January 17th - February 6th, 2020
AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425
See Our Listings Inside this edition... Pages 25 - 32
Special Feature A+ Water And Fire Restoration: Where Fire And Water Damage Is More Than Mitigated... This winter has been unusually wild with storms and wetness everywhere, and the... Page 5
Special Feature Students Ignite A "Spark" Of Kindness... SPARK Academy at Cowart Elementary first graders who visited City Hall a few months ago asked how they can... Page 7
Alliance HR: New Jobs In The New Year By Ali Elizabeth Turner
From The Vets' Museum Congratulations To Our Volunteer Of The Year, Ms. Julia Smith!... Each year the Board of Directors chooses a volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to... Page 10
January 17 - February 06, 2020
It is the first few weeks of a new year as well as a decade. We are solidly into the millennium, and the fact that North Alabama is gearing up for unprecedented growth is a topic of conversation everywhere. Everything is exploding: traffic delays, housing starts, businesses are opening, real estate deals are closing, school populations are increasing, infrastructure needs abound‌and jobs are necessary to manage it all. ThankContinued on pages 16-17
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Sharon Hatfield, North Alabama Regional Director of Alliance HR, and her husband of 34 years, Mark
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January 17 - February 06, 2020
Publisher’s Point
Being A Being Worth Dying For
Publisher / Editor Ali Turner
Copy Editor
Yvonne Dempsey
Graphic Design
Jonathan Hamilton
Web Design Teddy Wolcott
Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Sandra Thompson Anna Hamilton Deb Kitchenmaster Rosemary Dewar Tim Lambert Jackie Warner Roy Williams Wanda Campbell Holly Hollman
During WWII, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt published a poem that appears to have been untitled, but is generally referred to as “Eleanor Roosevelt’s Wartime Poem.” She kept it in her wallet, and would take it out from time throughout the course of the war and read it. It goes like this: Dear Lord, Lest I continue My complacent way, Help me to remember that somewhere, Somehow out there A man died for me today. As long as there be war, I then must Ask and answer
Am I worth dying for? I had never known about this poem, and the way it came to me was quite by accident. I had been at a BNI meeting this past Tuesday morning, which is held every week at the Vets’ Museum. I was back in the office near the copy machine and happened to glance up, only to discover it up on the wall close to the staff door. It had been hanging there for years, I had walked by it many times, and then, boom! There it was. I took a moment to look it over, and was stopped in my tracks. Tears came to my eyes when I reached the part that said, “Am I worth dying for?” As a believer who gave my life to Christ 50 years
ago this year, I have wrestled many times with that question from a spiritual perspective, and am no stranger to the battle to align my sense of worth and identity to what the book of Ephesians says about me: that I am forgiven, quickened, called, sealed, chosen, redeemed, adopted, gathered, accepted in the beloved, His workmanship; in a word, saved. One day I will be saved to the uttermost, and there will be no experiential gap between how I want to act and how I do act. But oddly, Calvary isn’t what brought tears to my eyes. Even though a sinless Man, the Son of God died the most hideous death in history
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets' Museum . . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . . 11
for me, and did so for reasons that are above my pay grade, somehow that isn’t what was getting to me. It was being reminded that it was a soldier, many soldiers, no doubt, that have died for me from the beginning of our country until now. And it is because of the belief that the American Experiment was worth defending at any cost, and that life, even my life, is worth dying for that I can be deeply touched by the words of a woman with whom I would have disagreed largely had I been alive during WWII.
The whole experience caused me to “ask and answer” what I and you could do to be worth dying for, and I came up with one word: “Accountable.” If we can develop the habit of owning all of our actions, the good, the bad, and the ugly, we will become the people that are worthy of our soldiers shedding their blood for our natural freedom. They won’t have to do it based on internalized principle, they will know that we are worthy. Let’s be.
Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Millennial Mind . . . . . . . 14 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 15 Cover Story . . . . . . . 16 - 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . . 18
The poem as it appears as part of the Pearl Harbor Memorial
View From The Bridge . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . . 22
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com
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All Things Soldier
Spoofs Inspired By The Space Force by Ali Elizabeth Turner
It became official as of December 20, 2019: We now are now in the process of forming the 6th branch of the United States military, and it is the Space Force. Not since the Air Force became a separate branch in 1947 has there been so much hard work needed to make a transition, and it is expected that it will take about 18 months to get things in place, as opposed to the three years that were needed to “stand up” (or put together) the Air Force back in the day. They have their first general, a 4-star from the Air Force, whose name is Jay Raymond, and he has his work cut out for him. He will also serve as the Space Force representative at meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There are obvious challenges, and Raymond wants everything to be right. They need to write a hymn, eventually make unique Space Force uniforms, possibly rebrand and refit Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, as well as Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado to becoming Space Force Bases. In addition, they will need to configure a promotion schedule, and
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get through the logistics of transitioning 16,000 Air Force members into becoming Space Force members. But here is the wicket that is especially sticky: What in the world are they going to call them? When the Air Force was formed, the entry level rank was Airman. However, currently most folks are chafing at the idea of calling them Spacemen. Because we have been obsessed with “Space, the final frontier” for decades, and its parlance
is part of our contemporary American language base, this process could become hilarious. It is hard to tell who is serious and who is spoofing, but coming down on the side of spoofing is probably safer. So far, there are a number of contenders. One is “Jedi” from the Star Wars franchise. Would that mean that they would also have to be a Knight, so the initials for their ranks would JKFC Smith or Jones, and then it would become Jedi Kentucky
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Fried Chicken? Because Marvel Comics has made a huge impact as well, amazingly, because of the film Guardians of the Galaxy, allegedly professionals in the space industry are truly thinking that “Guardians” would be a good moniker. Another one is “Sentinel.” Star or Space Troopers are favorites, shortened to just “Troopers,” not to be confused with “Troops.” Some want “Space Cowboys,” (except in order to be politically correct they
would have to be referred to as “Cowpersons,) and others want “Frizzles.” Frizzles would be a nod to the 4th grade teacher in a children’s book who planned on taking a magic school bus into space, and the die-hard Trekkies want “Vulcan.” Detractors have proposed the use of “Space Balls” for the whole thing. This should be fun to watch, and I am sure there will be an uproar, no matter what is selected. All kidding aside, I am glad the president pushed for the formation of the Space Force because as much as we don’t want to think about it, the idea of having forces from enemy countries attack satellites and shut us down in a moment is not science fiction, and we need to be prepared for it.
