Issuu

July 19th - August 1st, 2019

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

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

Special Feature Driven Security: Protection With Purpose... Shea Pope and Jonathan Barksdale are guys who are successful entrepreneurs, and between them have owned several businesses... Page 5

From The Vets' Museum

The S K Salon: Curls Night Out And So Much More By Ali Elizabeth Turner I have always known Sandee Kranz, the owner of The S K Salon on Hwy 72 near Lowe’s, to be a woman of great love and fierce faith, as well as fabulous skills with Continued on page 15

Modern Woodman Of America: Benefits Born From A Brotherhood

Rest in peace brother, we have the watch… We say a sad farewell to Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer First Class Ron Thrift... Every once in a while someone comes along that is unforgettable... Page 10

Horse Whispering Presence... What a spectacular display of fireworks on the Fourth of July! Enjoying a cup of hot tea (with a little ginger root) on my porch was... Page 13

July 19 - August 1, 2019

The S K Salon staff:

(L-R) Front: Hannah Pierce, Caitlyn Owens, Sandee Kranz Back: Brittany Robinson, Makenna Lewis

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Amber Dunlap, FIC

Financial Representative Modern Woodmen of America

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From the time Amber Dunlap was in the first grade, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. Education was in her blood, and at the time the only option that seemed to be available was being in a traditional public school system. Amber worked hard, got good grades, and graduated from Auburn University with a de-

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July 19 - August 1, 2019

Publisher’s Point

My Own Private Bicentennial

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 Anna Hamilton Sandra Thompson Jackie Warner Roy Williams Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Tim Lambert Deb Kitchenmaster

It seems like we have been celebrating bicentennials here in our great state of Alabama for several years now, and I am glad because it is an important part of our history, which will only happen once. I say, “for several years” somewhat tongue-in-cheek, only because it has taken that long to make sure that we covered everything -- Limestone County’s Bicentennial, Athens’ Bicentennial, and Alabama’s Bicentennial. Well, I have a personal, private Bicentennial-plus-one that I would like to share with you: this marks the 201st time that I have had the pleasure of producing Athens Now. For those of you who are not

familiar with the story of the paper, Athens Now was born in mid-summer of 2007, and was the “baby” of Wayne Huff and his wife Deborah. Wayne had been a part of the newspaper business for decades, and his uncle had been the founder of Thrifty Nickel. It was Deborah’s first newspaper gig, but she did know sales, and together they found and formed a staff that cranked out a paper every week. I don’t know how they did that, honestly. Frankly, I don’t think I could have handled the stress. Twice a month is plenty, thank you! Eventually they began to produce the paper two times a month, and for years it has been published each time on the first and third Friday, bar none. Deborah felt the need for Athens Now to have a tag-

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets' Museum . . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health & Fitness . . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . . 22

July 19 - August 1, 2019

December 4 — December 17, 2009

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Oh how we've evolved! Inaugural issue for Jonatham Hamilton at the design and layout helm. Dec. 4th 2009

line, and as a praying woman, she “called Home” and felt that the answer she received was “Information and Inspiration.” I do believe it was indeed an inspired choice, and it has become the litmus test for each edition. No matter how crazy, frustrating, or “houseof-cards-game-of-Jenga” it has seemed at times trying to make the deadline, if there is one thing we have always tried to do, it has been to bring information and to inspire. In February of 2010, Wayne and Deborah contacted me about the prospect of writing for them. Originally they had contacted Jerry Barksdale, who knew at the time that he could not do it, but, in imitable Barksdale style, he said, “But I just met someone who can.” Wayne and I went out for a life-changing breakfast at Cracker Barrel that rolled over into lunch time; we talked about everything from fixing people to the planet to politics, and a friend who observed us for part of the time said, “I didn’t want to interrupt—it looked intense.” Intense. Now, there’s a word. Everything about Wayne was intense, and sometimes his vision and drive made my eyes glaze over. I loved him like a brother, and cancer took him from us last summer. I am comforted by the fact that I know where he is, and I know I will see him again. That vision and drive brought him to the place that he felt it was time to sell the paper in order to pursue an online endeavor, and Wayne felt he could trust us with the paper he and Deborah had worked so hard to build. My husband, Steve, felt that I was up to the task of becoming a publisher,

even though I had no previous experience. The man had no idea that the learning curve for me was going to be so brutal that for years every time “Pub (Publication) Week” rolled around, I thought I was going to throw up. I think he had more than one night when he thought, “What have I done?” But, one of the things that I love about him is that at heart, Steve Turner is a coach, and he believed in me more than I believed in myself. He and Wayne both told me that they knew I could do it, and I am glad I borrowed their faith.

So, it is now July 19, 2019, and tomorrow we celebrate the fact that 50 years ago, a whole lotta folks in Rocket City helped put America on the moon. For me, I am celebrating the fact that Wayne, Deborah, and Steve launched me into a career for which I had never searched. I have been blessed by a creative, hard-working crew, faithful clients, people who come up to me almost weekly to tell me how much they love the paper, readers from more than 24 countries, and the freedom of the press as guaranteed by the Constitution. It is indeed my own private bicentennial, and I am grateful to my Savior for giving me a shot. And, dear Athenians, please know that the love and honor I feel for being able to tell your stories is endless. Here’s to 200 more, plus one!

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

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All Things Soldier

A New Space Race? by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Here in Rocket City, we have spent the week celebrating what is inarguably one of the most remarkable things man has ever done: get to the moon, land on the moon, and return to earth safely. Tomorrow it will have been a full half-century since close to 400,000 people came together to make Apollo 11 a success. In terms of aviation history, not much else since has been able to compare. When we lived out in Gurley, we had a tree service and had an account to clear some property that had been purchased by a man who had been part of the event. As he spoke

of it, it was almost as though there was some grief over the fact that for the rest of his career, nothing else ever came close. Apollo 11 changed lives in ways that no one could have foreseen. As a side note, if you have not yet had the chance to see the newest documentary on Apollo 11, you owe it to yourself. It’s called, not surprisingly, Apollo 11, and is produced by CNN. This has stunning and recently rediscovered footage of 70mm film taken from cameras mounted on the landing module that has been incorporated into the body of the

film, and what was moving to me as I watched it was the vulnerability of the documentarians as they revealed that they wept the first time they saw it. The footage was pristine, and oddly made you feel like you were coming down the ladder right behind Neil and Buzz. And, if you happen to be a person who believes we never landed on the moon in the first place, I think you’ll have a hard time continuing with your premise after seeing Apollo 11. Seeing it will make you proud to be an American and that JFK’s dream was realized.

This leads to the more important point and the actual set of thoughts to be considered in this Soldier. Historians will tell you that while JFK might have had an explorer’s heart, there was something else with which he was having to wrestle when he told us, accurately, that we would be on the moon within the decade. It was the time of the Cold War, he knew that the USSR would take it to space if they could, and in order to defend America, we would have to quickly get to the surface of the moon which Buzz Aldrin described as “magnificent desolation.”

