing unused medications can cause issues with septic tanks and sewage systems and make their way into creeks, rivers and lakes.

Weather Outlook for November November 2017 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the high 60s with average lows in the low 40s and nearly 5 inches of precipitation in the month of November. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be normal and rainfall will be below normal this month.

Year to Date

Precipitation: 59.57 inches Avg. high temp.: 79 Avg. low temp.: 55.9 Average temp.: 67.5

Join the effort to keep our Treasured Lake clean! Volunteers needed. Read more on page 47 or contact John Thompson at 1942jthompson420@gmail.com.

Our Normal November Precipitation: 4.79 inches Avg. high temp.: 66.8 Information from Avg. low temp.: 41.1 the National Average temp.: 54 Weather Service.

Lake Levels Last Month Summer: 491MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.67 Lowest: 490.28 For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https:// lakes.alabamapower.com.

NOVEMBER 2017

Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

LAKE 9

LAKE SCENE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Reader Submissions (1) Seven-week-old John Philip Bryan already enjoys perusing Lake magazine from a chair on the deck. (2) Cody Loggains and Savanna Grace Johnston love hanging out on one of Lake Martin's Treasured Mile islands. (3) Peanut Point is one of Kellan Heath's favorite spots at the lake. (4) Mary Walls caught the vivid colors of a Lake Martin sunset. (5) Skipper rests on Garrett Smith's dock on a warm day in May. (6) Brian and Amy Robinson with their dogs, Duchess and Blue, and friends Jim, Donna and Zeb Oswald and Matt Peterson and Calvin Barnes celebrate this year's Lions Club Poker Run in patriotic style.

10 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE SCENE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

3 5

Reader Submissions (1) Bobby and Joy Samford's two Yorkies, Cam and Duchess, enjoy a Lake Martin sunset on the boat. (2) Lyla Patterson checks out a view of Lake Martin from a Jacksons Gap dock. (3) Cousins Colt Bush and Joanna Reese enjoy a boat ride together on Lake Martin. (4) Claire Owens took this picture of Sharon Loftin, Debbie Hurst and Janet Wood joining Morgan Wood on his first tube ride in Sandy Creek. (5) New Water's outdoor chapel on Lake Martin silhouetted through Tony Johnson's camera lens.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 11

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12 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Reader Submissions (1) Hope and Terry Greene took Lake magazine on their trip to Grenada, the Spice Island. (2) Jeff, Karyn, Erin and Carson Rowell took Lake magazine on their trip to Thira, Santorini, Greece. (3) Bobby and Gini Beth Welch, Charles and Sylvia Borden, Melanie and Larry Little and Charlotte and Allen Meadows took Lake magazine aboard the S.S. Maria Teressa, Uniworld cruise ship on the Danube River in Austria. (4) Rachel Markham and Terri DeVries took Lake magazine to Moraine Lake, Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. (5) Barbara and Wayne Gregory took the February issue of Lake magazine to the Judean desert.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 13

Nov. 3-4 Renew Our Rivers Lake Martin Cleanup

nificantly lowering healthcare costs. For more information, contact Ella MacFiggen at ellafish62@gmail.com.

This annual effort to keep Lake Martin clean has drawn as many as 300 volunteers and collected more than 9 Nov. 16 tons of trash in previous years. Lake Martin Resource Artists Association of Central Alabama Association will partner with Alabama Power Co., Russell The general meeting will have an open studio. The meetLands, Wind Creek State Park, Advanced Disposal and ing will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the TowBoatUS to clean lake shoreSenior Activity Center at the line and adjacent roadways. Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in CALENDAR OF EVENTS For information, call John Alexander City. Thompson at 334-399-3289 WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN or e-mail him at 1942jthompNov. 18 son420@gmail.com.

Annual Fall Bazaar

St. James Episcopal Church will host its annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring kitchen creations, handmade treasures, pottery and more. The church is located at 347 South Central Ave., Alexander City, and all proceeds will benefit community outreach programs.

Nov. 11 Camp Hill Flea Market

The Town of Camp Hill Flea Market will open 30 minutes after daybreak and will close at 2 p.m. For vendor information, contact James Woody at 256-749-8270.

Nov. 11 Veterans Day Program

The Goodwater Disabled Veterans will honor veterans at 10 a.m. at the Alabama National Guard Armory at 20430 state Route 9 in Goodwater.

Nov. 18 Football Youth Sports Day

Shop local at the Holiday Open House in downtown Alexander City Nov. 12

Nov. 11 Alexander City Veterans Day Program

Bill Nichols State Veterans Home will host a guest speaker from Maxwell Airforce Base at 10 a.m., along with the Alexander City Middle School Jazz Band, honor guards, Mayor Nabors and the Benjamin Russell High School ROTC unit. The public is invited to attend. Veterans will visit local schools during Veterans Day programs as well.

Nov. 12 Holiday Open House

Holiday decorations will be up and area retailers will open their doors from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to showcase their gift ideas for the holiday season.

Nov. 14 Blue Zone Site Visit

Meet the Blue Zone team at 5 p.m. at Lake Martin Innovation Center and get the scoop on what this innovative healthcare project has planned to help local residents live longer, better lives by improving the environment. In 29 Blue Zones Project cities across the U.S., this systematic approach to wellness has been improving health and sig14 LAKE

Auburn University will treat kids to an unforgettable day, to include access to indoor practice facilities, a pre-game message from a former Auburn and NFL player, participation in the Tiger Walk and Eagle Flight and more, including a post-game photo for groups of 100 or more. Tickets are $25. For information, contact Michael Taylor at 334-549-2337.

Nov. 24-26 Christmas at the Crossroads

Open the Christmas season with this weekend-long event at Russell Crossroads. Shop the Company Store for gifts from Cloud Nine and handcrafted items created by local artisans. Stop at Catherine’s Market for discounts and giveaways. Bring the whole family to admire the town decorations and revel in the Christmas spirit while shopping the arts and crafts at the Holiday Market at The Stables. Santa will arrive in town between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to see all the boys and girls. The Holiday Bazaar will be held in conjunction on the Town Green, and local artisans will display handmade jewelry, soaps, woodwork, paintings and more. This is a juried art show and applications are being accepted now through Nov. 11. Contact Tyler Mitchell at tmitchell@russelllands.com. The fee for exhibitors is $75 per booth. For information or to register as a vendor, call 256-397-1397 or visit www.russellcrossroads.com.

NOVEMBER 2017

Nov. 30 Sweet Potato Pie’s A Home Grown Christmas

Season-Long Events Gamers’ Club

Ring in the season with a light-hearted production at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium. This Alexander City Arts, Inc., presentation will start at 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit AlexanderCityArts.org.

Adelia M. Russell Library hosts kids ages 12 to 17 in the conference room on Fridays after school until 4:30 p.m. Bring handheld games or games from home (no games rated M allowed). For information, call 256-329-6796.

Dec. 1-9 An Eclectic Christmas

$20 on the 20th

An Eclectic Ministry hosts its 10th annual walking tour of the Christmas story told through scenes and reenactments at the Falk Farm located at 1733 Claude Rd. in Eclectic. Reservations are suggested, and time slots are scheduled in 15-minute increments. To make a reservation, please call 334-578-4846, e-mail reservations@aneclecticministry.org or visit aneclecticministry.org. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and appreciated. The 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. time slots are handicap accessible, so be sure to specify if you require assistance.

Dec. 3 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Get in the holiday spirit with hot chocolate, carols and tacky Christmas sweaters at Broad Street Plaza. Paint Alex City Rocks and visit with a very special guest whose initials are S.C.! For information, call Breanna Smith at MainStreet Alexander City at 256-329-9227.

Dec. 4 Hometown Christmas Parade

Light up the night in Alexander City as the annual Christmas parade winds its way through town at 6 p.m. with bands, dancers, decorated floats and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus. The parade will line up on Comer Street and follow Cherokee Road past Benjamin Russell High School, turning up Church Street; then, turning east on state Route 22 and ending at the bottom of the hill. For parade entry information, contact the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce at 256-234-3461.

Dec. 5-9 Christmas on the Coosa

The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce asks everyone to spend $20 on the 20th of each month to help the local economy.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on Highway 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children's Hospital. For more information, call 334-857-2008.

Real Island Supper

The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month (second Friday in December) at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. Contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724 for more information.

Antique Car Cruise-in

On the first Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts cruise into Arby’s parking lot on Highway 280 in Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join the fun and enjoy an era of classic cars and classic music.

Amateur Radio Club

This event kicks off with a tree-lighting in Gold Star Park at 6 p.m. Dec. 5, and children can have their picture taken with Santa starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 8 is Nativity and Luminary Night when downtown businesses will light the town and portray the Christmas story through a series of scenes. Dec. 9 is a day full of activities, starting with a character pancake breakfast for kids at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. An arts and crafts show will run in Gold Star Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a car show will be held in the Wetumpka Depot Players parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Christmas street parade will begin at 2 p.m., wakeboarding Santa hits the Coosa River for his show at 4 p.m. and fireworks begin at 6 p.m.

The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the terminal building at the Thomas C. Russell Field Airport (Alexander City Airport) with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney (256-825-7766) or Mike Smith (256-750-5710).

