April 1, 2016

April 1 - April 14th, 2016

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425

Set Them Free International:

Special Feature The 9th Annual Cars And Bikes On The Square: A Good Time For A Good Cause...

Nine years ago, a group of hard-core “automobile aficionados” got together to... Page 5 Adam and Leslie McNutt, founders of Set Them Free, International, and their children, Catherine, Gabriel, and baby Isaac

Tourism

Photo courtesy of Elle Michelle Photography of Kennesaw GA

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

A Local Way To Stop International Human Trafficking

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

In 2006, Leslie McNutt literally woke up to that inexplicable feeling that can only be described as “a God thing.” It is best-but-inadequately de-

Continued on page 15

Bethel Church Of Christ: Singing And

Historic Athens in April...

The historic Athens City Cemetery will “come alive” with more than 30 period attired personalities to represent notables from the past 200 years during the...

Page 10

Preaching The Gospel In April

What Makes Ronnie Roll Athens Councilman Jimmy Gill Dies After Second Battle With Cancer...

Jimmy Gill was the type of man who grew vegetables and shared them with friends, told funny stories about...

Page 19

April 1 - April 14, 2016

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Five years ago on the 27th of April, Bethel Church of Christ on Hwy 72 in Athens was mowed down by an EF-5 tornado. Around 30 people were huddled together in the basement, cars were thrown all over the field, and Continued on pages 17

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April 1 - April 14, 2016

Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Just Missin’ Jimmy

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Delivery

Hunter Williams

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Wanda Campbell Paul Foreman Tammy Wilkinson Rachel Clark, RN BSN Teresa Todd Joel Allen Jerry Barksdale Holly Hollman

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Tammy . . . . . 13 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . 20 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23

April 1 - April 14, 2016

Athens City Councilman Jimmy Gill has gone home for good, having fought a long and brave battle with cancer. He passed on Easter Sunday, nearly a week after his 68th birthday, and I spent a good part of the next day mourning, celebrating his life, and collecting “Jimmy stories.” This Athens Now edition of What Makes Ronnie Roll on page 19 has been given to Holly Hollman, who had been working with Mayor Marks for the last two weeks to put together a statement fitting of our dear friend. Facebook blew up with memories and condolences for the family and for the community. For my part, I want to do my best to put together a comforting “crazy quilt” of “Jimmy stories,” both for you, dear reader, and for my own sake.

The more stories I heard, the more I realized that all of us are “just gonna be missin’ Jimmy” for a very long time.

Monday morning I walked into Mayor Ronnie’s office for our usual appointment, and both he and Annette Barnes Threet arrived not long after. The Mayor was sporting a shirt and tie Jimmy had given him a few years ago. The tie was a busy black and gold print, the shirt was two toned harvest gold with French cuffs. I just knew that he had to have been wearing it in honor of his dear friend. Jimmy had given the shirt and tie to Ronnie because he wanted him to be an even snazzier dresser, and Sandra Marks had taken a picture of her husband the Mayor and posted it on Facebook on Monday morning before he left for City Hall.

“It’s a sad day,” Annette said.

So for lack of any other way to describe it, we had our own impromptu memorial service for one of the longest sitting City Councilmen in the state. As has

been said elsewhere, Jimmy had nicknames for everybody.

Vicki Dowd was “Li’l Red.” Annette was “’Nette.” Ronnie was “The Thin Man.” The late Dan Williams was “Big Daddy,” and Vicki still refers to him that way. Someone else was “Playah.” Another who had been in a Poke Sallet skit entitled “Triplets” was “Li’l Sister.” The joke was, she was white. The names went on, as did the stories, Jimmy as the pirate, Jimmy as the Philadelphia lawyer, Jimmy as the Master Griller, and then we moved to the subject of Jimmy’s garden.

Monday morning Annette

having just one slice, but ate the whole thing in one sitting.”

The friendship between Ronnie and Jimmy was long, deep and funny. Ronnie’s brother used to tease them about being brothers closer than kin. No one could do an impersonation of Jimmy’s raspy voice better than Ronnie, and for a good part of our time together he acted out improv skits playing both parts.

I laughed hard, even as a sad tear or two slid down my cheek.

There were tales about Roscoe

"The Honorable Jimmy Gill" had looked in her freezer, and saw some of “Jimmy’s peas,” straight from the garden Jimmy kept every year. There were also still some frozen bags of his famous ribs. “We had a deal,” she said. “He kept me in peas and ribs, and at Christmas I kept him in eggnog and Alton Brown’s fruitcake recipe. He told me that one year, he had planned on

the dog, Meathead, Beavis and Butthead, (his rascally nicknames for his grandkids), but my personal favorite was the “termite story.” One time, during a City Council work session, a spirited discussion occurred regarding the kind of investment the City was going to have to make to restore the Houston Library. “We don’t know what

we’ll find when we go in there,” Mayor Ronnie said. “I’ll tell you what we’ll find,” said Jimmy. “We’ll find termites holding up the building by holding hands, and they’ll look at us and say, ‘Heah we is!’”

Years ago, Jimmy gave Ronnie another shirt, bright purple, long sleeved, but with 34 inch sleeves, rather than the necessary 37 inches required to cover the long arms of the Thin Man. The Thin Man kept the shirt, and truth is, now Ronnie owns Trinity Colors as genuine and spiffy as Jimmy’s.

What the rest of us own forever are memories that are as sweet and complex as the sauce Jimmy used on his ribs, and it will be one tall order to fill his shoes.

Rest in peace, dear Jimmy, and see you sooner than probably most of us can imagine. Until then, we’ll just be missin’ ya.

Jimmy Gill’s service will be held at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church on Saturday, April 2nd, at 2:30 pm. The church is located at 1300 Lindsay Lane, Athens, AL 35613.

Quiet Hour will be held at Peoples' Funeral Home on Friday night, April 1st, from 6-7 pm.

Peoples' is located at 12060 Highway 31 S. in Athens.

Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

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All Things Soldier

“Jane” And The General, Part 1

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Alabama Veterans’ Museum and their Director, Sandy Thompson, do a bang up job every year in March, when they put on a luncheon for the vets community in North Alabama. This year was no exception. Sandy had graciously invited me to attend, and I had gladly accepted, but I knew that because it was publication day for the March 31st edition of Athens Now, I was going to be pedal to the metal, and perhaps a touch pre-occupied with getting the paper to bed before midnight.

Sandy has a real gift in finding outstanding speakers for events at the Museum, and this year the guest speaker was Brigadier General Robert Stewart, (RET). General Stewart is a legend amongst Army aviators, and has a distinguished service record that is a mile long. I knew he would be good, I just didn’t

ulation at large across the board? I had been told that if you were poor, brown, or black, you were expendable, and automatically sent to the front first.

expect to have my jaw drop open and my life to radically change yet another time as the result of a soldier’s willingness to speak the truth and set the record straight.