What no one anticipated was that the Chinese would become the first to officially form a Space Force, and experience tells us that nations who subscribe to the philosophy of communism typically need to be taken seriously. So, once again, it looks like we are going to have to scramble to catch up, and I believe we should, we can, and we will. On the 4th of July, President Trump presented a moving tribute to our nation, its history, and its branches of service. He also resolutely told us that indeed we shall have a Space Force, a sixth branch, the first since the Air Force was formed in 1947. About a year ago the President instructed the Pentagon to begin to put it together, and it is to be ready for rollout by 2020. And while it seems like history is trying to repeat itself, as is often the case, I think we should, as a nation, get behind the formation of the Space Force. If it turns out we don’t end up needing to protect ourselves from the Chinese or anyone else, then in my view, what we learn about space will be worth the cost. The arguments against are the same as when we landed on the moon 50 years ago, and are variations on the theme of “that money could have been used for the poor.” The more things change, the more they remain the same… wouldn’t you agree?

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July 19 - August 1, 2019

Special Feature

Driven Security: Protection With Purpose by Ali Elizabeth Turner Shea Pope and Jonathan Barksdale are guys who are successful entrepreneurs, and between them have owned several businesses, both here and in other states. And while they are savvy businessmen who are aware of market trends and strategies, what is more important is that they are husbands and dads with fierce hearts led to protect their own as well as other peoples’ families.

Than Price “Being parents of a combined nine children between three families, we are aware of the statistical figures in most shooting incidents. Our children all attend various schools in our state. It has been our personal mission to keep our own and other children safe. DRIVEN strives to do this by ensuring highend security in our collective homes and businesses.

In 2016, they started DRIV- In 2016, our locally owned EN Security, a digitally- and operated partnership based security and prevention created cutting-edge access service which can be cus- control software to meet this tomized for homes, churches, businesses, and more. Some of what has driven Shea and Jonathan is the tragic presence of school and church shootings in our culture. They, along with their other partner Justin Harrison, have chosen as their company’s focus to provide the best electronic security systems at the best possible prices to the Justin Harrison and family most people. This is realized through the growing need. In 2018, we use of state-of-the-art plat- then started to source securiforms. ty devices ourselves with the DRIVEN Security says of themselves:

We aim to provide products and services that are in line with our core values: ● Fill a Major Need for Our Customer ● Always Go Above and Beyond ● Be About Quality Rather

plan of integrating our solutions under one company. Our aim was and is to Protect with Purpose. Now we have leading partnerships with Alarm.com, Eagle Eye Networks, Verkada, Ever Safe USA, Agape Tactical, AVTech, and AlertUS. At DRIVEN, we are accountable to you and each other. We

take ownership of the process and product for your security. We are an Alabama company priding ourselves on making a difference by doing business the right way.

existing cameras, as well as bridge current hardware to save costs when possible

Our company listens to your needs and preferences. We make sure that we will be able to meet them through our services. If we cannot for some reason, we will tell you and help you find the solution that

• No software means that accessibility is without bounds, and views can be made on almost any device • There are flexible storage plans for up to 30 days, and you choose the storage option you need Other DRIVEN op-

All the fancy tools and jargon is good, but if you were to sit down across from Shea and Jonathan and see their visible concern, especially for children’s safety, you would understand that investing in

Jonathan Barksdale and family Shea Pope and family is best suited. We stand behind our products and offer a no-hassle return policy. Our products are warrantied and our partners/affiliates back us up with extended customer service and support. Our business, in a nutshell, is to treat your home or business the way we would want ours treated.” Powerful “cyber-members” of DRIVEN’s service line-up are their cloud video surveillance products. There are several from which to choose, and here is what makes them so attractive: • Cloud surveillance affords you the flexibility to keep your

July 19 - August 1, 2019

• You can see all your sites in one place, and access your cameras anywhere

kinds of emergencies. What he would like to see is a standardization of protocols and impartation of skills so that schools can have a much more secure and predictable way to deal with situations that are highly insecure and entirely unpredictable.

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tions include integrated access control and critical infrastructure alert monitoring; and another popular system is the intrusion alarm. They have packages for new alarm signups that include a thermostat and doorbell camera for free. Shea told me that home and business owners especially love the intrusion alarm systems, DRIVEN can also configure packages that can utilize mass notification equipment and temperature sensor equipment, which are most helpful in school situations or fires. Shea says that he has been to almost every school system in the state of Alabama, and is dismayed at how illprepared schools are for all

security at school, your business, or starting with your own home is one of the best ways you will ever be able to spend your money. Call them today at (256) 434-8086 for a no-obligation assessment of all your security needs. You and your family will be able to breathe…and sleep… easier.

Driven Security

105 S. Marion St Athens, AL 35611 o: 844.237.4836 c: 615.772.7171 shea@drivenlocks.com www.drivenlocks.com Page 5

Calendar of Events Second Sundays On The Square

Businesses will be open from 12pm-4pm on these Sunday afternoons for local residents and out-of-towners alike to come enjoy what downtown Athens has to offer during the weekends. For more information contact Merritt Malone at 256-777-7519 or merritt5485@gmail.com

Houston Memorial Library and Museum SUMMER HOURS

101 North Houston Street in Athens. Tue, 9am-6pm • Wed and Thurs 9am-2pm • Fri - Closed • First Saturdays - 9am-12pm. 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.

Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival July 18-20 & 25-27

309 East Forrest Street, at the corner of Beaty and Forrest Street across from Athens Middle School. 6:30-9:30PM. Tickets are $0.50 each, 1 ticket for each ride. Concessions available.

Summer Concert Series Matt Prater & Friends July 19

Singing on the Square on the Marion Street side of the Limestone County Courthouse in downtown Athens from 7-9PM. Come early and enjoy the shops and eateries then kick back in your camp or lawn chair for an evening of music hosted by Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association and sponsored by Jimmy Smith Buick GMC. Free admission. 256232-5411 or VisitAthensAL.com/singing-on-the-square

Fridays After Five July 19

Athens Main Street in downtown Athens with shops staying open late, dining specials, activities for the family from 5-8PM.

2nd Annual Gas and Oil Show July 19 & 20

School Supply Stuff-A-Bus July 20

With LCCI at Staples, 1036 U.S. 72E in Athens. 9:00AM5:00PM. In coordination with Alabama Tax Free Weekend. Items requested: Book Bags; No 2 Pencils; Blue and Black Ink Pens; Crayola Washable Markers; 1"-1.5" 3 Ring Binders; Pencil Pouch; 24 Count Colored Pencils; Wide- & CollegeRuled Composition Notebooks and Looseleaf Paper; 24 Count Crayons; Highlighters; Glue Sticks; Large Erasers.

