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January 6th - 19th, 2017

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

Xtreme Nutrition And Smoothies: “Resolving” To Be Your Resource

See Our Listings Inside this edition... Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria: A New Year And New Blessings... Since its opening in 2015, Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria, located on Hwy 72 across from Chick-fil-a in Athens, has... Page 5 Shelley Cagle and Preston Moss of Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies

Clean And Green KALB’s Role In Your Community... 2017 will be the year that KALB celebrates our 40th anniversary. Our organization, originally known as... Page 12

Dog Barker Zues... As many of the Athens community and a few across the nation have heard, Zues has... Page 20

January 6 - January 19, 2017

By Ali Elizabeth Turner 2010 was the year Xtreme Nutrition was “born,” and owners Josh and Shelley Cagle have always impressed me with their hard work, commitment to help and support customers with building their health, and

Continued on page 15

Athens-Limestone Hospital To Break Ground On Outpatient Surgery Center By Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens-Limestone Hospital, INKANA Development, and OrthoSports Athens, are pleased to Continued on pages 17

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January 6 - January 19, 2017

Publisher’s Point

What’s The Point?

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Paul Foreman Shelley Underhill Teresa Todd Joel Allen Jerry Barksdale Drs. Lynn and Lorie Hedgepeth

We are in the infancy of a brand new year, and while there are troops on the Russian border, and in a few days the Donald will add “POTUS” to his CV, if ever there were a time to resist the temptation to be cynical, it is now. Why? What’s the point? It is this: life and the One who created it are far bigger and more powerful than the Russians, Trump, Hollywood, ISIS, the IRS, the CIA, the FBI, or any other of the alphabet soup groups.

We are alive in extraordinary times, but for those who look for it, every season in the history of a culture or a nation is extraordinary. If it were Athens of 1817, it would have been an amazing time. Pioneers came to settle the land against all odds, and now it is a marvelous place to live. If it were before, during, or after the War Between the States, it would have been as well, because there was valor, and there was renewal, neither of

which came cheaply. If it were WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, or any war since, important history was being made, and stellar people drew breath and defined us as a nation. If it were the ‘50s or the ‘60s, the Civil Rights era, the Reagan administration, the Clinton administration, the Obama administration, or whatever awaits us after the 20th of this month, there is never any shortage of the potential for greatness being exhibited for all to enjoy. Now that I am a “seasoned citizen,” I am aware more than ever that while to some my “glory days” are over, to me I am just getting started. I heard someone say today on the radio that decades ago a doctor had told him about a 95 year old man who, upon being questioned by the doctor during an annual exam, was asked the secret to his longevity and health, and the elderly man answered simply, “Never let an old man live in your body.”

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6

That doesn’t mean dress like a teenager when you are north of 70, it doesn’t mean getting hair plugs or Botox. It means carefully nourishing your whole being so that there is something that is transcendent of age which then becomes your signature, and you make it legible for the willing to read. And, for the discerning, it is becoming a being on whom

What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Shelley . . . . 13 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . 20-21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23

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our Maker can leave His fingerprints without hesitation.

This past year was both glorious as well as seemingly impossible on a number of fronts, but on we trudge toward the City made without hands. There were relationships that blew up, and relationships that were restored. I ran several 5Ks, and am preparing for my next one later this month. In a few days, I am going to go on my first cruise to the Bahamas, the first true vacation I have had in a while. I am genuinely excited, even thrilled, but the portending diversion does not allow me to escape my question, “What is the point?”

I think the best way to answer it is to remember the words of Micah when he said, “He has shown thee, oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” That is the point in any era, and oh, the stories we shall have to tell if we make it our quest.

So, Happy New Year, dear Athenians! Find your “point,” and make it sharp.

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

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All Things Soldier

Asylum For An Afghani Air Force Pilot? by Ali Elizabeth Turner These days there is a lot of spirited discussion with regard to immigration in general, and how to protect ourselves from ISIS. Striking a balance between liberty and security while not infringing upon the Constitutional rights of Muslims who are genuinely here in good faith because they want to be a part of the American experience is no small task. It is a “Gordian knot” that is not going to be untangled any time soon. However, there is an Afghani woman who is seeking asylum in America that in my view is worthy of our most ardent protection. Her name is Captain Niloofar Rahmani, and she is the first female to have become a fighter pi-

lot in the Afghani Air Force. She has fought ISIS from the air, has more than 1,000 hours of combat flight hours under her belt, and now her life as well as the lives of her family members are in danger. Niloofar has wanted to be a pilot all her life, and ironically, it was her dad who kindled that flame. He had wanted to be a pilot, too, and for him it had never worked out. In 2013, Niloofar earned her wings, and she said that in part, her reason to do so was to honor her dad. All was well for awhile. Captain Rahmani was hailed as a heroine in Afghanistan, and did much to inspire her country-

Captain Niloofar Rahmani

men, both male and female. However, the more she accomplished in the Air Force, the less safe she and her family became, and some of

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)

January 16th

11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm

Musical Entertainment • 5-7pm 17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4

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the pushback and threats originated within the Afghani government.

as a Muslim Afghan female, I always try to fight against ISIS.”

Meanwhile, as part of her training and ongoing certification, Niloofar trained in the US, mostly at bases in the South. It was during her time here in the States that she became aware that her family had had to move several times in order to dodge death threats. That was when she decided to seek asylum and retained a lawyer by the name of Kimberly Motley to help plead her case. Recently, the two of them were interviewed by CNN’s Jake Tapper, and Tapper has made President-elect Donald Trump aware of Niloofar’s situation. Captain Rahmani said the following: “I understand the problem with ISIS and the people who say they’re Muslim, and doing this by showing the world how bad Muslims are. Unfortunately,

I would think that this is exactly the kind of person that we would all like to go to bat for, but that is not the case with Captain Rahmani’s commanding officer. Sadly, General Mohammad Radmanish has requested that the United States reject her request for asylum. In part, the General said that he was “sure she lied by saying she was threatened, just to win the asylum case.”

When I think about the fact that just last week an Afghani woman was stoned to death because she went to the market alone, unescorted by her husband, my money is on Captain Rahmani’s claim that she is no longer safe. And I hope that for all the reasons that make our country great, she will find refuge here, and soon.