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. For scheduled subject matter, dates and times, check the calendar at Calendar.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 15

A fall stroll down a Lake Martin country road is likely to reveal a breathtaking natural wildflower bouquet – the darker greens of autumn are polka-dotted with yellows and whites and often accented with streaks of purple. And there’s a good chance those purple streaks are “blazing stars.” Blazing stars are a group of about 40 perennial wildflowers native to North America. These flowers are members of the huge aster family – the family that includes daisies, sunflowers and a grand total of almost 33,000 species. The scientific name for the blazing star genus is Liatris (Lie-aye-tris), a name often used Around Lake Martin, these by florists and garflowers can be found in deners. Another rocky, pine forests common name for this same group is gayfeather. The purple flower shown here is a Grassleaf Blazing Star, Shaggy Blazing Star, Greene’s Elegant Gayfeather and Grassleaf Gayfeather. Same flower; different common names. Scientists know it as Liatris elegantula. Dr. Brian Keener, a botany professor at The University of West Alabama, said Alabama is home to 14 species of blazing stars and two hybrids. While many of them are pretty enough to be grown in flower gardens, blazing stars grow wild in many locations, from the sandy dunes on the Alabama Gulf Coast all the way up into the mountainous northeast corner of the state. “We’ve got four or five that are very common,” Keener said, “The Grassleaf Blazing Star, Liatris elegantula, is a very common species, especially around Lake Martin.” Grassleaf Blazing Star grows throughout Alabama, as well as in Mississippi, Florida and Georgia. Here around Lake Martin, you are likely to find them in rocky, pine forests, but they are also found on longleaf pine, scrub oak forests or dry mixed pine-hardwood forests and on the edges of fields and on the shoulders of roads. These plants can be up to 3 feet tall, and their stems are green and usually straight and unbranched. This blazing star can be found growing straight up or sometimes at an angle, propped up by other plants in the forest. Grassleaf Blazing Star leaves are long and thin, and if you look real close, they have white hairs on their edges close to the stem. These leaves are attached directly to the stem without stalks and grow alternately up the stem. The largest leaves grow at the bottom of the plant, and the leaves get progressively smaller up the stem. The scores of bright purple flowerheads are the crowning glory of Grassleaf Blazing Stars.

32 LAKE

“What you see is not just a flower. They have several flowers tucked away in something we call a ‘head,’” Keener said. Grassleaf Blazing Star’s purple flowerheads line the wildflower’s stem and are a bit unusual because they begin opening from the top of the stem and work their way down. Each flowerhead is made up of a cluster of between eight and 11 flowers. Each tube-shaped flower has five lobes. The long, wavy stigma, which emerge from each flower, look like tiny purple sea anemones. Keener said blazing star blossoms initially start out with five stamens (the male organ in a flower) that don’t stick out of the flower very far. As the flower ages, the stigma, which is the “tip-top of the female part of the flower,” extends farther out. Blazing stars are pollinated by butterflies, bees and other insects that pick up pollen from stamens and deposit it on stigmas as they go from flower to flower searching for nectar. As cut flowers, Grassleaf Blazing Stars are very pretty and so long-lasting in arrangements that many people want to raise them in wildflower gardens. “If someone found a roadside population that was ample in number, and they wanted to grow a few individuals, if they were careful not to decimate the population, they could perhaps extract two or three,” Keener said. “Most of them have a nice globose corm, a spherical, starch-filled underground stem – kind of like a potato but not exactly – and they’re pretty easily transferred. Alternatively, they could gather the seeds and germinate them.” If you are growing blazing stars, there is a good chance the stems will need to be staked to prevent them from falling over as the plant matures. “I grow these in my garden, and Liatris is my wife’s favorite wildflower, so whenever we see different ones, we typically extract two or three just to put in our wildflower garden. They’re always very pretty when they flower,” he said. “I counted this year, and we have six different species that flower at different times.” Keener said one of the rarest wildflowers in the United States is a blazing star called Liatris oligocephala. This flower, also known as a Cahaba Torch, was first recognized and named in 2001 and is only found in Bibb County, Alabama. Due to the rarity of the Cahaba Torch, Keener said it should never be taken from the wild. Some information for this article came from the Alabama Plant Atlas www.floraofalabama.org and www.missouriplants.com.

NOVEMBER 2017

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LAKE 33

A passerby alerted Russell Lands Security to a wildfire that apparently was purposely set on the main channel side of Lake Martin's Chimney Rock Island. About a dozen volunteers from the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call shortly after 1 p.m. on Oct. 1 and fought the fire until 6 p.m. With close to 20 people working on land and in the water, equipment – including a bulldozer and water-pumping boats – was brought in, and the wildfire was contained at the ithsmus to Ridge Island. Once it was contained, it was treated as a controlled burn. Russell Lands General Counsel Steve Forehand said the fire could not have started naturally, as the afternoon was clear, though high humidity helped to keep it at a slower burn than it might have been on a drier day. Prevailing winds worked in favor of firefighters. Still, Forehand said, the damage could not be assessed until spring. "We'll just have to wait and see what comes back in the spring and what doesn't," he said.

34 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Fire

on Lake Martin Chimney Rock Island damage remains unknown

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY BETH DAVIS

It won't be until spring that the extent of damage will be known at Lake Martin's Chimney Rock Island after a wildfire quickly spread across the entire island last month. The fast work of Windermere volunteer firefighters prevented the blaze from crossing a narrow strip of land to Ridge Island after a passing boater reported the fire near an iconic Lake Martin landmark. Russell Lands General Counsel Steve Forehand said the new growth period beginning next March would indicate the number of trees that did not survive the blaze. "Fortunately, there are a number of longleaf pines in that area, and they are very resistant to fire damage," Forehand said. The fire started on a very steep main channel section of Chimney Rock Island and burned most of the underbrush and trees there, but with the help of more than a dozen volunteer firefighters and six Russell Lands security officers, the fire was contained in fewer than five hours. “We were able to put in a fire lane and backfire it down the hill to get the fire put out quickly,” Forehand said. Russell Lands Security received a call from a passing boater shortly after 1 p.m. Oct. 1 alerting them to a fire that apparently was purposefully set. “Where the fire started, no one could have been camping, so it was either set intentionally or somebody was grossly

careless. There’s no doubt it was started by humans – there was no lightning that afternoon,” Forehand said. The fire was started on the main channel side of the island immediately south of the iconic Acapulco Rock recreation area commonly known as Chimney Rock. With the island fully involved, the main concern of firefighters was to prevent its spreading to the adjacent – and much larger – Ridge Island. And while winds were between 10 and 15 miles per hour at the time, Forehand said the winds actually helped firefighters. “The wind was blowing against the fire, so once we got our timber equipment there and got out the drip torches, we were able to light some back fires and back it down the hill,” he explained. By lighting small head fires that blew toward the main fire on the island, the firefighters essentially deprived the fire of the fuel it would have needed to spread. In addition, volunteer firefighters from the nearby Windermere Volunteer Fire Dept. used floating pumps to fight the fire from the lake side. “We just can’t emphasize how very appreciative we are for the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department and all of the concerned passersby who alerted us to the fire,” Forehand said. J. Stern saw the smoke while on the lake and went in to see what was happening and captured videos and images of the blaze. “I’ve never seen a forest fire before, it was very sad,” Stern said. “After talking to some of the firefighter professionals I was assured that it is a good thing in the end. They made firebreaks and monitored it and treated it like a controlled burn once they got it under control. But it was still very sad and very apocalyptic.” Russell Lands On Lake Martin owns the island.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 35

Rebuild Reveal

36 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

A from-the-foundations-up Blue Creek rebuild already is filled with memories STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

The Wadsworths rebuilt their cabin in the footprint of its predecessor

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 37

In 1986, Tom and Janet Wadsworth bought a two-bedroom, one-bath cabin on the east side of Lake Martin and counted themselves lucky to have a place at the lake that was convenient to their fulltime home in Auburn. The little Blue Creek cabin provided the retreat they wanted for their family, but as the family grew, they needed more space, so in 2002, they added another structure to the lot – a two-story daylight basement cabin with additional bedrooms, baths and a studio kitchen. The couple used the second building as a master suite and let the kids use the beloved old cabin. They kept it up well, despite its age, but two years ago, they discovered a leak and lots of mold at the original cabin and decided a full-scale renovation was in order. The more they delved into the project, the more damage they found, and it became apparent the little house that had sheltered their early years on the water needed to go. They demolished it, right down to the foundation. “All that was left was the original footprint,” Tom Wadsworth said. Though Janet loved the idea of a rebuild, she didn’t look forward to choosing colors, flooring, backsplash tiles, cabinets, etc.; nor did she look forward to making the myriad additional decisions for the lake home, so her husband concocted a plan and a very special gift for his bride. Working with the building and design team of Jack and Melissa Manifold of J Manifold Construction, he proposed an HGTV Fixer Upper-styled reveal to surprise Janet last March with the finished four-bedroom, threeand-a-half-bath cabin, which Manifold furnished based on conversations with Janet. “It was just so wonderful!” Janet said of the reveal. “Melissa included all sorts of family pictures and pieces that mean a lot to us, and she added in lots of touches that she thought we would like. The result was perfect. We love it!” The original cabin had included a lakeside screened porch that Jack Manifold incorporated into the main house with a vaulted ceiling in the open concept living space and lots of windows with a spectacular view of the lake. A large, new screened porch was added on the wooded east side of the house, and in an upstairs loft, the fixer upper included a Jack-and-Jill bath between two all-new bedrooms, in addition to the two bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs. Historic and reclaimed touches throughout the home include circular saw cut floors from a 150-year-old house in Selma and a custom light fixture made from a beam that came out of a historic Auburn home, as well as many others. In the lakeview living area, Wadsworth fashioned a coffee table from a hatch cover they owned for more than 40 years. “It’s from the World War II Old Liberty Ship, and it had

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been stored in our basement since we found it in a shop in Destin,” Janet explained. “We always said we would do something with it someday.” In the den area, Manifold placed a 2-foot diameter coffee table that Wadsworth made from the crosscut section of a Paul Harris Friendship Tree. The founder of Rotary International, Harris planted the trees in cities he visited around the world. The tree from which the Wadsworths’ table was made was planted in 1944 in Tuskegee, Tom Wadsworth’s home town. To create a space that she knew Janet would love, Manifold met with her to talk about her priorities. “It became apparent that Janet’s priorities were not the décor, but she approached it from the standpoint of representing the family. This is a home with memories,” Manifold said. Following her meeting with Janet, Manifold spent some time with Tom – touring his barn, basement and other areas where he had stored pieces the couple had collected over the years. “The things that Tom pointed out and talked with me about were the little things, like the artwork that he gave Janet on their honeymoon. What I tried to put together was a reflection of This vintage gasoline pump their life by using these artifacts was once owned that they had accumulated through by Wadsworth's father years together and never knew what to do with them,” she said. Manifold was determined that the home be an expression of the Wadsworths, not an example of her own style. She seamlessly mixed the Wadsworths’ beloved vintage and antique pieces with contemporary comfort by setting the modern elements in soft hues and letting the bright, rich colors of the sentimental pieces add pop to the scheme. The neutral contemporary furnishings reflect the natural light and provide space in which Manifold showcased the personal items. “With every project that we do, we create a different palette. This project began with the old pieces that have very vibrant colors. To do something that drew attention away from those would have added conflict. The softer tones didn’t compete with what was most important to them,” she said. “The whole tone and style was simple, relaxed and comfortable. Classic. “What was really fun was that Janet didn’t see any of it until the reveal. They trusted us and totally gave us freedom on the design. Tom just wanted to do this for Janet, to make it wonderful for her; and Janet wanted something nice for Tom, something for the family.” In essence, Manifold said, the Wadsworths trusted their design and construction team not only with the story of the couple’s own relationship but also the history of their family. One such historical vignette includes a gasoline pump with a visible-pump globe amid memorabilia from Wadsworth’s career as a gasoline wholesaler and convenience store franchi-

