February 2025 Sand Mountain EC

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Legislative issue | Things | Local News February 2025

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Life changes for Sen. Garlan Gudger The Art of Alabama Politics Baking with sourdough

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Political treasure trove

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Political advisor David Azbell has been collecting political memorabilia for 40 years. His collection now fills several rooms at his Montgomery office and he admits “it’s a bit out of control.”

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The U.S. Space & Rocket Center recently opened a renovated Rocket Park, including the Redstone family of rockets that led to the development of the Saturn V. Baking sourdough bread at home became popular during the pandemic and remains so today.

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D E P A R T M E N T S 11 Spotlight 33 Around Alabama 44 Cook of the Month 48 Outdoors 49 Fish & Game Forecast 54 Cup o’ Joe ONLINE: alabamaliving.coop ON THE COVER

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VOL. 78 NO. 2

State Sen. Garlan Gudger has been nominated by his fellow Republicans to be President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate. But last summer, a horrific accident had doctors fearing he’d be paralyzed. Story, Page 20.

PHOTO: Mark Stephenson

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Factors That Impact Your Energy Bills Board of Trustees David Henderson Larry Godwin Randy L. Bailey Luke Freeman Roland Hendon Danny Lacey Brad Gilbert Terry Smith Brent Thomas 402 Main Street West P.O. Box 277 Rainsville, AL 35986 (256) 638-4957 fax www.smec.coop In case of power outages, you may call us 24 hours a day: Rainsville-PowellFyffe-Sylvania 256-638-2153 Bryant-Higdon-Flat RockHenagar-Ider-Pisgah 256-657-5137 Fort Payne 256-845-1511 Valley Head-Mentone 256-635-6344 Collinsville-Geraldine 256-659-2153 Section-Langston-Marshall Co. 1-877-843-2512

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February brings some of the coldest weather of the year and as our home heating systems work harder and longer to keep us warm, we typically see higher energy bills.

There are a few key factors that affect electricity prices, as well as a few ways you can make a meaningful impact on home energy savings.

When you receive your monthly bill from Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative (SMEC), you’re provided a summary of how much electricity you used during the billing cycle. Online, you can even see how electricity use may have spiked on days when you used more electricity, such as a particularly chilly day or when relatives were staying with you. But you might be surprised to learn that beyond your monthly energy consumption, there are external factors that can impact the cost of electricity.

Fuel prices SMEC purchases electricity from our power generation partner, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), at a wholesale cost, then we deliver that power to our local communities. The cost of generating and transmitting electricity from our generation partner accounts for a significant portion of the cost to provide electric service to local homes and businesses. In addition, there is the cost of fuel used to generate that electricity, such as

natural gas, which fluctuates based on supply and demand. While these fluctuations can impact the cost of electricity, we work closely with TVA to plan ahead and help stabilize electricity prices for our members.

Extreme weather While we can’t control the weather, we can review weather patterns and forecasts to prepare for times of extreme cold or heat, when we know the demand for electricity will increase. But when temperatures become extremely cold and the demand for electricity spikes, the price of electricity can also increase.

Infrastructure and equipment To cover the costs associated with providing electricity to your home or business, SMEC members pay a monthly charge. This flat monthly fee ensures the cost of equipment, materials, labor and daily operations are covered for all members in SMEC’s service territory. To ensure the reliable service you expect and deserve, we must maintain the local grid, including power lines, substations and other essential equipment.

Energy policy and regulations Federal energy policies and regulations can have a profound impact on electricity costs. As www.alabamaliving.coop

| Sand Mountain Electric | energy generation shifts to the use of more renewable sources and stricter regulations for traditional, alwaysavailable fuel sources, such as natural gas plants, costly upgrades and technologies must be constructed and deployed.

These additional costs are ultimately passed to consumers.

U.S. power consumption is expected to double by 2050. Across the country, electric cooperatives are working with members of Congress to advocate for smart energy policies that will reliably power our local communities.

You have control While many of these external factors that impact electricity costs are out of our control, we all have the power to manage our energy use at home. The most effective way to lower use is thermostat management. Since heating and cooling account for a major portion of home energy use, adjusting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting can help you save energy and money. Remember to service your heating and cooling system annually and replace dirty filters as needed.

You can also reduce energy use by taking advantage of off-peak periods, when the demand for electricity is lower.

Reserve energy-intensive chores for offpeak times, such as early in the morning or later in the evening, to save energy.

Be sure to seal air leaks around windows, doors and other areas where gaps are possible. This will help your heating and cooling system work less and improve the overall comfort of your home.

Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative is your local energy partner and we’re here to help. As always, we will continue working diligently to provide you with reliable power at an affordable cost.

Alabama Living

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| Sand Mountain Electric |

Alabama Living

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Featuring:

February 28 & March 1 Trevor Dreher 7:30 P.M.

2023 IPRA Specialty Act Showcase World Champion

TICKETS

Adult $20.00 Kids 6-11 $10.00 Kids 5 and Under FREE!

All proceeds are for the benefit of Alhambra Shrine and are not tax-deductible.

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| Alabama Snapshots |

Out for a hike

20th anniversary fall hike in the Tetons.

SUBMITTED by Kristi Gerding, Crane Hill.

Michael and Terrie Wallace hiking at DeSoto falls before Thanksgiving 2024. SUBMITTED by Terrie Wallace, Cullman.

Brynlee hiked to the bottom of Noccalula Falls with 4-year-old niece.

SUBMITTED by Joy Duncan, Cullman.

Wil and Eli Copenhaver enjoying a family hike up Horsetooth Mountain in Colorado this summer.

SUBMITTED by Sheila Copenhaver, Atmore.

I met Austin and his friend during an 8-hour hike at Talladega National Forest where I got photos of the trail and glorious mountain tops. Before the friends got too far away I asked for a photo of them, too. SUBMITTED by Jesse Adams, Dothan.

April theme: “Race cars” | Deadline: February 28 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

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Spotlight | February February is American Heart Month According to the American Heart Association, half of the adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. Chronic hypertension can lead to debilitating health conditions such as heart and kidney disease. Yet, it rarely shows symptoms of its own, so it can silently wreak havoc on your heart health without ever making its presence known.

One thing you can do to help lower your blood pressure and distress: Use the 4-7-8 breathing method. Breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and breathe out through your mouth for eight seconds. Repeat at least three times.

Other preventative measures you can take, from Health Med Inc.: lower salt intake; limit alcohol consumption; cut back on red meats; avoid saturated and trans fats; eat potassium-rich foods and veggies; maintain a healthy weight; avoid smoking; manage your stress; and check your blood pressure regularly.

Whereville, AL 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 March issue.

Submit by email: w h e r e v i l l e @ a l ab ama liv ing.c o op, 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!

January’s answer: This full-size, steel replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s biplane is perched near Interstate 65 and the Maxwell Boulevard overpass in Montgomery. The biplane commemorates the Wright brothers’ first civilian flying school, a short-lived enterprise that opened and closed in Montgomery in 1910, seven years after the brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. The replica measures 25 feet by 40 feet and is held about 30 feet in the air on three support beams. It was installed in 2013. (Photo by Allison Law of Alabama Living). The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Robert Dunn of South Alabama EC. 10 FEBRUARY 2024

Find the hidden dingbat!

January’s hidden dingbat wasn’t hidden from view, but you had to go all the way through the magazine to find it. Instead of a cup of coffee, columnist Joe Hobby was holding the cup of tea on Page 46. Evelyn Landingham of Pittsview wrote us that she’s 81 and has been looking for the dingbat for years, and only just found it this month. “So excited to find it,” she wrote. On the other end of the age spectrum, Patti Bodenhamer wrote that her 10-year-old grandson, Easton, a 4th grader at Gulf Shores Elementary School, was also very excited to find the dingbat: “It’s great fun to search for the dingbat with him!” Congratulations to William Ring Sr. of Valley, our randomly drawn winner, who wins a $25 gift card from Alabama One Credit Union. This month, we’ve hidden a cherry pie in honor of National Cherry Pie Day Feb. 20. Good luck!

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop

Sponsored by

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

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

Liked dog hunting column

As a member of the Covington Electric Co-op and being the president of the Alabama Dog Hunters Association, I would like to thank you for publishing the article about our dog deer hunting heritage written by John Felsher (Outdoors, December 2024).

It was a great read with many compliments from the dog hunting community all over the state.

Lonnie Miller, Opp

Praise for “grudge” column

Loved this month’s column (“The 58-year-old grudge,” Cup o’ Joe, January 2025)! Brought back some great memories. I was 13 at the time and I remember Alabama’s offensive line averaged about 195 pounds. Nebraska came in looking like a herd of cornfed bulls and were supposed to be immovable. We danced all over them and what was even better is that we beat them even worse in the Sugar Bowl the next year, 31-7. Keep up the good work and happy new year!

Jimmy Wilson, Falkville I enjoyed “The 58-Year-Old Grudge" article by Joe Hobby immensely!

I attended UA from 1957-1961 and then went to UA School of Dentistry in Birmingham for my DMD degree. Back then, students and their wives in the dental and medical schools were able to get tickets to all Crimson Tide Tuscaloosa football games for the hefty sum of a dollar per ticket.

So, my wife and I saw the best college football in the country, at that time, IMO, for $2 a game. Talk about a bargain!

Dr. Zack Studstill, Montgomery www.alabamaliving.coop

February | Spotlight

Take us along!

See more travelers on Page 34!

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.

 Robert and Mot Carden traveled to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

They are members of Southern Pine EC.

 Jennifer Mays of Ider, a member of Sand Mountain EC, traveled to the Filipino restaurant Rosarios in Tagaytay City, Philippines, overlooking the active Taal volcano.

 Abby Rutherford and her aunt Tina Russell, both from Hatton and members of Joe Wheeler EMC, recently took Alabama Living to Victoria Street in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 Eddie and Susan Segrest from Shorter, members of Dixie EC, visited Queenstown, New Zealand.

Alabama Living

 Fred and Connie Dahlke, members of Baldwin EMC, recently visited St. Kitts in the Caribbean.

 Olivia Dawson and her brother Nicholas Dawson went to Zion National Park in Utah where they had a photo taken at the top of the Canyon Overlook Trail. They are from Trinity and members of Joe Wheeler EMC.

 Enoch Perry of Fort Mitchell took his magazine on a mission trip with Christian Veterinarian Missions. He is a member of Tallapoosa River EC. FEBRUARY 2025 11

David Azbell has been collecting political and campaign memorabilia for 40 years, amassing a collection that now takes up several rooms at his downtown Montgomery office.

Collection is tribute to the ‘wild, weird an

By Lenore Vickrey

D

avid Azbell’s fascination with the world of political cammy gateway drug that led to posters, 3-D items, personal items paigns started about 40 years ago when the then 16-yearowned by politicians and … well, now it’s a bit out of control.”

