STORIES | RECIPES | EVENTS | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | LOCAL NEWS October 2026
Wiregrass Wiregrass Electric Electric Cooperative Cooperative
SPREADING KINDNESS
Silent Hero donates farm-fresh eggs to local families
CONTENTS
Vol. 79 No. 10 | October 2026
WIREGRASS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 24,000 accounts in Houston and Geneva counties in Alabama and parts of Dale, Coffee and Covington counties in southeast Alabama.
ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 450,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $15 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing office.
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ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
AREA President Karl Rayborn Editor Lenore Vickrey Managing Editor Allison Law Senior Graphic Designer Sean Burnley Art Director Danny Weston Advertising Director Jacob Johnson Graphic Designer/ Production Coordinator Brooke Echols
ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES:
340 TechnaCenter Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36117-6031 1-800-410-2737 For advertising, email: advertising@areapower.com For editorial inquiries, email: contact@alabamaliving.coop
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE:
American MainStreet Publications 1-800-626-1181 www.AMP.coop www.alabamaliving.coop
CHANGE OF ADDRESS:
For co-op members, contact your local electric cooperative. Non-members, send your address change to contact@alabamaliving.coop. USPS 029-920 • ISSN 1047-0311
Printed in America from American materials
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F E AT U R E S
9 Pumpkin Carving
October is the month to get out your carving tools and create a fun jack-o’-lantern, as our readers have done!
12 Spirited Fun
At locations across Alabama, visitors can take part in paranormal investigations at sites considered to be among the state’s most haunted. The good news is their spirits are generally friendly.
20 For Pete’s Sake
Pete the Cat creator James Dean visited his hometown of Fort Payne and was only too happy to spend time with fans.
DEPARTMENTS 10 Spotlight 29 Around Alabama 34 Cook of the Month 40 Outdoors 41 Fish & Game Forecast 46 Cup o’ Joe
30 Rail-to-Trail
It’s now possible to ride a bicycle from Anniston all the way to Atlanta, thanks to an extension of the Chief Ladiga Trail.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! ONLINE: EMAIL: MAIL:
www.alabamaliving.coop letters@alabamaliving.coop Alabama Living 340 Technacenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 Get our FREE monthly email newsletter! Sign up at alabamaliving.coop
ON THE COVER
Sailor Summers created Sailor’s Helping Hen House to help others by giving them farm-fresh eggs. She was named one of the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass because of her efforts. See story Page 8. OCTOBER 2026 3
Seeking satisfaction Board of Trustees Kip Justice District 6 President Randy Odom District 2 Vice President Debra E. Baxley District 1 Secretary
John Clark Jr. District 3
Danny McNeil District 4
Tracy Reeder District 5
Donald Ray Wilks District 7 Sandy Wright Morris District 8 David Winstead District 9
4 OCTOBER 2026
BRAD KIMBRO CEO Wiregrass Electric Cooperative Surveys can be a little nerve-racking. When you ask people what they think of you, you have to be prepared to hear the good and the bad. At Wiregrass Electric, we believe both are important. Earlier this year, we conducted our biennial Member Satisfaction Survey, giving randomly selected members an opportunity to tell us how they feel about their cooperative. There is a lot to be proud of in the results as a whole. Our members express a high level of satisfaction. They tell us they trust their cooperative, believe we genuinely care about our members and think WEC is well managed. Those results are especially meaningful because they reflect confidence in our employees, management and board of trustees. Reliability remains one of our greatest strengths. More than 90% of those surveyed agree that Wiregrass Electric provides reliable electric service and restores power quickly after an outage. Keeping the lights on doesn’t happen by accident. We continually invest in our system and technologies that help us operate more efficiently and respond quicker. Advanced metering, automated equipment and SCADA give our employees greater visibility into our system. These technologies sometimes allow us to identify problems, isolate outages and restore service remotely before a truck ever arrives on site. Technology gives our employees better tools but will never replace the people who serve our members, who overwhelmingly described employees as knowledgeable, competent, friendly and courteous. Our commitment extends beyond poles and power lines. Our employees live here and support the schools, organizations and businesses that make the Wiregrass home. That’s why we invest our time and resources in economic development, education, charitable programs and partnerships throughout our service area. Operation Round Up is a great example. Through the generosity of members who round their monthly electric bills to the next dollar, approximately $100,000 in grants were recently approved for organizations serving our communities — a record for Wiregrass. Affordability is also at the forefront of every decision we make. Families and businesses are paying more for nearly everything, and Wiregrass Electric faces those same pressures. Equipment, materials, generation capacity and wholesale electricity all cost more. Our rates remain competitive, and our survey shows many members recognize the value we provide. But we aren’t satisfied with simply being competitive. We will
continue looking for ways to keep electricity as affordable as possible. One tool for doing that is managing peak demand, our highest electricity use for the year. Wiregrass Electric began placing greater emphasis on peak demand because it significantly affects what we pay for wholesale power. That strategy is working. Our system traditionally peaks on the coldest day of the year. When we asked members to reduce electricity use during this winter’s critical peak, they responded. The result was our lowest system peak since 2022. Managing peak is helping us avoid millions of dollars in wholesale power costs that otherwise would have to be recovered from our members. For years, Wiregrass Electric routinely had some of the highest wholesale costs among the 22 distribution systems served by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. Recently, Wiregrass Electric had the 11th-lowest wholesale power cost. Wholesale power is only part of the equation. We operate the distribution system that delivers power to your home or business. We continually look for ways to operate more efficiently, use technology wisely, manage expenses and make responsible investments in our system. The combined efforts — members helping control wholesale power costs and WEC efficiently managing distribution — result in a retail electric rate that is competitive among our peers. Does the survey show areas where we can improve? Absolutely. Some members remain concerned about rates or don’t understand demand. Others want clearer communication and more information about their electric service. We need to hear that, too. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the larger message: Wiregrass Electric is a strong cooperative. Our members overwhelmingly recognize the value in the work of our employees, management and board of trustees. That doesn’t mean we become complacent — actually, the opposite. We want to communicate better, use technology in new ways to improve reliability and service and strengthen our communities. And we will never stop looking for opportunities to operate more efficiently and keep electricity as affordable as possible. The last two years haven’t been easy. Costs have increased, expectations have changed and our industry continues to evolve. Against that backdrop, we appreciate the high marks, constructive criticism and the trust our members place in us every day. We’ll keep listening. We’ll keep improving. And we’ll keep working for you. n www.alabamaliving.coop
ORU grant helps improve walkway for pregnancy nonprofit The Wiregrass Emergency Pregnancy Service in Enterprise has a lot of needs. One thing it no longer needs to worry about is the walkway leading from the rear parking lot up to the main entrance. “Just as we look to really improve our client experience, we wanted to update our steps to be more ergonomic and a better flow for our clients,” WEPS Executive Director Tamara Davis says. The walkway project received help from a $1,250 grant funded through the Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Foundation. The funds are generated by members who participate by rounding up their monthly bills to the next dollar. WEPS is a resource center that helps women throughout their pregnancies with everything from applying for health insurance and food assistance to parenting classes after their children are born. Davis says the programs offered by WEPS are about empowering motherhood. Services include an “earn while you learn” parenting program. Women are assigned mentors to help them through 10 lessons. Once they complete the program, participants receive a new transition car seat that is good for seven years. Participants can also earn credit for items like nursing pillows and infant clothing by watching other parenting videos. “It’s one thing to learn something, but we want to equip them,” Davis says. “So, everything that they’re learning, we want to equip them to use.” WEC Vice President of Member Services and Business and Community DevelABOVE: Wiregrass Electric Cooperative management and members of the board of trustees present a grant to the Wiregrass Emergency Pregnancy Service. RIGHT: These before-and-after photos show the walkway leading from the rear parking lot up to the sidewalk and main entrance at the Enterprise nonprofit. Alabama Living
opment Stevie Sauls says Operation Round Up grants like the one provided to the Wiregrass Emergency Pregnancy Service would not be possible without the support of the cooperative’s board of trustees and membership. “We average around 88% of our membership who allows us to round up their utility bill to the nearest dollar each month,” Sauls says. “All 100% of those funds go into our foundation, and then we’re able to give those funds back through grants and emergency response and community outreach to great things like this. We’re just blessed to be able to do it, and we couldn’t do it without our membership and without our board supporting it.” n
WEC Service Area
Contact Information Mailing address P.O. Box 158, Hartford, AL 36344 Phone 1-800-239-4602 Toll Free Outage “Hotline” 1-888-4-MY-OUTAGE • 1-888-469-6882 (24 hrs/day) Website www.wiregrass.coop Find us here: Find Wiregrass Electric Co-op on Twitter (@WEC2), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Payment Options BY MAIL WIREGRASS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE P.O. BOX 158 HARTFORD, AL 36344 WEBSITE Payments may be made 24 hrs/day by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and E-Check on our website at www.wiregrass.coop. PHONE PAYMENTS Payments may be made any time by dialing 1-800-239-4602. NIGHT DEPOSITORY AND KIOSKS Available at each office location. Payment kiosks are also available 24/7 in all offices. IN PERSON • 509 N. State Hwy. 167 • Hartford, AL 36344 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. • 13148 W. State Hwy. 52 • Samson, AL 36477 Monday-Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • 1066 Ashford Highway • Ashford, AL 36312 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. • 6167 Fortner St. • Dothan, AL 36305 Monday-Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rooted in Community. Ready for Tomorrow. OCTOBER 2026 5
At the Capacity, wholesale power costs tied to demand Weather impacts electricity use. When it is hot, air conditioners run full blast to keep people comfortable. Mild temperatures often mean people get outside and likely use less electricity in their homes. For Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, nothing quite compares to a cold morning when the demand for electricity is at its highest. Historically, the coldest day of the year — typically between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m. from November through February — is when WEC reaches its highest use, or peak demand. These few frigid hours matter because they are linked to capacity, and the capacity required to generate enough electricity to meet demand impacts wholesale power costs. Electricity plays a huge role in modern life. Advanced industrial manufacturing, data centers and even the increased use of electric vehicles and other technologies all require power. The added demand, which only seems to keep going up, has changed how generators recoup costs. Just like Wiregrass Electric members are considered owners of the cooperative, WEC is a member-owner of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative based in Andalusia. Each PowerSouth member, including WEC, has representatives on the board governing the G&T. WEC and 21 other distribution member systems buy wholesale power from PowerSouth, and PowerSouth charges fees to cover the costs of providing the electricity loads for each system at any given
time. Currently, PowerSouth can generate about 2,300 megawatts of electricity. PowerSouth also buys energy from other generators, including nuclear and solar sources, to ensure 24/7 reliability for distribution members. Peak demand is used to determine what distribution members of PowerSouth need to pay to cover the costs of this reliability. “Balancing reliability and affordability is a constant battle, but one we have to and will keep fighting,” Wiregrass CEO Brad Kimbro says. “Keeping rates competitive and affordable while emphasizing and focusing on reliability will remain strategic goals for us. Anything different than this direction is simply unacceptable. Our members deserve reliability, and we won’t stop working toward getting that for them at the best price possible.” Wiregrass Electric’s wholesale power costs reached $41.2 million for the fiscal year that ended April 30. That’s roughly 62% of the cooperative’s total operating expenses. Demand now determines more than 60% of the cooperative’s wholesale power costs. There’s no way to know when WEC will hit peak demand. Since 2010, the cooperative has most commonly reached its peak demand in January, although the peak has also been reached in December, February and once in early March. The cooperative even reached peak demand twice in 2022 — first in January and then later that year in December.