NOVEMBER 2017

The second cabin was built 15 years ago for extra space and privacy

The deck area offers long views of the lake across Blue Creek to Curry Point

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 39

Manifold chose accent pieces that mirrored the rustic antique style the Wadsworths love

Their builder wired a beam from a historic Auburn home for the island pendants

Wadsworth crafted this farmhouse table himself out of rough sawn poplar wood

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The woodpecker knocker followed the family from their first cabin on Lake Martin to this one

NOVEMBER 2017

see. Photos and awards decorate the shelves and walls behind the pump, which came out of a station that Wadsworth’s father owned. Furnishings are focused on the lake view, but in the living area, Manifold chose swivel chairs that can easily be turned to join the activity in other areas of the great room. Though the arrangement of furnishings and accessories clearly defines designated spaces for dining, kitchen and den, the choices and placement of furniture readily expand the use of these areas to accommodate the many friends and family who gather under the Wadsworths’ welcoming roof. Wadsworth himself made the farmhouse table from rough sawn poplar wood, to seat 10, as well as the driftwood wine rack on the bar behind it. Reclaimed wood was used throughout the home to lend a vintage foundation to the space. Jack Manifold wired glass pendants through a beam that was salvaged from the old Poucher House in Auburn, and 200-year-old barn wood was used to make the sliding doors for the bedrooms in the loft. In addition to the authentic woods, Manifold found replica accents to carry the theme forward, such as a charging station disguised as a turn-of-the-century telephone. On the wall near the screened porch door, Manifold placed a treadle sewing machine base topped with an old tobacco basket, and she placed a ship’s wheel on a wall near the bedrooms. Tucked sweetly on shelves throughout the home are family photos that Manifold chose from Janet’s albums, as well as original works of art that Tom and Janet have collected over their 46 years together. Upstairs, the bedrooms include furniture that belonged to

Janet’s grandmother – and in the dormers, daybeds were added for the Wadsworths’ three grandchildren. “We have grandmother camp at the lake,” Janet said. “We catch minnows and visit Goat Island and go see the osprey, and they sleep well.” The vintage feel extends beyond the interior living spaces, as Manifold found homes for some of Janet’s most sentimental treasures – a brass tugboat bell that belonged to her father, along with her grandmother’s Hoosier cabinet, which graces a corner of the spacious porch beside a wide swing bed. Manifold wrapped the aesthetic ropes for the swing around a sturdy chain as an added measure of safety; so family members could pile on amongst the pillows for those wonderful mornings and late afternoons on the screened porch. Outside, the lakeside deck area grows from a refreshing breezeway between the two cabins, so even before they enter the house, visitors are held captive by the long view across Blue Creek to Curry Point. On the pebbled walk to the dock, Wadsworth arranged a pair of anchors that were pulled up from Mobile Bay. “We think they could be from French ships that sank there in the late 1700s,” Janet explained. This delightful fixer-upper actually is the second Lake Martin property to act as the family’s retreat. Their first escape was a Real Island A-frame that they purchased from relatives some 40 years ago. At the time, they were living in Tuskegee, and the Little Kowaliga Creek area was easily accessed. When they moved to Auburn, Blue Creek was more convenient, and the airy fixer-upper affords them the space and comfort for many more years on Lake Martin.

Rugs, furnishings and décor define the cabin's living areas within the open concept

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Dixie Sailing Club cleans up Lake Martin STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY PASSARETTI

ixie Sailing Club youth handled their latest Treasured Mile shoreline cleanup as a scavenger hunt, competing for the most unique items and making the day less of a chore and more of an adventure. DSC adopted the shoreline from Peanut Point to New Hope Church with Lake Martin Resource Association’s Treasured Mile program. “This is our way of giving back to the community because they’ve been more than generous supporting our youth program. What better way to help out than in the area where we play,” said Stephanie Childers, organizer of the event. Six children and four adults shuffled through so much waste that they filled 15 bags to be picked up by LMRA and could have filled even more. “This is DSC’s first year doing this, so we are kind of playing it by ear to see what works and what’s the most effective way to handle the cleanup,” said Childers. The scavenger list included nearly 40 items to keep the cleanup interesting, but all of the participants took to writing down the even more unusual items they never expected to find outside, including a mattress box spring, pillow and sheets, DSC youth and adult volunteers collected 15 bags of trash near Peanut Point

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NOVEMBER 2017

clothing and shoes, a smoker grill and other abnormal items people had left behind. Ethan Childers was awarded first place with the longest list of unique scavenger hunt items, but all the children involved received gift cards. “Kids learn to not throw trash in the lakes because they see first-hand the mess that's left behind and what they have to cleanup. If we get more kids involved, we will teach them responsibility and hopefully cut down on the amount of people trashing our lake areas,” said Jim Simons, president of the DSC youth program. Laurie Barrett, a gifted teacher at Alexander City schools, presented environmental education about watersheds and water/pH sampling to supplement the cleanup. “I like to get kids outside and learn outdoors. What we’re trying to do here is keep our watershed clean, so giving them something hands-on and fun to do teaches them why we do this,” said Barrett. This event marked the end of the DSC season, but the youth program is planning another cleanup event in the fall to extend their reach farther down the shoreline for which they are responsible.

FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS

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140 Parson Lane, Jacksons Gap • $519,000 How about a beautiful 4BD/2Bunkrooms/3BA lake home with gorgeous views of Lake Martin? Well, here it is! Totally updated w/ hardwood flooring, lovely cabinetry, SS appliances. 2BD/1BA on main. Upstairs master suite, 2/4-bed bunk rooms, BD/BA and 2nd FR on walkout level. Concrete flooring, shiplap, barn doors and so much more.. lovely flagstone walkway to lake. Great boathouse w/ boat slip and lift, floating dock and deck built on lakeside. Perfect for entertaining or just plain family fun! A must see! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com

128 River Ridge Road, B2, Alexander City • $219,000128 River LIVE ON LAKE MARTIN in this adorable townhome with one car garage in the wonderful low density community of Hillside Hideaway. Conveniently located to Hwy 280. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom with gorgeous view and assigned boat slip. Beautiful community pool. Very convenient to Alex City & Auburn. Ready for Lake fun and football season! A MUST SEE! Call today! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com

1031 Lakeshore Drive, Jacksons Gap • $409,000 Cozy, super cute, lake cabin styled for outdoor fun...sits on deepwater cove that opens to big water. 3BD/2.5BA, split plan w/ spacious master BD/BA, double granite vanity and lg. walk in closet. 2BD/ BA on opposite end. Open kit/din/LR. laminate flooring throughout, 3 sets of french doors on lakeside open to huge deck, perfect for entertaining. Lovely flagstone walkway to dock. Covered boatslip w/ lift and floating dock. Nice landscaping. Everything you need to begin making memories on Lake Martin!! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com

191 Hagan Road, Eclectic, AL • $495,000 Great location in Tallassee Slough. Nicely updated cabin on flat lot in quiet cove. Just around the corner from the big open water of Kowaliga Bay. Just what you're looking for in a weekend lake cabin. Updates include granite counter tops and tile baths. Close to everything on the lake. Minutes from Kowaliga restaurant and Harbor Docks. Come and enjoy the summer now! 3BR 2BA Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com

525 Nicholson Road, Alexander City • $995,000 Enjoy Lake Martin like it was meant to be enjoyed. Create memories in this ''Cabin'' style home. Located in the cabin community of Nichols Cove with wooded surroundings and nostalgic dirt roads.Convenient to everything. Very private with open views of Kowaliga Bay! If you are looking for a move-in ready home, great location and views, you have found it here! A must see. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com

Willow Glynn, The Abby $1,250,000 Just completed by RLH Construction. The Abby is a 3,219 sq. ft. plan designed by Chuck Frusterio. Owner’s suite and guest suites on main level with spacious livingdining-kitchen and large covered porch. Lake level offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, generous lake-prep room, family room, wet bar, second laundry, and spacious covered patio for outdoor entertaining. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

Willow Glynn, Riverside Cottage $1,195,000 Move-in-ready RLH Construction & designed by Mitch Ginn, this design offers 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 living areas and vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and owner’s suite. Enjoy the spectacular water views from both of the spacious covered porches. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

South Ridge Estates, Y Knot Looking for the perfect homesite and lake houseplan? Take a look at this stunning design by Bill Farshee. Under construction by Classic Homes, this plan is a unique design that provides lake views from every room. The main living area is surrounded by covered lakeside porches. Two owner’s suites on main level and rec room, bunk loft and two guest suites on upper level. A detached two-car garage with guest suite above completes this plan. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

South Ridge Harbor, Diamond View $1,650,000 Classic Homes, a division of Russell Lands, has just broken ground on the "Diamond View" in The Ridge. This exciting new lake home design by Larry Furlong has it all: four bedrooms, four full baths, two powder rooms, PLUS two Great Rooms...one on each level. Claim your spot next to the stone fireplace and cozy up to spectacular views of Kowaliga Bay! The open kitchen overlooks the living and dining areas making this home perfect for entertaining family and friends. Call today for more details or to visit this new home project in person! Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 43