Azbell – for more than 30 years a political advisor to dozens old discovered a box of buttons his dad kept in a storage of Alabama politicians and campaigns, speechwriter for goverroom in their Montgomery home. Not buttons you’d fasten a coat nors, and communications advisor for the or shirt with, but the round metal types House Republican Caucus – has been addemblazoned with the names of political ing to that original set of political buttons candidates and slogans. for more than four decades. His collection “If I were 21, I’d vote for WALLACE” of memorabilia got so large that it outgrew blares one. the man cave at his house, and five years “Re-elect OUR CONGRESSMAN TOM ago he moved it to his office in downtown BEVILL,” says another.

Montgomery. Last fall he moved it again to “Albert Lee SMITH Our Way. At Last.” a larger space, a 1910-era house just a few And on and on. blocks from the State Capitol.

“I was always fascinated by history,” he A walk through his latest location is like says, “and political buttons are history that strolling through a museum of what Azbell you can hold in your hand. Each one tells Women attending a 1946 rally for former Gov. has dubbed “the wild, weird and wonderful a story, about winners and losers, about “Big Jim” Folsom were given a bar of lye soap to world of Alabama politics,” from posters, issues that were important. You can even help him “clean up” corruption.

PHOTO BY DAVID AZBELL mailers, handbills, furniture, flags, clothlook at the graphics and tell what the era ing, letters and photographs, to mugs, medallions, bumper stickwas like at the time they were made. I got fascinated by that and I ers, newspaper clippings, magazine covers, scripts from the 1997 started looking into these campaigns. The political buttons I found award-winning TV movie, “George Wallace,” 45-records, albums, were kind of like Wikipedia is today,” when you look for one thing fans, hats and ballcaps. That moniker is also the description of his and spot something else intriguing, and before you know it you Facebook page, “The Art of Alabama Politics,” where he posts daily find yourself down one rabbit hole after another.

“That’s the way political buttons were to me,” he says. “They were photos and snippets from the collection.

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It all started when he discovered a box of political buttons, like those above, his father had in a storage room at their home. He calls the buttons “a PHOTOS BY LENORE VICKREY gateway drug that led to posters, 3-D items, personal items owned by politicians and…. well, now it’s a bit out of control.”

and wonderful world of Alabama politics’ “Yes, there are dark spots in our history. But there are humorous moments, sad moments, bright moments,” he says. “Our political history is like anybody’s life. It runs the gamut. I try to tell the whole story, the good, the bad and the ugly. But I try to focus on the humorous and colorful.”

1945-1986 (the desks were sold to help fund the Capitol renovations); state Sen. Hank Sanders’ old desk with his phone and a space for an ashtray (all desks included the hollowed-out spaces); a Florida voting booth with “hanging chads” and an original Gore v. Bush ballot from the 2000 presidential race; a White House beige desk phone with Every item has a story push buttons from the 1980s; and flags that Not all of his collection is on display, he flew over the state Capitol during the state notes, pointing to a storage room full of funeral (which Azbell directed) for Gov. even more items. Some date back to the George Wallace in 1998.

19th century. And every item has its own Azbell was close to the family of Gov. story, and Azbell is only too happy to reWallace, and was his spokesperson in count them. his later years when the former governor His collection, he says, “is believed to be could not hear and was bedridden. Azthe largest private collection of Alabama bell’s father, Joe, a longtime journalist in campaign memorabilia around.” It’s so Azbell’s favorite item is a rare ticket to a Montgomery, was Wallace’s director of communications for his 1972 presidenlarge now that he doesn’t even buy items George Wallace fundraiser on May 15, 1972, the like he used to. “People just give me stuff,” day of his shooting. He doesn’t know of another tial campaign. Because of their close ties, one in existence.

PHOTO BY DAVID AZBELL when George Wallace Jr. relocated to a new he says. “They’ll leave a box on my front home in Birmingham several years ago, he offered Azbell several porch. boxes of his parents’ belongings that had been stored in his base“I started collecting because like I said, each piece tells a story. ment. Some of those items are now on display, like the pass to the But now, after 40 years, I’m to the point where I enjoy sharing the 1983 season of University of Alabama football practices, signed by stories that the pieces tell as much as I enjoy acquiring the pieces.” then Coach Ray Perkins, and Wallace’s personal datebooks he kept Among the historical items he has acquired are a member’s while running for governor. desk from the old Alabama House of Representatives, used from Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 13

Some of the most historically imHe has made his own way. portant documents, however, are not on He’s a one-armed man. display, but are kept in a separate desk “Now Algood lost an arm in World drawer. They include Wallace’s discharge War I,” Azbell notes, “so why they didn’t papers from World War II (his comjust say he’s a wounded war hero I don’t manding officer was Gen. Curtis Lemay, know, but ‘vote for Miles Algood because who would become his vice-presidential he is one-armed man!’” running mate); his qualifying papers to The Pope and Elvis run for the Alabama House of RepreAzbell even has a few items that aren’t sentatives; a letter from Jesse Jackson to necessarily political but have Alabama the family upon Wallace’s death; medical records kept by nurses at the bedside of connections. On a 1984 trade mission to Gov. Lurleen Wallace; and a copy of a let- Azbell prizes this desk once used by State Sen. Europe, Gov. Wallace met with Pope John ter written by Wallace to Arthur Bremer, Hank Sanders in the Alabama Senate Chamber, Paul II who presented him with a papal the man who shot him in 1972 and left with his phone below. medal at the Vatican. The sterling silver PHOTO BY LENORE VICKREY him paralyzed. In the letter, Wallace says medal is on display in Azbell’s collection. he forgives Bremer, then serving time in a Maryland penitentiary, In March 1974, Elvis Presley played a concert at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum, and the night before, he stayed at the old and pleads with him to seek a personal relationship with Jesus. “I’d Downtowner Hotel on Madison Avenue. The hotel desk clerk, seegive anything to know what his reaction was,” says Azbell. ing a money-making opportunity, went up to the singer’s room, Campaign gimmicks took the bed sheet down to the hotel manager and paid him $6 And then there are the improbable campaign items that somefor the sheet. She then cut it into squares and sold them for $10 a one, somewhere thought were a good idea. “Here’s a piece that square in classified ads in tabloid publications. shocks everybody,” he says, holding up a pair of large yellow nylon “Now how do I know this is in fact the bedsheet that Elvis slept women’s underpants featuring Wallace’s face and “Wallace ’68” on?” Azbell asks. “She somehow convinced Bill Baxley, the Alabama attorney general, to attest that this was Elvis’ bedsheet.” on the front. The undergarments (also available in blue and pink) Baxley’s signature is indeed on the back of the card bearing the were sold to raise money for Wallace’s third-party presidential bid. sheet square, one of which resides in the Azbell collection next to Not to be outdone, in 2006 when Gov. Bob Riley was running for a photo of Elvis in his trademark white jumpsuit while meeting re-election, some entrepreneur sold Bob Riley for Governor white Gov. Wallace. cotton thongs. Azbell keeps them side by side in a display drawer.

Among the thousands of pieces of memorabilia housed in AzAlabamians of a certain age might remember when former Gov. bell’s collection, one is his favorite. “It’s a ticket to a George Wal“Big Jim” Folsom campaigned with a corn shuck mop and suds lace fundraiser on May 15, 1972,” he says, holding the ticket which bucket, promising to clean up corruption. “If you were a woman is preserved in a protective covering. “That was the date of the and you attended a Folsom rally in 1946, you got a bar of soap shooting in Laurel, Maryland. This ticket was (to) the next event with Big Jim’s name on it,” he says, displaying the brown bar of on his schedule. It was unused because it was canceled. I don’t lye soap he got about 25 years ago. The Republican Party in 1996 know of another ticket to this event that exists today.” distributed mini-cans of scouring powder while pledging to “clean up politics.” A matchbook seeking support to draft Wallace for A labor of love governor from the 1960s also included, on the back, information Although some might liken Azbell’s collection to a hoarder’s to apply for membership in the Ku Klux Klan. paradise, he sees it differently. “All of this is a labor of love to preDothan businessman Charles Woods, a veteran who was terribly burned in World War II, had a congressional campaign item serve stories that I think have been lost,” he says. that seems tragically ironic now: hot pad holders. “I told you each To help prove his point, he tells of a recent visit to his collection piece tells a story,” Azbell says a bit ruefully, “and sometimes the by several college students who were interns at the governor’s ofstories are in poor taste.” fice. He asked the students if they knew of “Big Jim” Folsom, or Campaign slogans had their own special appeal and somewhat happened to Gov. Wallace in May of 1972. They just stared at him. “Ask anybody under 40, or even 50 years old, and they’re times had mixed, and even odd, messages. Bettye Frink’s message going to look at you slack-jawed,” he says with a sigh. when she ran for the Alabama State School Board in 1970 was proclaimed on a palm card: “Freedom of choice is a MUST. Total He believes Alabama is a state where it’s important to know pointegration will DESTROY our schools!” while a few lines later, litical history “because we repeat it over and over again, like the “LOVE and TRUST is far better than HATRED.” courts taking over the prison system. We’ve been there. It pays to know political history, but folks just don’t appreciate it.

In 1932, Miles Algood was a congressman representing two different districts in the Gadsden area. Azbell has his campaign card, “I did this because after 40 years of effort I wanted to show it which he framed, and notes that it names several reasons why you off,” he says. “I was deeply concerned that a lot of our history is should vote for Algood: being lost or being forgotten. I wanted to preserve it and share it He is a gentleman. with others.” He has experience.

To book a tour, send Azbell a message through his “Art of Alabama He is worthy.

Politics” Facebook page or email theartofalabamapolitics@gmail.com.

He is a working man’s friend.

Watch videos of David Azbell talking about some of his more colorful collection items on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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Alabama Living

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The U.S. Space and Rocket Center recently finished a three-year process to restore the Space Shuttle Pathfinder, which has been displayed at the ALL PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER museum since 1988 after its retirement from NASA.

By Aaron Tanner

“O

ther cities have a skyline, but Huntsville has a spaceCenter for Space Exploration nearby. line,” is how the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) The Rocket Center also has a full-scale vertical model of the describes the numerous spacecraft displayed at one of Saturn V, which creates a dramatic visual for people traveling on Alabama’s top attractions. Since opening in 1970, visitors from Interstate 565, the main road into Huntsville. all 50 states and around the world have learned about the state’s The future of space travel is also on display at the Rocket Park role in space exploration at the Smithsonian-affiliated museum with a mock-up of the SLS (Space Launch System) Core Stage through various exhibits and educational programs.

