Elmore County
L i vi n g M A G A Z I N E
FALL 2011 • COMPLIMENTARY
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
It’s time for football and cooler temps
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t seems like the Fourth of July was just here and somehow summer flew by. It ended faster than any of us would like. High school football games have begun and we are anticipating the start of college football. The kids have been back in school a couple of weeks already. Labor Day signifies to us, and probably many of you, the end of summer. The last concert at the Amphitheater acts as the official send-off for lake dwellers who return to the hustle and bustle of everyday life that is surely at a much quicker pace than the life of lake living. While we complained about that cold winter we endured, and were looking ahead to spring and summer, some of you are probably glad to see the end of this hot summer we have experienced in central Alabama. It will not be long, however, before you wish it were back with us. When those cold winds of autumn bring in the frigid nights of November, you will yearn for a return to summer. The summer of 2011 has been a memorable one in central Alabama. A successful Bassmasters Elite Series came to Wetumpka and focused attention nationally on the quality of freshwater fishing on Lake Jordan. This marked the third year the top anglers have visited our area. Memorial Day and Fourth of July concerts at the Lake Martin Amphitheater were a huge blast and then there was Russell Lands’ AquaPalooza. It attracted thousands of bathing suit clad folks – young and old – to hear country music band Sawyer Brown and other local bands entertain the throng of people.
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This annual event in Elmore County is becoming one of the best known summer events anywhere. It should certainly earn attention from the Alabama Department of Tourism as one of the signature events in our state every year. Our friends at the Elmore County Economic Development Authority work hard on tourism, and business and industry recruitment, and events like AquaPalooza are one of the feathers in our cap when they go recruiting. Elmore County is not that little rural stop outside Montgomery anymore. We got more attention this year when the U.S. Census Bureau released its new figures. Those numbers show that more than 80,000 people now reside in one of the state’s fastest-growing counties. That is quite an impressive statistic when you consider that we are now talked about in the same breath as Shelby, St. Clair, Madison and Baldwin counties, when people are
talking about growth. U.S. 231 through much of the county has become one of the busiest thoroughfares in our state, rivaling even a stretch of the same highway that extends through north Shelby County. That traffic count is attracting attention from major retailers across the country. It means there will be fast-paced retail development when the economy rebounds. One prospect after another is looking into locating in Elmore County along that busy corridor because it is the next retail business “hot spot.” Restaurants and retail stores are looking at this corridor knowing that there are plenty of people to support any endeavor they bring here. When you consider that your population has almost doubled in the last decade, you realize the buying potential that 80,000 residents can provide to retail establishments. It is a positive sign for this area and tells us that there is something to the quality of life and living in Elmore County. This edition of Elmore County Living is about the different lifestyles of residents who call Elmore County home. Our writers and editors have provided you a great variety of stories to enjoy. Send a copy to your friends in other areas and show them what this area has to offer. Because before you know it, fall will turn into winter and we’ll be looking forward to a return to spring and summer once again. Time really does fly when you enjoy life! We’ll see you in the next edition of Elmore County Living. Enjoy your fall. Kim N. Price is president of Price Publications, Inc.
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
editor’s
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Welcome to a new year of Elmore County Living
ow! Sometimes things just sneak up and take you by surprise. One of those “light bulb” instances came soon after I settled in to begin writing the column you’re reading right now. I was thumbing through some previous fall issues of Elmore County Living in an effort to make sure I did not inadvertently write something too similar, and that’s when it struck me. As hard as it is to believe, this fall’s edition marks the beginning of the fourth year of this magazine. It truly doesn’t seem like it’s been four years since we published our very first issue of ECL. There is no question that putting together a magazine like this one is hard work. We are always on the lookout for interesting story ideas; and when we find them there are people to interview, photographs to be taken and the stories to write. Some of our staff members have to sell advertising and others have to create those ads. Then there’s
the challenge of “building” the magazine. That process can resemble putting together a jigsaw puzzle, trying pieces in one place or another until they all fit together to make a complete and seamless picture. But when you hold the finished product in your hands, any headaches or heartaches tend to fade away. Each and every person on our staff has some part in the creation of these magazines, and we are definitely proud of them. We have received lots of positive feedback from readers through the first three years of publishing Elmore County Living, and we thank you for all of the kind words. We hope you continue to enjoy the stories we bring to you about your county and communities, your friends and neighbors. Peggy Blackburn is managing editor of Price Publications, Inc.
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Inside Coupon Queen 14
24 Lifetime Learner
A local resident turns couponing into a mission to help others.
Preserving the Past 18
A member of the Southside Middle School faculty believes teaching is learning.
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12 28 Feature Home
Photographs capture events in Tallassee’s history.
A Lake Jordan house combines a retreat atmosphere with full-time living.
Hot Stuff 12 Alabama Barbecue Trail fires up cook teams.
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32 Out and About Images of Elmore County residents and visitors captured at events and locations around the area.
Big Fish Tales 18 Giant sturgeons were once caught in the Tallapoosa.
36 Calendar
Kings of the Road 20 Eclectic collector enjoys lifelong love of cars.
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A guide to local events from early September through late November.
Elmore County Living magazine is published by Price Publications, Inc. in conjunction with The Wetumpka Herald, The Eclectic Observer and The Tallassee Tribune. Copyright 2011 by Price Publications, Inc., all rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher. Kim N. Price - President/Publisher David Goodwin - Political Editor Tallassee Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor Kevin Taylor - Copy Editor Ashley Vice - Managing Editor Jay Goodwin - Operations Manager Griffin Pritchard - Sports Editor Willie Moseley - News Editor Shannon Elliott - Ad Manager Christy Cooper - Ad Sales Lauren Newman - Staff Writer P.O. Box 99 • 300 Green Street • Wetumpka, AL 36092 • 334-567-7811 On the cover - A brilliant sunset illuminates Elmore County High School’s jamboree football game. Photo by David Goodwin.