Wiregrass Electric sends peak demand alerts to members starting in November. When these alerts go out, it means temperatures are expected to get cold enough to potentially cause peak use for the system. Members are asked to reduce their energy consumption on these days during the hours of 6 to 9 a.m. Members pay a monthly demand rate based on their contribution to the system’s peak demand. “We work closely with PowerSouth to gauge when possible peak demand events may occur so that we can let members know which mornings they should adjust their behavior and their energy use,” Vice President of Member Services and Business and Community Development Stevie Sauls says. “If our members reduce their energy use from 6 to 9 a.m. on those days, we know it can have a tremendous impact on the system’s overall demand as well as what they may pay on their monthly bills.” n
3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 6 OCTOBER 2026
www.alabamaliving.coop
$37,511,873
143 MW
Jan. 22, 2025
138 MW
2023-2024
$39,554,180
Jan. 17, 2024
$36,951,549
$30M
$31,300,036
$25M
$29,930,335
$20M $15M $10M
144 MW
Dec. 24, 2022
13°
Low Temperature
27,049 19°
Low Temperature
26,705
14°
Low Temperature
26,534
meters
$5M 2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
Update your info WEC sends out peak demand alerts based on our members’ account information. Make sure your info is current and that we have a cellphone number on file. Visit wiregrass.coop to manage your account.
111 MW
2021-2022
0
27,552
meters 2022-2023
$35M
Low Temperature
meters
$50M $41,215,690
19°
meters
Wholesale Power Costs $40M
Feb. 1, 2026
2024-2025
For Wiregrass Electric, coincidental peak demand historically falls on the coldest day of the year — typically Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m. and resets annually in March based on the peak set in the previous year. The information to the right shows the coincidental peaks for WEC for the last five years by megawatts, date, low temperature and the number of meters on the system at the time peak was set.
134 MW
2025-2026
Winter peaks
Jan. 23, 2022
26°
Low Temperature
26,070
meters Quick Tips
Install a water heater timer to prevent the unit from cycling on and off during peak hours. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature during peak hours. Or, manually adjust your thermostat during peak hours so your heating unit doesn’t run as much. Shift high-energy tasks — laundry, cooking or running the dishwasher — to off-peak hours and stagger tasks throughout the rest of the day.
8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 7
Sailor’s flock
7-YEAR-OLD USES FARM-FRESH EGGS TO HELP OTHERS
Heroes come in all sizes. Seven-yearold Sailor Summers is the pint-sized variety who easily makes ruffles and rain boots work. More than a year ago, Sailor learned a neighbor near her family’s rural Geneva County farm was struggling to put food on his table. She didn’t have any money, but she did have chickens and eggs. So, she gave eggs to her neighbor and afterward wanted to do more for others. She started Sailor’s Helping Hen House, providing farm-fresh eggs to Wiregrass families in need. Her logic on the importance of helping others is simple. “It makes me feel really happy because I love helping other people,” Sailor says. “When they’re having a bad day, and we don’t know what actually is happening, we should always make sure to be nice.” Sailor was recently honored as one of the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass. As a partnership between Wiregrass Electric Cooperative and WTVY, Silent Heroes recipients receive $1,000 for their efforts to make their communities better. There are now 78 chickens in Sailor’s flock, which her parents and older sister, Aralyn, help her with. As her flock grew, so did Sailor’s mission. Sailor, the reigning Little Miss Geneva County, started making what she calls Blessing Bags filled with items to brighten someone’s day. She also makes Happy Hatchday Bags, which provide children with ingredients for their very own birthday cake — candles, cake mix, frosting and eggs. The bags also include a note from Sailor. Sailor has given nearly 60 Blessing Bags and Happy Hatchday Bags to children throughout Geneva County in addition to providing local families with farm-fresh eggs. She has even provided eggs to the 8 OCTOBER 2026
ABOVE: Sailor Summers lets chickens out of one of the hen houses on her family’s farm so they can free range. The chickens also have a fenced run attached to the hen house. LEFT: Sailor’s family helps her with the chickens, including her sister, Aralyn Summers, left. BELOW: Sailor collects eggs every day. The 7-year-old started Sailor’s Helping Hen House more than a year ago after learning a neighbor was struggling.
Geneva Baptist Association’s food pantry and collected, washed and distributed nearly 350 eggs during the Slocomb Tomato Festival. Sailor also partners with an organization to provide bags to children in foster care throughout the Wiregrass. Sailor says if she could, she would reach the “whole entire world” with Sailor’s Helping Hen House. “I love to see other people smile and make me smile,” Sailor says. Her parents, Glenn and Piper Summers, help Sailor with the logistics of making deliveries since she can’t drive yet.
“She recognized the need both here in the neighborhood and at school, and instead of just having an idea and letting it die, she ran with it,” Glenn Summers says. “She didn’t let the fact that she’s 7 and without a lot of resources bother her. She just found something that she could do to reach out to other people, and she does it every day.” n www.alabamaliving.coop
Alabama Snapshots
Carving Pumpkins
Bigfoot carved by Cara Adams. SUBMITTED by Scott and Lisa Dobson, Rockford.
Lane Feemster and Ida Smith. SUBMITTED by Anna Feemster, Fyffe. Spooky kitty. SUBMITTED by Cindy Stone, Foley.
Austin and Dylan Lass compete every Halloween on who carves the best Jack-O’-Lantern. This pumpkin is in pumpkin jail. SUBMITTED by John Lass, Orange Beach.
Carlie, Trace and Harley’s annual pumpkin carving on Halloween. SUBMITTED by Misty Turner, Sylvania.
December theme: “Our Christmas Pajamas” | Deadline: October 31 Submit photos at alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo or by scanning the QR code. Photos submitted for publication may also be used on our website and on our social media pages. Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 9
Spotlight E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop
Letters to the Editor
THIS MONTH IN
ALABAMA HISTORY
Reminded of joke
PHOTO COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Professor Carver Arrives in Tuskegee
George Washington Carver working with students in a chemistry lab at Tuskegee Institute, around 1902.
“I cannot offer you money, position or fame,” began the closing line of the job offer from Booker T. Washington, principal of Tuskegee Institute and one of the nation’s leading voices for African American industrial education. “I offer you in their place work, hard work, the task of bringing a people from degradation, poverty and waste to full manhood.” The letter’s recipient was scientist and educator George Washington Carver, who Washington hoped to recruit for Tuskegee’s new School of Agriculture. Born in Missouri near the end of the Civil War, Carver was teaching at his alma mater, the Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts. Accepting Washington’s offer, Carver arrived in Tuskegee in October 1896 and remained there until his death almost 50 years later. His initial annual salary was $1,000 (roughly $40,000 today) plus living quarters and space to build his own research laboratory. Through his coursework and broader outreach efforts in surrounding farming communities, Carver distinguished himself as one of the nation’s leading apostles of crop diversification. Few did more to break the southern overreliance upon cotton production. He championed a wide array of alternative crops, especially the simple, powerful peanut, for which he identified more than 300 practical uses. His techniques and innovations helped struggling farmers lessen their dependence on expensive commercial fertilizers. Although declining health eventually took him out of his classroom, he continued on the lecture circuit until his death in 1943. Like Booker T. Washington, he is buried on Tuskegee’s campus. Reflecting the spirit in which he came to the Institute, Carver’s tombstone reads, “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.” — Scotty Kirkland
10 OCTOBER 2026
or write us at: Letters to the editor 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117
Reading Joe Hobby’s recent column “Just Say Mow,” I was reminded of the joke about a young new preacher who moved to town. One summer day, he was trying to get the parsonage’s old lawn mower to start. The neighbor’s kid walked over and told him, “Preacher, you have to cuss to get that mower to crank.” The preacher said, “Why, young man, I’m a man of God, I couldn’t possibly do such a thing.” The kid replied, “Well, just keep pulling that cord, preacher. It’ll come back to ya!” Scotty Kirkland, Wetumpka
Co-ops, forestry to take coordinated approach to wildfire response Alabama’s landscape is defined by its forests, rural communities, and the people who work every day to protect them. In that spirit of stewardship, representatives from Alabama’s electric cooperatives and the Alabama Forestry Commission are working together to strengthen communication, coordination and mutual understanding in the face of wildfire risks across the state. An initial meeting held earlier this year marked an important step toward building a stronger relationship between two organizations that play vital roles in Alabama’s rural areas, says Jantzen Flowers, regulatory compliance specialist with the Alabama Rural Electric Association. “While each serves a distinct mission, the cooperatives powering homes and businesses, and the Forestry Commission protecting the state’s forests, both recognize that wildfire response is strongest when agencies and utilities work side by side,” Flowers says. “The meeting focused on building familiarity between teams, understanding each other’s responsibilities, and identifying ways to streamline response efforts when wildfires threaten rural communities,” he adds. “These conversations emphasized the importance of communication, information sharing, and coordinated field awareness during emergency situations.”
Alabama Forestry Commission, AREA and Federated representatives from left, John Goff, Greg Brewer, Sam Cornwell, Karl Rayborn, Rick Oates, Jason Saunders, Ethan Barrett and Jantzen Flowers. www.alabamaliving.coop
Spotlight
Take Us Along!
Whereville, AL Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. 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 November issue. Submit by email: whereville@ alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, 340 Technacenter Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117. Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or unusual landmark in Alabama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose photo is chosen will also win $25. September’s answer: The old Bates Grocery, once owned and operated by Lowell and Elaine Bates, is located in northeast Madison County near the Tennessee line. Local residents recall buying ice-cold glass bottles of Cokes and “the best” homemade sandwiches there. Though it closed several years ago, new owners plan to fix up the building and reopen it, retaining its small-town charm and hospitality. (Photo contributed by Allan Rice) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Delaina Greene of Joe Wheeler EMC.
We enjoy seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Send us a high-resolution photo of you with a copy of the magazine (please, no phone screenshots) on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving.coop. Include your name, hometown, name of your electric cooperative and the location of your photo. We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month. Rico and LaKesha Nelson of Seale celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary at Los Cabos, Mexico. They are members of Tallapoosa River EC. Keri Grizzard from Montgomery visited the famous Powell’s Bookstore, the world's largest independent bookstore of new and used books, while in Portland, Ore. visiting her grandchild. She is a member of Dixie EC.
Find the Hidden Dingbat! Judy Hendrix of Southern Pine EC was excited to find September’s hidden dingbat, a football, on her first time through the magazine. “My two youngest grandchildren and I always call each other and ask, ‘Have you found the dingbat yet?’” The football was tucked away on a shelf in the photo of Kenny’s Hwy. 198 Diner on Page 36. The Vanmaanen family of Arab had fun looking for the dingbat on a recent road trip to Huntsville. Heather Vanmaanen found it first, and alerted her sons, who immediately began their own search. Her 11-year-old stopped on Page 36, noting, “It has to be on here,” while his finger was actually right on the football without realizing it. “It made our first time finding the hidden football even more fun and definitely a memory we’ll laugh about every time we look for it,” she wrote. Congratulations to Modie Smith of Somerville, a member of Joe Wheeler EMC, our randomly drawn winner of $25 from Alabama One Credit Union. This month for Halloween we’ve hidden this orange witch’s hat. Remember, it won’t be in an advertisement or on Pages 1-8. Entries without a hometown and electric cooperative listed will not be considered for the prize. Good luck! By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living 340 TechnaCenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 Alabama Living
Joyce Harris of Jemison visited Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, last September. She’s a member of Central Alabama EC.
Nancy Claridy McCormick of Seale and a member of Tallapoosa River EC, traveled to Heidelberg Castle while in Germany visiting her aunt, Irene Wehner, in Brebersdorf.
Sponsored by
Sheila Kidd of Clanton took her magazine along on a trip to St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Fla. She’s a member of Central Alabama EC. OCTOBER 2026 11
host Hunting
Offers Spirited Fun
Paranormal investigations open doors to surprising encounters, new visitors and financial support at historic venues STORY AND PHOTOS BY COLETTE BOEHM
F
rom the shores of the Bon Secour River near the coast to an Underground Railroad stop in north Alabama, visitors can take part in paranormal investigations at sites considered to be among the state’s most haunted. But on these ghost tours, the spirits are generally friendly and venues reap rewards. “Ever since the age of six I have always had paranormal and psychic experiences where I have had things happen to me that are unexplainable,” says Lesley Ann Hyde, of Southern Ghost Girls Tours. “I feel angels speaking with me. I’ve had all these weird experiences.”
Lesley Ann Hyde leads ghost tours at historic venues throughout the state. Below: She greets patrons of a ghost hunt.