Sticky Business Turpentine's economic role in the county's early years STORY BY J. HAROLD BANKS

leaf pine forests and the collapse of foreign hat sticky, gummy pine sap that won’t A single markets. wash out of your clothes was once a turpentine One of the largest turpentine operations valuable commodity, and its extraction tree could in the state was started by former slave John was a major industry in the Southeast, includprovide Jackson Benson, born in 1850. Benson opering the Lake Martin area. During the days of more than 140 ated a prosperous sawmill and turpentine farm wooden boats and sailing ships, pitch and tar pounds of in the Kowaliga Creek area. produced from pine resin were essential for resin over A son, Will Benson, graduated from waterproofing and caulking. These products 20 years Howard College in Washington, D.C., before were called ‘naval stores,’ and assuring an without returning home to expand the Benson enterample supply was a national security concern killing the prises and land holdings. In 1895, he founded for many nations, including the United States tree the Kowaliga School to improve the lives of and Great Britain. the local African-American population. In Turpentine, originally a by-product of naval 1897, the name was changed to The Kowaliga stores production, had many uses as a solvent Academic and Industrial Institute. Turpentine and was a base for numerous products. Early and rosin produced at the Benson turpentine settlers took advantage of the large expanses of mill provided a major source of revenue to longleaf pine forests once common in this area support the school. to create turpentine farms. Germany was the largest purchaser of turTo extract pine resin, diagonal gashes were pentine from the Benson mill. Unfortunately, scribed on one face of the tree, and a galvathe closure of shipping lanes at the outset of nized tin gutter directed the oozing sap into a World War I also forced the quart-sized metal cup fixed to closure of the turpentine mill the tree. Done properly, one and ultimately contributed tree could produce 7 pounds to the decline of the Benson of resin per year for 20 years empire. Ruins of the Benson or more without destroying turpentine mill can still be the tree. seen near Russell Crossroads Keen observers hiking Trail Blazers on Highway 63. Cherokee Ridge Alpine trails Today, turpentine and rosin can still find the distinctive George & Peggy Dyar are primarily collected from diagonally marked ‘catface’ resin-soaked stumps and as scars on longleaf pine trees a byproduct of plywood and that once were tapped for paper production. Turpentine and rosin are versatile materials resin. Tens of thousands of longleaf pines in the Lake Martin that can be altered and used in adhesives, printing inks, rubarea were once tapped for the precious resin they produced. ber compounds, fragrances, medicines and household cleaning Prior to the Civil War, voting places, militia and road mainproducts. But as fiddlers, turkey callers and baseball players tenance obligations in Tallapoosa County were all based on could tell you, unaltered rosin still has its uses. the beat system. The county was divided into 10 beats, one of The longleaf pine turpentine stump pictured here will be which was called Turpentine. For several years in the county’s one of the exhibits showcased at the Smith Mountain Outdoor early history, naval stores as a cash crop was second only to Environmental Education Center. Plans for the center are procotton. gressing nicely, and the CRATA board of directors is on track With the passing of wooden ships, the industry remained to have it completed next spring. vigorous as new products created new markets. Raw pine resin Donors who contribute $100 or more to the project will was distilled to produce turpentine, and the product left after have their names memorialized on a cast metal plaque. All distillation was called rosin. For many years, rosin and turpencontributors also are recognized in Lake magazine. This Smith tine were used unprocessed in common household products, Mountain nature center will be impressive, unique to anything such as paint, paint thinner, varnish, soap and paper. else in the state, and you will be glad your name is associated For decades, Alabama ranked third in production of naval with the project. Write a check right now to CRATA-Smith stores and turpentine. The turpentine industry peaked about Mountain Restoration and send to Jimmy K. Lanier, CRATA, 1908 when there were 192 turpentine stills in the state. P.O. Box 240503, Eclectic AL 36024. Production then declined rapidly with the destruction of long-

Our Thanks to Recent Donors

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NOVEMBER 2017

Help tell our county's story CRATA is raising $50,000 to make Smith Mountain Park an educational center on the nature and history of Tallapoosa County

Contribution Form Name_____________________________________ Date_______ Address_______________________________________________ City_______________________ State_______ ZIP____________ Phone________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________

Giving Levels

Tax deductible gifts to “CRATA-Smith Mountain Tower Restoration” are greatly appreciated! Please return this form and your gift to: Jimmy K. Lanier, CRATA, P.O. Box 240503, Eclectic, AL 36024 All donors will be recognized in print. All donors of $100 or more will be recognized on a permanent cast plaque. Anonymous gifts at all levels will be respected for confidentiality. Honorariums, memorials and appreciations will be acknowledged per donor direction.

Teachers' Helper Trail Blazers Vista Viewers Summit Toppers Visionaries Legacy Sponsors

Up to $99 $100-$249 $250-499 $500-$999 $1,000 or more $5,000 or more

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NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 45

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Or just take it to the lake cabin

Why would you want to control your lake ay what you will about the youth of today, home’s cabin from afar? Especially when but you have to admit they are pretty it might be an old system? Even the more aware of the planet’s environment. They reason, I say. Think about it: At your prirealize that, on this big blue ball we call Earth, mary home, if you forget and leave the air there is a dwindling supply of places to stash our running wide open, you will likely be back trash. there in 10 hours to remedy it. If it’s a lake When I was growing up in the 1970s in home, and you aren’t scheduled to come Alexander City, I was not this globally aware. back for two or three weeks, that might be I am sure that there had to be some people in 21 straight days of high power bills. Have our area that were ahead of this trend. LMRA’s LAKE PROPERTY you ever woken up in the middle of the night John Thompson comes to mind. But as a kid, BY JOHN COLEY and wondered if you turned the air off before I did not give a second thought to where my you left? I have. Big League chew wrappers went when I threw them in the Or what if we have a freak cold snap before you have garbage. The same place as my Stretch Armstrong toy after prepared and winterized your plumbing pipes? Wouldn’t I shot it with my BB gun, I guess. you want to be able to turn on your heat and at least help Looking back, there was one form of the 3Rs going on the situation? in our house – the “Reuse” part. Our family had a Russell Again, at a primary home, you are there all the time to cabin on Lake Martin, and that meant that no piece of furniremedy mistakes. The remoteness of the lake home makes it ture, no appliance, no National Geographic Magazine was ever thrown away. It all got taken to the cabin. Anyone who all the more reason to be able to access it remotely. My second point includes these new-fangled batteryhad then or has a cabin still, can surely relate. powered yard tools, like leaf blowers and weed eaters. I Dad got a new color TV for the den? Take the old black recently bought one because I had encountered a yard tool and white to the cabin. The old black and white at the crisis. My lake leaf blower and my town leaf blower both cabin quits working? Get the small black and white from died within a couple of weeks of one another. The twotown and put it on top of the old black and white. So the cycle, pre-mix gas situation conspired with ethanol and microwave is starting to spit nuclear-looking sparks? Don’t throw it away – take it to the cabin. A beloved family mem- killed them both. There has to be a better way, I thought. Who among us has not dreaded some yard chore – from ber passes away? Start a mental inventory of what the relahedge trimming or weed eating or the like – because of the tives want and what just needs to be taken to the cabin. crank? You know the feeling. You know it’s been a while In this way, the lake cabin became the last stop on the since you have run it, and you cringe when you think of long road to obsolescence of many household objects. The yourself out there with it, pulling and pulling and pulling, cabin was a time machine to days of yore, a reminder of only to not hear that engine jump to life. tougher times gone by. You need to know that the 56-volt battery-operated tools “You see, kids, when I was your age I had to cut weeds work like charms. They are plenty powerful and don’t with a sling blade. My friend opened up his leg with one require any gas. Why would this be suited to the lake and got 32 stitches. Yes, this is the same mattress I slept life? Because at the lake, we are always several miles from on, too. Every spring, we had to take it out for dusting, and the nearest gasoline source, let alone an ethanol-free one. there would be snake skins in there on the box springs.” Now, what with Al Gore having invented the internet and Even if your weed eater operates perfectly, you will have to replenish it some time. all, I think in a totally different manner about lake homes. Plus, with the battery-operated tools, there is no carbureInstead of them being the screen in the kitchen sink of techtor to get clogged up. There are no messy gasoline spills nology, they really should be at the forefront of testing new from these new nozzles on gas cans. You don’t smell like products. Lately, two different items have inspired me on gasoline when your chores are done. You pop the batthis thought: Wi-Fi thermostats and battery-operated leaf tery, squeeze the trigger and go. blowers. Once America realizes how well these tools work, will If you are unfamiliar with Wi-Fi thermostats, basithey begin to disappear from our “town homes,” too? cally they are just like a regular thermostat for your air Maybe so. conditioning system, except that they are connected to the That’s why I think the lake house has grown from a home internet through Wi-Fi; therefore, to have one at your lake goods’ bone yard to high-tech testing ground. house, you would have to have internet service and a Wi-Fi router. If you have that, you can connect with your air conJohn Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice ditioner, through your phone, from anywhere in the world. Realty. Visit his blog at LakeMartinVoice.com. Turn it up, down, off or on with a mere click on an app. 46 LAKE NOVEMBER 2017

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LAKE 47

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Lake Martin News Renew our Rivers Winning Artwork