Pathfinder. NASA provided the base portion of the SLS Pathfinder to the USSRC. The Pathfinder The USSRC recently reopened was used to practice lifting and its renovated Rocket Park, giving transporting a flight-ready SLS visitors a fresh look at the Huntsville-based programs that led to that will soon take astronauts putting man on the moon and an back to the moon for the first exciting vision of NASA’s role in time since the Apollo program returning to the moon for new over half a century ago. explorations and discoveries in Each rocket at the park was the field of space. erected before the USSRC The Redstone family of rockopened. Despite frequent paint ets created at nearby Redstone and repair jobs, Alabama’s cold, Arsenal is proudly displayed at wet winters and hot and humid the Rocket Park. The Redstone summers led to the need for a rockets include the U.S. Army full restoration of the rockets.

Redstone, used as a ballistic The amphitheater at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Rocket Park In 2018, the museum dismountmissile, and the rockets of Jupi- provides an area for educational and community events. ed the rockets and transported ter, Jupiter-C, Juno II, and the them to Cosmos Aerospace in Mercury Redstone. The family of rockets eventually evolved into Cullman, where the company made extensive repairs and worked the Saturn I rocket for low earth-orbit missions and the Saturn V with the Rocket Center’s curatorial team to add new paint schemes rocket that traveled to the moon. to the rockets before they were transported back to the park and “(The rockets) chronicle the transition from missiles designed remounted in 2024. The Rocket Park fully reopened in September for the military to rockets designed for space exploration,” says 2024.

Patricia Ammons, the Rocket Center’s spokesperson. The Saturn Educational opportunities abound at Rocket Park, with a sign I rocket is on display at the Rocket Park, while an original Saturn at each rocket explaining its development and how it was used V rocket used for dynamic testing can be viewed at the Davidson in America’s space program. “It is one thing to read about space 16 FEBRUARY 2025

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 17

exploration and another altogether to stand in front of the rockets that made space exploration possible,” Ammons says. “Rocket Row is an important part of the vast number of displays at the Rocket Center and tells the story of how imagination, knowledge, and skill can come together for an extraordinary purpose.”

Ammons also describes having the SLS Pathfinder on display as “illustrating the massive size of the SLS launch vehicle and helping tell the story of the Rocket City’s current and ongoing role in space exploration.”

Park is part of the extensive renovations and expansions at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The Space Camp Operations Center opened in 2023 and features a large auditorium and added classroom space equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology.

Another critical piece in the “Return of the space-line” is the renovation of the Pathfinder space shuttle. Like the SLS Pathfinder, this vehicle was used for critical lift and fit testing. It is an iconic display and one of only two full shuttle stacks in the world.

The Rocket Center completed the restoration of the shuttle stack in October 2024.

Other unique features And in December, a new exhibit, “Discovering Mars: Robot There are other feaExplorers” opened, with tures at the Rocket Park full-scale models of the to enhance the guest exMars Sojourner, Mars perience. The Marshall ReExploration and Curiositirees Association spearty Rovers, along with the headed a Wall of Honor, InSight Mars Lander and which will include more the Ingenuity helicopthan 21,000 names of emter. Each of these vehicles ployees at NASA’s Marshall in the interactive exhibSpace Flight Center in it represents the kinds of Huntsville when completrobotic technologies that ed. “This project honors all have explored the Martian the NASA employees who surface, providing valuable contributed to space exinsight on our solar system ploration and establishing neighbor.

Huntsville as the Rocket Generous donations City,” Ammons says. made both the Rocket Park A kiosk at the wall aland Pathfinder shuttle lows visitors to search for projects possible, includnames and learn more The Redstone family of rockets that led to the development of the Saturn V stand ing a $2 million donation about their specific jobs, as tall at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. for Rocket Row from Fred well as an opportunity to Luddy, a California busisubmit names of those who worked for corporations that worked nessman whose son attended Space Camp. The Marshall Retirees on missions for NASA. In addition, the Rocket Park includes a Association raised the money for the Wall of Honor while other new amphitheater that will be used for educational programs, donors adopted rockets to additionally cover funds for the renocommunity and special events, as well as providing an area for vation. Additional funds are still being raised to ensure the longvisitors a place to take a break from the park’s substantial grounds. term duration of the Rocket Park and Shuttle Park.

Expanded green space gives the park better visual landSpace exploration continues to evolve. The new Rocket Park scaping with sunshades and trees for shade and the Pathfinder shuttle display perfectly balance where space during the warmer exploration has been and sets the stage for where it is headed. It months. is an out-of-this-world sight that is not to be missed, along with The Rocket other features at Huntsville’s most popular attraction. The Wall of Honor features names of employees at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

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STAR ID deadline is May 7

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tarting May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers aged 18 and over must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. In Alabama, this federal requirement is addressed with the STAR ID program, administered by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

STAR is an acronym for “secure, trusted and reliable,” and is part of a nationwide effort to improve the integrity and security of state-issued driver licenses and identification cards, which, in turn, will help fight terrorism and reduce fraud.

STAR ID is available only at ALEA driver licensing examining offices, which are located statewide. STAR IDs will still be available for issuance after May 7. You do not have to wait until your driver’s license is set to expire, though you will be required to pay for a duplicate license.

Anyone who has not obtained a STAR ID or does not possess a valid, unexpired U.S. passport by May 7 but plans to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities that require such an ID must apply for one at least 30 days in advance (a hard copy of a new driver license may take up to 30 days to arrive).

STAR ID licenses are differentiated with a gold star in the upper left corner; any Alabama license or identification card issued on or after April 25, 2022 that is not compliant with the REAL ID Act will display “Not for Federal Identification” across the top of the license.

The requirements to obtain a STAR ID are a step beyond an ordinary Alabama driver’s license. Applicants must present four documents to verify identity/date of birth, Social Security num-

Alabama Living

ber and address of principal residence. To find a list of accepted documents, visit alea.gov and scroll to the bottom of the home page to “STAR ID Document List.”

It is important to have all documents with you when visiting a driver’s license office to obtain a STAR ID. Congress passed the REAL-ID Act of 2005 in response to acts of terrorism committed against the U.S. The act modified federal laws pertaining to security, authentication and issuance procedure standards for state driver licenses and identification cards. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) web site notes that the purpose of REAL ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.

Alabama began its STAR ID pilot program in 2011 and began issuing STAR ID cards statewide in early 2012. States were granted additional time to meet the REAL ID requirements in part due to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; DHS reports that many state driver’s licensing agencies had to work through backlogs created by the pandemic.

FEBRUARY 2025 19

PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Opening doors State senator reflects on God’s hand in his life as he looks to future

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A day that changed everything tate Sen. Garlan Gudger knows a thing or two about doors.

In July 2024, Gudger was celebrating his son Tripp’s 21st birthHis business, Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in day on Smith Lake when a day of family fun turned to terror in Cullman, specializes in salvaging solid wood doors, manan instant. While riding Sea-Doos, Gudger stopped suddenly tels, trim, and wrought iron from old houses and buildings and to admire the sunlight reflecting on the restoring them for new life. water — a moment he likened to a movBut Gudger likes to speak about how ie-like portal. The abrupt stop activated God has “opened doors” throughout his the watercraft’s rudder system, creating life, the most recent being the opportunia towering wall of water that enveloped ty to take a prominent leadership role in him. Tragically, his son, following closethe Alabama State Senate. Gudger, who ly behind and unable to see through the has served in the Senate for six years, was cascading water, collided with him at nominated as President Pro Tempore of high speed. the Senate in December and is expected The impact was catastrophic. The to be confirmed by the full Senate when 2,000-pound machine drove Gudger it reconvenes on Feb. 4. into the handlebars, causing severe inAlabama Living caught up with Gudgternal injuries (eight fractured vertebrae, er at the Alabama State House in late seven broken ribs, a collapsed lung, seri2024 as he prepared for the upcoming ous injuries to his spleen). “I was like a legislative session. Just seven months Gudger and his wife, Heather, and sons Pierce and human ramp,” he recalls. “I fell over into earlier, his life took a dramatic turn when Tripp at a family wedding. the water. I was awake and conscious the a boating accident on July 4 left him with PHOTO COURTESY GARLAN GUDGER whole time. As I went underneath, I imsevere injuries — injuries so critical that mediately started praying.” doctors initially feared he might be paralyzed. Gudger reflected Rescue workers arrived quickly, maneuvering Gudger out of on that fateful day, his renewed perspective, strengthened faith, the water and transporting him to Trident Marina before airliftand deepened commitment to serving others.

20 FEBRUARY 2025

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PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

ing him to UAB’s trauma center, where he would remain in the intensive care unit for two weeks.

There, doctors revealed the extent of his injuries. They warned him he might be paralyzed.

Miraculously, he wasn’t.

A renewed purpose

Over time, his eyesight returned, and his strength grew. By the end of the year, Gudger had transitioned back into his roles as a senator, husband, and father, more determined than ever to leave a legacy of service.

A vision for Alabama

When the opportunity to run for Senate Pro Tempore presentUpon waking from surgery, Gudger felt as though he was in a ed itself, Gudger didn’t hesitate. Despite some questioning his conversation with God. With the fourth decision and the challenges such a leadchapter of Ephesians echoing in his ership role would entail, he embraced the mind, he asked the hospital chaplain for a moment with confidence and faith — reBible and looked up the first verse: “I urge solving in the ICU months earlier not to you to live a life worthy of the calling you let fear hold him back. have received.”

“There were certain doors that God Believing God had spoken to him, he opened, and I needed to walk through vowed to make the most of every opporthem,” Gudger says. tunity.

Now, he views this new position as an“Whatever door you have for me, if other door opened to fulfill his calling. you give me that opportunity, I’m going “I want to make Alabama a better place to walk through it,” he said he told God. for everyone,” Gudger says. “Not just for But leaving the hospital was only the my boys, but for the next generation. It’s start of a long, grueling recovery process. about teamwork and leaving a lasting imTherapists helped Gudger learn to walk pact.”

Gudger chats with AREA Vice President for External again, beginning with a walker and pro- Affairs Sean Strickler, AREA External Affairs As he prepares for the upcoming leggressing to walking one block at a time. Manager Anna Grace Gamble and Tim Howe, chief islative session, Gudger is focused on “I was in all kinds of pain,” he recalls. “I of staff for Sen. Gudger. PHOTO BY MARK STEPHENSON fostering harmony in the Senate and addidn’t want to walk, but they made me dressing the challenges facing the state. walk.”

