December 2024 Clarke-Washington EMC

Stories | Recipes | Events | People | Places | Things | Local News December 2024

ClarkeWashıngton

ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORP.

2024 Christmas Card Coloring Contest Winners

Manager Steve Sheffiel Co-op Editor Sarah Turner ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, onsumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $12 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing offi e.

POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to: Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-4014.

Festival of the Cranes

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ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES:

340 TechnaCenter Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36117-6031 1-800-410-2737 For advertising, email: advertising@areapower.com For editorial inquiries, email: contact@alabamaliving.coop NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE:

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DECEMBER 2024

From live nativity scenes at churches to heirloom creche sets in our homes, nativity scenes are a visual reminder of the season.

20 Worth the Drive

An historic Enterprise restaurant has new chefs and a new focus on elevated cuisine.

34 Winning treats

Cranberries, white chocolate, toffee and pecans are just a few of the ingredients our readers used to create this year’s winning Christmas cookies and treats.

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D E P A R T M E N T S 11 Spotlight 29 Around Alabama 34 Cook of the Month 40 Outdoors 41 Fish & Game Forecast 46 Cup o’ Joe ONLINE: alabamaliving.coop ON THE COVER

Look for this logo to see more content online!

VOL. 77 NO. 12

9 Nativity scenes

ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

AREA President Karl Rayborn Editor Lenore Vickrey Managing Editor Allison Law Creative Director Mark Stephenson Art Director Danny Weston Advertising Director Jacob Johnson Graphic Designer/Production Coordinator Brooke Echols

Up to 30,000 sandhill cranes and 20-35 whooping cranes wing their way to Decatur’s Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge every winter on their way south. Their presence puts on quite a show for visitors who attend the January Festival of the Cranes.

Congratulations to fifth grade Clarke Prep student F inch Sheffield for submitting the fi st place winning entry in CWEMC’s Christmas Card Contest.

34 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

ONLINE: www.alabamaliving.coop EMAIL: letters@alabamaliving.coop MAIL: Alabama Living 340 Technacenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117

Get our FREE monthly email newsletter!

Sign up at alabamaliving.coop DECEMBER 2024 3

Office Locations Jackson Office 9000 Highway 43 P.O. Box 398 Jackson, AL 36545 (251) 246-9081 Chatom Office 19120 Jordan Street P.O. Box 453 Chatom, AL 36518 (251) 847-2302 Toll Free Number (800) 323-9081 Office Hours 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday - Friday (Drive-thru Hours)

Payment Options Mail P.O. Box 398 Jackson, AL 36545 P.O. Box 453 Chatom, AL 36518 Office During normal office hours at our Chatom and Jackson offices.

Phone (855) 870-0403 Online www.cwemc.com

Giving back is the cooperative way The holiday season brings a spirit of generosity and compassion. It’s a time to reflect on our many blessings and uplift those in need.

While this is certainly a special time of year, cooperatives like Clarke-Washington EMC are deeply rooted in giving back to their local communities year-round.

Our mission is reliable power. Our purpose is people––the members we’re proud to serve.

There are many examples of how we carry out our mission. One of those is the Annual Meeting, which was conducted last month. Member participation was on full display as more than 3,700 members participated in the process. It was a pleasure to get to visit with so many of our members during the drive-thru Annual Meeting registration last month and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you.

We also support and partner with many organizations across our service area each year to make a positive, meaningful impact in our community. It’s just part of the cooperative model. You help us power that purpose, too.

Another way Clarke-Washington EMC gives back is by investing in tomorrow’s leaders. Through presentations at local schools, scholarship opportunities and the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program, we aim to empower students for a brighter future. When we invest in our local youth, we strengthen the fabric of our community.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we believe in giving credit where credit is due––to the members who shape our co-op. One of the ways we do this is through capital credits.

Because Clarke-Washington EMC operates at cost, we give cash back to our members rather than outside investors or shareholders.

Here’s how capital credits work: Clarke-Washington EMC members use the electricity we provide and pay their monthly

bills, and we track their business with the co-op over time. Clarke-Washington EMC pays all operating expenses throughout the year, and if any operating revenue is leftover, we allocate it as capital credits. When financial conditions permit, the co-op’s board of directors votes to pay capital credits back to the members. This means Clarke-Washington EMC sends you a check.

The Clarke-Washington EMC Board recently approved the distribution of approximately $470,000 which represents margins from 1995. This distribution brings the total amount returned to our local members to more than $13 million.

Capital credits are just one of the many benefits of co-op membership. Giving back to our local members instead of outside parties is one of the many aspects that set cooperatives apart from other types of businesses.

Our members guide every decision we make and are the reason our co-op exists. To us, you’re more than a customer. This holiday season, we hope you’re proud to be part of a community-focused co-op that puts people before profits.

From your friends at Clarke-Washington EMC, we hope you have a bright, blessed holiday season.

Steve Sheffiel General Manager

Night Deposit 24/7 at Jackson & Chatom CWEMC App Available from the App Store and Google Play Bank Draft CheckOut Pay where you shop at any Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS Pharmacy and Walmart.

4 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

Clarke-Washington EMC held its 2nd Annual Christmas Card Contest in October. The contest was open to students in fourth through sixth grades who attend school in Clarke, Washington, Wilcox and Monroe counties.

The overall winners are featured below: Finch Sheffield of Clarke-Prep, Arabella Gamble of Jackson Intermedite School, 4th grade winner; Henleigh Rush of Thomasville Middle School, 5th grade winner; and Casen Hare of Clarke Prep, 6th grade winner.

As the overall winner, Sheffield receives 30 printed cards featuring his artwork to mail to family and friends, and a $100 cash prize. His design is featured on CWEMC’s annual Christmas card and on this issue of Alabama Living.

CWEMC truly appreciates all students who participated in the Christmas Card Contest.

Fourth Grade Winner Arabella Gamble Jackson Intermediate School

Fifth Grade Winner Henleigh Rush Thomasville Middle School

First Place Finch Sheffield Fifth grade, Clarke Prep

Alabama Living

Sixth Grade Winner Casen Hare Clarke Prep

DECEMBER 2024 5

DRIVE-THRU

ANNUAL MEETING RECAP 2024

6 DECEMBER 2024

For convenience, Clarke-Washington EMC conducted its annual meeting registration on October 16-17, 2024 at the Jackson Office and Chatom Community Center.

A total of 3,693 members registered over the 2 day period. Participating members received a $20 bill credit and were eligible for prizes. The first ticket drawn awarded the grand prize, a 2014 Ford F150, to Gwendolyn Crayton Powell of Wagarville.

Other winners of bill credits were: Nathan Benton, Carrie Mills, Ebony Sullivan, Elvis D Henson, Frank Nash, Charles H Stabler, Catherine Griffin, Megan Sikes, Tracy Allen Newton, John Bondurant, Rosie L Merida, John Hubbard, Austin Beaty and J G Clark.

Thank you to all of the members who helped make this year a success!

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 7

ANNUAL MEETING FURRY FRIENDS

8 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

Christmas Nativities

| Alabama Snapshots |

I hand-painted this set of nativity figurines my mother-in-law gave me 45 years ago. SUBMITTED

by Gwen Windham, Robertsdale.

Youth group of Detroit First Baptist Church in Lamar County. SUBMITTED by Amy Spruiel, Detroit.

Kayla Cox Taken, 3, admires a nativity scene at her church.

SUBMITTED

by Becky Cox, Ragland.

Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Leroy has had a live nativity scene for more than 40 years. SUBMITTED by Sallie Brown, Leroy.

February theme: “Out for a hike” | Deadline: December 31 Online: alabamaliving.coop | Mail: Attn: Snapshots, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 RULES: Photos submitted for publication may also be published on our website at alabamaliving.coop and on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to have photos returned.

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 9

Spotlight | December Grant will help improve rural road safety

Tours of the Governor’s Mansion are a highlight of the holiday season.

PHOTO COURTESY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Get in the holiday spirit with Governor’s Mansion candlelight tours The state Governor’s Mansion comes alive in the spirit of Christmas with the annual candlelight tours each December, when several rooms are open to the public and are decorated by volunteer designers from around the state. Each room displays a different style with a classic Christmas look. Children’s choirs provide music on the staircase of the mansion.

The tours will be Monday, Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 16 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pick up tickets at the Governor’s Mansion Gift Shop, 30 Finley Ave., or at the Alabama Tourism Gift Shop, on the first floor of the Alabama Center for Commerce building at 401 Adams Ave. The mansion’s address is 1142 S. Perry St. in Montgomery. The tours are free; email tours@mansion.alabama.gov or call 334-425-2818 for more information.

Find the hidden dingbat!

We are grateful for the more than 400 correct guesses we received about the November dingbat, which probably proves that the easier the search is, the more entries we’ll get. But that’s a good thing! Pamela Maten of Gilbertown said she was traveling to a teacher conference when she spotted the carving set on Page 22 on the side of the park pavilion. “It makes me crave Thanksgiving dinner!” she wrote. Alice and Charles Evans of Sulligent said they had help from their granddaughter, age 6, who was home with a sick day. “She was jumping up and down saying, ‘Look Nana, this is it. I found it, Nana!’” Congratulations to Tanya Meadows of Dothan, our randomly selected winner of a gift card from Alabama One Credit Union. We hope you’ll be jumping up and down when you find this month’s dingbat, a gingerbread house. Remember, it won’t be on Pages 1-8 or in an ad. Good luck!

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

10 DECEMBER 2024

Sponsored by

Rural Alabama communities are at high risk for pedestrian and cyclist accidents because roadways are designed for motorized vehicle travel. Safety improvements are necessary.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Thriving Communities program — in partnership with the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering — is addressing this issue thanks to a $504,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This funding will be used to develop safety action plans in five counties: Barbour, Bullock, Russell, Marion and Greene. These five counties have a high rate of crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists each year.