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Special Feature

Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria: A New Year And New Blessings by Ali Elizabeth Turner Since its opening in 2015, Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria, located on Hwy 72 across from Chick-fil-a in Athens, has become a fixture in our community. The pizzeria has become “famous” for everything from whole pies that sport the cheese topping faces of soon-to-bePresident Donald Trump as well as NFL great Tim Tebow, to Valentina, its 4,000 pound custom built brick oven named after the daughter of the owner, Joe Carlucci. This past summer, Joe was able to purchase a second oven, also named Valentina, which is mobile, runs on oak, and is perfect for street fairs and catered events. The interior of the shop was redone with a retro diner vibe, complete with red booths and a juke box, and the walls display Joe’s bevy of awards, articles, media events, and certificates, all of which are plentiful. However, as legendary as Joe Carlucci is in the pizza world, he wanted the focus of this article to be one of gratitude for everyone and everything from God, to Athens, to his faithful crew, specifically Dayana Rodriguez and Tessa Colwell. “It takes a team to be successful,” Joe said, “and I am blessed by God to have young adults who have dedication, who work hard, and care about Joe’s. I have people that I trust, and the ones who have been here for a long time, and have stuck by me, they have made all the difference.” I got a chance to hear the stories of these young women, and while one wouldn’t expect running a pizzeria to be particularly inspirational at first blush, I left the shop feel-

ing full in my heart, and so happy for all the blessings that have come Joe’s way.

mood for pizza? She said, “He makes each pizza to please the people, and thinks about the customer.” She smiled and said, “The pizzas are thoughtful,” meaning, thoughtfully made. Dayana likes the fact that Joe is now able to spend more time on recipes, and she can focus on doing everything else. Joe Carlucci, founder of Joe's World Famous Pizzeria.

time she tried and it literally hit the ceiling. “I have developed my own style,” she said. Tessa is also very artistic, and is getting close to making her first “picture pizza.” I asked her who she is going to use for her subject, and she said, “Scooby-doo. And, Leonardo the Ninja Turtle because he loves pizza.”

Dayana Rodriguez Dayana, (pronounced Diana) has worked at Joe’s for about a year and a half, and has come to the place where Joe says, “Anything in the place, she can do it all.” Joe is well known for burning the candle from both ends, and on Christmas Day, Dayana ran everything. They worked together as great team until midnight, busy to the last. Dayana told me how she had applied many places and landed here. She had no prior experience, but was teachable, and is so grateful for all that she has learned. She is taking business classes at Calhoun, is heading toward getting a business degree, and feels that everything she has learned from working for Joe’s will one day be used when she is an entrepreneur herself, perhaps as a clothing store owner. She loves the training she has received, and she loves to make people happy. I asked her why, when I have “pizza choices” in the area that range from big box to those that are locally owned, should I choose Joe’s when I am in the

January 6 - January 19, 2017

Tessa Colwell Unlike Dayana, Tessa Colwell “knew” pizza, as she had worked for a national chain. She was born and raised in Ardmore, and her family moved to Georgia. That’s where she learned a trade that she basically had to un-learn and start from scratch when she started working for Joe. For one thing, the use of a brick oven is not something you see very often, and getting good at baking pizza in it takes some real skill. “The whole thing is different,” says Tessa. I asked her if she had learned how to toss pizza dough in the air, and she laughed as she told me about the first

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2-3 minutes.” She went on to tell me more about how they remember the names of their customers, and want people to feel comfortable. She also

I asked Tessa why I should come there for pizza, and she said, “It has a family feeling. The sauce is the best I have ever had. The cheese is fresh, and we’re faster than anybody. We can get a pizza baked in Carlie Webster and Dayana preparing dough.

mentioned that she is hoping they’ll be able to do more catering and weddings. I asked her, “What would you like to say to the people who read Athens Now?” She said, “We hope you have a blessed year.”

Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria

1260 Hwy 72 Athens, AL 35611 Hours: Mon-Wed, 10:30-8, Thur-Sat, 10:30-9:30 Phone: 256-434-8400 Facebook: Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria

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Calendar of Events Robotics Scrimmage Jan 7th

Calling all Alabama and Tennessee FTC Robotics Teams: Please join FTC Browncoats for a scrimmage to get ready for the Alabama State Championship at Church of Christ - West Hobbs Street. 1602 West Hobbs Street in Athens, Alabama from 9:00AM-2:00PM. No cost to attend or participate in this event. Please let FTC Browncoats know if your team is coming. RSVP to ftcbrowncoats@gmail.com. Little Caesars Pizza will be available for lunch at $6.00 per pizza. Please include how many pizzas you would like to purchase at the time of your teams RSVP.

Limestone County Master Gardeners Association Meeting Jan 9

The first meeting for 2017 will be held Monday, Jan 9 at Limestone County Extension Office on Market Street. We will have refreshments at 12:30 pm, a speaker TBA at 1:00 pm and our meeting at 1:30 pm. All are welcome. For more information contact Janet Hunt at 256-614-3530.

FiveStarMan Undefeated Men's Conference Jan 13th

FiveStarMan Calvary invites all men to join them January 13th at 6:30PM and at 8:00AM for tailgating, chili cook off, Xbox competition, Iron Bowl ticket giveaway, and more with host Pastor George Sawyer of Calvary Assembly in Decatur, and guest speaker Neil Kennedy. This event is free and open to all men and groups. Please RSVP to 256-355-7440 so Calvary will be prepared to serve you well during this event.