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Special Feature
A+ Water And Fire Restoration: Where Fire And Water Damage Is More Than Mitigated by Ali Elizabeth Turner This winter has been unusually wild with storms and wetness everywhere, and the A+ Water and Fire Restoration crew has been busy with what they do best: mitigation, remediation and reconstruction. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of mitigation is “the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harsh or damaging.” For people of integrity in the restoration and preservation industry, and more precisely for A+ Water and Fire, “less” is not an option. They are committed to eliminating the damage completely and restoring your home or business to the way it was before. Christy Vest is a field service manager for A+ who truly loves a challenge. Admittedly, there are few things more daunting than getting property back to where it can function properly and clients can then put the rest of their lives back together. The feeling of being overwhelmed when dealing with an “aftermath” can be huge, and clients need someone who will “hold their hand” through the entire process, including dealing with insurance companies. Christy and the other field service managers are highly trained for that purpose, and get enormous satisfaction out of serving their clients well from first contact to project’s end. Christy moved here when she was twelve and has been around for a lot of storms. She
got her degree in marketing from UAH in 2004, and she spent several years as an automotive service manager. That is where she learned customer service, and loved it; but there was no long-term career path for her. Lowe’s hired her to be a project manager, and A+ Restoration was one of Lowe’s preferred contractors for their repair, restore, and remodel service. Then Lowe’s elimi-
nated that entire department in January of 2019. Christy had worked with A+ for years, and they were glad to welcome her aboard their team a year ago. A great deal of the reason she hired on with them was she had seen firsthand their quality of work and their commitment to customer service. A+ has been in business for more than ten years, and has had an A+ rating with the BBB since 2014. It was started by Jerry Lewin and Joe Quinn, two men with extensive restoration and preservation industry experience who were looking to expand into the area
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Christy Vest, Field Service Manager
to broaden the industry’s impact. Living in Tornado Alley keeps them on their toes! Their staff members are all licensed, bonded, insured, and more importantly, they are local. They offer 24/7 service at no extra charge. Their field service team is dedicated to helping their literal neighbors, and their company is the preferred vendor for all the insurance companies with which they work. Their work is guaranteed for five years, their equipment is state of the art, and restoring your home or business to a pre-loss condition is their passion. They are listed as service providers with the IICRC, which stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Storm mitigation is not all that A+ handles. They do fire restoration (which is some of the toughest), and some mold mitigation. With respect to insurance industry requirements, each project goes through the
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protocol set by the IICRC. They are the ones who set the amounts allocated to each aspect of a project. If so desired, clients can choose to upgrade beyond their insurance limits and pay A+ the difference. If there is any question, Christy is qualified to work with the insurance company so that everyone gets what is rightfully theirs. I asked Christy why I should choose A+ Restoration for my mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction needs should they ever arise. She told me that the fact that they are local speeds up the process from start to finish. They have a high employee retention rate, and their team is continually getting new education and further training. They have the best resources, and Christy is dedicated to keep each project on time and on budget, while building relationships with clients and other sub-contractors, vendors and service providers. She calls herself the “start-to-finishhand holder.” Another way of describing the A+ Restoration
approach is to look at the restoration need through the eyes of the customer first. In other words, asking the question, “If this had just happened to my house, what would I want to have happen, and how would I want to be treated?” Because that perspective is part of what drives them, A+ Restoration is your clear choice for all your home or office preservation needs. Give them a call today for a no-obligation appointment, and you’ll soon be on your way to home or office wholeness.
A+ Water and Fire Restoration
14647 Cambridge Ln. Athens, AL 35613 Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 256-232-2206 24/7 Emergency Phone Number: 855-855-PLUS (7587) www.aplususa.net
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Calendar of Events Houston Memorial Library and Museum WINTER HOURS
Blue Springs Swamp Johns January 28
101 North Houston Street in Athens. Tue - Thurs 10am-4pm • Fri 10am-1pm • First Saturdays - 10am-1pm. Antiques mingle with new book releases to create an inviting atmosphere for both book lovers and historians alike. We have all genres for all ages! The Governor's home displays local history while maintaining a fully functioning lending library. We invite you to stop by for a visit. 256-233-8770.
Blue Spring Elementary School. 16787 Hardy Road in Athens. 4:00PM-7:00PM. Please see Blue Spring Staff for tickets for plates. Plate purchasers will entered for a chance to win $50.00 when they pick up their plate.
The American Legion Post 49 Annual Oratorical Contest on the Constitution. January 18
With the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce at the Sandridge Student Center Ballroom of Athens State University. 300 North Beaty Street in Athens. Starting at 12:00PM. Tickets: Member-$25.00; Non-Member:$30.00 Call: 256-232-2600.
For Limestone County High School students, Grades 9 thru 12. 10:00 am. This is an opportunity to compete for scholarship monies and enhance your knowledge of the consititution. No cost to compete For more details email or call: Dean Crafton, Chairman Post 49 Oratorical contest, 256 497 9638, athensgoldbug@gmail.com
Chicken Stew and More Benefit January 18
Benefit for the Hatchett Family at Machine's Machine Shop. 24660 Pleasant Hill Road in Ardmore, TN. 12:00PM with Chicken Stew; 1:00PM with 50/50 Chicken Drop at $5.00 per chance (half to winner/half to family); 3:30PM Auction featuring donated items, homemade cakes and pies), shotgun raffle. Money benefits Chance and Lisa Hatchett to help cover medical expenses. For more information or to arrange donation: Stacy Carter 256-321-5165.
State of the City Address January 30
Women's Retreat January 31 - February 2
Joe Wheeler State Park. 4401 McLean Drive in Rogersville, AL. Activities starting at 7:00PM on January 31st and filling your days and nights until 10:00AM on February 2nd. Packages: $185.00 for individuals; $280.00 for Double Occupancy. Packages include: Standard Room for two nights; PJ Movie Party and Snacks Friday Night; Light Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning; All Classes offered - Guided Hike, Biscuits and Gravy with Christy Jordan, Craft Painting, Pontoon Cruises, Self Defense, Dance, Making Bath Bombs and Yoga; Small buffet-style lunch on Saturday; Dinner with Keynote Speaker on Saturday Evening. Reservations for these packages must be made by calling 256-247-5461 (not available online).
Harry Potter Party: Triwizard Tournament February 6
Geez Louise - Dangerous Dames & Their Killer Songs January 23
TVOTFC Concert Series in McCandless Hall at Athens State University. 300 North Beaty Street in Athens. 7:00PM-8:00PM featuring Louisa Brancomb with Jeanette Williams, Pam Gadd, and Wanda Vick. Hosted by the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Concert Series and the Livingston Concert/ Lecture Series. Tickets $15.00 (plus tax and fees) at Eventbrite.
With Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens. 6:00PM-8:00PM in conjunction with Harry Potter Book Night. Wizards, witches and muggles are welcome to compete in the enchanting games, making magical crafts and memories. Limit: 75 tickets Available at Eventbrite for $5.00 (plus tax and fees)
Chicken Stew Fundraiser January 25
City of Athens Relay for Life Team at Athens City Hall Back Parking Lot. 200 Hobbs Street West in Athens. Pickup from 11:00AM-1:00PM. Chicken stew prepared by Charles and Kathy Cothren. Pre-orders open for $10.00 per quart or $25.00 per gallon. Proceeds benefit Relay for Life. Pre-order by calling Kim 256-233-8730 or email Holly at HHollman@athensal.us. Check can be made out to City of Athens Relay. Page 6
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IT'S TIME AGAIN!!! VVA Spaghetti Day 3rd Monday Of Each Month January 20
Vietnam Veterans' Museum. 17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. Supports college scholarships for local high school students. Eat in or take out. Cost is $8 a person, $4 for children under 12. Call ahead for large groups or take-outs. 256-431-3213. January 17 - February 06, 2020
Special Feature
Students Ignite A "Spark" Of Kindness by Holly Hollman - City of Athens Communications Specialist
SPARK Academy at Cowart Elementary first graders who visited City Hall a few months ago asked how they can make a difference in their community. City of Athens Relay for Life Team Captain Holly Hollman told them the team collects cola tabs and along with Elkmont Church of Christ, sends them to Ronald McDonald House of Memphis. RMHM provides support for children and families who have a child undergoing treatment at St. Jude. The first graders listened and acted! They collected 39 pounds of cola tabs by
making marketing posters for their school. Their teachers also had them learn math. The students put the tabs in gallon bags and weighed them to count how many they collected.
