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June 19th - July 2nd, 2020

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425 Degan Wilder: 256-426-2493

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

All Things Soldier Meet A Master Gunnery Sgt With A Fatherâ€™s Heart... From 1980 until 2010, Honduran-born Melvin (Mac) McField served in the United States Marine Corps, and after 30 years of service, retired as a... Page 4

Special Feature

The New Athens UPS Store Will Be Open For Business On June 22 By Ali Elizabeth Turner Jason Santo and Bridgette Brown served honorably and built successful careers in the US Army. They have been stationed all over the world, including Iraq and AfghaniContinued on page 15

T&T Plumbing And Mechanical: Grateful For Growing Pains

Introducing Degan Wilder, The Newest Addition To Our Staff... Back in the thick of our COVID Capers, I received a call from a guy I had never met, and when we... Page 5

PlayAction Sports The Summer Of 2020, The Bummer Of COVID-19... The AHSAA had cancelled summer competitions in midMay in wake of the coronavirus... Page 11

June 19 - July 02, 2020

Jason Santo and Bridgette Brown, owners of the new UPS store on Hwy 72 in Athens

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Greg Tarpley gettin' it done

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When master plumber Greg Tarpley, his wife Beverly, and their sons Kyle and Jesse decided to build a legacy through T & T Plumbing and Mechanical, Continued on page 17

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June 19 - July 02, 2020

Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

For Fathers

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Sales & Distribution Degan Wilder

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Sandra Thompson Anna Hamilton Deb Kitchenmaster Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Tim Lambert Jackie Warner Mae Lewis

There is some nutso stuff going on around us, and we have heard it around the clock ‘til we want to shriek. And then in the middle of it comes a holiday that has become the butt of a lot of jokes because often the only thing that people can come up with to give their dads is a new tie, a drill, coffee mug, socks, or a fishing rod. What is the holiday? Father’s Day. Father’s Day has an interesting and controversial history. It was originally a spin-off to the celebration of Mother’s Day, and it was initially met with cynicism by many men. The woman who officially started the celebration back in the early part of the 20th century wanted to honor her dad, a single

dad who had lost his wife and raised six kids by himself. However, dads felt as though trying to leverage the commercial aspect of the holiday was a ploy; they were the ones paying for the gifts their families were feeling pressured to purchase. And, because flowers, hearts, chocolates, and spa days are not going to make a lot of American guys jump up and down, maybe cards, both commercial and homemade come closer to meeting the needs of a man’s heart. What does a man need like he needs oxygen? Respect. One of the most important lessons I learned while I was in Iraq was that for guys, virtually nothing is more important. Re-

spect equals love, and in our culture, when it comes to men, respect has just about gone the way of the dinosaur. Consider sit-coms: Invariably the man is portrayed as the idiot, and if he has a friend or neighbor, the idiocy factor skyrockets. He is childish, selfish, easily manipulated, and often downright dumb. Now, I am not saying that those kinds of guys don’t exist and that everyone is some kind of Boy Scout, but if you were to have the majority of sit-coms “dis” women with the same level of passion, there would be an outcry and lawsuits. Maybe you’d have legislation as well. When men feel like it’s okay to be honest,

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

they will tell you that they are a bit hesitant to ever be vulnerable about anything that is genuinely important to them because they have been portrayed as being the source of every problem on the planet. Male privilege, white male privilege, being relegated to being virtually worthless and unnecessary as a parent or a partner, black, red and brown men deemed dispensable; and we are paying the price for it, big time.

We are failing in our culture in part due to fatherlessness, and need to do some hard work to reverse that curse and that course. We can and we must. Men have to step up, and so does everyone else. In a couple of days it is going to be Father’s Day, and there is something that you can do, even if you feel your dad doesn’t deserve it. It will mean more than a tie or tickets to the Trash Pandas. You can look for the one thing he did right and thank him for it. You never know what that may do for you both.

Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 16 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Special Feature . . . . . . . 22

June 19 - July 02, 2020

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All Things Soldier

Meet A Master Gunnery Sgt With A Father’s Heart by Ali Elizabeth Turner

From 1980 until 2010, Honduran-born Melvin (Mac) McField served in the United States Marine Corps, and after 30 years of service, retired as a Master Gunnery Sgt. Born in 1961, he came to the States in 1970, and knows what it is like to grow up without a father. As a result, one of the many things that hardship as a Marine has forged in him is what I call a “father’s heart,” and it seemed fitting to feature his story in the edition of Athens Now that coincides with Father’s Day.

The Marines are responsible for protecting US Embassies all over the world. Mac was on duty the morning of September 20, 1984, and asked a buddy to cover him while he quickly went to make a routine trip to a bank a couple of blocks away to pick up cash for the Embassy. He was in a cab when the Iranian-based

Hezbollah bomber drove his vehicle into the annex. He lost people that he loved that day, both civilians and fellow service members. The one for whom it seemed toughest to talk about was USN Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Ray Wagner. That loss began a fierce inner struggle while Mac built a stellar career out-

wardly. No one knew how he agonized with survivor’s syndrome, the set of PTSD-related struggles that attack the soul with the unanswerable question: “Why did they die and I lived? It should have been me.” He threw himself into serving his country, but blew up a marriage and several relationships

Life changed radically in 2012 when Mac gave his life to Christ at a men’s Bible study. One of the things with which Mac had struggled intensely was how to be a Marine and how to have a compassionate heart. In his mind, the only Marines that had the right to be compassionate were the docs and the Navy chaplains, and it seemed like an impossible dilemma to overcome. He wrestled hard, and he has won. He is now happily married to Amy, and together they have four wonderful boys and a lovely daughter. Two of the boys are active duty Marines today.

“I grew up without a dad, and I know what that is like,” Master Guns Mac told me. As a result, he decided to join the coaching staff at James Clemens High School in order to be able to pour himself into the football team. His intent is to teach far more than the game; he wants to make a difference in the lives of the young men he coaches. In a word, he is in a war with fatherlessness. There are several things about Mac that are unusual. One is that he was in Beirut for the 1984 Embassy bombing. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to actually tell me about it, so I made certain that he was the one who “owned the narrative.” By that I mean that I learned long ago that when it comes to the indescribable loss that can come to troops when they are in the field, it’s best to let the storyteller be in charge of what is said.

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along the way. When he got out in 2010, and especially on into 2011, it was a dark, dark time. “I really struggled with depression,” he said. Because he had already made it clear how much he wants to help others who have struggled, I felt free and even duty-bound to ask if he had been suicidal. “No, I had two sons, and I couldn’t do that. I knew what it was like to not have a dad,” he said.

Mac wants to be available to other service members who struggle with depression and PTSD. He asked me to publish his story so that anyone who needs help can contact him. It is mgunnz2010@ me.com.

USMC Master Gunnery Sgt (Ret) Mac McField www.athensnowal.com

Master Guns, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your service, your continued service, and Happy Father’s Day.

June 19 - July 02, 2020

Special Feature

Introducing Degan Wilder, The Newest Addition To Our Staff by Ali Elizabeth Turner Back in the thick of our COVID Capers, I received a call from a guy I had never met, and when we talked the first time over the phone, I honestly thought he was someone else. Degan Wilder was a friend of Jerry Barksdale’s, and Jerry had been the first one to tell him about the paper. Degan asked me a simple and powerful question: “What can I do to help you get Athens Now’s message out?” Touched as well as intrigued, I replied, “Well, we could really use some help with delivery.” Then Jerry died, and Degan was a pall bearer at the funeral. Due to COVID, only 10 people could attend, and I was glad that Jerry had a friend like Degan to honor him as a fellow veteran. Somehow it made the loss of my friend and faithful columnist just a bit easier.