12 12 OCTOBER OCTOBER2026 2026
www.alabamaliving.coop www.alabamaliving.coop
Her fascination with those experiences, coupled with a heart for giving back to historic places, led Hyde to start Southern Ghost Girls Tours. She and her team, predominantly women, lead tours and “investigations” at historic venues throughout Alabama and beyond. The events introduce participants to the venue and its history and invite spirits to reveal themselves to the group. The experience blends a scientific approach, using tools and equipment, with what Hyde considers a spiritual element, her mediumship, along with the open-mindedness of the participants. “I ask that people be openminded,” she says. “We just want to make it a safe space; an environment where people feel comfortable. A safe space for people to explore something different that they’ve not done before.” Many participants, she notes, are interested in exploring a phenomenon they want to learn more about. “A lot of people at our tours are like, ‘You know, I’ve had these experiences, but I’ve never been able to tell people about it, and this is cool that there are other people I’m meeting that have had these same experiences.’ ” Hyde estimates about 50 percent of the people who come to her events have had some type of other-worldly encounter and are curious to find out more about what these experiences mean. Or, she says, they’re looking for closure by using her mediumship work. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” she says, “to help those people. It’s like they get a bonus psychic reading.” No matter their reason for coming, participants learn of the history and lore of the tour venues, and how they are woven into the fabric of their communities. The guests are also sustaining the venues by showing up. Each tour supports the host locations financially, fulfilling one of Hyde’s business objectives. Alabama Living
“I wanted to do something fun and give back to the community. And it popped into my mind: I’m going to start a company doing ghost tours. I’m going to start a company where we raise money for historic preservation.” Since the business’ inception she estimates it has contributed more than a half a million dollars back to historic preservation. “Every historic venue that we do the tours at, we give back. That’s really my mission and purpose for the company and for what I do. Plus, I just absolutely love it. I love getting to meet people.”
Different personalities, different energy
It’s clear that she has come to love the venues she visits regularly as well. Her tours are held at venues considered to be some of the most haunted in the state. They each have a personality of their own, she says, and in most cases, have resident paranormal personalities that join in the tours. “Every single venue has a different energy,” she notes. “In our investigations, we do try to speak with the residents of the houses, but there are other spirits that can come through. So, there is always a different vibe.” The form of that communication can be as varied as the “vibe.” Hyde recalls seeing what she considers evidence of active spirits in forms including setting off equipment sensors, footsteps in hallways and stairs, random item movements and figures appearing in photographs. In the nearly 10 years of investigations at the Arlington House in Birmingham, the spirit of Judge William Mudd often comes through. At Huntsville’s Historic Lowry House, they’ve witnessed a lot of activity related to the house’s Underground Railroad connections as well as the spirit of former resident Anne Lowry.
From top down: Many people have reported seeing a woman sitting in the upstairs window at Huntsville’s Historic Lowry House. The back stairway was the only way stowaways during the Underground Railroad era were allowed to enter their safe room. Electronic equipment is used to detect the presence of spirits.
OCTOBER 2026 13
The Original Alabama Ghost Girl: Kathryn Tucker Windham No discussion of ghosts in Alabama would be complete without giving a nod to author, photographer and legendary storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham (1918-2011). Her 1969 book, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, penned with Margaret Gillis Figh, introduced a generation of children to the Windham family’s friendly spirit, Jeffrey, along with stories of other Alabama spirits. Southern Ghost Girls Tours owner Lesley Ann Hyde recalls Windham’s books being an influence during her childhood. “I was a huge fan as a little girl,” she said. “I vividly recall when we would get to go to the library at school. I would go straight for the 13 Alabama Ghosts, 13 Tennessee Ghosts, books and read them during library time and check them out. I absolutely loved them! Actually, for my 30th birthday, I got a complete set of all of her books! Still have them.” While Windham’s stories were about ghosts and haunted locations, her daughter Dilcy Windham Hilley notes that Kathryn’s true love was the sharing of the stories themselves.
14 14 OCTOBER OCTOBER2026 2026
While at the Swift-Coles Historic Home in Bon Secour, the rich history of the area adds variety to the spirits encountered. They include British soldiers and Civil War soldiers as well as family members who lived in the home. Through the use of a variety of electronic tools, combined with questions from both Hyde and tour participants, the events “allow the ghosts to tell their own story,” she says. Those personal stories help honor the history of venue, according to Hyde. “People who would never come to just a history tour of a place will come for the ghost hunt, and they’ll learn the history. They may not know that they’re learning history, but they’re having fun while learning the history.” Swift-Coles Manager Susan Reynolds agrees. “It’s a good way to bring people into the house. The people who come, as Lesley said, are here for the excitement, probably more so than the history. But we want to get people into the house. This is an old house and requires a lot of maintenance. And that’s expensive. This goes towards helping us to achieve that goal. It’s just another thing to get more people in to enjoy our house, and they’ll tell friends, hopefully.” Southern Ghost Girls Tours holds events in venues as diverse as Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa and the Historic Painted Lady Hotel in Birmingham. They also host Ghost Walks and Murder Mystery Dinners.
“She was much more interested in preserving the folklore and the history of the stories,” Hilley notes. “That was her purpose. To preserve the stories as folklore. “People would say, ‘Well, Miss Windham, do you believe in ghosts?’ And she’d say, ‘I believe that the people who tell me the stories believe. I believe them.’” Windham’s ghost stories, as well as her many other accomplishments, are documented at the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum on the Thomasville campus of Coastal Alabama Community College and at kathryntuckerwindham.com.
PHOTO COURTESY TED TUCKER
This figure that appeared in a photo taken at SwiftColes Historic Home is thought by some to resemble former resident Susan Swift.
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Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 15
PHOTOS COURTESY AUBURN UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
Amanda Sweeney, the Raptor Center’s assistant director of education and training, holds Indy the bald eagle in Philadelphia.
Spirit OF
PATRIOTISM
Auburn Eagle Wows Crowds Beyond Jordan-Hare BY T. JENSEN LACEY
T
he American eagle. Its history seems to be blended into every patriot’s DNA. This raptor (bird of prey) represents courage, wisdom, strength and determination. It’s also our national bird. This year – our semiquincentennial – American pride is showing itself in a variety of ways and in celebrations across the U.S. For some of those celebrations, the proverbial star of the show is from Alabama. Specifically, the star is from Auburn University’s Raptor Center (AURC). For among those raptors at the AURC, one — an American bald eagle — has been the highlight of patriotic celebrations, in the form of gloved meet-andgreets at special events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary of independence. The AURC has made these things possible. Since opening its doors in 1972, the Center has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of birds of prey, including a variety of owls, eagles, falcons, hawks and vultures.
16 OCTOBER 2026
Most of these injured birds have been released back to the wild once their treatment and rehabilitation period is over. Some, on the other hand, become “imprinted,” which means they have become accustomed to being around and handled by humans and can no longer survive on their own. Once they become non-releasable they may be assessed for eligibility as an educational ambassador in other programs similar to the AURC. “The American eagle especially was on the brink of extinction when the Center first opened its doors in 1972,” says Dr. Robyn Miller, director of the AURC. “At that time, with the broad use of such insecticides as DDT, there were only a few hundred nesting eagle pairs in the entire United States. Now, with newer government restrictions and more conservation laws in place, the eagle and other raptors have made a comeback. I’m so glad that Auburn and the AURC could be a part of that.” www.alabamaliving.coop
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‘Indy’ takes a different kind of flight
Miller tells of some of the events the eagles have taken part in this year. “This past July 3, we took our American bald eagle, Independence (affectionately referred to as “Indy”) to Independence Hall (in Philadelphia) for a gloved meet-and-greet mingle,” she says, and the excitement was evident in her voice. “It was incredible. Philly welcomed us with open arms and we were able to ensure that our national living symbol, and one of our greatest conservation success stories, was grounded in our 250th celebration of this country.” She continued: “We flew via Delta Airlines, which allowed Indy to fly coach class in her cage. We got to meet the staff of Independence National Historical Park and were able to connect with more people and educate them about bald eagles.” Miller says there was a lot of preparation to take one American bald eagle on a trip to one of these events. “To go out of state with an ambassador bald eagle included getting permits from Philadelphia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to ensure we’re adhering to all the strict standards and best practices for handling these raptors. Indy is still a wild animal, and we had to adhere to the regulations and the highest standards of welfare (for the bird).” Indy first joined the team in 2018 after a stint at a rehabilitation clinic in Florida because of a wing injury, Miller says. “She imprinted on humans, making it where she couldn’t be released back into the wild. She had her first official pre-game flight at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2021.” Miller emphasized the impact of taking part in and bringing the AURC’s ambassador eagle to America’s 250th celebration. “Indy’s presence at the America 250 Time Capsule Dedication was an invitation to our national community to join us in recalling the bald eagle’s role in our history and in celebrating them as one of our nation’s conservation success stories,” she says. “After all, protecting our wildlife for the next 250 years is one of the most patriotic endeavors we can pursue.” For more on the center, its birds of prey, events and activities, fly on over to Auburn.edu/raptor.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF “WAR EAGLE” The very first eagle to fly over Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn was in the year 2000, and that eagle’s name was Tiger. Two others that have done the pre-game flight are Nova and Spirit. As of 2026, five golden eagles have represented Auburn as part of the pre-game flight. “Our latest eagle, Spirit, retired in 2021 and Indy took over her role in the flights,” Miller says. “Aurea, War Eagle VIII, is our current War Eagle. She made her debut flight in 2018.” This tradition has its roots from a legend going back to the American Civil War. There was a Civil War veteran who had found an injured eagle on a battleground. He is said to have taken it home and nursed it to health (a practice which is illegal today). He and that eagle were both regulars at Auburn football games. The story goes that, during one game in 1892, Auburn was losing to Georgia, but history took a turn for the Auburn Tigers when the eagle, with its six-foot wingspan, suddenly took off in a flight over the field. The fans became ablaze with excitement and saw Auburn defeating Georgia, coming from behind, with the team boosted on by fans’ shouts of “Look! It’s the war eagle!” Today, the raptor handlers first begin training the birds in an empty stadium before having them fly pre-game in a stadium full of fans. It is truly something to witness, especially when the birds swoop down for their edible rewards. There are quite a few videos of the eagles’ training on YouTube.
18 OCTOBER 2026
PHOTOS COURTESY AUBURN UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
Clockwise, from top right, Katie Pnewski, raptor specialist III, and veterinarian Dr. Amberly Sokoloff, VMD; Indy looks over the Philly skyline; Katie Pnewski and Indy visit with the Independence National Historical Park Rangers.
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For Pete the Cat creator has humble Alabama roots BY ALLISON LAW PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYNES
James Dean, creator of the "Pete the Cat" character and children's books, autographs a book for a young fan at the "Pete the Cat Festival" in August in Fort Payne. Dean made a drawing of Pete in each book he signed.
20 20 OCTOBER OCTOBER2026 2026
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Pete’s Sake N
estled in the valley between Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain, Fort Payne is probably best known for music (home of 1980s country supergroup Alabama) and industry (“the Sock Capital of the World”).
But the first weekend in August, this small city embraces its groovier, artsy side, when native son James Dean comes back home for the “Pete the Cat Festival” – dedicated to the bright blue, laid-back, guitar-playing feline who’s delighted young fans for almost 20 years. A larger-than-life mural, painted by Dean himself, greets visitors to the downtown area. On a rainy Saturday in August, Pete the mural – with his oversized football-shaped eyes and red, high-top sneakers – watched over the crowd of fans gathered to meet Pete’s creator, who happily returns to the place he calls home (despite being a Georgia resident now). Dean was born here, but the family moved around and returned when he was in high school (he graduated from Fort Payne High School in 1976). All the kinfolks on his mother’s side are from the mountain area, which he calls “home.” “Lots of wonderful memories as a child up on Sand Mountain,” he recalls today. “My ties here are strong.” About a hundred lucky ticket-holding Pete fans waited in the morning drizzle for the doors to the historic Coal and Iron building to open. Some authors push through book-signings, limiting the number of items to be signed and having handlers move eager patrons through the line. Dean took his time, chatting with families and especially the children, giving each book a personalized Pete drawing. The event took hours, but no one seemed to mind the wait. One of the organizers of this event is Connie Fuller, who works with the Fort Payne Main Street program to promote downtown economic vitality. She’s also a friend of Dean and is not surprised at his popularity here, nor his willingness to spend time with fans. Alabama Living
“He is a very humble but amazing artist and man,” Fuller says. “I’m always amazed at how smart, funny and talented he is.”