The plans will focus on enhancing road safety for those groups.

To learn more about creating a community plan for increasing safe walking and biking, visit ALThrivingCommunities.com.

Letters to the editor

E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

Readers love Hobby’s gift for words

I so look forward each month to your last page story ("Cup o' Joe"). When my Alabama Living magazine comes in the mail and I separate the mail, it goes in my stack by my chair, so as soon as I can (I start from the back ) I read what you are sharing with us this month. So with all the unnecessary words above, I just want to say I really admire your talent and love your gift for words and the stories you tell. Keep up the good work. God’s blessed you with a talent so it’s to share, lol. Thank you for sharing with us Alabama peeps.

Regina Ham, Troy

From dark to light

I was very much impressed with your article in the September issue (“God and the Rolling Stones”). I always enjoy your writings, but this one I will copy and share with family, friends, customers, etc. I’m guessing it took a bit of courage to write. It would have taken a LOT of courage for me! It’s refreshing to hear of dark and difficult situations that have evolved into healed and manageable situations. From dark to light. How great is that?

Thank you again. God bless.

Lee Racine, Robertsdale

Tears for simple times

I turn 65 next week. Somehow you really struck a chord in my heart (“The Little Woods, a place of magic,” Nov. 2024). And as long as I’m at it, I might as well confess…it caused me to literally weep for simple times. Thank you!

Ralph Mitchell, Foley www.alabamaliving.coop

December | Spotlight

Whereville, AL

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative, if applicable. The winner and answer will be announced in the January issue.

December’s answer: This little post office building is in southeast Conecuh County. Immigrants of South Carolina settled in the area in the 1870s, and as the population increased, residents requested a post office with a biblical name.

The postal service approved the request in 1907 and named the post office Paul. The postal service closed the Paul, Ala. post office in 1987. It was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on June 21, 2013. (Photo courtesy of RuralSWAlabama.org). The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Mark Nicholson of Baldwin EMC.

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@ alabamaliving.coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

 Roland and Carolyn Hendon of Mentone traveled all the way to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, where they saw giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies. Hendon is a member of the Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and is vicechair of the Alabama Rural Electric Association Board, which publishes Alabama Living.

 Scott Nick of Oneonta, formerly of Central Alabama EC, dove way down to read his magazine. This photo was taken at San Pedro Island, Belize, at Ramones Dive Resort, sponsored by Southern Skin Dive Center.

 Casey, Julie, and Vanessa Shiver of Andalusia, members of Covington EC, traveled to the Mayan Cacao Company in Cozumel, Mexico.

Alabama Living

 Larry and Kenneth Capps, retirees from Dixie Electric, Union Springs and Montgomery, along with their wives, Sharon and Dianne, took Alabama Living with them on a 15-day cruise to Hawaii. The photo was taken at See more Take us along! on Page 39 Rainbow Falls on the big island of Hawaii.  Jim and Sandra Warren of Dothan, Wiregrass Electric Coop members, visited the Grand Canyon with their magazine.

DECEMBER 2024 11

Bellingrath

‘Magic Christmas in Lights’ is year-long project

‘Tis the season, but at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, the season began early. Workers have been rolling out Bellingrath’s Magic Christmas in Lights since August.

12 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

By Emmett Burnett

Custom-made set pieces unique to the show Most of us never have the need to decorate outdoor Christmas Bellingrath also has its own metal shop, an intricate part of trees in summer, under a National Weather Service heat advisory.

Magic Christmas in Lights. During the year, metal workers bend, Most of us are not Hayley Zirlott. fabricate, and weld metal into unique set pieces. With chalk in Wearing bracelets of Christmas tree lights and perched on a 10hand, workers draw the area on the ground where set pieces will foot step ladder, Zirlott explains the task: “Crisscross the strings. sit. “The pieces are made to fit, Don’t wrap lights around the painted, and given to us to tie tree. That makes the tree lights the lights on,” adds Wells. look striped.” Duly noted.

Almost everything you see

By Nov. 23, three million in the show is custom-made, Christmas lights had been inunique to Bellingrath. stalled, illuminating 65 acres.

August is when designs, In addition, workers installed plans, and good ideas meet 500 set pieces, 49 pole Christlabor. Lasseigne explains: “We mas trees, and holiday finery wrap the trees first, then come throughout the grounds. back and do the shrubbery.

By Jan. 5, an estimatUsually in October we start ed 90,000 visitors will stroll adding set pieces.” through what USA Today proThe show opened Nov. 29 claimed in 2022 as “The 9th and ends Jan. 5. The show is Best Botanical Garden Holiday closed Christmas Day and New Lights in America.”

Year’s Day. The work, however, “This is our top attraction,” never stops. notes Bellingrath Gardens and “During the show’s run, my Home Director Dr. Todd Lasteam arrives every day about seigne. “It is crucial to put on two hours before the doors this event. It pulls in people open,” says Wells. “We turn the who have never been to Bellpower on.” ingrath before.”

She explains that one does Many have questions. not just flip a switch to activate Lasseigne recalls, “First time three million lights. “It takes visitors often ask ‘where can over an hour to power up,” says we go and not go?’ I tell them, the manager. “It’s not just one just don’t go where there are big switch. The lights are conno lights.” That is not easy. trolled in multiple panels.”

Lights cover the entire 65-acre Once Bellingrath is glowing electrical extravaganza. in Christmas colored lights, The director adds, “another crews walk the paths visitors question we receive is, ‘How Bellingrath Gardens and Home worker Hayley Zirlott strings holiday lights will soon tread, looking for much is your power bill?’ on trees in preparation for Magic Christmas in Lights. The photo was taken problems. “You will always find Actually, since most of our on the gardens’ first day of decorating for Christmas, Aug. 12. something needing attention,” lighting is now LED, the powPHOTO BY EMMETT BURNETT Wells adds. “We have to make er bill is less than in previous those corrections right now, often hours before the night’s show.” years. The show’s electric power costs will run about $10,000 to At 4 p.m. the doors open and the show begins. Bellingrath Gar$15,000.” dens and Home, one of Alabama’s most famous attractions (it’s Light Crew Manager Melissa Wells and her team ensure everymentioned in To Kill a Mockingbird) transforms into an electric thing stays illuminated. “From August to November, as sets are winter wonderland. installed, we test the lighting,” she notes. “Things can go wrong – like when squirrels chew the wiring. We’ve had that happen.”

Less crowded on weeknights Another query inquiring minds want to know is when the “Try to come earlier than 4 p.m.,” says Bellingrath Marketing planning process begins. “The answer is, planning never stops,” and Public Relations Disays Lasseigne. “Many rector Cassidy Smith. “Try people are surprised that Visitors meander through a dazzling display in garden and coming on weeknights. we work on our Christmas home holiday themes, including “Under the Sea,” Mardi Gras, Usually it’s not as crowded lights show full time.” as the Friday – Saturday Preparation for next majestic swans, elves, Santa Claus, Nativity scenes and more. shows.” year’s event begins the day “Believe it or not,” Wells after the last one. “Melissa adds, “as for crowd sizes, one of the best nights to come here is and I will discuss what scenes to include next year and any changChristmas Eve. We have our traditional families who make this es needed,” says Lasseigne. “New sets and pieces are added every part of their Christmas but for others, Dec. 24 is not as crowded year.”

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 13

as other nights.”

“Many people visiting Magic Christmas in Lights do not realize the gardens are open during the day too,” adds Wells. “Fresh poinsettias, paperwhites, and other winter plantings are everywhere. I tell people to see the gardens during the day. By the time you are finished, the Magic Lights of Christmas lights up.”

Guests are illuminated, too. Visitors meander through a dazzling display in garden and home holiday themes, including “Under the Sea,” Mardi Gras, majestic swans, elves, Santa Claus, Nativity scenes and more.

“Visitors do not realize how big this display is,” Lasseigne says. “It is one of the largest in the country. People become immersed in the scene. They want that. Our guests want more than just seeing pictures. They want to be in it.”

Yes, visitors are in a scene planned last January, implemented last summer or fall, and enjoyed from the day after Thanksgiving to early New Year, as if by magic, a Magic Christmas in Lights. PHOTOS COURTESY BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME

Information

12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore DATE: Nov. 29 – Jan.5, 2025 | Closed Dec. 25 & Jan.1 TIME: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Lights turned on by 5 p.m.

During Magic Christmas in Lights, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., members are admitted to Bellingrath Gardens & Home free. After 12:00 p.m. members must purchase Magic Christmas in Lights tickets at the member discount rate.

Parking is complimentary. Wheelchairs and wagons are available for a $6 rental fee on a fi st-come, fi st-served basis Hot cocoa and snacks are available for purchase on Live Oak Plaza; hot evening meals are available in the Magnolia Café nightly from 4 to 8 pm.

Bars offering beer and wine are available for purchase in the Magnolia Café and on Live Oak Plaza, as well as Irish coffee at the midpoint of the walking tour.

More details, bellingrath.org/discover/magic-christmasin-lights/

14 DECEMBER 2024

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Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 15

Up to 30,000 sandhill cranes and 20-25 whooping cranes fly to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge each winter to take advantage of the 35,000-acre habit for migratory birds. The annual Festival of the Cranes, set for Jan. 10-12, is expected to attract more than 6,000 visitors to the Decatur-Huntsville area to see the cranes and enjoy cultural and educational programs.

CRANE PHOTOS BY GEORGE LEE

Cranes are celebrity ambassadors for wildlife refuge

By Katie Jackson

B

ack in the early 1990s, a small group of snowbirds on their way south for the winter made a rest stop at Decatur’s Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and ended up staying for the entire season. Word of this new-found overwintering wonderland apparently spread because today it’s a favorite destination for thousands of seasonal migrants.

These “snowbirds” are of the avian, rather than human, variety — migratory sandhill and whooping cranes that spend summers in the Great Lakes region and northern Canada and fly south to warmer climes in the winter.