“My job is to ensure the Alabama Senate is as strong as it’s ever Having also lost his vision for nearly two months, Gudger was been,” Gudger says. “We want to handle Christian, conservative unable to use a phone, read emails, or watch TV, instead spending issues with a common-sense approach and transparency. People hours in stillness, reflecting on his life. “It was just me and God. are looking for authenticity and leaders with the right heart, not Those quiet moments reshaped my mentality. If God spared me just titles. I’m excited to lead and cast that vision for where we’re from paralysis or death, I knew I had to make the biggest impact going with all my colleagues. I’m thankful and honored to be in possible where he placed me.” this position to lead that vision.”

A strong bond with electric cooperatives In both his life and work, Gudger remains committed to opening doors — not just for himself but for others who will follow. One opportunity lies in addressing the energy needs of Alabama’s electric cooperatives, an issue Gudger views as vital to the state’s future.

“The whole legislature recognizes how crucial energy generation is to Alabama’s future — whether it’s for industrial recruitment, households, or general contracting,” Gudger says. “It’s especially vital in my area of north Alabama, where we need as much capacity as possible.

Without it, we won’t grow.”

He is proud of his strong relationship with Cullman Electric Cooperative and its CEO, Tim Culpepper. “We’ve always supported each other,” he explains. “When Tim became CEO, he brought me under his wing and showed me how the co-op operates and how their board functions.

Anytime I’ve needed them, they’ve been there for me, and I’ve been there for them.”

Alabama Living

State Sen. Garlan Gudger and other area officials welcomed Gov. Kay Ivey and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell to the Cullman Electric Cooperative’s office in 2023 to discuss the expansion of Sprout, Cullman’s fiber internet subsidiary, in Cullman and Winston counties. From left are Tim Culpepper, Cullman EC CEO; Nicole Jones Wadsworth; state Rep. Tim Wadsworth; Boswell; Ivey; Winston County Commission Chairman Roger Hayes; state Rep. Randall Shedd; and Gudger.

The cooperative model has left a lasting impression on Gudger. “Understanding how a co-op functions throughout the whole county was eye-opening for me,” he says. “I appreciate that model

— when people need something, they know they’re part of the family of coops. I’m proud to be a friend of the coops and to help them continue to grow and serve our communities.”

FEBRUARY 2025 21

Alabama

Bookshelf In this periodic feature, we highlight books either about Alabama people or events, or written by Alabama authors. Summaries are not reviews or endorsements. We also occasionally highlight book-related events. Email submissions to bookshelf@alabamaliving. coop. Due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to feature all the books we receive.

Untethered, by Angela JacksonBrown, $15.19 paperback, Harper Muse (Black historical fiction) In the small college town of Troy, Alabama, amid the backdrop of 1967, Katia Daniels lives a life steeped in responsibility. At the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, she pours her heart into nurturing the young lives under her care, harboring a longing for children of her own. Katia’s romantic entanglement with an older man brings comfort but also stirs questions about the path she’s chosen. Set against the backdrop of a changing South, the novel delves into the complexities of love, family and self-discovery.

The Alabama 100 Best Recipes, Restaurants and Road Trips, by

Martie Duncan, $34.95 (Cookbook/ travel) The Alabama native, who starred on season eight of Food Network Star, has compiled this book from her travels around the state. It features recipes from restaurants across Alabama plus “road trip tips on where to go and where to eat when you get there.” Visit MartieDuncan. com for a list of retailers or to order a copy.

22 FEBRUARY 2025

The Price: What it Takes to Win in College Football’s Era of Chaos, by Armen Keteylan and John

Talty, $19.99 paperback, Harper (college sports) The authors conducted more than 200 wide-ranging interviews with head coaches, athletic directors, conference commissioners, administrators, politicians, power brokers, agents and media executives for this investigative work. The book reveals dark truths about a beloved game under siege – from Name, Image and Likeness endorsements, the transfer portal, collectives, conference realignment and the powerful influence of media companies.

The Story Quilts of Yvonne Wells,

by Stacy I. Morgan and Yvonne Thomas Wells, $60, University of Alabama Press (art/folk art) This book is a definitive guide to the self-taught quilter, who created her first quilt for practical use but was soon hand stitching applique figures into bold, original designs that unleashed her voice as a storyteller. Wells is also a lifelong educator from Tuscaloosa; co-author Morgan is a professor at the University of Alabama.

Alabama Faith: Churches and Stained Glass, by David Graves,

$34.95 hardcover (photography) This book features more than 125 photos of stained glass windows from churches of various denominations. Ranging from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, these windows capture the essence of Alabama’s spiritual heritage and the stories embedded within these sacred spaces. Also included are stories from the churches to provide insight into their cultural and spiritual significance.

Leviathan, by Robert McCammon,

$29.95 paperback, Lividian Publications (historical suspense) This is the 10th and final installment of best-selling author (and Birmingham native) McCammon’s acclaimed series featuring Matthew Corbett, a brave and resourceful “problem solver.” His latest mystery of a mirror with the power to summon demons from the underworld will prove to be an ultimate test of his wits, cunning and ingenuity, and may be more than even Corbett can handle. www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 23

Session kicks off Feb. 4

Rep. Randall Shedd, center, chairs a meeting of the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority.

Legislator will continue to advocate for cooperatives

PHOTO BY LENORE VICKREY

By Lenore Vickrey

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ep. Randall Shedd, chairman of the House Utilities and Infrastructure Committee, has been a longstanding supporter of Alabama’s electric cooperatives. We talked to him recently to get his insights on the upcoming legislative session on possible legislation specific to energy needs, especially as cooperatives and their power suppliers are increasingly strapped to provide the energy needed to run energy-hungry data centers locating in the state, while coping with governmental restrictions on coal-fired and nuclear plants (see related story on Page 38).

“We would have to, as a committee, hear from the industry on what their needs are and try to respond if there’s something legislatively that we can do,” he says. “The electric grid is a tremendous asset to our state and the economy of our state.” Shedd regularly participates in meetings of the Energy Council, a national organization of 16 energy-producing states that looks at the broader landscape of energy issues nationally. Noting that the incoming presidential administration is sympathetic to the need for oil and gas drilling on federal land in Alaska, Shedd says he is “excited about the pipeline supply changing. And we’re looking forward to see what the supply opportunities are moving forward.”

Closer to home, Shedd chairs the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority, which oversees distribution of federal funds for the state’s broadband needs. Alabama has $1.4 billion to distribute through the federal BEAD program (Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment) and Shedd says his priority will be putting that money toward fiber build-out. “We had the most (funds) of any state in the southeast and really close to the numbers of the biggest states like California and Texas because of the early 24 FEBRUARY 2025

work that we did, the mapping and the plan and a practice run with our state funds,” Shedd says. “With a new administration there’s always a chance of policy changes but we’ll keep an eye on it.”

Shedd was the sponsor of HB 400 which allowed for expansion of rural broadband by allowing electric providers to use existing easements for broadband projects. Before the bill was enacted into law, Alabama ranked 47th in connectivity, but now is 24th or better. “One of the challenges we’ve got to address,” Shedd says, “is that we’re going to have pockets in this state that are not going to be served because of federal restrictions, in areas not eligible for federal funds. We really need to continue our state funding to serve those areas.”

Shedd knows firsthand the advantage of having internet connectivity, as he is a proud member of Sprout Fiber Internet powered by Cullman Electric Cooperative.

“I did not have high-speed internet or any internet at the house before Sprout,” says Shedd, who lives in Baileyton in East Cullman County. “My neighbors and I are very grateful.”

He says he looks forward to working with his friend and colleague, Sen. Garlan Gudger, also of Cullman County, to address any needs of the electricity industry in the session. “It’s a little premature to know what the challenges are going to be going forward,” he acknowledged. “But most of us in public service understand very quickly that your utilities are crucial to the public, and when your lights don’t work, your water doesn’t come on, or your gas doesn’t work, we hear about it quickly.

Nothing shakes folks up more than that. I’ll add broadband to that now. We’re a connected world and we need to make sure to keep that connection.”

As the Alabama Legislature prepares to convene its 2025 session on Feb. 4, lawmakers will be dealing with a number of important issues without the benefit of a surplus in budgets, but legislative observers say there’s no need for concern.

“The budgets aren’t a problem by any means,” says Todd Stacy, founder and publisher of Alabama Daily News and host of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.” “It’s just that the days of overwhelming surpluses, fueled in part by federal spending trickling up through the tax base, are coming to an end. If anything it shows that the Legislature was wise to budget conservatively, setting aside funds when they could and not setting up long-term programs with one-time money.”

The perennial issue of gambling, which failed last session, may come up again.

“When it comes to gambling, there’s always a chance,” Stacy says. “My sense is the legislative leadership, especially in the House, has no desire to bring it up again after what happened last year. But, if somehow the disparate gambling factions that usually battle themselves can settle on a plan, it could see movement. I think it would have to start in the Senate.”

Another item that could spark discussion is the tax exemption on overtime pay, which expires in June. “Lawmakers are in a tough spot,” he says. “Everyone loves a tax cut and this one has been like a pay raise to a lot of wage earners. But it will also cost the state as much as $300 million annually in education funding.

That’s real money. I see the Legislature re-upping the tax cut, but perhaps with some guardrails on revenue loss.”

Gov. Kay Ivey will present her State of the State Address on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. The speech will be aired live on Alabama Public Television. Stacy will once again have his nightly newscast on APT during the session, with the “Week in Review” airing on Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Todd Stacy www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 25

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President Pro Tempore**

Alabama’s 2025 State Senate and House of Representatives and their respective legislative district numbers are shown on the following three pages. A listing of all senators and representatives by electric cooperative is on Page 30. * Election to be held June 24, 2025.