Tiger Softball Club Fundraiser Jan 14th

Join the Tiger Softball Club for a fundraiser starting at 5:00PM at the Limestone County Event Center with Guest Speaker Al Del Greco, former Auburn and Tennessee Titan Kicker. Tickets are $30.00 each and include steak dinner. A table of six is $240.00 and a table of 8 is $300.00. To purchase tickets contact Coach Stephen Baugh or Coach Sherri Graviet 256-423-2685.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Unity March Jan 19

Downtown Athens, AL. Join the Limestone County NAACP for a Unity March honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. More details to come.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Jan. 19th

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Calhoun Community College Aerospace Page 6

Training Center, US31N, Tanner, AL. Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. F.D. Reese, Civil Rights Leader, Educator and Minister best known as a member of the "Courageous Eight". His legacy includes the Dallas County Voting Rights Movements and the Selma-Montgomery Marches. For more information: calhoun.edu/event-calendar/drmartin-luther-king-jr-tribute

Yesterday's Senior Lunch Matinee: Sophisticated Swingers Jan 19th

Yesterdays Event Center, Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. All seating is reserved and include lunch and show for $12.00. Groups are seated together, doors open 10:30am, events start at 11AM with seating, opening announcements, blessing, and lunch, with show beginning about 12 noon. (About 1 hour show) We have bus parking available, e-mail reservations are required info@ yesterdaysevents.com

Hound Dog Half-Marathon Jan 21st

Elkmont, AL. Beautiful, CERTIFIED (USATF #AL15062JD) half marathon through the rolling hills of Elkmont, Alabama. The course begins in downtown Elkmont and heads out into the country on the rolling rural roads. About 7-8 miles into the race, runners will move off the road and onto the old L&N Railroad bed and is now known as the Richard Martin Trail and is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, where they will run the final 5-6 miles of the half marathon. For more information or to register, https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/AL/Elkmont/ElkmontHalfMa rathon#event-90406

2nd Anniversary Celebration Of The AthensLimestone Public Library’s “New Home” Jan 28th

3:00 – 5:00 pm. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, live music, and an art exhibit featuring original work by Peter Max, and limited edition lithographs by Chagall, Picasso, and other renowned artists. The Library Foundation will unveil plans for the Library Green Space project.Tickets Are $20 and may be purchased at the Athens-Limestone Public Library, 603 S. Jefferson St.

Poke Sallet Follies Ticket Sales Begin Feb 4th

Athens Senior Center, 912 West Pryor Street, Athens, AL. Tickets for the 2017 show will go on sale Saturday, Feb 4th at 10:00 a.m. at the Athens Senior Center on Pryor Street. No tickets will be sold in advance. Out-of-town guests may purchase tickets over the phone beginning that date and time by calling 256-232-0323. Tickets may be purchased weekdays after February 4th from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. Tickets are $35 each and include your meal.

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

For The Love Of Cities, Part 1 by Ali Elizabeth Turner Our first meeting of 2017 began by Mayor Ronnie showing me the book he had received for Christmas from some of the City Hall staff, and it’s a sure bet that it will be the topic of several “Ronnies.” It’s written by Peter Kageyama, and I read eagerly while he made his morning rounds. The book is called For The Love Of Cities, and the subtitle is “The love affair between people and their places.” It was voted one of the Top Ten books on urban development and city planning in 2012, and a good read for anyone who loves our amazing Athens. Mr. Kageyama presents some statistics with regard to being genuinely attached to one’s town, as opposed to being neutral or unattached, and he makes a compelling case for the goal of leadership to be one that brings energy to a city, and I don’t mean oil. I think it’s safe to say that the City of Athens experiences an unusually high level of attachment on the part of its citizens, and I know for a fact that the Mayor only wants to see that increase. We have just finished

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up what was a wonderful year, with much being accomplished, and much to look forward to. “For the first time in the history of Athens, we have been able to spend a million dollars on improving our streets,” said the Mayor. That has been in part because several years ago the City Council had the foresight to set aside three million dollars as matching funds for improving streets, just waiting for ATRIPP money to be released. And, there are still several ATRIPP projects that are in the offing. The hope is that the next major project will be improving

Washington Street, which goes all the way from Hwy 72 to Highway 31. He talked about his vision for 2017, and said that recently he “had sent a note to the City Council. I said, ‘We have 46 months left in this term, and we need to build Athens into a place people love.’” I then asked him, “What does that look like, building a town that people actually love, without it being ‘squishy?’” He showed me some charts of Kageyama’s, definitely not squishy in nature, but will have to be addressed in a future column. What he did say though, to illustrate his point was, “Have you ever been in a room that felt dead, or a church, or a meeting…..or a city?” Without naming names, we both have a town that comes to mind with this

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going with economic development •Successfully negotiate the landfill contract •Work to convert the eyesore that is Pilgrim’s Pride into a central park, a dog park, and a place that all Athenians in the downtown core can enjoy, as well as visitors •Continue to tear down unsafe structures •Continue to work on ATRIPP projects kind of discussion, a city we don’t like to go to and that has such amazing, yet squandered potential. He wants the people of Athens to honestly be able to answer the question in the affirmative: Is Athens convivial? That is, is it a friendly, enjoyable place, one that feels alive? Here’s the vision: •Keep the momentum

If you are interested in hearing more about our city’s plans, projects, and dreams for the future, Mayor Marks will be giving the State of the City address on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at the Athens State University ballroom. We talked about the amazing times in which we live, we prayed, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

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Tourism

The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association by Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Have you ever wondered what role our Tourism Office and Visitor Center have in Limestone County? The primary purpose of the ALCTA is to invite people to Athens and Limestone County to visit our attractions, enjoy our restaurants and shops, learn about our history, and take in the beauty of our county. They are also known as “temporary tax payers” because in order to do these things, they spend money in our retail businesses and purchase gas and food, all of which includes sales taxes. In Limestone County’s five towns, the tourism industry brings historians, naturalists, hikers, bikers, equestrians, kayak enthusiasts, fishermen, Civil War historians, artisans, storytellers, musicians, sporting events, horse shows, rodeos, seminars, meetings, conferences, class, church & family reunions, and many, many jobs! We also develop tourism through the promotion of permanent attractions such as the Alabama Veterans’ Museum and Belle Chevre Creamery tours. This year, we had outstanding attendance at our many tours of our Historic Districts, Cemetery Stroll, and Antebellum homes. Our largest tour was from India. The group was made up of students learning about the U. S. and our education programs.

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in not only local residents to try their hand at stretching a few yarns, but people from neighboring counties to see how good they can tell a big-ole-whopper!