For those of you who are reading this column for the first time, “in another life” I was a radical, socialist, “Jane Fonda”-type feminist ‘70s college student who tried to shut down Wright Patterson Air Force Base while attending Oberlin College in Ohio. I bought into the idea that Vietnam vets were “baby killers,” and it took years of conscious, spiritual, voluntary, personal “re-education” to dump those beliefs. I went to Iraq from ’04 to ’07 and lived amongst soldiers for the sole purpose of saying, “I’m sorry,” “Please forgive me,” and “Thank you for your service,” and it was one of the

•The level of education amongst Viet Nam vets is the highest of any war in U.S. History? I used to think that anyone with an education would have sat it out in

Veterans' Museum President Jerry Crabtree presents Brigadier General Robert Stewart with a challenge coin

most transformational things I have ever experienced. I recorded my adventures and theirs in the book A Ballad For Baghdad: An Ex-Hippie Chick VietNam War Protestor’s Three Years In Iraq, and honestly, I thought I had put the entire matter of Viet-

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)

nam to rest.

Enter General Stewart, who in his presentation began to systematically dismantle many of the myths that remain to this day about both the Vietnam War and those who fought in it. While I had long ago come to the place that I no longer looked down on ‘Nam vets, I had somewhat looked upon them as pawns who had been caught in a pointless war, and felt pity for them. This is something I learned during my time in Iraq that they don’t need, and understandably despise with a passion. But, I needed some facts, and the General most definitely supplied them.

Did you know that:

$7

April 18th

11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm

17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4

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•In WWII, (which most think of as a “good war”), 33% of soldiers enlisted, and 67% were drafted, but in Vietnam, 67% enlisted, and 33% were drafted? I had always thought it was the opposite.

•Vietnam was NOT the conflict where the poor man, the black man, the brown man were used as fodder, but that the casualty as well as the death rate reflected the pop-

Brigadier General Robert Stewart, (RET)

Canada, thus demonstrating their superior intelligence.

•WWII vets who served in the Pacific theatre saw an average of 40 days of combat in 4 years, compared with Vietnam vets who saw an average of 240 days of combat in one year? The movies tell us that the majority of the time, soldiers spent their tours in Vietnam ripped on gonja, and sitting on their keesters for days at a time, when they weren’t setting the innocents on fire.

I am just getting started, here, and I don’t know many Soldier columns it is going to take for me to get through all of this, so I thank you in advance for your patience. See you in two weeks, when we will talk about “stolen valor.”

And thank you again, General Stewart, for welcoming our troops back home, 50 years later. It means the world to them, and to me.

April 1 - April 14, 2016

Special Feature

The 9th Annual Cars And Bikes On The Square: A Good Time For A Good Cause

e by Ali Elizabeth Turner t r Nine years ago, a group of bring 3,000 people to Athens, , hard-core “automobile afi- so in addition to being somee cionados” got together to put thing that raises money for sevtogether a car show on the eral local charities, it also helps Limestone County Court- to kick off our tourist season. n house Square for two reasons: s they wanted to enjoy their One of the automobiles that n hobby as well as the fun that will be at the show is literally a million dollar car, having k comes from getting together, been selected as a finalist in - and wanted to help support the Detroit Auto Rama Great 8 n charities in Athens Limestone. Competition. It is a lime green This year’s event will be held 1965 Dodge Dart, and has had on Saturday, April 30th, from 14,000 hours of labor put into 8am-3pm. Tickets are $20, it. day of show.

Another “must see” car is a lo“We don’t make a dime from cally owned and restored 1955 this,” event organizer Tom Porsche Speedster convertible, Schuman told me. “We just which has an interesting story love doing it, and love being attached to it. Jay McCook, of able to give back to the com- McClary Ford purchased the munity,” he added.

Speedster over 40 years ago, As is the case with many and it sat for decades up in Chievents in Athens, what start- cago, in a completely ruined ed off as being a small, local state. “It was rusted through,” event, has grown tremendous- he told me, “and it wasn’t worth ly. This year they are expect- anything.” He had paid a whoping between 400 and 600 cars, ping $700 for it back in the day, and motorcycles have been and sank around $175,000 into it to restore it. “We researched g added to the lineup. There every detail, and made sure will be antique cars, muscle cars, classic cars, hot rods, that this car looks exactly like and more, and the same is true it did back in 1955 when it was new.” It was indeed a labor of - for the motorcycles. love and meticulous attention It is not uncommon for Cars to detail from the period, and - and Bikes on the Square to it is now estimated to be worth e e t s t

$400,000. Jay is planning on selling it eventually, but for now is just enjoying the fruit of his labors as he drives it around. I got to sit in it for a few minutes as he parked it outside the Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful Gulf Station, and pretended I was Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn back in the day.

Man, what a car!

There will be what is known as a Builders’ Alley, which is sponsored

by Clayton Machine Works, as well as a Hot Rod Alley. Professionals from the vehicle restoration business from Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee will be on hand. An added treat will be the presence of Derek Travis from the Discovery Channel’s hit TV show, Street Outlaws, and Lou Santiago from Car

, o l e e ” , e

April 1 - April 14, 2016

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Fix, also seen on Discovery/Velocity. They will be available to chat and sign autographs. For fun, Shake, Rattle and Roll will “roll on down” from Columbia, TN, along with an Elvis impersonator.

One unique and important feature of Cars and Bikes on the Square is that it is not a judged event in the usual sense, other than there is a Mayor’s trophy.

Tom told me, “Early on we realized that people liked the drawings and the cash prizes, and wanted us to leave the judging out.” However, there are ample opportunities for both exhibitors and attendees alike to win cash prizes, as well as bless those who are in need. Tom added, “There is a drawing every half hour from the money tree, and that begins at 9 am.

People need to get there early.”

There will be at least $5,000 in cash and other prizes given away, and another feature, which is known as the “50/50 pot.” That is a raffle that is open to all attendees, and at the end of the day the winner will be announced. 50 percent of the

pot will go to the winner, and 50 percent to a designated charity.

Cars and Bikes on the Square as always supported Hospice of Limestone County, but as the event has grown, so has their ability to give back.

This year they will also be donating to the Ft. Henderson Museum project, as well as the Alabama Veterans’ Museum. LCCI (Limestone County Churches Involved), which runs the food bank on Jefferson Street in Athens, will be the recipient of the 50/50 pot.

If you are in the market for good, family fun, an opportunity to view automotive history, and be part of helping several good causes in Limestone County, then come to the 9th Annual Cars and Bikes on the Square on April 30th.

For more information, contact Tom Schuman at tschuman@comrep.com, or his cell at 256-457-9179, or visit their Facebook page at Cars and Bikes on the Square.

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Calendar of Events Limestone County Master Gardener meeting Apr 11

Limestone County Extension Office on Market Street. Social time is at 12:30 and meeting begins at 1:00. No speaker is scheduled because we will be discussing our annual plant sale which is scheduled for Saturday, April 16. Meeting is open to the public. For more information 256-614-3530.