Traditionally, they overwintered in southern Georgia and northern Florida, but that began to shift northward when, in 1992, three sandhill cranes made WNWR their winter home.

Over the next several years, more sandhills joined them, and the seasonal population grew to some 500 cranes in 2005, including several endangered whooping cranes that began arriving the year before.

Today between 10,000 to 30,000 sandhill cranes and 20-25 whooping cranes sojourn at the WNWR each winter to take advantage of all the 35,000-acre refuge has to offer. Located along the Tennessee River above Wheeler Dam, the WNWR was established in 1938 to provide wintering and breeding habitat for

16 DECEMBER 2024

Birder and conservationist Christopher Joe is one of more than a dozen speakers and entertainers slated for the 2025 Festival of the Cranes. Joe, who founded Connecting with Birds and Nature Tours on his family’s farm in Greensboro in 2018, will talk about creating small ecotourism projects to boost tourism in the state. His brother, artist Timothy Joe, will demonstrate the techniques he uses to create images of nature and rural life.

PHOTO BY TREY MOODY

ducks, geese and other migratory birds and wildlife. Much of the area is drained in the summer to control mosquitos and reflooded in the winter, which WNWR park ranger David Young says is ideal winter habitat for the cranes.

“The Decatur area has all the ingredients they need: lots of water and (fallow) farm fields where the birds can feed in the daytime and then move to the mudflats of the Tennessee River and its tributaries at night,” he says.

The cranes begin arriving in mid-November and stay until early to mid-February forming huge gatherings of gray-feathered sandhills punctuated by bright white whooping cranes. Both species are long-legged and statuesque (four to five feet in height) with impressive five- to seven-foot wingspans.

They are also boisterous birds, communicating with one another through an array of burbles, purrs, rattles, snores, hisses, honks and their species-specific calls — sandhills make bugling sounds while whooping cranes, true to their name, “whoop” — that can be heard up to 2.5 miles away. And they are famously elegant and exuberant dancers, performing a series of bows, bobs, wingflaps, stick tosses and spectacular leaps (six to eight feet high) during courtship rituals www.alabamaliving.coop

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DECEMBER 2024 17

but also year-round.

These large flocks (sometimes called sedges) are a sight to see and hear and the WNWR is an ideal place to do both. The refuge’s two-story observation building, a temperature-controlled facility located near the visitor’s center — and just three miles off Interstate 65 — offers exceptional views of the cranes and the many ducks, geese and other migratory birds that spend winters there.

Conservation and raising awareness

from crane conservation, falconry and raptors to reptiles, bats, ecotourism and Alabama cave life. (The WNWR manages a complex of properties including three north Alabama caves that are homes to protected bat species and the endangered Alabama cavefish).

Entertainment is also on the agenda including shows featuring storyteller and naturalist Brian “Fox” Ellis, who will perform as John James Audubon, and “Thank You, Rachel,” a play about Rachel Carson, both of which will run all weekend.

The refuge is also a go-to destination for thousands of human visitors who flock there to view the cranes, which inspired the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association, a “friends of ” Experts on hand group of volunteers, to create the Festival of the Cranes in 2012.

Back at the refuge, hours at the visitor center and observaThe WWRA works to conserve and raise awareness of the many tion building are expanded throughout crane season (9 a.m. to natural and cultural wonders found at WNWR, which according 5 p.m.). Naturalists will be on hand during the festival to share to the organization’s president, Mary Ratliff, are remarkable. information about the cranes and other bird and wildlife species, “To me, it’s one of the most important natural resources in the and expert-led bird walks will be held on the Friday before and area,” she says. “It’s like having a 35,000-acre personal park right Monday following the festival. Throughout the cranes’ season, in the middle of two cities (Huntsville and Decatur).” the refuge offers free guided Whooping Crane Walks most Sat“It’s kind of a hidden treasure up here,” Young says. “We’ve had urdays starting at 11 a.m. and Waterfowl Wednesdays walks at 8 folks who have lived up here for decades who aren’t aware of it.” a.m.

“We (the WWRA) wanted to bring awareness to the fact that Young also encourages visitors to come see the cranes outside this is something really special and we should take care of it,” the festival, especially on weekdays, which are usually less crowdRatliff says. And the Festival of the Cranes has done just that, so ed. And really any time of much so that what began year is a great time to visas an event hosted at the it the refuge, which offers refuge’s visitor’s center has year-round bird watching, grown into a community-wide collaboration and kayaking, cycling and hikcelebration. ing opportunities as well “It grew so fast that we as hunting and fishing seacouldn’t handle the peosons. ple,” Ratliff says, so she “There’s something to and other volunteers began see here all year long,” looking for partners in the Young says, noting that community to help support the plant and animal life and expand the festival. changes with the seasons.

With the help of her local “It’s different all the time, state senator, Arthur Orr, especially as the water levand cooperation of many el changes.” other local, state and fedRatliff said the cranes eral people and organiza- Alabama’s reptiles and amphibians will be the focus of a presentation by Jimmy are excellent celebrity amtions, the event has become Stiles, a naturalist and field biologist from Conecuh County who travels the state bassadors for the refuge what Ratliff describes as “a providing hands-on environmental educational programs focused on appreciating and nature, drawing thoumodel for collaborating and protecting Alabama’s remarkable biodiversity. sands of visitors to the PHOTO BY TREY MOODY and communicating with refuge — some 16,000 last one another.” year — and combined with the festival will help those visitors Last year the festival drew some 6,000 attendees and, like the discover the region’s many other natural and cultural resources. crane population, seems to be growing each year.

“We want to let them know that we have other opportunities This year’s festival, to be held Jan. 10-12, offers an array of culhere,” she says, many of them driven by the state’s remarkable tural and educational programs for all ages at sites across Decatur biodiversity. And that, she hopes, will encourage people to get including the historic Princess Theater, Alabama Center for the out in nature and care about these natural places.

Arts, Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Cook Museum of Natural SciMore about the WNWR is available at fws.gov/refuge/ ence and Decatur Public Library. wheeler and details of the upcoming festival and other WWFA Among the programs are children’s activities, art shows and activities are available at friendsofwheelernwr.org and through demonstrations and an array of presentations on topics ranging its Facebook or Instagram accounts. 18 DECEMBER 2024

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DECEMBER 2024 19

| Worth the drive |

Historic Enterprise restaurant focuses on elevated cuisine, hospitality

By Jennifer Kornegay

T

oday, The Rawls restaurant in Enterprise is known for its But the thought of this historic spot and beloved community landmark being lost is cause for alarm. And it almost was. After steaks, oysters and creative cocktails crafted with seasonal opening in 1903, the hotel was enlarged with ingredients. As of 2023, the eatery has two additional wings, including a grand ballnew chefs and a new focus on elevated cuisine. room, in 1928 and housed visitors to EnterBut it’s in an old building. prise for decades. After its hospitality days Built as a hotel by the Rawls family more were done, it held a barber shop, a hobby shop than a century ago, the Spanish-style structure and an eye doctor’s office until the late 1960s. served guests arriving in the area via train (the Then, it sat empty for years, and by the midtrain depot is right out back, which was the 1970s, with its roof crumbling in, it was on its original front entrance), and sometimes, the way to be condemned. legacy left by all those visitors, its previous Before it was officially slated for demoliowners and hotel staff comes alive. tion, a local named Hayden Pursely bought it “We have things that go bump in the night and spent three years working room by room, and during the day,” says owner Sam Gay. renovating almost every inch of the building.

Faucets turn on by themselves, and doors His efforts saved the structure, and in 1980, it open with no one visible pushing or pulling was added to the National Register of Historon knobs. The sweet smell of pipe tobacco ic Places. In 1999, Gay’s parents purchased it. floats in the air when nobody is smoking. And Upstairs became office space, and downstairs, multiple people have seen an elderly man in The grand entrance hall of The Rawls.

Gay and his mom opened a small deli. The a white shirt with suspenders — believed by PHOTO BY JENNIFER KORNEGAY Rawls restaurant was born, and over the next some to be Jeb Rawls of the original owning 20 years, it grew up and grew into the eating establishment it is family — wandering the halls. “It’s a little creepy, but whoever now. “We steadily added items to the menu,” says Gay. they are, they’re friendly,” Gay says. “Nothing really scary has happened.”

Gay had no intention of remaining in the restaurant business,

Owner Sam Gay. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RAWLS

Any of The Rawls’ crisp salads makes a great start to dinner.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER KORNEGAY

20 DECEMBER 2024

Juicy prime rib is a special Sunday-only treat.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RAWLS

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Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 21

Chef Dawn Sabath shows off a steak dinner.

Duck breast over sesame-garlic noodles is a favorite dish.

but life had other plans. “I didn’t think I wanted to run a restaurant, but here I am,” he says, laughing. Now, plenty of others find themselves at The Rawls too, digging into dishes amid the intricate wrought iron, glittering chandeliers and rich wood beams, columns and carved accents of its expansive and elegant dining areas.

The allure of nostalgia

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RAWLS

During prohibition, illegal hootch was delivered and put into the tunnel where it rolled down the ramp to an area where the ladies’ restroom is now. “Then someone would lift the trap door and retrieve it,” Gay says. “I love these stories and love that this place is still here for our community as well as visitors to discover and enjoy.”

But in early 2023, Enterprise and The Rawls’ regulars endured a real fright. The restaurant shut down for months when the chef of 14 years left. And Gay didn’t rest and didn’t reopen until he found the right fit for The Rawls’ kitchen.

He lured two chefs from Emeril’s in Destin, Florida, to the restaurant. Dawn Sabath and Tommy Wachter, both trained under famed chef Emeril Lagasse, brought an elegant touch to the revamped menu, which debuted when the eatery reopened in October 2023.