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
HELPING HANDS
Coupon Queen
Stephanie Herring with her personal coupon book and some of the coupons she and others collect for Peace, Love and Coupons, a group dedicated to helping others. PHOTO BY PEGGY BLACKBURN
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Local resident turns couponing into a mission to help others ––––––––––––
By Peggy Blackburn
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tephanie Herring didn’t intend to become recognized as an “expert” in “couponing” in the River Region. And, she didn’t set out to be the leader in a mission to help people in temporary trouble through couponing -- her own and that of others. She initially wanted to save money on her own family’s grocery and supply bills. Then she wanted to lend a helping hand to a friend who was going through a rough patch. But her efforts exploded far beyond those simple goals. “I had couponed a little off and on, but I got serious about it around a year and a half ago,” said Herring. “I was in real estate, but things weren’t good there because of the economy. “You can get coupons in the packs in newspapers or online,” she said. “Companies offer these coupons because they really want people to use them. They’re an incentive to get customers to try their products.” Herring’s couponing technique involves making shopping lists using sales circulars, then pairing store coupons and manufacturer’s coupons on sale items to realize the greatest savings. “Before, on a normal trip to the grocery store, I would
spend about $220 to $280 without coupons,” she said. “Now I spend around $120 to $130 using coupons.” In a short time, Herring said she had accumulated a stock of items purchased using coupons. Her stocked shelves now allow her to be very selective about what she buys each week. “Stocking your shelves is a perfectly normal thing,” Herring said. “Our forefathers used their harvests to stock their root cellars. This is the same kind of thing. “Do you need to buy 60 bottles of mustard? No, that’s silly -- but six is good.” Herring explained that most items in a store are on the shelves for six weeks, then at three weeks begin to be put on sale. “You have to change your way of shopping and look for ‘buy one, get one free’ items,” she said. “If you do that every week, your need to go to the grocery store is eventually less. “You can get great stuff with coupons -- it’s not junk. And there are some things I never have to pay for -- pickles, barbecue sauce, salad dressing and things like that.” Just as Herring began to obtain more and more free items through her couponing efforts, a family friend hit a financial rough spot. She offered to share items she had
“To give honestly from your heart, without expecting anything in return, is the greatest gift.”
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gotten at no cost. “A lot of people feel bad about taking money or other things, even when they need them,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to say ‘look at all the stuff I got for free, do you want some?’” Herring’s next move was to look for people who could use her excess coupons -- especially the ones soon to expire. “I was sure there were people out there who needed a little short-term help,” she said. “So I asked on my Facebook about people who needed help. I was stunned, overwhelmed, with the stories. I sat there and cried for hours.” Herring said she knew she had to try to help, and searched for a name for the effort. The inspiration for that name -- “Peace, Love and Coupons, Mammas Helping Mammas” -- came from her
daughter, Searcy Ann, in a dream. “I had about 30 people who needed help and I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “So I started a Facebook page for Peace, Love and Coupons.” Others quickly joined in Herring’s efforts -- donating coupons and items purchased through couponing to help those in need. “I am amazed at the love and support in this county,” she said. “Groceries show up at my door. Coupons show up in my mailbox. I keep those separated from my own. “Now it’s a weekly process of trying to get somebody taken care of,” said Herring. “Sometimes a simple thing like going grocery shopping can be a struggle. They’re in a crisis -- even if it’s just for that month. “I did missions as a kid and I wanted to get back to it. I always had a calling in my heart to do something to help people.” Herring and the others in her group ask for only one thing in return -- if someone receives assistance, they’re encouraged to “pay it forward” if they are ever presented with an opportunity. In addition to helping people in everyday times of trial, the Peace, Love and Coupons group also helped three families affected by the April 27
6 tornado in Elmore County. “We worked with Winn Dixie and Hip2Save,” said Herring. “They had rounded up $150 to give to three families hit by the tornado. I took my coupon book and rallied Peace, Love and Coupons to try to get free staples so the money could be used for meat, etc. “We got about $1,000 in groceries for $400, and had a carload for each family.” Herring’s involvement with couponing continues to grow and change. Taking friends on trips to the grocery store, along with other shoppers’ interest while she was shopping, led to Herring teaching classes about couponing. “The first time I was asked to put a class together I struggled with it,” she said. “Then the classes took off and I’ve been doing them for about six months.” Herring said there is a $20 charge to attend a class, and the fee is used toward purchasing groceries for families that Peace, Love and Coupons helps. “I teach them how to find coupons,” she said. “I introduce them to free, user-
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011 friendly websites. I teach them about making a list and matching it to coupons. What I hope they learn is that this is a great way to save money. “Imagine if you can keep $250, $300 or $400 a month in your checking account instead of spending it on groceries,” Herring said. “For some people that lets them tithe at church. For some people that’s a power bill. A lot of people have just enough money for their bills and nothing else. Imagine what you can do if you got half of your grocery money back.” Herring said her version of couponing is nothing like the “extreme” type shown on a popular television program. “Couponing is wonderful,” she said. “But I think the TV show puts it in a negative light. I think it has kind of caused a stigma for those of us who do honest couponing. “I do it the honest way,” she said, explaining that some people have devised ways to use coupons fraudulently. “What I promise is realistic couponing.” Herring said one misconception is
that it takes many hours to organize and effectively use coupons. “Honestly, I spend about 30 minutes,” she said. “I don’t have time to spend hours and hours.” She stressed other positive facets of couponing as well. “You can send expired coupons to military families overseas,” Herring said. “They can use them for up to six months after the expiration date.” She said she also believes couponing teaching children an important life lesson, teaching them responsibility and organization, along with something even more valuable. “Kids get the message that it’s important to give back,” said Herring. “To give honestly from your heart without expecting anything in return is the greatest gift. “There isn’t a neighbor on this street who hasn’t brought coupons and items. But a lot of times the kids are the ones who run over here with the items, and they are always so excited. “They’ve learned that, one coupon at a time, you can make a difference.”