A picture of the 39 pounds of cola tabs the students collected
The students presented the City of Athens Relay Team with their collection on Jan. 13, and they promised to keep up the good work. They know first hand the impact because one of the school's students currently goes to
St. Jude for treatment and the family stays at Ronald McDonald House. City of Athens Relay for Life Team Captain Holly Hollman receives help packing the cola tabs from students
Mayor Marks with some of the first graders at Spark Academy who helped collect 39 pounds of cola tabs
January 17 - February 06, 2020
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What Makes Ronnie Roll
The Amazing City, Part 2 by Ali Elizabeth Turner
It was a rare Monday morning indeed, as neither one of us was in “zoom” mode. It gave us time to really savor the wisdom in the book that is the title of this series, The Amazing City. Mayor Ronnie started off our time together with confidently stating, “Athens is an amazing city.” “Amen,” I replied, and added, “That’s why we live here.” We reflected on the upcoming January 20th Martin Luther King Day celebration, the march which ends up at the Limestone County Event Center and the annual service at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. One of the best parts is the fact that while for several years there have been essays presented by local students, in recent years an art contest has been folded in to the celebration, and the winners will be announced soon. This was a perfect segue for one of the statements from the book, found on page 93, where author James Hunt states: “I am a believer in public art as a component to building an Amazing City. Public art gives a city a fun and lively feel, and gives residents and visitors alike a place to gather.” Thankfully, we have many residents who agree and who have worked hard to get the arts into our lives more often.
take your city from great to Amazing!” At the risk of sounding too “fluffy,” i.e. making sweet sayings that don’t have much substance, that statement was qualified well by the mandate to work together to bring some depth as well as safety: “Amazing Cities are epicenters of positive connectivity. It’s a place where family, work, friends, faith and wellness all form a safety web of inclusiveness.” What is inclusiveness, outside of social engineering, which never works? It is the internalized and volitional com-
mitment to making a city where voices are heard and celebrations occur often, but more importantly, owning who we are, our values and our vision. On a city and county level, it is showing that “local government can be the context for creative approaches to these challenges, and that truly good local leadership can build communities where we can all be our best selves.”
cans and donating them to the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, so kids and their families can stay for free at a beautiful facility while the children are getting treatment for cancer. What prompted the project is that one of their classmates has cancer and is being treated at St. Jude Hospital, and they wanted to do something to make a difference.
Lastly, Mayor Ronnie wanted to remind everyone of the importance of participating in the census, and that there are jobs available for census takers. “A census year can be a real opportunity to build inclusiveness,” he said. Then it was finally time to go, so we did our thing and prayed for Athens and her mayor, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.
Mayor Ronnie then told me about a class at Spark Academy collecting 39 lbs of pop-tops from soda
Another quote is, “A positive attitude will
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January 17 - February 06, 2020
Slinkard On Success
Stop Drifting by D. A. Slinkard
One question that I hear oftentimes is how does a person get motivated? It is a great question, and the answer may be disappointing. Are you ready? How does a person get motivated? It depends. I told you the answer would be disappointing, but the reality is we are all motivated differently. Some people are motivated by money, others are motivated by praise, while others are motivated by other various things. Before you can figure out how to get motivated in your own life, you need to understand what motivates you. Personally, I am motivated both financially and by praise. It is the best of both worlds, I guess you could say. Do not get me wrong though, I am motivated by achieving success. I want to be successful at anything and everything I try. Does it always happen? Not at all, but I do set my hopes and goals on achieving this success. I know what it is that I want to achieve, and this helps me maintain my focus. The biggest area people fail at in their life is they do not know what it is they want to achieve with their life.
to take a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, from Athens, Alabama, we would map out our trip along the way. We know we would want to go to I-65 then to I-24 then to I-57 then to I-64. Of course, though, this is just one way of getting to St. Louis from here, but many options exist, and life is no different. Every one of us can get to the same ending point but by different routes. Have you ever just driven around, turning down one road and then turning onto another road, and you stumble on an area you did not know you could get to by the way you went? I cannot tell you how many times I have done this while driving, and I cannot tell you how many times I have done this in my personal life when it comes to just everyday living. It is like driving to work, yet you cannot remember anything about the way you got there. You were settled into your routine and your body went into cruise control. This is exactly what we need to try to prevent from happening. If we get into a mundane routine with our life, before we know it we will have wasted away our life. People die every
day at different ages -young, old, middle-aged -- the obituaries are filled with people of all ages. We never know when we will draw our last breath, but if you want to get the most out of your life, you need to start living your life with a purpose. Stop drifting about from day to day; get your game plan together for what you are going to do. Learn how to attack each day. I personally cycle through various ways to stay on top of my day-to-day by writing down exactly what I want to achieve. It is amazing to me on
the days I get away from the written-down lists, how easy it is for me to waste the day and not accomplish nearly as much as I would have liked to. Whether you use an app on your phone or use the good old-fashioned paper and pen, it makes no difference, except you just need to make sure you are being purposeful. I have found that the easiest way to stay motivated is to break down what I want to achieve into smaller steps. With this method, I can see quick successes, which is good for my thought process.
When you can achieve small successes, it is like the snowball effect. When building a snowball, you start out small but as you keep working it, the snowball grows bigger and bigger. The momentum of small victories is no different. The more victories you get, the larger your motivational snowball will be, and the greater your success will be. This sounds easy although challenging, but when you map out where you want to be, it allows you to bypass obstacles in order to achieve success.
I can tell you many times I have felt myself personally spiraling out of control because I was out of sync. I had not written down my goals in a while, did not know what I was aiming for in life, and I was not in control whatsoever. If we were
January 17 - February 06, 2020
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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum
Congratulations To Our Volunteer Of The Year, Ms. Julia Smith! by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum Each year the Board of Directors chooses a volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the museum; this year we honor Ms. Julia Smith. Here is Ms. Julia’s story told in her own words! From the first conversation regarding the establishment of a veteran’s museum in Athens until the initial opening of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, my Marine husband and I were extremely interested in this endeavor. His grandfather, William Marion Smith, served with the Tennessee Volunteers during the Civil War, where he suffered a gunshot wound in his leg, was captured and experienced life as a POW for three years at a federal prison in Ohio. Because of his difficulty walking, a piece of wood was inserted into his muzzle-loading Enfield musket rifle, and he used it as crutch while a POW and on his long journey back home after the war ended. My hus-
band, his grandson, obtained the rifle and frequently remarked how he would like to donate the rifle to a museum where it would be safely preserved for future generations to enjoy. Today that Enfield rifle is displayed appropriately within the walls of the museum with a picture of the Civil War veteran and a short military history of his life. My husband, John Selby Smith, was born and grew up on a farm in northwest Lauderdale County, Alabama. He lived a rather isolated life until the outbreak of WWII when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. I was born the only of child of my parents in the little railroad village of Dellrose, Tennessee, a few months following the beginning of the Great Depression. My father was employed by the L & N Railroad Co., and my family moved around to various locations in north Alabama and southern Tennessee during the next few years. However, we always considered Athens
Ms. Julia Smith receiving her award from Museum President, Jerry Crabtree our home. Even though both my husband and I had relatives who served in the Civil War, WWI and WWII, my major connection to the military was meeting and eventually marrying my WWII Marine husband. Some of my most memorable experiences associated with the military include accompanying my husband to the reunions of his fellow Marines, especially those in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they were hospitalized upon their return to the states after the
war ended. He never wanted to talk to me or other friends and relatives about his combat experiences, but when these veterans got together around a table at the Leatherneck Club during a reunion, it was a joyous occasion. I learned a lot just by listening to their stories about their combat experiences in the South Pacific Theater of War. After almost 60 years of marriage, my husband’s death was difficult for me. I began contemplating what kind of volunteer work I might choose
to help me recover from the loss I had experienced. It was not long before I decided that the Veterans Museum would be a good choice because both of us were so proud that the museum had been established. I am beginning my tenth year as a volunteer at the Museum, and I cannot conclude these remarks without mentioning our wonderful library, which is one of the best military libraries in the state of Alabama. We are all looking forward to getting moved into a larger building, the former Limestone County Event Center, where our library will be on the ground level with easy access and where all of our books and other collections will be available for our visitors to enjoy. The story told in these comments of mine is the story of only one veteran. The artifacts displayed in the museum tell the stories of many veterans representing all the wars in the history of America. Visitors can walk among the actual uniforms, medals, photographs and weapons to hear numerous stories about the sacrifices of our local veterans.