Singer-Songwriters Night Apr 9th

The Red Caboose. 25483 Railroad Street, Elkmont, AL. Join The Red Caboose for an evening of live music. Doors open at 6:00PM, Show starts at 7:00PM. Admssion is $25.00 and includes snacks.

Children 12 and under are free. For more information, performers and directions: TheRedCaboose.net

County for a Cure Yard Sale Apr 9th

Free BBB Fraud Prevention Summit April 21

Better Business Bureau invites the public to a free event to educate on recognizing fraud, scams and identity theft on Thursday, April 21 from 9:00 - 11:30 at the Rogers Center in First Presbyterian Church (112 S. Jefferson St. Athens). Preregistration is not required. Refreshments will be served and door prizes awarded. For more information call the BBB at 256-355-5170.

Cruise In Apr 2nd

Downtown Athens, AL. Bring your hot rod, motorcycle, truck or unique vehicle and park on the square to share your love of automobiles with other enthusiasts from 3:00PM to 6:00PM. Shop the boutiques and store and enjoy a meal downtown at one of the restaurants.

Athens Historic Walks Apr 9th, 16th & 23rd

Athens-Limestone Visitors Center. 100 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL. The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association invites you to join them at the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center at 9:45am to choose one of four simultaneously occurring historic walking tours offered. Tours depart at 10:00am and should expect up to 2 hours of walking and tales. For more information, please call: 256-232-5411.

Limestone County Sewer and Water Authority. 17218 U.S. Highway 72W, Athens, AL. Join the County for a Cure Relay for Life Team as they host a yard sale from 8:30AM-3:00PM to help continue the fight for a cure. Anyone wishing to donate household, clothing, and other items may do so between 8:30AM-3:00PM Monday-Friday at the same location.

Tri-City Walk for Autism 2016 Apr 9th

James Clemens High School. 11306 County Line Road, Madison, AL. Join Athens, Decatur and Madison as they join together to walk for Austism Awareness. The walk for Autism is the single most powerful fundraising event in April that unifies thousands of participants statewide in support of the missions and projects of the Autism Society. You can join this effort at 10:00AM at James Clemens High School. For more information or to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Madison/TriCityWalkForAutism

Oakwood Academy Choir Back from the Dominican Republic Concert Apr 16th

Sandridge Student Center Ballroom. Athens State University, 300 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL. Join the distinguished Oakwood Academy Choir at 1:30PM as they share their experience and music from their December 2015 humanitarian mission and adventure to the Dominican Republic. Free For more information: Demeterius Bell 256-716-2163 or Terry Stepp 256-233-8241.

Elk River Canoe and Kayak Trail Cleanup Apr 9th

Elk River, AL. Groups and individuals are invited to join KALB's effort to clean up the Elk River and surrounding land areas. TVA is sponsoring this event. Trash bags, gloves, and some pick up sticks will be provided. Groups of all sizes are encouraged to enter the "Team Challenge" to compete for cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100. Total team weights will be divided by number of team members and that weight used to determine the winning team so all teams have a chanc to win. Visit kalbcares.com/elkriver-canoe-kayak-trail-cleanup for more information and links to registration forms or call 256-233-8000.

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Cornhole for a Cure Tournament Apr 23rd

Limestone County Sheriff's Arena. AL-99, Athens, AL. Join County for a Cure for a Cornhole tournament officiated by Dane Pitman. Entry fee is $25.00 per person or $50.00 per team. Signup in advanced at the Limestone County Sheriff's Office 101 West Elm Street Athens, AL or at the event day of tournament by 11:00AM. Tournament begins at 12:00PM. Double elimination, best 2 out of 3 winner's bracket and cash prizes. Proceeds benefit Relay for Life of Limestone County.

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Tourism

Historic Athens in April

by Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

The historic Athens City Cemetery will “come alive” with more than 30 period attired personalities to represent notables from the past 200 years during the Annual Athens City Cemetery Stroll on Sunday, April 17th from 2:00-5:00 PM. The history of Athens City Cemetery is also the history of the southeast during America’s southern and westward expansion. This event is free to the public, though donations are welcome to assist in the efforts of preserving these historical landmarks.

The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association also announces its April Historic Walking Tours to be held each Saturday in April (April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30).

Strollers should meet at the Athens Visitors Center, 100 North Beaty Street, (corner of Beaty and Market Streets by the duck pond) at 9:45 AM. The walks will begin promptly at 10:00 AM, and will last approximately one hour. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket and/or umbrella for unexpected weather.

Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. We have toured over 1,500 guests since Athens started participating in the state walks in 2006 and they keep increasing in popularity every year. Strollers may choose one of 5 different walks each Saturday in April. The walks are free and open to the public. It’s a great way for children and their parents to learn about local history and for our County to get ready for our 200th Anniversary be-

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ginning in 2017 (Limestone County’s 200th Anniversary is in November 2018).

Groups are welcome.

Experience the culture and history of Athens by taking one of these walks each Saturday.

Tour 1: Historic Downtown Athens Square with Mac Martin Tour 2: Beaty Historic District, Washington Street and Old Town Cemetery with Bill Ward

Join Athens-Limestone County Tourism for this free summer concert series. Lillian Glanton, Limestone County’s American Idol contestant, will start us off at 6:00 PM, with Wade Oliver coming on stage at 7:00 PM. We are very excited to be back on the Square, and are looking forward to SEVEN singing concerts this year with our new sponsor Jimmy Smith Buick – GMC and Austin Smith. For more

Tour 3: Historic City Cemetery with Jimmy Hill

information, call the Athens Visitor Center at 256-2325411.

Earth Day and Outdoor EXPO will be held this year at Friendship Methodist Church on Lucas Ferry Road, Athens, AL on April 30 from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Sponsored by Keep AthensLimestone Beautiful. Contact Keep Athens-Limestone

Beautiful 256-233-8728 or Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association 256232-5411.

Cars and Bikes on the Square Athens, AL on April 30 from 8:00am to 3:00pm. For more information, see the article on page 5, visit www.

CarsontheSquare.com, or contact Tom Schuman by phone at 256-457-9179, or by email at TSchuman@ comrep.com For more information on the above events or other events and attractions in AthensLimestone, visit the Athens Visitors Center located at 100 North Beaty Street or call 256-232-5411. Information is also posted on our website at www.visitathensal.com.

Tour 4: Houston Historic District – Tour Guide to be announced Tour 5: Alabama Veterans Museum – Tour Guide Teddy Dutton – Ron Thrift These local residents serving as guides will share personal remembrances and tall tales from the old days as well as the history of their respective walk.

OTHER EVENTS YOU MAY WANT TO ENJOY DURING APRIL INCLUDE: Alabama Veterans Museum Coffee Call – April 2, at 8:00 AM Athens Cruise In on the Square – April 2, from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM Singing on the Square – April 29th from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

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Clean and Green

Spring Cleaning Recycling Tips

by Lynne Hart

Spring has sprung and, for some of us, thoughts turn to spring cleaning.

