April 17 - April 30, 2015
AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali: 256-468-9425 Deborah: 256-309-9399
The 33rd Annual Sheriff’s Rodeo:
See Our Listings Inside this edition... Pages 25 - 32
Community Support, Special Needs Rodeo, And The Queen’s Pageant
What Makes Ronnie Roll The 140 Pilots And The Rest Of The Players... Much is said these days, both in church and in business about need for “servant leadership,” the idea that a good leader must be willing to... Page 8
By Ali Elizabeth Turner
Deputy Sheriff Paul Cain looked at me, and with near disbelief in his voice, said, “We have now been doing this for a third of a century, 33
Clean And Green Nature Walk Added to Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO Activities... When Damien Simbeck, TVA Watershed Representative, offered to lead a nature walk through the Marbut Bend Trail in West Limestone we ... Page 12
Athens Rehab Spotlight Spotlight On Queen Lula Lee... On April 11, 99 year old Miss Lula Lee once again was crowned Queen at the Athens Rehab and Senior Care annual Beauty pageant, a position she has held... Page 19
April 17 - April 30, 2015
Continued on pages 15
Valley Mowing Company: Personal Care For Your Lawn And Property By Ali Elizabeth Turner Native Athenian Garth Lovvorn has had a lifelong love affair with Alabama the Continued on page 17
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Garth Lovvorn sawing logs after the 2014 tornadoes.
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April 17 - April 30, 2015
Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner
Sales
Deborah Huff
Graphic Design
Jonathan Hamilton
Web Design Teddy Wolcott
Delivery
Hunter Williams
Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Wanda Campbell Janet Hunt Deb Kitchenmaster Lynne Hart Rachel Clark, RN, BSN Mary Kate Holladay Cayce Lee Jackie Warner
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 The Gen Y Perspective . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . 15 & 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 Athens Rehab Spotlight . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20 The View From The Bridge . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22
April 17 - April 30, 2015
On Being The Child Of The God Of Second Chances As I “pen” this Publisher’s Point, I am writing from a hotel room in Sacramento, California. The weather is perfect, there is a gorgeous tree waving in the constant yet pleasant breeze outside our third story room. I ate at an Italian bistro/deli where the staff gave excellent service and the food was superb. I am, in no small way dazzled by the God of Second Chances. I am here for the better part of the week in what is sometimes known, (and with a fair amount of justly deserved cynicism, I might add,) as the PRC, the Peoples’ Republic of California. I am gathered with several thousand of my “closest friends,” and we are all here to attend the Juice Plus Spring Leadership Convention. Because of the blessing of technology, I am able to “put the paper to bed” while I am on the Left Coast, and because of the two hour time difference, I have two extra hours to marvel at the shower of blessings by which I am drenched. Some may take the fact that I am mentioning Juice Plus, my “other love,” (besides being the happy Publisher of Athens Now), as being an unabashedly shameless expression of free market capitalism. However, my purpose is not to plug what is inarguably the most researched nutriceutical on the planet, nor the company or community that produces it, as tempting as that might be. It is rather to give glory to God for being given a second chance, and this week I am not alone in giving thanks.
Tomorrow, when the Convention officially starts, I will begin to hear extraordinary stories of people who as children, literally ran through the jungles from the Viet Cong, and who are now grateful American citizens who have worked their way to the top tier of the company’s compensation plan. I will be in the presence of people who literally give away millions of dollars to charitable causes that train inner city kids to become healthy entrepreneurs, or who rescue sex slaves all around the globe. I will be around people who have lost children, and in spite of their grief have helped others to build their health as well as their wealth. I will be standing in line with the ordinary who are secretly extraordinary, and I know I will arrive home next week both tired and energized. There was a time when I hated all corporations. I believed from the bottom of my
heart that it was utterly impossible to be wealthy without having harmed someone in the process, and moreover that wealth and greed were intrinsically inseparable. Having been literally brainwashed by socialism as a kid in the ‘60s, I have had to aggressively and tenaciously re-brainwash myself into not just intellectually assenting to, but actively embracing the Biblical tenets of marketplace ministry, and I am still clumsy in my endeavors. The fact that I, as a deliriously free American woman, own (or co-own with my husband,) not one, but two businesses, is what I fiercely hope makes the disciples of Karl Marx twist hard in the wind. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Psalms 124, and it says, “Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken and we are escaped, our help is in the name of the Lord.” What is the snare? In
the context of this edition’s Publisher’s Point, it is the slavery of socialism. Now I can choose to make as much money as I am able and give it away as I feel led, without looking to the government as my guide. Now I can genuinely believe from the bottom of my heart that anyone in America can “do well, do good, and do good by doing well.” I am indeed dazzled by the God of Second Chances, and stunned that I am the recipient of His grace. And someday I am going to walk the stage at a Juice Plus Leadership Convention as a National Marketing Director, if for no other reason than to say, “Thank You!” as well as, “Free at last!”
Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com
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All Things Soldier
“The Luxury Of Obliviousness” by Ali Elizabeth Turner Martin Luther King, it is time to roll over yet again in your grave. The nefarious NCOs who are part of the EO’s (Equal Opportunity) division of the Army have struck once more, and have shown contempt both for you and your dream. This time they conducted psychological warfare against our soldiers at a base in Georgia, and because someone in the room had a cell phone, took a picture from the Power Point presentation that was rich with racism, and posted it on Facebook, maybe, just maybe justice will be served, and freedom will be allowed to ring loud and clear in the United States Army. The tirade was not even remotely subtle, and thankfully, the soldiers themselves, warriors of every color, stood up to it and risked disciplin-
ary action. Here’s what went down. A noncommissioned officer went “waaay off the reservation” by insulting the entire room with the following travesty of “diversity training” with the dubious title of “The Luxury Of Obliviousness.” One of the slides said this:
ing, eating out, having BBQs, went to the club, together. We all never had a problem with race. We as a group stood up and walked out. She was cutting into our beer drinking time.” Anonymous
Brave souls, these beer-drinking buddies. If you walk out on a mandatory training session, you can be in big trouble big time with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The blessing is that this is so completely out of line that it looks like something is going to be done about it. An officer by the name of Captain Roman said this to USA Today:
“Race privilege gives whites little reason to pay a lot of attention to African Americans or to how white privilege affects them. ‘To be white in American (sic) means not having to think about it.’” Anyone who knows me knows I am often not the biggest fan of Facebook, but in this case, I was thrilled both at its existence as well as its usefulness as a weapon. Soldiers were swift to push back, and here is some of what they said: “That should be instant UCMJ and Dishonorable Discharge for the instructor who deviated in this manner,” George Stevens “Pretty sick of hearing about white privilege. Nearly my entire chain of command and NCO support channel have been Hispanic or black since I joined,” Tim Wilson Jr. “True story: I went to a forced EEO class and the white female SSG said we white folks were a problem. I looked around the room and everyone of every race were rolling their eyes,” Scott Hampton Truelove recalled. “We of all races went fish-
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“The unit (Equal Opportunity) instructor deviated from the authorized topic and content which was provided. To prevent further instances, all unit instructors will receive additional training on the importance of following Army EO training requirements.” Translation: Now taxpayer money must be spent to enlighten Army educators with this newsflash: It’s actually wrong to discriminate against people because of the color of their skin! If this weren’t so evil and nuts, it would actually be funny. I just hope Rev King can get some rest, knowing that sin has been electronically shouted from the rooftops because someone dared to speak out at the risk of harming or possibly ending their military career.
April 17 - April 30, 2015
The Gen Y Perspective
Savor The Moments by Mary Kate Holladay
gFor the past four years, I have been forced to endure high school. It hhas felt like the worst ptime of my life because dof all the meaningless gdrama with friends, endless amounts of schoolwork for subjects I don’t even care about, and ridiculous fights . with my seemingly iga norant parents. I have been convinced that g high school has been h nothing but a waste of my time. As graduation e is rapidly approaching, though, my mindf set about this chapter e in my life is changing o profoundly. n fWhen I first entered dfreshman year, the countdown began. I spent the entire year wishing my life away, longing to become a sophomore and e finally being able to d drive. When that finally came around, I soon lost interest in driving and fot cused all of my efforts on e trying to be cool and gain n
April 17 - April 30, 2015
tantly to my patient, loving parents, I would like to offer a most sincere thanks for helping me through this time of my life.
the respect of the upperclassmen. After doing so (and unknowingly completely alienating myself from my own class), I became overwhelmed with AP courses and the ACT my junior year. When I finally got to my senior year, I did some self-reflection. I asked
myself, “Who am I going to become when I finally get out of here?” and “What areas of my life do I need to improve on before I end this chapter?” It was then that I realized, my high school career had been wasted time; but, it was not because of the circumstances I was in, it was the attitude that I had.I have so many wonderful memories from high school that will stay with me for the rest of my life,
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but I regret not taking the time to realize how special that time was whenever it was happening. Now that I have come to this realization, I would like to thank all of those who helped me through this important time of my life. To the teachers who worked so hard to motivate me and help me reach my full potential, to my friends who helped me have the best experiences, and most impor-
To those who are about to enter high school and those who are there now, let me extend some advice so that you don’t make the same mistakes I made. Savor the moments that you have in high school, because it truly is one of the best times of your life. Also, spend this time doing things that you find enjoyable rather than trying to do things to please others. I think the most important piece of advice I can give, though, is to listen to your parents, teachers, and anyone else who provides guidance to you. Although they seem overbearing and unreasonable now, you will one day realize that they are your biggest advocates and they know much more than you imagine. Graduation comes much faster than you imagine, so don’t wish the precious time you have left away.
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Calendar of Events 2nd Annual 4-H Open Car and Truck Show May 2, 2015
Limestone County 4-H car show open to all muscle cars, classic cars, and trucks. May 2, 2015 in Tractor Supply’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. $10 admission. Door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Lunch meals will be available for $5 (hotdogs/burgers, chips, drink, and cookie included). All proceeds go to the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign. For more information call the Limestone County Extension Office: 256232-5510 or email Lisa Towe: lat0014@aces.edu or Marian Beck: mclinmr@auburn.edu
Area Wide Acapella Singing Bethel Church of Christ April 17
Stephens or Suzanne Linnemann at 256-233-7383 or lstephens@ tandcstamping.com or slinnemann@tandcstamping.com
The Red Caboose Singer & Songwriter Night Apr 25th
The Red Caboose. 25483 Railroad Street, Athens, AL. Come enjoy an evening of music featuring Thom Besh, Jim Parker and Rickey Ray. Doors open at 6:00PM, showtime at 6:45PM. Tickets at the door: $20.00 includes show, drink and snack. 12 years and under are free. For more information: 256-306-6201.
“One Year Later” Service Apr 26th
7-9:30pm. Tom Holland as MC, Fellowship Afterwards, Everyone Welcome! 26772 Capshaw Road, Athens, AL. www.bethelcoc.org
Huge Church Rummage Sale April 18
Messiah Lutheran Church. 7740 Highway 72 West, Madison, AL 35758. We will have something for everyone. Saturday, April 18, 2015. 8:00AM - NOON. If you have questions you can contact 256233-5644.
Eli’s Block Party - Car Show Apr 18th
Lindsay Lane Baptist Church. 1300 Lindsay Lane, Athens, AL. Presented by Champion Chevrolet of Athens. Open to all cars and trucks plus lots of fun for the whole family; music and food vendors from 9:00AM-3:00PM benefitting St. Jude’s. Mater Prater performs at 1:30PM.