“When I was younger, I didn’t get why this place was important, but it does matter to people here,” Gay says. “People are constantly sharing with me the memories they’ve made here, birthdays, wedding events and other celebrations.” The space’s nostalgia is as appealing to many as anything on the menu. To preserve the allure, Gay and his family remain committed to keeping its historic aspects intact, even through several renovations.

“We want to it to look as close as possible A risk paid off to the original,” Gay says.

“Like a lot of Southern towns, Enterprise LeeAnn Capps, director of communicacan be fickle, so the decision to venture betions and corporate recruiter for Gay’s othyond traditional Southern-style cooking er family business, Navigator Development was a risk, but it has paid off,” Gay says. InGroup Inc. (which has offices upstairs), has fallen under The Rawls’ spell, and echoes deed, despite a lack of items deep-fried and Gay. “The more I’ve learned about the dipped in ranch dressing, diners have taken to selections like succulent pork belly with building, the more I love its charm,” she tangy Asian barbecue sauce, salty-sweet says. “It feels like time has stood still here, prosciutto and mixed berry salad, rich so with any work or additions, great care The Rawls’ entrance facing the train station. duck breast over sesame-garlic noodles and has been taken to make it match and look PHOTO BY JENNIFER KORNEGAY crab-crusted fresh grouper swimming in a like it belongs.” thyme-scented beurre blanc.

Some of the work unearthed interesting artifacts that opened The menu changes several times a year, but constants include the a door to previously unknown elements of the building’s past. tender smoked prime rib – Gay’s favorite served only on Sundays – “When a plumber came out to run a water line for a new service whose aroma perfumes most of main street, the German-inspired area, he found an old bottle of liquor,” Gay says. “He kept digging fare featured on the last Thursday of each month, plus chargrilled in the same area and found a tunnel with a ramp that led to a trap oysters and stellar steaks (juicy marbled ribeyes are standouts) door.” anytime the spot is open. A large wine list complements the food, as does the space’s character, according to Sabath.

The Rawls “This place has been a social hub in some form or another for 116 S Main St Enterprise, AL 100 years, and that history is all here playing into the experience,” Enterprise 334-417-0668 she says. The most obvious spirit currently hanging around at The l therawlsrestaurant.com Rawls is one of vibrant hospitality, and there’s nothing scary about Hours: Thursday-Monday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. that. 22 DECEMBER 2024

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Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 23

Winning Fair recipes

Winners of the 2024 Alabama Living baking competition are, from left, Jamie Davis, TerreLynn Huston and Melissa Welch, shown with Alabama Living editor Lenore Vickrey.

PHOTOS BY ALLISON LAW

Home cooks bake on the theme, “Celebrating your ancestral roots” In 2023, Alabama Living’s sponsored cooking competition at the Alabama National Fair was themed, “Celebrating your ancestral roots.”

This year, to make it a bit different, we asked our home bakers to use the same theme but limit their submissions to just desserts. And they answered the call! The judges were provided by the Fair and by the Alabama Rural Electric Association, which publishes Alabama Living. The top three winners received a cash prize, a ribbon and the honor of having their recipes published in the December issue.

First place Old-Fashioned English Apple Dumplings Melissa Welch, Wetumpka Ingredients: 1 package double crust pie pastry 6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored ¾ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon allspice Dash red cayenne pepper ½ cup chopped pecans ½ cup raisins ½ cup butter, cut into 8 cubes Additional butter for greasing the pan Sauce: 2 ½ cups water 1 ½ cups granulated sugar Remaining 2 tablespoons butter 24 DECEMBER 2024

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch oven-proof baking pan. Peel and core Granny Smith apples; set aside. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cayenne pepper, pecans and raisins in small bowl. Fill cavity of apples with brown sugar, spice mix and 1 cube butter.

Roll pastry into a rectangle. Lightly flour if needed. Cut into 6-inch squares. Place an apple on each square and carefully pull pie dough up to cover the apple, gathering it at the top. Mash carefully to completely seal the apple. Repeat with each apple.

Place them in the buttered dish. Optional: Cut decorative leaves from leftover pie crust and attach two to top of dough. Roll or twist a marble-size piece of dough to make a stem. Press into top of dough to adhere.

Make sauce by adding water, sugar and remaining butter to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and heat 4-5 minutes until sugar is completely melted, stirring often. Carefully pour over apples and put them in the oven. Once or twice during baking, carefully spoon sauce over the apples. Bake until golden brown, about an hour to an hour 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

Serve apple dumpling with additional sauce from apples; ice cream is optional. www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 25

Second place English Sticky Toffee Pudding TerreLynn Huston, Montgomery Ingredients: 5 ½ ounces chopped, pitted dried Medjool dates 1 cup water ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 2 medium eggs 2 tablespoons molasses 1 ½ tablespoons golden or dark corn syrup 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt ½ teaspoon baking soda (to put in date mixture) Toffee sauce: ½ cup heavy whipping cream ¼ cup unsalted butter ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 2 tablespoons golden syrup 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 pinch of salt Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the dates and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for a couple of minutes. Let stand for a few minutes while preparing the rest of the batter. Cream together the butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the molasses and syrup and beat well.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in three equal portions, mixing until smooth after each addition. Puree the date mixture in a food processor or blender before mixing in the baking soda. Add this hot mixture immediately to the batter and mix till smooth.

Pour batter into well greased and floured 6-cup baking dish and bake about 50 minutes until the center is just firm.

Sauce: Bring all the ingredients to a slow rolling boil for about 2 minutes before serving over the baked pudding. Serve warm with extra sauce and ice cream on the side.

Third place Nana’s Homemade Peach Ice Cream Jamie Davis, Tallassee Ingredients: 2 cups fresh or frozen peaches, pureed in a food processor 2 cups sugar 1 pinch of salt 1 cup whipping cream 1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk 1 can Pet milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Whole milk 1 box ice cream salt About 10 pounds crushed ice Directions: In a large bowl, mix peaches with sugar and pinch of salt with mixer. Slowly add 1 cup whipping cream and cans of milk, incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla. Pour into the silver canister of an ice cream freezer. Add whole milk to the fill line. Using the paddles, mix milk into the mixture of peaches.

Secure lid and place in freezer. Add crushed ice and rock salt till filled to cover container. Turn on freezer. Takes about 20 minutes on average to make ice cream. When freezer turns off, check to see if ice cream has firmed. If not serving right away, can serve in one hour in ice or place silver container in freezer until ready to eat.

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Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 27

SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security’s top 10 webpages for 2025 SSA.gov is your best resource to learn about Social Security programs and benefits and conduct business with us. Our website is designed to make it easy for you to find what you need.

Here are our top 10 webpages: • my Social Security — You can open a personal my Social Security account to verify your earnings, view your Social Security Statement, get benefit estimates, and more, at ssa. gov/myaccount.

• Social Security blog — You can Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov. You may also call Social Security’s tollfree number at 1-800-772-1213.

find the latest Social Security news and updates at blog.ssa.gov. You can easily share these informative articles with others.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — Do you need answers to Social Security-related questions? Visit ssa. gov/faq to find answers to common questions and other valuable information.

• Retirement application — You can complete and submit your online application for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes at ssa.gov/ retirement.

• Disability application — You can apply for disability benefits online at ssa.gov/benefits/disability.

• Publications — Visit our online publication library for information

about key subjects at ssa.gov/pubs (includes audio versions).

• Medicare — Sign up for Medicare at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up.

• Online Services — You can take care of most business with us by visiting ssa.gov/onlineservices.

• People Helping Others — Use these resources to help your family and others in your community at ssa. gov/thirdparty.

• Fraud and Scam Prevention and Reporting — Learn how to recognize and report Social Security fraud and scams at ssa.gov/fraud.

Remember, if you need information or want to do business with us, the first place to go to is our website.

Please share these top resources with your loved ones.

Christmas in Alabama crossword

by Myles Mellor

Across 1 There’s a Festival of Lights event in this Alabama town until Dec. 24 4 You can ride the familyfriendly Polar Express Train Ride happening in this Alabama town through Dec. 24 9 “O come ____ ye faithful” hymn 10 BBQ residue 11 Church instrument 12 Complete 13 Mr. Nice ___ 14 Single 15 Manatee’s home 17 Fishing goods vendor offering a Santa Wonderland with games, crafts and photos with Santa, all across Alabama, 3 words 23 Airport posting, abbr.

24 Broadcast 26 Huntsville is holding this event with 300 beautifully decorated Christmas trees, 2 words 29 Religious songs 32 Location of a candlelight Christmas dinner at ____ on the Mountain in Huntsville 28 DECEMBER 2024

34 Rocks at the bar 36 You can be part of the Christmas on the River event in this west Alabama town 37 Approves Down 1 This Alabama city presents Holly Days on Main on Dec 9-10, 2 words 2 Site of Christmas Spectacular at OWA through Dec. 31 3 Prepared 5 Love a lot 6 Skate blades, e.g.

7 Occurring every year 8 You can see the Magic Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in this Alabama town 16 ___ and see 18 Word showing location 19 Enjoyed the sofa 20 Cooking equipment 21 Stand up 22 Vegetable often used in stews 25 Long thin wine glasses 27 B & B 28 Tasty desserts 30 Colorful flower, for short 31 Small taste 32 ___ paese cheese

33 Wedding vow conclusion, 2 words

35 Firm, for short

Answers on Page 45 www.alabamaliving.coop

Around Alabama trees, train rides, Christmas crafts for children, hot chocolate, popcorn and pictures with Santa. Free. 256-6576282.

6-7

Bay Minette 42nd annual North Baldwin Christmas Festival, 11 a.m., around the Courthouse Square downtown.

More than 100 vendors offer a variety of goods, delicious food options, a kids’ zone, live performances, the Friday night Ping Pong Prize Drop and annual Christmas parade on Saturday evening. NorthBaldwinChamber. com

Christmas in Candyland in Andalusia begins Dec. 6.