An engineer … and an artist
After high school, Dean went to Auburn and earned a degree in electrical engineering. He took a job with Georgia Power and had a choice of places to live. He settled in Athens, which at that time – the early to mid-1980s – had a burgeoning music and arts scene. “I think that really affected me, because my plan was, I really wanted to study art, even at Auburn.” Even as a student in the engineering school. “I have this strong memory of seeing the art students sitting out on the grass drawing pictures of the buildings, which, I loved to draw buildings, and I walked by there carrying my engineering books, and I was just so sad that I couldn’t be out there sitting on the grass drawing pictures with them,” he recalls. “I used to sit on the steps of Samford Hall at night and think about the future and how I was going to get to art someday. So, it was my plan in college. Had no idea it would end up. I wasn’t thinking about children’s books at all, you know?” He was making a good living with Georgia Power, but like many who have a heart for art, the job left him unfulfilled. His wife had a good job and encouraged him to pursue art full time, so he left engineering in 1997, “to my mama’s dismay.” “I felt like I had to go out and try, and that first year my income tax said I made zero, but I was so happy.” He started traveling and painting in different places, experiences that helped him hone his craft and gave him visual inspiration. “Every painting is a story.”
OCTOBER 2026 21
The real Pete the cat
The inspiration for Pete the Cat was a real Pete the cat, a little black shelter kitty who captured Dean’s heart and became his muse, albeit reluctantly. A friend kept bugging Dean to draw a picture of Pete, but he didn’t want to draw cats. She kept after him, and Dean finally gave in. She loved the painting, and Dean kept creating. Originally, Dean created Pete to appeal to adults, but he found that kids loved his paintings of Pete. A chance meeting in Atlanta with a singer/storyteller forged a collaboration that eventually led to a series of children’s books, based on Dean’s drawings of Pete. Much like Dean himself, Pete the character is approachable and laid-back, and the themes of the books please parents and kids alike: positive attitudes, self-expression, the importance of friendships and inclusion and overcoming fears. April Pritchett brought her son, Hank, to meet Dean at the August event. Hank, 11, has sort of aged out of the books, but he’s still a big fan. His favorite book is Rocking in My School Shoes, one of the older titles that follows Pete as he starts first grade and discovers that the lunchroom, playground and library are – like Pete himself – pretty cool. Asked what he likes about Pete, Hank says, “Just that he’s always positive. He gives positive vibes. He’s groovy.” Mom April says her kids always read Pete the Cat when they were younger, and she didn’t realize Dean was from the area. The Pritchetts live in the Horton/Guntersville area and are members of Marshall-DeKalb EC. “We learned later, when we came to Fort Payne and saw this mural out there, that he’s from here. That’s awesome.”
As he says about the different trajectories his career has taken, as well as the success of the Pete the Cat franchise, “you can’t explain it.” Besides the books, there are lots of Pete-themed products, including action figures, plush dolls, activity sheets and printables, shoes and slippers, pillows and – fitting for a cat who was featured in some of Dean’s early paintings sipping a cup of Joe – a Pete the Cat coffee blend called “Surf ’s up,” in partnership with Jittery Joe’s Coffee in Athens, Ga. “The best advice I ever got from a successful artist was to take every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how small,” he says. Dean and his collaborator were doing well with their selfpublished books, and he wasn’t looking for more. But on his 51st birthday, he got an unexpected call from a book publisher in New York, interested in making a deal for Pete the Cat. The books have since sold millions, and many titles have topped The New York Times best-seller lists. He’ll be 69 in December, still creating and drawing.
The call of home
He still works collaboratively, now with his ex-wife, Kimberly, on the books, which he says take up most of his time. Dean is the illustrator, and she writes many of the stories; the ‘Best advice’ latest book, published in September, is centered on cookies. After creating the first book, I Love My White Shoes, Dean His experiences growing up in Alabama seem to find their way worked the art festival circuit, selling self-published books from into his work, even after all these years. a tent and his car, and the books and his paintings attracted The engineer in him is always thinking about building a following. He stumbled onto another marketing ploy: He things. “Pete’s sort of doing stuff that I might do, so he builds gave away paintings for charities and auctions, and in the this cookie machine, and it goes haywire. artsier neighborhoods, towns and cities, art lovers took notice, “I realized, I used to work at the bakery here in Fort Payne, extending a brand Dean didn’t even know he had created. and one night, they let me run the dough divider, which is the main part of the breadmaking process, right?” Dean made a mistake, the divider completely quit and broke the whole line down. “I was so embarrassed. (But) I realized, as I was writing the story, it was really sort of my experience working in the bakery.” And he’ll continue to create new adventures for Pete and his menagerie of friends. There’s also Pete the Kitty – Pete before he grew up, with books geared for toddlers and littles – and a seemingly endless amount of fun and trouble for the Pete gang to get into. He’s moved most of his family to be near him in Athens, Ga., but his ties to the mountains in Alabama will always remain. “I would like to have a home here, maybe up on the mountain. I wish I could buy my grandfather’s old place and live out there on that land. The house burned down, which I’m still sad about, but this is Dean prepares to autograph a plush toy for 3-year-old Matana McClintock. Dean's aunt, Polly Akins, to his right, still lives in the area and accompanied him to his meet-and-greet with fans. God’s country right here.”
22 OCTOBER 2026
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Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 23
Scan to see what’s waiting down the trail.
CABINETS OF CURIOSITY & MEMORY JUGS Butch Anthony
MAKERS MONDAY Claudia Pettway Charley & Andrea Williams
ALABAMA BISCUIT EXPERIENCE Chef Scott Peacock
Museum of Wonder
Gee’s Bend, AL
Marion, AL
Seale, AL Andrea Williams, whose work is held
James Beard Award-winning chef Scott
Working from an 80-acre property
in the permanent collection of the
Peacock has spent decades exploring and
he has shaped over decades, Butch
Philadelphia Museum of Art, is part
preserving the foodways of the American
Anthony
ever-evolving
of a lineage that has reshaped the
South. At Reverie, his historic Marion
world of art, objects, and ideas—
global understanding of American art.
home, Peacock transforms the making
blending storytelling, collecting, and his
Alongside her, Claudia Pettway Charley
of biscuits into a meditative experience
philosophy of “Intertwangleism.” His
advances the Gee’s Bend legacy through
rooted in memory, place, ingredients, and
work has been exhibited in museums
major fashion collaborations with brands
the traditions of Alabama’s Black Belt.
and galleries nationwide.
like Adidas, Ralph Lauren, & Target.
creates
an
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Custom made Gee’s Bend-inspired one-of-a-kind garment.
An intimate encounter with a celebrated chef and deeper insight into the history and ritual behind the Southern biscuit. www.alabamaliving.coop
MEET THE MAKERS. MAKE THE JOURNEY. The Maker’s Trail invites you to experience Alabama’s Black Belt through intimate, hands-on encounters with the region’s artists, cooks, and craftspeople. Connect with local makers, learn time-honored traditions, and create a meaningful keepsake of your own. Intimate by Design. Distinctly Black Belt. Offered in small-group and private formats, each experience is paired with nearby places to stay, eat, and explore.
ROOTED IN CRAFT Aaron Sanders Head
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Charlie “The Tin Man” Lucas
Sumac Cottage
Selma, AL
Geeensboro, AL A textile artist rooted in the land, Aaron Sanders Head works with natural dyes, hand stitching, and quilt traditions to create pieces shaped by rural Alabama. At Sumac Cottage, his restored studio and dye garden in Greensboro, guests explore how plants, place, and process come together through indigo, natural dyeing, and hands-on textile work. TAKE-AWAY
A hand-dyed textile created with natural materials, layered color, and your own pattern-making. Alabama Living
PRINTMAKING & THE ART OF REUSE Scott Peek Standard Deluxe Waverly, AL
Known as the “Tin Man,” Charlie Lucas transforms discarded materials into expressive sculptures through welding, painting, and an instinctive approach to making. His sprawling Selma studio fills an entire city block with salvaged metal, tools, works in progress, and finished pieces, creating an immersive environment where visitors can see how cast-off materials become art. TAKE-AWAY
A finished sculpture or art object created from salvaged materials.
Artist and designer Scott Peek has spent
35
years
building
Standard
Deluxe into a distinct creative world where printmaking, music, design, and adaptive reuse come together. Guests tour the site and discover stories behind its
repurposed
buildings,
collected
objects, and unique creative spaces before entering the print shop. TAKE-AWAY
A one-of-a-kind silkscreen print with your mix of image, color, & style OCTOBER 2026 25
Black Belt Creative Artists Share Talents on New Maker’s Trail BY LENORE VICKREY
A
PHOTO COURTESY AARON SANDERS HEAD
labama’s Black Belt, a span of 23 counties stretching through the west and southern part of the state, has long been known for its artistic heritage, rich history and distinctive landscape. A new initiative, the Alabama Black Belt Maker’s Trail, is shining the spotlight on the creative personalities who live and work in the Black Belt and invites visitors to experience their work alongside them.