H.C. Anderson First Annual Golf Tournament Apr 18th
Southern Gayles Golf Course. 22230 Mooresville Road, Athens, AL. Step up to the tee for this fundraiser for Henry “Skip” Anderson, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophagus/Stomach Cancer. Registration starts at 7:30AM, Tee-off at 8:00AM. Fee is $65.00 includes green fees, cart and lunch. www.skipanderson.info
The Annual Limestone County Master Gardeners Plant Sale Apr 18th
Clements Baptist Church. 8690 U.S. Highway 72W, Athens, AL. Bring your lawn and camp chairs and join the congregation of Clements Baptist Church at 9:30AM as they mark “One Year Later” - marking the day the Clements and Coxey Communities pulled together and lifted each other up after devastating tornado on April 28, 2014 . An afternoon children’s service - “Celebrating Kids: One Year Later” for ages 4 through 6th grade will be held from 4:00PM-6:00PM. There will be fun activities, crafts and other special things planned for the children.
Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo Parade May 9th
12:00PM Lineup, 1:00PM kickoff. Line-up starts the Limestone Sheriff’s Arena on Alabama Highway 99 (AL-99), Athens, AL. Groups and individual participants welcome. No fee to participate Grand Marshals will lead the way for the parade featuring Queen Contestants, Cowgirls and Cowboys of all ages on horseback along with many buggies and wagons. The route will depart the arena onto Alabama Highway 99/Market Street to the Limestone County Courthouse, turn left (north) on Jefferson Street to Elm Street, then left (west) on Elm Street and return to the arena. For more information: www.limestonesheriffrodeo.com
Chick-Fil-A Connect Race Series May 9th
Athens, AL. Join Chick-Fil-A for 5K and 10K on a USATF Certified course benefiting Bridges of Hope Adoption Ministry. Children 12 and under can enjoy the Family FunZone from 7:00-10:00AM packed with activites and inflatables as they wait for friends and family to cross the finish line. For more information or to register: cfaraceseries.com/races/148/
8am - 12pm at the Farmers Market on Green St., Athens, AL.
2nd annual Relay Tee Cup at Canebrake April 23rd
There are still openings for teams and sponsors. Shotgun start at 1:00pm. After the tournament the Limestone County Sheriff’s Dept. will be assisting us with a ball drop. Tickets will be on sale at the yard sale, the golf tournament and at T&C Stamping, Inc. Tickets are $5.00 each. The winner will receive 15% of the earnings of the ball drop ticket sale, up to $2500. For more information contact Leah
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The Flashbacks Dinner Show May 9th
Yesterday’s Event Center. 15631 Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. Come enjoy the sounds of The Flashbacks performing your favorites from the 70’s and 80’s. Complete country dinner available including drink and dessert for additional $9.95. Show admission is $15.00 and E-mail reservation is required. All seats reserved and not attended are subject to a fee of 50% of the ticket price if not canceled with notice 48hours prior to show and will be billed to reserving individual. Doors open at 6:00PM, dinner available from 6:00PM-7:00PM, showtime 7:00PM. To reserve your seats: info@yesterdaysevents.com
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April 17 - April 30, 2015
April 17 - April 30, 2015
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What Makes Ronnie Roll
The 140 Pilots And The Rest Of The Players
by Ali Elizabeth Turner Much is said these days, both in church and in business about need for “servant leadership,” the idea that a good leader must be willing to do the same things he requires of his crew. Another way of putting it is, rather than “Somebody’s got to lead, and somebody’s got to follow,” the concept of the gift of helps in good working order is well illustrated by what happens on an aircraft carrier, and could be described as “Somebody’s got to lead, and somebody’s got to help.” On a carrier, typically if there is a crew of 2,000, there will be about 140 pilots, 125 planes, and about 90% of the rest of the crew is never in the air. They are moving in the gift of helps, and their role is crucial. From keeping the latrines clean to the crew fed, the hot shots are not just up in the sky, they are also the ones below that get and keep them there. Mayor Ronnie has had a much bigger group of students for the Mayor’s Youth Commission, and the year is coming to a close. Many of the kids have sent him senior pictures and prom pictures, and what he wants most for the kids, past success in the usual sense, is that they learn how to have healthy, good, solid relationships. We talked about the need for young people on up to realize that ultimately they are responsible for their own happiness, and as Tim Richardson in Jump Starts says so well, the real recipe for happiness is “to try, try,
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$882 with more donations pending East Limestone Band Director Jennifer “Miss Sam” Janzen - $656 Limestone County Commission Chairman Mark Yarbrough - $650
Limestone County Revenue Commissioner Brian Patterson - $546 Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks - $535 WHNT co-anchor Greg Screws - $341 Miss Limestone Sheriff ’s Rodeo Queen Kalynn Clinard - $116
Perhaps the Mayor didn’t
again.” This is the only antidote to allowing dreams to whither, and to prevent “settling” in general. Richardson asks, “Why don’t people pursue dreams? It is because they have no guts, no gumption, and no know how.” That’s straight talk, but it’s the truth. The idea of “try, try again could be reframed as “fail forward faster,” says Richardson in Mayor Ronnie’s marked up and dog eared copy. “To build our community and quality of life, failing forward faster is what we have to be willing to do,” he said. We prayed, and he was on to the Celebrity Waiters’ Night, being willing to serve, along with other leaders in our area, and all for a good cause, Relay for Life. Here are the results, as stated by Holly Hollman in her press release:
The April 14th annual City of Athens Relay for Life Celebrity Waiters Night at Applebee’s in Athens raised $3,726 for the fight against cancer. Our Celebrity Waiters worked for tip money that goes to the American Can-
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cer Society, and tonight’s competition was fierce with waiters singing, begging and joking to raise the most in tips. Here is how our Celebrity Waiters did: Athens City Council President Jimmy Gill -
win the competition, but he and the others were “rollin’” right over cancer while having a great time and moving in the gift of helps. Stuff like this is what makes me so glad to be an Athenian.