DECEMBER

All month

Andalusia Drive Through Christmas Lights sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Plans are to have an “enchanted forest” to view Elf Village, Whoville, reindeer headquarters and other attractions. Cost is $10 per car at 20096 Kiwanis Drive, Andalusia, in and around the fairgrounds and complex. See the group’s Facebook page.

All month

Guntersville Festival of Trees. See more than 30 decorated Christmas trees throughout the Guntersville Museum at this annual event. Special programs and music planned. Contemporary artist Annette Brewer will have works exhibited. Museum hours at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free.

GuntersvilleMuseum.org

Weekends

in December Andalusia Christmas in Candyland, beginning Dec. 6 and continuing through the season. The south Alabama town turns into a Christmas wonderland each season. The downtown square features a “snow show,” horse-drawn carriage rides and photos at the large Christmas tree. Up the road at the Springdale Estate, visit with Santa and Elsa, take a ride on a replica of a classic steam locomotive and follow the journey of the lost polar bear. Ice skating and tubing down Polar Bear Hill. ChristmasInCandyland.com

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Selma 46th annual Holiday House, at Heritage Village, 622 McLeod Ave. Hosted by the Selma-Dallas County Historical Preservation Society, this festive popup features handcrafted gifts, holiday decorations and sweet treats from local vendors. Purchases support the society’s preservation efforts.

6

Henagar Christmas at the Cabin. Parade starts at 4 p.m. and ends at Henagar City Park, where there will be 80 decorated Christmas

Alabama Living

6-8

Montgomery 53rd annual Montgomery Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show, Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8. $2 per adult; 18 and under free with student ID and paid adult. Free parking, door prizes, demonstrations and children’s activities. Search for the Montgomery Gem and Mineral Society on Facebook.

PHOTO BY ALLISON LAW

7

Auburn Christmas Market at the Auburn United Methodist Church, 137 S. Gay St. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop local arts, crafts and food, including traditional baked goods, frozen soups and casseroles. Free. Parking is available in the church lots on Magnolia and Gay streets.

Proceeds support local area missions. 318-2909760.

7

Millbrook Spirit of Christmas festival and parade, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Village Green Park. Parade begins on Main Street at 2 p.m. Live performances, Christmas shopping, vendors, food, music and more. Search for the Facebook page of Spirit of Christmas, Millbrook.

7

Demopolis Christmas on the River.

Featuring Fair in the Square in the morning and early afternoon, a day parade and a night parade, followed by fireworks.

ChristmasOnTheRiverDemopolis.com

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Town of Highland Lake Lakeside Christmas, 2 p.m - 4 p.m., The Anchor, 612 Lakeshore Drive. Free Family Event includes photos with Santa, horse carriage rides, light refreshments, Children’s crafts, Santa letters.

Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Blount County Children’s Center. Entertainment

by Late Bloomers. See Facebook page at Town of Highland Lake, Alabama.

8

Greensboro Greensboro Porches and Parlors Holiday Tour of Homes and Artist Market, 1 p.m. Several private homes and museums will be open for tours, along with an artists’ market. See the past and present meet in this historical Black Belt town. Tickets are $20 per person and can be bought the day of the event at Magnolia Grove, 1002 Hobson St. VisitGreensboroAL.com

8

Dothan Victorian Christmas at Landmark Park, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. Listen to Christmas carols and visit with Santa. Enjoy snacks, arts and crafts, music, wagon rides and homemade decorations. A circuit riding preacher will deliver a holiday message. Free, but donations of nonperishable food are requested.

LandmarkParkDothan.com

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Prattville A Main Street Christmas in the downtown historic district. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Shop local small businesses for the perfect Christmas gift, then enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, hot chocolate and cookies, children’s make-and-take art projects, dancers, music and a visit from Santa. Free. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

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Troy Ole Time Christmas at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, 248 U.S. Highway 231 North. 6 to 8 p.m. each evening. Adults are $10, seniors and military are $9, students are $8 and children 5 and under and members are free. Christmas stories, music, snacks, activities for children and more. Pioneer-Museum.org

14

Arley Ranch Day at A Lighted Path Ranch, a nonprofit youth development ranch between Arley and Addison, Ala. Children learn about sheep, miniature cattle, rabbits, dogs and chickens. Some games and play area available. Free meal for kids and parents. Children receive free gifts and a New Testament Bible. Free but registration is required. Children ages 4 to 12 only and must be accompanied by a parent. sammoore@alightedpathranch.org

14

Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa.

The day begins with a character breakfast for the whole family, followed by live entertainment at Gold Star Park. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be available, in addition to a car show and children’s activities. The parade, with the theme Jingle Bells and Gingerbread, begins at 6 p.m. Email ndodd@cityofwetumpka. com

17

Dothan Music South Christmas Gala and Dinner at the Dothan Civic Center.

The Atlanta Pops with vocalist Chloe Agnew from the Celtic Women will perform. Moonlighters will provide dinner music. Tickets are available with dinner, or for the concert only. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with the concert at 7:30 p.m. MusicSouth. com

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving. coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number.

Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.

Alabama Living on FB instagram.com/alabamaliving

DECEMBER 2024 29

PET HEALTH

Do I really need pet insurance?

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e have seen big changes in veterinary medicine in the last 50 years. As vet medicine has paralleled human medicine, we now see the same type of set-up with general practices and specialties in surgery, internal medicine, radiology, and many more. While these experienced doctors have saved countless more of our fur babies’ lives, the cost for these services has unfortunately skyrocketed.

Recently while visiting Seattle, I accompanied my daughter to her new puppy’s first exam. Sipping my latte, I tried to look nonchalant as we went through the estimated cost of her first year of care. I was barely able to contain the bit of coffee in my mouth with the shock of the $1,800 cost of spaying her! While I enjoy a lower income lifestyle (partly by choice but mostly not), I wonder how people less fortunate are able to afford pet care. I am so grateful for the lower cost of living here in Alabama, but even here, complete pet care can be expensive!

So what about pet insurance? It depends on your situation. If you are like most of the unintentional pet owners with 8 to 15 pets, even with the multi-pet discounts the cost of pet insurance may still run more than that of your car insurance! Yes, I’m probably exaggerating just a little. (Your best bet in this situation is to find a vet who sympathizes with your situation.)

There are so many things to consider when choosing pet insurance. Different insurance plans offer varying levels of coverage: Basic plans typically cover accidents and illnesses, which can save you from mortgaging your house to save your pet. (I really wish that was a joke, but I’ve heard about it happening more than once.) Often, people without pet insurance will have to put their friend to sleep because they could not afford the care that could have saved them. This is where pet insurance really pays off. Like car insurance, you may grudgingly pay it every month but sure are grateful you had it when your car is totaled!

Julie Bjorland is a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) and has been working alongside Goutam Mukherjee, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (known as Dr. G) for the past 20 years. To suggest a topic for discussion, email contact@alabamaliving.coop

30 DECEMBER 2024

Comprehensive plans may include wellness care, prescription medications, and alternative therapies. (Of course, we recommend a plan that covers alternative therapies because we understand how effective and money saving they can be!)

Comprehensive care especially pays off when you purchase it while your pup or kitty is young, and you have chosen a breed that tends to come with its own specific tendencies toward certain illnesses. Pit bulls and bulldogs tend to have chronic skin and allergy issues; boxers and Bengal cats can have heart complications; schnauzers are prone to recurrent pancreatitis; Australian shepherds have a low seizure threshold; dachshunds and Maine coon cats can have back issues; and small-breed dogs and many cats are prone to severe dental diseases. The list goes on!

Also be aware if your insurance covers genetic birth defects like those cute little squishy face breeds like Frenchies and pugs that may need a surgery that widens their nostrils to help them breathe better.

Gotta love those uncomplicated mixed breeds!

Now that you know the different types of coverage, you need to choose a provider.

I could literally feel my eyes spinning after a mind-numbing ADOBE STOCK afternoon of researching various pet insurance providers. I compared their coverage options, premiums, deductibles, reimbursement rates, and policy limitations. I searched reviews looking for comments about policy transparencies, the flexibility to change plans, the claims process, customer service and then asked for recommendations from friends, family and other pet owners.

I chose ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) because their website (aspcapetinsurance.com) was the easiest to understand without having a degree in business finances. It had a side-by-side comparison which helped put this ordeal in perspective and prevented me from running screaming from the room. Soon I was able to wrap my head around the process and understand the fine print; when I was feeling more comfortable with the lingo, I called a couple of the different companies with a few unanswered questions.

I hope this sheds some light on the topic, and I am confident that with a bit of your own due diligence and a couple strong cups of coffee, you will decide if pet insurance will work for you and which company will serve you best! www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 31

| Gardens |

Give the gift of your gardening ‘finds’

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reasures from your own garden such as plant cuttings, saved seeds, herb-infused oils and vinegars, jars of preserves or pickles (to name just a few examples) are always wonderful gifts to bestow during the holidays. But your personal knowledge and experience — your “finds” — can also be treasured and priceless gifts.

Regardless of how long you’ve gardened, your knowledge can be invaluable to others, especially any new gardeners or homeowners on your holiday gift list.

Consider giving them a copy of your favorite gardening book, a gift certificate to your favorite nursery or seed company or even a voucher offering your services as a gardening consultant. Or create and share a list of helpful hints and your go-to websites, blogs, podcasts and local experts for gardening help.

Another idea is to create a gift box (or a harvest basket or garden bucket) filled with your favorite brands of gardening gloves, tools, skin lotions, nail scrubbers, insect repellents, sunscreens and other items that anyone can use and appreciate. This can also be a great idea for children.

If you’re looking for a special gift that keeps on giving, turn to your hands-on knowledge of gardening gear. Those tools and gadgets that make your gardening life easier and more enjoyable may be just the thing that gardeners and nongardeners alike would love and use.

If nothing comes to mind, here are a few ideas for must-have, Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.

32 DECEMBER 2024

budget friendly and incredibly useful tools to get you started.