They toured Athens State University and received greeting from Mayor Marks and the President of ASU, Dr. Robert Glenn. The University’s Archivist, Mrs. Sarah Love, toured the group throughout the campus of ASU and invited them to consider ASU for their collage of higher education. The Alabama Travel and Tourism Department sent 9 Music Travel Writers to Athens for the 50th Anniversary of our Old Time Fiddlers Convention. These nine travel writers each stayed two nights in our local hotels, dined in our locally owned restaurants, and also shopped in our downtown businesses. We not only received great publicity from the articles they wrote, but the sales tax money from every place they enjoyed. Also, the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention also brings in approximately 15,000 people to Limestone County. Most come in early in the week for the 2-day competition and take the time to visit our attractions, trails, and places like Russell Stover and Preston’s Western Ware. Another area you may not think about as a tourism activity is the Limestone County Archives. People of all generations are searching for their ancestors. They come to

Athens because they are looking into their family genealogy. As our families spread across the United States, discovering and preserving those precious times of yesteryear can take several days, and many make it their primary goal of their vacation time. Athens also can boast about its very own drivein theater positioned alongside our walk-in theater. This drive-in is one of only nine in the state of Alabama still operating. Though many others have closed, we still enjoy reminiscing about our youth while attending our outdoor drive-in theater, which brings people to Limestone County for their opportunity to experience the family fun. Tourists come into Limestone County communi-

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ties to Elkmont for the Songwriters’ Night, and to hear the performers at the Red Caboose. The free Summer Concert Series we know as “Singing on the Square” from April to August, hosted by the Tourism Office, is always well attended. Entertainment facilities such as Yesterday’s Events feature nationally recognized singers and impressionists like Kevin Adams and the music group, “The Flashbacks” which brings in 90% of out of town guests for each performance. You see, music is in the fabric of Limestone County. Our Athens Storytelling Festival, a week-long celebration of our tales, liars, and lies bring people from over 25 states to hear the best storytellers in the South. Our Amateur night also brings

We encourage our guests to attend our educational and historical activities such as our free guided historical walks held each Saturday in April, and programs like Earth Day, High Cotton’s Art Camps, as well as the Athens Main Street Farmer’s Markets held throughout the summer. The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association / Athens Visitors’ Center is located in the historic Athens Utilities Building, built in 1906. Big Spring Memorial Park sits just behind our location, with beautiful, relaxing fountains and various species of ducks. Athens-Limestone County is rich in history, culture and music, but our eye is fixed on the future and new growth opportunities for our town. We invite you to visit with us. ALCTA is open Monday-Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM, and in the summer on Saturdays from 8:00AM to 12:00PM. Come by for a tour of our historic building. Look through the rack of brochures, information leaflets, and post cards. We are always pleased to tell you more about Limestone County.

January 6 - January 19, 2017

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Clean and Green

KALB’s Role In Your Community by Lynne Hart

2017 will be the year that KALB celebrates our 40th anniversary. Our organization, originally known as Athens-Limestone Clean Community, was established in 1977 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, with a concern for litter education and abatement. Our organization has certainly evolved since that time, adding recycling and beautification to our efforts. But the original purpose of this organization has not changed. We are still working to educate our community on the dangers of litter and instilling community pride so that the littering will stop. It is a difficult challenge because KALB cannot do this by ourselves. Our mission is to empower citizens of Athens and Limestone County to take greater responsibility for enhancing their community environment. This is not a one-man job. It requires government leadership and participation by businesses and individuals throughout Athens and Limestone County. As I was looking through historical data reflecting on the history of KALB, I came across an article written for a Clean Community newsletter in 1982, author unknown. It spoke loudly and clearly as to the role of KALB and the role of the community in keeping our city and county roadsides, rivers, and parks

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work to make sure the sources of litter dry up. It is only when each and every citizen does his part that Clean Community will be successful. We need your ideas and volunteer hours, so call us. The Clean Community System is YOUR volunteer program for a litter-free community.”

clean and beautiful. Here are some excerpts from that article. “What do you perceive as the role of the Clean Community Commission in Athens and Limestone County? Because of some comments heard recently, the Commission feels there are many mistaken ideas about the role of the Clean Community Commission (now known as the KALB Commission). Commission (sic) members are not supposed to meet every Saturday morning on Hwy. 31 to pick up the median so everyone can ride by and wave and tell us ‘Hey, you are doing a great job – how about picking up the off-ramp from 31 to 72!’ Our job is not to call people with uncut lots and demand that they have them cut. Our job is not to demand that businesses ‘clean up their act’ in order to get a pat on the back from Sparky. Our job is not to purchase flowers and shrubs to plant all over town for your enjoyment. Our job is not to organize mass cleanups once a year to clean up Athens-Limestone County ‘once and for all.’ Our job is not to spend every day at the recycling center sorting cans, newspapers and office papers. So, what is Clean Community? What do they do? Why do we need a

paid coordinator if they don’t do anything?” The article continues to share information about the Commission, which currently consists of 18 of some of the best volunteers Limestone County has to offer. The Commission’s task is to develop programs that offer YOU the opportunity to help improve YOUR community by learning more about the sources of litter and the many ways it affects us, how recycling makes a difference, and why beautification efforts can increase property values and decrease crime. Working toward a clean community is an education process. KALB constantly tackles that in classroom across the county, at events such as our Elk River Cleanup, Earth Day

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& Outdoor EXPO, and litter-free Fiddlers Convention. KALB’s Facebook page, our website, and articles such as those in Athens Now contribute to this education process. Becoming a litter-free community will happen when enough people make lifestyle changes that will make a difference. As stated in the 1982 article, “Clean Community is YOU doing YOUR part wherever you live and

Please do your part each and every day. Learn why litter is harmful so you can make personal changes and teach others not to litter. Recycle all you can. Add your spot of beauty to the community by planting flowers and keeping your property clean. I have been in Athens since 1999. I have seen Clean Community evolve into Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful with added programs, classroom presentation, and educational community events. I have seen change take place and KALB didn’t do it. We only provided the tools for YOU to make it happen.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com January 6 - January 19, 2017

Cooking with Shelley

A Po’boy In Alabama by Shelley Underhill This sandwich is not only tasty, but really fun to make. My only suggestion is to prepare it with your party goers. It takes no time at all. It is the closest to a New Orleans Po’boy that I have found. I promise that they will be coming back for more, so ya might wanna make two. First I will tell you that you can use any type cold cuts, but if you want the Po’boy from New Orleans,

then follow this recipe to the “T.” I get my meat at Walmart and I have them cut it on one and a half. A quarter of a pound should work out to be about five slices of each. I get my bread at Publix; the Cuban bread works best. You can send your questions and answers to shelleysdesk@gmail.com. Enjoy!