Ava Barrett holds her winning artwork for the Renew our Rivers T-shirt contest

The artwork of Stephens Elementary School fourth-grader Ava Barrett will be featured on this year’s volunteer T-shirt for the Lake Martin Resource Association “Renew Our Rivers” cleanup of Lake Martin Nov. 3 and 4. But art is not the only things students worked on while producing designs. “They have been learning about water conservation,” said Stephens Elementary School art teacher Debra Griffith. “The Tallapoosa County Extension Service brought in a model of the watershed to help teach students about runoff. It is all building up to the big cleanup.” LMRA’s John Thompson is organizing the cleanup. Dumpsters for the cleanup will be located at the Real Island Marina, the Kowaliga Public Boat Ramp, Wind Creek Marina and the Union Public Boat Ramp. “This year’s effort will once again be focused on littered shorelines, as well as roadsides leading to public boat ramps,” Thompson said. “Additional efforts will be made to get neighborhoods throughout the Lake Martin community involved.” More than 70 hand-created pieces of students’ artwork for the contest can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute Water|Ways exhibit at the Alexander City City Hall. The traveling Smithsonian Institute Water/Ways exhibit is on display at Alexander City City Hall until Nov. 7 as part of its Museum on Main Street series. Hosted by MainStreet Alexander City and sponsored by the Smithsonian and Alabama Humanities Foundation, the free, self-guided exhibit explains the importance and impact of water in our daily lives. In one corner, a touch-screen display examines the impor18 LAKE

tance of the ocean; what the water cycle is; and how writers like Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau were influenced by bodies of water. Other displays detail how water has been viewed in religion, including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and the Japanese religion of Shinto; the various ways water has been used for recreational purposes; and how everyone can work together to overcome water pollution. Along with these resources, there are informational displays from the exhibit’s partners. The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership has leaflets available about projects it has accomplished to keep the river and Lake Martin beautiful, while Lake Martin Resource Association and Alabama Power also provided supplemental information. The 15 finalists for the T-shirt art contest include Linley Brown, Aaron Perez, Kylee Sanders, Jackson Padgett, Mason Kim, Amanda Cantrell, Bella Westbrook, Carmyn Thomas, Paulina Torres, Riki Lin, Elodie Waller, Cayleigh Collier, Campbell Richardson, Avery Harrelson and Emma Swindall. ~ Cliff Williams & Donald Campbell

Wind Creek zip line set for summer Thrillseekers will have another option on Lake Martin next summer, as Wind Creek Aerial and Zip Line Adventures opened briefly in October and is ready for full operation next season. The new attraction is a partnership between the Alabama State Parks System, Historic Banning Mills, a 501(c)(3) conservation center in Banning, Georgia, and American Adventure Park Systems of Whitesburg, Georgia. “This is kind of a soft opening for us here in the fall,” said Banning Mills' Donna Holder said. “But we were done and wanted to start to let people experience it and see what it’s all about before the big kickoff next spring.” The lines range in height from 20 to 70 feet off the ground and span a distance from 200 to 650 feet. “The course is in the open and with high traffic of campers and visitors, people have really been asking about it,” Holder said. “We are excited about getting it opened and think it will be a great addition to the park amenities.” Two or more staff members will accompany each one- to two-hour zipline tour, and guests wear harnesses that are always locked into the cable safety system. ~ Cliff Williams & Mitch Sneed

NOVEMBER 2017

Wind Creek's zip line tour is ready to roll for next summer on the lake

Initial issues in Harris relicensing mirror Lake Martin's Although the official start of the R. L. Harris Hydroelectric Project doesn’t begin until June 1, 2018, Alabama Power Company hosted an issue-identification workshop Oct. 19 at Wedowee Marine South in Wedowee. APC officials and representatives from Kleinschmidt, Alabama Power’s consultants, explained the relicensing process and facilitated break-out group discussions of issues in four resource-specific areas, including fish and wildlife; water quality and quantity; project operation and recreation, shoreline management and cultural relations. This process is very similar to the approach the power company used during the Martin relicensing process. The representatives presented a tentative schedule of relicensing actions and deadlines, culminating with the license application filing on or around Nov. 30, 2021. The actual issuance of the license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could take up to two years or longer. If the new license has not been issued by the expiration of the current license, FERC will allow Alabama Power to continue operating the project under the current license until the new license is finalized. Approximately 80-100 stakeholders were present at the meeting, including representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, property owner groups, downstream owners and interest groups. Many property owners expressed concerns similar to those expressed during the Martin relicensing, i.e. desire for higher winter pool levels, concerns over erosion and sedimentation, concerns about water intake and concerns about water releases from the dam and downstream flooding. Lake Martin Resource Association was present to represent Lake Martin interests, and LMRA’s board plans to remain active throughout the Harris relicensing process. The Harris project is located 78 river miles upstream of Lake Martin. The license to operate the Harris project was originally issued in 1973 and is the only Alabama Power project still operating under its original license. It consists of 9,870 acres of reservoir with 367 miles of shoreline. A unique aspect of the Harris project is that it has a scenic easement that prohibits certain activities on project land, such as cutting trees over a certain diameter, to maintain the natural aesthetic of the lake. It also includes 15,000 acres of project land in the Skyline Wildlife Management Area in Jackson County near Scottsboro as mitigation for the environmental aspects of the original project. Alabama Power has established a website for the relicensing process, with information and schedules. It can be viewed at www.harrisrelicensig.com. Electronic notices from FERC may be received by signing up in the e-subscription section of the FERC website and using the P-2628 project docket designation. ~ Steve Forehand LMRA Counsel

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 19

More Lights LMRA launches ambitious plan to increase lighted buoys in high-traffic areas STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Lake Martin Resource Association has launched a lighted buoy campaign that could make night boating safer and improve the local economy, but the program could cost upwards of $75,000, said LMRA President John Thompson. The Light Up Lake Martin program would increase the number of lighted buoys on Lake Martin from the current 35 to 200 over the next few seasons. “We expect that this will be a two- or three-year project,” Thompson said. “The plan is to raise the necessary money through charity events and donations. We would not use membership dues for this program because those funds finance the maintenance program, and we don’t want to pull money away from maintenance.” LMRA’s membership is 1,440 right now, which generates some $36,000 for the maintenance program, including gasoline and upkeep on the buoy boat and the cost of buoys, cables and concrete. Thompson said the need for more lighted buoys on the lake has long been apparent, but the prohibitive cost has made the acquisition of lighted buoys difficult. The Marine Police arm of the Alabama Law

20 LAKE

Enforcement Agency determines placement of the buoys, and Thompson noted that the lighted buoy program will not add to the overall number of buoys on the lake but will replace unlit buoys with lighted units. Despite the inability of homeowners to request specific locations for the lighted buoys, he was encouraged by the support of Lake Martin residents. “We used the donated funds that we received from the Young Professionals Polar Plunge to increase the number of lighted buoys from 20 to 35 this summer, and we have received a lot of favorable comments,” Thompson said. “We recently gave a presentation on safe boating to a Lake Martin community, and some of the homeowners there asked about getting lighted buoys on some hazards in their neighborhoods. When I explained that each lighted buoy costs about $450-$475, I was surprised at the number of folks who said they would be willing to pay for that. “It just really pointed out to us how important it is to the homeowners that we do this to make Lake Martin safer.” LMRA now plans to use all donated funds,

NOVEMBER 2017

on the Lake

including those from the recent Lake Martin Classic Golf Tournament, for this project, Thompson said. “With these charity events and donations, we hope that now we will have some real dollars to apply to the program,” he said. “As the lake gets busier, we hope that people will feel safer boating after dark with more lighted buoys on the water. There are several restaurants on the lake that are open at night and provide water access; hopefully by making it safer and easier to navigate at night, they will see an increase in business.” Thompson said the standard, unlit buoys could not be altered to accommodate light kits, as the retrofitted seals would not hold up in the water. “The mechanism needs to be part of the manufacturing process, and then we install the actual light on the boat,” Thompson explained. The 26-foot pontoon boat that the buoy team uses was purchased and modified to accommodate the maintenance program with financial assistance from Alabama Power Company. The boat includes storage racks and toolboxes, as well as a work area in which all necessary adjustments to buoys can be

LMRA intends to increase the number of lighted buoys on Lake Martin over the next few seasons, for safety reasons

made. It has been equipped with a winch system from which buoys can be deployed. Each buoy weighs about 50 pounds, but another 150 pounds are added as an anchor to hold the marker in place. In some cases, hazards are marked with permanent white poles that have been painted with official markings. The buoy program started in 1980, but LMRA reorganized and ramped up the maintenance program about 10 years ago in front of the recent relicensing of Martin Dam. The Ridge Marina donates a covered slip for the boat, and Nails at Kowaliga donates storage space for buoys and equipment. The Marine Police donated the first buoy supply. Each year, the LMRA Boating Safety Committee replaces more than 80 lost or damaged buoys around the lake – nearly 20 percent of the 440 buoys they maintain – and Thompson said the number increases every year as more boaters visit the area. Of 86 replacements this year, 15 were lighted buoys. “Our crew works for six hours a day three days a week in summer, and they can replace between

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LAKE 21

A team of LMRA volunteers drop the 50-pound buoys in place with heavy anchors

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Each light is visible for 1 mile at night

six and eight buoys in a day. Most of those are replaced through routine maintenance or reports we receive of lost or damaged buoys,” he explained. The buoy placements are tracked on software that the team has on the boat during operation, so updates can be made in real time. “The buoy team can do all of it right from the boat: install the solar powered lights, attach the cables and weights and lower the buoys into place; and then, update the records,” Thompson explained. The lights on these buoys are subtle dots, not bold or glaring bulbs that might disturb shore life, Thompson said. Each light is visible for 1 mile at night. “They will be noticeable to boaters and will be especially helpful to boaters who are inexperienced on the lake,” he said. Thompson said volunteers are needed for the buoy team, which generally works from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on weekdays. “We don’t go out on weekends, just weekdays, and Monday is the biggest day. Volunteers can work as many or as few days as they want to,” Thompson said. “It’s hard work, but it’s pleasant and very rewarding, too. Volunteers cruise the lake – it’s very scenic work – and they have conversation, stop and replace a few buoys – and come on in.” To volunteer for the buoy team, email lmra@lmra.info. To donate to the Light Up Lake Martin campaign, send a check to Lake Martin Resource Association, 2544 Willow Point Rd., Alexander City AL 35010. NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 23

Autumn Activities

Hiking season at Lake Martin begins when the water goes down STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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Russell Forest offers public access to more than 100 miles of hiking trails

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LAKE 25

Butterfly Crossing offers one of the most scenic picnicking spots in Russell Forest

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Plug Day doesn’t end the recreational season at Lake Martin; rather, it signifies a shift. As the water level and temperatures go down, residents and visitors alike trade their boat keys for hiking boots and find the trekking opportunities almost endless. More than 150 miles of trails harbor natural beauty and lead families and friends into another season of memories at the lake from October through April. More than two-thirds of these trails wind through valleys and over hilltops, past historic homesteads and over picturesque creeks in Russell Forest, a designated natural habitat into which the public is cordially invited to stroll, picnic and play. Maintained under the direction of The Stables Trail Boss Stanley Ingram, the trail system has been expanded and improved over recent years with grading, the addition of weather-resistant benches, an in-process signage project and a free app that uses global positioning to help hikers find their way. Among the additions are the Pitchford Creek trails north of Willow Point Cut-Off Road, the Frontier trails, the Pony Express Trail and Lakeview Loop. Turtle Back Loop and other trails also have been extended to offer more scenic hiking experiences, said Ingram. Pitchford Creek trails are accessed at points on the north side of the road east and west of the Willow Point Cut-Off Trailhead. The section includes nearly 5 miles of new trail, the longest of which doubles back along the paved cut-off road on a line west of the trailhead; and then, loosely follows Hwy. 63 north to Pitchford Creek.