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January 17 - February 06, 2020
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PlayAction Sports
Year-End Honors And Future Plans For Local Athletes by Tim Lambert
Tune in for the PlayAction Sports Update, three times each weekday on 1080 AM WKAC. Visit us online at www.pasnetwork.net! email: playactionsports@hotmail.com
Local players made AllState Football teams thanks to their performances back in the fall. James Clemens' Chris Hope and Chase Starling were on the Class 7A first team, Dylan Blackburn, Zach Taylor and Tyrone Wilson were named to the second team, and Keontae Strother was honorable mention. Athens' Rush Boyett was 6A honorable mention. West Limestone's River Helms was named to the 4A second team. Clements' Jairrice Pryor earned 3A first team honors while teammate Miles Fleming was tapped for honorable mention. Tanner's Jeremiah Jones appeared on the 2A first team. Former Athens High wide receiver Quez Watkins announced his decision to declare for the NFL Draft. Watkins is a junior at Southern Miss where he led Conference USA with his 102.9 receiving yards per game. Basketball highlights over the last month: Athens Bible: the ABS boys won their first homecoming game in their new gym over Shoals Christian along with a comeback victory over Oakwood Academy. Athens High: the Golden Eagles posted wins over St. John Paul II, Huntsville, West Limestone, and Cullman; Athens' girls turned back Rogers, Central-Florence, Buckhorn and Cullman. Clements: the Colts de-
feated Cornersville and Westminster; the girls held off Elkmont, Carbon Hill, Tanner and Westminster. East Limestone: the Indians claimed victories over CentralTuscaloosa, Elkmont, Madison County, and Madison Academy; the East girls beat Muscle Shoals, Deshler Phillips, Wilson, Elkmont, and Madison County. Elkmont: the Devils turned Clemens and more.
Red back Ard-
James Clemens: the Jets won games against Decatur Heritage, Decatur, and Florence, while the girls topped Lawrence County and Decatur.
Lindsay Lane: Lion Former Clements 2A state champion girls' basketball coach Sonya victories came against Marks talks with Zack Greene during play-by-play coverage. The Clements, Belgreen, team was honored during games against Lauderdale County. North Jackson, Hanceville, Oakwood won matches this season softball, and January 20 and Thursday at 8:45 Adventist Academy, Whitesburg Christian, against James Clemens, through February 20 for p.m. For more informaand ABS. The Lindsay Randolph, Lindsay Lane, soccer. Cost for base- tion on any activity, call Lane girls also have wins West Point, Hartselle, ball and softball is $70, 233-8740. over Oakwood, Whites- Priceville, and St. Ber- soccer is $40. Karate Listen for PlayAction burg Christian, and ABS. nard. E-Sports, a form classes are being offered Sports’ coverage of of competition using Mondays, Tuesdays, and Limestone County area Tanner: the Rattlers beat video games, is another Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Ardmore, Tharptown, up-and-coming sport in Zumba classes are Tues- basketball this season Haleyville, Russellville, which local schools are days and Thursdays at online at www.pasnetClements, and West starting to participate. 5:15 p.m. and Sundays work.net, on the PlayLimestone; the Tanner James Clemens teams at 1 p.m. Super Circuit Action Sports app or on girls overcame Ardmore, defeated Bob Jones, Tar- is conducted Monday, your Amazon Echo deNew Hope and West rant, Florence, and Gris- Wednesday, and Friday vice by saying, “Open PlayAction Sports.” Morgan. som this year. at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesday West Limestone: the Odds and ends: Wildcats got by Decatur and Priceville; the West The Athens Recreation Center has registrations girls defeated Tanner. going on through FebIn other sports, the East ruary 10 for baseball, Limestone bowling team through February 15 for
January 17 - February 06, 2020
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Clean and Green
This Is Your Invitation by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful
It’s a brand new year and things are already hopping at KALB! In our last article, I shared our vision for 2020. One of our goals is to encourage volunteerism and participation in our events. If you have ever wished there was less litter in Limestone County, consider this your invitation to help make that happen. We have upcoming opportunities for individuals, families, and groups of any size that wish to make a difference. MLK Day Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area Cleanup On January 20, volunteers will meet at 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of Harris Station Rd. and Dairy Rd. in Tanner. This intersection is located at the south end of Lucas Ferry Rd. Volunteers will check in and receive supplies, then work in teams to clean up various locations throughout the wildlife management area. All groups will be asked to return to the starting point by 3:45 p.m. for a group photo with as many of the bags of trash picked up as possible. As a side note, the Vietnam Veterans of America Gary Elmore Post at 17915 W. Elm Street in Athens will be hosting their spaghetti supper that same day. The cleanup will be at the southernmost end of Lucas Ferry Rd., and
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the spaghetti dinner will be at the northernmost end of that road. Cost is $8.This might be just the excuse not to cook after the hard work, and an opportunity to support our veterans.
lenge was a huge success last year, and we will do it again this year! Volunteers can participate by providing before and after photos of an area
Countywide Trash Attack and River Cleanup On Saturday, March 14, KALB will host our annual Trash Attack. We invite the community to come out and clean roadsides, public lands, and waterways throughout Limestone County. Volunteers can choose their cleanup location or KALB will offer suggested areas in need. All participants will have their names entered into a drawing for prizes. We will also be supporting cleanups along the Elk River and areas in the south of the county along the Tennessee River. There will be multiple areas around the county where volunteers can check in and obtain supplies, or supplies can be signed out the week before the cleanup from the KALB office in Athens. KALB and TVA will provide trash bags, litter grabbers, gloves, and safety vests. We also hope to have coffee and donuts for volunteers as they check in. #OneBagChallenge Thanks to Collin Daly, Limestone County Commission Chairman, KALB’s #OneBagChal-
Picking up trash can produce joy!