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Preserving the past By Lauren Newman
Tallassee Mill bridge, 1920. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Photos capture Tallassee’s history
hese moments in Tallassee’s history could have been lost forever. But thanks to a recent donation of photographs to the Talisi Historical Preservation Society, evidence of significant Tallassee developments will be remembered for generations to come. The photos range in date from the late 1910s to the mid-1940s and showcase important happenings for the old Tallassee mills, dams and neighborhoods. “I get so excited when we get something new about Tallassee,” said local historian Bill Goss. “We are fortunate to have so much recorded, but it makes you wonder how many more envelopes full of pictures are still out there.” Goss often scours the Internet looking for Tallassee artifacts, anything that will help piece together the puzzle of Tallassee’s rich history. Oftentimes, it’s Tallassee’s own residents who are holding the pieces, but they do not even
realize it. “That’s the problem,” Goss explained. “People just don’t know the value of some of the things they have and they throw them away.” A recent donation to the Talisi Historical Preservation Society, made by Brenda Holt, could just be the tip of the iceberg of what is still out there for THPS to preserve. Goss said when the mill closed, THPS members asked for all memorabilia to be donated to the society, but that did not happen. It turns out many mill associates and families were given important relics for their personal collections. “We don’t know how many more are out there,” Goss said. “We’d like to have any items relating to Tallassee’s history for the museum.” The museum, an important part in the redevelopment of the riverfront on the west side of the Tallapoosa River, will serve as a permanent home for any and all historical artifacts from the area col-
lected by THPS. “Every day I spend as many hours as I can looking up and preserving history,” Goss said. “I want to encourage people to always share with us what they have. Again, people do not realize the historical significance of these items.” As for Holt’s donation, Goss said they now have evidence of the construction of the filter plant in 1924, something they had never seen documentation of before. They also have pictures documenting the construction of Thurlow Dam, the opening of the Benjamin Fitzpatrick Bridge and what is now known as the pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian bridge was once known as the 1920 Tallassee Mills Bridge. It was a toll bridge when it first went into operation, Goss said. But in 1925, Elmore and Tallapoosa counties paid the mill a fee to eliminate the toll for bridge users. “The purpose of this bridge was to connect the two mills and the two coun-
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
(Above) Tallassee Falls in 1920.
ties,” Goss said. The Benjamin Fitzpatrick Bridge opened in 1940 with a major celebration, as it is one of the world’s longest curved bridges in existence. As for the construction of Thurlow Dam, it was built in 1928 on top of a previous dam that was not able to hold the waters to prevent flooding. “If Thurlow had not been built, (the previous dam) would not have been able to hold up,” Goss said. “Floods would interrupt the train service and other transportation.” Today, Thurlow Dam remains in operation and is still regarded as a spectacle when its flood gates are opened a few times each year. Anyone who has any photographs, documents or other relics they would like to donate to THPS to be preserved, should contact Goss at 334-283-2163.
(Below) Construction of the Tallassee Filter Plant, 1924.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Dale Segrest of Tallassee tends the grill during the Cookin’ on the Coosa barbecue contest held in Wetumpka this summer. PHOTO BY PEGGY BLACKBURN
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
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Barbecue Trail fires up cook teams By Kevin Taylor
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here are many trails winding through the state of Alabama. Some are conventional hikes through wooded areas of the state, but others are geared more toward a variety of different hobbies. For example, Alabama has a quail trail where hunters can visit hunting camps to scare up a covey of bobwhites. But there’s another trail which has quietly made a name for itself because the South and barbecue go hand in hand. The Alabama Barbecue Trail – established by the Alabama Barbecue Association – highlights barbecue contests throughout the state for both professionals and backyard barbecuers. The 2011 Alabama Barbecue Association’s trail began in late February in Gurley and will close out the first weekend in December at Christmas on the River in Demopolis. One of the stops this year was here in Elmore County at the inaugural Cookin’ on the Coosa, which benefits the Elmore County Community Foundation. “We had been doing a golf outing as a fundraiser for the foundation for the past five years and our board asked to come up with something different,” said Burton Ward, development director. The idea of a barbecue cook-off was suggested and overwhelmingly approved by the foundation’s board. “They loved the idea of the cookoff, so it was our challenge to find some existing event we could partner with,” Ward said.