April 17 - April 30, 2015
April 17 - April 30, 2015
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Tourism
Outdoor EXPO Brings More Than Recreation, Safety Too by Cayce Lee, Social Media Specialist for the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Getting outside is about having fun, right? We get so eager to hit the trail, take to the roads or water or put on our explorers cap and just take off. Too often we overlook things we should think about like weather awareness, sun protection and safety. The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association’s Outdoor EXPO held in conjunction with the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Earth Day on April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. wants to give you the chance to add safety and awareness to your outdoor adventures. Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Board will be sponsoring the SciQuest Roaming Dome from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00p.m. in the meeting room of the AthensLimestone Visitors Center at the southwestern corner of Big Spring Memorial Park. Eager adventurers will be able to step inside and take a seat for Force 5, where extreme weather takes center stage in a full dome animated show. Adventurers will experience a forceful hurricane, a ripping tornado, and the most
powerful storms in the solar system. So get ready to take cover for this exciting experience! Jason Simpson, WHNT News 19’s Chief Meteorologist, will be at the Outdoor EXPO 2015 answering your weather questions, questions about Storm Hunter 19, sharing how you can stay weather aware and meeting attendees. He joined the WHNT 19 team in January 2012. Raised in Holly Pond, Jason is no stranger to the Tennessee Valley. Jason has covered many weather events from hurricanes to tornadoes and blizzards. Jason was on the air April 27, 2011 and saw firsthand the magnitude of the destruction in different parts of Alabama including right here in Limestone County. After the storm he took action, volunteering in devastated areas to help people rebuild and where he couldn’t go, he sent supplies. When weather threatens the Tennessee Valley, Storm Hunter 19 heads into the heart of the communities impacted. This rolling observation sta-
tion and live coverage vehicle keeps WHNT 19 meteorologist and viewers up-to-date on the latest conditions often as the storms and conditions are at their worse. Attendees can come take a close up look at Storm Hunter 19 at the Outdoor EXPO 2015 and learn more about how it’s taking action to keep you safe and weather aware. Relay for Life of Limestone County will be hosting a booth to raise awareness about sun safety, skin cancer and their goal to have more birthdays by
medical team landing and then taking off to whisk you away to a life-saving facility within minutes rather than hours. This service is a reality with Air Evac Lifeteam and they will be at the Outdoor EXPO to share how you can benefit from their membership program. Emergency response vehicles from Ardmore Alabama/Tennessee Police and Fire Department will be on hand for attendees to see, ask questions about and take photos Photo courtesy of Sci-Quest with. The Alabama State Highway Patrol will also have a vehicle and offifueling the search for a cure to cancer. This volunteer driven cer as well in attendance for movement has many stories the public to meet, speak with behind each person involved. and snap photos with too. Want to know what Relay for For more information on the Life is and why it’s impor- Athens-Limestone County tant? Stop by their booth at the Tourism Outdoor EXPO 2015, Outdoor EXPO and ask them, please call 256-232-5411 “What is Relay and why do or visit the Outdoor EXPO you Relay?” page at www.VisitAthensAL. Imagine being in a rural part of Limestone County or anywhere in North Alabama and Southern Tennessee and needing to get to the hospital immediately. Now imagine a fully equipped helicopter with a
com. For information about the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Earth Day, please call 256-233-8000 or visit www.KALBCares.com.
Photo courtesy of WHNT-19
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April 17 - April 30, 2015
Saturday, April 25, 2015 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Big Spring Memorial Park (Duck Pond in Athens) Rain Location: Friendship Church (Lucas Ferry Rd.)
Recycled Crafts, Environmental Games, Contests, & MORE! Bring Electronics for Recycling
Donate Reusable Shoes
Free Admission, Hot Dogs, Pepsi, and Door Prizes!
EXPO
Visit exhibitors and vendors to learn about our local environment, discover area recreational activities, find earth-friendly products and services, and discover ways to enhance healthy living.
NATURE WALK
7:00 a.m. - Marbut Bend Walking Trail
(Hwy. 99 about 11 miles northwest of Athens. Entrance on left 1.5 mi past Elk River Bridge)
Binoculars helpful but not required. Insect repellent recommended
Information: 256ͼ233ͼ8000 or 256Ͳ232Ͳ5411 KALBCares@gmail.com Facebook: Keep AthensͲLimestone Beautiful
April 17 - April 30, 2015
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Clean and Green
Nature Walk Added to Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO Activities by Lynne Hart When Damien Simbeck, TVA Watershed Representative, offered to lead a nature walk through the Marbut Bend Trail in West Limestone as part of our Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO, we were thrilled! It is the perfect addition to our event. The Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO will be held on Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Big Spring Memorial Park in Athens and is designed to encourage guests to protect and enjoy the beautiful world that surrounds us. Here in the Tennessee Valley, it surrounds us indeed! A walk into nature is the best way to develop an appreciation for the biodiversity of our state and the amazing world of living things. Without such an appreciation, we would not concern ourselves with how our daily actions might positively or negatively affect our environment. This focus of this particular walk will be wetland ecology, migratory songbirds, and identification of frog calls. Limestone County can boast of having 17 free trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. One of the newest additions is the Marbut Bend Walking Trail in West Limestone. The trail was constructed in 2014 as a partnership between TVA, the Limestone County Commission, and a local farmer who leases the property for hay production. It was opened to the public as part of National
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Photos courtesy of Damien Simbeck
ed during hunting season. A bench positioned along the boardwalk provides a nice resting place to sit and watch the events in and around the beaver pond.
Public Lands Day activities on September 27, 2014. The acreage on which the trail was built is very near the Elk River and was flooded by beavers a few years ago. Damien Simbeck explained that it is TVA’s policy to let areas stay a wildlife habitat as long as the flooding is not affecting prime timber or private property. The area, which attracts a variety of wildlife including wood ducks, bluewinged teals, great blue herons, great egrets, migratory
birds, fish, frogs, beavers, deer, raccoons and more, was the perfect location for a walking trail. The trail is 1.1 miles in length, including 4,700 feet of crushed stone path and 1,100 feet of elevated boardwalk through a beaver pond. The area includes the beaver pond, open fields maintained by prescribed fire and hay production, and forested shorelines (riparian buffers) and wetlands. The trail is open year-round for public use, though caution is need-
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The Marbut Bend Walking Trail is located on Hwy. 99, about 11 miles northwest of Athens. The entrance to the trail site is located on the left (heading west) 1.5 miles past the Elk River Bridge. The walk will begin at 7:00
a.m. and end around 9:00 a.m., giving everyone time to head back into Athens for the opening of the Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO at 10:00 a.m. Bring binoculars if you have them, however, they are not required. Insect repellant is recommended. For information about the nature walk or Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO activities, contact KALB at 256-2338000 or the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association at 256-232-5411.