The wide path through old growth pines gives way to the dense hardwood forest floor, crossing several streams as it meanders east to Willow Point Road. The trail ends at the Willow Point security gate, and hikers follow the Green Way along Willow Point Cut-off Road to return to the parking area at the cut-off trailhead. This new trail is most accessible in dry periods, as some spots along the trail are not passable during wet weather, though rainy periods offer the sight of beautiful cascades on the creek. South of Willow Point Cut-Off Road, Big Way provides access to the heart of Russell Forest. Parking is available at four trailheads that are roughly evenly spaced from north to south. Willow Point Cut-Off, Adamson Road, Russell Crossroads and Wilson Road trailheads all offer plentiful parking and easy routes to the unique scenic beauty of the woods. The Frontier trails stretch 4 miles from the Big Way access slightly south of the Cut-off parking lot to Adamson Road. Though the graded trail is wide and flat, Ingram suggested hikers allow two hours to wind through the system. It might be wise to park a second vehicle at the Adamson Road Trailhead if a return hike is not on the itinerary. To make a day of it, pack a lunch; however, expect that the easy stroll will be challenged with the picnicking options, the first of which greets hikers at the Adamson Road Trailhead. This plan allows plenty of time after lunch for one of Russell Forest’s most scenic routes, the 3-mile Dark Valley Loop. Follow the

Dogs are welcome in the Forest but must be kept on a leash

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LAKE 27

Adamson connector trail to the southern leg of the loop where the canopy shades a walk over gentle slopes interspersed with some steeper areas. The trail can be muddy at times, so come prepared. Instead of taking lunch at Adamson, save it for Butterfly Crossing, another favorite picnic area in the northern section of the Forest. There’s more than one way to get to this picturesque creekside meadow at the edge of the woods on Big Way, one of which is a cut-off trail about halfway down Hwy. 63 on the Frontier Trail. Follow Horsely Creek as it spills and babbles over a rocky bed to the picnic area. For another picnic option, take the Horsely connector from Frontier and turn south just past the creek to climb Heavenly Hill and picnic in the hilltop meadow. South of Adamson, Big Way leads to yet another option at Seven Points, the hikers’ gateway to new and expanded trails in the center of Russell Forest. The new 2.5-mile Pony Express Trail lies between O.Z. Hall and Gordon Taylor roads and passes the yucca field as it undulates through mature pines and hardwoods and over small streams. Turning south at the T, pick up Two-Day Loop, the most challenging of the Russell Forest trails. High fitness level is recommended for this advanced trail that includes rocky areas and fallen trees with rough, wet ground and steep inclines. A deep water crossing – chest-high or deeper – could prevent hikers from finishing the entire loop; instead, this trail can be done in sections on different days. Another option from Pony Express might be to take the Long Leaf Loop to Lakeview Loop, which takes hikers to a lakeside picnic area just north of Crossroads Landing. 28 LAKE

Of course, if the picnic didn’t get packed or was inadvertently left on the counter at the cabin, this is a great place to refuel. Take the Beechtree Hollow path to The Stables Loop, stopping to view a turpentine mill site that fed the local economy at the turn of the last century before catching lunch at Catherine’s Market or relaxing in front of the fire at SpringHouse. To go the length of the Forest, take Turtle Back Loop from Russell Crossroads to some of the area’s most scenic and engaging hiking. Excellent for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, the 3.5-mile loop to Turtle Back Rock and back includes diverse terrain that transitions from cane bottomland to hardwood hillsides and open meadows. Pick up Lakeside Loop for the water views, and the Rocky Mount Loop West and Branch Loop West trails will lead to the Wilson Road Trailhead and the end of a great day at Lake Martin. Though the switchbacks, loops and connectors might be confusing on the ground, download the Russell Lands free app to follow a prescribed route. The updated Many trails in open areas app includes a are graded to prevent erosion and GPS map of the offer access to interior loop paths Forest, as well as 17 new blueways – paddle trips on the Alabama Scenic River Trail – as well as launch sites, rules and safety tips. The app also includes links to current events and a Help button that connects a hiker to Russell Lands Security in case of emergency. Maps are available at The Stables at Russell Crossroads and at the Willow Point Security Gate. The latest version is green. Please call Russell Lands Security at 256-329-1511 before entering and upon leaving the Forest.

NOVEMBER 2017

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Since 2004 Lake Martin Hospice has offered the finest care with compassion, excellence and reliability. The entire team lives in the service area and therefore has established relationships with local doctors, drug stores, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

We provide comfort and expert care

Linda Segrest, RN, CHPN Regional Director

Dr. Melissa Thompson, MD Medical Director

• Specialized Nurses educated in palliative care and pain control • Home Care Aides to provide personal care services and to assist with basic needs • Social Workers to ensure your loved one and your family process the emotional end-of-life issues • Spiritual Care Counselors are available to guide patients in meeting their spiritual needs as the end-of-life approaches • Volunteers as needed to provide valuable companionship, emotional support and help in many ways • Medical Equipment and a supplement of personal care items Lake Martin Hospice is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember, November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

201 Mariarden Road Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-3272 NOVEMBER 2017

500 Hospital Drive Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-514-0682 LAKE 29

Blazing Star

The long, wavy stigma emerging from the flower's head resembles sea anemones

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NOVEMBER 2017

These purple perennial native wildflowers add color to the fall landscape NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE

NOVEMBER 2017

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48 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Talking Trash Renew Our Rivers Cleanup Nov. 3 & 4

assist in unloading boats or vehicles during the ake Martin Resource Association, hours of the cleanup. Alabama Power Company, Russell n On Nov. 3, Russell Lands associates and Lands, Advanced Disposal, Wind other volunteers will meet at 7:45 a.m. at the Creek State Park and TowBoatUS Lake Russell Lands corporate office to receive supMartin are once again coordinating the annual plies and assignments. “Renew our Rivers” cleanup of Lake Martin. n Trash can be deposited in the dumpsters In 2016, the combined efforts of more than on Nov. 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 300 volunteers removed more than 20 tons of n Volunteers in the Real Island area will trash, including 140 automotive tires, from the have access to dumpsters located at Real lake’s shoreline and adjacent roadways. LMRA Island Marina. This year’s effort will once again be BY JOHN THOMPSON n Volunteers will be urged to separate recyfocused on littered shorelines, as well as roadclables, which will be accumulated and delivsides leading to public boat ramps. Additional ered to the Alexander City Recycling Center. efforts will be made to get neighborhoods throughout the n On Nov. 4, Wind Creek State Park officials will shuttle Lake Martin community involved. volunteers to designated shoreline areas within park boundVolunteers are again encouraged to work independently aries. with their cleanup efforts and deliver the bagged trash to n On Nov. 4, local scout groups will clean designated dumpsters that will be located at the Kowaliga public boat ramp, Wind Creek State Park Marina and Union public boat areas and gather at Wind Creek State Park afterward for a ramp. If transporting the bagged trash proves to be difficult, hot dog cookout, courtesy of Marshall Griffin, manager of Alabama Power Company offices in Alexander City and arrangements can be made to have it picked up. Email me Dadeville. at the address below. n Also on Nov. 4, all participants in LMRA’s Treasured Supplies will be made available, and each volunteer who Mile program will be invited to Wind Creek State Park to delivers to the dumpsters any bagged trash or items that celebrate the one-year anniversary of this very successful have been retrieved from Lake Martin shorelines, adjacent program. roadsides or neighborhoods in the Lake Martin community For more information, contact me at 1942jthompwill receive a custom designed T-shirt featuring artwork son420@gmail.com. from the “Renew our Rivers” art contest held annually at Stephens Elementary School. John Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource Here is the way it will work: Association and coordinates the annual Renew Our Rivers n Volunteers can pick up supplies at dumpster locations cleanup. Contact him at 1942jthompson420@gmail.com to beginning at 8 a.m. on both Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, volunteer. Nov. 4. n Volunteers will be available at the dumpster sites to NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 49