Hori hori knives: also known as a soil or weeding knives, these heavy-duty multipurpose tools feature long (typically 5 to 6 inches) concave metal blades with pointed ends and sharp sides (usually one side is smooth and the other serrated). They are perfect for planting bulbs, removing weeds (roots and all), harvesting root vegetables, dividing clumps of perennials, digging and refilling holes for smaller plants, creating trenches for seeds and even pruning small stems and limbs.

Snips: these little scissors-meet-secateurs, which come in several sizes and blade and tip shapes, are great for harvesting herbs, flowers, lettuces and other fruits and produce but also for deadheading flowers, trimming dead leaves and small stems from indoor and outdoor plants, opening seed packets and cutting string and twine.

Watering cans: hoses are terrific for irrigating most outdoor areas, but there’s nothing like a watering can for those times you need to gently water newly planted seeds and delicate seedlings, deliver just the right amount of moisture to houseplants and even refill vases without taking out a flower arrangement. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, many of which are as decorative as they are functional.

Garden totes: these bags-of-manypockets — a large main pocket and several side pouches for clippers, gloves, water bottles and the like — are ideal for organizing everyday gardening tools and toting them into the garden. They come in a variety of styles and fabrics but aim for ones that are water-resistant/water-proof and durable without being too heavy or cumbersome to carry.

Kneeler benches: while knee pads and mats make weeding, digging and harvesting easier on the knees, these small benches can make those chores easier on the whole body, especially for anyone with orthopedic or mobility issues. They typically feature a sturdy metal frame and padded cushion that can be used as a seat or flipped over to become a kneeler. And they can come in handy for indoor chores, too.

There are many other gardening tools that may make fine gifts for anyone on your list, so think about your own favorite finds and consider gifting one — or several — this year. As you shop, invest in higher quality and more sustainable items. They last longer, perform better and help protect the environment. A great way to find out which products are durable, well-designed and environmentally sound is to check out recommendations on the Gardening Products Review (gardeningproductsreview.com) and The Spruce (thespruce.com) websites.

And consider creating your own wish list or go ahead and get something for yourself. You can think of it as research for next year.

DECEMBER TIPS  Make lists of seeds, plants and garden supplies you want for next year’s garden.

 Plant fruit, nut and ornamental trees and vines.

 Take soil samples and amend soil based on those recommendations.

 Plant cool season fl wers, herbs and veggies.

 Keep those birdfeeders and baths clean and full.

 Make a donation to a garden-related nonprofit

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 33

| Alabama Recipes |

g n i n n i W

Christmas COOKIES & TREATS

Food prepared, styled and photographed by Brooke Echols

J

udging our annual Christmas cookie contest is a special occasion for us at Alabama Living! This year, we broadened the contest to include Christmas treats as well. You’ll see that two of our winners are defini ely some treats you’ll want to make for your family and friends. Congratulations to our winners of the top prizes of $100, $75 and $50. We think you’ll agree our Alabama cooks are the best!

34 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

1st Place Toffee Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies Tiffany Pelham, Central Alabama EC

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Toffee Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, room temperature 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 11/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup toffee pieces 1/2 cup pretzels, lightly crushed

iffany Pelham says she has been baking and cooking for as long as she can remember. “Cooking is my comfort pastime,” says the Billingsley resident.

“Crazy as it sounds, I am a bodybuilder and just won a show this past weekend. So cookies and candy are my favorite ( because I know I'm not supposed to have it!).” She learned how to cook from her grandmother “and how food and the kitchen is the heart of the home; it’s what brings everyone together. I host so many family gettogethers, holidays and football get-togethers that everyone comes to me to pull off the food.” Tiffany’s prize-winning recipe reminds her of a Kitchen Sink Cookie with its a little bit of sweet and salty: “The best of both worlds.” She cautions not to overbake this recipe because the cookies continue cooking after coming out of the oven. “I prefer a soft, gooey cookie.” So do we! - Lenore Vickrey

Brown the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter begins to foam and turns a golden brown, emitting a nutty aroma. Make sure you only brown the butter lightly. When butter browns, the liquid evaporates, which can dry out your dough. As soon as the butter starts to turn brown and smell nutty, take it off the heat to prevent any more liquid from escaping.

Take butter off the heat and allow to cool. In a large mixing bowl combine the cooled brown butter and sugar. Beat until mixed together. Add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix well. In separate bowl mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.

Mix half the dry ingredients into the wet until everything comes together. Slowly add in the remaining flour a little bit at a time, stopping if the dough starts to get too dry. Fold in the chocolate, toffee pieces and pretzels. Do not over mix. Refrigerate the cookie dough for a half hour or up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough out into balls, placing them 2-inches apart on the prepared sheet. Bake for 11 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown and the centers have puffed up but are still gooey. Allow to cool before eating. Makes 16 cookies.

Enter to win $50 Cook of the Month prize!

April theme: Healthy dishes (low carb, diabetic, etc) | Enter by: January 3

recipes@alabamaliving.coop Alabama Living

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alabamaliving.coop

| Attn: Recipes, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 DECEMBER 2024 35

2nd Place (Tie)

Cranberry Pecan Clusters Jo Hodge, South Alabama EC An aunt of Jo Hodge’s husband shared her Cranberry Pecan Cluster recipe with Jo several years ago and she’s adopted it as one of her own. The creamy concoction combines the sweetness of white chocolate chips with the toasted crunch of pecans and chewy dried cranberries in a very simple recipe. “You can also use milk chocolate morsels if you want,” says Jo, who lives in Elba. She’s been cutting and saving recipes out of Alabama Living for many years, she says, and is now happy that hers will be one that is saved by others.

-Lenore Vickrey

Cranberry Pecan Clusters

1½ cups pecans, chopped 1 12-ounce package Toll House Premier White Morsels 1½ cups Ocean Spray dried cranberries Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pecans on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes or until toasted. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave white morsels on high for 30 second intervals, stirring periodically until white chocolate is melted. Add pecans and cranberries, stirring until coated with white chocolate. Drop by teaspoonfuls on wax paper and let sit.

Tip! Candy canes were not available at time of the contest. We substitued peppermints that worked just as well! We placed unwrapped peppermints in a large resealable bag and used a rolling pin mallet to break the candies apart, then a knife to chop them smaller.

2nd Place (Tie)

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Jane Smith, Joe Wheeler EMC When Jane Smith makes her holiday Chocolate Cookies, she usually puts maraschino cherries on top for a touch of color and sweet taste. But for our contest, she decided to change up her recipe and substituted chopped peppermint candy canes for the cherries. The result was a winning recipe that tied for second place in our annual contest. “I usually make Italian wedding cookies for Christmas but this time I decided to do something different,” says the Decatur resident. It paid off for the retired pharmacist who has submitted winning recipes to our magazine in years past. In 2022, her Oatmeal Lace Cookies earned her an honorable mention in our Christmas Cookie Contest. -Lenore Vickrey

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies 2 cups self-rising flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup dark brown sugar 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup candy canes, coarsely chopped

36 DECEMBER 2024

Sift flour and cocoa together. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Reduce mixer speed to medium, add eggs and vanilla. Reduce mixer to low, add flour and cocoa, fold in chocolate chips and candy canes. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.

Use 1-ounce cookie scoop, place on pan with parchment paper 3-inches apart. Push any exposed candy canes back into dough. Bake at 350 degrees until the center is set, about 12-15 minutes. Cool on pan 10 minutes and on a cooling rack 20 minutes. Makes 24 cookies. www.alabamaliving.coop

C

Cinnamon Roll Cookies Cookies: 3/4 cup sugar 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1 egg 1/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups plain flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt Cinnamon center: 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Photo by The Buttered Home

ookies at Christmas are a must around our house! For me, this issue of Alabama Living is possibly my favorite. We get excited early to share our recipe as well as Brooke Burks sample all of the cookie goodness that readers share each year. Cooking is steeped in tradition. When I see these recipes from the good folks who love Alabama Living as much as I do, I know they are treasures that are made and shared for generations. This year, we are proud to share one of our favorites, Cinnamon Roll Cookies. It may look like a lot of work, but it is a great recipe to get your family or friends to join in on the fun in making. We hope you love it as much as we all do! For more recipes visit thebutteredhome.com.

Icing: 2 tablespoons butter, softened 2 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 to 3 teaspoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3rd Place

In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg, vanilla and buttermilk. Mix just until combined. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients in two batches and mix just until a soft dough forms.

Turn out onto a flour surface and flatten into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Take dough out of refrigerator and place on a floured surface or board. Press or roll out into a large rectangle, about 9x12-inches. In a small bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Brush cookie dough with melted butter and sprinkle brown sugar/cinnamon mixture over the top leaving the edges bare. Carefully roll long end like a jelly roll and tuck ends under. Place on a sheet pan and loosely cover with plastic wrap.

Freeze for 30 minutes to one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take dough out of freezer and allow to stand 5 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and slice cookies starting at the end. Shape cut ends into cookies and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Pay careful attention to make sure seams are sealed. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Cool 2 minutes on pan and move to cooling rack.

In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Add milk a little at a time until smooth icing forms. Spread or brush with glaze and allow glaze to set up for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Joy Griswold of Fitzpatrick has been a long-time contributor to Alabama Living’s food pages, so she was especially thrilled when her recipe for “Sweet and Salty Santa Treats” was chosen for third place honors in this year’s contest. She’d seen similar recipes over the years, but they called for a mixture of different kinds of chocolates, such as milk chocolate and semi-sweet.

But being a fan of white chocolate, Joy made her own recipe with that version. “I just like the way it looks,” she says. And while other recipes put sprinkles on the top, she opted for sanding sugar (a large crystal sugar used for decorating) because it gives it an “expensive” look. When she made a large batch of the treats for her work colleagues at the Department of Transportation, it was a big hit. “They said, ‘You nailed it!’” she recalls. Her family agrees that it is “the perfect mix of everything, not too sweet and not too salty.