Here are some tips that might help you during the process.

Here is what to do if you have partial cans of latex paint: •If the paint is good and there is a usable amount, Habitat for Humanity ReStore may accept it for resale.

•For small amount of paint: Add kitty litter, shredded paper, or a consumer product for drying paint to the can.

When the paint is completely dry, you can re-

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electronics brought it.

District 1 Shed: 22555 Elkton Rd, Athens, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

•No batteries of ANY KIND will be accepted.

District 2 Shed: 24795 Pepper Rd., Athens, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

District 3 Shed: 14119 Ripley Rd., Athens, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Easy Latex Paint Disposal Many of us have partial cans of latex paint stuck in sheds and garages with no clue how to properly dispose of it. If we ever have another household hazardous waste collection here, chances are great that latex paint will not be included in items accepted. The reason is that in solid form, latex paint is not hazardous, and collecting it quickly uses up the funds needed for truly hazardous material collection.

off times:

District 4 Shed: 22155 Section Line Rd., Elkmont, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. cycle the can at the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center.

•For large amount of paint: Line a cardboard box with a trash bag.

Pour paint into the trash bag. Add drying materials such as those listed above. When the paint is completely dry, tie up the bag and put it in your regular trash. Recycle the paint can and the box.

•REMEMBER: Keep drying paint out of reach of pets and children.

Oil-based paint and paints such as Kilz must be disposed of at a household hazardous waste collection and should never be put into your household trash. Never put liquid paint of any kind in your household trash. It can be very damaging to trash collection equipment and

roads.

Shredded Paper Is shredding old documents part of your spring cleaning? We often get calls asking if our recycling center accepts shredded paper. YES, and they welcome it!

•When recycling shredded paper, leave it in a plastic bag and place it in with mixed paper at the recycling center.

•Do not put loose shredded paper in the collection bins at the center.

It can easily be blown about by the wind causing a serious litter problem.

Electronics Recycling There have been recent changes to the electronics recycling program at our center. The cost of processing and shipping these items has increased and the center had to make the difficult decision to pass on that expense or discontinue taking these items. Here is what you need to know: •Electronics are considered anything with a cord or batteries (not including large appliances) •A $0.30/lb fee will be charged for all

Paper, Books, and Junk Mail Our recycling center can recycle most any type of paper products that have not been soiled by food. If it tears, it's recyclable!

Here is a list of some of the paper items accepted: •Cardboard boxes •Paperboard, such as cereal boxes •Books, including hardback and phone books •Newspapers •Magazines •Office paper, including shredded If you have questions about something you want to discard, but are not sure it can be recycled, contact the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center at 256-233-8746. Ruby McCartney, Plant Manager, and Keri Chalmers, Asst.

Plant Manager, would be happy to help you.

Tire Recycling Thanks to grants from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management received

by Limestone County, tire recycling has been available to Limestone County residents for several years.

The newest grant received is good through September 2018! Tires are NOT accepted at the recycling center. Here are county shed locations and drop-

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Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com April 1 - April 14, 2016

Cooking with Tammy

Popcorn Shrimp Salad With Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

by Tammy Wilkinson, owner of Arabella's Cakes and Catering

Popcorn Shrimp Salad With Honey Mustard Salad Dressing Ingredients:

1 medium bag salad mix 1 12-oz bag shrimp, 60-80 count 1 bag Louisiana shrimp/fish batter Dressing: ½ cup yellow mustard ¼ cup honey ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) In a bowl, add mustard, honey, and cayenne pepper, mix well, then set aside. Heat oil to 350 degrees. Lightly season shrimp with creole seasoning. In a plastic bag, add shrimp to shrimp batter. Coat shrimp, and shake off excess batter. Deep fry shrimp until golden brown. Add shrimp to salad, and drizzle honey mustard over top.

Not a fan of shrimp? Use popcorn chicken instead.

Whenever I prepare this salad, it always reminds me of New Orleans.

I hope you enjoy it.

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Health and Fitness

How Much Processed Meat Should You Eat?

by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.

It has been known for some time, and confirmed in a report last year from the World Health Organization, that processed meats increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Processed meats are also known to increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

So what are processed meats? They are meats that have been salted, smoked and/or cured for flavor and preservation.

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They include bacon, salami, bologna, ham, and other deli meats, and hot dogs. Unprocessed meats include fresh beef, lamb, pork, etc.

For any known carcinogen, the effect depends on the dose or amount of exposure. High levels of exposure (consumption) can be quite risky, while low levels may be significantly safer. To prevent colorectal cancer, the American Institute for Cancer Research

(AICR) recommends avoiding processed meats except on special occasions. The AICR has concluded that eating about two ounces of processed meat each day leads to an 18% increase in colorectal cancer.

AICR also recommends limiting unprocessed red meat consumption to 18 ounces per week.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (based on a review of research on

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processed meats and risk of heart disease and diabetes, but not cancer,) concluded that that one serving of processed meat per week (three ounce serving) is associated with low risk.

It is not clear why processed meat poses an increased heath risk more than unprocessed meat.

Research is looking at the possibility that higher levels of sodium and preservatives like nitrates are responsible for

the higher health risk.

Based on the available evidence, the safe amount of processed meat probably falls between the AICR’s “only on special occasions” recommendation, and three ounces per week.

For more information regarding healthy eating and lifestyle changes, talk to a registered dietician or an ACE certified Health Coach (Janet Hunt at 256-614-3530).

April 1 - April 14, 2016

Cover Story

Set Them Free International: A Local Way To Stop International Human Trafficking

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

fined as the powerful, transformational, and transcendent experience of knowing you have been called to the mission field. I can tell you from personal knowledge, that after it happens, you’ll never be the same. In Leslie’s case, the country on her heart was India, and she made preparations to go on a short term mission trip. Up until that point, her plan had been to become an astronaut. She had no idea that the course of her life was about to be forever altered.

Backing up just a tad, Leslie fell head over heels for the love of her life, Adam, when she was 14 and he was 16.

They met at Round Island Baptist Church in Athens.

She graduated from Clements High in 2005, and Adam graduated from Athens High in 2003. They planned on the “normal” life of highschool-sweethearts-turnednewlyweds, but God had other ideas. Leslie did not go to India by herself, but told Adam that if he wanted to marry her, he had to go to India, because that’s where God had called her.

They married, and in 2007, just 8 months into their marriage, they boarded a plane and went to India for 5 months.

When they came home, they began to prepare for putting everything on the line to go long term into harm’s way to preach the gospel, and minister to some of the most vulnerable souls on the planet.

In February of 2012, upon returning to India this time by herself, Leslie received education and training about what Adam says has now grown to the $32 billion annual global abomination known as human trafficking. According to UNICEF, it is estimated that there are 1.2 million people trapped in the sex slave trade. A further glimpse into the numbers says, (according to a 2011 U.S. State Department report,)

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that: Up to 27 million adults and children are in forced labor, bonded labor, and forced prostitution around the world.