Nature appreciates this litter grabber they have cleaned and a photo of at least one bag of trash removed from the area. This should be posted to the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Facebook page using the hashtag #OneBagChallenge. The #OneBagChallenge will continue from March 14 through April 24, and participants will have their names entered into a drawing for prizes! Participation Earns Prize Entries Anyone who participates
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in the Countywide Trash Attack or the #OneBagChallenge will have their name entered into a drawing for prizes which will take place at our 12th Annual Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO on April 25.
MLK Wildlife Management Area cleanup or the Trash Attack event, please let us know. Call 256-233-8000, email KALBCares@gmail. com, or find the event on Facebook and leave a comment.
Let Us Know You’re Coming
Registering is not required. If you decide to come at the last minute, don’t hesitate!
It is helpful if we know how many volunteers are coming to our cleanup events so we can be properly prepared. If you’d like to participate in the
Together, let’s make Limestone County better.
Become a Fan
(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com January 17 - February 06, 2020
Cooking with Anna
Nevertheless She Persisted… by Anna Hamilton
Webster’s dictionary describes persistence as: “To go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning.” In order to make a complete change in your life, you have to be persistent. You must dig in your heels and totally immerse yourself in the new way of doing things. “To go on stubbornly” is one of the best ways to describe how I have felt this past year. I had a serious addiction to potato chips. Even saying I had a serious addiction doesn’t fully describe the severity of the problem. I could eat a plate of spaghetti and recognize when I was full. I could eat a bowl of ice cream and recognize when I needed to stop. The connection from my stomach to my brain did not work when potato chips were involved. I could not tell when I was full or had enough. It was like a drug. I could inhale an entire bag in one 30-minute sitting and still be ravenous for more. It had become a massive problem. I’m not blaming the potato chip industry for my obesity. They didn’t force me to dip my hand into a delicious bag of sour cream-and-onion flavored chips. When I decided last January I had to make a change, I knew that I would have to “break up” with chips. I couldn’t allow them to be in my life anymore. They were the bad boy of the snack world, and I had fallen prey
Cauliflower Ziti Ingredients:
to their sneaky ways. I broke free from their spell and have never looked back. I haven’t eaten a potato chip in a year and couldn’t be happier. Who knew fresh cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, dill pickles, radishes would come in and sweep me off my feet. I don’t feel guilty after eating a cucumber; I feel good! I can walk upstairs and not be winded. I can check out at a grocery store and not be overtaken by the tiny chip bags. The break from the chip addiction has had an amazing effect on me. It is an everyday decision not to eat the chips. I have a wonderfully supportive husband that packs my nutritious lunch almost every day. I make sure I have plenty of snacks in the house that help curb any craving I may have. I try to focus on how far I have come in this journey. January 20 will be a full year of my total life change. I cannot wait to report back to all of you what my grand total for the year is. I’m feeling so much better than I did this time last year. I am wearing a pant size I haven’t seen in a long time. I can’t wait to see where I will be by January of 2021. This week’s recipe is a classic casserole that you and your family will be sure to love. It is a cauliflower baked ziti that is perfect for cold winter nights. It will fill up your tummy without making you feel guilty. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pinch red pepper flakes 1 lb ground beef 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp oregano One 28 oz can crushed tomatoes 1 cauliflower, cut into florets 2 cups ricotta cheese 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375⁰F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, salt and pepper and cook until beef is browned. Stir in tomato paste and oregano and cook for 2 more January 17 - February 06, 2020
minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour meat sauce over the cauliflower and stir to combine. In a 9x13 baking dish, spread out half the cauliflower. Top with half the ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan. Add the rest of the cauliflower and top with the remaining cheeses. Bake for 25 minutes. Serve hot.
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The Millennial Mind
Pity Doesn’t Pay The Piper by Rosemary Dewar
Too often people conflate the act of doing good with the feeling of goodness when doing something. Most times, doing the right thing and doing it properly will not always feel all that great. Often accomplishing a task with integrity, selflessness, and precision is personally strenuous to the point that it tests the soul. If your need to feel good begins to outweigh the actual goal for others to benefit from your contribution, your efforts will have a negative effect. An individual may believe that he or she is experiencing compassion, but they are actually feeling pity. Tragedy and the state of lack prompt both pity and compassion, but the focus is what differentiates pity from compassion. Pity focuses on the individual witnessing someone else’s tragedy. Compassion, on the other hand, focuses on the individual being afflicted at the time. In our current culture, it is becoming easier to conflate the two when national news affects the public in a visceral way. Communities don’t want to see calamities
( y t a t a a w Y h
come to their door step. No one would. Socially, our culture aims to absolve themselves of the shared ‘emotional’ guilt from not being able to prevent it from happening. That is an impossible task. You can’t change the past, nor rewrite history. When you live in the past, you make it impossible to affect your present in order to make sure your future changes. Mahatma Gandhi is famously known for saying, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” The attempt to change the world by changing everyone else before yourself is a resignation of your responsibility. Furthermore, you lose the one thing you have the most authority over: yourself. This is true of any act of charity, benevolence, or care. Others cannot do what you do, and demanding of others when you cannot manage it yourself is emotionally selfish. Oddly, our current culture seems to demand retribution from historical offenders. You cannot draw blood from a stone. Both religious and secular societies have many
A A A o w e a s s i m 1 l a t t failings when it comes to discerning the difference between pity and compassion. They usually improperly evaluate those who need their assistance. What is given is not always what is needed. Faithful and dependable people are left out of favor, and when they ask for help they are resisted for the lack of a look of desperation. Platitudes are offered in place of the act of care. This is pure pity. A person is presented with someone who has a need, and instead of being moved to act, they pander. The human in front of you needs help, and you feel uncomfortable rather than eager. The Judeo-Christian worldview asks, “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him
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a serpent?” Giving is important, but what you give and how you give it is just as important. Compassion is meant to inspire the individual feeling it to act upon it, and the Bible states that Christ was moved with compassion. Pity is so unpleasant that someone would give almost anything just to not feel it anymore. The act of giving becomes penance for guilt, accomplishing practically nothing of value. This ends up being no different than social programs that don’t actually solve what may be causing the deficit. Educational grants are not helping young students receive vocational skills. Abortion is not helping women plan for motherhood. Demographic quotas are not assisting businesses in growth. Government as-
sisted healthcare is not innovating treatments, rewarding doctors, and improving coverage. Tax write-offs are not incentivizing people to get married and have children.
T p b i s s s w You don’t have to g change the whole y world. You only have to e change your world. Sig- A mund Freud was quite d twisted about most a things, yet he was right t when he stated that, i “Most people do not re- S ally want freedom, because freedom involves R responsibility, and most y people are frightened of responsibility.”
Pity will not fill the void, nor find a solution. Either work what is rightfully yours with honor, or waste your time making yourself feel better by bringing “relief” that is anything but.