that when he was still working for Boeing in Charlotte, NC, he wished he could work for us. Mind you, the man worked for Boeing for 30 years, and his work had taken him all over the world. Why in the world would he want to work for us? In a word, he

believed in us and what we were trying to do for the city of Athens. So, it is with great honor I introduce to you the guy who has been a hardworking and truly helpful addition to our staff: Degan Wilder. His official title is

“Distribution and Marketing,” which means that he wears a lot of hats, and we are most grateful. Degan is a decorated Vietnam veteran, and he and his wife Christy attend Lindsay Lane Baptist Church. He is a dad, a grandpa, and a great-grandpa. Degan has been riding dirt bikes since he was a kid, and still tries to go every weekend. He also loves to tinker with stuff, tell goofy jokes, and send out hilarious vids and GIFs. He is full of ideas, stuff I have

either never thought of, or just didn’t know how to find the time to implement. I have a friend who has prayed literally for years that someone would come along to help, and her prayers have been answered. I hope that as Degan is out and about doing his Athens Now thing, you will treat him with the same kindness you have shown me. It makes the all the difference in the world. And Degan, thank you, and welcome aboard!

The decision that Steve and I made to print the full run of 4,000 papers during “Safer-At-Home” was made in part to make sure that the Times Daily stayed open. Accounts that had printed with them for years were cancelling right and left, and what happened to us was that people came out of the woodwork to offer to deliver the paper to places other than the many locations that had had to temporarily close. Degan was one of those people, and he cheerfully and tirelessly worked to get the paper out to places it had never been. One day Degan told me

June 19 - July 02, 2020

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Calendar of Events Uncertain Times Drive-In Concert Series Kickoff June 26

Cinemagic Drive-In. 1702 Jefferson Street SE in Athens. 6:00PM-12:00AM. Everyone will remain in their vehicles or in a socially distanced green space. Music to include headliners The Country Westerns, Nashville Singer/Songwriter Nick Woods, Nashville Rock Band The Minks. Rickets are by car with a brown bag/full cooler policy.

Guided Walk at Marbut Bend June 27

AL-99 on Left past Elk River Bridge in Salem, AL. Starting at 8AM and hosted by KALB with guide Damien Simbeck, Tennessee Valley Authority, who will be offering a 1.1 mile guided tour and highlighting the wildlife and the history of the area. Tours will take approximately 1.5 hours on the ADA-accessible trail. Sunscreen, bug repellants, camera and comfortable shoes are suggested. Free tickets at eventbrite.com

Freedom from Quarantine June 27

With Redstone Harley-Davidson. 15100 AL-20 or Greenbrier Exit 3 of I-565 in Madison. From 12:00PM-5:00PM with live music, vendors, food, giveaways and the latest models to peruse.

Play Outside Day July 4

Families everywhere are encouraged to get outside the first Saturday of every month and play in public parks, enjoy trails, hit the waterways, explore greenspaces and just play! Limestone County offers over 20 trails to explore including walking, cycling, horseback riding and kayaking â€“ perfect for all ages. For more information: 256-232-5411

Red, White & Boom Is On! July 4

Athens Fireworks Show at the Athens Stadium (100 U.S. Highway 31N in Athens). No stadium seating. Viewable from adjacent properties including Central Church of Christ, Swan

IT'S BACK!!! VVA Spaghetti Day 3rd Monday Of Each Month July 20

Vietnam Veterans' Museum. 17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. Supports college scholarships for local high school students. Take out only for now. Cost is $8 a person, $4 for children under 12. Call ahead for large groups or take-outs. 256-431-3213. Page 6

Creek Park, Athens Shopping Center, Athens High School. Please respect private property and traffic right of ways. Bring your camp chair, lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the firework show after dark provided by Athens-Limestone County Tourism, City of Athens and Limestone County Commission. For more information: Athens-Limestone Visitors Center 100 North Beaty Street in Athens from 8:00AM-5:00PM, Monday through Friday or 256-232-5411.