98% of sex slaves and 80% of transnational victims are women and girls.

Adam may have “come into his stride” regarding ministering in India after Leslie did, but his passion to protect and restore is no less fierce. He was moved to tears on several occasions when talking about the victims while we spoke in their living room, and there was an unmistakable fire in his eyes. He describes what Indian doctor said in concession, “Your god healed him.”

Catherine was diagnosed with autism, and they had to come back to the States to get her the care and therapy that she needed. Some of Catherine’s answer has come through a huge change in her diet, and she continues to improve almost daily.

Since they have been back in the states, they have also had another child, Isaac, and would eventually like to adopt somehe saw and experienced as being like getting “punched in the gut.” Leslie, in discussing what happened to Adam, simply said, “Adam changed,” but clearly her two words spoke volumes. Together they founded Set Them Free International, which exists to end human sex trafficking, provide spiritual and physical safety, as well as job skills and training to the rescued in order to build a new life. Their mission statement and “why” comes from Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do right. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”

The McNutts started a family, and it seemed that both kids found themselves in the crosshairs of the evil one, as well as under the mighty and victorious hand of a delivering God.

Gabriel nearly died in India when a poorly formed blood vessel ruptured, filled ¼ of his brain with blood, and he was not expected to survive. At best, if he lived, they said he would be severely disabled. A call for concerted prayer went out, he was released in 4 days, and the

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one out of the foster care system, if that door opens.

Back in India, it wasn’t just the McNutt children who were “under attack.” Adam and Leslie uncovered an international child trafficking ring, and were,

as they obliquely describe it, “put in danger due to the nature of the ministry.”

They also discovered that other relief organizations were corrupt, embezzling funds, and actually helping the perpetrators. They had to go into hiding temporarily, and the story of their escape is thrilling to hear. They came home, regrouped, and found new ways to help. They partnered with Rahab’s Rope, an organization out of Georgia, and with them help to provide the support and infrastructure necessary to assist those who are “boots on the ground” serving in India.

They have a board whose members are in Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, and who, when all the members are tallied, have more than 100 combined years of ministry amongst them. They have a solid business plan, and multiple layers of accountability. Adam is available to speak, and has several engagements in various churches scheduled for this summer.

There is a question that shows up on the “crawler” on their website, (the moving slide that gives you something to think about before it goes to the next one.) To me, it says it all: “What if she was your daughter? What would you do? What will you do?”

And, they have what I call a “3 R” imperative, which also can be seen on their website, (www.setthemfreenow.org). It is, “Rescue, Redeem, Restore.”

If this is something with which you want to help, you can contact them through the website, Adam’s email, which is Adam@setthemfreenow. org, or at 256-614-4560. I can tell you, you will change lives, and perhaps just as importantly, you will be changed, forever.

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April 1 - April 14, 2016

Cover Story

Bethel Church Of Christ: Singing And Preaching The Gospel In April

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

thankfully, no one was hurt.

Jimmy Clark, who has been Bethel’s preacher since 1984, (and is also a 5th generation preacher himself), said, with the voice of experience, “The next 20 months were pretty tough.” The debris field of the storm strike is known to have been at least 125 miles away, and one of the most precious things that Jimmy lost was a set of biblical commentaries written by Richard C.H. Lenski.

They were given to him by his parents when he was studying at Freed-Hardeman, and are considered classics amongst biblical students. He had also inherited his daddy’s theological library, and it wasn’t the books, but it was the sentimental value of them that put the sting in the loss. “You lose some things, sure,” Jimmy said, “but you also gain a lot.”

By God’s grace, Bethel “gained a lot,” came back stronger, and their new building at 26772 Capshaw Road in Athens can comfortably seat 1,000. When they had their first service in the new, unfinished building, everybody brought their lawn chairs to sit on, and even made the concrete “sing.” During the design and construction phase of the “New Bethel,” one of their members, who actually

April 1 - April 14, 2016

was hospitalized as a result of the storm, lobbied for the new building to be designed so that it housed a certified storm shelter.

His prayer was answered, funds came through to build what is essentially an underground bunker, and Bethel has had up to 800 people in there when there have been high TOR-cons and unstable weather patterns.

While the weather in April is often unpredictable, what has been consistent and stable among most Churches of Christ in the Southeast, is that April is the month for the yearly Friday night Sings and Gospel Meetings. This year’s Sing at Bethel will be on Friday, April at 15th, at 7 pm. The first time they had a Sing in their first year in the new building, more than

500 people came to participate.

Jimmy says, “The Sings are a time for encouragement. They are a high point for people who enjoy that.” He says that “We have qualified song leaders from around the area, and they always lead us in the familiar songs, and teach us new songs, too. I have learned some new ones that have become some of my favorites.”

The Sings throughout the South usually go until September, and at a place called Diana, TN, they have become so popular that the congregation had to build a new building that they call “the Shed” to accommodate visitors from all over the world. There, sometimes on Friday nights, they’ll sing until 2 am, til midnight on a Saturday, and then come back for Sunday service.

The Gospel Meeting starts this Sunday, April 3rd, and goes through Wednesday the 6th. The first meeting is at 9:30 am, and is a one hour Bible class. Worship starts at 10:30am. The evening service will start at 5pm, and afterward there will be an area wide youth event. Close to 250 youth are expected to attend, and the theme for the 2016 event is “Chosen.”

The Monday meetings will be held at 7 pm nightly, and the local Churches of Christ attempt to schedule their Gospel Meetings so that they can attend services at neighboring

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churches, participate in congregational singing, get straight preaching, good fellowship, and be back at their home churches for their usual scheduled events.

“It’s kind of like a Camp Meeting,” Jimmy said.

This year’s guest speaker will be Robert Taylor, Jr., who has been preaching for over 50 years.

Brother Taylor speaks all over

the South. He is also a prolific writer, and both his preaching and his writing come highly recommended by Brother Clark. I asked him why he feels that this year’s Gospel Meeting at Bethel will be so special, and why we would want to attend.

“He is a seasoned minister, and has a lot to offer,” he said. He also added that Brother Taylor is very thorough in his approach. “He has an extensive knowledge of the Bible, and that’s where his messages come from, just the Bible. He has also been in the ministry for over 50 years, and is able to speak with authority about what is going on around us. He makes things understandable, and very clear.” Jimmy also said that even though there is a good chance Brother Taylor is in his ‘80s, he’s still spry and can deliver the Gospel message with strength. Bethel hopes you will join them for both events, and for more information, you can go to www.bethelcoc.org.

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Can You Believe It’s Been 5 Years?

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 Just five short years ago, the Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) opened its doors on April 26, 2011. The opening was attended by city, county, and state officials. Many from the community came to ask the ever present question – What is it you do here?