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Health and Fitness
Prioritize Your Health In The New Year courtesy BrandPoint Content (BPT) - Now is the time of year when people typically take inventory of their lives and set new goals. Relationships, finances, careers and health are all important aspects that impact overall well-being. For this New Year, consider making your health a top priority. According to the recent America's Health Rankings Annual Report, the nation's obesity rate continues to rise, with one in three adults now experiencing obesity. This alarming statistic may have serious health consequences such as diabetes, which now impacts approximately 30 million adults and is the No. 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations and adult blindness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
duce your risks for a host of diseases. Try to aim for at least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic activity a week, but if that's too challenging then start off with 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there. Every little bit counts. To be successful, your fitness program should become a part of your daily life. Also, check with your health plan and employer to see if they offer wellness incentives. For example, UnitedHealthcare's Gym Check-In program enables participating employers to provide employees and their spouses the opportunity to each earn
hundreds of dollars a year for visiting a fitness facility 12 days or more per month. Eat healthier Sure, it's easier said than done, but good nutrition is a vital part of a healthier lifestyle. Experts say the healthiest diets are rich in fruits and vegetables, because these foods are full of healthful nutrients and fiber. Here are three simple tips to eating healthier: Go for more fruits and veggies; choose less meat and fat; and keep an eye on the size of your food portions. Just saying "no" to the buffet can do wonders.
Reduce your stress
unhealthy stress in your life.
If you're feeling stressed, it's important to unwind and relax by doing something you enjoy. Maybe it's watching a movie, reading a book or volunteering to give you time to recharge. Also, make time to connect with others. Maybe that's friends, family, a faith group or a hobby club. It's important that you don't isolate yourself after a stressful event. Remember, if you cannot get a handle on your stress, talk to your doctor. She or he may recommend a counselor who could help you find other ways to help reduce or manage the
Team up with your doctor Take time today to make an appointment with your doctor for your annual wellness visit and be sure to ask about preventive services such as health screenings and vaccines. Check with your health plan as many preventive services have no additional cost, as long they are delivered by care providers in your plan's network. Your doctor will help you create a treatment plan to help manage any chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure.
There are many factors that play a role in your health, but one that you can control is making a commitment to start living a healthier lifestyle. Sure, there will be some bumps during your well-being journey, but your goal can be achievable and you deserve to reap the benefits. Ann Marie O'Brien, national director of health strategies at UnitedHealthcare, offers the following tips for achieving a healthier you in 2020. Stay active Regular exercise may help you live longer and may re-
January 17 - February 06, 2020
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Cover Story
Alliance HR: New Jobs In The New Year by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1
fully, that is where Alliance HR comes in. They are an award-winning, busy, staffing agency filling the employment needs of existing businesses and ones still under construction; and they are experts at it. Sharon Hatfield is the North Alabama Regional Director of Alliance HR, and worked hard to open a branch office in Athens in the fall of 2019. It is located in the back of the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning on Marion Street, and other offices are in Madison, Decatur, and Huntsville -- a total of ten locations in three states in the Southeast. About themselves,
Alliance HR has the following to say: “[We are] a full-service human resources company providing quality employees to companies in a variety of industries. Our staff of professionals can help your business achieve bottom-line results through effective screening, recruiting and management of your workforce requirements.” Before we talk about how Alliance meets the employment needs of businesses as well as new hires, Sharon’s story is a fascinating one, and her experience underscores the reason why she approaches her vocation with a blend of compassion as well as competency. When we first started the interview, she told me that she was uniquely qualified
Sharon taking a moment at the entrance to the Center for Lifelong Learning on Marion Street. The Alliance HR office is located at the back in the conference room area
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to help with our “growth spurt” because she went through it once in Houston. For five years, she worked for the Attorney General’s office in Child Support Enforcement administration while Houston was going through its boom, and she said, “I’ve done this before. I’ll sit in on any meeting to help with infrastructure.” Sharon knows firsthand how important it is for a city to grow well. Sharon’s husband is a commercial electrician, and they decided to settle in Alabama to start their family. They adopted a pair of siblings, and then had one biological child of their own. Sharon had always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so once they added to their family, they downsized and streamlined. She has never regretted that choice and now is a grandmother. She did go back to work part time in Human Relations once the kids were in school, and her hours coincided with those of her children, even in the summer. “It worked out well,” Sharon told me. She came home again to care for her mom who was suffering with Alzheimer’s and returned to the workforce after her mom passed. In 2015, Sharon began to work at the Madison office of Alliance HR, and six months later became the office manager. Eighteen months later, she became the regional manager for North Alabama. She was able to bring in 35 companies who needed help with filling various positions. These days
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The Hatfields and their grandkids she is out getting new business, on the road a lot, and truly loves what she does. “I get paid to talk,” she told me with a chuckle. She also mentioned that Alliance has loyal staff members in their offices. “We have excellent recruiters,” said Sharon, and added that one woman has been at the Madison office for nine years. Sharon says Alliance HR has a number of success stories in matching employers with employees that exceed expectations. One customer is the Von Braun Center, and Alliance filled the position needed for cleaning the entire facility. Someone took the time to comment on how the place sparkled, and said, “I don’t know who’s clean-
ing this place, but you’d better keep them. It’s the cleanest it’s been since it opened.” I asked Sharon why I should choose Alliance HR if I were either looking for a job, or needed to find employees. She had several things to say. “I believe we have a job for everyone, and we’ve just got to find the right fit. She went on to say something I found quite comforting: “I go to the factories to make sure that they are safe. Sometimes businesses have called, and I just have not felt right about sending people to work for them. You learn to read people in this job, and I need to make sure that people are protected. I
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Novella Parsons, Office Manager/ Recruiter, Madison location try to treat people the way I want to be treated, and I LOVE helping people get a job.” I learned that 75% of the jobs filled by Alliance HR are in manufacturing, most of them being the electronics companies who supply the military. They have three client companies in that category. Alliance also has extensive experience with the hospitality industry, which is big in Huntsville. They make sure everything is in order when it comes to workman’s compensation, and each employer signs a clearly communicated service agreement. Each applicant must pass a drug test as well as a national background check. Alliance HR wants peo-
Bi-lingual Recruiter Elizabeth Hernandez, Madison location
ple to know that “whether your need is short term or long term, temporary or permanent, full time or part time, Alliance HR can provide even the most hard to find employees. Outsourcing is simply a better way to run your organization. “Alliance HR is comprised of a team of professionals with over 68 combined years of experience and is locally owned and operated. An “alliance” with us will solve your employment related hassles. We know when selecting an HR partner your concerns are quality, service and price. These are just a few of the ways we can deliver for you. The professionals at Alliance know what it takes to best evaluate and recruit talent in human resources and pass this benefit directly to our customers.
Decatur location Recruiters Brooke Stegall and Lara Austin
January 17 - February 06, 2020
“As the employer of record, Alliance HR guarantees full compliance with all federal employee laws and state payroll tax reporting requirements, including FICA and unemployment taxes. In addition, all employees are fully covered by workers’ compensation and comprehensive general liability insurance. “Our outstanding service has earned us the reputation as the leading human resource executive search and staffing firm. Our unmatched service quality is deeply rooted in our strong commitments to the success of our clients and our candidates.” For Employers • HR staffing and executive search services for businesses nationwide • Customized recruiting
Sharon at the Madison office
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Bi-lingual Recruiter Lucia Vargas, Madison location solutions to fit your staffing needs • Expedient and cost-effective with video conferencing interviews For Job Candidates • Job placement for HR professionals at all skill and experience levels • Temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire positions We provide unique skill matching process and career advancement guidance. I got a chance to watch Sharon in action as she spoke with two prospective applicants. It was obvious that she wanted to place them in a situation that was just right for them as well as the employer. She made them comfortable, asked excellent questions, and was encouraging.