Competitors at Cookin’ on the Coosa spent many hours preparing their entries for presentation to the judges. PHOTO BY PEGGY BLACKBURN
ALABAMA BARBECUE TRAIL COMPETITIONS Sept. 9-10 Founders Day – Mt. Vernon Sept. 16-17 Decatur Jaycees 17th Annual Riverfest Sept. 23 Brantwood Children’s Home Cook-Off – Montgomery Oct. 6-8 Oktoberfest BBQ Challenge – Cullman Oct. 7-8 Butler Fest – Butler Oct. 14-15 Octoberfest Family Day – Rogersville Nov. 4-5 Sucurnochee BBQ & Blues Cook-Off – Livingston Nov. 12-13 Southeastern Sudden Death Rib-Off – Orange Beach Dec. 2-3 Christmas on the River – Demopolis
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
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Chef Paul Norton of Creek Casino Wetumpka tends to a grill during Cookin’ on the Coosa. PHOTO BY PEGGY BLACKBURN
For the third year in a row Wetumpka was scheduled to host the BASS Toyota Trucks All-Star Week, so calls were made. “The City of Wetumpka and BASS took us on with open arms, and it was a tremendous success,” she
said. The foundation almost doubled the amount it raised with its previous years’s fundraiser – money which goes to benefit local charities as well as award more than $50,000 in scholarships. More than 20 teams signed
up to compete in the inaugural competition. And most of the competitors found out about the event once it became a part of the 2011 Alabama Barbecue Trail. “We had competitors from outside the state and from all over the state as far as Citronelle,” Ward said. Ward said by being a part of the trail, it significantly helped in attracting competitors. In fact, Cookin’ on the Coosa had more competitors than some barbecue contests which are sanctioned by the well-known Kansas City Barbecue Society. “I hope we get more entries next year,” Ward said. “We’ve already started working on next year’s event.” Seeing the immediate impact the trail had on Cookin’ on the Coosa, another local barbecue competition will
join the Alabama Barbecue Trail next year. Tallassee NOW held its first barbecue competition earlier this year and had almost a dozen competitors. Now, after joining the trail, it will be interesting to see how many competitors will sign up next time. The Alabama Barbecue Trail winds its way through the entire state. January is the only month in which a competition is not held in Alabama on the trail. For now, the trail will warm up again in the second week of September with a stop off in Mt. Vernon Sept. 9-10. From then until the first weekend of December there will be the sweet smell of smoked pork and tangy sauce throughout the state, all along the Alabama Barbecue Trail.
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
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Toddler William Ward on the head of a giant Gulf sturgeon. He was held there by his grandfather, Leander Ward, c. 1930. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
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Big fish tales...
Giant sturgeons were once caught in the Tallapoosa By Willie G. Mosley
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t’s not exactly Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman or some other mythical creature, but gigantic, ferocious-looking fish were once caught in the Tallapoosa River below Thurlow Dam in Tallassee. More than 70 years after the accompanying photos were taken, legends of the migration of Gulf sturgeons to the eastern Elmore County area still fascinate local history buffs. Many longtime local residents have heard stories about the size of the sturgeon in the photo where a small boy perched on top of it – including a report that it took two mules to drag it to shore. Several years ago, Tallassee writer Pete Cottle researched the local legends about such fish, and obtained the photographs here from the family of William Ward – the two-year-old seen in the photo of a single fish surrounded by onlookers. According to Nick Nichols, assistant chief of fisheries for the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the fish in the photo appears to be a Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), one of four sturgeon species native to Alabama waters. Nichols explained that before the time of dam construction in the Mobile basin, Gulf sturgeons migrated annually up river systems
from their habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico to spawn. Sturgeons are an ancient breed of fish, basically unchanged from the time of dinosaurs. One of the four native Alabama species, the Alabama sturgeon, is endangered (and has been thought to be extinct). Nichols also noted that what appear to be fangs on the sturgeon are actually “barbels,” which he said “... are similar in function to the ‘whiskers’ on a catfish.” When asked several years ago about the old photo, William Ward said he had no childhood memories of sitting on the sturgeon’s head. The image shows Ward’s grandfather, William Leander Ward propping his grandson on the fish he caught. The man in the rear of the photograph, wearing a white cap and overalls, has been identified as Herbert Owens, the younger Ward’s uncle. Others in the photo have not been identified. But William Ward did remember the two sturgeons in another photograph. Leander Ward was posed between the two fish, and William Ward recalled, “I was about five when that was taken, because we moved out to Friendship when I was six.” His remembrance dated that photo around 1933, meaning the other photograph would have been taken about 1930. The sturgeons were caught on the Tallapoosa River at Lambert Plantation, south of Tallassee. George Lambert was William Ward’s great-uncle.
Leander Ward with two sturgeons he caught in the Tallapoosa River, c. 1933. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
William Ward said the Lambert property began around the present location of the GKN Aerospace facility and extended all the way to the old B&SE railroad bridge. “He caught more than those three,” William Ward said. “But that one in the picture I’m in was the biggest one he ever caught.” William Ward grew up to work with Tallassee businesses such as Ingram Bus Lines and Sizemore & Sizemore. He was a veteran of the Korean War and died in April 2007 at the age of 79.
KINGS OF THE ROAD Eclectic collector enjoys lifelong love of cars By David Goodwin
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ack Johnson got his first car when he was six years old. It didn’t have any wheels, and his daddy left it out behind the house, always planning to do something with it. “But I drove that thing all over the yard,” Johnson said. From that first experience came a lifelong love affair with American automobiles. For decades, Johnson has maintained a secret stash of Detroit steel in an old tin garage a few yards off Eclectic’s main drag. “I like to collect a little of everything,” he said, while shining his 1950 Buick sedan. And his cars are from a different age. Acres of chrome adorn the Buick, a “three-hole” model with a V6 that Jackson said was the “poor-man’s Buick” of
that era, compared to the 4-hole V8. That name came from hand-sized “porthole” accents that double as grips for the side-rising hood. Some of the cars carry a thick coat of dust. Others are only half-dusty. At 87, Johnson loves to shine them up, but he doesn’t always have the stamina to wipe down the entire collection. As he walks in the door of the garage, a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe shines in perfect royal blue. Johnson loves its little details. He shows off the cotton shade on the rear window, the little bits of chrome that make the dashboard sparkle. Johnson needs some help twisting the shiny handle on what would be the trunk of a modern car. The hatch pops up to reveal a brown-cushioned seat just big enough for a pair of friendly passengers. It’s a rumble seat. “That’s the worst-riding thing I’ve ever seen,” Johnson said. “I remember a lady who asked to ride in it. She yelled
and had to get out, said ‘I can’t ride in this thing; I can’t stand it.’ “But it’s a pretty little car.” Porter Paige is Johnson’s long time friend and the self-described “streetwatcher” at Johnson’s Hardware. He’s usually found in one of the white rocking chairs where local men have watched Eclectic drive and walk by for decades before heading back to the farm or job site. Paige calls Johnson “A.J.” sometimes, as Johnson’s full name is Andrew Jackson Johnson. Other times it’s “Cracker Jack,” which draws a chuckle from Johnson when repeated. “He comes up here as often as he can,” Paige said. “He gets out and wipes them down, tries to get them all, as many as he can. He enjoys the effort though.” The Model A shares a room with a burgundy 1941 Chevy. Johnson gently drags his hand down its fender as he walks to the door to the larger room.