Bundles of Hope Fundraiser Dinner July 20

With TLC's Courtney and Eric Waldrop of "Sweet Home Sextuplets" at the Limestone County Event Center. 114 West Pryor Street in Athens. 6:00PM-9:00PM in support of Huntsville Hospital Neonatal ICU. Silent Auction, Dinner, and stories from the Waldrops. Tickets at Eventbrite.com

Will Haney Foundation Race Of Champions July 26

5K Run/Walk. USATF certified race. Sign in 7pm, Run/Walk 8pm, Awards 9pm. Water and refreshments will be provided onsite. $25 registration. Register online at www.imathlete. com/events/whfroc5k2019 Open to all ages. For more information contact Heather Haney at willhaneyfoundation@ gmail.com, Joe Sanford at 256-777-3160 or Sharon Haney at 256-777-3034. willhaneyfoundation.org

Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days August 2 & 3

20147 Elkton Road in Athens. 7:00AM until ?. All makes, models and years of tractor and farm equipment will be on display and demonstrated. Friday features a 20 mile tractor ride starting at 10:00AM. Kids will enjoy activities including a Pedal Pull Competition. Get revved up with the Parade of Power then enjoy the Fast Crank Competitions, Slow Races, Chain in the box and more. Fish Fry on Friday at 5:00PM. Concessions and vendors too. Admission is $5.00; Children 10 & Under Free. Call for more information: 256-431-6226 or 256-206-5926.

Candlelight Antiques. 26015 Upper Elkton Road in Elkmont. 8:00AM-5:00PM each day featuring a variety of antiques and collectibles. Questions: Robbie McDowell 256-206-5718.

2nd Annual Mud Volleyball for a Cure July 20

With County for A Cure at Swan Creek Park. 100 U.S. Highway 31N in Athens. 8:00AM-5:00PM Benefiting Relay for Life. Players: $20.00 ea. Page 6

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Spaghetti Meal at the Vietnam Veterans of America Building 3rd Monday Monthly 17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m. Cost is $8. Eat in or carry-out. Profits fund scholarships for local students. Please call ahead for group carry-outs or more info 256-431-3213.

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Serve Day And Stonehaven by Ali Elizabeth Turner Last week, several churches in the area were involved in what is one of the best days, or in some cases, best weeks of the year -Serve Day. Nothing energizes Mayor Ronnie like being able to give a good report about good stuff that is going on in Athens-Limestone County, and it seems that Serve Day gets better every year. Many local churches came together for all kinds of projects: walls were built at Family Resource Center, there was cleaning and painting at LCCI (Limestone County Churches Involved), free car washes, bottles of water and trail mix given out, free haircuts given, and more selfless acts too numerous to mention. “It’s one of the things in Athens I am most proud of; service above self,” said Mayor Ronnie. Then he read me a lovely quote by Mother Teresa: “Do small things with great love.”

going to spend time at the University of Edinburgh, and in Edinburgh will get to meet Ellen Wong, the Consul General. She is in charge of all American Citizen Services there. The “twining team” will also get to visit Parliament in Edinburgh. wonderful opportunity,” said the mayor. It’s the first time he has flown internationally since he came home from Vietnam nearly 50 years ago.

of Scotland, originally, and it is because of her desire to get back to her roots that we have a sister city, as well as the opportunity to “bond across the pond.”

Another member of the goodwill team is Deborah Baird, who is the one that got the “twinning trip” going. Her people are from the area

The itinerary for the trip is a packed one, and they first fly into Boston, then to Glasgow, and will take a train to Stonehaven. They are

One of the things which Mayor Ronnie is especially looking forward to is having the chance to play golf in the land where the game was invented, and while it won’t be at the worldfamous St. Andrews course, for a serious golfer as is the mayor, just getting to play golf anywhere in Scotland is a dream come true.

Stonehaven has a population of 11,500 and is run by a man by the name of Phil MillsBishop. Mr. Phil will take them to visit castles as well as give them the opportunity to participate in a sporting clay tournament. And I am quite sure he will see to it that Stonehaven will do its best to upstage the hospitality shown to them when they were here this spring, all with a good spirit. I did my best to give the mayor some international travel tips before we prayed, and then it was time once again for Ronnie to roll.

We moved on to the topic of the upcoming “twinning trip” to Stonehaven, Scotland. Several people are going, and they are all paying their own way. Among the team members are Dr. Trey Holladay of the Athens Public Schools, and one of the things Dr. Holladay is going to look into is the possibility of setting up student exchange programs between the two cities. “The beauty of this trip is the education, arts, history; what a

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Slinkard On Success

Remember Those Goals by D. A. Slinkard

Can you believe how quickly this year is going by? I am blown away at the rapid speed as we approach 2020. It is a great time to reflect upon how your 2019 is going? Are you happy with what you are seeing? Dissatisfied? Have you taken the time to think about the direction in which your year and your life are heading? If not, I hope this is a subtle reminder to get your mind and thought process back where it should be. When was the last time you visited your desires for or your goals you planned to accomplish in 2019? Has it been a few months? Have you given up on your goals? Are you aimlessly going about your day constantly reacting unsuccessfully to life? If so, now is your chance to hit that reset button and get the train back on the 2019 tracks to success. I have found in my own life that if I stop writing down my goals, I am more likely to get distracted from what I need to accomplish and find myself searching for ways to get back on track.

accomplish them this year. However, this is just a form of deception because we end up forgetting about the goals. This is why we are going to start today writing our goals down in our notebook, and we are going to write them two times per day -- once in the morning and once at night. Now you may be thinking this is too much, but if this is your thought process, just how truly serious were you about achieving your goals? Who do you think has more of a chance or an opportunity to achieve their goals -- the person that writes them down once at the beginning of the year or the person that writes them down twice daily? It is a no-brainer and should alle-

viate any doubt you would have towards this system. The issue comes in because writing your goals down twice per day takes some discipline. You are going to need to force yourself to do it; you are going to need to set aside some time each day to make sure you are writing those goals down, once in the morning and once in the evening. Once you make this into a habit, you will begin to look forward to writing in your notebook. The more attention you give your goals, the more energy will begin to flow toward your success. I compare it to a snowball -- in the beginning the snowball is rather small, but as you build momentum, your snowball/ success will begin to grow.

Your goals will change over time because when you accomplish one goal, it will be time to add another. Just think of all the things you can achieve; but it requires you to begin by writing them down. I will never forget the old Chinese proverb that says, “The Journey of 20,000 miles begins with one step.” Starting your goalwriting process today will be the first step in your journey, and to continue to achieve success, the focus becomes on just taking that next step. There will be times you will want to give up; you will want to focus in on the pain, the difficulties of achieving your success; but I am telling you do not focus on those distractions. You need to fo-

cus on taking just another step -- step by step -- and you will achieve your goals. Too often in life we fail to accomplish our goals and fulfill our dreams because when they do get hard, when the times do get difficult, we focus our attention on the wrong things. I have been guilty of this many times; instead of thinking of the rewards at the end when I achieve my goal, I’ve thought about the temporary discomfort I experienced while striving to reach my goal. I believe not hitting the goal will cause more discomfort than any short-term obstacle could cause. Your turn… what goals will you write down?