The trail kicked off officially last month but interest is already building, says Pam Swanner, executive director of Alabama Black Belt Adventures. Designed to be more than an observational visit to a destination, the trail is a curated experience where visitors can interact directly with the makers and take home a unique craft they made themselves. Organizers hope participants will want to visit not just one, but all the makers. “I don’t imagine anyone can take one of these experiences and not come away with a better understanding of the Black Belt,” says Swanner, “but 26 OCTOBER 2026
also with this desire to go see the other makers on the trail. And all the makers are passionate about the Black Belt.” The first core group of makers includes Andrea Williams and Claudia Pettway Charley, quilters from Gee’s Bend in Wilcox County; Butch Anthony, self-taught artist from Seale in Russell County; Aaron Sanders Head, textile artist from Greensboro in Hale County; and sculptor Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas of Selma in Dallas County. Others will be added, for a total of about 10 to 12, including Scott Peacock, whose “biscuit experience” workshops in Marion already garner a national following. Aaron Head has already held a maker’s class at his Sumac Cottage, a restored early 19th-century home in Greensboro, where he can comfortably instruct 12 people. Participants learned how to dye their own fabric using indigo, a plant that Head grows on his property, and other plant-based dyes. “We grow 10 different dye plants in the garden,” he says. In addition to indigo he also grows three or four kinds
of marigolds, coreopsis, and madder, a climbing plant known for its red dye color. Born to a mother who was a textile artist, quilter and sewer, and a father who was a farmer who worked for Bonnie Plants, Head says he came by his interest in fabric and plants quite naturally. His interest in dye was piqued when he took an indigo dyeing class 10 years ago. Originally from south Montgomery County, he’s called Greensboro home for the past six years. “I got really interested in the color palettes that felt like they were from the place that we were making the artwork in,” he says. “So I wanted to make quilts and textiles in Greensboro that looked like Greensboro and grow plants here and use things here from the earth.” People are encouraged to bring their own white, natural fabric from home, such as linens or clothing. Head provides a yard of fabric. “Some will bring a suitcase full of clothes and one even brought their wedding dress one time,” he recalls. “I provide all the indigo and all the materials.” One of his biggest fans who’s taken several classes already is Loretta Lynn, a fellow textile artist and non-traditional embroiderer from Tuscaloosa. “Aaron is the person who inspired and mentored me,” she says, even encouraging her to grow her own dye garden. “He teaches you to open your eyes to look at the world in a different way, and that each geographic area has its own palette. He’s very positive and supportive.” Want to dye your own fabric, stitch a quilt, or create something out of the ordinary? Organizers have made it easy for trail visitors to make travel plans by providing names of restaurants, overnight lodging and historical landmarks in the areas near each location. Detailed information is at alabamablackbeltadventures.org/ makers-trail. “Sometimes people don’t expect there to be these elevated, highly unique experiences, in the Black Belt,” says Swanner. “But they are there.” From left to right: Aaron Sanders Head hangs indigo-dyed fabric to dry at his Greensboro workshop. Gee’s Bend quilters Andrea Williams and her cousin, Claudia Pettway Charley, will lead a hands-on “heritage to runway” workshop exploring their community’s quilting traditions and influence on contemporary fashion.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY FOSTER
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Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 27
Alabama’s Little League Team Brings Pride to State BY LENORE VICKREY
T
he Phenix City Little League All Stars 12-Youth team, made up of 11 boys and one girl, captured the hearts of Alabama and America as they slugged their way into Little League history in August. The team has a special connection to Alabama’s electric cooperatives: Twelve-
year-old second baseman Casen Smith, number 13, is the son of Chad Smith, safety specialist for the Alabama Rural Electric Association (which publishes Alabama Living). Most of the team has played together since they were 6 and 7 years old. “They loved every minute of it,” says Smith, who traveled to Williamsport, Pa., with his wife Lindsay, their younger son Cullen, 9, and their extended family, to watch all the games. The team won the Southeast Regional title, advancing them to the Little League World Series as Alabama’s team. After losing to Washington in their first game, the team won three consecutive games, including a dramatic comeback 6-5 walk off win over Pennsylvania. Pitcher Kinley Rasmus tied or set multiple records for girls at a World Series, setting an all-time record for most hits and most RBIs, tied for most wins and strikeouts and is the first to have an extra base hit, according to Yahoo Sports. “We placed fourth in the United States and seventh worldwide,” says Smith. And when Kinley Rasmus was pitching, TV viewership increased, he adds, with a reported 2 million viewers watching
those games on ESPN. She attends school with Casen, Smith says, “and she is very humble. She doesn’t necessarily like all that attention. Those are her best friends she’s playing with.” Her dad, Cory, coaches third base and is a former MLB pitcher; her uncle, Colby, was an MLB outfielder; and her mother was a D1 softball athlete, Smith says. The team prepared intensely for the World Series, practicing six days a week from 3 p.m. to 8:30 or 9 at night. “Some days, instead of the late practice, they did 10 to 2,” in the heat of the day, Smith says, “to get in shape. People didn’t realize how much work our team put in from the time we made All-Stars.” While just being at the World Series with his son was a special dad moment, Smith says the moment all the teams from all over the world lined up on the field for the first time “was incredible.” “The only moment bigger for them would be if they were drafted and played in their first major league game,” he adds. Support from his co-op family meant a lot during the weeks away in Pennsylvania, Smith says. “I was getting text messages all the time,” he says. “It felt good they were supporting my young’un.”
CROSSWORD BY MYLES MELLOR
Answers on Page 45.
Across 1 He is credited with discovering America and is celebrated Down in October 1 The first murderer in the Bible 5 Creator of Dracula, ____ Stoker 2 Cowboy’s rope and last name 10 Fuss and bother of TV’s Ted 11 “____ really scary!” 3 Alabama port city with guided 12 At Spanish Fort you can go on guided ghost walks and nighttime walking tours diving into haunted buildings night-time paranormal investigations at the Historic ____State Park 4 Stars and stripes nation 13 Family friendly seasonal fall fun in OWA can be enjoyed 6 Sun’s beams at this version of Halloween 7 Commercial 16 Length measure, briefly 8 Beach Fun Run in Gulf 17 Leave Shores where runners dress in Halloween costumes, 2 words 18 Tear apart 20 Edgar Allan Poe’s book The ___ and the Pendulum 9 Cut off 22 More unsettling 13 Wish for 24 Katie Britt, for example, abbr. 14 Armed conflict 25 Conclusion 15 Small bite 26 Alabama town where you may be scared at Grace Hill 19 Shrill, as a cry Farms Zombie Hunt 21 Caught, unable to escape- 3 29 Killer whale words 30 Not lean 22 Signal to begin 33 “___ in cat”- 2 words 23 Boxes in 34 This Leeds site is one of the largest indoor haunted 24 Spooky ____, Montgomery: an attractions in the southeast, _____ Factory annual event with trick-or treat animal trails 35 Glossy wood coating 36 Compass direction, briefly 27 Casts spells on 37 Little devil 28 Stephen King creation, e.g. 38 Alabama destination which offers a terrifying hayride and 31 “___ ease” military command a lights-off Barn of Horrors at Pope’s Haunted Farm 32 Filled with gloom 39 Government procurement agency
28 OCTOBER 2026
www.alabamaliving.coop
Around Alabama
EVENTS SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3 Athens, 59th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Athens State University, 300 N. Beaty St. Top bluegrass musicians, fiddlers, dancers, and craftspeople from across the country come for competitions, performances, jam sessions, and family-friendly fun. Search for the event’s page on Facebook. OCTOBER 2-3 Eutaw, Greene County Historical Society’s annual historic pilgrimage. Dinner on Oct. 2 features musical entertainment and a silent auction. The tour of homes on Oct. 3 features guided historical tours of several homes and churches. GreeneCountyHistory.net OCTOBER 2-3 Florence, Oktoberfest, St. Florian Park and Walking Trail. This annual festival honors the German heritage of St. Florian’s early settlers while also celebrating its rich history, culture, and contributions of its residents. Live music, antique farm machinery and tractor show, children’s activities, food vendors and more. Search for the St. Florian Oktoberfest on Facebook. OCTOBER 3 Gee’s Bend, Airing of the Quilts Festival, Gee’s Bend Welcome Center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival continues a long tradition of outdoor quilt displays in Gee’s Bend, connecting visitors directly with the vibrant artistic community that has given rise to generations of African-American quiltmakers whose bold, improvisational designs have earned international acclaim and are featured in major museums and collections worldwide. Open to the public; tickets available at AiringoftheQuilts.org OCTOBER 3 Carrollton, 12th annual Fall Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family entertainment, vendors, food trucks and more. 205-399-0567. OCTOBER 3-4 Dothan, Wiregrass master gardeners will host their annual fall plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens. Cash, checks and cards accepted. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, bulbs, trees, vines and more. Sara.adams295@gmail.com OCTOBER 8 Enterprise, vocalist John-Mark McGaha presents “Unforgettable,” a tribute to Nat King Cole, at 7 p.m. at the Baker Center at Enterprise State Community College. McGaha and a jazz ensemble blend songs with stories from Cole’s remarkable life and career. For tickets and more information, visit CoffeeCountyArtsAlliance.org OCTOBER 8-18 Montgomery, Alabama National Fair, Garrett Coliseum. Traditional fair food, craft exhibits, entertainment, midway rides, interactive agricultural and animal exhibits Alabama Living
PHOTO BY STACY K. ALLEN
and fun for all ages. Alabama Living Cooking Contest, “Celebrating Your Ancestral Roots: Your Favorite Dessert from Grandma’s Kitchen,” 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13. Entry information and details at alnationalfair.org. OCTOBER 10 Scottsboro, 11th Annual Scottsboro BBQ Festival, downtown square. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kansas City BBQ Backyard Cookoff, kids’ Q competition, people’s choice voting, car show, cornhole tournament, kids’ fun zone, more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and more. Free admission and free shuttle to and from parking. scottsborobbqfestival.fun OCTOBER 10 Thorsby, 38th annual Thorsby Swedish Festival and parade. Festival and car show is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with parade beginning at 9 a.m. Booths, food, entertainment, art and more. ThorsbySwedishFestival.com
The Airing of the Quilts Festival at Gee’s Bend celebrates the rich traditions of this artistic community.
OCTOBER 10-11 Guntersville, Lake Guntersville Uketoberfest Ukulele Festival, Civitan Park. Ukulele workshops, play-a-longs and artist concerts. Free admission. Lakeguntersvilleuketoberfest.com OCTOBER 9-10 Troy, Pioneer Days at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, 248 U.S. Highway 231 North. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Annual event features two days of living history with skilled artisans and craftsmen in period clothing demonstrating woodworking, rope making, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, candle dipping, quill making, Dutch oven cooking at the chuck wagon and inside the Demonstration Cabin, and more. Admission $12 with children 5 and under and museum members free. Pioneer-museum.org OCTOBER 16-17 Troy, Southern Mvskoke Nation’s 3rd annual Creek Friends Festival, 242 County Road 2254, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stomp dancing, native dancers, drums by Whitehorse Singers, arrowhead dig, native artisans, live music, food and more. $5 adults; children 6 and under free. Search for the event’s page on Facebook. OCTOBER 17 Moulton, Byler Road Project will host a fall car show from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2701 Byler Road. All proceeds benefit the scholarship program given to local seniors. Search for the event’s page on Facebook. OCTOBER 24-25 Prattville, 45th annual Pumpkin Patch Craft and Vendor Show, Spinners Park, 390 West Sixth St. Event opens at 9 a.m. Oct. 24. Many vendors at this family-friendly event, plus children’s activities and entertainment. Rain or shine event. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
OCTOBER 24-25 Hope Hull, Spooky Safari, Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Road. Event is a 'free' event with purchase of general admission. Hours 9-5 with last admission at 4:00. Family-friendly activities. alabamasafaripark.com (334) 288-2105. OCTOBER 25 Wetumpka, The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival, an annual one-day event celebrating wildlife art as well as the natural beauty of Alabama, 301 Hill St., in historic downtown Wetumpka. Educational presentations, art exhibits and classes, vendors, food, children’s activities, and expert demonstrations. TheKelly.org/WEWA OCTOBER 31 Opp, Opp Quilters’ annual quilt expo and craft sale, in conjunction with Opp Fest. 104 W. Covington Ave., in the Opp Chamber of Commerce Community Room. New categories in addition to displays of handmade quilts, including wearable arts and quilted bags. Enter to win a Christmas-themed quilt for a donation of $1. Free admission. Search the Opp Quilters page on Facebook. NOVEMBER 4-7 Wetumpka, Alabama Frontier Days, Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event focuses on interpreting frontier life during the 18th and early 19th centuries as it happened at this historic site. Experience “living history” as frontier crafts and trades are demonstrated by specialists dressed in historic costume. Food vendors will be on site. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 18 and free for children under 6. Search for the park’s page on Facebook. To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, 340 TechnaCenter Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117; 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/alabama_living
Confirm information before making travel plans.
OCTOBER 2026 29
Blake Echols of Cullman and his sons, Rocky, left, and Isiah, right, ride their bikes beneath the arched sign marking the beginning of the Chief Ladiga Trail at the Alabama/Georgia state line. This is also the terminus of Georgia's Silver Comet Trail, which continues eastward more than 60 miles to Atlanta.
RAIL-TO-TRAIL
Extended Greenway Runs From Anniston to Atlanta STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYNES
A
s more people are bicycling, walking, running and hiking today, sharing busy highways or narrow backroads with fastmoving motor vehicles make these activities increasingly hazardous. But there is a safer way. Rail-to-trail greenways convert abandoned railroad beds into smooth, peaceful, shaded places to just ride, walk or jog with no concerns about an accident with a car or truck. One of the best such greenways is right here in Alabama. It’s now possible to get on a bicycle in Anniston and ride more than 100 miles on a scenic, mostly shaded, paved greenway all the way to Atlanta with no worries about motorized traffic.
30 OCTOBER 2026
East Alabama’s Chief Ladiga Trail was the first such pathway opened in the state back in 1996. Last year it was extended southward to Anniston an additional 6.5 miles, for a total of 39.5 miles from the Amtrak Station in Anniston to the Alabama/Georgia state line. From there, Georgia’s 61.5-mile Silver Comet Trail continues eastward to just outside Atlanta, making the combined length of both trails 101 miles.