1/4 pound- ham (ask for Farmers ham) 1/4 pound - smoked turkey (Sarah Lee) 1/4 pound - hard salami 3 cups of shredded iceberg lettuce 1 tomato, sliced thin Cuban bread Blue Plate mayo Slice bread evenly down the middle. You want to place the meat just so, making sure have none hanging on the sides. Spread Blue Plate mayo on the bottom of the top side of bread. Spread out lettuce and tomato. Carefully place top side to meat side. When I cut mine, I cut it on an angle so it comes out better.

January 6 - January 19, 2017

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Health and Fitness

Benefits Of Using A Personal Trainer by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment. Do you think personal trainers are just for the rich and famous? Think again. While we donâ€™t come at bargain basement rates, we can fit into many fitness budgets. And there is good reason to consider consulting one of us if you find yourself in a workout rut, are struggling to meet your health and fitness goals while working out on your own, need help with sports-specific challenges or injuries, or need the motivation and accountability. A personal trainer can make your workout more productive and challenge you in new ways. In addition, personal trainers can identify issues in your workouts that you may not see -- problems such as posture and incorrect form, things you can improve to provide a more effective

workout. If you think personal fitness training is something you could benefit from, but wonder how to fit it into your budget, below are some suggestions. BUDDY UP Find several friends who will share workout sessions. Small group training sessions can be a fraction of what one-on-one training can cost. These groups can be as small as two or three, or as large as fifteen or twenty. (For example, I have trained groups of church members in their gym.) For more personalized attention, partner with someone who is at a similar fitness level to cut training cost in half. A FAMILY AFFAIR Share a session with your

son, daughter or other family member to save money and set a great example that fitness can be a family activity. BUY IN BULK With some trainers, the more you buy the lower the individual session. HAVE A GOAL I enjoy working with clients who have specific results in mind as long as they are realistic. Then after your goal is reached, use your trainer for just an occasional maintenance session. TRAIN FOR A BOOST Short or occasional training sessions can be extremely valuable if you already have a consistent fitness routine. This can renew your motivation. JUST A TUNE-UP

I frequently work with clients on a limited basis, even once every few months, to tweak an existing routine. I will even provide a written

routine to follow until the next tune-up. SKIP THE GYM MEMBERSHIP

I have my own studio or I will work with you at your home. As a trainer, I prefer to use free weights, elastic tubing, fitness balls, and other equipment that you may have at your home rather than use the weight machines at a gym. INVEST IN THE BEST

Ask your trainer for his/her credentials. Avoid trainers with weekend-seminar or correspondence course certifications. Some of the best certifications come from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Meet with the trainer before your first session to see if you are a good match.

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Cover Story

Xtreme Nutrition And Smoothies: “Resolving” To Be Your Resource by Ali Elizabeth Turner

shakes.

continued from page 1

the research they have done to formulate their products. It has all paid off, proven in part by an enthusiastic new employee by the name of Preston Moss. He is a walking billboard for the shop and the lifestyle, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his story. Preston grew up in West Limestone, and graduated from West Limestone High School in 2015. He had played football for WLHS, and had become close to 85 pounds overweight, something which unfortunately these days happens all too often with our kids in Alabama. He decided to do something about it, and set out on a journey that has literally transformed him. His mom, Myra Moss (who works in dispatch for the Sheriff’s department), the Lion’s Den, and Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies are his support team, and he has parlayed his passion as well as hobby into a job he loves.

I r r c d u He began to work out relie giously at the Lion’s Den, and t while he was pleased with the strength he was gaining, the weight wasn’t budging the way he had hoped. He began to study voraciously, and realized that if he was going to r lighten up he was going to e have to change the way he ate. e He also was looking for supe plements that were safe and healthy. Enter Xtreme Nutri, tion. Josh Cagle, himself a f bodybuilder for nearly a quarter of a century, has worked f for several years to perfect , supplements, and Preston h found that Xtreme’s proprietary blend known as Rapture h Max N.O. Lean was especialt ly helpful. Here is some information on Rapture: •Unmatched

energy.

•Tunnel vision type focus •Incredible pumps and vascularity •No water retention •Creatine Free I asked Preston what he liked about Rapture, and he said, “It’s thermogenic. It heats me up, and I don’t crash after my work out.” For those of you who are interested in what is in the product, here is a list of the ingredients: Beta Alanine, Arginine, Agmatine Sulfate, Phenylethylamine, Caffeine, Raspberry Ketones, Leucine, IsoLeucine, Valine, Citrulline Malate (a “clean” fatigue fighter), B12, Alpha Lipolic Acid, and the sizes are the mini 3 meal, the regular 3 meal, and the 5 meal. So, if you choose to take charge of what you eat and plan well, the 6 Pack will keep you away from the drive thru and help you meet your goals in style.

5HTP, Dandelion Root, Synephrine (Bitter Orange), Niacin, and Yohimbine HCl. Preston, with the help of his mom, went “lean and mean” as far as his eating was concerned. Here was his regimen: •Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs and a piece of bacon •Snack: an apple around noon •Lunch: chicken, rice, and a sweet potato •Snack: an apple around 2:30 •Supper: rice, turkey, sweet potatoes Admittedly, that is hard core, and not a permanent plan. This is just how Preston did it, not a specific endorsement, so please do your due diligence and check with your doctor

January 6 - January 19, 2017

prior to beginning any weight loss program. The result was that he lost 70 lbs in six months, and then the last 15 a bit more slowly. For the first six months, Preston did not give himself a “cheat day,” but has since started taking one, and has been able to keep his weight off. One of Preston’s favorite smoothies at the shop is what is known as “The Champ.” It contains strawberries, bananas, your choice of protein, peanut butter, and pecans. For his protein, Preston chooses the vanilla flavor. Preston and Shelley told me

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about some of the new products that are at Xtreme Nutrition. One is a fat burner called Stimukal, which is similar to and a replacement for Synedrex. The other is the 6 Pack Fitness lunch bags. They are insulated, and besides having space for your smoothies, water bottles, supplements and energy bars, in the middle is a set of shelves that hold covered containers for your meals. They come in camo, pink, and black,

Lastly, Preston continues to devour research both for his own learning and to support his new lifestyle, as well as being able to help Xtreme’s clients. His enthusiasm is contagious, and he genuinely enjoys what he is doing. He also has Josh and Shelley to look to for mentoring and information, and all in all they make a great team, one that is dedicated to being a true resource for you in 2017.

Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies

22041-B Hwy 72 E, Athens, AL 35613 Phone: 256-233-0005 Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7:30, Sat 10-5 Facebook: Xtreme Nutrition & Smoothies Page 15

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Cover Story

Athens-Limestone Hospital To Break Ground On Outpatient Surgery Center by Ali Elizabeth Turner

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announce the ground breaking of a three-story medical office building with outpatient surgical tower being developed by Athens-Limestone Hospital. It will be an approximately $25 million facility, and will be located at the hospital’s Medical East campus off U.S. Highway 72 and Lindsey Lane in Athens. It is the largest healthcare project of its kind to have been planned for our area. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held Friday, January 20, 2017 at 3 pm, at the site of the new center, which is located at 22454 U.S. Highway 72 in Athens, across from the Publix Shopping Center. The surgical tower has several excellent “neighbors,” including Medical East Urgent Care, one of the newer fire stations, Buffalo Wild Wings, and the Traditions Assisted Living facility, which is currently under construction. Athens-Limestone Hospital President David Pryor said the building will be a “medical office building, to include a surgery center with six

operating rooms, imaging and laboratory services, and physician office space spread across 75,000 square feet. Construction is expected to take about 1.5 years to complete. The project is considered an expansion of the AthensLimestone Hospital surgery department. “We are excited for the opportunity to continue the growth of health care services for the citizens of Limestone County with this project," Pryor said, and he is not alone in his enthusiasm. Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks told me that he “couldn’t be happier, for a number of reasons. Not only will the people of Athens-Limestone County have a new medical facility to serve them, but it will create jobs, and that is always a good thing. Our ongoing commitment to our community is to improve quality of life, and this is an example of how we are growing as well as preparing for the future.” Eddie Ayers is the CEO of OrthoSports, and oversees their day to day operations. He said that “Basically we have outgrown our current location, as well as the surgical availability at Athens Limestone Hospital. We are

January 6 - January 19, 2017

glad to have grown, but we knew that if we were going to be able to continue to serve our patients well, and accommodate the growth we are experiencing throughout our area, we were going to need a new location. So, we are very excited to be partners in this new facility. We will be able to add on more doctors, increase our elective, outpatient, ‘scope’ type surgeries, and will still do the total replacement surgeries at the hospital. The doctors of OrthoSports are investing in this facility because

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they want to raise their families here, they want to retire here, and this is one of the ways they can give back to the community.” I had the chance to chat with Austin Blackwell of INKANA Development, the firm handling the development of the new tower, who explained how the layout would function, and who would be occupying each floor. “The first floor is going to house outpatient surgery, imaging and a retail pharmacy. The second floor will be the home of OrthoSport Athens and Drayer Physi-

cal Therapy. On the top floor, we will have Integrity Family Care, which will be their second office in the area.” He finished our talk by saying, “This will be a state of the art medical office building that provides tremendous community benefits. It will also be a prominent symbol of the partnership between AthensLimestone Hospital and the Huntsville Hospital Health System, and a facility the people of Athens & Limestone County will be very proud of… we sure are here at INKANA.”

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Jerry’s Journal

Little Mama Confronts Teenager Hell by Jerry Barksdale www.jerrybarksdale.com In 1987, I traded a pork’n bean and banana sandwich diet (along with my independence) for Pat, a firecracker gal from Arkansas who stood 5’1” and smoked Virginia Slims. It was a good swap. I got a beautiful and intelligent wife, and also two step daughters, Harley and Lucy (names changed). Unfortunately, they were afflicted with a dreaded curse. They were teenagers!

fb.com/jerry.barksdale.7

especially didn’t want her wearing her clothes. “Don’t touch my stuff!”

Lucy’s underwear out a second story window where it landed in the tree.

Otherwise, they appeared to be well mannered, sweet and courteous young girls; that is until one evening at dinner. I was enjoying a platter of pork chops, mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy when Harley accused Lucy of entering her room. Lucy denied it. “LIAR!” Faster than Ali could throw a right hook, Harley struck Lucy with a pork chop. POW –

Pat was proud of her blue LTD Ford that she got in the divorce settlement. It was the apple of her eye. She kept it washed, shined, and serviced and planned to drive it for many years to come. Harley asked to drive it to the beach during spring break and carry her high school buddies. Pat reluctantly agreed. “I don’t want one scratch on it,” she

OTHER BEER.” Not long afterwards, Pat slammed into a rock wall and buckled the hood where rain water collected and birds bathed. The Ford was tough, but not tough enough. Lucy was learning to drive. She begged to drive one block to visit her friend, Julie. Minutes later we were called. “Come quickly! There’s been an accident.” We arrived at a war zone scene. Lucy had taken out a basketball

I quickly learned that Pat’s stress level could be measured by the number of Virginia Slims she smoked in our house, and how fast she nervously twisted a tendril of her long black hair. It was a dead giveaway that “Little Mama,” as the girls called her, was about to take to the war path. We made a pact. “I’ll discipline my girls and you won’t have to be involved,” she said. Great news! I’m an only child and my experience with young girls was limited to my daughter; precious little Shannon who was age 7 when her mom and I divorced. She was blonde and blue-eyed with a cute pony tail and would climb on my lap and say sweet things to me. “I love my Daddy” and “my Daddy can do anything.” I didn’t know honey from bee droppings when it came to girls. I didn’t know that sweet little girls grew up and became hellions. I was ignorant of teenager hell. Harley was three years older than Lucy and didn’t want her in her room and,

BAM – BANG Pork Chops were flying. Little Mama sent them to their room and fired up a Virginia Slim. “I’m soo embarrassed,” she said. “I don’t know what got in the girls. They are usually sweet girls.” Hmmm, I was beginning to doubt that. Later, Pat and I arrived home to see the only tree in our front yard decorated in white. “Somebody’s rolled our yard!” she exclaimed and fired up a cigarette. A cursing investigation revealed that Lucy had been in Harley’s room again and borrowed a sweater. Harley retaliated by throwing all of