Cranberry Cravings T

A Holiday Favorite for the Thanksgiving Table

Cranberries are known for promoting urihe day is coming when America sits nary tract and gastrointestinal health, cardiodown to share a special meal, reflect vascular and metabolic health, reducing cancer on that for which we are thankrisk and promoting glycemic control. Studies ful and appreciate the foods that embellish have demonstrated that cranberries, in the the traditions of Thanksgiving Day. Often form of pure juice, decrease the occurrence of pushed to the side in lieu of turkey, stuffing urinary tract infections by 30 percent. and potatoes, cranberries will make it to most Research focused on the ability of the Thanksgiving feasts in some form or fashion. antioxidants, particularly one called proanthoNative Americans, who also used them cyanidins to prevent the adherence of E. coli for medicinal purposes, first enjoyed cranberon the cells that line the wall of the bladder. ries for food. The rich red juice was used as Gastrointestinal studies have demonstrated the a natural dye for rugs, blankets and clothing. Native Americans first introduced the Pilgrims HEALTHY LIVING consumption of cranberry juice could have benefits for controlling or eliminating the H. to the many uses of cranberries, making the BY JULIE HUDSON phylori bacteria, which is linked to gastric, justification for serving cranberries at the first peptic and duodenal ulcers, as well as gastric cancer and Thanksgiving meal a stronger one. lymphoma. Cranberries serve as an anti-microbial, antiIt was not until the 1800s that people began farmviral and anti-fungal, which acts against the H. pylori bacing cranberries. Early on, cranberries were harvested by teria and serves to enhance the gut microbiota. hand, which proved labor intensive. In the 1930s, farming In a 2016 review, cranberries improved cardiovascular shifted from harvesting to what is called wet harvesting, risk factors, such as low-density lipoproteins, systolic which significantly increased the efficiency of the bogs in blood pressure (the top number), fasting glucose, A1C and which cranberries are grown. Wet farming spurred on the body mass index. Current studies have shown that drinkcranberry industry as we know it today. Bogs or marshes are flooded with water, which allowed ing two 8-ounce servings of low calorie cranberry juice each day for eight weeks improved fasting triglycerides, the berries to loosen from the vines and float to the diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), fasting glusurface, where they could be harvested by machines. cose and insulin resistance. Harvesting cranberries mechanically did impose the issue Cranberries exhibit cancer-fighting potential by reducof all berries not being perfect as a fresh product. The solution to using imperfect berries was the process of can- ing cancer cell growth and even causing cancer cells to die. Cranberries have been shown in lab studies to inhibit ning. cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon, bladder, prosOcean Spray began canning ready-to-serve cranberry trate, glioblastoma and lymphoma. The American Cancer jelly in 1912. This allowed the company to offer a packInstitute has placed cranberries on the list of foods that aged product beyond the September-through-November fight cancer. growing season. Cranberries, as a sauce or accompaniment to meat, have Due to the cool climate, cranberries are grown in been documented as part of American culinary history Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey and parts of as early as the 19th century. The tartness of cranberries Washington and Oregon, with Wisconsin producing more does require at least a small amount of sweetening. Using than half of the world’s total crop. Fresh berries are availfresh berries offers the option of controlling the amount of able September through November; however, it is good to sweetener used. stock up because they stay fresh for up to four weeks in Try sweetening berries with 100 percent juice or a the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to a year. There are many benefits to keeping cranberries on hand, naturally sweet fruit when making cranberry sauce. Dried cranberries contain sugar, so check the labels to find a not only for the holiday tradition but also for good health. variety with the lowest amount of added sugar. Choose Cranberries are very low in sugar and calories. Their big100 percent cranberry juice and try the low calorie vergest asset is their antioxidant power, as they contain five sion. different categories of antioxidants. One cup of chopped cranberries contains 5.1 grams of fiber, 94 milligrams of Julie Hudson is a dietician at the Lake Martin Wellness potassium, 20 percent of the recommended daily Vitamin Center in Dadeville. C and manganese – all for only 46 calories. 50 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Try these delicious cranberry recipes Fresh Cranberry Relish 2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup of liquid of your choice – water, cranberry juice, juice of one orange or orange juice 3/4 cup sugar or sweetener of choice Optional ingredients – orange zest, chopped and toasted walnuts or pecans, finely chopped apple or pear Bring cranberries, liquid, sweetener and/or optional fruit to boil for 10-15 minutes until sweetener melts and cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and add optional ingredients, such as orange zest or nuts. Allow to cool.

Cranberry Bread 2 cups all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon soda 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons hot water 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 cup fresh cranberries, sliced in half Grated rind of one orange

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Sift dry ingredients together. Add sugar. Add egg, juice, melted butter and water. Fold in nuts, cranberries and orange rind. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set and golden. Cool bread thoroughly and then wrap in plastic wrap. Store cranberry bread in the refrigerator. Hint: This bread freezes well.

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LAKE 51 8/12/16 3:14 PM

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NOVEMBER 2017

Shaved Benton's Country Ham Salad

Ingredients: 6 oz thinly shaved Benton's Country Ham 3 cups fresh arugula 2 cup roasted fresh mushrooms (shiitake, button or oyster) 2 Tablespoons Sherry Vinegar 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil Directions: In a small mixing bowl whisk together the Sherry vinegar and olive oil then, reserve half the vinaigrette for dressing the greens. After cleaning you mushrooms roast in 400 degree oven until slightly brown immediately after removing g from the oven toss in half your vinaigrette and allow to cool. Arrange ham on a large serving platter in a single layer. Gently arrange arugula on top of ham then sprinkle cooled mushrooms around the platter. Drizzle with reserved vinaigrette and season with fresh cracked black pepper. Serves six.

CHEF’S TABLE BY ROB MCDANIEL

Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute.

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 53

Trick the Catch

Try using smaller bait to land a bigger fish 54 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

a striper angler, maybe try a few things his month, forget everything that are geared toward bass. This is a you’ve been taught about the challenge to the macho mentality but Big Baits = Big Fish theory. something I can speak to from experiYes, it is true that there are times ence. when big fish will ‘only’ bite a big I’ve been reluctant at times to bait; there also are times when it’s throw the tiny 1/8-ounce rooster tail, difficult to keep the smaller fish off a crappie crankbait, a beetle spin or of the bait long enough for a big a crappie grub. Then I found out too fish to take it. Consider that big fish late that my competition was not as are going to be the older and, more reluctant and put the fish in the boat to importantly, wiser fish. They’ve made get a nice check and valuable points. it this far in their lives for a reason. In the end, they were laughing all the Some could argue that they’ve gotten BIG CATCHES way to the bank. Last season at Lake big because they were more aggresBY GREG VINSON Cherokee, the tournament was won on sive feeders and outcompeted the a bait fewer than 3 inches long. other fish, but aggressive fish also are If you’re not a tournament angler, there’s still a more likely to be caught by anglers. certain excitement to catching fish on ultra-light Each time a fish is caught, it runs the risk of tackle that is tough to match with traditional gear. getting taken home for dinner. Even if a fish is The fight you get from a feisty spotted bass on not taken out of the system, it is less likely to be Lake Martin is one of the best you’ll get anywhere fooled the same way the next time. This is espein the country. cially true for baits that vary from the natural forHighland reservoirs like Lake Martin are notoriage that fish are used to eating on a normal basis. Some baits don’t really represent something a fish ous for having smaller forage species in general, so to ‘match the hatch;’ we often need to downsees in nature or has seen from anglers. The fish will bite the weird-looking or weird-sounding bait size our offerings. These tiny baits are lighter weight than what we’re used to casting and workout of curiosity or just as a ‘reaction’ bite. Once ing. To maximize casting distance and allow the the fish has been caught on that new bait, it’s less tiny baits to work effectively, we need light-action likely to try it the next time. rods, spinning tackle and line no bigger than Most anglers will agree that when fish have 8-pound test. The smaller the line, the more freereceived a lot of pressure and have seen a lot of dom we give the bait to move and look realistic. baits, they are more likely to still bite a smaller For me, 6-pound test has always been the limit, offering. We call it finesse fishing when you use a but I’m considering dropping that close to the smaller-than-normal bait and smaller-than-normal 5-pound mark to see if I can generate more bites equipment. At a time when everyone seems to be better at locating fish with electronics, map study, and still land the fish. This should prove to be an exciting test of my skills and may result in better networking, etc., it’s becoming more and more catches overall. important to get bait selection and presentation Most of these baits are going to be minnow imiright. Sometimes, anglers have a macho mentality that tators, so select baits that are white, grey or blue, possibly with a little chartreuse to make them that keeps them from picking up a small spinning rod and reel spooled with 6-pound test and throw- stand out some. On baits like the rooster tails ing a bait the size of a bumblebee. But in the end, or tiny fish head spins, the tiny nickel spinners represent small minnows well and attract a multiwe all like to hold up the larger fish for our photos or the scale. The end justifies the means in this tude of species. Tiny jigs, tubes and craw-colored case when it comes to finesse fishing. Using ultra- crankbaits are excellent choices to mimic the little crawfish that are often a favorite for the bass this light tackle can lead to some exciting days. Most of the time, it means more catches in general, and time of year. This fall, expand your arsenal to include some I’ve been surprised over the years to learn that of these smaller-than-normal offerings, and you it’s a great way to catch a very large fish that has may just see some surprising results. lived long enough to see just about everything. A tiny morsel is often hard to resist, even for the Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler most educated fish. on the Bassmaster Elite Series and PPA tours. He The challenge is to take what you consider to be a small offering for the species you’re after and lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. go even smaller. For a bass angler, this may mean shopping for your baits in the panfish section. For

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 55

Beer School Crafting beverages in Alabama 56 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

credit for the modern beverage that we call beer. n May of 2009, Alabama lawmakers enacted They began using hops and a more advanced ferthe ‘Free the Hops’ legislation, raising the menting process in the Middle Ages. allowed alcohol by volume (ABV) of beer Had you ordered an IPA 20 or so years ago, to 13.9 percent. Laws enacted over the next six your local bartender might very well have given years or so have led us to where we are today. you a curious look. Not so in 2017. We have Craft beer brewers were quick to avail themselves our friends, the British, to thank for this brilliant of the easing of these restrictions and now bring discovery. It came about quite by necessity, if us a spectacular variety of fermented beverages. one considers beer a need-based commodity. The From Avondale Brewing Company, located British occupied India during the late 18th centuin Birmingham, to Yellowhammer Brewing in ry and found that they were not able to brew beer Huntsville and 30 more breweries across the state, in the brutal heat to which the region was subject. Alabamians and visitors to our great state have A fellow by the name of Hodgson developed more craft beer options than ever imagined. HOPPY DAYS a heavily hopped fermented beverage that was Craft beer is loosely defined as beer produced BY DEE WALKER strong enough to survive the six-month journey to in lots of fewer than 6 million barrels per year by the East. While this original style died out, it was independently owned breweries. Most everyone is Americans around 1976 that revived the process and set the aware of Sam Adams. It would certainly be at the higher end stage for the craft beer explosion. of the production. Many have not heard of Red Clay Brewing Craft beer comes in numerous flavors. Don’t be afraid of in Opelika, but do not let production size fool you. Red Clay offers some wonderful beer that is second to none. Goat Island trying new beers. There are several establishments in the area in Cullman might be considered small in size but brews a vari- that allow for mixing six packs, which is a relatively inexpensive way to try a number of different beers. Growlers, a great ety of beer that is huge in taste. way to buy draft beer in quantities less than 1 gallon, are legal Craft beer is still in its infant stages in Alabama. Roughly in Alabama as well. 65,000 barrels of beer were brewed in the state in 2016. The Broaden your beer-drinking horizons in a safe and responbeer brewed ranges from pilsners and lagers to porters and sible manner. stouts and all beer in between. The more adventurous beer Enjoy! drinkers clamor for pale ales and India pale ales (IPA). These are easily picked out of a beer lineup by their distinct bitter Dee Walker is the owner of Fermenter's Market on the taste, which often is described as ‘hoppy,’ given the hops used Green in Alexander City and Fermenter's Market at the Rex in in the brewing of these tasty treats. Sylacauga. Find him on Facebook. Pilsner, a type of lager, is brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast and typically is light in color and taste. Ales require topfermenting yeast to develop darker colors and more flavorful beverages. Goat Island makes a very nice Richter’s Pilsner, while the Snakehandler IPA brewed at Birmingham’s own Good People Brewing Company challenges even the heartiest of IPA drinkers. Porters and stouts are a bit more complex. Porters are brewed with dark, malted barley and hops. This provides for a beer that falls somewhere between sweet and bitter. The stout was born when brewers began tweaking their porter recipes by adding new and different ingredients. Today’s stout is distinguished from a porter largely as a result of the addition of unmalted roasted barley. This gives stouts their signature coffee taste. Avondale Brewing offers a very popular Vanilla Porter while Fairhope Brewing Company, located in Fairhope, has a Merry Widows Stout that is truly top-shelf, a stout cleverly named for the legendary Joe Cain, or more accurately, the many women who loved him, his Merry Widows. Craft beer and its beginnings – and the names attached to craft beer – very often have entertaining stories behind them. It would be nice to designate one person or collection of people to thank for his or her contribution to a civilized society that includes beer, but I am afraid no one actually stepped up to take credit for such a miraculous concoction. History indicates that the first beer was stumbled upon some 12,000 or so years ago as our hunting and gathering forefathers transitioned to an agrarian society. The Chinese fermented beverages using rice, fruit and honey some 9,000 years ago. The Sumarian poem Hymn To Ninkasi, circa 1800 B.C., provides us with the first recipe for beer. Christian monks are given NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 57

FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

894 Hillabee Street Alexander City, AL

OPEN EVERY SAT. 9am-4pm CLOSEOUTS • ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS • DISCOUNTED MDSE 58 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Playing into Wind and Cold

Pro Tips From Lee Williams

As we transition into fall – and then winter – we will begin to see cold fronts move in, and with these fronts, we normally see a lot of wind. In a golfer's world, this is a tough combination. First of all, you need to understand that the ball doesn’t travel as far in cold weather as it does in warm weather. The colder it is, the shorter the distance the ball will go. I recommend adding a minimum of 5 percent to your yardage in cold weather, giving you an equivalent number to what that ball would go in the summer. As if the cold air isn’t enough to throw off your game, wind can add another variable. The number one thing to keep in mind when playing in the wind is to take more club and swing smooth. The old saying, “When breezy, swing easy” is true. The only change I would make to the statement is smooth and not easy. Most average golfers have a hard time swinging off speed, and the word easy to me imparts an off-speed swing, as opposed to smooth, which means normal. Next, understand that to hit a more penetrating shot when the wind is in your face, you might want to start with the ball in the middle of your stance with your irons; with a driver, I recommend one ball width inside your left heel for right handed golfers (lefty is one ball width inside right heel). The last key to playing good golf in the wind is to focus on solid contact. Nothing affects a ball more in wind than a mis-hit shot. Good luck this fall and winter with the cold, breezy days that will inevitably lie ahead.

Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing at Willow Point Country Club. As an amateur, Williams was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Walker Cup teams, as well as the 2004 World Amateur Team. He is sponsored by Russell Lands, King Honda, Nowlin and Associates, P.F. Chang's, Tempus Jet, Hyatt Adams Golf, Russell Athletic, Titleist, Ameritas Financial Corp. and Southwest Airlines. NOVEMBER 2017

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Legend

20 To Sylacauga

Ti L

280

9 Churches

Alexander City

Public Boat Ramps 7

Camp ASCCA

Flint Hill Church

Camps & Parks

Power lines U.S. Highways

280

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

12 20

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church New Hope Church

Liberty Church

Willow Point

Equality

Kowaliga Boat Landing

Seman

Paces Point Boat Ramp

Camp Alamisco

9 18 The Ridge

1 10

Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis

Trillium

The Amp Ko w

ali

Central

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

16 11

60 LAKE

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor

Kent

NOVEMBER 2017

Timbergut Landing

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin Alabama Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

Jacksons Gap

53. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

280

Bethel Church

Dadeville

280

Camp Hill

Smith Landing

4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 16 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 17 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 18 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 19 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

. McDaniels Storage Center 20 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010

72. Alex City Marine Sales and Service 256-215-3474 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

21 . Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024

Restaurants 8 6. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 9 Catherine’s Market 6. 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Pleasant Ridge Church

4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 15 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact us at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

10 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 11 Bezlo's Cafe 334-639-0003 65 Main Street., Eclectic, AL 36024

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

Stillwaters

Business & Shopping

12 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

Walnut Hill 50 50

13 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010 14 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024

Reeltown

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 61

Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY

Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club

CHELSEA Larry’s General Store Longleaf Antiques Winn-Dixie Mark King's Lake Martin The Ditsy Daisy Boutique Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast CHILDERSBURG Queen’s Attic Piggly Wiggly Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse DADEVILLE Ridge - Marina American Watersports River North Marina Bay Pine Marina Riverbend Store Blue Creek Marina Russell Home Décor City Hall Russell Medical Center Chamber of Commerce Russell Lands Chuck's Marina Russell Retail Store Dadeville Wellness Center Satterfield, Inc Foshee's Boat Doc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Homeplate Restaurant Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Springhouse Restaurant Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts T.C. Russell Airport Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc Lake Martin Community The Medicine Shoppe Hospital The Sure Shot Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy USAmeribank Lakeside Marina Warren's Appliance Parts Niffer's At The Lake Willow Point Country Club Oskar's Cafe Wind Creek - entrance Payne Furniture Wind Creek - store Pearson’s Place Winn Dixie Poplar Dawgs 280 BP Public Library 280 Exxon Pug's Place

PNC Bank Renfroes Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank

KELLYTON

ECLECTIC

SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly

Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank

EQUALITY

Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market

RED HILL Citgo

TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce The Tallassee Tribune

WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery

Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star

WETUMPKA

INVERNESS Winn-Dixie Airwalk Ultimate Trampoline Arena Tree Top Family Adventure

A limited number of magazines are available at these locations. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

The Wetumpka Herald

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory

SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

OLMAN

LOOR

OMPANY

“WE’RE THE PROFESSIONALS”

Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!

haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City

Locally Owned for Over 45 Years

256-234-6071

Do you want to see your photos in the next issue of Lake? WE DO! Send in your Lake Scene and Where’s Lake photos. Please include the names of everyone pictured, a brief description and your location.

LAKE

MAGAZINE Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com 62 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory Roofing Services By

Residential | Commercial | Interior | Exterior

993 Yeager Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 O: (205)685-0040 F: (205) 685-0049 www.ApexRoofs.com

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EachCertaProPainters® businessis independently ownedandoperated.

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Patrick Mason 334-283-6759

205-995-7283

676 Dean Circle • Tallassee, AL www.coachkraft.com

Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval NMLS #47862 Corporate NMLS #452955

Performance!

Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting Powder Coat • Sand Blasting

Visit LoveLakeMartin.com

Paige Patterson

205-616-8046

LAKE

334-332-3435 334-391-0759

www.paigepatterson.com

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin. Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 63

Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 52

George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 48

Russell Medical........................................................ 2

Advanced Heating & Air...................................... 48

Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 52

Satterfield................................................................ 57

Alex City Guide Service........................................ 8

Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 68

Security Pest Control............................................ 8

Alex City Marine................................................... 52

Holman Floor......................................................... 62

SportzBlitz.............................................................. 65

Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........16

Jackson Thornton.................................................. 45

State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........62

Apex Roofing....................................................................63

Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 63

State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........63

Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 63

Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 29

Sunrise Dock.......................................................... 13

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation......................... 8

Lake Martin Dock................................................. 19

Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 64

C&T Eclectric........................................................ 48

Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 16

Temple Medical Center......................................... 8

Cahaba Glass............................................................ 6

Lakeside Marina..................................................... 58

TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5

CertaPro Painters................................................. 63

Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines............................. 58

Troy Cable................................................................. 6

Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 63

Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 47

UAB Heart & Vascular......................................... 53

Crew Lending......................................................... 63

McGhee Furniture Warehouse.......................... 58

Walmart.................................................................. 62

Custom Docks....................................................... 48

Noel Boone............................................................ 63

Wedowee Marine................................................. 17

Damon Story, Cedar Point................................. 33

Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......63

Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8

DAVCO Development......................................... 63

Prime Management............................................... 51

Wind Creek Casino............................................... 3

Designs by Trish....................................................... 5

Radney Funeral Home........................................... 6

WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 23

Docks Unlimited..................................................... 5

Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8

First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8

Russell Lands.......................................................... 67

64 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 65

Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone

“Everything you can imagine is real.” ~ Pablo Picasso

66 LAKE

NOVEMBER 2017

Memorable occasions at our place or yours Make an iMpressiOn.

catherine’s Market, kOwaliga, and springhOuse offer an enticing array of catering options sure tO leave their Mark On yOur cOrpOrate event , private dinner , Or lavish hOliday party . Holiday parties and dinners h Intimate in-home gatherings h Personal celebrations Business breakfasts, lunches or meetings h Private chefs at your location h Your venue or ours We’ll take care of the details, so you don’t have to.

Our catering planners are at yOur fingertips. Just cOntact us, and we’ll help yOu

make your occasion one to remember.

256.215.7070

www.CatherinesAtCrossroads.com

256.215.7080

256.215.7035 www.KowaligaRestaurant.com

NOVEMBER 2017

LAKE 67

www.SpringHouseAtCrossroads.com

FALL IN LOVE... WITH THESE PRICES

Bellamy Dining Room Suit by Magnussen

Broyhill Maddie Sofa as shown

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Mayo 4300 Sofa as shown

Reflections Queen Storage Bed by Vaughan Bassett

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68 LAKE

256.234.4141 Alexander City NOVEMBER 2017

334.279.3101 Montgomery