The New Section
The trail’s newest section opened in April 24, 2025. Anniston Public Relations Director Jackson Hodges says the new section of trail includes several bridges and asphalt paving and cost approximately $7.3 million in city, www.alabamaliving.coop
federal and other funding. As of October 2025, he says, an estimated 2,700 people are using the trail each week, adding that while downtown businesses have reported increased activity, a comprehensive post-extension study has not yet been completed. A Jacksonville State University study found that the existing Chief Ladiga Trail generated approximately $2.23 million in economic output in 2023 and attracted more than 49,000 visits, Hodges says. At Michael Tucker Park, the previous southern terminus of the trail, Hodges says improvements are ongoing. These are funded by a $597,520 federal transportation alternatives grant and include improvements to parking, sidewalks, restrooms, shower facilities and lighting. He adds that the city is also coordinating with Amtrak at the Anniston station with the long-term goal of allowing passengers to load and unload their bicycles.
Riding the Chief Ladiga Trail
The trail is enjoyed by everyone from novice bicyclists to seasoned long-time riders, hikers, joggers, walkers, and even the occasional skateboarder or unicycle rider. And although it’s almost 40 miles in total length, there are several places to start or stop along the way. Most users do smaller segments for each ride rather than the entire trail at once. Because it follows the now-abandoned railroad bed, the few hills are no problem.
Any bicycle, from single-speed basic bikes to cutting edge race bikes, and these days e-bikes, can easily do a short segment or longer excursions. Along the route, which mostly parallels Alabama Hwy. 21 from Anniston to Piedmont, then U.S. Hwy 278 toward Georgia, there are opportunities for safe parking at numerous points. Beginning at the southern terminus in Anniston, trail users can park and ride the 6.5 miles to Michael Tucker Park, where the parking lot has just been repaved. This is one of the busier, more populated, sections with bridges spanning two major roadways. There’s also a safety gate where the trail passes through a fire hydrant manufacturing plant, requiring users to press a button and wait about a minute for the gate to open. From Michael Tucker Park, the trail becomes more shaded through Weaver and then Jacksonville, where there are restrooms and parking at the former train station. A few miles farther north riders can park at Germania Springs Park after passing through the Jacksonville State University campus. From there, the next section is nearly continuously shaded for about 10 miles to Piedmont, where the Eubanks Welcome Center offers parking and restrooms. There are several places for lunch in downtown Piedmont as well as bicycle rentals and shuttles. The 14-mile section from Piedmont to the state line is the most shaded and scenic. While riding here, it’s not unusual to go for miles without seeing another trail user other than the occasional deer or turkey. It passes through broad cotton fields, part of the Talladega National Forest, intersects with the Pinhoti Trail and crosses Terrapin Creek three times on high bridges. Even when temperatures are in the 90s, riding in the shade is surprisingly comfortable with the breeze created at bicycle speeds. There’s one more parking area at Borden Springs, five miles from the Alabama/Georgia state line, but no facilities.
Trail History
From top right clockwise: Steel bridge over Nances Creek at the eastern city limit of Piedmont, about Mile 13 of the Chief Ladiga Trail; cyclists ride eastward through a tunnel of green near the Pinhoti Trail intersection with the Chief Ladiga Trail; the trail passes through several places with parking opportunities and restroom facilities, such as the former train station in Jacksonville pictured here. Alabama Living
The Chief Ladiga Trail began taking shape in 1990 when the City of Piedmont and Calhoun County acquired a portion of the abandoned railroad corridor using a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The first 8.9-mile section opened in Piedmont in 1996. Weaver and Jacksonville opened their sections in 1998, and Anniston completed its original section to Michael Tucker Park in 1999. The trail was connected to Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail in December 2008. The trail is named for Chief Ladiga, a Creek leader with strong ties to the areas that became Jacksonville and Piedmont. He was among the Creek leaders who signed the Treaty of Cusseta in 1832, under which the Creek Nation ceded its remaining Alabama territory east of the Mississippi River during the era of Indian removal. Ladiga received an individual land allotment and later sold a portion of it to developers whose purchase became Jacksonville. He later settled near presentday Piedmont, where he is buried. The trail was named in recognition of his historical connection to the communities and landscape through which the former railroad corridor passes. OCTOBER 2026 31
KORWELPHOTO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Gardens
LEAVE
THE LEAVES? Finding the Right Balance in the Fall Landscape
A
s temperatures begin to cool and leaves start to fall across Alabama, many homeowners feel the urge to rake, bag, and remove every leaf from their landscape. While a neat yard may look appealing, research shows that leaving at least some fallen leaves in the landscape can benefit pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil health. The key is finding a balance between supporting wildlife and maintaining an attractive, functional yard. Many beneficial insects rely on fallen leaves for shelter during the winter months. Butterflies, moths, native bees, lady beetles, and other beneficial insects often overwinter in leaf litter, beneath leaves, or within plant stems. When leaves are removed too aggressively in the fall, these insects can lose important habitat needed to survive until spring. Leaves also provide natural benefits for the landscape itself. As they break down, leaves return organic matter and nutrients to the soil, improve soil structure, and help conserve moisture. In wooded areas, flower beds, and around trees and shrubs, a layer of leaves can function much like mulch by moderating soil temperatures and reducing erosion during winter rains. Does this mean you should never rake leaves? Not necessarily. In many situations, removing at least some leaves remains a practical necessity. Thick layers of leaves can smother turfgrass, particularly if they accumulate heavily on lawns. Leaves may also create slippery surfaces on
sidewalks, driveways, and patios. Rather than bagging and disposing of leaves, consider using alternative management practices that benefit both your landscape and local wildlife. One option is to mulch leaves with a lawn mower and allow the shredded material to decompose on the lawn. Research has shown that finely chopped leaves can break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil without damaging healthy turf. Another option is to move leaves from the lawn into landscape beds where they can serve as a natural mulch. Homeowners can also create designated “leave the leaves” areas in less formal sections of the landscape. A corner of a garden bed, a naturalized area, or a wooded border can provide valuable overwintering habitat while keeping the more visible portions of the landscape tidy. Fall cleanup practices can extend beyond leaves as well. Consider leaving some perennial stems standing until spring rather than cutting everything back in the fall. Many native bees and other beneficial insects use hollow or pithy stems as winter shelter. The goal is not to abandon landscape maintenance, but to adopt a more wildlife-friendly approach. By removing leaves where necessary and leaving them where practical, homeowners can support pollinators, improve soil health, and reduce yard waste. This fall, think twice before bagging every leaf. A portion of those fallen leaves may be providing an important winter home for the beneficial insects that help keep Alabama gardens thriving year after year.
Bethany O’Rear, a horticulturist for more than 20 years, is a regional agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, specializing in commercial and home horticulture.
32 OCTOBER 2026
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Spirituality
Meets Artistry
“I never expected it to be so beautiful that it takes your breath away.”
S
Impo tauer ssible Only Price
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— Kaya C., on Stauer Opals
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n a quaint village, nestled between rolling hills, lived a young woman with a deep appreciation for gemstones. Her grandmother gifted her a delicate cross pendant adorned with opals. The opals shimmered with a mesmerizing play of colors, reflecting hues of blues, greens, and fiery oranges. Her grandmother shared the legend of the opals, believed to bring hope, purity, and luck to those who wore them. Using this story as inspiration, Stauer brings you the Opal Spirit Cross Pendant. With over 2 total carats of Kyocera lab-created opals set in .925 sterling silver encased in yellow gold, this pendant is a radiant celebration of beauty and craftsmanship. Each opal captivates with a kaleidoscopic dance of fiery oranges blending into oceanic blues, streaked with flashes of vibrant green that seem to come alive with every movement. The shimmering opals are skillfully arranged to create an enchanting, otherworldly glow, embodying the spirit of hope and harmony. This breathtaking combination of color and craftsmanship is available as a limited availability of only
Alabama Living
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930 pieces, making it a rare and treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Plus, when you order today, you’ll receive the gold-finished sterling silver chain—a $69 value—absolutely free! Don’t miss your chance to own this exclusive tribute to timeless elegance and meaningful symbolism. Necklace Specifications: • 2 1/2 ctw. Kyocera lab opals and DiamondAura® accents • Yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver setting • 18" gold-clad .925 sterling silver chain
Opal Spirit Cross Pendant plus FREE Chain
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OCTOBER 2026 33
goNUTS forPEANUTS! ANDREAS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Alabama Recipes
Cook of the Month: Terri Gilley, Cullman EC
T
erri Gilley says she didn’t come from a family of cooks, but she’s made up for that fact by winning several cookoffs and most recently, she was named our Cook of the Month for October for her recipe for “Tiny’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream.” Terri says the “Tiny” in the recipe title is actually her nickname. She and her husband have farmed poultry, cattle and hay on their farm in the Terri Gilley Brooklyn community, in the Holly Pond area of Cullman County for 37 years. Active in the Alabama Farmer’s Federation, she has won previous cooking awards and her recipes have been published in the Farmer’s Federation cookbook. She says she came up with the peanut butter ice cream recipe while relaxing by her swimming pool one day. She and her grandson love ice cream, and the peanut butter concoction was a hit. Her peanut butter brand of choice is Jif, adding, “If you want nuts, you can use the crunchy version.”
34 OCTOBER 2026
Tiny’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream 1 quart heavy whipping cream 2 14-ounce cans condensed milk 2 12-ounce cans evaporated milk 2 cups peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla Dash sea salt Milk (optional, if you need to finish filling cannister) Whip whipping cream until it starts to thicken. Then add other ingredients and whip until thick. Put in ice cream freezer and add ice and ice cream salt. Churn until freezer shuts off. This makes 1 gallon of the best peanut butter ice cream you will ever eat.
www.alabamaliving.coop
The Buttered Home
I
am a classic child of the 70’s and am hopelessly hooked on the flavor combination that is chocolate and peanut butter! From the classic PB “cup” candy all the way up to when the movie “E.T.” Brooke Burks came out and I got hooked on Reese’s Pieces candy! Truthfully though, peanuts have always been in my blood. My Daddy Joe and my uncles farmed peanuts in Pike County. My own Daddy, aka “Papa,” also worked many an hour in peanut fields earning a little money as a teen. We love peanuts so much, that I have included a number of great peanut recipes at thebutteredhome.com so be to check those out. This month I’m going back to my own childhood and giving you this sweet Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting!
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting For the Cake: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup cocoa 11/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 eggs 1.66 cup sugar (12/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup mayonnaise 1.33 cups water (11/3 cups)
ALABAMA RECIPES
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For the Frosting: 3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 11/2 teaspoons vanilla 3-4 teaspoons water
Making the frosting: Cream peanut butter and vanilla. Add in powdered sugar a cup at a time until incorporated. May need to add the water while adding the powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency of frosting. This usually takes 3 to 4 teaspoons of water. Spread over cooled cake, working from the center out to spread evenly.
PHOTO BY THE BUTTERED HOME
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish or cake pan with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, mayonnaise and water. In another bowl, sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to wet in two stages, mixing on low to medium speed after each addition. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Alternatively, the center temperature should be around 205 degrees for a perfect cake. Cool completely before frosting.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Reminder for recipe submissions: Please do not submit recipes from other sources, including cookbooks or online publications. A recipe may be adapted and considered original only if at least one ingredient is changed from a previously published recipe. We will make every effort to review all recipes submitted for Cook of the Month consideration to ensure that only original recipes are published in Alabama Living. Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 35
Brittany’s Cup
Peanuts: nutritional breakdown Per 1 oz serving (about 35 peanuts) • Source: The Peanut Institute
161 calories
14g
fat (80%+ unsaturated)
7.3g protein
4.6g
carbohydrates
2.4g fiber
5mg sodium
Also notable Peanuts supply folate, vitamin E, thiamin, magnesium and potassium, plus antioxidant bioactive compounds. Peanuts have a low glycemic
index thanks to their high protein, fat and fiber content — and over 80% of their fat comes from heart-healthy unsaturated sources. One ounce is about a handful, or roughly 35 peanuts — a
nutrient-dense, plant-based snack that's naturally low in sodium. Source: peanut-institute.com/about-peanuts/nutritional-breakdown
The Peanut Institute
Peanut Crusted Chicken Tenders 1 pound chicken tenders 1 cup peanuts, crushed 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk
Filling Layer: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 2 sleeves graham crackers) 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup butter (2 sticks), melted Chocolate base and topping: 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 1 pinch flaky sea salt, reserved for garnish Prepare the filling layer: In a large bowl combine graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Stir in melted butter and 1 cup peanut butter until the mixture is fully combined. Set aside. Topping and chocolate base: In a microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips and 6 tablespoons peanut butter. Microwave on ½ power, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Spread topping: Pour HALF of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of 9x13-inch pan (or use a tart pan for a true “Reese‘s” look.) Refrigerate chocolate to set. Flatten the peanut butter graham cracker mixture evenly on top of hardened chocolate. Pour remaining chocolate on top of the peanut butter graham cracker mixture and smooth out. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of melted chocolate. Refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until firm. Cut into squares (or pie slices if using a tart pan) and serve. Resist the urge to eat the whole thing in one day! Brittany DuBois Tallapoosa River EC
Mom's Blue Ribbon Peanut Brittle 1/2 cup Karo syrup (white) 11/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup water 2 cups raw peanuts 4 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Crush peanuts in a food processor or place in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin. In a bowl, mix crushed peanuts, breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk together. Dip chicken tenders into egg mixture, then coat in peanut mixture. Place on a greased baking sheet or air-fryer basket. Bake for 18-20 minutes (or air fry at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes), flipping halfway through.