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Jack Johnson with his 1931 Model A.
There he passes a 1939 Chevy Standard. Paige said Johnson has kept that car more than 50 years, and he’s only the second owner it’s had. “Jack went and bought it as soon as he heard the other guy traded it in,” he said. It only cost him $250. “It’s hard to believe now, but that was a lot of money back then.” Next is an Oldsmobile Toronado that’s clearly the baby of the bunch, dated 1984. And in the back corner is a 1935 Chevy Coupe. It carries the thickest layer of dust, but that’s only because it’s hardest to get to. “You wouldn’t believe it, but that’s the best-running one he has out there,” Paige said. “When he gets it out, it’ll still run like a sewing machine.” There’s a red ‘68 Chevy pickup, then the long, bulky Buick. Johnson urges you to climb in the wide bench seat, to get a good look at the
PHOTO BY DAVID GOODWIN
chrome accented steering wheel and dash. “He likes showing them off to people,” Paige said. Last week, a couple from New Jersey were in town having lunch. They heard about Johnson’s car collection and stopped in to see if they could sneak a peak. Johnson was at the store, so he gave them the grand tour. “He loves working on them, and he especially loves showing them off,” said Karen Jarrell, Johnson’s caregiver. The cars are most often seen out in the sunlight during the annual Cotton Festival in downtown Eclectic. He also has a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with a two-tone baby blue paint job. It stays at his niece’s house, and finds its way back onto the highway from time to time. Paige tends to the hardware store Johnson’s father founded almost 100 years ago. The first incarnation of George B. Johnson’s Hard-
ware was in Susanna, where men worked through the early 20s damming up the Tallapoosa River to form Lake Martin. The old hardware store, and most of Susanna, now lie at the bottom of Lake Martin. “A lot of our old time customers are dead and gone,” Paige said. “Folks used to buy all their stuff in here.” Johnson’s daddy and Uncle Ben moved to Eclectic after the dam was completed.
Main Street was a dirt road back then, Paige said. “They still had a hitching post out there for a long time.” The car collection will soon be on display again, with the Cotton Festival just a month or so away. They are the starting point on which the classic car show is built. Johnson worked slowly through the month of August to get his collection all polished up. It’s almost their time to shine once again.
Looking through the window of one of Johnson’s classic cars. PHOTO BY DAVID GOODWIN
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Lifetime learner
For Monson teaching is learning By Ashley Vice
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atthew Monson loves to teach, he said, because he loves to learn. “Kids teach me on a daily basis—to stay young and be young at heart,” said Monson. “They surprise me and encourage me every day.” That encouragement, and the positive atmosphere Monson said he enjoys at Southside Middle School in Tallassee, have led to some big accomplishments. Over the past two years Monson has formed meaningful relationships with his students, become a new father, lost 72 pounds to better his health, become the new soccer coach at Tallassee High School and nearly completed his master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Learning to lead Monson’s bachelor’s degree in education is from Auburn University, but Auburn Montgomery, he said, has provided a much more personal atmosphere for his master’s work. “My goal in education has always been to be a leader, not just of my peers, but school children as well,” he said. He hopes to one day be a principal, and in getting there
Monson said the administration at Southside has been extremely helpful. “Principal (Kenneth) Varner and vice principal (Bruce) Dean have been instrumental in helping me achieve that goal,” Monson said. Last year he had the opportunity to be a leader among his peers when Monson decided to participate in a staff competition structured like NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” Monson said 15 to 20 faculty members competed during each nine-week school period. “My father died of complications from diabetes when I was 20, being a new father I didn’t want my child to see that,” he said. So Monson and other teachers at Southside encouraged and supported each other through weight loss efforts. Today Monson is 72 pounds lighter with, he said, his peers to thank. After 20 pounds of weight loss Monson said his doctor recommended lap band surgery. The surgery, which is designed to help with portion control, helped Monson lose the rest of the weight. “I hope I can be a sounding board and encourage other people the way they did me,” he said.
Standing out from the crowd At his first teaching job Monson said he felt he was getting lost in the shuffle.