Athens Saturday Market July 11

Athens Saturday Market is a state-certified farmers market. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, music with The Silver Silos, art, and crafts at the Green Street pavilion (409 West Green Street in Athens) from 8:00AM to 12:00PM with free Tomato Sandwiches while they last. athensmainstreet.org

July Cruise In on the Square July 11

At the Limestone County Courthouse Square. 123 South Jefferson Street in Athens. Starting at 6:00PM. No judging, no trophies - just show and shine and enjoy the rides, shops, and restaurants.

Summer Concert Series: Singing on the Square with Trippin' Dixie July 17

On the East side of the Limestone County Courthouse (Marion Street in Athens) from 7:00PM-9:00PM hosted by AthensLimestone County Tourism Association. Bring your lawn chair and please, social distance. Come early and enjoy a meal and shopping around the Square. Free and open to the public. Donation welcome.

Fridays After Five July 17

With Athens Main Street in downtown Athens, AL from 5:00PM-9:00PM. Enjoy dinner or dessert at one of the eateries or restaurants around the Square, peruse the stores for the perfect back-to-school gift, and bring your camp or lawn chair and nestle in on the Marion Street side of the courthouse of Athens-Limestone Tourism's Summer Concert Series: Singing on the Square with Trippin' Dixie (free, donation welcome, social distancing for attendees required).

J.J. Brindley's 8th Annual Rock the Dock Boat-Only Party July 18

Starting at 3:00PM in the cove past the Elk River on northern shore of Wheeler Lake. Free to the public. For more information: 931-309-8754 www.athensnowal.com

June 19 - July 02, 2020

Cash For Trash

Indorama BIG Cash For Trash Challenge Is Back! by Lynne Hart

The Indorama Venturessponsored BIG Cash For Trash Challenge is on! This great opportunity to perform a community service also enters participants into a drawing for some BIG cash prizes, including $1,000, $500, $200, $100 and more! Because of COVID-19, KALB had to postpone the challenge, which began on March 14th. We have been given the green light to restart the program. Individuals and groups may participate; however, group names will be entered into the drawing once for each ½ mile cleanup, not each individual volunteer. To be included in the drawing, register to clean up a 1/2 mile section of roadway in Limestone County, perform your cleanup, and let KALB know when it's

June 19 - July 02, 2020

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under the EVENTS tab.

All cleanups that were registered and completed before the program was placed on hold will qualify for the drawing. However, you must register again for any area that you registered to clean up but did not complete.

KALB will provide trash bags, gloves, safety vests, and litter grabbers.

Indorama Ventures Sustainable Solutions, the company sponsoring this challenge, is located in Athens, Alabama. The Athens plant creates material for manufacturers from recycled plastics, helping to minimize PET waste sent to landfills. All plastics recycled at the AthensLimestone Recycling Center are sold to Indorama Ventures and used to create the flakes and pellets used to manufacture new products.

You can register online at www.KALBCares.com. You will find the challenge

For more information call 256-233-8000 or email KALBCares@gmail.com.

done. Once the cleanup is verified, your name goes into a drawing for the BIG CASH prizes! The more ½ mile sections of roadway cleaned, the more chances volunteers have to win! Volunteers must register for each ½ mile they intend to clean up. The deadline for participation is August 28, 2020.

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

It Can Happen In Athens by Ali Elizabeth Turner Mayor Ronnie had to go to Montgomery to get the newest COVID update, so we had to reschedule our usual appointment. We met on Wednesday morning as the paper was being put to bed. He expressed the fact that the greatly variant views on what we are actually dealing with re: COVID are difficult. On the one hand, there are people, even medical people that are proponents of “letting it run its course, it will die out, we’ll be fine.” And, we may be. On the other hand, there is an uptick in cases, and perhaps the heat isn’t killing it off as much as what was thought. On the one hand, people definitely need to get out and be with other humans, and on the other hand people are “lighting up the switchboard” of City Hall with variations on the theme of “soand-so-didn’t-wear-amask-what-are-yougoing-to-do-about-it?” I just looked at him and thought, “Who would want this job?”