Alliance HR is also looking to hire staff for their own organization. “We are looking for a good sales person, someone who takes this job to heart and is passionate about helping others find work,” Sharon told me. Call them today if you are either looking for a job, or have jobs for people. Sharon Hatfield and her staff will carefully work to find the fit that is best for both of you.
Alliance HR 121 S. Marion St. Athens, AL 35611
(Located in the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning)
Phone: 256-580-0407 Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Athens location Recruiter, Jennifer Mahathey
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Learning As A Lifestyle
The Census Is Coming by Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 Our Constitution of the United States (Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3) states that representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the states that are included in our Union according to their numbers. The actual counting of the citizens is done every 10 years by the Census Bureau. The 2020 Census will be the 24th counting of our citizens. Although National Census Day is April 1, you may be seeing a census worker in your neighborhood counting houses and verifying addresses. This is the way it works. I worked with the 2010 Census in Columbus, Georgia. On April 1 (or shortly after), you will get your forms in the mail. Some will get a short form asking who lives in the house. The basic form has only nine questions. Some
others will get the form that askes a lot of questions. Some people will not get a form – they will be visited by a census worker who will complete the form with them. You will know they are a census worker because they have an identifying badge and briefcase. Whichever form you get will only take about 5-30 minutes to complete. It is well worth the time it takes to do it. When you fill out your form and return it in the pre-paid envelope, you are done. If you do not fill out the form, a census worker will come to your house to help you fill out the form. The information is so very important. Why fill out the form? The counted households provide the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistrict-
ing, and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support states’, counties’, and communities’ vital programs. It impacts housing, education, transportation, employment, health care, and public policy. What’s happening at CLL? Lunch and Learn is back On
Wednesday,
Janu-
ary 22, we will begin a series for the authors in the community. Publish Your Book will focus on how to get your future book published. Successfully publishing a book requires a professional approach to the marketplace, with the ability to identify how and where your project fits into the evolving publishing landscape. This series covers the most critical steps for getting a novel or nonfiction work in front of a general audience. It also offers an in-depth understanding of how the industry works after you have a book deal, including how to effectively market and promote your work before and after it releases. Class is scheduled on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., January 22 to March 11. The fee is $35. Bring your lunch and join the discussion. On Thursday, January 23, we will continue the Great Debate: Advocates and Opponents of the American Con-
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stitution class. Class is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Thursdays from January 23 to February 13. This section will discuss Classical Republicanism, The Argument over National Security, and the Supreme Court and Judicial Review. This class is FREE! Bring your lunch and join the discussion. On Thursday, January 30, we will host the first class in the CyberSecurity Series. At 11:30 a.m., Dr. Agrawal will begin with Who’s Watching You: Being Safe and Secure in Your Own Home. The topics include “Is your computer safe?”; “What should you connect to your home network”; and “How to identify Phishing Emails.” This class is FREE! Bring your lunch and join the discussion. For more information about all of our classes, check out the website at www.athens.edu/CLL or call 256-233-8260.
January 17 - February 06, 2020
The View From The Bridge
A Day On, Not A Day Off by Jackie Warner
Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 20, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service to celebrate the civil rights leader’s life. • Service is a powerful tool for strengthening our communities, but it is only a start. Americans can take up the challenge to experience the power of service Dr. King shared in his “Drum
Major Instinct” sermon: “Everybody can be great because everyone can serve.”
celebrated the day by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others."
• In recognition of Dr. King’s incredible legacy of service and leadership to gain equality for all Americans, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service in 1994 and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.
• MLK Day of Service projects empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, address social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."
• Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s widow, once said, “The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds
January 17 - February 06, 2020
• During the last quartercentury, the MLK Day of Service has grown in size and impact as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role to make our communities better. Serving on MLK Day can establish a habit of volunteering and build
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connections that last a lifetime.
can
• Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” The MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 20 is an opportunity to remember Dr. King’s life and re-commit ourselves as citizens to answer that question by volunteering to serve one another and our communities Making time to volunteer for the 2020 MLK Day of Service is a great way to engage with your community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King. Whether you plan on
grabbing a paintbrush, mentoring a young person, or helping to clean up a public space in the next few days, know that what you do makes a world of difference. Honor Dr. King’s legacy all year. Pledge to serve in his honor throughout the year. Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@gmail.com Check out upcoming events: http://thebridge-us. yolasite.com/
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Horse Whispering
What If? by Deb Kitchenmaster What if someone handed you an invitation to be accountable for your choice or action with the guarantee of no punishment? Would you say yes, or would you refuse? This month I want to talk to our community more about the humans in it than the horses. I guarantee those who take this to heart will take a step in the direction of becoming a leader worth following. Community is important. Community simply reflects a group of people, society, the public, a neighborhood. As a reader of HORSE WHISPERING you have noticed I sign off as “NEIGH”bor. I am your neighbor, as well as you are mine, and I’m having fun emphasizing horse language while writing articles. This past November (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) in Madison County, a car from Limestone County got stuck in my east pasture after breaking through three wooded rails of fence, and unearthing two wood posts cemented at the base. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The property owner made his way to the young man being pulled out by friends who had a chain hooked to their vehicle. A first and last name was given; the county of the license plate noted, but NOT the full license plate number (It was dark out). Why was our pasture, where fortunately no animals were grazing, the one that had been trespassed? Party! Yes, word of mouth travels quickly among our young people looking for something to do on the weekends, and the word had gotten out that there
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guilty, there is a type of punishment. We are opening our people up to addictions by removing them from the blessing and cleansing of accountability! Two adults we had conversations with were the mother of the son who held the party, and the dad of the young person in our pasture that night. They had one question: Did you get the license plate number? How sad. No responsibility here!
was this party going on. Car after car (I counted 17) actually were driven from the neighbor’s house by the police. But now, let’s get back to the fence. The mother of the adult son who was housing the party told me they would fix our fence. She lied. She’s “not responsible.” Okay. However, because she refuses to show kindness and be impeccable with her words to me, she is robbing her own son of the blessing of being accountable! You see, this isn’t the first time someone has missed the curve and found themselves smack dab into our pasture! The first two times both young men had a conscience AND healthy parents as well as grandparents in their lives. Grateful no one was injured, the fence was repaired. I re-
ceived the nicest letter from the grandma expressing appreciation for our working with them and being kind to the grandson they were raising. But here we have an entirely different kind of parenting! I’ve pondered this and have zeal to voice this to the community, mine and ours! What are we teaching our young people? Like a sperm needs to fertilize an egg to produce life, responsibility fertilizes accountability to produce a clean conscience. A clean conscience is free from condemnation. A conscience that is condemned or guilty (confess your faults to one another that you might be healed) will always lead to punishment. Think about it. When someone is found
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how things are will not surface. Jeff is a chemical dependency counselor. How interesting. I am in hopes that some young people will read this HORSE WHISPERING article and say, “Wow! I was there, I know who she’s talking about,” or “I was out in the car when so and so was being pulled out of the pasture.” “I was at the party when a man asked, ‘Are you hanging around with these people?’” Nodding in the affirmative, he said, “You need to find new friends.” And to these two young adults, I hope you accept my invitation to get in touch with me so you can experience a blessing that will NEVER leave you! To experience what it is like to cleanse your conscience by being accountable. The joy of someone who is kind with a gentle smile looking you in your eyes and simply saying, “Thank you!” Let me be clear. I do not want one penny to fix a fence. I do not want to find fault with the ones involved. Not at all! I want you to experience the BLESSING of light and easy FREEING. What refreshing feeling comes when you are accountable and then free! Please accept my invitation. I care about you; after all I am your “NEIGH”bor.