Become a Fan
(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com April 17 - April 30, 2015
Cooking with Shelley
Evening Bliss ~ No Bake Cheese Cake by Shelley Underhill Can you see it? The orange glow in the background... That’s my patio fireplace. Last week, it accompanied the smell of fresh cut grass, a cool evening breeze, and this no bake cheese cake. Our neighbor Ms. Paula shared this recipe with us, and I just couldn’t help but include it in this week’s issue. It is simple and tasty. If I’m not mistaken, I think Paula puts a dollop of whipped cream on top of hers! Make it for your family and enjoy...
I can’t express enough how much I enjoy your emails-- So many of you emailed me about the Aloha Pudding recipe. It is great to hear from you. If you have a question or comment, you can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com. Y’all make a memory in the kitchen this week. I promise you won’t regret it...
What you will need: 2 packs (8oz.) cream cheese 1/2 cup Splenda or 1/3 cup sugar 2 &1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice 8 oz. Cool Whip - thawed 1 graham cracker pie crust Fresh sliced strawberries or fruit of your choice Beat together cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice in mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir together cream cheese mixture and two cups of Cool Whip, and spoon mixture into pie crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Spread 1 to 2 cups of remaining cool whip on top of pie. Garnish with fruit.
April 17 - April 30, 2015
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Health and Fitness
Walking
by Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment. Walking! Get up, let’s go! Even if you are a devoted exerciser, you may need to add a little walking to your daily routine. The sitting, sedentary culture we have in this country can be combated with a little walking. Most of us are sitting more than ever. We sit to eat, drive, shop (on-line), watch TV, read, work on computers, etc. Too much sitting has been associated with 34 chronic diseases and conditions including heart disease, back pain, diabetes, and depression. Plus it can shorten our life. One easy solution is get up and walk. Easy peasy! No equipment and no special clothing required. Don’t want to go outside? Then walk around your house. I am definitely not saying you should give up your higher-intensity workouts such as group
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classes and boot camps, but to add an activity throughout your day, what could be easier than just walking? If you don’t want to listen to me, listen to the American Heart Association. They are suggesting walking 30 minutes each day. To start with, try 3 10-minute walking bouts. Need encouragement? Walk with a friend. Don’t want to walk outside? Walk at Wal-Mart or Lowe’s. Need to be held accountable? Then write about your walking successes on Facebook and let your friends follow those successes. Challenge yourself when you walk. If you have a pedometer or an electronic step tracker, increase your steps each day until you reach your final goal and then maintain that number. Or walk a certain distance and time yourself.
Then each time you walk, shorten your time. Add a hill or two. Add a couple of flights of steps. Promise yourself a reward. Start a routine with a goal in mind (distance or time). Once you reach that goal, treat yourself to a new pair of shoes, funky socks, or a cool looking hat. Don’t need clothes? Sign up for a cooking class and learn to prepare more healthy meals.
on the phone, take advantage of that time too. Walk and talk. Still have the excuse my joints hurt? Then try some water walking; a great exercise without impact or
gravity. For more information about walking workouts on land or in the water, contact Janet Hunt at 256614-3530 or jhunt1@pclnet.net.
Walk and relax by listening to your favorite music or download a book and listen to it. You will be amazed how time flies. Would you prefer to use you time more efficiently? Download some educational books or listen to the news. No reason to sit on your fanny to find out what is happening in the world – walk and listen. If you talk to son, daughter, mother, father, or friend
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April 17 - April 30, 2015
Cover Story
The 33rd Annual Sheriff’s Rodeo: Community Support, Special Needs Rodeo, And The Queen’s Pageant by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1
years.” The “this,” of course, is the upcoming 33rd Annual Sheriff’s Rodeo, but for the purposes of this article, we are going to focus on three aspects of the event: the power of community support, the special needs rodeo, and the Queen’s pageant. For the last three years, the entire Rodeo has been named one of the top 20 annual tourism events in the Southeast, and has long been the largest outdoor rodeo east of the Mississippi River. It sports a winnings purse of $50,000. The Deputy Sheriff wanted to emphasize that while the entire Sheriff’s Department works hard all year long to put on the Rodeo, it is the support and involvement of the community and the local businesses that have propelled the event into a level of class and far-reaching impact that no one ever expected. The vision in the beginning was to find a way to raise money for equipment needed for the Sheriff’s Department that would not have to be procured through taxing the county, and that continues to be the case. However, it has been the addition of the Special Needs Rodeo and the Queen’s pageant that have made a difference that far exceeds paying for the helicopter, or getting new cruisers with the latest technology. In a word, the Sheriff’s Rodeo helps make our community stronger. “The Rodeo does a great service for the whole community, and for me, the Special Needs Rodeo is highly gratifying. We try to do something that’s unique, and it gets bigger every year. We just could not do it without the level of support we get from
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the community, and the hard work of Special Needs Rodeo Director, Dawn Blakeley, and her crew” said Cain. He went on to tell me that “the Athens Gas Department grills all the hot dogs. The Fire Department shows up, puts on displays, and the kids can climb on the trucks and see them. The Lions Club brings the little train and gives free rides, and we rent a second train as well.” Of course there is also the parade that does not charge a fee to enter, the free pony rides, the dance, the Slack event that serves as a reward program for winners of the Leader In Me curriculum that has been such a positive part While the girls don’t do barrel bending any more as part of their riding events, there are patterns they must ride that are quite exacting, and excellent horsemanship is a must. For example, the riding routine that is part of the presentation of the colors on opening night of the Rodeo is intricate, and is one of the parts of the judging process. Because of the tireless efforts of Debbie and her team, a high standard is being set. “It is very involved and stridently judged,” Paul said. In addition, if you or a child wish to learn how to walk a
of developing our elementary school kids. But the other event that has wonderfully “taken on a life of its own” is the Queen’s Pageant. Paul then said, “People really need to know that everything Mike Blakely has done to make the Rodeo, Debbie Blakely has done to make the Queen’s Pageant.” He went on to tell me that at the Miss Rodeo USA pageant, (the national one held back in January in Oklahoma
City), 9 of the 17 final contestants had been in the Athens pageant. “We have evolved into what the Queen’s pageant now is strictly due to word of mouth,” Paul said. In other words, girls make a point of competing at our Sheriff’s rodeo because of the excellent preparation it gives them for the national contest. “Our pageant really is second to none,” he said.