Nothing overpowers the other ingredients.” -Lenore Vickrey

Alabama Living

Sweet and Salty Santa Treats Joy Griswold, Dixie EC

Sweet and Salty Santa Treats 1 11-ounce bag baking chips (recommended: white chocolate chips) 11/2 cups dry roasted, unsalted peanuts 2 cups salted pretzel twists, broken into pieces (but not crushed into crumbs) Gold sanding sugar, for sprinkling Melt the baking chips in an oven safe bowl over a boiling pot of water. When the chips are melted, stir until smooth. Add pretzel pieces and stir well, then add the peanuts and mix well. Drop 1 tablespoon of the mixture on wax paper. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar and let sit until the treats are completely cool.

DECEMBER 2024 37

| Consumer Wise |

Simple ways to save in the kitchen Q:

How can I save in the kitchen during the most expensive time of the year?

When cooking on the stovetop, match the pot or pan size to the burner. Lids help your pots retain heat, which cooks food faster The holiday season and wastes less heat. Keep brings opportuniyour stovetop clean to enties to enjoy meals with sure the appliance heats friends and family, leadevenly. ing to spending more time If you’re looking to in the kitchen. Whether upgrade your stovetop, hosting a few or a crowd, consider switching to an consider making new eninduction cooktop. It uses ergy efficiency traditions an electromagnetic field this year with these tips to below the surface to heat manage your energy use. pots and pans directly.

Let’s start with cooking This provides more preyour meal. Your electric cise heat, faster cook times oven is typically the highand higher efficiency. It est-wattage appliance in can also improve the air the kitchen. Yet, people quality in your home when usually don’t turn their ovcompared to a gas cooktop. ens on for long periods of In my experience, peotime. Assuming an average ple like to gather in the oven wattage of 3,000 and kitchen during parties. To an average cost of $0.16 per avoid overheating your kilowatt-hour, according to guests in a room that has the United States Energy a hot oven, turn your therInformation Administramostat down a few degrees tion, it costs $0.48 an hour. before guests arrive.

Let’s say you use your oven Next, let’s look for refor four hours to make a frigerator savings. The gasspecial meal. That’s less kets on your refrigerator than $2 of electricity. While doors should make a tight that may not seem like a big seal to keep in cold air. deal now, operating your Make sure you clean and oven for four hours every Before you start cooking on your stovetop, clean the burners to ensure maintain them or replace day is $700 a year. them if necessary. Don’t let the appliance heats evenly, which can help you save energy. Match pots to Using smaller applianc- appropriately sized burners to avoid wasting energy. frost build up in the freezPHOTO COURTESY MARK GILLILAND, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES es instead of your oven er, which can decrease can help you save. A slow efficiency and make your cooker uses between 100 and 450 watts, which is significantly less freezer work harder to maintain a balanced temperature. than an electric oven at 2,000 to 5,000 watts. That means you can Wait until food cools before putting leftovers in the fridge. Putuse a slow cooker for a longer period and still use less energy. ting hot food in the refrigerator results in more energy used to Opt for your microwave or toaster oven to reheat or cook cool it down. Aim for about 30 minutes of cool time. Perishable smaller items. The microwave uses significantly less energy than food should be refrigerated within two hours after it is cooked, the oven. A toaster oven uses about half the energy of a convenaccording to the United States Department of Agriculture. tional oven, according to Energy Star®.

Setting your refrigerator colder than needed wastes energy.

You also want to avoid turning on your oven and leaving the The U.S. Department of Energy recommends 37 degrees for the door open to heat your home. This can break your oven and be a refrigerator and 0 degrees for the freezer. Use an appliance thersafety hazard, especially with gas ovens that can cause carbon mometer to monitor the temperature. monoxide buildup.

When it comes to cleanup, run full loads of dishes in the dishwasher––being careful not to block any moving parts. Use eco mode if your dishwasher has that setting. If you are in the market for new appliances, select Energy Star® models.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating offi er at Efficienc Services Whatever you choose to cook or how you cook it, keep in mind Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficienc company. these simple tips to make your kitchen more efficient and save energy this holiday season.

A:

38 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

Take us along!

 Jeff and Jamie Sudduth along with Susan Gaither and Anita Gaither, members of Cullman EC from Moreland in Winston County, traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands with their magazine.

 Paula and Bobby Pitre, members of Baldwin EMC, brought along their magazine to Bora Bora, an island in the South Pacific and part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia.

The photo was taken on a boat in the Bora Bora lagoon with Mount Otemanu (an extinct volcano) in the background.

Alabama Living

 Karen Still, a member of Baldwin EMC, shared her copy of Alabama Living with her favorite horse Moose on her visit to Lazy L Equestrian Ranch in Eagle, Idaho.

 Neil Foust, a member of Cullman EC, took his copy along on a trip to Tokyo, Japan.

DECEMBER 2024 39

| Outdoors |

Sport of hunting deer with dogs dates back centuries The dogs pick up a hot deer scent while hunting with Lonnie Miller of the Alabama Dog Hunters Association during a hunt in the Geneva State Forest near Florala, Ala. PHOTO BY JOHN N. FELSHER

E

ver since a hungry wolf first saw a fire, smelled meat cooking, walked into a campsite of prehistoric people and become domesticated, humans used dogs to help them harvest game.

Hunting deer with dogs dates back thousands of years as a human tradition. Ancient cave drawings depict humans hunting deer with dogs. In medieval Europe, wealthy landowners released hounds to hunt fallow deer and red stags. They followed the packs on horseback. Europeans brought their hunting traditions with them to North America when they began colonizing the continent.

The ancient tradition continues, especially in Southern states.

“The tradition of using dogs to hunt deer in Alabama goes back a long way,” says Lonnie Miller, president of the 3,000-member Alabama Dog Hunters Association with chapters across the state.

“Our fathers and grandfathers, and even farther back, hunted that way. Some families who hunt with dogs go back many, many generations. We want to keep that tradition going. As long as people are doing it ethically and legally, dog hunting is a tradition that should continue.”

The association worked to include a Sportsperson’s Bill of Rights in the Alabama Constitution to preserve traditional hunting methods. It reads in part: “The people have a right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to reasonable regulations, to promote wildlife conservation and management, and to preserve the future of hunting and fishing.”

“Alabama citizens have a right to hunt by traditional methods,” says Koty Mccarley, ADHA vice president. “Hunting with hounds is definitely traditional, maybe even the most traditional hunting method.”

During my youth, few people hunted deer with rifles or sat in trees. Running deer with dogs dominated the sport across much of the South. Timber and paper companies owned huge tracts of forest near my home. Companies allowed people to hunt their lands as long as they didn’t cut down any trees or start fires. Each weekend during hunting season, “deer drives” occurred in these forests.

“Standers” took up positions at strategic locations surroundJohn N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer who lives in Semmes, Ala. He also hosts an outdoors tips show for WAVH FM Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile, Ala. Contact him at j. felsher@hotmail.com or through Facebook.

40 DECEMBER 2024

ing a block of forest. Dog owners released or “turned out” their hounds to roust the deer. Most shots came at moving targets in thick brush. Anticipating running shots in heavy cover, practically everyone used shotguns loaded with 00 buckshot, hence the name of ammunition with large pellets.

“People think it’s easy to kill a deer when hunting with dogs, but in reality, it’s very difficult,” Miller says. “Hunting with dogs is not about killing a deer. The vast majority of dog hunters are not there for the kills, but the thrills. It’s more about the camaraderie and excitement of listening to the dogs running through the woods.”

Hunting deer with dogs requires vast contiguous acreage and considerable expense. One good deer dog might cost several thousand dollars, not to mention the cost of training, housing, feeding and veterinary expenses incurred over the animal’s lifetime. Most dog hunters own several hounds. As costs rose dramatically and available land shrunk, many people quit hunting or could no longer afford to keep dogs.

Modern technology helped dog hunters solve one problem in recent years. Decades ago, hunters frequently spent more time looking for dogs than deer. Now, most hunters put GPS tracking collars on their dogs. With these systems, owners know exactly where each animal stands, even from miles away. When the hunt ends, everyone helps roundup all the animals as quickly as possible.

“Before GPS, dogs were not as easy to control,” Miller says.

“Some people didn’t want dogs running on their land and got mad.

We don’t have that problem now with GPS and whistle breaking.”

A few Alabama public lands still allow limited dog hunting for deer. In addition, the state annually hosts youth and adult hunts on public lands. Members of ADHA and other dog clubs bring their hounds to these public hunts so people without dogs can experience these ancient traditions.

“Most people entering the sport come from families that hunt with dogs,” Miller says. “These public hunts are great for people who don’t normally hunt with dogs. A young child doesn’t want to sit still and quiet in a shooting house or tree stand all day. Children get bored waiting for a deer to come out. When hunting with dogs, we don’t need to be quiet. It’s a great opportunity for kids to participate.”

For more information about ADHA, look it up on Facebook or call Miller at 850-305-2959. www.alabamaliving.coop

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DOUG HANNON’S FISH & GAME FORECAST 2024-2025

EXCELLENT TIMES

DECEMBER

A.M.

We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JANUARY

We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 NA A.M.

1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:42 - 12:42 11:30 - 1:30 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 11:30 - 1:30 NA

GOOD TIMES

MOON STAGE

PM

2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON 12:42 - 2:42 PM

1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 11:06 - 1:06 FULL MOON 11:54 - 1:54 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON 11:54 - 1:54 12:42 - 2:42

AM

PM

8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 4:48 - 6:28 5:09 - 6:39 6:45 - 8:15

8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:11 - 6:41 5:33 - 7:03 7:09 - 8:39

AM

PM

7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 5:09 - 6:39 5:57 - 7:27 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 4:48 - 6:28 5:09 - 6:39 5:57 - 7:27 6:45 - 8:15

7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:33 - 7:03 6:21 - 7:51 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:11 - 6:41 5:33 - 7:03 6:21 - 7:51 7:09 - 8:39

The Moon Clock and resulting Moon Times were developed 40 years ago by Doug Hannon, one of America’s most trusted wildlife experts and a tireless inventor. The Moon Clock is produced by DataSport, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, a company specializing in wildlife activity time prediction. To order the 2023 Moon Clock, go to www.moontimes.com.