Last year, we offered nearly 400 programs with more than 7,000 people coming to the Center. We collaborated with community organizations like Spirit of Athens, Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce, and Storytelling Festival, to host events or provide speakers. We held classes for children of all ages – music lessons, summer camps, ACT Test Strategies, and Tutoring in Math and Reading. We offered classes for adults in everything from art (Blacksmithing and Photography) to personal interest (Ballroom Dance, Sewing, and Academic Travel programs). We also offered classes for business professionals, both online and in-class programs.

Brand, of Johnson, Feigley, Newton, and Brand.

The course is approved for 3.5 CPEs in Accounting and Auditing. The fee is $75/ person.

mercial Dr, Athens, Alabama. The class is taught

by Travis Fleming and Al Stephens, both wellknown blacksmiths. It is recommended that you take Basic Blacksmith prior to taking this class.

The fee is $99/person.

Class size is limited to eight.

Saving Money on Groceries & More will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This class is

taught by Kristan Stanton. Classes will be held at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

If you are looking for professional or career courses, look no further.

For the accountants in our area, we are offering Implementing SSARS 21 for Accountants.

Class will be held at the Center on Thursday, April 21, 2016, 8:00 a.m.

– 12 Noon. The instructor for the course is Mike

May 16-19, 2016, we will offer ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Training. Classes will be held 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. This course satisfies both the competency based and qualification based Exemplar Global auditor certification training requirements. The fee is $1995/person.

Classes will meet at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership will be offered on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 9:00 a.m - 12 Noon. Class held at the Dynetics Solutions

Complex Main Conference Center, Huntsville, Alabama. This workshop is $65/person.

For the adventurous among you, we have a program called Academic Traveler. This month we are offering a trip to Montgomery, Alabama for The Comedy of Errors on April 30, 2016, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival – Octagon Theater.

The fee is $99/person.

The deadline to register is April 8.

Check the website – www.athens.edu/CLL - for upcoming trips to Gettysburg and Israel.

Or call me at 256-2338260 for all your questions.

And don’t forget our birthday on Monday, April 25 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon; we will be serving birthday cake.

It is very easy to register for our classes or events. Just go online at www.athens.edu/CLL or call us at 256-2338260.

This month, our leisure classes will include Intermediate Blacksmithing, on Saturday, April 16, 2016, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Classes will be held at 208 Com-

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April 1 - April 14, 2016

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Athens Councilman Jimmy Gill Dies After Second Battle With Cancer

by Holly Hollman Jimmy Gill was the type of man who grew vegetables and shared them with friends, told funny stories about his dog Roscoe, and would dress as a pirate for a good cause.

ers.

• Served on TARCOG (Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments) • Served on the LincolnBridgeforth Park Committee, which provides community events such as the LBF Park Christmas Tree Lighting and Toy/Bicycle Give-Away at Christmas and the Martin Luther king Jr. Holiday Celebration.

He was also the kind of man for whom community service meant serving his city in various roles from city council to interim mayor to volunteer.

Today, March 27, 2016, on Easter Sunday, Gill died from his second battle with cancer.

• Served on the Solid Waste Authority

Gill, who turned 68 on March 21, was first elected to the City County in 1992, and was one of the longest serving city council members in the state.

“Today we lost a good servant for the City of Athens and a good friend,” Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “Jimmy is going to be missed by all of us, but he would challenge us to keep moving forward and to find a good person to fill his role to keep the work going.”

During his tenure on the Athens City Council, there were two projects special to Gill that he was determined to see to fruition: the renovation and preservation of Fort Henderson/Trinity School and a park for citizens living south of U.S. 72.

Union soldiers, including runaway slaves, built Fort Henderson during the Civil War, and Trinity School operated for black students after the war until integration in 1970. Gill was a 1966 graduate of Trinity School. The Pincham-Lincoln Community Center now is in operation at the Trinity site with plans to turn the school’s band room into a museum chronicling the story of slave to soldier to student.

There was no park in the city south of U.S. 72 until 2008,

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• Served on one of the committees for Alabama League of Municipalities when the Jimmy Gill Park opened to serve citizens in that area.

“When I was a reporter for The Decatur Daily, Jimmy wanted me to see the story, not just hear about an issue at a council meeting,” said Holly Hollman, who is now the grant coordinator/communications specialist for the City of Athens. “He took me to walk the crumbled halls of Trinity School when dead leaves and discarded school books littered the floors. He took me to speak to residents with limited transportation who wanted a recreational facility near them for their children. His service to Athens and its citizens was a priority in his life.”

• Participated in the City of Athens Relay for Life Team's Celebrity Waiter’s Night fundraiser (He raised the most in tips the past three years.) This is one of his favorite fundrais-

• Participated in Poke Sallet Follies to benefit the Limestone County Foundation for Aging. He participated every year except the first year in 1992 and this year because of his health. He had roles as a

pirate, baby, triplet and many other crazy characters.

• Involved in organizing the Trinity Class of 1966's Bi-Annual Trinity Grand Reunion.

• Served on the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame Board • Served on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Board

Gill is survived by his wife Deborah Gill and four children. He worked at GM/Delphi where he retired after 29 years and earned the nickname “Huggy Bear.” He was active in his congregation at Oak Grove CME Church.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.*

*Funeral arrangements can be found in Publisher’s Point on page 3.

Gill served various times as president of the Athens City Council, and in that role served as interim mayor in 2006 when the late Dan Williams was out for surgery. He was also involved in the following: • Served on both the City of Athens Relay for Life Team and his church's Relay Team at Oak Grove-CME Church

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Page 19

Dog Barker

Who Do We Blame?

by Joel Allen No one. What am I talking about? I am talking to those of us that have that stubborn dog that wants to give us the obedience commands and eat the treats as we obey them.

All the time, I train “people” and their dogs, and I would venture to guess 85 percent have passed their final test. Did the other 15 percent fail?

Not in my eyes. What many would consider a failure, I consider a moment for retraining. For those who have taken the basic obedience with me and did not pass, I have always kept the door open for them to return.

It is a win-win situation if everyone thinks about it. The dog gets addition-

al socialization, and also gets to perfect their training.

Many dogs take to the basic obedience without a problem. They are the ones that their family began to teach manners from the moment they were brought home.

Usually this is the quiet puppy that seems to just sit there at first, and when they feel safe and secure they open up and shows us who they really are.

Puppies adapt quicker than adult dogs, and they usually take a few days.

Adult dogs take a week to two weeks. Most of the best family dogs are the ones who choose their family. They are the ones that come to their

future families out of the litter, or they choose their families through kennel doors and windows, or they just show up on your doorstep.

The few dogs that do not take to the basic obedience training are usually from a stubborn breed.

One commonly stubborn breed of dog is the Shitzu. Picture a cat’s soul trapped in a small dog’s body. That is a Shitzu.

There are additional breeds, but the Shitzu is the most common I run into. This dog requires a lot of patience. In rare cases, they take to training, but in most they tend to give the trainer the look of, “Yeah, right!