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runway, have poise, improve your communication skills, do public speaking, effectively learn what used to be covered in a bygone era in what was known as “charm school,” you can. Debbie and her team put on an intensive clinic for girls as young as age 5, and on up to 26. The best part is that you don’t have to be a contestant! “The Queens from all the age groups really become a group of ambassadors for our area,” Paul said, and he could not be prouder of our current Queen, Kalynn Clinard. “She is the consummate ambassador,” he said. “She has worked at nursing homes, Fiddlers’ Convention, all kinds of places.” He said that her attitude to serve our area has showed “true dedication to the promotion of the rodeo and the pageant.” This is just a part of what is waiting for you to experience come May, and we hope you will turn out with your whole family. There will be something for everyone at the 33 Annual Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo.
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Cover Story
Valley Mowing Company: Personal Care For Your Lawn And Property by Ali Elizabeth Turner
concerns.” Many of his long-standing clients are elderly, and he will both take the time to chat with them, as well as go to pick up items for them such as mulch, fertilizer, border material and plants. He has found a way to keep things on a schedule, and has several standing appointments that go all season long. “If someone says they want their lawn cared for every Thursday at 10 am, then that’s what
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Beautiful, and specifically the lawns, shrubs, flowers and landscapes of our area that make our town so stunning, especially in the Spring. His family has been here for well over a 125 years. Garth grew up here, graduated from Alabama, and Athens has always been home. During the time in which he has had full-time careers with Habitat for Humanity, in banking, and as an insurance agent, he has always maintained a side business in lawn care, and in 2014 decided to go full time. Valley Mowing Company is the name of his service, and he truly loves what he does. Now is the time of year when you see trucks with trailers carrying riding mowers beginning to pop up all over town, and most guys do a decent job and charge a fair price for what they do. However, I am not sure how many genuinely enjoy what they are doing, and that’s where Valley Mowing sets itself apart. “There is a difference between coming home drained and coming home tired,” he said, as we chatted about the “good tired” you feel after working outside and being able to see with
Before satisfaction what it is you have accomplished. Garth’s interest in making our area a shining example of “Alabama the Beautiful” goes beyond seeing to it that lawns look tidy and property is well kept. “I enjoy helping clients envision eyecatching landscapes, and how to design with color. I am skilled with pruning all kinds of shrubbery,” he told me. For a while during our talk, I picked his brain about various challenges we encounter where we live, due to the fact that there are more than 60 trees on the property. I learned that part of the reason that several of my flowering shrubs either don’t flower at all, or not in what could be considered in a hearty manner, is that the
After root system of the deciduous trees that have been there for generations takes the lion’s share of the nutrients out of the ground—it’s not just an issue of too much shade. I was grateful to have my level of frustration diminished, if only for the moment, and as I am mentioning below, got a lead on how to solve some of my lawn and garden problems. Garth is quick to refer clients to the County Extension Service ACES hot-line, and because he takes a personal interest in his clients, he will do research for them as well to see if he can get answers for some of their “growing
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I do,” he says. He also has always had quite a love for property maintenance, and when he was an insurance agent, he became fully acquainted with the requirements of insurance companies toward residential properties, especially rentals. He became aware of how important it is to have someone who genuinely cares about other peoples’ properties after the legendary tornadoes of April 2011. “I’ll take care of limbs, damage, shrubbery that has gotten out of control, haul away messes, and treat each house as though it is my own,” he
added. “I take an active interest in the condition of peoples’ property,” he said. We discussed prices, and his are both reasonable as well as competitive. “I do my best to work with people,” he said. He also prides himself in the level of service he can give as a sole proprietor. “It’s just me,” he said, although occasionally for some of the larger property maintenance jobs he hires extra help. “I am the one who does the work, and that way I know what was done, and how,” he said. Because he has a client base that has been in existence literally for years, he has a lot of experience customizing his work for each job, and is able to make suggestions if his customers want to upgrade their landscape. This is such an important part of that sometimes elusive thing known as “curb appeal.” If you are looking for lawn and property maintenance that is provided by someone whose roots in the area literally “run deep,” then give Garth Lovvorn of Valley Mowing Company a call to schedule your appointment today.