January 6 - January 19, 2017

warned. Several days later, Harley returned and the blue Ford looked like a speckled guinea, white spots dotted the lower half. Little Mama fired up a Virginia Slim, twisted her hair and interrogated Harley. “Uh-uh, I parked near a construction site where there was some sand blasting,” Harley said. “If that’s true, why aren’t white specks on the top?” asked Little Mama. It wasn’t until years later we learned the truth: they were driving in the salty surf. “YEE HAW! GIMME AN-

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goal, plowed into the back of Julie’s car, and pushed it through the garage wall. The old Ford had finally come to a violent end. It was during this period that Little Mama developed her immutable rule regarding teenagers – never give a kid an equal break. Her teenage daughters sent Little Mama reaching for a Virginia Slim on many occasions, but it was nothing compared to what an upcoming Auburn Tigers game did to her psyche. By 6 p.m. on Friday evening, she was hot boxing cigarettes. By 9

p.m., she was racing to the bathroom with diarrhea. But it was Lucy skipping classes that sorely tested Little Mama’s resolve. We had no idea until the school counselor called and informed us. Little Mama developed a plan. She decided to go atomic. Each morning, she drove Lucy to the front door of Grissom High, marched her down the hallway and into the classroom. “This is my daughter, Lucy,” she announced to snickering class. “She isn’t responsible enough to attend class.” Talk about embarrassing her! She picked up Lucy in the afternoon, using the same method. Lucy begged her mother to stop and promised to never miss class again. And she didn’t. When a young high school thug drove up in front of our house with his thug buddies after being warned to stay away, Little Mama took action. She grabbed her grandpa’s old .32 revolver and charged out the front door, waving the pistol and swearing loudly. “GET OUTTA HERE YOU LITTLE S.O.B.S!” They peeled rubber fleeing the scene. I’m happy to report that both daughters graduated from college, Harley with a medical degree and Lucy with a Masters’. They are both married and have teenage girls, who are no doubt afflicted with the same dreaded curse their mothers had – teenage hell. The law of Karma is also an immutable law – what goes around comes around. Good luck ladies.

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Dog Barker

Zues As many of the Athens community and a few across the nation have heard, Zues has passed away. He was my “boy”, companion and service dog. He lived to be 8 years old. Will I have another service dog? Yes. In fact, I have already been blessed with an 8 month Border Collie. I will train another Great Dane also so I will have 2 service dogs and I don’t over work them. So, let me tell you how Zues lived. Zues was born in my home on 29 September 2008, and I had the privilege of watching him come into the world along with his siblings. In 2009, I was retired from the US Army and began my journey into the dog training field. During this time, Zues began to pay a lot of attention to me, like licking my arms and legs. I had no idea at the time, but I was becoming a type 2 diabetic. Within 6 months after I retired, I was informed I was a diabetic. I denied it at first. I even found myself in the Emergency Room being told I had to start taking medicine for the diabetes. All this time, Zues was becoming what I thought at first was overly obsessed with me, more adamant toward me, until one day when my glucometer was readPage 20

by Joel Allen ing 500 plus, and I was feeling terrible. A friend of mine told me that Zues was trying to tell me about my sugar levels. I thought he was nuts, but I began to pay attention to Zues’ actions when my sugar levels were high and low. When my glucometer was reading high, Zues was licking my finger tips, arms, or legs

muzzle and give me a direct look like I needed to pay attention. That probably saved me from being in a car accident a few times. I even learned through research that there was such a thing as diabetic service dogs also known as Diabetic Alert Dogs (DAD).

Zues and me after the gym

Mom and Zues (when I wore shorts). When my glucometer was reading below 100, he would paw at me or push me with his

Let me tell everyone: from the start, I never intended Zues to become a service dog. But Zues was born www.athensnowal.com

with the ability to detect sugar levels and was not trained for this. It was all natural for him. After I trained him for basic obedience, I began to test and ensure that he would act properly in public. As many of our community saw, he was very well behaved. So began our journey together for 7 years that he would serve me. Folks, having a service dog is such a blessing because with Zues, I almost always knew when I needed to take my insulin. Did he miss sometimes? Yes, but that would be due to different situations. Zues met a lot of people over the years. When people asked to pet him, I allowed it. For those who think I should not have, Zues was a big dog and I wanted to ensure if I became incoherent or unconscious he would not panic. I exposed

him to thousands of people over the years, and he still was able to do the job he served me for. Through me allowing him to meet different people, there are those here in the Athens area that found they were either prediabetic, diabetic, or even hypoglycemic (low blood sugar levels). I really got a kick out of him alerting on my Mom. I would hear her say things like “Tattle Tale,” “Snitch,” or “I know,” and the eyes rolled with that. But his Grandma loved him so much. Now I didn’t just throw a vest on Zues and walk him into the stores, restaurants, and hospitals. I made sure I was in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for service dogs. I found that there are quite a few people who are ignorant of this federal law passed by Congress, and I had to face different kinds of ignorant people in different places. However, I remained diplomatic, even to the point of a Huntsville Police Sergeant threatening to arrest me. That was a shock for me because I believe if someone holds the position of supervi-

January 6 - January 19, 2017

Dog Barker (continued)

Zues sor, they should be well aware of the law. But, I lived through that and learned. As the years passed, Zues would go to different functions and places with me. Athens Walmart was one of our favorite places. Another place we frequented was the Madison Planet Fitness as seen here with us leaving after a workout. We were asked to speak at different events, and at one we advocated for service dogs through a Boy Scout meeting at a friend’s church. Our last event together was the Athens 2016 Christmas Parade. We rode on the back of Maggie Chandler’s parents’ truck, representing her dog sitting business called “It Takes A Village.” During the last part of the parade, I saw my mom

by Joel Allen in the crowd, and she videoed us going by. When I said “There is Grandma,” it shows him popping his head up looking for mom. On 9 December 2016, I was having Zues reevaluated for a class 2 heart murmur he had been diagnosed with in December 2014. Apparently, the excitement was too much, and he went into cardiac arrest at the vet’s office. The vet did all he could, but Zues passed on. Let me tell you all, there is life after death for a dog. Some of my readers will know what I am talking about. On the night of 19 December 2016, I thought I heard Zues barking in the backyard, and of course, when I looked he was not there. (No, my cheese has not slid off my cracker, yet.) Later that night, I heard his dog tags rattling, and I awoke. I went to

where the noise was coming from, and I promise that the noise came from where his ashes were in a box, sitting on top of his collar and tags in a beautiful velvet bag given to us by Paws Memorial. The next day, I had a pain block procedure done where they put me under. When I awoke in the recovery room, my mom said I kept talking about Zues

being there and I even “Remember to love your pointed to where he dogs because they love was. She said I kept you. Maybe not the way talking about him beyou want them to, like ing a good boy. chewing up your favorite So, I know that he is shoes or what not, but that with me, even now. is just love chewing. Be I look forward to the thankful for the time you day we meet again. have with them always.” Another treasure in Joel and Zues Allen Heaven for me.