Alabama Living

** At the time of publication Senator Gudger is the nominee for Pro Tempore and will be elected to the position by the full Senate when it convenes. FEBRUARY 2025 27

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STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES BY COOPERATIVE Arab EC

Covington EC

Senator

District

Arthur Orr

3

Garlan Gudger

4

Wes Kitchens

Pioneer EC

District

Senator

District

9

Will Barfoot

25

Donnie Chesteen

29

Josh Carnley

District

Senator

District

31

Rob Stewart

23

Will Barfoot

25

Chris Sells

90

Wes Kitchens

9

Ginny Shaver

39

Josh Carnley

31

Representative

Representative

Representative Scott Stadthagen

9

Randall Shedd

11

Jeana Ross

27

Prince Chestnut

67

Jeff Sorrells

87

Rhett Marques

91

Kelvin J. Lawrence

69

Chris Sells

90

Matthew Hammett

92

Sand Mountain EC

Baldwin EMC

Cullman EC

Senator

Senator

Greg Albritton

22

Chris Elliott

32

Arthur Orr

Rob Stewart

23

Vivian Davis Figures

33

Representative

Representative

Senator 8

Andrew Jones

10

Garlan Gudger

4

Ernie Yarbrough

7

Corey Harbison

12

Nathaniel Ledbetter

24

Tim Wadsworth

14

Jeana Ross

27

Representative

64

Jennifer Fidler

94

Scott Stadthagen

9

Brett Easterbrook

65

Frances Holk-Jones

95

Randall Shedd

11

Alan Baker

66

Matt Simpson

96

Dixie EC

Thomas Jackson

68

Shane Stringer

102

Senator

Senator

Steve Livingston 3

Donna Givens

Black Warrior EMC

District

South Alabama EC Senator Will Barfoot

25

Will Barfoot

25

Jay Hovey

27

Billy Beasley

28

Kirk Hatcher

26

Billy Beasley

28

Representative

Gerald Allen

21

Rob Stewart

23

Representative

Kelvin J. Lawrence

69

Chris Sells

90

Greg Albritton

22

Bobby Singleton

24

Reed Ingram

75

Pebblin Warren

82

Berry Forte

84

Rhett Marques

91

Patrice McClammy

76

Jeremy Gray

83

Marcus Paramore

89

Berry Forte

84

Southern Pine EC Josh Carnley

31

Representative Ron Bolton

61

Thomas Jackson

68

Joe Lovvorn

79

Bill Lamb

62

Kelvin J. Lawrence

69

Ed Oliver

81

Brett Easterbrook

65

A J McCampbell

71

Franklin EC

Prince Chestnut

67

Curtis Travis

72

Senator

Central Alabama EC

Larry Stutts

Senator 14

Will Barfoot

25

Jamie Kiel

Rob Stewart

23

Clyde Chambliss

30

Joe Wheeler EMC

Troy Stubbs

31

Kelvin J. Lawrence

69

Ben Robbins

33

Reed Ingram

75

Van Smith

42

Ed Oliver

81

Russell Bedsole

49

Jerry Starnes

88

Prince Chestnut

67

Representative

Cherokee EC Senator 10

Keith Kelley

12

Representative Mack Butler

28

Ginny Shaver

39

Clarke-Washington EMC Senator Greg Albritton

6

22

Rob Stewart

23

Representative Brett Easterbrook

65

Thomas Jackson

68

Kelvin J. Lawrence

69

Senator Lance Bell

11

Keith Kelley

12

18

Randy Price

13

Arthur Orr

3

Garlan Gudger

4

Larry Stutts

6

Representative

Mark Gidley

29

Randy Wood

36

Craig Lipscomb

30

Corley Ellis

41

Barbara Boyd

32

Susan DuBose

45

Ben Robbins

33

Jim Hill

50

Steve Hurst

35

23

Brett Easterbrook

65

Chris Sells

90

Alan Baker

66

Matthew Hammett

92

Thomas Jackson

68

Billy Beasley

28

Senator Randy Price

13

Jay Hovey

27

Parker Moore

4

Scott Stadthagen

9

Representative

Ernie Yarbrough

7

Randall Shedd

11

Steve Hurst

35

Chris Blackshear

80

Terri Collins

8

Bob Fincher

37

Ed Oliver

81

Debbie Wood

38

Jeremy Gray

83

Joe Lovvorn

79

Berry Forte

84

4

VACANT

5

Tim Wadsworth

14

Tracy Estes

17

Bryan Brinyark

16

Josh Carnley

31

Marshall-DeKalb EC Senator Wes Kitchens

Tombigbee EC

9

Andrew Jones

10

Brock Colvin

26

Mark Gidley

29

Garlan Gudger

Jeana Ross

27

Ginny Shaver

39

Representative

Senator

Representative

North Alabama EC Senator Steve Livingston

8

Wes Kitchens

9

Ritchie Whorton

22

Jeana Ross

27

Mike Kirkland

23

Wiregrass EC Senator Billy Beasley

28

Donnie Chesteen

29

Representative

Pea River EC Senator

Representative

22

Rob Stewart

Tallapoosa River EC

Senator

Representative

Coosa Valley EC

Greg Albritton

Representative

Representative

April Weaver

Andrew Jones

Senator

Billy Beasley

28

Donnie Chesteen

29

Josh Carnley

31

Rick Rehm

85

Rhett Marques

91

Paul Lee

86

Steve Clouse

93

Jeff Sorrells

87

Representative Berry Forte

84

Marcus Paramore

89

Rick Rehm

85

Steve Clouse

93

TO CONTACT LEGISLATORS Email via www.legislature.state.al.us | House: (334) 261-0500 | Senate: (334) 261-0800 30 FEBRUARY 2025

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 31

SOCIAL SECURITY

Are you age 70 and not yet receiving benefits?

R etirement is not one-size-fits-all. It can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you have not applied for Social Security retirement benefits because you’re still working or are delaying applying so you can get a higher benefit.

If you’re age 70 or older, you should apply now for the benefits you’re owed. Your benefits will not increase if you continue to delay applying for them because you are 70 or older.

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.

Did you know that you can receive benefits even if you still work? Your earnings can increase your monthly benefit amount – even after you start receiving benefits.

Each year that you work, we check your earnings record. It’s possible your latest year of earnings is one of your highest 35 years. If so, we will automatically recalculate your benefit amount and pay you any increase due.

The best and easiest way to apply for your benefits is with a personal my Social Security account. You can create your free account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you create your account, you can get an estimate of how much you might receive each

month based on when you want to start receiving benefits and then apply.

In your account, you can also: • Access publications – like our fact sheet for workers ages 70 and up at ssa.gov/myaccount/assets/materials/workers-70andup.pdf.

• Learn about benefits for your spouse and family members.

• Manage your benefits once you start receiving them.

We’re here to help you secure today and tomorrow and we invite you to learn more about applying for retirement benefits at ssa.gov/apply. Please share this information with those who need it.

Romantic Crossword Across 1 Romantic waterfront destination in Mobile Bay, 2 words 6 Popular 8 Be crazy about 9 Attracts 11 Romantic meetings 13 Rustic farmland inn- perfect place for a romantic getaway in Sylacauga, _____ Farms 14 Have title to 15 Soft-hearted 16 Peck on the lips 17 Expected to arrive 19 Check out 20 Three to a Roman 21 Home Owners’ Association, abbr.

23 Color of many sunsets 24 Celine Dion song, “____ Be” 25 Wedding promise, 2 words 26 Camp activity 29 Japanese currency 30 Average, 2 words 31 Lovers’ relationship

by Myles Mellor

Down 1 Luxury romantic escape in Mountain Brook, 2 words 2 A long time _____.

3 Gown 4 “You’re the ___ for me!”

5 Diner 7 Snuggles up 10 Hold dear 12 Nat King Cole love song 13 Orange Beach resort: great place to reconnect with your sweetheart 15 Marriage ceremony 18 “Cheers” for example 22 Romantic singer who created the album “19” 27 __ __ rule (usually) 28 Negative prefix 30 Therefore

Answers on Page 49

32 FEBRUARY 2025

www.alabamaliving.coop

Around Alabama Museum. At noon, join Washington as he shares his celebratory birthday cake. Admission $11 for adults, $10 for students, $9 for seniors and dree for children ages 4 and under, veterans and active military.

Americanvillage.org

Mardi Gras season begins in February and continues through March 4.

21-23

7-8

Sheffield 7th annual Northwest Alabama Farm Toy Show, Clarion Inn, 4900 Hatch Blvd. 4 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Buy, sell and trade farm toys; display competition, door prizes and pedal tractor raffle. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

Birmingham Home and Garden Show, North Hall of the BJCC. Exhibitors from automotive and garage, construction and renovation, fashion and style, appliances, home décor, furniture, pools, landscaping and more. Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb from HGTV’s “Unsellable Houses” will present live on Friday and Saturday. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, visit BirminghamHomeShow.com

8

22-23

PHOTO BY LISA FLOYD, A WINNER IN THE 2024 ALABAMA LIVING PHOTO CONTEST.

FEBRUARY

Chatom 36th annual Indian Artifact and Collector Show, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chatom Community Center, 222 Dixie Youth Drive. Free admission. No reproductions, fakes or illegally obtained artifacts allowed.

For information, contact Bimbo Kohen at bimbokohen@outlook.com

14-March 4

Mobile Mardi Gras parades. Get ready for beads, Moon Pies and candy at more than 40 parades in the downtown area, culminating on March 2 (Joe Cain Day) and March 4 (Fat Tuesday). For parade maps and up-to-date information, visit Mobile.org

15

Millbrook Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade. Festival grounds open at 9 a.m., with more than 60 vendors on site and rides for children of all ages.

Parade starts at noon after the staging at Mill Creek Park, behind the Smokehouse Bar-B-Q on Main Street. MillbrookRevelers.org

15-16

Greenville,Greenville Camellia Society presents an artisans market featuring Gee’s Bend quilt exhibit at the Beeland Park Community Center. Also that weekend will be the Greenville Camellia Show, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the LBW Community College campus. Find more information on the society’s Facebook page or visit GreenvilleCamelliaSociety.org

17

Montevallo George Washington’s birthday celebration, American Village, 3727 Highway 119 South, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate the birthday of the father of our country and drill with the troops in his Continental Army. Meet patriots of the past, play 18th-century games and tour the Randall Alabama Living

Andalusia Cookies with Characters, sponsored by Meredith’s Miracles, Covington Center Arena and Kiwanis Building. Children enjoy a meet and greet with more than 90 characters, plus souvenirs, photos, bounce houses and more.

Meredith’s Miracles is a non-profit that helps south Alabama families financially during medical emergencies. Find a weekend schedule at CookiesWithCharacters.com

22

Orange Beach 33rd annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival and MAAAC Car show, The Wharf, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seafood, 100 arts and crafts booths, music for the whole family, a kids’ zone and a car show featuring antique, classic and hot rod vehicles all along Main Street. Event directly benefits Orange Beach schools. Free. OrangeBeachAL.gov

22-23

Fort Morgan Oyster Fest 2025, The Beach Club Resort and Spa. Tickets include all-you-can-eat oysters, non-seafood options and non-alcoholic beverages. Event features festival food for kids and adults, more than 40 Alabama-based arts and crafts vendors, games, contests, music and kids’ activities. Admission is limited, and tickets are available online only at FortMorganOysterFest.com

23

Auburn 4th annual War Eagle Run Fest, outside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Half marathon, 5K and kids’ mile races, ending with a post-race tailgate with music and food.

Aotourism.com

27-March 1

Monroeville Monroeville Literary Festival. Visit the courtroom made famous by “To Kill a Mockingbird” for captivating

readings, enlightening discussions, amusing conversations and Monroeville’s famous brand of hospitality. For a schedule of events, visit MonroevilleLiteraryFestival.com

MARCH

1-2

Gulf Shores Ballyhoo Festival, Gulf State Park. Juried fine art and fine craft festival with more than 100 artists and additional emphasis on culture. On Saturday, the culture of indigenous people will be celebrated with two performances by the Poarch Creek Pow Wow Club. On Sunday, the focus is early Americana Appalachian music with a fiddle and banjo competition. On site demonstrations include art, basket weaving and wood carving, plus kids’ activities, bands and food. Shuttles and handicapped parking available.