Valley Mowing 256-874-2411 Facebook: Garth Lovvorn Email: glovvorn1@ hotmail.com
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Learning As A Lifestyle
Procrastination by Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 It’s been said that if it weren’t for deadlines, nothing would get done. I’m supposed to write these articles every other week, but it seems like life finds a way for me to do other things. The sad thing is, it’s not always worthwhile things I end up doing instead of writing my article. Sometimes, I put together a couple of online jigsaw puzzles before I get started. I’ll play some spider solitaire. I might even watch an episode of Bones or (heavens!) do the dishes or fold laundry. It’s amazing what things can get in
the way of doing what I should be doing first. There have been scores of books written on the subject of procrastination. As I look it up,
there seem to be countless magazine articles and essays too. This is going to take a while to get through, and I’m going to need a glass of tea
before I hunker down to write. Wouldn’t you know it, there’s no tea made. I don’t do the instant tea thing. As far as I’m concerned, any self-respecting Southerner will steep it, mix in some sugar (probably too much), and drink it cold, and this process takes time to do properly. After going through the rigmarole of making tea, I poured a tall glass, ready to tackle this article. I recently purchased a new set of glasses and they look wonderful. When you think about a photo of a glass of iced tea in a magazine, these would be the glasses. They are simple, with just a slight flair in their shape, but not overly elaborate. Best of all they are easy to clean. Speaking of which, did anyone do the dishes after dinner? No time for that, I have an article to write! I went searched
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online Google
and for
relevant information about procrastination. Of course, I got the standard wiki articles, but I want to write something unique. Maybe a new and artistic take on the subject. The idea of procrastination has been around for ages. It has inspired artists and poets. I managed to find the work of one of these talented individuals in the form of a slightly abstract video. It wasn’t long, about five minutes. The film was a study into the art of putting things off (graduation film from the Royal College of Art, 2007). In the video, they said procrastination was a cup of tea (I swear I did not even plan that!) or smoking a cigarette. Procrastination was doing eight things at once and not getting any of them done. It was starting something and not finishing it. It is not knowing when to finish something or not knowing HOW to finish something. That reminded me I was in the middle (really the beginning) of writing my article. As I stared at the wall contemplating my mental thesaurus to find the most perfect prose, I couldn’t keep a thought from creeping into my head. Can I finish this later? Oh, before I go, I wanted to remind you we will be celebrating our birthday Wednesday, April 29 at lunch.
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Athens Rehabilitation And Senior Care Center Spotlight On Queen Lula Lee by Ali Elizabeth Turner On April 11, 99 year old Miss Lula Lee once again was crowned Queen at the Athens Rehab and Senior Care annual Beauty pageant, a position she has held two times before, and one she occupies with something that can only be described as a delightful, scampish grace. Indeed, this is her “Triple Crown,” and she’ll be on
to the statewide contest soon. I came and scooped her up and away from the Bingo game she was playing with other residents, and we went to one of the other recently remodeled activity rooms. She is a legend in this facility, greeted and loved by all. Miss Lula was born in 1916 on February 4th,
right here in Limestone County. She lived most of her life in Tanner, and was the hard working daughter of sharecroppers. They raised cotton, corn and beans, and she told me that after her brother left home she worked just as hard as any boy. She turned the land and plowed the fields with mules, and was so tiny that she had to do one
side of the harrow and come back and do the other in order to manage the mules. She chopped wood and hauled it. Sometimes she wanted to be a boy so she could be stronger, and also dreamed of being a doctor. She completed the 3rd grade, and had to quit school so she could help on the farm full time. She worked for 50 cents a day, and says, “I felt rich when I started making a dollar a day!” She had one short lived marriage at the age of 16 to a fellow who began to be trouble 3 months into the marriage, and then was married again at the age of 21 for 69 years and 4 months. Though they had no children of their own, she and her husband raised a total of 9 kids. He worked on the Arsenal as well as at Huntsville Hospital, and also sharecropped. They worshipped at David’s Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Tanner. Her husband was saved at the age of 58, and he died at the age of 92. She had accepted Christ much earlier, and sometimes struggled in her walk with God while being married to an unbeliever. Once they
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both got so drunk that they couldn’t get out of the car, and stayed there all night. When the sun came up, she told God, “If you forgive me, I’ll never do that again.” It was 1953, and she’s been sober ever since. She always used to tell folks that if her husband ever became a Christian, she would “shout the town down.” He was all by himself when allowed the Lord into his life, and she says with a laugh, “I just stared at him when he told me. I couldn’t say anything.”
She sang in the choir for more than a half century, and I asked her, “Did you ever sing ‘Steal Away?’” Her eyes lit up, and we sang it together. Then we moved into “I’ll Fly Away,” and we were having church! She is not able to attend at David’s Temple anymore, but is a regular at the service held at Athens Rehab every Sunday. Her favorite Psalm 23
scripture?
Her advice to young people? “Look to the good Lord, and believe Him.”
Good words, Miss Lula, and congratulations on your “Triple Crown.”
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Horse Whispering
The Great Adventure by Deb Kitchenmaster Remember the times when you have a song in your head that just keeps playing over and over? I am having one of those moments as I sit here at my computer. The song was written by Geoff Moore and Steven Curtis Chapman and is called “The Great Adventure.” Like many songs, I remember certain lines or the chorus but not necessarily the entire song.
go!’ Saddle up your horses; we’ve got a trail to blaze. Through the wild blue yon-
to blaze. Through the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace. We’ll travel over, over
The first four words are ‘Saddle up your horses’. Nice. Sounds like a plan (a more likely plan when the spring showers let up). The song continues with: “Started out this morning in the usual way. Chasing thoughts inside my head of all I had to do today. Another time around the circle, try to make it better than the last. I opened up the Bible and I read about me. Said, I’d been a prisoner and God’s grace had set me free. And somewhere between the pages, it hit me like a lightning bolt. I saw a big frontier in front of me and I heard somebody say, ‘Let’s
mountains so high. We’ll go through valleys below. Still, through it all, we’ll find that this is the greatest journey that the human heart will ever see. The love of God will take us far; beyond my wildest dreams. Saddle up your horses. Come on, get ready to ride. Let’s follow our Leader into the glorious unknown. This is a life like no other. This is the great adventure.” As people were setting up their chairs outside the round pen to experience a group session at Abba’s Lad Riding Camp, “The Great Adventure” song
der of God’s amazing grace. Let’s follow the leader into the glorious unknown. This is a life like no other. This is the great adventure. Come on; get ready for the ride of your life. Gonna leave long faced religion in a cloud of dust behind. And discover all the new horizons just waiting to be explored. This is what we were created for. Saddle up your horses; we’ve got a trail
would be playing until it was time to begin. Today, Corral Connections exists to provide a ninety-minute one-on-one session or a 2-hour group round pen session, where the horse is the visual aid and teacher. I am the communicator between horse and humans. One of my intentions is to build confidence in others while they are learning.