“I didn’t stand out to the kids,” he said. “I needed some way to be remembered.” On a shopping trip with his wife, Mandy, Monson noticed a store clerk wearing a bow tie, and knew he’d found his way to stand out in the crowd. “It gets the kids’ attention, and it also opens doors for them to get to know me better,” he said. At last year’s SMS graduation several of Monson’s students wore bow ties in his honor. “It was extremely complimentary,” he said. The bow tie, according to Monson, also serves to show that he takes pride in his appearance, just one of many old-fashioned values the history and social studies teacher looks for new ways to impart to his students. “The idea is to get kids to relate past events to what they’re seeing currently,” Monson said. “They can learn so much from history, like respect and identifying the consequences to actions.” Staying current, he said, helps him to foster interest in the past. “I don’t want to be, as my mother used to say, the ‘sage on the stage,’” he said. “When I can sing the latest top 40 hit or dance and joke with the kids in the halls, it lends validity to what I’m teaching. When I know the same things they do and I can
relate to them they get a kick out of that.” Being able to relate works both ways, Monson said. Because he tries to see things from a child’s perspective he’s often surprised by what he learns. “Sometimes we don’t give kids enough credit,” he said. “These kids are smarter than me, funnier than me, they’ll do greater things than I could ever imagine. I try to use their vitality to make every day interesting.”
The hook Monson said his bow tie is a visual hook, a way to get the students to remember him. Similarly the school has implemented a campaign to encourage character and values in its students. The 212 degrees program focuses on the very small amount of effort needed to make a very large difference. “At 211 degrees water is hot,” Monson said. “At 212 degrees it’s boiling, it’s changing states, becoming a gas.” Posters around SMS and Tshirts ask “Have you given one extra degree today?” Monson said he’s taken the slogan to heart and truly believes the students have too. As a coach, a teacher, a father and a mentor he’s working to put in that extra degree and hopes that the idea will spread from students to parents and into the community.
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011 Matthew Monson teaching a class at Southside Middle School in Tallassee. PHOTO BY ASHLEY VICE
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At home on the water
This Lake Jordan home features a pool, porch area, deck and more. PHOTO BY KEVIN TAYLOR
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(At left) A view of the swimming pool. (Bottom right) Inside the home’s dining area.
Lake Jordan house combines retreat, full-time living By Kevin Taylor
W
hen Kristen Spidel and her husband purchased this home on the banks of Lake Jordan they saw potential. They also saw more than just a weekend retreat; and they transformed it into a full-time lake home with all the amenities to not only entertain but raise a family. The 2,189-square-foot home, which is being listed at $349,900, is situated at the end of a slough away from the busy waters of Lake Jordan, so lake living can be enjoyed peacefully. The 1 1/2 story home, which was built in 1998, is perfect for a family with 3 bedrooms and 2 full and 2 half bathrooms. As you approach the rear entry to the home you are automatically put peacefully at ease thanks to the beautiful crystal blue water of the pool facing the back. In back of the pool is a pool house for changing out of your wet bathing suits. It also lends itself to serving as a great gathering point for outside entertaining. Once you’ve torn yourself away from the pool area, you enter the home and notice the huge open floor plan. To the right of the entrance is a sitting area with built-in adjustable book-
shelves. Beyond the sitting area is a spacious living room complete with wood-burning fireplace. It is flanked by an open kitchen area with breakfast bar and breakfast nook. All of the appliances are electric and are included with the home. The laundry room is tucked into the back of the kitchen area, as is a half bath. The laundry room area also is the entryway to a stairwell leading to the 275square-foot loft area, which could be used as an entertainment room or even another bedroom. The spacious master suite is complete with a gigantic bathroom which offers a Jacuzzi garden tub, separate shower and a two-sink vanity. Beyond the master bathroom is a huge walk-in closet. On the opposite side of the house are two other bedrooms and another full bath. There are two entry points to the serene porch area to take in the peaceful waters of Lake Jordan. The first entry point comes from the master suite, while the second is through the living room area. The porch area looks over more than 300 feet of water frontage and lends itself to being a great spot to entertain or just sit and soak up the peaceful atmosphere.
To the right of the covered porch area is an observation deck which could easily double as a sunning deck or future site for a hot tub. Also situated on the 1.7 acre lot is a fishing pier with an open boathouse with a lift and two mooring lines. Storage is not a problem either. The home has plenty of area for that with a large attic as well as a basement. The property also comes complete with a 3 1/2 car brick garage with workshop. Potential clients can contact ALFA Realty associate broker Mellanie Bailey at 334-567-6800 or direct at 334-2946005 to set up an appointment to view the home.