Cook sugar, syrup and water until a thread spins from spoon (about 8-10 minutes). Add peanuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until color changes from white to a slightly caramel. About 6-8 minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Add soda stirring quickly and pour immediately into a well-buttered large pan. Pull edges out while hot. Cool and break into pieces.
Courtesy: Alabama Peanut Producers Association
Deborah Wood Cullman EC
36 OCTOBER 2026
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Peanut Butter Fingers
Peanut Butter Fudge
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed 1 large egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup whole grain rolled oats 11/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (not all natural)
1 box vanilla almond bark 1 18-ounce jar peanut butter, crunchy or creamy 1 bag chocolate chips Melt all 3 ingredients together and pour into a wax paper-lined pan. Set in the refrigerator until fudge is thick enough to cut into pieces. Gladys Anderson Marshall-DeKalb EC
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 13x9inch baking pan. Blend butter and both sugars until smooth. Beat in egg, salt, vanilla and baking soda. Stir in oats, flour, and peanut butter. Dough will be stiff. Press into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown; about 25 minutes.
Peanut Butter Game Day Snack Mix 4 cups Chex cereal 2 cups pretzels 2 cups popcorn 11/2 cups roasted peanuts 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chocolate candies Peanut butter chips, optional
Icing: 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup whole milk
Melt peanut butter and butter together. Drizzle over Chex, pretzels, popcorn and peanuts. Toss to coat, spread on baking sheet and let cool. Once cooled, mix in chocolate candies and peanut butter chips. The perfect sweet and savory snack!
Beat all together until smooth. Spread on cooled peanut butter fingers. Ground roasted peanuts may be sprinkled on top, if desired. Andrea Carpenter Clarke-Washington EMC
Courtesy: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Peanut Butter Chicken
Peanut Butter Chicken 1 pound chicken breast, cubed 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar 2 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced 1/2 cup warm water 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Peanuts, chopped (optional garnish) Green onions, chopped (optional garnish)
Laurie Myer Southern Pine EC
Alabama Living
PHOTO BY BROOKE ECHOLS
Whisk in a bowl until smooth: peanut butter, soy sauce, honey (or brown sugar), garlic, ginger and warm water. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and sear the chicken until brown and cooked through. Pour sauce over cooked chicken and simmer for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat when thickened. Serve with jasmine rice and garnish with chopped peanuts and green onions.
OCTOBER 2026 37
Consumer Wise
PHOTO BY MIRANDA BOUTELLE, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES
Close air gaps at every joint and seam, using duct-sealing mastic, including under register covers inside your home’s living areas.
Tips to Seal Ductwork for Savings
I
f you live in a home with a forced air furnace, the biggest energy waster may be out of sight. Improve your home’s efficiency and comfort by repairing and sealing ductwork. Around 20% to 30% of the air you pay to heat or cool is lost through leaks, holes or poorly installed ductwork in the average home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This results in wasted energy and uncomfortable homes, regardless of the thermostat setting. Properly sealing ducts can reduce wasted energy by delivering conditioned air where you want it inside the home. If you have a room that is cold in winter and hot in summer, the culprit might be a leaky or disconnected duct. Duct sealing also helps with indoor air quality. Leaking return ducts can pull air from the spaces they run through, such as attics and crawl spaces. You don’t want to breathe in dirt, dust and insulation. If you have gas appliances, such as a gas water heater, dryer or furnace, leaking return ducts can inadvertently cause backdraft, introducing combustion gases back into the home instead of outdoors where they belong. You can seal ducts yourself or hire a professional. For a do-it-yourself approach, start with a visual inspection to determine your duct type. Most homes have flexible or metal ducts. Metal ductwork comes in various shapes and sizes, including round and rectangular, and with various options for turns and connections. Ducts should be insulated when they run through unconditioned spaces, such as crawl spaces, attics and garages. If your metal ducts are insulated, you must remove the insulation to properly seal them, then reinsulate. Flexible ducts typically have an inner and outer layer with insulation in between. The inner layer is made of bendable plastic reinforced with wire, like a stretched-out Slinky covered in plastic. The outer layer holds the insulation in Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home, and she writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing nearly 900 electric co-ops.
38 OCTOBER 2026
place. The inner liner in flexible ducts can become brittle over time, cracking easily and causing leaks. If your inner liner is in bad shape, replace the flexible duct. Check for any obvious disconnections, gaps, extra bends or sagging ducts. Improve airflow by using short, straight, taut runs. Avoid sags and excess turns. Metal ductwork should be fastened together at each joint using sheet metal screws. Make sure your ducts are properly supported to keep the joints from separating over time. For flexible ducts, use Panduit straps. These are heavyduty nylon zip ties that offer long-term durability and a tensioning tool specifically designed to tighten them.
Use the right products
When it comes to sealing ducts, use products designed for the job. Seal every joint and seam using duct-sealing mastic—a thick paste that can be applied with a paintbrush or gloved hand. When it dries, mastic creates a flexible, airtight seal, eliminating duct leakage. Use mesh tape to bridge larger gaps before applying mastic. Remove register covers inside the home to seal the joints and seams there. You also want a good seal where the duct meets drywall or flooring. In easier-to-reach areas, you can opt to use UL-listed foilbacked tape designed for ductwork. Do not use duct tape. Fluctuations in temperature cause the adhesive to fail. Duct sealing is messy, so make sure to protect yourself and your home. Use drop cloths to protect flooring. Metal tape and the edges of metal ducts are sharp, so put on coated work or garden gloves underneath nitrile or latex disposable gloves. To protect your arms, wear a long-sleeve shirt tucked into your gloves or a long sock with the toes cut out. After air sealing, have an HVAC professional test the airflow during your next annual maintenance visit. If you don’t feel comfortable getting your hands dirty, hire a professional. Most companies that install ductwork or heating and cooling systems can also seal ducts. Sealing your ductwork gives you peace of mind that your home is not wasting energy or introducing unhealthy air into your living space. www.alabamaliving.coop
From Campfire to Summit
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or centuries, Damascus steel has been prized for its strength, beauty and legendary performance. Its distinctive flowing patterns have made it one of the world’s most sought-after blade materials. The problem? Genuine Damascus knives often come with premium price tags.
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AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 39
Outdoors
CHANGES FOR 2026-2027 New lands and rules for upcoming hunting seasons
S
portsmen will see some changes for the 2026-27 hunting seasons, including the addition of more than 9,400 acres of new public hunting lands. In 2020, the state acquired about 11,000 acres of Monroe County for the Red Hills Wildlife Management Area north of Monroeville to preserve habitat for the rare Red Hills salamander. The state amphibian only lives in parts of Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Monroe and Wilcox counties. This year, the state received a $12 million grant to purchase another 4,719 acres for the salamander. Since 2020, the state gradually increased the acreage in Red Hills WMA. Now, the property totals 18,649 acres. The area allows public hunting for white-tailed deer, squirrels, hogs and other game. “The WMA grew out of trying to protect habitat for the Red Hills salamander,” says Seth Maddox, assistant chief of the Wildlife Section for the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. “It benefits us to protect the habitat for that species. Once we get enough property in that area, we can delist the salamander and better protect it. We’re always looking to add more land to give people more opportunities and access for hunters.” The state also created two Special Opportunity Areas that people can apply to hunt for the first time. Shelby
SOA covers about 1,200 acres near Columbiana in Shelby County. Chalk Hill SOA includes 3,510 acres near Reeltown in Tallapoosa County. To hunt on an SOA, sportsmen must apply to hunt specific game on designated dates. If selected, those sportsmen get a section of land to themselves for those days. “SOAs are typically smaller than WMAs and are more suitable to limited or random draw permit hunting,” Maddox says. “This reduces pressure and increases the quality of the hunt. Usually, those selected get a dedicated 300- to 400-acre unit to hunt for two to four days.” Shelby SOA consists of three hunting units. Sportsmen can apply to hunt deer or small game. The habitat consists mainly of mixed pine forest and hills. A hunting club leased the Chalk Hill area for years. It sits on the eastern side of Yates Lake. The 5,616-acre Yates WMA sits on the western side of the lake in Elmore County. “Chalk Hill SOA has been managed pretty well by the hunting club, so we were excited to get it,” Maddox says. “We have 10 units on that area. Each unit averages about 350 acres. We’ll allow hunting for deer, small game and turkey. The habitat is hilly with mostly pines, but it also has a lot of bottomland hardwood drainages on it.”
Earlier turkey season in 2027
In the spring of 2027, turkey hunters can begin hunting earlier than in past years. The season dates in all John N. Felsher lives in Semmes, Ala. three turkey hunting zones will He also hosts an outdoors tips show begin a week earlier. Zone 1 opens for WAVH FM Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail. March 20, 2027. Zones 2 and 3 com or through Facebook. will open a week later. In addition,
40 OCTOBER 2026
turkey hunters may use decoys all season long if they wish. In the past few years, the state prohibited the use of decoys for the first 10 days of the season. “We received a lot of input from the public about moving the turkey season dates so that’s what we decided to do,” Maddox says. “For the decoys, we found that prohibiting the use of decoys for 10 days had no impact on the turkey population. Some hunters were confused when they could and couldn’t use turkey decoys, so we just rescinded that restriction.” In other changes for 2026-27 hunting season, the state rolled out a new hunting and fishing licensing system. People can still buy licenses online or wherever they purchased them previously. In addition, hunters can now wear fluorescent pink as well as hunter orange safety clothing. People who wish to hunt deer with dogs in the Talladega National Forest will need a new permit. The state also closed the harvest of all fox squirrels in the Tuskegee National Forest. “We started to see a decline in the fox squirrel population in Tuskegee National Forest,” Maddox says. “The habitat changed some and we want to protect that species and let them rebound. We’re watching the fox squirrel population in the rest of the state. We have a little bit of concern about the species.” For a long time, Alabama prohibited the harvest of fox squirrels statewide during February and March. That’s the time when most of the fox squirrels breed and give birth to young ones. For more information on Special Opportunity Areas, see outdooralabama. com/hunting/special-opportunityareas. www.alabamaliving.coop
2026
EXCELLENT TIMES
OCTOBER
A.M.
Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
4:30 - 6:30 5:18 - 7:18 6:06 - 8:06 6:54 - 8:54 7:42 - 9:42 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 2:06 - 4:06 2:54 - 4:54 3:42 - 5:42
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
NOVEMBER
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
A.M.