BallyhooFestival.org

6-9

Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee.

A series of events mark the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when law enforcement clashed violently with civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. More than 40 events are scheduled, including a march to restore voting rights, a unity breakfast, step show, music festival, youth summit, workshops and more. SelmaJubilee.com

14-16

Montgomery Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo, Garrett Coliseum. The 68th annual SLE Rodeo will feature eight rodeo events, including saddle bronc, bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and breakaway roping. Featuring Jessica Blair Fowlkes (rodeo specialty act) and rodeo clown Dusty Myers. Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7 p.m.

Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets and more info at SLERodeo.com

21-22

Camden Wilcox Historical Society Tour of Homes. Eight homes, two historic churches, a reception and more at this annual event. Registration will be at the Wilcox Female Institute, 301 Broad St., from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds help preserve historic buildings throughout Wilcox County. Guest speakers will be Julie and Luke Montagu. Various tour packages available. Tickets available at Eventbrite.com; see the society’s Facebook page for more information.

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

FEBRUARY 2025 33

Take us along!

 Jerome Baxley and his granddaughter Emily Smith of Headland took a quick selfie at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. They were in Israel doing volunteer work at Kaplan Medical Center. They are members of Pea River EC.

 Heather Reeder, left, and her husband Andy visited their relative Jennifer in Key West last year and enjoyed a sunset cruise for Heather’s 39th birthday celebration. The Reeders live in Albertville and are members of Marshall-DeKalb EC.

 Tom Stewart of Arab EC visited the post office in Jerome, Arizona, once a copper mining boom town known as “the Wickedest Town in the West,” with his magazine.

 Terry and Brenda Graham of Cullman EC visited The Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas for their 43rd anniversary.

 Florence Gilmore and Karen Lindstrom of Elba, members of South Alabama EC, visited family at frozen Monona Bay in Madison, Wisconsin. Winter storm Gerri also paid a visit!  Chip Wallace of South Alabama EC visited the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. He is with Wallace Pump and Supply in Pike County.

 Vernon and Linda Hood from Trinity, members of Joe Wheeler EMC, visited Hawaii and are pictured with their magazine and Diamond Head in the background.

34 FEBRUARY 2025

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 35

| Gardens |

Gardening hacks:

What works, what doesn’t and what to avoid 29 6

FEBRUARY TIPS  Plant roses, and bare-root trees and shrubs.

adobe stock

 Sow seed and begin transplanting cool-season vegetables and flowers.  Prune winter-blooming shrubs.  Start spring crops indoors.  Clean up gardening tools.  Inventory and check saved seed for viability.  Clean up houseplants and start fertilizing them lightly.

One thing you can do for your garden during the winter months: Collect and prepare plastic bottles and jugs to use as protective cloches for young seedlings.

G

ardening hacks are nothing new.

Our ancestors, ancient and more modern, were developing and using all kinds of DIY techniques and shortcuts long before gardens were even twinkles in our own eyes. But thanks to social media, hacks new and old are all the rage, which creates both possibilities and possible problems.

The internet, especially social media platforms, allows us to readily share and access an array of gardening ideas and information. But as educational, engaging and inspiring as these gardening posts and ideas may be, it’s important to recognize that while many are helpful, others are a waste of time and possibly money and some may even be detrimental.

For example, back in 2021 banana peels went viral when they were touted as a natural fertilizer, mulch and pest deterrent.

While bananas do contain potassium, phosphorous and other plant nutrients, the levels of these nutrients they contain are not particularly high. Also, the peels must decompose, which can take up to two years by some estimates, before those nutrients are available to our plants but they are slow to break down.

And though the peels may repel Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.

36 FEBRUARY 2025

some pests, such as aphids, they also draw others like fruit flies and rodents. Similar issues can arise when using coffee grounds and eggshells in the garden.

All that said, these recycled food wastes can be useful to our gardens, but soil and plant scientists recommend adding them to the compost heap where they will decompose more thoroughly and efficiently and help create a source of incredibly useful organic matter.

Other ideas, such as using household products like baking soda, vinegar and Epsom salts to kill weeds, control diseases, change soil pH and boost flower and fruit production are also based in truth. However, these aren’t always super effective, and each has the potential to contaminate soils and water and kill the plants you want to keep, so they may not be as effective or as organic as we’d like.

Yes, there are plenty of hacks that are useful and safe. And there are lots of things you can do right now as you wait for spring to spring such as: • Paint the handles of your gardening tools a bright or glow-in-the-dark color so they’ll be easier to find in the yard this spring and summer; • Collect and prepare plastic bottles and jugs to use as protective cloches or watering systems; • Make homemade seed tape, which is especially helpful with small seeds like carrots; • And most important of all, use this

downtime to look for hacks and ideas on the internet and make sure they will really work for you!

So how on earth are we supposed to know what works, what doesn’t and what we should avoid? By verifying and validating the claims through reliable sources such as university and governmental research and extension experts (look for websites ending in .edu, .org and .gov).

Certified horticulturists and arborists and landscape professionals are also great sources of expert help.

There are plenty of qualified garden experts hosting websites, blogs, podcasts and writing books but it pays to check out their credentials, including their training and reviews. And one of my favorite resources for fact-checking ideas is the gardenprofessors.com website, a blog created by four university scientists on a mission to provide sound, science-based gardening information to everyone.

And the very best gardening hack of all can be summed up in one word: planning.

Spend this lull in the gardening season choosing plants and gardening practices that are best suited for your location, budget and desires. And remember that the prettiest, most productive and least time-consuming gardens happen when we build healthy soils, water and mulch wisely, use integrated pest management strategies to control insects and diseases and plant for biodiversity. www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 37

Second of two parts

The ever-changing, fast-growing demand for electricity, and how electric co-ops are preparing

As the demand for electricity continues to increase, America’s peak demand is forecast to grow by 38 gigawatts through 2029—the equivalent of adding another California-sized state to the nation’s power grid.

PHOTO COURTESY PIXABAY

By Scott Flood

L

ast month, we examined the dramatic increases in demand regulatory affairs director. A decade ago, a huge commercial projfor electric power and noted that America’s peak demand is ect might boost a co-op’s total load by 20 or 30 megawatts. “Now forecast to grow by 38 gigawatts through 2029––the equivathey’re getting multiple requests for projects in the hundreds of lent of adding another Calmegawatts,” she adds. ifornia-sized state to the AI, data centers nation’s power grid. At the driving demand same time, power producArtificial intelligence ers plan to retire more than (AI) and cloud computing 110 gigawatts of baseload, are key drivers of this addor always-available, genered demand. As use of AI ation by 2033. skyrockets and a greater When demand outpaces share of computer applisupply of any commodity cations and storage mi– corn, gasoline and elecgrate to the cloud, all that tricity – prices tend to indata needs to be stored crease. In addition, there’s somewhere. Data centers, increasing concern about which are massive groups the potential for rolling of high-capacity computer brownouts and blackouts servers, provide the most as power providers strugefficient way to handle it. gle to meet peak demands.

According to the U.S. Local co-op members Today’s co-op directors increasingly find themselves learning about sophisticated Energy Department, data may not notice the impact and challenging issues as they weigh decisions affecting their co-op’s operations centers can consume as of the supply/demand im- and financial viability for years to come.

PHOTO COURTESY NRECA much as 50 times the enbalance for some time, but ergy per floor space of other types of commercial buildings. A it’s captured the attention of electric co-op directors and their single large data center may use over 100 megawatts of power, staffs. enough to power 80,000 households. Data centers already ac“The leadership at many electric co-ops is seeing unprecedentcount for nearly 2% of the nation’s electricity use, and the Electric ed growth in demand,” explains Stephanie Crawford, NRECA

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 39

A single large data center may use over 100 megawatts of power, enough to power 80,000 households.

Power Research Institute predicts that will grow to 9% by 2030.

“It’s not only a question of needing to build or obtain more capacity, but in many cases, also creates questions about the availability of transmission and distribution,” Crawford notes.

For electric co-ops, the efforts fall into two categories: increasing knowledge and building relationships. A generation ago, power supply discussions were a fairly straightforward and easily understood process for co-op directors, given the widespread availability of baseload generation. Today’s directors increasingly find themselves learning about sophisticated and challenging issues as they weigh decisions affecting their co-op’s operations and financial viability for years to come.

Co-ops have long emphasized relationship-building, and Crawford stresses the importance of doing that with the companies developing large projects such as data centers.

“Early and frequent conversations between the co-op and the entities seeking additional energy are critical,” she explains. “That has to include honest conversations about the costs and timelines involved.” For example, while a data center project might ultimately need a significant supply of megawatts, if its operations are phased in gradually over several years, the co-op may have additional time to prepare for the maximum load. They might consider creating a partnership with the project owner to develop new generation assets on the project’s site, reducing transmission concerns.

High tech and a faster pace

The large tech companies involved in deploying data centers and similar projects are highly sophisticated and well-resourced.

40 FEBRUARY 2025

PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTINA MORILLO

They tend to be less interested in obtaining the lowest cost and more focused on reliability, Crawford explains. “What we’re hearing from co-ops is that the companies building data centers typically have done their homework before they start talking to co-ops. Many are anxious to develop their projects at a faster pace than the co-op may be accustomed to.”

While the developers may be ready to pay for the substantial infrastructure upgrades needed to serve their data centers, she notes that the conversations may end up focusing more on project timelines and data center obligations to remain as co-op member-consumers. In addition to supply chain issues related to transformers and other components that are in increasingly short supply, projects may face regulatory delays at all levels.

In addition to preparing for projects from organizations new to the co-op, Crawford notes the importance of co-op leaders keeping a finger on the pulse of their existing commercial accounts.

“Being proactive and reaching out to understand how a commercial account’s energy needs may be changing in the coming years will inform conversations and decisions about timing, rate design and other factors, even if they’re not making specific requests yet.

That will help the co-op serve emerging needs while protecting the reliability for all of its members.” For more than four decades, business writer Scott Flood has worked with electric cooperatives to build knowledge of energy-related issues among directors, staff and members. Scott writes on a variety of energy-related topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing nearly 900 electric co-ops. www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 41

| Consumer Wise |

Fireplace efficiency:

Maximize warmth and minimize waste Q: A:

I heard fireplaces can make your home colder. How do I keep my home comfortable while enjoying cozy fires?

doesn’t have one, purchase a product designed for the task. There are a variety of chimney plug sizes and styles available, including inflatable options designed to fit snugly in place. While you are at When I was a little girl growing up in North Carolina, I the hardware store, pick up some caulking and weatherstripping remember my dad telling me that some nights were too to seal air leaks around windows, doors and pipes along exterior cold to have a fire. That always seemed crazy to me, but like many walls.