I am going to urge you starting today to take a notebook and begin writing your goals for what you want to achieve this year into this notebook. Too often we write our goals at the beginning of the year and the next time we think about them is when the next new year comes around. We think about our old goals and then want to make them new goals because we know we will definitely

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

Rest in peace brother, we have the watch… We say a sad farewell to Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer First Class Ron Thrift by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum Every once in a while someone comes along that is unforgettable, and if you ever met Ron Thrift, you know he was one of those people -quite contrary and outspoken, but you always knew exactly what was on his mind. Ron came to us a few years ago through the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) program; we knew right away he was something unique! After his TARCOG job was over, he stayed on as a volunteer, which happens quite often here. Ron Thrift was born in Hueytown, AL in 1940. After graduating from high school in 1957, he decided to join the Navy. The Navy made him an electrician, and he was responsible for controlling the propellers on an old diesel

submarine known as the USS Amberjack. The USS Amberjack (SS522) was a Tench-class submarine and was actually the second sub the Navy named for the Amberjack, a fish found in the western Atlantic.

One of Ron’s favorite stories to tell was about the time the Amberjack was on maneuvers and they had the sub going at full speed and broke water at a 43 degree angle (the normal surface degree angle is 5). He

said they almost hit a destroyer and had they not landed correctly, people could have been killed. Ron was also aboard the Amberjack during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The USS Amberjack was decommissioned at Key West in 1973. After six years in the Navy, Ron decided to get out and try something else. He left the Navy as an EMS1 Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer First Class. He became a police officer in Birmingham and often talked of the challenges of the job during the civil rights movement. He decided that was not for him. Ron then became a card deal-

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er and often regaled us with tales of his travels around the U.S. working in various casinos from Vegas to Wyoming. He said he had lived in about 19 different states in his life and was proud of the fact that he has visited all of the Civil War battlefields. Ron loved teaching children and adults about our military history and that was evident in the way he conducted his tours. Ron was also very proud of his family and spoke highly of them often. He was laid to rest at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. Ron, you missed!

will

July 19 - August 1, 2019

PlayAction Sports

Summer Vacation? Not For Everybody 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

Most kids may be out of school, but local athletes stayed the course during the summer months. More honors were also bestowed on players, coaches, and the schools they represented since last month’s column. Ardmore's Sydney Hall and L.B. Smith; Athens High's Gracie Green, Mary Grace Anderson, and Anna Carder; and East Limestone's Olivia Crouch were part of the Class 5A-7A All-Area softball team. Honorable mention went to Maddie Hodges of Ardmore; Olivia McCurry and Morgan Stiles of Athens; and Rylie Grisham, Kaci Sharp, and Mallory Jo Mitchell of East Limestone. The AHSAA released their yearly report on fines and ejections. Athens Bible School, Clements, and Lindsay Lane were among the 99 schools across the state that went the entire year without either one. James Clemens' Drew Bell was named as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Girls' High School Coach of the Year for the state of Alabama. This put him in the running for National Coach of the Year to be announced later this month Athens' Ally Williams finished at number five at the Women's Stroke Play Championship in Oxford recently. The Mississippi State signee posted a score of 235, climbing from ninth place. Williams also posted a third-

July 19 - August 1, 2019

place finish at the Alabama Girls State Junior Golf Championship at Goose Pond Colony with a two-over 74. It was her second straight top-three finish in that tournament. The Limestone Hammers won the Dizzy Dean junior state baseball title back in June, defeating Huffman in three straight games. The team advanced to the World Series in Southaven, Mississippi where they started with a 5-1 victory over Lil Jimmy B's before being sent to the loser's bracket after a 9-7 loss to the Grenada Rec All Stars. There they defeated the Southaven All Stars 24-6 and then were eliminated in the semi-finals by the Huffman All Stars 6-3. The Limestone Legends started play in the Dizzy Dean 10U World Series on July 13 with a 7-2 victory over the Huffman All Stars, then followed that up with an 8-3 win over Summerville. The Athens Gators swim team won the District 1 Championship on July 9, finishing with a combined score of 462.5. Sheffield was runner-up with a 292, while Florence was third

with a 282.5. The Gators also posted a combined third place with a score of 1345.5 at the RACE League Championship in Sewanee, Tennessee, on July 16. The women's team came in second, while the men were at the fifth spot. Their final meet will be at the ARPA state championships in Opelika July 26-27. The 23rd Alabama High School Athletic Association North-South All-Star Sports Week has been going on this week in Montgomery. Local athletes on various rosters included Tommy Murr (Lindsay Lane-basketball), Austin Harvell (East Limestonebasketball), Aubrey Todd (ABS-softball), Sydney Hall (Ardmore-softball), Abigail Baker (Clementsgirls’ golf), Mackenzie Davis (ABS-volleyball), Alex Rainer and Dallas Burkes (James Clemensboys’ tennis), Guy Greenhaw (Athens-cross country). Athens’ April Marsh will coach the North volleyball team. Football season will be starting back up next month. Our 2019 tentative streaming football schedule is as follows (subject to change):

08/22: Tanner vs. West Limestone 08/23: Clements vs. Elkmont 08/29: West Limestone vs. East Limestone 08/30: Clements vs. Tanner 09/06: James Clemens at Bob Jones 09/13: James Clemens at Huntsville (Louis Crews Stadium) 09/20: James Clemens vs. Florence 09/27: Elkmont vs. Lexington 10/04: James Clemens vs. Gadsden City 10/10: James Clemens at Grissom (Milton Frank Stadium) 10/11: East Limestone vs. Ardmore 10/18: James Clemens at Sparkman 10/25: James Clemens vs. Austin 11/01: James Clemens

2019 Athens Gators (courtesy photo) www.athensnowal.com

vs. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Games can be heard on your PlayAction Sports app, on your Amazon Echo device by saying, “Alexa, open PlayAction Sports” or online at www. pasnetwork.net beginning at 6:30 p.m. Announcements:

Youth fall baseball and softball registration continues through July 31 at the Athens Recreation Center. Baseball is for ages 5-13; softball is for 5-12. Cost is $50. For more information, call 233-8740.

The Athens High School Basketball Academy will be going on July 22-25 at the school. Cost is $85 per person. Register online at athenshighschoolsportscamps.com. For more information, call Eddie Murphree at 256874-7470 or Stace Tedford at 256-297-9249.

James Clemens is conducting various sports camps over the summer. Go online to jamesclemensathletics.com

UNA is having various basketball and softball camps over the summer. For more information on basketball camps, go online to unagirlsbasketballcamp.com. For softball, go to unasoftballcamp. com.