You want me to do what?

No way! You do it and I will eat the treats!”

For those of us who have this issue, don’t give up.

Come back and see me.

We will see the training through.

What are some types of failures that allow dogs to get away with rebellion? Timing is everything. What do I mean by this? When a command is taught we use praise, love, treats, or the reward the dog desires, which could be a toy. It is when we reward the dog that makes or breaks the command. If the dog is rewarded, but breaks the command before they are rewarded and received

the treat, they have learned to break at that point. An example would be the sit command. The dog is given the sit command, and just when they are about to take the treat, the dog stands up.

There are many causes for this. The trainer could be holding the treat too far away, the hand is not closed around the treat, or the trainer could be pulling the treat away as the dog begins to break command.

Then there are some people who sign up for dog training and only complete the commands during the training classes, which are scheduled for once a week. I plainly explain to everyone who trains with me that during the week they should be working on the commands. Each week, we add two more commands, and then when the fourth week arrives we test on all the commands.

The success of your training depends on you.

I would like to express to everyone who has trained with me, they can return to retrain their dog at anytime. I would love to have you.

“Remember to love your dogs because they love you. Maybe not the way you want them to, like chewing up your favorite shoes or what not, but that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the time you have with them always.”

Joel and Zues Allen 256-651-2211

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April 1 - April 14, 2016

Jerry’s Journal

This Old House

by Jerry Barksdale

I stopped in front of the old mill village house, now vacant, and studied it for several minutes.

Its appearance hadn’t changed in the last 65 years. The front porch where I sat in a swing as a child was still there, along with the same tin roof that made music when it rained. It was a sad looking house. I could almost hear the clang of hammer on anvil at Mr. Thompson’s blacksmith shop at the corner of Jefferson Street. Memories flooded my mind. My dreams for the future, and much of who I am today were shaped inside those small rooms.

Around 1900, Athens Cotton Mill Co. constructed a spinning mill between North Jefferson Street and the railroad tracks to the east. They also built a brick water tower, a company store and dozens of cottages to house their employees. The mill closed in 1908, the brick buildings fell in disrepair, and the cottages were sold. The brick water tower continued standing over the ruins like the Tower of Pisa until it was demolished in 1969 by “Dynamite Atkins.” His first attempt failed, but the blast did blow out every window within a ½ a mile radius. Folks needing new windows for years got them and were happy about that.

In 1951, my grandparents, Robert and Edna Holt, left a hardscrab-

April 1 - April 14, 2016

ble tenant farm and purchased the mill cottage that faced a dirt street. It was a great leap forward for them. Raising 3 teenage boys was a drain on their meager income.

Grandmother did seamstress work in the home, and Grandfather Holt worked as a guard at Redstone Arsenal and racked balls at Booth’s Pool Hall on Saturdays.

resentative always had a deal on family portraits.

A Brown Service Insurance agent came weekly, collected a quarter from Grandmother and marked the debit card that hung by the door. Poor folks paid their burial insurance even if they had to go hungry. “They want to be sure they get a decent Christian burial,” Mama said.

When I was a child I loved visiting my grandparents at the old house with floral wallpaper and a Gilbert Drug Store calendar hanging on a nail. It always smelled of Great Northern beans and turnip greens. Grandmother rolled out biscuit dough with a whiskey bottle, and meals were served in green dishes given away

by Spur when gasoline was purchased.

Grandfather, who called me “Hambone,” slept with a .38 pistol under his pillow and poured his Standard coffee into a saucer, swirled it a few times to cool, then sucked it out with a loud slurp. He patrolled the house chain smoking Chesterfields, jerking light strings and switching off the TV whenever President Eisenhower appeared. “I won’t allow that Yankee SOB to speak in front of Grandpa who fought ‘em,” he said referring to the picture over the mantle.

Bronzed baby shoes sat on the living room table next to photographs of the three boys. Hanging over the mantle was an oval framed picture of Great Grandfather Holt wearing his Confederate uniform.

During the winter, a scuttle of coal sat by the grate fireplace that belched out a pall of black smoke.

A brown envelope-size holder containing a burial insurance debit card hung on a nail just inside the front door. It was a busy household.

Salesmen were constantly knocking on the door. The Watkins man sold fly spray, shoe polish, vanilla extract and liniment. The Standard Coffee salesman delivered his product in a brown paper bag, and the Olan-Mills rep-

The Korean War was ongoing, and neighborhood boys chose sides and we played war in the brick rubble of the cotton mill.

Everyone wanted to be a G.I. Early afternoons, Grandmother ironed clothes, and demanded silence, while listening to her favorite radio soap opera, “Young Doctor Malone,” accompanied by organ music.

A couple of times after Mama left Daddy, we had no place to go and lived in the front bedroom and slept in the same bed. Late one cold January night in 1951, I was awakened by Mrs.

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Hattie Phillips, standing on the front porch calling out, “Robert------Edna.”

I heard Grandmother get up and shuffle to the front door. Mrs. Phillips had just received a telegram from the War Department informing her that her only son, Billy Morgan Phillips was missing in action. Later, we learned he froze and starved to death in a Chinese POW Camp.

Following my marriage in 1961 to Carol O’Conner, and after my grandparents had died, the family offered to let us live in the house rent free. I was a full time student at Athens College and working 70 hours a week at McConnell Funeral Home, and barely getting by on $30 a week. We graciously accepted. After working all night, I sped home at 7 am., and while wolfing down toast and eggs, thumbed through a dog-eared Alabama Law School catalog, before rushing to 8 a.m. class.

I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, and not a paper shuffling lawyer, but a criminal defense lawyer like Clarence Darrow and representing the underdogs – the poor, penniless, and defenseless people. For the Defense, a book about Darrow’s life, was my bedside companion.

There were other fond memories. Carol found an orphan baby rabbit, which she placed in a cardboard box and vowed to raise it. Her vow ended about 2 a.m. when the squealing of the rabbit nearly drove us crazy. We got

out of bed and drove the little critter to the country and dumped it. Then she worried for days about its welfare.

On a hot August morning in 1963, Carol and I loaded our few possessions into a U-Haul trailer hooked behind an ancient 8 cylinder Buick that I had purchased for $350, and drove away from the old house. We were excited. I had been accepted to the University of Alabama. Later, the fenders on the Buick rusted and fell off and the transmission died. But my dream finally came true in 1967 when I was admitted to the Bar. In November, 1968, we moved back to Athens, and I hung out my shingle in what was once Booth’s Pool Hall, where Grandfather had racked balls.

My passion for representing underdogs was soon replaced by reality. They had no money to feed themselves, much less my new baby and pregnant wife. Afterwards, I began representing all of the “Big Dogs” I could and my life improved.

As I sat in my truck looking at the old mill house and ruminating about the past, a woman walked nearby and looked at me suspiciously. I had the urge to tell her I had returned to the old house where I first learned to dream. If a young man can’t dream, he has no future. Instead, I drove away.