Fireplaces with gas logs are required to be installed with a mechother things he said, he was right. anism that always keeps the damper open. This safety feature alA heat pump heated our home. We had an open fireplace that lows gases from the pilot light was more suited for ambiance to escape. Glass doors can than creating heat. When you reduce the impact of air leakhave a fire, warm air rises and age in the winter and summer draws the smoke out through months. Consider installing the chimney. This also draws glass doors on open fireplaces the warm air out of the and keep them closed to minhouse. This invisible force is imize drafts. called the stack effect.

Sealed combustion gas The impact is exacerbated fireplaces are fully enclosed in drafty homes. When the systems that draw the air warm air escapes through needed for combustion from the chimney, it is replaced by the outside. When properly cool air leaking in through installed, you get the benegaps and cracks in the home. fit of the warmth of the fire The greater the difference without the worry of heat between the indoor and loss from drafts. If you have outdoor temperatures, the gas logs and enjoy the ease of greater the stack effect, hence a gas fireplace, consider upDad’s rule of no fires on the grading to a sealed combuscoldest nights. tion unit.

Wood fireplaces are not an Turning the pilot light off efficient option to heat your in the summer can reduce home. Most of the heat goes wasted gas. If you plan to out of the chimney. If you enturn the pilot light off, follow joy the comforting ambiance the instructions in the ownand curling up in front of the er’s manual to avoid any pofireplace during the colder tential safety issues. months, here are some tips to Woodstoves and pellet efficiently operate a fireplace stoves are additional options in your home. that provide more heat than Because it is out of sight, it If your damper doesn’t close properly or your chimney doesn’t have one, buy wood or gas fireplaces. Fedcan be easy to forget to close a chimney plug to keep cold air from entering and warm air from escaping eral tax credits are available the chimney damper. The your home.

PHOTO COURTESY MARK GILLILAND, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES for high-efficiency biomass damper should be open when stoves. A credit of 30% of the project cost—including the cost of you have a fire going or when any hot ashes are in the fireplace to installation up to a maximum of $2,000—is available for products ensure smoke and carbon monoxide don’t come into your home. purchased and installed between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2032.

Once the fire and all ashes are fully extinguished, close the dampThe unit must have a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or more. er. Leaving the damper open allows warm air to escape, wasting Visit energystar.gov for more information. energy. It’s like leaving a window open when your heating sysIf you have a woodstove, fireplace or any fuel-burning applitem is turned on in the winter. ance in your home, be sure to install and maintain smoke and If your damper doesn’t close properly or your chimney carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be harmful or even deadly if not detected.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Use my dad’s sage advice and these tips to keep your home Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. warm while gathering your loved ones around a glowing fire during the winter season.

42 FEBRUARY 2025

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 43

| Alabama Recipes |

Sourdough Photos by Brooke Echols

Lissette Dasinger

of the Purple Bake

ry.

A step-by-step guide

If you're new to sourdough starter, follow The Buttered Home on YouTube for Brooke Burks' detailed sourdough series. Brooke teaches stepby-step how to begin (and maintain) your own starter from scratch! Open YouTube and search "The Buttered Home Sourdough."

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Baking with sourdough becomes a business

L

ike many folks, Lissette Dasinger of Montgomery took up the hobby of making sourdough bread during the days of the 2020-2021 pandemic.

“After I had my second daughter, I started my starter from scratch and watched some videos online, like so many others during Covid, and it was so much fun! I just really enjoyed trying to do healthy bread for my family,” she says. “I remember my first bread loaf I made for my family. We ate it in seconds. It was flat but it tasted good.”

In the past three years she has perfected her bread-making skills, and branched out to sourdough cinnamon rolls, maple pecan sourdough scones, and brown butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies. “My family and my daughters, they inspire me to bake more every time.”

She continued to bake for family and some friends until her daughter was turning 4 and she requested a purple birthday cake.

“So I made the cake and it turned out great,” she remembers.

“That was 2023. It was last year that my husband said, ‘You should start selling it (her bread),” so she sold a loaf to a friend for $10.

“That’s the price you see in this state, so that’s how it started.” And she named her home business “Purple Bakery” in honor of her daughter’s birthday cake.

Since then, she has grown her business which she promotes via her Facebook and Instagram pages. She makes specialty breads for holidays, like a turkey-shaped loaf for Thanksgiving and a pumpkin-shaped bread for Halloween. She takes orders every week, baking early on Tuesday morning and having orders ready by noon. The process starts two days before: on Sunday night she feeds her starter and lets it rise overnight; on Monday morning

Sourdough Bread

she mixes her dough, and performs three to four sets of “stretch and folds” every 30 minutes. Then she lets it rest at room temperature (her house is a warm 72 to 73 degrees F) until double in size before storing in the refrigerator overnight (between 12-18 hours) for baking the next day.

She uses a lame, or bread scoring tool that looks like a razor blade, to cut leaf patterns and a curving slice on one side to create an “ear” pattern, which helps the bread expand.

When the loaves are ready to go into the 450-degree oven, she places them on a parchment paper-lined tray. (She recommends beginners use a Dutch oven.) On the shelf below, she uses a tray of lava rocks (preheated) into which she pours hot water to create steam to help create a crispier crust and also allows the loaves to fully rise during their first 15-20 minutes. (Lava rocks not needed for beginners using a Dutch oven.)

After 20 minutes of baking, she rotates the bread and lets it finish for 10 more minutes. The bread will smell wonderful, but she recommends waiting at least an hour before cutting so the pieces will retain their shape. Bread can keep in a bread bag for 5 days, and after that she recommends slicing and storing in the freezer.

“You can take out a slice, put in the toaster and enjoy it again,” she says.

Her biggest challenge? The starter. “You never know if it’s going to rise. It humbles you! But your bread is still going to have a very good taste.”

Contact Lissette through her Purple Bakery Facebook account and follow purplebakery_ on Instagram.

-Lenore Vickrey

Ingredients: 100 grams sourdough starter 10 grams salt 350 grams warm water 500 grams unbleached all-purpse flour

In a clean jar, add 25 grams starter, 50 grams flour and 50 grams water, giving you 100 grams of starter to use in the bread recipe. Rest up to 12 hours until active and doubled in size.

Using a kitchen scale, measure 100 grams of sourdough starter into a clean bowl, followed by 350 grams warm water, 10 grams salt and 500 grams Combine ingredients with a wooden unbleached all-pur- spoon or clean hands. Cover with a towel and rest for 30 minutes. pose flour.

Cover dough with a towel or Stretch and fold How to "stretch cheesecloth and set in a warm dough at 30-min- and fold": 1.) pull location until doubled in size. This a section of dough ute intervals for could take up to 12 hours dependthe next 1.5-2 upwards stretching ing on your dough temperature. hours, allowing it out and folding Then form into a loaf shape by tuck30 minutes of back down in the ing the ends under the loaf. Place covered rest time center of the bowl. in towel-lined baskets dusted with 2.) rotate bowl a between each flour and place in the refrigerator for a total of 3-4 quarter turn and reovernight between 10-12 hours for stretch and folds. peat 3 more times. slower fermentation.

The next morning, use a lame to score the dough as you like, then place the dough into a preheated Dutch oven at 450 degrees. Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes. After 25 minutes, remove the lid and put back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

(You can check your dough temperature and if it is between 200-210 degrees your bread is ready). Let it cool for at least one more hour before slicing.

Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 45

I

t seems everyone is on the sourdough train now. A wildly popular trend that started during the pandemic of 2020 is now a well-loved art for those of us who love knowing what’s in their food. I, myself, tried a couple of different times and failed!

My oldest daughter, Tannar, is a master Brooke Burks sourdough maker and really tried her best to help me. It wasn’t until 2024 that I really got up the nerve to try my hand again at it and stick with it this time. One of the things I learned early on was how to decide on a baking schedule. For me, someone who works two jobs, baking once a week turned out to be the best option. So now, once a week I discard, feed and place “Phyllis” back in the refrigerator to rest until I need to use her again! I have shared a lot of “Phyllis" with my friends and neighbors and always tell them, the starter is worth having even if you only make this ONE recipe with your discard (the portion of your starter that is removed before you feed it). These two-ingredient sourdough discard crackers are simple, wholesome and just plain easy! For more recipes and more sourdough recipes to come soon, check out our website at thebutteredhome.com.

Sourdough Discard Crackers 100 grams sourdough discard 1 tablespoon butter, melted Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix sourdough starter discard with melted butter.

Spread evenly on prepared parchment lined sheet pan, using a spatula to ensure mixture is spread in an even layer. Optional: top with your favorite seasoning and cheese.

Bake for 5 minutes, remove from the oven and score crackers to desired size using a knife or pizza cutter. Place back in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 more minutes until brown and crisp.

Cool, break apart and serve.

Photo by The Buttered Home

Enter to win $50 Cook of the Month prize!

May theme

Peaches Enter by March 7

recipes@alabamaliving.coop alabamaliving.coop Attn: Recipes, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 Sourdough Rolls and Cinnamon Rolls 6 cups bread four 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1½ cups warm water ½ cup oil (vegetable, canola, corn) 1¼ cup sourdough starter In a large bowl, mix bread flour, sugar and salt. Add warm water, oil and sourdough starter. Mix with a spoon until blended. Dough should be soft and somewhat sticky. Add more water if needed. Place in a large oiled or sprayed bowl.

Turn dough so the top will be covered with oil. Cover with waxed paper and let stand 8-12 hours until at least doubled in size. Do not refrigerate. This rising is very important and will affect the final rising, so allow up to 12 hours. However, I have had bread to rise in 6 hours.

After dough has risen, punch it down and form into loaves (3-4), dinner rolls (3-4 pans), cinnamon rolls (4 pans), or orange rolls (4 pans). Place the bread into oiled or sprayed pans and brush tops with oil or spray them. Let rise until puffy (6-12 hours).

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. When done, remove from oven, brush with butter (loaves and dinner rolls), remove from pans, and cool on cooling racks.

Cinnamon rolls: Divide the dough into fourths and press each piece into a rectangle. Sprinkle with sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add nuts and raisins, if you like. Roll the dough beginning with the long side. Cut each roll into 8 pieces and lay the pieces, cut side up, sides touching, into an oiled or sprayed 9-inch cake pan. Spray with cooking spray.

Allow to rise, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. After baking, while rolls are hot, glaze with a mixture of powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Cool. (Makes 4 pans.)