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Clean and Green

Are We Reaching You? by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

•

The main purpose for KALB’s existence is to provide tools to residents of Athens and Limestone County that will help them take better care of the 607 square miles we call home. The most important tool we can offer is information, and that’s our specialty. KALB is a great resource for information and presentations! Ruby McCartney, Recycling Plant Manager; Leigh Patterson, KALB Office Manager; and I have combined experience of 35 years with this organization. Invite one or more of us to your classroom, place of business, club or association meeting, and we can answer most questions about local recycling, litter abatement programs, how to handle properties in Athens with overgrown grass, weeds, and junk vehicles, and other issues. We have designed programs for preschoolers through 6th grade that cover a variety of topics. We have programs available to youth groups, such as scouts and churches. Specific programs have also been designed based on teacher/group leader requests. Preschoolers love visits from our mascot Sparky and The Talking Tree. Older kids enjoy playing Environmental Jeopardy with ques-

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tions geared to specific age groups. Would you like to learn how plastic is handled at our center and what happens to it after it is sold? We can provide presentations as well as tours. KALB also has a variety of books with environmental topics we would be happy to bring to your classroom and read to your young students. Here are just a few examples of what is available through KALB: • Preschool presentations with mascot, Sparky, or The Talking Tree • Elementary classroom presentations about the dangers of littering and importance of recycling. This can include a visit from Sparky for K and 1st grade. Also includes an opportunity for kids to become Student Litter

Patrol Officers. • Intermediate and middle school classroom presentations on recycling, danger of littering, and general environment. This can include a competitive game of Environmental Jeopardy. • Youth and adult club and organization presentations on recycling, environmental stewardship, and community service opportunities. • Story Time reading environmentallybased books geared to pre-school through 3rd grade

with useful information. Visit www.KALBCares.com • Check us out on Facebook: Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful and Twitter: @ KeepALBeautiful • Twice-monthly article in Athens Now (like this one!) • Monthly eNewsletters sent via email. (We NEVER share or sell email addresses and use them only for newsletter purposes.) Send us an email letting us know you’d like to receive them.

Newspaper, radio, and television news outlets We welcome you to drop by the KALB office or Recycling Center and speak with us about what we offer. Pick up brochures on the KALB organization, recycling, household hazardous waste, and other topics. We are proud of our organization and all that we offer, and we welcome the opportunity to talk about it!

• Tours – Recycling center and beyond! Other Ways We Share Information We are passionate about sharing information and we do it in many different ways. • Our website is packed

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Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com July 19 - August 1, 2019

Cooking with Anna

Two Pounds!!! by Anna Hamilton

So…two pounds…the scales at home say that I have gained two pounds! I don’t have a doctor’s appointment to weigh until next Wednesday, but still….TWO POUNDS. How does this happen? I try to stay on the straight and narrow. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a peanut butter sandwich? These two pounds can go one of two ways: 1. I throw my hands in the air, sit down with a tub of super chocolate ice cream and a bag of potato chips. This option has crossed my mind. I start second guessing my ability to see this through. Do I really have what it takes to go the distance? Will I be able to maintain this new way of eating and thinking of food for the rest of my life? 2. The second option is to keep pressing on…to remind myself that the number on the scale doesn’t always indicate failure. I need the reminder to celebrate “non-scale victories.” The number has gone up two pounds but my clothes are fitting much looser. I LOVE going shopping at thrift stores and went at the beginning of this month. I bought three pairs of pants in the size I’ve grown accustomed to, but much to my surprise, they are all too big! That’s a “non-scale victory” for sure! I’m going with choice #2. As much as I might like to eat a whole

pint of ice cream, what will that gain for me in the long run? What will I gain (besides more than two pounds) by throwing up my hands and walking away from health? Nothing! Taking the easy way and giving in to every little temptation is doing a grave disservice to myself and my family. By this time next week, those two pounds may be gone. But if they aren’t, I will keep my head held high. I will not self-sabotage and make myself feel less than because of what the scale says. I will keep plowing forward eating well and becoming a much healthier person for myself and my family. During the summer, we seem to always have delicious yellow squash. Whether we have bought it from the farmer’s market or someone we know has grown it in their garden, we always have some in the refrigerator ready to go. This week’s recipe is a delicious Summer Squash Taco Casserole. It’s a one-dish wonder that is sure to be a hit with your family. Feel free to substitute zucchini or eggplant for the yellow summer squash if you would like; that would be equally delicious! “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Recipe #14 Summer Squash Taco Casserole

What You Need:

2 cups summer squash, thinly sliced, length-wise One 14.5 oz. can diced tomato 1 onion, diced 1 bell pepper, diced 1 lb. ground beef 2 tsps. chili powder 1 ½ tsps. paprika 1 ½ tsps. cumin 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. garlic salt 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef until cooked. Drain any fat if needed. Add onions and peppers to ground beef and cook until tender. Add canned tomatoes

July 19 - August 1, 2019

and seasonings to cooked meat and simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes. Place the sliced squash at the bottom of at 9x13 inch baking dish. Place meat mixture on top of squash, sprinkle with grated cheese on top. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

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July 19 - August 1, 2019

Cover Story

The S K Salon: Curls Night Out And So Much More by Ali Elizabeth Turner

get $25 off their first color service. “This has been a good thing, both for the salon and our clients,” Sandee told me. The referral program is on until August 17, and more information is on S K’s Facebook page.

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hair and beauty. And, she has surrounded herself with a crew that reflects those same qualities. The salon, whose address is 1117 Hwy 72 E in Athens, is known as a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon. It is one of my favorite places to deliver, and I am always warmly greeted when I drop off copies of Athens Now. The Paul Mitchell system of salons has, as one of their core values, a requirement for each independently owned shop to do a “whole lot of givin’ back,” and that is one of several things that sets The S K Salon apart. By way of background, Sandee moved here from Tennessee with her family and graduated from Athens High in 1991. She married, had three kids, moved to Huntsville, worked, and got laid off, as well as divorced. She then decided to go to the Paul Mitchell training center, graduated, and worked at Bangs. Later she worked at the Stile Salon in Huntsville and fell in love with how involved they were with the community. Sandee knew that no matter where she worked, that same generous heart was going to have

July 19 - August 1, 2019

Another of Sandee’s great passions is to build a “true sisterhood of stylists.” She wants to reach out to other stylists, build relationships, offer education, and build community. Other events planned for the rest of 2019 are the launch of to be a part of any salon’s culture where she had a chair and clients. Sandee’s mom was actually the one who found the shop that was destined to become The S K Salon, and it had been the former location of Millar Chiropractic. The first time Sandee walked in, it just felt like it was the place to be, and she knew she was “home.” Since that time, and true to Sandee’s heart to bless the community, The S K Salon has raised money for the Noah Crowe Foundation, supported mission team trips, has been involved in Serve Day, Recentered.org, which is a res-

toration ministry for women, and Matt and Jana Pettus’ goal of raising money for adoptions. The S K Salon has a number of events planned for clients this summer, as well as the rest of the year. The first one is called Curls Night Out, and it will be held on July 29 from 6-8 p.m. The purpose of the class is to teach women of all colors about “the coolness of curls,” and how to enjoy the hair God gave them as a gift. Paul Mitchell has developed a line of products called Tea Tree Lavender Mint. Sandee, who has very curly hair, told me a story about a day that she pinned her hair up and went to do hair at a wedding. She then came back to the shop, and in front of a client with curly hair, Sandee “let her hair down,” sprayed it with the tea tree Wave Refresher, and scrunched it a bit with her fingers. The caliber of curls was so visibly impressive that the client bought a bottle right on the spot! Because The S K Salon is all about education as well as giving back, having a chance to teach women the ins and

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outs of how to crush it when it comes to curls is the purpose of Curls Night Out. The cost for the class is $20, and 100% of the proceeds go to charity. There will be a drawing at the end of the night for the entire line of the Tea Tree Lavender Mint products. This summer, The S K Salon has instituted a rewards program for clients who bring in other clients. If you make a referral and a new client comes into the shop for a color treatment, you receive $50 off of your color service, and they

their all-natural makeup line called Mirabella. That will be in September. October will be when Lindsay Lane Academy will have a beauty night that will be a fundraiser. In November there will be a client appreciation extravaganza, with prizes, drawings and giveaways at all the events. Sandee and the S K crew hope that you will be a part of it! Come and see what they are all about, and know that you will be walking out the door looking lovely and feeling loved.