It makes no difference where we come from.

What counts is where we go.

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Medical Update

Intermittent Fasting

by Rachel Clark, RN, BSN

Being from down South, many of us grew up in churches. We have read the various portions of the Scriptures which tell us to fast, and about people who fasted. Some of the most familiar stories include such times as when Daniel ate no meat or sweets for 3 weeks (Daniel 10), when Moses was with the Lord on Mt. Saini and ate no food or drank no water for 40 days and nights, and when Christ was in the wilderness for 40 days and had fasted prior to his temptation

by Satan. But many of us wonder, is fasting healthy, and should we still do it today?

One of the things I’m finding that I love the most about science is that it is beginning to catch up with Biblical truth, in more areas than one. Medical sci-

ence is no exception, given recent studies on brain science. While doing research for this article, I found an interesting study published by Cell Metabolism, a peer-reviewed journal about molecular biology.

In their findings, authors Longo and Mattson found that fasting helps “reduce obesity, hypertension [high blood pressure], asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.”

They also found that it has the potential to delay aging, and help treat and prevent diseases.

What Is Fasting Fasting is defined as a period of time in which one consumes no food or drink, with the exception of water. There are several variations on fasting which do allow for food, so long as it is less than 200 calories per day. Typical fasts range in time anywhere from 12

hours to 3 weeks. Some fasts, though not common, are done for longer. If you are new to fasting, start slowly, and work your way up to the desired goal.

Intermittent Fasting Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that cycles between a fasting state and periods of eating, typically giving a narrow window of time (usually 6 to 8 hours) in which you should eat, saying nothing about which foods in particular you should consume, versus which foods you should avoid. However, it should be noted that a healthy diet is one that is high in fruits, vegetables, berries, legumes, and lean protein sources.

In order to maximize your results from intermittent fasting, changing dietary patterns would be helpful.

Some popular recommen-

dations include the 16/8 pattern (16 hours of the day that you don’t eat and a shorter window of time, such as 10am to 6pm, for consuming foods), the 5:2 diet in which you choose 2 non-consecutive days of the week to consume a restricted 500-600 calories per day, and eat normally the other 5 days. Additionally, there is the Eat-StopEat pattern in which you eat dinner one day and consume no food until dinner the next day.

Many laboratory tests require that you fast beforehand. It is understood that fasting can help your body to do a “reset,” which gives accurate numbers on test such as cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C, and blood glucose. Hormone levels are also affected by fasting, which can alter your metabolism and patterns of

gene expression.

Benefits Some possible benefits of intermittent fasting include but are not limited to: •Fat loss •Muscle gain •Cellular repair •Changes in genetic expression •Reduced insulin resistance and lower blood glucose •Decreased inflammation •Reduced cholesterol and triglycerides •Prevention of cancer •Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease •Rebuilding of nerve cells •Longer lifespan Though more studies are needed to look at these effects, early research in these areas is promising when combined with a healthy diet and exercise program. The important thing to remember is that it starts with one simple change, and this is one of the simplest changes you can make for your health.

For more information and ideas about making changes to your lifestyle, you can visit my website http:// rachelclark.juiceplus.com/ content/JuicePlus/en/onesimple-change/one-simple-change.html.

As always, check with your healthcare provider for recommendations before beginning any lifestyle changes.

Any information provided above is the personal opinion of the writer, and is not intended to diagnose or treat any health issues you may have.

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April 1 - April 14, 2016

Foreman’s Forum

Don’t Let Your Gun Go Naked! - Part 1

by Paul Foreman

Do you have a NAKED gun? Please don’t let you gun go naked. You wouldn’t let your child go naked. You wouldn’t go out in public, naked, would you?

Seriously, now that I have your attention, let’s talk about how you carry your gun. Some people spend a lot of hard earned cash on leather or nylon holsters that do not work. Now think about this: when you first pick up your gun, you should be “indexing” your trigger finger. This means that you should be keeping your trigger finger OFF the trigger until you are on target. Your trigger finger should be above the trigger guard area, “indexed” or pointed straight forward alongside the frame. Your trigger finger should NOT be

in or on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

A well designed holster actually aids in this very important part of picking up or drawing your gun.

Several years ago, I read about an investigation into why so many people were having their gun go off “accidently.” The investigation found the shooters where keeping their finger on the trigger as the gun was re-holstered. As they shoved the gun into their holster, their trigger finger would catch on the edge of the holster, bushing the trigger finger up against the trigger! BANG! There was one particular brand of gun that seemed to have the most negligent discharges. It wasn’t the gun! It proved to be a fact that 70% of the shooters were using guns from this one manufacturer. No

wonder 70% of the negligent discharges were from that model gun! These negligent shooters experienced the pain of shooting themselves in the leg as they re-holstered their gun.

Keep your finger OFF the “BANG SWITCH!” A well made holster will allow you to let the gun enter the holster with little effort. As you are drawing or picking up your gun, the holster should keep your finger off the trigger. This works properly, both for drawing from a belt holster or acquiring the gun from a drawer or safe. The sides of a properly designed holster will cover the trigger area, keeping your finger away from the trigger.

The same applies with reholstering your gun. The top of the holster must re-

main gapping open after you draw so when you go to put the gun back into the holster, it is open and your finger automatically stays outside, away from the trigger.

A gun lying in the bottom of a woman’s purse is a serious accident waiting to happen. Mixing up a loaded gun with keys, lipstick, makeup kit, tissue paper, and who know what else, is NOT the safest way to carry a gun. There are some excellent holsters made of soft nylon with an outside that grips and stays in your purse as you draw the gun. With these “sticky holsters” you must remove the holster from the purse before putting the gun back in the holster. There are also some really finely made handbags for the ladies that are designed specifi-

cally to carry a gun.

This goes for you too, guys! “A 32 caliber gun in your pocket for fun” can result in a “not so fun” experience. What else ends up in your pocket beside “pocket lint?”

Again, things like keys, coins, pack of chewing gum or pocket knives, can result in a bad experience when they get tangled up with your gun’s trigger.

There are some excellent leather holsters out there. Most shooters end up buying at least three or four holsters before they settle on one that works for them. In the last 10 years or so, a new material has become very popular and my favorite. It is called “Kydex” which is made in Israel. Some compare Kydex to the popular kitchen storage bowls, but a lot harder and stiffer. Kydex comes in a variety of colors including pink for the ladies, and of course black.

Kydex holsters are molded to fit the exact gun that it is designed for. The newer ones have an adjustment screw to set the “retention” of the gun in the holster. My advice is to stay away from the soft nylon holsters except the “sticky” ones I mentioned above.

Don’t let your guns go naked!

Paul Foreman Retired Deputy Sheriff, Lee County Florida NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.

Paul can be reached through e-Mail at Captureman@ PaulForeman.com or his website www.PaulForeman.com

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