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 41

2025

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YOUTH TOUR ALL ESSAYS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 AT 4 PM. THOSE SELECTED TO INTERVIEW WILL BE NOTIFIED BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024.

INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD AT THE JACKSON OFFICE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT CWEMC.COM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL SARAH TURNER AT 251-246-9081 OR EMAIL S.TURNER@CWEMC.COM.

WHO CAN APPLY? If you are a junior attending high school in Clarke, Washington, Wilcox and Monroe counties, you are eligible to apply.

MONTGOMERY YOUTH TOUR: Four students will be selected to attend the Montgomery Youth Tour in March 11-13, 2025.

Students will visit with their state representatives, meet students from other cooperatives, visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, hear motivational speakers and learn about rural electric cooperatives. Those selected to attend the Montgomery Youth Tour will be awarded a $500 scholarship.

WASHINGTON D.C. YOUTH TOUR Of the four students selected for the Montgomery Youth Tour, two of them will be chosen to also attend the Youth Tour in Washington D.C. Those two students will visit their national representatives and meet students from across the country. They will also visit monuments and get a firsthand look at our nation’s history. The two students selected to represent Clarke-Washington EMC at the Washington D.C. Youth Tour will be awarded an additional $500 scholarship.

2025 COOPERATIVE SCHOLARSHIP Are you graduating from high school this spring? Are you a dependent of a member of Clarke-Washington EMC? If so, you are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Electric Cooperative Foundation. Clarke-Washington EMC has joined other cooperatives throughout the state of Alabama to create the Electric Cooperative Foundation.

This spring the foundation will be awarding scholarships across Alabama for students to continue their education at post-secondary and vocational schools.

For more details about this scholarship, obtain a copy of a scholarship application from your high school guidance counselor, visit cwemc.com, or call: Sarah Turner, Clarke-Washington EMC (251) 246-9081.

Don’t wait; applications with all required attachments must be received no later than February 21, 2025. (NO POSTMARKS)

Alabama Living

DECEMBER 2024 43

| Our Sources Say |

What about the bears?

I

have written several articles over the past few months about the climate nonsense promoted by activists to convince the public that immediate action is required to prevent catastrophic damage to the planet. This month, I will review an article written by Bjorn Lomborg published in The Wall Street Journal on July 31.

Mr. Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is an economist and not a scientist.

Mr. Lomborg asks why the hype about climate change killing polar bears stopped. Al Gore in his 2007 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” was one of the first climate activists to use scare tactics to warn that immediate action was necessary to reduce carbon dioxide emissions or polar bears would soon be extinct. In the documentary, a polar bear is shown on a very small iceberg floating off into the distance as the commentator explains that polar bears will drown when the icebergs melt because of climate change. As early as 2004, The Washington Post warned that polar bears could face extinction, and The World Wildlife Fund’s chief scientist claimed that some polar bears would stop reproducing by 2012.

Then, about a decade ago, the hype about polar bears stopped.

After years of warnings and scientific predictions, activists recognized that the polar bear populations were not declining but instead growing, substantially, from approximately 12,000 in the 1960s to about 26,000 today. Apparently, polar bears are very adaptive, or the science was wrong. However, you can still adopt a polar bear with the World Wildlife Fund for $25 to $250 and receive a certificate of adoption, a gift box, a frame and picture of your polar bear, and a plush stuffed polar bear.

Just like the polar bears, climate activists warned that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef would be killed by rising sea temperatures.

After the reef was damaged by a hurricane in 2009, the percentage of the reef that was covered in coral dropped to a record low, and the media and scientists predicted the reef coral cover would be halved again by 2022. The Guardian even published an obituary for the reef in 2014.

However, the latest measurements show that the Great Barrier Reef has more coral cover than at any time since 1986 when coral cover monitoring began. A new record was set in 2024. Apparently, the reef is much more adaptive than anticipated, or the science was wrong. You can adopt (apparently co-adopt) the Great Barrier Reef for $150, although you don’t get a plush stuffed toy.

Scientists also warned that small islands in the Pacific would disappear as sea levels rose. In 2019, U.N. Secretary-General and climate activist, Antonio Guterres, had his picture taken standing thigh-deep off Tuvalu, in the South Pacific, for a cover shot for a Time magazine story, “Our Sinking Planet.”

However, this summer, The New York Times shared surprising climate news that almost all atoll islands are stable or increasing in size. While rising sea levels erode the islands, additional sand is washed up, increasing low-lying shores. Studies have shown that for a decade the deposits of new sand have outpaced the climate erosion of the island shores. However, you didn’t see any publicity on the growth of low-lying islands until this year. Science may have been wrong again. As far as I can find, you can’t adopt a Pacific low-lying island. The islands are leaving money on the table.

And speaking of incorrect facts, President Biden recently declared, “extreme heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S.” It isn’t clear whether his statement was based on science, but it is wrong by a factor of about 15 to 20 times. Extreme heat kills about 6,000 Americans every year and another 4,000 deaths are associated with moderate heat exposure. However, extreme cold kills about 150,000 Americans annually. Age-standardized extreme heat deaths have declined in the U.S. by almost 10% a year mainly because more people obtain access to air conditioning and heat as they become more affluent and have better quality of life.

All the climate activists’ warnings are intentional to illogically skew the climate change discussion. After all, eliminating fossil fuels will not be easy or cheap. People will become poorer and their lives will be more difficult without fossil fuels. Activists understand that the use of fossil fuels must be shown as catastrophic, or people won’t be willing to make the change. Thus, the exaggerated claims of climate damage.

Mr. Lomborg sums up his article by stating that more than $2 trillion is spent across the globe every year on climate policies and programs – far more than the damage those policies are designed to prevent would cost. He says, “Telling half-truths while piously pretending to “follow the science” benefits activists with their fund-raising, generates clicks for media outlets, and helps climate-concerned politicians rally their bases. But it leaves all of us poorly informed and worse off.” And, hey, it also sells polar bear and barrier reef adoption programs.

I hope you have a good month.

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

44 DECEMBER 2024

www.alabamaliving.coop

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| Cup o’ Joe |

Illustration by Dennis Auth

The perils of ‘Dirty Santa’ I

went to a Christmas party the other day with 50 little old ladies between the age of about 70 and 100. We had some great food, laughter, and fellowship because we were smack dab in the middle of the holiday season.

And then it happened. I had no sooner finished my second helping of a delicious ham and cheese casserole when everyone pulled out a present. I thought, “Oh, no. They’re gonna play Dirty Santa.”

If you’ve never heard of this game before, it’s a blend of gift-giving, greed, and WWE wrestling. Some historians believe it was invented by the Romans to torture their prisoners before they were fed to the lions. And many political experts are convinced that our problems with Democrats and Republicans began with a game of Dirty Santa in Washington D.C. As I sat and watched the game progress, it would be hard to disagree. I had no idea that such sweet, reserved Sunday School-teaching grandmas could become as ruthless as Navy Seals on a seek and destroy mission. That’s because most of these ladies were brought up on the old Kmart blue light specials. You may recall, once the blue light was cut on, it was retail blood sport - everyone rushed towards that bargain table and fought for whatever was on sale as if they were trying to reach the last lifeboat seat on the Titanic. And years later, all of them have carried that mentality into this holiday game.

If you’re not familiar with the rules, this is how it works: Everyone brings a gift worth a certain dollar value, carefully wrapped. The first person chooses a present. Then the second person chooses another present, and can keep it, or trade it Joe Hobby is a standup comedian, a syndicated columnist, and a long-time writer for Jay Leno. He’s a member of Cullman Electric Cooperative and is very happy now that he can use Sprout from his little place on Smith Lake. Contact him at jhobby2000@aol.com.

46 DECEMBER 2024

for the first person’s gift. And so it goes until a gift has been traded about three times, or everyone has something they are happy with.

Of course, that never happens because the best present is continuously “stolen” by everyone, and as a result, if you have a lousy gift, you’re probably stuck. And there are always some stinkers.

I’ve seen mouse traps, toilet bowl cleaner, even Ex Lax. From what everyone at my table told me, this holiday season’s edition of Dirty Santa was quite civil compared to previous ones.

A few years ago, two people almost came to blows because they both wanted a tree ornament that said, “Peace on Earth.” And today, a battery-operated lamp was quite popular; as a result, it was continuously stolen back and forth for about 30 minutes. I felt the intensity in the room build; it was easy to see how a catfight could erupt. As if there isn’t enough hate in the world, let’s generate more of it by having people take things from one another.

What’s worse, a few of the ladies couldn’t get out of their seats fast enough to trade for a better present, so they were stuck with what they had until somebody who was more mobile came along and traded it away from them.

At least everyone was sober. I’ve heard about parties where Dirty Santa and alcohol is involved. Bad combination. That’s like throwing napalm on a campfire.

Finally, the game ended, and most everyone seemed kind of happy except for the grandma who had the battery-operated lamp taken from her the last time. She was undoubtedly sulking.

It’s been said the purpose of the Dirty Santa game is to build Christmas cheer. That can happen, I suppose, but human nature being what it is, there is always the possibility of pettiness, anger and sophomoric behavior.

Why is there such a ruckus anyway? Most of these folks are at a stage in life where they want to get rid of clutter and, to me, a $10 battery-operated Christmas lamp ain’t nothing but clutter.

But I will admit that it’s going to look really nice on my holiday mantel. www.alabamaliving.coop

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