Funny thing, the young man called and asked how we got his name. The particulars of the broken fence were discussed, he didn’t deny a thing, ending the conversation with, “Let me talk to my dad and I’ll get back with you.” He chose not to call back. That’s how the conversation with Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster the dad who had the one question came into being. Corral Connections Author Jeff VanVonderen, 256-426-7947 Tired Of Trying To Measure Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner Up, said when it is more important how things look, horsinaround188@gmail.com
January 17 - February 06, 2020
Mental Health Minute
The Stalking Victim by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor
“Stalking is not love.” January is Stalking Awareness Month, and in my last article, we took a look at the stalker, stalking and mental illness, and the types of stalking. In this article, we will focus on the victims…the reasons action may not be taken and the effects on mental, physical, and social health. What might prevent a victim from seeking help? Some victims may not understand what is happening to them. They may not realize what stalking is and that it is illegal. Unfortunately, some victims are in denial, pretending that it is not happening or believing that they should be able to deal with the situation. I have seen cases where the victim thinks that the stalker can be “reasoned with,” or just doesn’t want to get the stalker in trouble. Some victims fear that others will think they are overreacting, or that they will be blamed for somehow having encouraged the stalker in the first place. These folks tend to be those who have had a previously intimate relationship with the stalker, even if it was only brief or flirtatious. Victims may be fearful about how the stalker will respond either to them or those that they love or care for. The stalker may have directly threatened the victim with some sort of retaliation.
nothing that can be done, or not knowing who to go to for help. In some cases, the victim has sought help, but has been ignored or may have financial limitations with regard to seeking legal advice or taking time off work to seek help. Through community surveys and smaller studies of specific victim groups, we are beginning to understand the devastating effects of stalking victimization. In addition to the fear and possibility of injury due to assault, research has shown that victims suffer a wide variety of psychological, physical, social, and general lifestyle effects as a consequence of being stalked. As with many aspects of stalking, the experience and impact can vary greatly among victims, with behaviors that may be considered annoying to one person, having a shattering effect on another. Further,
the impact of stalking may vary according to the victim’s characteristics, past experiences, current circumstances, and knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the stalker. Even how others respond to the victim’s situation can influence the overall effect that the stalking incident has on the victim. What are the effects to the stalking victim’s health? Mentally, stalking can cause a victim to be in denial, confusion, and selfdoubt. The victim may question, “Is what is happening unreasonable?” or “Am I overreacting?” Victims become frustrated, embarrassed, or even blame themselves. Feelings of guilt can become overwhelming. Apprehension, fear, fear of being alone, or that they or others will be harmed can lead to feelings of isolation and helplessness. Over time,
ers withdrawing from the victim either because they don’t believe them or they are unable to cope with the victim’s mental and emotional state. Some victims have chosen to move to a new area, change phone numbers, their names, or even their appearance. So what can you do if you are being stalked? 1. Trust your instincts. Victims of stalking often feel pressured by friends or family to downplay the stalker’s behavior, but stalking poses a real threat of harm. Your safety is what’s most important. 2. Call the police if you feel you are in any immediate danger. Explain why even some actions that seem harmless—like leaving you a gift—are causing you fear. 3. Keep a record or log of each contact with the stalker. Be sure to also document any police reports. 4. Stalkers often use technology to contact their victims. Save all e-mails, text messages, photos, and postings on social networking sites as evidence of the stalking behavior. 5. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–SAFE or the Victim Connect Helpline at 1-855-484-2846. Lisa Philippart is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who divides her time between her own private practice in Huntsville and providing personal counseling services at Athens State University.
Stalking victims may feel isolated in their situation, believing that there is
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depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house) may develop. Taken to the extreme, some victims experience Post-traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, such as hypervigilance, frightening flashbacks, and heightened startle response. The effects on the stalking victim’s physical health include fatigue from difficulty sleeping, the effects of chronic stress including headaches and hypertension, and development or exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. Some victims experience dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and sweating. The effects of stalking on the victim’s social life include insecurity and inability to trust others and problems with intimacy. Some victims avoid usual activities, isolating to protect themselves and others. This leads to oth-
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The Alternative Approach
God’s Way or Man’s Way by Roy Williams One decision all of us must make is “Are we going to live our lives man’s way or God’s way?” It is a decision that goes all the way back to creation itself. Adam and Eve had to make that decision, and as the old saying goes, we know the rest of the story. This is a challenging newsletter, not only for me to write but also for you, because it will require a decision on your part. Even a decision to (not decide) is in reality a decision. Life is full of choices and the core of your decisionmaking process is based on your belief system. What beliefs do you use as a foundation that help you make your decisions? At the core of your decision-making process are a set of beliefs that you have formed, and those beliefs will determine who you are and where you end up in life. Without those core beliefs, life will be confusing and may even become chaotic. On the other hand, people who live their lives with a solid belief system that is based on truth, love, faith, and hope, seem to live balanced, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
Those people seem to have some common characteristics including a set of core beliefs, such as life is what you make of it, the truth will set you free, I can control my destiny, I was created in God’s image, I was created for a reason, treat others as you would like to be treated, and love conquers all. If you read my newsletters, listen to my radio shows, or have seen me on television, you know that my core beliefs are based on faith. Raised in a faith-based home has made all the difference. Over the years, I tried living life my way and often tried living the way the world suggested. Without exception, my life went downhill. I am not suggesting that you avoid advice from people who are successful. The Bible says, “To seek advice is wisdom.” What I am saying is that you should make your decisions using truthful information, and I do believe that the most reliable source of truth is God’s word. Even if you don’t believe in God, at least seek reliable sources. When it comes to your
health, are you going to depend on man and his concoctions or God and His creations? When talking about justice, are you going to trust man and his laws or God and His wisdom? About morality, man and his ideas or God and His word? In the book of John, we learn that, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Are we, as a nation, going to put our faith, hope and trust in man and his ideals or are we going to believe in God and His word? Yes, 2020 is upon us and it is time to set goals and maybe even make resolutions. May I suggest that we go back to our founders and take a look at their wisdom and remember, according to the written word they left be-
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hind, that they put their faith and trust in the only true and living God. Over time, our great nation has taken its eyes off of the prize. We have decided over and over again to put our faith and hope for the future in the hands of men and women and their high ideas. In many ways we have forsaken our creator. We put our faith in man for things such as healing, justice, instruction, compassion and wisdom, and where has it gotten us? We are the sickest nation on earth, our judicial system is failing, our prisons are full and overflowing, our children are less educated and our political system is broken. On top of that our morality has been pushed out the window. We must get to the root of
the problem. You can’t heal a diseased body unless you eliminate the cause. Our nation is suffering, and I think it is time we acknowledge the cause. Are we going to live life man’s way using his grand ideas or God’s ways using His word? To learn more, listen to Today’s Health Update on radio station WKAC 1080 AM Athens, on WBTG 1290 AM Sheffield, or on podcast anytime at www.nhc19.podbean.com. For all your natural health care needs go by Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen or call 800-7454408 or online at www. newtritionalhc.com. Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams
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Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC January 17 - February 06, 2020
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