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Out and about at ... AquaPalooza
Tallassee Relay for Life
Wetumpka’s July 4th
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Bassmasters Tourney
Return of the 214th MP
Tallassee Street Dance
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Did you know? You can view Elmore County Living magazine online at TheWetumpkaHerald.com
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Elmore County Living • Fall 2011
Mark Your Calendar Summer Saturday Tours Sept. 3-Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jasmine Hill Gardens Flowering trees, shrubs and annuals along native stone walks in the 20acre gardens containing statues from ancient Greece and a full-scale reproduction of the Temple of Hera. Tickets available at Olympian Centre entrance. Cost $7 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, free for children under 6. Labor Day Weekend Concert Sept. 4, 6 p.m. Lake Martin Amphitheater Blues Traveler will headline the final concert of the summer’s Russell Lands on Lake Martin Concert Series. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 day of the show. Children six and younger free. For information, visit www.lmat.org or call 256-212-1479. Labor Day Barbecue Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eclectic United Methodist Church Annual sale conducted by the Men’s Club of Eclectic UMC. Boston butts, $30; camp stew, $8 per quart; barbecue meat, $9 per pound. Preorders recommended, limited quantities available. For tickets or information, call 334-541-3681. Millbrook Community Players: Auditions for “Fiddler on the Roof” Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 10, 3:30 p.m.; Sept. 12, 6:30 p.m. Millbrook Theatre A large cast of varying ages is needed. Show dates will be Jan. 1921 and 26-28, 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 22, 2 p.m. For information, call 334782-7317 or visit www.millbrook theatre.com. Health and Wellness Fair Sept. 10, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wetumpka Civic Center A variety of free health screenings information and services offered. Door prizes will be given. Sponsored by Friends of the Community. Fireman’s Fall Out Concert Sept. 10, 6 p.m. Tallassee Fire Dept. Training Center Featuring Markus Brunson, Legs
and Liquor, Kanye Twitty and Trotline. Tickets available from Tallassee merchants and firefighters. $10 for firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and military; $15 advance admission; $20 admission day of show. Children five and younger free with paid adult. Heroes Day Sept. 11, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Bethel Worship Center, Wetumpka All first responders -- military, law enforcement, fire, rescue and paramedics will be honored during two services. Navistar LPGA Classic Sept. 12-18 Senator Course, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Prattville The top female golfers will compete. Wheelin’ Sportsmen Fishing Roundup Sept. 17. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pete Peterson Lodge, Montgomery An opportunity for people with disabilities to enjoy outdoor activities, including fishing, crafts and lunch. No fee. Hosted by Alabama Power Service Organization and Elmore County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. For information, visit www.elmorecountynwtf. com or contact 334-850-2808 or jlgallop@southernco.com. Motorcycle Ride Sept. 17, 9 a.m. Children’s Harbor Lodge Benefits Children’s Harbor and Camp Conquest (burn camp). Registration 9 to 10 a.m. First ride out 10 a.m. Cost to ride and eat $50 (includes T-shirt). $60 for couples. Lodging available. Dinner at end of ride. For information, call Tammy Jackson at 334-857-2021. Camo Season Kick Off Sept. 17, 2:45 p.m. Thelma Baptist Church, Wetumpka All activities free. Registration required. Maximum 50 participants. First place in 3-D archery tournament wins a 2-day deer hunt. Must be present at dinner to receive prize trophies. Dinner includes guest speaker and door prizes. For information, visit www.ontargetout-
doorministries.com, email hunt@ontargetoutdoor ministries.com or call 334-301-6133.
For information and tickets, call 334-782-7317 or visit www.millbrooktheatre.com.
Alabama Nature Center General Public Weekend Sept. 17-18, Oct. 15-16, Nov. 19-20; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Alabama Wildlife Federation, Millbrook Enjoy hiking and learning about the natural history of central Alabama. Admission charged. For information, call 800-822-9453 or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.
Charity Golf Scramble Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m. Emerald Mountain Golf Club Hosted by Friends of Redland Elementary. Proceeds will be used to purchase books for the school library. Entry fee $75 per person. Lunch 11:30 a.m.; tee time 1 p.m. Door prizes, awards. For information or registration form, email jeenslen@gmail.com.
Taste of Eclectic Sept. 19, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Elmore County High School cafeteria Samples from area restaurants. Order tickets early, limited access. $10 adults, $5 children 4-12, children three and younger free. Sponsored by Eclectic The Beautiful, Inc. For information, call Verdie Nummy at 334-541-3180. Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon Sept. 21, 11:30 a.m. Wetumpka Civic Center Cost $15 if paid in advance and $18 if paid at the door. For reservations, call 334-567-4811. Alabama Festival and Event Development Conference Sept. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wetumpka Civic Center Conference focuses on planning, budgeting, funding, branding and publicity. $35 per person ($15 for Elmore County residents). For information, call 334-514-5843 or email ljordan@elmoreeda.com Millbrook Community Players: “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” Sept. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 25 and Oct. 1, 2 p.m. Millbrook Theatre Comedy surrounds a famous actress on vacation who invents a mad, homicidal sister to deter unwanted visitors. But she is suspeted of murder when she can’t produce her imaginary sibling. Tickets $8 in advance, $9 online and $10 at the door.
Titus Bluegrass Festival Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Titus Community Center Bluegrass music, barbecue and arts and crafts vendors in a shady grove. Featured groups: Southern Gentlemen, East Wind, Justice Family Bluegrass Band, Kelli Johnson and Chimney Peak. Tickets $5. Bring a chair. No alcohol or dogs. Proceeds benefit Titus Community Center. For information, call 334-567-9059 or 334-567-9798. Ready, Set, Grow! Harvest Festival and Arts and Crafts Fair Sept. 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Center Park, Millbrook The festival celebrates the Ready, Set, Grow! pumpkin growing contest, and includes arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music and food. Proceeds fund this free educational program for children 5-12. For information, call 334-269-5622 or 334-467-4593 or email rsgfestivals@ yahoo.com. Bark in the Park Sept. 25, 1 to 5 p.m. Fort Toulouse/Jackson, Wetumpka Features doggie games and competitions, vendors, concessions, live music, demonstrations and more. Admission $5 for 13 and older. All dogs must be leashed and have upto-date rabies shot. Hosted by the Humane Society of Elmore County. For information, call 334-567-3377 or visit www.elmorehumane.com. Fall Concert Sept. 25, 3 p.m. Wetumpka Civic Center The Wetumpka Pops will perform.