on all sides of repentance and reconciliation. There are several things that are being considered as to next steps, and practical ways to “wrestle until we walk with a halt;” but tentatively there will be a larger event in August with the deep healing of our community as the first order of business. “We have got to do better, and we will,” said the mayor. Then Mayor Ronnie told me a story that brought tears to my eyes, and to his. There was a woman at

the event on Sunday who talked about feeling the wounds of racism all her life. And then, in a moment of unscripted, powerful grace -- unplanned, humble, and staggering in its beauty -- one of the men of Athens by the name of Richard Martin Jr. brought a bucket and a towel, and washed her feet. He “stood in the gap,” portraying an act of identificational repentance and said words to the effect of “I am sorry for what you have gone

through.” I know Richard well enough to know that first of all, he meant it, and second of all, he had no desire to make it about himself. “It can happen in Athens, and people need to know that healing is possible,” said Mayor Ronnie. I just heaved a sigh, thanking God once again for dragging me here kicking and screaming twenty years ago. Then we moved on to the really important stuff like the new businesses that are coming our way -- Panda

Express (tasty, healthy, fast Chinese food) and Twice Daily, a high-end coffee shop which is going to be located near Traditions on Hwy 72 and Lindsay Lane. Then it was time to pray, and we did. It’s times like this when things are so “above one’s pay grade” that the only thing that makes sense is to ask for wisdom, and lots of it. And then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

The answer came quickly enough when he told me about a community prayer meeting he had attended on Sunday afternoon. Black pastors and white pastors gathered together and “got real.” This was not some ecumenical “feelgood” gig, it was people talking about both problems as well as solutions; and most of all, it was about setting forth the commitment before Heaven and Athens to do the hard work

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June 19 - July 02, 2020

Slinkard On Success

Recipe For Success by D. A. Slinkard

My wife is an awesome cook! What she is able to do in the kitchen is absolutely amazing, how she is able to take a little of this and a little of that and before you know it, she has produced a tasty dish. She has a knack for cooking and has even started her own YouTube channel showing others that they, too, can produce delicious meals just as she does. She can take a recipe, gather the ingredients, follow the steps, and produce food for which even the chef Gordon Ramsey would give his approval. My wife has not been to culinary school, but she has perfected her cooking skills thankfully in large part to time she spent in the kitchen with her grandmother.

and she is able to produce the same tasty results her grandmother did so many years ago. What stops us from doing the exact same feat in the world of business? In the world of education? What we need to do is find someone who has achieved success, study to find out how they obtained it (their recipe), and then attempt to recreate it. If I follow the exact same steps as someone else -- doing what they did, how they did it -- realistically speaking, I should be able to achieve the same results.

How many times do we hear about history repeating itself? Why? The same steps or ingredients are used over and over, and these steps produce the same results. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The one thing I have turned my focus and attention towards has become autobiographies. Why? If you want the recipes from someoneâ€™s life, what better way than reading the words directly penned by the person you are want-

Growing up in Missouri, my wife saw the passion her grandmother Jesse Urhahn had when it came to preparing meals for her family. If you were to ask my wife for some of her fondest childhood memories, I guarantee she would mention the times she spent preparing meals with her grandmother. Those times taught my wife a lot about how a woman is to love her family and how food can taste so much better when its primary ingredient is a whole lot of love. The success she has had in preparing meals got me to thinking about the world around us.