256-651-2211

Boy Scout meeting

Maggie and Zues at the parade January 6 - January 19, 2017

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Medical Update

Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques: Which One is Best For You? by Drs. Lynn and Lorie Hedgepeth A Chiropractor’s primary focus is on the musculoskeletal system—the spine—and it’s correlation with the nervous system. Chiropractors believe that many health systems are a result of spinal misalignments called subluxations. Correcting these subluxations will enable the nervous system to perform in the correct manner and strengthen immunity. When you decide to visit a chiropractor, there are many different adjusting techniques

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that he/she may use to correct this subluxation. Here are just a few (of many) techniques that a chiropractor may use: Spinal Manipulation: The most widely known and used chiropractic procedure. The doctor places his hands on the spinal area that needs to be adjusted and then proceeds to deliver a quick thrust to correct the subluxation. Manipulation resets the position of the spine and its muscular support so that optimal function can be attained. After spinal manipula-

tion, the patient may notice a greater range of motion and reduction or elimination of pain. Extremity adjusting of areas of the hand, wrist, shoulder, elbow, knees, ankles, and feet may also be performed. Instrument Adjusting: Sometimes instead of the chiropractor using his hands, he will use an instrument to perform the adjustment. There are many different instruments available that chiropractors use but one of the main ones used is called an activa-

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tor. The chiropractic positions the vertebrae and joints in a manner for healing and pain reduction. The pressure from the activator is normally gentle and painless. This is a wonderful technique to use on elderly patients, babies and others who just do not wish to hear the sound produced from a spinal manipulation. Pressure Point / Trigger Point Release: Pressure joints are knots in the muscle fibers. The constant contraction in the muscle fibers

restricts circulation to the area, depriving it of essential nutrients and causing the build-up of toxins. Pressure points are known to cause headaches, neck, jaw and low back pain. The release works by applying steady pressure to the knotted muscle fiber, which stretches it and increases the circulation to the contracted tissue. Whatever technique you prefer, find the chiropractor that works best for you!

January 6 - January 19, 2017

Foreman’s Forum

Don't Buy A Cheap Gun! by Paul Foreman

Not all handguns are equal; not by a long shot (pun intended). Yes, I know that some of us cannot afford to buy the best, highest quality gun out there. How much is it really going to cost you, when you need to defend yourself and your cheap gun fails?

making these guns difficult to use and shoot accurately. A heavy trigger pull found on cheap guns can make shooting accurately almost impossible. If you have questions about a gun you are considering for purchase,

when a gun is needed to defend your life. If I need a gun to defend myself, I do not like the idea that it “MIGHT” go bang when I pull the trigger. However, to train and practice seriously a quality gun is required. If

caliber will kick more! A few words about handgun calibers. Not all handgun calibers are equal. The smallest gun/ caliber we will recommend in our training is the .380 ACP. We strongly recommend .38 Spe-

I've had a few of my students bring a gun to my class, that was just NOT up to safe gun standards. Some revolvers I've seen in my class that are so cheap, the cylinder did not line up with the gun's bore. This defect causes problems, such as misfires, or results in lead shavings being propelled out to the side, actually striking anybody (such as me) standing nearby. Some semi-auto pistols have been brought to my class that are so poorly designed, they have rough, sharp edges that dig into the users hand, or the “safety” is so small and rough that it is very hard to engage or disengage. A safety that is hard to use is NOT safe! At today's prices, the $400 price range and up is what you need to spend on a well made, reliable handgun. Low-cost handguns are, in our experience, poorly manufactured, designed and/or made of cheap metal. They are also generally unreliable and unable to endure sustained use. Such cheap firearms often have very poor triggers and/or safety levers and other features,

munition is not allowed in my training. Use of reloaded ammunition can, and in our experience, usually does result in malfunctions and delays. If you use reloaded ammunition, you are probably not only voiding the factory warranty for your gun, but you are increasing the chance of an ammunition mishap of some kind. Full metal jacket ammunition is REQUIRED for training and target practice. Solid lead bullets do not perform as well, make a dirty mess of your gun and will adversely affect how your gun functions during this type of training.

please call me FIRST! Too often we have seen students bring low-cost handguns to class and then struggle with the guns and endure unnecessary and preventable difficulties during the live fire training. These situations often lead to the entire class being delayed, while the student and/or the instructor devotes precious time and effort dealing with a poorly made, unreliable, unsafe, difficult to use and overly bothersome low-cost handgun. A low-cost gun might be better than no gun at all

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you want the training we provide but do not have a suitable handgun, let us know. We can usually provide (rent) a suitable handgun for the live fire portion of the training. We suggest that if you value your life – the only life you have – and want to learn to use a handgun for self protection, please save your money as quickly as you can and purchase a quality, well made handgun. I have had ladies call me and say they want a small light weight gun so it doesn't kick. WRONG! Small guns of the same

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cial and 9mm as a minimum caliber, but if you insist, you may complete our courses with a .380. Shooting their 380, my students could not tell the difference when I let them try my 9mm. Calibers larger and more powerful than .45 ACP are generally not acceptable for use in self defense training. Larger, powerful calibers can be difficult to shoot for a number of reasons and are best used for hunting or other recreational shooting, not personal defense. The use of reloaded am-

My advise is to stick with “name brand” ammunition. There is one brand in the stores right now that is manufactured in and owned by the government of Russia. Do you really want to support the Russian government? Please get trained properly so you can protect yourself and your loved ones. Have a SAFE and Happy New Year! Paul Foreman: Is a retired Deputy Sheriff, from Lee County Florida. Paul is a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor For further information about Firearm's Training, Paul can be reached through e-Mail at Captureman@PaulForeman.com or his web site, www.PaulForeman.com or by Phone at 256-431-6702

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