Gay White Cullman EC

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Alabama Living

FEBRUARY 2025 47

| Outdoors |

Work smarter, harder, louder to roust rabbits

M

ost rabbit hunters use dogs to flush the long-eared critters from their lairs, but sportsmen without dogs can still get in on the action.

The most common rabbit species in Alabama, eastern cottontails, thrive statewide. They like drier, upland places with abundant briar thickets and other cover. Swamp rabbits also occur statewide, but prefer bottomland forests, swamps and other moist places. The highest concentrations of swamp rabbits occur in southern Alabama. Marsh rabbits primarily live in coastal wetlands. Appalachian cottontails stay at higher elevations in the rugged mountainous habitat of northern Alabama.

Every predator on land or in the air, each much more proficient than humans, wants to eat the “bread of the forest.” Therefore, rabbits spend significant time in the thickest cover trying to stay alive. They establish home territories and don’t like to leave familiar ground. They know their escape routes. Rabbits can easily see and hear people approaching and quickly vanish.

Sportsmen without trained dogs usually bag rabbits as bonus game while hunting something else. People who intentionally hunt rabbits without dogs must work harder, smarter, louder and hope for considerable luck to roust rabbits from their hiding places.

“Rabbit hunting is a good sport to get kids involved,” says Steve Byrd, a rabbit hunter from Citronelle. “They don’t have to worry about staying quiet and being too still. They could get plenty of opportunities to shoot. It’s a lot of fun for kids and adults. We need to get kids out in the woods and excited about hunting.”

First, go where rabbits live. Rarely, someone spots a rabbit sitting still in the open during shooting hours. Separated at safe distances, hunters could walk through fields kicking every hiding spot that might conceal a bunny. When a rabbit flushes, someone might get a shot.

When a rabbit bolts from cover, shooters must react fast. One or two hops from those powerful hind legs and Mr. Longears swiftly disappears. People seldom get a second shot at a rabbit.

Shots rarely exceed 25 yards so use open chokes with Number 6 or 7 ½ shot.

John 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.

48 FEBRUARY 2025

Also, take turns “bird dogging” rabbits. One hunter smashes through the thickest cover while others watch possible escape routes for flushing bunnies. Wear heavy canvas “brush buster” pants or leather briar chaps for protection.

When hunting thick cover, rabbit hunters must communicate so everyone knows exactly where everyone else stands at any time. They should also wear orange and never fire without positively identifying the target and what’s close to or behind it. If in doubt, don’t shoot, even if it means that the biggest rabbit in history gets away.

“I highly recommend that rabbit hunters wear orange for the safety of everyone all around,” says James Sealy, a rabbit hunter from Citronelle. “It’s not hard to disappear from sight while rabbit hunting. Always make sure to keep everyone safe.”

If hunting alone, look for chokepoints, like water, fence openings and obstructions that channel rabbits. In soggy places, a thin strip of higher ground surrounded by water could force rabbits into smaller areas. Hunters walking along such constricted ground might jump the same rabbit several times.

Strong swimmers, swamp rabbits readily take to water. To escape danger, swampers habitually submerge themselves under tangled roots or fallen branches with only their nostrils protruding from the surface. They stay submerged until the danger passes.

A recently burned or clear-cut section of forest creates an excellent place to look for rabbits by eliminating cover and forcing bunnies into remaining hiding places. Any remaining clump might hold several bunnies. In addition, with most of the trees and underbrush removed, tender new shoots spring up where the sunshine hits the ground.

Those green morsels offer tempting meals for hungry rabbits in late winter. At first or last light, rabbits usually stop right on the edge of cover looking into the open for danger before venturing out to eat. Walk slowly along a firebreak, clear-cut edge or field boundary watching for rabbits to emerge from cover to feed.

After deer season ends, sit in a shooting house or stand overlooking food plots. Watch the plot edges at dawn or dusk for rabbits emerging from cover to nibble the succulent sprouts. Pick them off with scoped .22 rifles.

The Alabama rabbit season runs through March 2 with a limit of eight per day. Most public hunting properties hold rabbit populations. For information on public hunting lands in the Cotton State, visit outdooralabama.com/hunting/where-huntalabama. www.alabamaliving.coop

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD ON PAGE 32

DOUG HANNON’S FISH & GAME FORECAST 2025 FEBRUARY

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

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

MARCH

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 Sa Su Mo

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

EXCELLENT TIMES 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 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 A.M.

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

GOOD TIMES

MOON STAGE

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 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON PM

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

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 4:48 - 6:28 5:09 - 6:39

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

AM

PM

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 1:21 - 2:51 2:57 - 4:27 3:45 - 5:15 4:33 - 6:03 5:21 - 6:51 6:09 - 7:39 6:57 - 8:27 7:45 - 9:15 8:33 - 10:03 9:21 - 10:51 10:09 - 11:39 10:57 - 12:27 NA 12:33 - 2:03 1:21 - 2:51 2:57 - 4:27 3:45 - 5:15 4:33 - 6:03 5:21 - 6:51 5:48 - 7:18 6:09 - 7:39 6:57 - 8:27 7:45 - 9:15

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

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

FEBRUARY 2024 49

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| Our Sources Say |

Seasonal readiness:

Keeping megawatts online this winter W inter is here and as we face cold temperatures, keeping the power on when it’s needed the most is critical. TVA prioritizes seasonal readiness to prepare to meet periods of high demand that are sure to come, like during the prolonged deep freeze of Winter Storm Heather in January 2024. It reminds me of the saying, “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.”

When temperatures plunge and demand spikes, TVA employees at all of Tennessee Valley Authority’s 51 gas, hydro and coal plants work diligently to keep them operating effectively. Their preparation actually begins long before customers of the Valley, approximately 10 million people across seven Southeastern states, need more electricity or the weather conditions become extreme.

TVA invested nearly $430 million in fiscal year 2024 to harden its system and enhance the reliability and resiliency at natural gas, hydro and coal plants. At facilities like the Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant in Tuscumbia, improvements include enclosures around exposed equipment, modernizing heat trace technology to supply real-time data to alert technicians so they can work to prevent issues, insulating exposed pipes and training to better prepare for any extreme weather contingencies.

Kevin Chandler is the South Region Customer Relations Director for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

52 FEBRUARY 2025

TVA’s program manager for seasonal readiness, Norm Flake, says if there’s anything that can be done – even a seemingly tiny detail – to better prepare TVA’s plants for extreme cold weather, they want to know about it. They’ve completed 417 preventive maintenance work orders to prepare for this winter. At the same time, they’re investing in these long-term projects to further harden TVA’s system: • Proactively scheduling replacement of aging heat trace lines and insulation in the coming years.

• Developing a system of smart panels to monitor freeze protection systems in real time, so plant operators in the control room have early warning of potential problems.

• Replacing temporary shelters that protect cold-sensitive equipment with solid-wall enclosures.

• Refining and practicing plant-by-plant cold weather plans.

• Identifying additional high-priority cold-weather upgrades, such as modernizing control air dryers that keep water out of hoses, valves and other critical components.

This year’s winter readiness efforts also included circuit health and lifespan assessments. Heat trace circuits are electrical wires strung alongside pipes, valves and other sensitive equipment to prevent freezing. There are more than 30 miles of heat trace – over 15,000 wires – just at TVA’s gas plants. Heat trace is one of the first lines of defense when TVA plant operators are working around the clock to keep the megawatts online – even at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

It’s all about making sure TVA’s megawatts are reliable and resilient! www.alabamaliving.coop

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Illustration by Dennis Auth

| Cup o’ Joe |

A Valentine’s Day fish tale I

t was Valentine’s Day 1973 and I had a problem. What to get my girlfriend? This was our first V-Day together, so I certainly needed to come up with a nice gift.

The second part of the problem involved finances. Since I was in college, I was living like so many other students do - in poverty.

I spent summers working long hours at a steel mill and saving every dime. If I was frugal, the money might last until I got my refund check in March. So February was always iffy for me.

Still, I had been dating Carol about six months, and I had to come up with something good. A syrupy card just wasn’t gonna do. And roses were out of the question. The florists had already jacked the price so high that I would need a student loan to cover the purchase.

On Feb. 13, I walked the aisles of the discount store with the other procrastinating men, each one of us praying for divine inspiration to pop off a shelf. I gave up, and crossed through the pet supply section on my way to the toy department where I would buy a teddy bear. Ho-hum.

Then I saw the solution to my dilemma between the dog chews and the kitty litter. It was personal, novel, and it would remind her of me whenever she looked at it. A goldfish! In a matter of minutes, I bought a fish, a bowl, and a container of food. With a bit of quick prep I had what was going to be a great Valentine’s Day present.

The next day, I gave the gift to Carol. She loved it!

“You don’t know this, but my favorite character in my favorite movie is Cleo, the fish in “Pinocchio”! she gushed. “I’m going to name it Cleo.”

She gave me a hug and a quick kiss and said, “I’m going to 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.

54 FEBRUARY 2024

take it up to my dorm room.” Then she gave me a wink, and continued. “Pick me up in an hour, and I’ll give you your gift.”

I gloated as I drove back to my apartment. Yes, indeed. This was going to be a very good Valentine’s Day for the kid.

I spend the next hour grooming myself, even adding an extra splash of Jade East cologne. We would probably go to Taco Bell.

After all, it was 19-cent burrito night. Then I would get my wink, wink… present!

I did a quick clean-up of my Camaro, which meant discarding all of the old Taco Bell wrappers. Next, I was off to get Carol, smirking all the way to the dorm. Pinocchio…what a stroke of luck this was.

However, when Carol got in my car, I got a Valentine’s Day surprise that was nothing like I’d hoped for. She burst into tears.

“You’re not gonna believe what happened,” she bawled. “I had taken Cleo and put him in the window. Then I called everybody in to see the sweet gift you gave me. There were about 10 people in my room. And Cleo flipped up and floated to the top of the bowl. At first I thought he was doing a trick. But he never moved.

Cleo’s dead!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said in a sympathetic tone, all the while, thinking, “That stupid goldfish has ruined everything!”

“What did you do with him?” I asked.

“Well, we had a little memorial service and then I flushed him down the toilet.”

More bad news. There went my chance for a 79¢ refund on a dead goldfish. That would’ve bought four 19¢ burritos.

The mood was somber at Taco Bell. I couldn’t do anything cheer her up. Finally, I gave up, and took her back to the dorm.

“Happy Valentines Day,” she said. Then she kissed me on the cheek and pulled out my gift from her purse. It was a syrupy card.

Guys, take my advice. If you’re ever in Walmart to try to find a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift, keep walking past the pet department and just go to the toys.

You can’t kill a teddy bear. www.alabamaliving.coop

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