The glorious unknown is to move beyond reactive to “responsive.” Reactive hinders relationship(s) while responsive builds. Another glorious unknown is when we simply “show up” and observe/listen for in the showing up, being present, and listening, we simply learn without trying to learn!
When learning happens in this way, it is you who are aware of your results. You step out of fear and shame into the blazing trail of taking responsibility for your choices. Graciously, beyond your wildest dreams, you seek ways to improve your strategies in an unforced rhythm. It is you who sees the purpose of the lesson and feel responsible for your own contribution. Wouldn’t it be beyond amazing to “discover” a whole new horizon on what it means to be responsible? That word can be saddled to “blame.” What if that word responsible was instead saddled to liberty, joy, grace and confidence? Now that could be the ride of your life!
I want to thank Christine and her Beloved Willie for sharing some photos with me on their adventures. For fun, can you identify Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois (One Horse Gap Lake) and North Carolina (Triple Falls)?
Your NEIGHbor, Growth occurs outside our Deb Kitchenmaster comfort zone, and it is rarely Corral Connections comfortable or convenient. www.corralconnections.com Inside, tender spots can be‘A church of great heart’ come quite an adventure for 256-426-7947 us in this growth, exposing a mountain or a valley that is Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner defined by our “reactive” self. dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com
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The View From The Bridge
The Trouble With Assumptions by Jackie Warner Jackie Warner
Community Outreach “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters
How often do we determine the answer before the question is even asked, or say I already know exactly what this is about? Probably more often than not, and more often than we should. We have gotten so smart and knowledgeable that many times we know more than the expert in a particular field. We pull out our cell phones or take a moment on our tablets to conduct our detailed search of the Internet and now propose to have all the answers. But wait! Some may say “I don’t use the Internet; I just go with my gut feeling when it comes to happenings in a particular situation.” Don’t forget those instances when we can tell you more about a person we just met two seconds ago than the very person themselves. And what do we base all of this on? Our very own developed assumptions! Yes, admit it. We assume too much! I must say that in some cases, yes our assumptions or as we claim “gut feelings, hunches and intuitions” are right; but count the number of times we have let our imaginations run wild with a vivid story we developed in our minds about a person or situation. I will say it for all of us: too many to count! We must be careful what we commit to truth without actually knowing and understanding. So shalt thou find favour
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and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3: 4-7
your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac Asimov
Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist
Email: thebridge.us@gmail.com Check out upcoming events: Website: http://thebridge-us. yolasite.com/
It is oh-so-easy for us to create meaning from nothing and then exert mental energy to support it and later find out that is was a total waste. The next time you decide to make an assumption, stop and think about all the times people have made assumptions about you that were not true. Then be determined to get the facts and not just a gut feeling. We assume in all facets of our lives: work, school, family, relationships, purchases. Instead, choose to get an understanding; if not you may pay the cost of some expensive “bought senses.” “Your assumptions are
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Medical Update
Kicking Stress To The Curb by Rachel Clark, RN, BSN
What is stress? According to the dictionary, there are several definitions of stress, but our focus will be the following aspect: “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” We have all experienced stress at some point in our lives. And not all stress is negative. Stress can motivate us, but it can also do damage to our bodies if we are continually living in a state of tension and strain. In fact, Yale-trained physician, midwife, and herbalist Aviva Romm, states that 60% of all illnesses are linked to a stress component-that’s right folks, 60%! Each of us has our own symptoms related to stress. They may be the same or different from the symptoms experienced by your family, friends or coworkers. You likely already know yours. There is a list of 50 common signs/symptoms of stress listed on stress.org. A few most common ones I experience personally include racing heart, ringing of the ears, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, crying, feeling overwhelmed, feeling the need to “run away,” and communication problems. Many symptoms, such as increased heart rate, muscle tension, head pounding, and increase breathing rate, are all
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components of the “fightor-flight” response that is instinctive to the human body. Our body was made to react to stress. Small amounts of stress on a regular basis can be a good thing as it can help improve mental clarity, focus and immune response. However most of us are continually exposed to situations that require the body to react this way, and it is damaging over time. Stress is a big deal. It is linked to heart attack, depression, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, herpes outbreaks, autoimmune conditions, high blood pressure, stroke, infections, and even accidents such as car accidents and work-related incidents. Over time, stress decreases our body’s ability to handle exposure to even small amounts of chemicals released by stress such as adrenaline, epinephrine, and cortisol.
wake up naturally without the use of an alarm clock •Exercise-MOVE your body; go for a run, walk, swim, or bike ride. •Laugh-find a way to make yourself laugh, it lowers cortisol (a stress chemical) and boosts endorphins (chemicals in the brain that make you happy) •Listen to music-this simple thing can lower blood pressure, anxiety, and depression; create a playlist of your favorites and crank it up! •Get a massage-relieve muscle tension and soreness related to chronic stress
•Connect with someonethis strengthens the relationship but also helps give you a new perspective •Write/journal-this is an avenue I use CONSTANTLY to combat stress in my life; it gives me a way to put onto paper what I am feeling and deal with it in ways that are positive and uplifting, and is especially helpful when I use it in combination with prayer •Breathing exercises-this will also help lower heart rate and blood pressure; sit up straight with one hand on the belly and the other on the head, breathe in deep through your nose
and feel the breath starting in the belly and work up to the top of your head, exhale through your mouth while reversing the process. It is helpful for some people to imagine their favorite color filling up the lungs as they breathe in deeply. •Meditate/pray-it has been suggested that this can alter the way the brain actually works. •BE GRATEFUL!-start a gratitude journal to remind yourself of all the positives in your life; keep one in several places so it is accessible at all times.
In order to combat the stress, we must first learn to recognize it in ourselves and admit it. Admitting it is most of the battle. Once you see it for what it is, you can make choices that reduce the stress and improve your ability to handle it. Below are some ways to reduce stress, without the use of medications. •Eat well-increase the amount of whole, plantbased foods in your diet to help boost the immune system •Get enough rest-take a nap if you can, go to bed earlier, allow your body to
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