Some people have faced heartache that we would want to avoid; how do you do that? Avoid using the ingredients that lead to the heartache. Sounds simplistic, but why is it some people can cook using a recipe while others burn the food? Those who do well are able to utilize each step while those who miss out do so because they skip or miss a step. If you ask my wife, the recipes are only guidelines for her because I can tell you, she has been able to take some of the recipes

her grandmother had and has been able to improve on them. How? She adds her personal touch to each recipe. Our success in life can be the same way. Find someone you want to emulate, study who they are, study why they are this way, and then learn how to implement their style mixed with who you are. We are all unique individuals and not one person is the same as the other, but we can train ourselves to be more like those we desire. Sound crazy? I just saw a commercial that showed synchronized swimmers, perfectly swimming in unison. They were fluid, they were perfect in their movements, they looked as one unit, but they had to train to be this way. Our lives and the success we have is no different. Success takes work, and you must be committed to achieving what you want. The problem when it comes to recipes is sometimes people do not want to follow the steps; they tend to want to veer off course. If you have the steps you need to take, so why not follow the course? If achieving success in life was easy then everyone would do it, but the reality is many people fail. You need to start today with the end in mind, find your person of interest to emulate, find out their recipe for success, then work your tail off to be able to take the same steps as they did. Follow the recipe, find success.

My wife can take a recipe, follow each step,

June 19 - July 02, 2020

ing to emulate?

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

Battle Of Midway by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum

June seems to be a very busy month for battles! Most everyone is aware of D-Day, June 6, 1944, but another battle that changed the war was the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway in June1942 was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and the turning point in the Pacific. Between June 4 and 7, aircraft carriers Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet ambushed and sank the Imperial Japanese Navy’s carrier force that only six months before had attacked Pearl Harbor. In the six months prior to Midway, the Japanese had captured lands throughout the Pacific, including Malaysia, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, and numerous island groups. The United States, however, was a growing threat, and Admiral Yamamoto sought to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet before it became unstoppable. A thousand miles from Honolulu, the island of Midway became the focus

of Yamamoto’s scheme to smash U.S. resistance. His plan consisted of a feint toward Alaska followed by an invasion of Midway. When the U.S. Fleet arrived at Midway to respond to the invasion, it would be destroyed by the superior Japanese fleet waiting unseen to the west. If successful, the plan would eliminate the U.S. Pacific Fleet. At the root of the American victory at Midway was U.S. Navy intelligence successfully breaking Japanese codes and discovering the Japanese plans to attack Midway. Station Hypo was the team of U.S. signals intelligence analysts who were aggressively attempting to decipher messages transmitted using the JN-25 code. By late April, this team determined that the Japanese were planning major campaigns targeting the central Pacific and Aleutians. In a famous trick, Admiral Chester Nimitz approved a ruse proposed by Hypo that saw the garrison at Midway send a fake message “in

the clear” regarding broken water evaporator units on the island. Almost immediately, American listening posts intercepted Japanese transmissions mentioning the water shortage and the need to bring along extra water to support the operation. The identity of the Japanese objective was conclusively determined as Midway. Lieutenant Commander Edwin Layton recounted presenting the fruits of Hypo’s work on May 27 at the Pacific Fleet staff conference where the U.S. plans to ambush the Japanese force near Midway were approved, giving Nimitz a stunningly predictive assessment: “Summarizing all my data, I told Nimitz that the carriers would probably attack on the morning of 4 June, from the northwest on a bearing of 325 degrees. They could be sighted at about 175 miles from Midway at around 0700 local time.” On the morning of the battle, as the initial American reports sighting the Japanese force began to trickle

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese Combined Fleet Commander; Battle of Midway

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in, Nimitz remarked to Layton with a smile, “Well, you were only five minutes, five degrees, and five miles out.” Layton’s assessment allowed Nimitz to take a calculated risk by devoting three of his precious aircraft carriers (still scarce at that stage of the war) to the battle. The foreknowledge justified the presence of the USS Yorktown at Midway. USS Yorktown, damaged at the Battle of Coral Sea, was rushed back into action after a few days of frantic repairs at Pearl Harbor Based on Hypo’s analysis, two U.S. attack fleets caught the Japanese force entirely by surprise. In the early morning hours of June 4, Japan deployed 108 warplanes from four elite aircraft carriers in the vicinity. Although the Japanese inflicted serious damage on both the responding American fighters and the U.S. base at Midway, the island’s airfield and runways remained in play. The Americans counterattacked with 41 torpedo bombers flown directly toward the