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Health and Fitness

Go Catch Some Zs by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist In today’s world of busy, on-the-go life and so much technology at our fingertips, we seem to let unimportant things distract us, keeping us awake when we should be sleeping. Then we complain about feeling sluggish and worn out, having a lack of focus and/or forgetfulness, and being overweight. Our bodies are made to function in routine, fully rested, fueled, and exercised daily. Lack of sleep directly slows our bodies in numerous ways. Sleep could be the overlooked element keeping you from attaining your goals. Sleep is the key to many things. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, sleep must to be a priority. The correct amount of sleep not only benefits your mental state, it also directly helps your attention, energy level, weight, and more. Too much or too little sleep has even been shown to affect your lifespan. It is amazing that no matter what your goals are in life, sleep is a huge factor in how well you perform. Sleep has been proven to aide in creativity. It reorganizes and restructures your

thoughts which allows you to be more creatively productive. As an athlete seeking to step up your performance, sleep is one of the simplest things you can do to up your game because it improves stamina. Moms and dads, you may have already noticed the amount of uninterrupted sleep your children get drastically affects their mood, attention span, and academic performance. Kids tend to get more hyperactive with sleep deprivation while adults have the opposite response. So, when they are driving you crazy in the evening and your inclination is to have them do something active in order to wear them out more, maybe an early bedtime is actually the best choice to help your sanity and their health as well. Finally, when you are tempted to stay awake to meet deadlines, remember that a good night’s rest will do more for your productivity than trying to pull extra-long hours. Most of us do not mind finding easier ways to

drop a few extra pounds, and sleep is one thing that anyone can do to help this process. Those who go to bed and get an average of 8 hours of sleep each night have been proven to lose more extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. In turn, those who are sleep deprived tend to lose muscle mass and be hungrier. Stress and sleep both affect your cardiovascular health. Sleep is proven to aid in the reduction

of stress and blood pressure, which in turn lowers your chance of heart disease. Sleep is honestly a cornerstone in having an overall good quality of life. A good night’s sleep even helps you keep depression and anxiety at bay. By keeping a good sleep routine, you can lower irritability and have more emotional stability each day. It is important to get a good night’s sleep every night because it is

not something you can really “catch up on,” it should be maintained. You will find all areas of your life and your body itself will function better if you will go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each and every day…yes, even on the weekend. For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423805-0870.

256-434-7532 423-805-0870 www.getprimednow.com Page 16

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July 19 - August 1, 2019

Cover Story

Modern Woodman Of America: Benefits Born From A Brotherhood by Ali Elizabeth Turner

They’re part of local chapters which offer the chance to participate in fun, educational and community-minded events. Whether they’re raising funds for a family in need, planting flower beds for a fire department or visiting a regional attraction, members have many opportunities to get involved. One of Modern Woodmen’s most popular programs is the Matching Fund Program, which helps members make a larger impact in their community. Through the program, a portion of the dollars raised during a qualifying fundraising

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gree in elementary education. She got a teaching job, worked hard once again, loved her kids, but she was practically living at school in order to get all her work done. It was not at all unusual for her to put in 12-hour days, and as is currently the case with so many teachers, Amber was buying kids’ school supplies with her own money. She began to experience burnout, and didn’t know what to do -- she loved the kids, but couldn’t keep going the way she was. Amber had a relative who was working for Modern Woodmen of America, and he asked her during a school break to come with him to a few appointments “just to check it out;” and her new career was born. “I still do a lot of educating,” Amber told me, “but it’s just not in the elementary classroom.” For Amber, the decision to leave public school education was “the crucible,” and she struggled with her decision for a good while. Thankfully, because her financial firm (Modern Woodman of America is so much about giving back) she is once again in a position to strengthen teachers and kids through MWA’s various grant programs. As a BNI member, I can attest that in Athens she has reached out to non-profit organizations, such as Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful and Hospice of Limestone County, with the intent of assessing their needs and seeing what MWA can do to help meet them. Amber’s professional lifestyle of helping people to plan their financial future as well as invest in the well-being of the community demonstrates the foundational principles of Modern Woodmen of America. MWA goes all the way

July 19 - August 1, 2019

back to 1883, and was formed by an Iowa businessman by the name of Joseph Cullen Root. In that day, private, fraternal, mutual benefit organizations were the ones who cared for “orphans and widows,” and Root got the idea of calling his new group Modern Woodmen after hearing a sermon wherein the impact MWA gives Amber Dunlap ample opportunities to educate and bless North Alabama

of pioneers coming together to clear land in order to provide for their families was described in detail. He wanted to be a “woodman,” and was looking for others that would catch the vision and choose to join him. Here is how Modern Woodmen of America describes who they are and what they do: “What is a fraternal benefit so-

ciety? Well, it begins with fraternalism. Fraternalism brings to mind friendship, fellowship and camaraderie – all qualities that describe a fraternal financial services organization like Modern Woodmen of America. Modern Woodmen has members, not customers. Members enjoy benefits, such as college scholarship opportunities and disaster relief assistance.

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event will be matched by Modern Woodmen’s home office. Modern Woodmen’s greatest benefits are its financial products and services. From protection to saving to retirement planning, Modern Woodmen representatives help improve the financial strength and quality of life of members, their families and their communities. Modern Woodmen’s quality products, dedicated service and life-enriching member

benefits have helped make it the third largest fraternal organization in the United States. Proudly serving more than 750,000 members nationwide, the fraternal financial services organization has helped protect members’ financial security since 1883.” So, what does a “day-in-thelife of Amber Dunlap” look like? It can be anything from meeting with new or existing clients to see if their current plans truly meet their needs, finding ways to save them money, roll over their existing 401Ks or other plans to something that will indeed strengthen their financial future, or educating them so they can make informed choices that will truly benefit them. She is a big believer in the Golden Rule; she strives to treat her clients the way she would like to be treated if she were being called upon to navigate what can sometimes be the treacherous waters of financial planning and insurance. One of the things that I have come to appreciate about Amber is how willing she is to graciously educate people like me who tend to get intimidated by the world of finance. Amber’s day also often includes meeting with community leaders, businesses, and organizations to see if Modern Woodmen can be of help to their employees, projects, or events. Amber is kind, smart, and ready to help; therefore, I strongly suggest that you give her a call today at 256-221-4048 for a no-obligation appointment. You will be glad you did!

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Yoga And More by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 Yoga is a form of practice that originated in India centuries ago. There are several different schools, styles, and forms. In the Western world, yoga typically represents a modern form of Hatha yoga. The goals of Haṭha yoga were largely replaced by the goals of fitness and relaxation. Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting largely of asanas (postures), often connected by flowing sequences, sometimes supplemented by breathing exercises, and ending with a period of relaxation. Have you ever wanted to try yoga? This is your chance to get started!