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011 Featured numbers to include “Star Wars, “Star Trek,” “My Fair Lady,” “Light Cavalry” and more. Crappie Masters National Championship Sept. 28-Oct. 1 Alabama River, Millbrook Includes meet and greet, welcome banquet and awards ceremony and weigh-in. Tecumseh at Tuckabatchee Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Patterson Log Cabin, Tallassee The Talisi Historical Preservation Society will present an outdoor drama that brings to life Native Americans on their journey from the west to Tuckabatchee. This year marks the 200th anniversary of legendary Shawnee leader Tecumseh’s visit in 1811 to the Tallassee area. Advance tickets $8 adults, $5 students. All tickets $10 at the gate. For tickets and information, visit www.tuckabatchee.com. The House of Holidays Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka A bazaar featuring arts, crafts, handmade knits, home decor, frozen casseroles, sweets, lunch and more. For information, call 334-322-2866. Wetumpka Depot Players: “Duck Hunter Shoots Angel” Oct. 6-8, 13-16, 20-22, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 16, 2 p.m. Wetumpka Depot Theatre A hilarious show, set in an Alabama swamp, about two bumbling brothers who think they have shot a celestial being. For tickets, call 334-868-1440, email kmeanor@wetumpkadepot.com or visit wetumpkadepot.com. Alabama Cotton Festival and Rook Tournament Championship Oct. 8, 8 a.m. until Downtown Eclectic Featuring the Alabama Cotton Queen Pageant, cotton exhibit, cotton run, pet parade, photo contest, inflatables and games, classic car show, pony rides, Alabama Rook Tournament Championship, art show, sweet treats contest, live music, local talent contest and more. No admission fee. For information, call 334-541-3581, email verdienummy@live.com or visit www.townofeclectic.com.
37 Coosa River Challenge Adventure Race Oct. 3 Route follows the Coosa River from Swayback Bridge Trail to Gold Star Park, Wetumpka The challenge includes mountain biking, trail running, river paddling, special tests. Format is two-person teams. Fee $50-$125 per team/ individual, depending on team and registration date. Pre-race party Oct. 7. For information, email info@coosariver challenge.com or visit www.trailoflegends.org.
Wetumpka Depot Players: Auditions for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Oct. 9 and 10, 6 p.m. Wetumpka Depot Theatre Roles available for adults and children of all ages. Those cast must be available for some daytime performances Nov. 29-Dec. 2. For information, call 334-868-1440, email kmeanor@wetumpka depot.com or visit wetumpkadepot.com. Unity Tailgate Oct. 13, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Brookwood Clubhouse
Hosted by the Elmore County Economic Development Authority. The tailgate will include food and fun. Attire is casual - wear team colors. $10 per person. For information, call 334-514-5843 or email eceda@elmoreeda.com. Tallassee Trade Day Oct. 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Historic King Street Arts and crafts vendors, children’s play area with games and shows, food vendors, entertainment and more. For more information, 334283-5151.
38 Color the Town Pink Walk Oct. 20, 12 to 1 p.m. Wetumpka Riverwalk Wear pink and walk in honor of a loved one or friend and for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Walkers will gather at the Wetumpka Civic Center fountain; then the walk will start on the riverwalk behind the Wetumpka Administrative Building and continue to Gold Star Park. Sponsored by The Wetumpka Herald and the City of Wetumpka. For information, call 334-567-7811. Annual Halloween Carnival Oct. 22, 5 to 8 p.m. Camp Chandler, Wetumpka Carnival games, little pumpkin playhouse, haunted house, raffle, inflatables, face painting, hayrides, marshmallow roast, cake walk, concessions, silent auction, trick-ortreating, a costume contest and more. Admission $5 per child (proceeds go to the Camper Scholarship Fund). For information, call 334229-0035 or visit www.campchandler.org. 3rd Annual Children’s Costume Candy Extravaganza Oct. 25, 4:30 p.m.
Elmore County Living • Fall 2011 Park behind the Wetumpka Administrative Building Sponsored by the City of Wetumpka and Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce. Children toddlers through fourth grade are invited to show off their favorite costume and receive special treats. Businesses are encouraged to participate by handing out treats. For information on reserving a spot, call 334-567-4811 or 334567-5147. Alabama Frontier Days Nov. 2-6, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fort Toulouse/Jackson State Historic Site Native American, Colonial and Early American reenactments, period entertainment and vendors. Admission charged. For information, call 334567-3002. Millbrook Community Players: “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” Nov. 3-5, 10-12, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 6 and 12, 2 p.m. Millbrook Theatre A comedy of errors ensues as a husband attempts to murder his wife, but instead kills other guests at a New Year’s Eve party. For tickets,
call 334-782-7316, email info@millbrooktheatre.com or visit www.millbrooktheatre.com. Christmas on the Coosa Pageants Nov. 4 and 5 Wetumpka Civic Center Nov. 4: Junior Miss - 7 p.m.; Nov. 5: Petite Miss - 12 p.m.; Little Miss - 3 p.m.; Miss - 7 p.m. Application deadline Oct. 3. Applications are online and available at Wetumpka and Holtville schools. For information, call 334-567-1384. Battles for the Armory Nov. 10-13 Gibson View Plantation, County Road 4, Tallassee The yearly Civil War Reenactment will begin Nov. 10 with school day activities. Battles Nov. 12 and 13 at 2 p.m. Period ball Nov. 12. Admission charged. For information, call 334-391-4017. Wetumpka Veterans Day Observance Nov. 11, 11 a.m. Location TBA Hosted by members of SmithLeonard VFW Post 4572 and its Ladies Auxiliary.
A Musical Tribute to Veterans Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, Wetumpka Veterans and active military will be honored and are encouraged to attend. The public is invited. Charis Crafters Craft Show Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wetumpka Civic Center The yearly “Home for the Holidays” event will offer an array of unique gifts, home decorations and baked goods. Admission charged. Tree Lighting and Nativity Illumination Nov. 29, 5 p.m. Gold Star Park and Riverwalk, Wetumpka Wetumpka will welcome the Christmas season with visits with Santa, seasonal music, refreshments, caroling and the official Christmas tree lighting. Following will be a new feature, nativity scenes will be lit along the riverwalk and church groups are expected to provide music and refreshments, along with a live nativity.
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A LAST LOOK
Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. — Vince Lombardi