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 10:42 - 12:42 11:30 - 1:30 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:42 - 12:42 11:30 - 1:30 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30
MOON STAGE
GOOD TIMES
PM AM
4:54 - 6:54 5:42 - 7:42 6:30 - 8:30 7:18 - 9:18 8:06 - 10:06 8:54 - 10:54 9:42 - 11:42 10:30 - 12:30 11:18 - 1:18 11:42 - 1:42 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
10:57 - 12:27 NA 12:33 - 2:03 1:21 - 2:51 2:09 - 3:39 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 8:33 - 10:03 9:21 - 10:51 10:09 - 11:39
PM AM
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 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON 11:54 - 1:54 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 11:06 - 1:06 FULL MOON 11:54 - 1:54 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54
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 5:09 - 6:39 5:57 - 7:27 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 5:09 - 6:39 5:57 - 7:27 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27
PM
11:21 - 12:51 12:09 - 1:39 12:57 - 2:27 1:45 - 3:15 2:33 - 4:03 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 8:57 - 10:27 9:45 - 11:15 10:33 - 12:03 PM
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 5:33 - 7:03 6:21 - 7:51 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:33 - 7:03 6:21 - 7:51 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51
The essential steps to finding a market for your business: Step 1. Look no further.
*Alabama Living is delivered to homes and businesses in all 67 counties in Alabama.
The Moon Clock and resulting Moon Times were developed 45 years ago by Doug Hannon, one of America’s most trusted wildlife experts and inventors. The Moon Clock by DataSport, Inc. 11770 Haynes Bridge Rd, Suite 205-125, Alpharetta, GA 30004— specializing in wildlife activity time prediction. To order the 2026 Moon Clock, go to www.moontimes.com.
Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 41
Landmark Park brings murals, sculptures outdoors Dothan’s Landmark Park is known for its historic attractions — the Brown’s Crossroads one-room schoolhouse, the 1908 Headland Presbyterian Church and the Waddell House. But its newest attraction is unique among the Wiregrass history preserved within the park. Chapel in the Oaks is both an outdoor venue and art gallery of murals and sculptures. Those behind the creation see it as a unique setting for weddings and other events. Mark Shertzer, a local pathologist and artist who spearheaded the effort, painted two of the murals in Chapel in the Oaks. Shertzer, a member of Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, spent more than a year working to make the outdoor venue a reality.
Sculptures and murals surround a stretch of green space not far from the park’s Stokes Activity Barn. The chapel is surrounded by young oak trees planted to eventually shade the area. “Look at it and see it not as it is today, but what it will be in 10 or 20 or 30 years,” Shertzer says. “These trees will grow and mature and create not a chapel but a cathedral of the oaks, and it will be spectacular.” Local and national muralists were recruited to paint the murals on a series of rounded brick backdrops, including Illinois artist Jamie Stang Ellis and Atlanta’s Charly Palmer. Local artists who created murals include Amy Cooper, Wes Hardin and Jay Hare. The smaller murals feature Cooper’s hummingbirds, Palmer’s take on a Black
church choir, Ellis’ trio of rural farm scenes and Hare’s depiction of agricultural life by early Muscogee Creek Native Americans. “Landmark Park defines the very idea that the past is never dead, that we are shaped by what has gone before us,” Shertzer says, referencing a quote from a William Faulkner play featured on a granite plaque at the chapel’s entrance. There are 14 murals in total. Twelve smaller murals line the sides of the space, and two larger murals serve as an altar backdrop, including a piece by Hardin featuring doves and dogwood blossoms. On the other side of Hardin’s altar mural is a painting by Hare still in the works and intended as a tribute to Dothan and the Wiregrass. The altar mural is flanked by wooden painted sculptures by Shertzer, who also designed two metal sculptures
LEFT: Brick arches mark the entrance to Chapel in the Oaks. BELOW: A trio of rural farm scenes by muralist Jamie Stang Ellis repeat the arched design.
42 OCTOBER 2026
www.alabamaliving.coop
ABOVE: The Chapel in the Oaks ribbon cutting in July unveiled the new outdoor venue and art gallery at Landmark Park. RIGHT: “First Farmers of the Wiregrass” by artist Jay Hare is among the murals that line the side of the new Chapel in the Oaks. The mural depicts the agricultural life of Muscogee Creek Native Americans.
fabricated by Southern Blowpipe, including a bell tower at the entrance to Chapel in the Oaks. Hare, also a member of Wiregrass Electric, had to dig into the Muscogee Creek history for his mural “First Farmers of the Wiregrass,” learning about their housing and tools. His larger mural on the back side of the altar wall features images that represent Dothan and the Wiregrass — agriculture, Fort Rucker, the railroad, sports, the National Peanut Festival and a modern downtown Dothan. “This is kind of a love letter to Dothan from me,” Hare says. “It represents the
history — the past, present and the future.” Chapel in the Oaks is expected to be included as part of the Alabama Mural Trail, a statewide path that highlights murals in communities across the state, including public murals in Dothan and throughout the Wiregrass. “It really is a gallery,” Shertzer says. n
LEFT: A ribboncutting attendee walks in front of Mark Shertzer’s rose mural.
RIGHT: Hare, right, talks with an attendee of the Chapel in the Oaks ribbon cutting. His large mural on the back side of the altar wall is his “love letter” to the Wiregrass. BELOW: The altar mural by Wes Hardin features doves and dogwood blossoms.
Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 43
Our Sources Say
Just Stand There Shining
P
owerSouth Energy Cooperative is the generation and transmission arm formed to serve the interests of 18 distribution cooperatives and four municipal systems representing over 1.2 million lives in Alabama and Northwest Florida. These 22 members have delivered light to every corner of this footprint since electric service first became available in the 1930s and 40s. Across our service territory, today’s needs are real and visible. Better healthcare access. Stronger schools. Roads and bridges. Economic development. Poverty and unemployment remain significant challenges for many communities. These issues matter deeply, because they affect the quality of life of the people we serve. Yet PowerSouth and its member systems cannot solve every challenge facing the region, even though they would like to. The reality is that we were not created to be all things to all people. History teaches us that organizations often lose effectiveness when they drift too far from their core purpose in pursuit of worthy but unrelated causes. That’s why we uphold our central purpose, which has always been clear: to be a lighthouse that guides the path toward safe, reliable, and affordable electrification. Electricity may seem ordinary because it is present every day, but it is the foundation upon which modern life is built. Without it, hospitals cannot operate, schools cannot teach, businesses cannot grow, and communities cannot prosper. Author Anne Lamott wrote, “Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” That image captures our role perfectly. We do not create prosperity by chasing every problem. We create prosperity by excelling at the mission entrusted to us: keeping the lights on, planning r e s p o n s i b l y, investing wisely, maintaining affordability, and ensuring reliability
when our members and their consumers need us most. When a lighthouse shines brightly, ships find safe harbor. In the same way, when we fulfill our mission exceptionally well, others are empowered to fulfill theirs. Doctors can care for patients. Teachers can educate children. Manufacturers can create jobs. Entrepreneurs can build businesses. Communities can grow and thrive. At times, our members have found opportunities to provide additional services for their service areas that naturally complement that purpose. Whether bringing broadband to underserved communities, supporting water and wastewater systems, or investing in infrastructure that enhances the quality of life in rural areas, these efforts have been most successful when they build upon the trusted relationships and capabilities that electric service established. They are not departures from our purpose. They are selective extensions of it. Sometimes, when circumstances warrant and capabilities align, the lighthouse may illuminate more than one channel into the harbor. But the source of the light never changes. It remains rooted in the mission that created it. We cannot be every solution to every challenge. But if we remain focused on our purpose of providing safe, reliable, affordable electricity, we become an enabler of countless solutions. Like a lighthouse, our greatest contribution is not running in every direction. It is standing firm, shining brightly, and helping others find their way. And when opportunities arise to serve our communities through closely related services such as broadband or water infrastructure, we do our best from a position of strength, guided by the same commitment to service that first brought electricity to rural Alabama and Northwest Florida. Unt i l next month— May the Lord bless you real good.
Damon Morgan is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.
44 OCTOBER 2026
www.alabamaliving.coop
Classifieds How To Place an Ad in Marketplace Closing Deadlines (in our office): December 2026 Issue by October 25 January 2027 issue by November 25 February 2027 issue by December 28
Ads are $1.75 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis; Telephone numbers, email addresses and websites are considered 1 word each. Ads will not be taken over the phone. You may email your ad to hdutton@areapower.com; or call (800) 4102737 ask for Heather for pricing.; We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards. Mail ad submission along with a check or money order made payable to ALABAMA LIVING, 340 TechnaCenter Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117 Attn: Classifieds.
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Join us at the
Answers to puzzle on Page 28
in Montgomery, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13
sponsored by
for our
“Celebrating Your Ancestral Roots: Your Favorite Dessert from Grandma's Kitchen” Cooking Contest Competitors must pre-register no later than 12 noon, Oct. 6. Visit alnationalfair.org for all the details Alabama Living
OCTOBER 2026 45
Cup o’ Joe
ILLUSTRATION BY DENNIS AUTH
The Junk Drawer
E
very house has at least one. There’s one beside my dresser in the bedroom. And another one in the kitchen just below the counter. The basement has one too. Searching through it is like a small archaeological dig. They’re junk drawers. Junk drawers are the great equalizers of American homes. Rich or poor, young or old, every family has at least one. They’re one part time machine, one part museum, and one part landfill. A junk drawer is where useful things go to wait until they become useless - or where useless things go because you just can’t part with them. Mine contains, among other things: fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, dead watches, an expired driver’s license, pocket knives too dull to cut a banana, eyeglass repair kits, a VCR instruction manual, a half dozen mystery keys, enough loose screws to assemble a lawn mower, four old batteries, three Bic pens, two toy cars, and a partridge in a pear tree. And underneath all that clutter is a pile of more pennies than you’d find in a wishing well. If my whole life were like this, I would have already appeared on “Hoarders.” Every junk drawer contains items no one can identify. Parts that look like they might be important, but you can’t remember what they go to. “What’s this little plastic doohickey?” “I dunno, but don’t throw it away. The minute we do, something in the house will quit working.” I use the junk drawer as a general depository. I’ll put something in there so I know where to find it. However, by Joe Hobby is a standup comedian, a syndicated columnist, and a long-time writer for Jay Leno. He’s a member of Cullman Electric Cooperative and is very happy now that he can use Sprout from his little place on Smith Lake. Contact him at jhobby2000@aol.com.
46 OCTOBER 2026
putting everything in the drawer, it defeats the purpose. Six months later, I’m digging through a tangled mess of charging cords that looks like a bowl of linguine. What was I thinking? And my junk drawer is so heavy it nearly falls out of the dresser when I open it. That is, if I can even pull it out. Usually, it’s so overstuffed that something makes it hang up. About the only way to pry it loose is with a tire tool. Which is in the basement junk drawer. Naturally. Once I get the drawer open, I spend five minutes rummaging through paper clips, expired coupons, and enough twist ties to secure every loaf of bread in Alabama only to discover the item I needed wasn’t in there after all. It was in the kitchen junk drawer. Naturally. When did opening a drawer become a visit to the Twilight Zone? And I say I’m going to organize it someday. I’ll buy little plastic trays, label the sections, and finally bring order out of chaos, for a little while. Then about two weeks later, I’ll casually toss in a key chain, a handful of change, and a couple of leftover screws. And the next thing I know, nature has begun to reclaim the habitat. The answer is not a bigger junk drawer. Junk is like water, it seeks its own level. A bigger junk drawer just means more junk. As I rummaged through this mess, I discovered that somewhere beneath the rubber bands, dried-up markers, and mystery parts are little pieces of my life. A ticket stub. A Boy Scout pocketknife. A key to a house we no longer own. For example, the most recent addition to my junk drawer was my dad’s watch. Sadly, parts for it are no longer available. But that old timepiece still seems far too important to throw away. I suppose it’s the same reason I don’t take my mom’s contact information out of my cell phone. I know she’ll never answer. But somehow, deleting it would feel like losing her one more time. Maybe a junk drawer isn’t just full of junk. Maybe it’s just where memories wait until we need them again. Except for the toenail clippers. www.alabamaliving.coop
JANUARY RECIPE THEME:
One-Pot Suppers
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Little River Falls by Wes Thomas
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11 SCENIC WATERFALLS
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