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Athens State University – Center for Lifelong Learning is offering a Level One Class connecting postures (asanas) with breath, flowing from one posture to the next. The class includes standing and floor postures while elevating the heart rate to a moderate level. This means you will be breathing moderately but still able to speak. Bring your own mat, wear comfortable clothing. Classes are held at the Carter Gymnasium on the Athens State University Campus. The gym is located off Pryor Street. Classes are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30 a.m.

– 12:15 p.m. The classes are free.

– each day will be a brand new art adventure!

It is not too late to take in a summer camp before your children go back to school. You can register online at www.athens. edu/CLL or give us a call at 256-233-8260.

CSI for Kids, July 2326, 1-3 p.m.

Art Explorers, July 2225, Session 1: 9 a.m.noon (8-12 year olds) / Session 2: 1-3 p.m. (5-7 year olds) This camp focuses on each child’s creativity through the use of imagination and art mediums. Campers will discover different themes and various techniques to express themselves artistically. Be prepared to get messy

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This camp is a real whodunit! Join us as we investigate the latest techniques in forensic science. You’ll be amazed at the mysteries you can solve simply by using your keen eye, profiling skills, and analytical expertise! Be a modern-day sleuth, and put your detective skills to the test! RECOMMENDED AGE: 9+ years 3-D Art for Mommy & Me, July 29-August 1, 9-11 a.m. Children will work with a parent to create different 3-D projects made

from various materials, such as clay, papier maché, wood, yarn, paper, found objects and much more. Come and join us for a morning filled with fun and creativity! RECOMMENDED AGE: 5-7 years Creative Geniuses 3-D Art, July 29-August 1, 1-3 p.m. Children will work with a parent to create different 3-D projects made from various materials, such as clay, papier maché, wood, yarn, paper, found objects and much more. Come and join us for a morning filled with fun and creativity! RECOMMENDED AGE: 8-12 years

July 19 - August 1, 2019

The View From The Bridge

New Décor With Cents Or Maybe A Few Dollars… by Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters Is your home ready for a makeover but your financial budget says no because the piggy bank is empty? Yeah, I know, right! All those furniture pieces we bought years ago really did look great in our homes, but now it’s time for an upgrade -- out with the old and in with a new style of décor. Well, it is not that easy if you are like most of us who want the look we see on HGTV. I love watching all the home makeovers, dreaming about where I would place designer furniture, and, of course, choosing the newest wall colors. “STOP DREAMING!” I say to myself, waking up to realize this is a 60 minute TV show with lots of money and sponsors to get the job done. Spending a lot of money to bring your drab, dated, humble abode to life need not break the bank account! It’s doable with patience and a bargain eye to find purpose, or might I say re-purpose, for the look and style of décor you want. Yes, it does cost to do a home makeover, but I say go for it! You just need to know how to get what you want without using the credit/debit card.

really look, and then start the negotiations. No one really wants to take all that stuff back inside. 2. Know when the thrift stores have their percentage off sales, and get there early to claim your purchases. 3. Get off Facebook and check out online do-it-yourself websites, tutorials, and YouTube videos for ideas that won’t break the bank; start a Pinterest account, and pin the items that interest you. 4. Get remnants. They are perfect for recovering pillows,

banding drapes, comforters.

and

5. Don’t shy away from items that might need a little work such as painting, sanding, and just a little repair. 6. Rearrange what you already have; move things around to other rooms. Change it up! 7. Adding one new piece can make the difference. Incorporate word art and wood décor to your walls. 8. Get beautiful pieces in your home just by stepping out your front door. Tall birch tree limbs become art when propped against the

wall. 9. Trade items with your friends and neighbors; swap and shop with each other. 10. Declutter organize.

and

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/

Designer Deals on a sensible budget: 1. Get up early and catch the yard sales! Take your time to

July 19 - August 1, 2019

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Horse Whispering

Presence by Deb Kitchenmaster What a spectacular display of fireworks on the Fourth of July! Enjoying a cup of hot tea (with a little ginger root) on my porch was a refreshing way to simply sit back and enjoy the ‘oooohs’ and ‘ahhhhhs’ of the fireworks being shot off. That was, until I heard the distinct nicker of one of the mares. Grabbing a handful of carrots from the fridge, I headed out to the horses. The horses in the overnight pasture were peaceful and resting. The mare who got my attention simply did not like the booms she was experiencing from her paddock. The stallion was running back and forth, east to west, along the north side of his fence line. The day had been HOT and the humidity HIGH even as it turned from sunlight to moonlight. I’m not certain if this combination of heat and humidity created the surround sound that we were experiencing at our property or not, but truly it sounded like a REAL warzone. We’ve had several Fourth of July celebrations here at Corral Connections, but this one seemed to hold a different energy

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than those of previous years. Noteworthy also was the fact that the horses in the overnight pasture were being calm. Horses are social; having the support and presence of another of its kind is important to them. The stallion was in his own area, able to see the other horses, but not mingle (connect). The one mare was in her own paddock, also able to see the other horses but not mingle. I approached with soft, soothing greetings and the delight of some beta carotene (carrots) as a yummy distraction. My presence brought the support that each needed and the PEACE was as visible as dew dripping from a white vinyl fence in the early morning. I hope this stands out to you, dear reader. Do you realize your ‘presence’ is enough to steady, shift, and support those around you? I hope so. It’s true. Even in “crazy,” if you remain present in God’s presence, it is enough. Many times, actually more often than not, words aren’t spoken. Presence illuminates. Let me be clear, you need to

choose not to entangle with “crazy” and you need to choose to remain present. Many of us have had to choose to not go away INSIDE when things get messy, uncomfortable, or, like I said, crazy. When you choose to remain, things simply do NOT stay the same. Try it. You might get addicted to being present. I stayed with our equine friends until the fireworks were over. Although off in the distance there would be a spray of colored lights from time to time, all was well. I’m grateful because that’s not always the case. I sat in on a court hearing where fireworks had spooked a horse out in its pasture so much the gelding jumped the fence only to come into contact with a vehicle driven by a passerby. The horse was euthanized. Bottom line -- be awake, alert,

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and aware when it comes to the annual celebration in our beautiful America. Be there for your horses, dogs, friends, family, and veterans that are being challenged inside because of the sounds in the night air. Be PRESENT. Just BE. Presence simply means being there ‘in the moment.’ Not the past. Not the future. Present. I live around 600 miles from where my mother lives. One year I asked her, “Mother, do you want me to send you a present or do you want me to come and be present with you?” Her response was, “Debbie, come see me.” It’s only family that usually refers to me as Debbie, like Ron is to most and Ronnie to me; like Bob is to most and Bobby to me. Yeah, it’s a family thing!

the path of life; in YOUR presence is fullness of joy, at YOUR right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Can you imagine what your ordinary day would be like IF you were PRESENT on the path of righteousness that God Himself had appointed you; comparing you to NO ONE? The JOY! The PLEASURES of being, enjoying life, enjoying each other, enjoying your horse. “YOU” are a present to this earth because LOVE has given you a GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS. A gift is not earned or deserved, it simply is received. Enjoy!

Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections 256-426-7947 Psalm 16:11 in the Bible Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner says: “You will show me horsinaround188@gmail.com

July 19 - August 1, 2019

Mental Health Minute

Dissociative Identity Disorder (Formerly Known as Multiple Personality Disorder) by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor “It’s never me in the mirror…not really.” - Anonymous My hope for my readers is that by now you realize that mental health conditions exist on a continuum. Everybody feels depressed or anxious at times, but this doesn’t mean that a diagnosis needs to be made for clinical depression or generalized anxiety disorder. In this same way and to some degree, we all experience dissociation, or a lack of connection within the multiple aspects of ourselves. This can be described as feeling “unplugged” in some way. The most common example of a mild and common dissociation would be daydreaming. Or, have you ever been fully absorbed in a movie or book? Ever driven somewhere familiar without remembering much of the drive later? (There’s actually a term for that: highway hypnosis.) When dissociation becomes a more serious problem and interferes with the ability to perform activities of daily living, then dissociative identity disorder or DID may need to be considered. DID is defined as the presence of two or more distinct personality states, which alternate taking control. This can cause gaps

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in memory such as forgetting personal information or being able to recall everyday actions. Unfortunately, DID is the least researched mental illness, but knowledge about this disease is growing. A common misconception regarding DID is that the person affected has multiple personalities. The name was changed specifically because the term “personality” was misleading. To clarify, all the “identities” are part of a single person, with each identity being expressed as part of the whole. Those suffering with DID do not have more than one personality, but rather less than a complete personality. At one time, DID was considered a rare condition. According to the American Psychiat-

ric Association (APA,) the numbers show that the prevalence of DID is actually similar to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and more common than schizophrenia. DID isn’t always obvious, to the observer or the sufferer. Usually DID begins with the person being aware of memory lapses. And whether the person is aware of this or not, functioning ability remains pretty good. This means that DID can be difficult to diagnose, particularly because it can mimic other conditions and can exist with other disorders. The sad truth is that people with DID are in the mental health system about 7 years before their condition is correctly diagnosed! What we are learning now is that DID may

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be linked to childhood trauma. Dissociating is a way to escape feeling the impact of a traumatic event, and to “run away” mentally when it’s not possible to run away physically. Research is showing that the younger a person is when the trauma occurs, the more likely periods of dissociation transform into completely dissociated identities. One of the most recognized “celebrities” struggling with DID is former professional football player, Herschel Walker. Herschel presented as a very “normal” successful athlete and entrepreneur. As a child, he was bullied because he was overweight and stuttered. Herschel was able to deal with his tormenters by creating another person inside of himself. This person

was strong, did not give up, and became almost superhuman. This other person was Herschel’s coping mechanism to deal with the real pain he was feeling inside. Learning about successful people with DID can be helpful. According to Walker, “Whether it’s communication, whether it’s getting more information, or whether it’s just acknowledging that something is going on. I think that’s the brave part because once you’ve done that, you’re ready to go forward.” 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.

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The Alternative Approach

Thyroid Health And Iodine by Roy Williams In this article, you can learn how iodine can help with enhanced energy, weight loss, hair loss, and fatigue, plus decrease the risk of several types of cancer. Iodine may also help improve breast and prostate health and protect brain cells. If you are over fifty, you may remember your mother dabbing the yellowbrown liquid on a scratch or scrape. If you do remember, then you also remember the vicious sting that followed. Before the widespread use of synthetic drugs and antibiotics, iodine was recommended for everything from healing wounds and disease, destroying bacteria and viruses, to possibly even preventing cancer. Of course, you never hear them talking about iodine anymore. The Nobel laureate Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (18631986), the physician that discovered vitamin C, wrote: “When I was a medical student, iodine in the form of K1 [potassium iodide] was the universal medicine. Nobody knew what it did, but it did something and did something good. We students used to sum up the situation in this lit-

tle rhyme: “If ye don’t know where, what, and why, Prescribe ye then K and I.”

15) My calves are big. 16) My legs and ankles are swollen in the morning.

What doctors fail to tell you about iodine is that:

17) I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

1) Iodine is found in every single cell of your body.

18) My heart is weak, and I have a weak heartbeat.

2) Your hormones need iodine to perform.

19) My body temperature is below 97.8.

3) Iodine is essential for thyroid function. 4) Your immune system needs iodine to function.

6) Allergies and asthma

5) Iodine is a powerful antimicrobial.

7) And Parkinson’s disease.

6) Iodine is necessary for healthy breast tissue.

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide live in areas defined as iodine deficient by the World Health Organization, and our modern-day medical profession practically ignores the fact that iodine deficiency exist. Could the fact that iodine is a naturally occurring mineral that can’t be patented be part of the problem?

7) Iodine is crucial for brain development in babies. Iodine is essential to life. Without adequate stores of iodine, eventually, you may die. In the meantime, you can develop several diseases including: 1) Thyroid disease and goiter 2) Breast, prostate, ovarian, thyroid, pancreatic, and other cancers 3) Infertility, menstrual problems, and miscarriages 4) Fibrocystic breast disease; ovarian, pancreatic and thyroid cysts 5) Obesity

Robert Thompson, M.D., a specialist in iodine and thyroid health, says, “It’s heartbreaking to think how many children are growing up right now, mentally and physically crippled, never to reach their intellectual potential, just because their mothers didn’t get enough iodine during conception and pregnancy to allow their babies’ brains to develop properly.” So, where do we get iodine? Iodine is available from foods in fairly small amounts. For most Americans our food intake of iodine is not enough. The Standard American Diet is so deficient that years ago our own medical profession suggested that it

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be added to our salt. Even though it has been added, most Americans are severely deficient. That may explain why so many Americans are suffering from obesity and breast, ovarian, thyroid, and pancreatic cancer. There are many symptoms of iodine deficiency. Do You Need Iodine? 1) My hands and feet are always cold. 2) My face is puffy, and eyelids are swollen in the morning. 3) I put weight on easily. 4) I have dry skin. 5) I’m tired in the morning. 6) I’m constipated. 7) My joints are stiff in the morning. 8) I stay in slow motion. 9) I have brain fog. 10) The outer 1/3 of my eyebrows are missing. 11) My lips are swollen. 12) I have ringing in the ears. 13) My hair is dull and lacks luster. 14) I have frequency of urination.

If six or more of those symptoms apply to you, you may very well have an iodine deficiency. Of course, you can go to your doctor and have them check your thyroid levels; or with the understanding that iodine has been proven safe and that almost all Americans are deficient, you may simply do what I did. You can safely start talking an iodine supplement. Dr. Robert Thompson and I agree that one of the best on the market that has all three types of iodine recommended is the Terry Naturally supplement called Thyroid Care. It contains all three forms of essential iodine: potassium iodide, sodium iodide, and molecular iodine. We have found that the triple iodine compound is most effective in raising iodine to optimal levels. Of course, Herbs & More in Athens and NHC Herb Shop in Killen keeps a good supply of the Terry Naturally Thyroid Care. If you are iodine deficient, you will be able to tell a nice difference in just 4 to 6 weeks using the supplement. Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

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