four Japanese carriers. Thirty-five of the bombers were lost along with their crews. Those men went into this fight knowing that it was highly likely they would never come home,” says Laura Lawfer Orr, a historian at the Hampton Roads Navel Museum. “Their bombers were obsolete. They had to fly incredibly slowly and awfully close to the water. Plus, they had torpedoes that, most of the time, did not work.” The sacrifice of the torpedo bombers brought Japanese fighter cover over their carriers down to the water. This allowed dive bombers to sink three Japanese carriers in five minutes, changing the course of WWII. When the Battle of Midway ended, Japan had lost four carriers, a cruiser and 292 aircraft, and suffered an estimated 2,500 casualties. The U.S. lost the USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Hammann, 145 aircraft, and suffered approximately 300 casualties.

Admiral Chester Nimitz, Pacific Fleet Commander

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June 19 - July 02, 2020

PlayAction Sports

The Summer Of 2020, The Bummer Of COVID-19 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

The AHSAA had cancelled summer competitions in mid-May in wake of the coronavirus situation, although certain workouts and conditioning were still allowed and schools were able to hold camps with their students and feeder school students. The Safer-at-Home order currently in effect was revised, however, allowing member schools to re-open a week earlier than expected (June 1), in accordance with Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackeyâ€™s directive. The doors havenâ€™t been completely opened though; so athletes are having to work out under social distancing proto-

cols. The current order is set to expire July 3, barring any further revisions or extensions. Tanner's Nehemias Vicente was named to North Boys' All-Star Soccer Team. Other local soccer players also showed up on all-state teams: James Clemens' Emma Houssain (girls' 7A second team); Athens High's Kevin Jurado (boys' 6A first team); East Limestone's Emily Edelman and Elkmont's Jazmin Ristau (girls' 4A5A second team); Tanner's Manuel Felipe and Gonzalo Rubio, and Clements' Leslie Gonzalez (1A3A first teams); Tanner's Richard Rosas, Frankie Vicente, Emanuel Gon-

Tanner boys' basketball coach Chris Whitt announced his retirement after 30 years. (Courtesy photos) June 19 - July 02, 2020

zalez, Bryona Castrejon, Samantha Moreno, and Nayeli Ramirez (1A-3A second teams). Ardmore's Raegen Clem was chosen as part of the North AllStar softball team. Elkmont's Mary Jane Clem was tapped as a coach. James Clemens' Brooks McKeller was named to the North Boys' All-Star golf team. Local athletes have signed scholarships, made commitments, and received offers over the past few weeks. James Clemens' Brooks McKeller inked a golf scholarship with Ohio University, Athens High linebacker Jakerrias Scott committed to play at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, while teammate A.J. Horton got an offer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff. James Clemens' Jaylin Grigsby received a football offer from the University of Virginia at Wise. West Limestone's River Helms also got offers from the University of Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State, Florida State, and Georgia; teammates Hagen Rouse and Travis Newman received offers from Huntingdon and Birmingham Southern. One local school lost a coach while another gained one: Tanner boys' basketball coach Chris Whitt announced his retirement after 30 years at the school, 26 of which he was the head coach. He compiled a record of 586 wins that included 12 Limestone County championships,

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Athens High School hired former Hoover coach Charles Burkett to helm their boys' basketball program. (Courtesy photos) 21 straight trips to the regional tournament, 13 state tournament appearances, and two state titles. Athens High School announced Charles Burkett as their new basketball coach. Burkett has been at Hoover High School since 2006. His resume includes 12 area titles, 11 area tournament championships, six regional crowns, six Final Four appearances, one state runner-up, and one state championship. Announcements: Athens Boys and Girls Football Association will be having signups from 9 a.m. till noon every Saturday starting June 20 and going through July 25 at the Limestone Water Authority on Highway 72. For more information,

call Chris Townsend at 497-2648.

Calhoun will be hosting a variety of summer sports camps. For a list of camps, go online to calhoun.edu/overview/summer-camps/.

Fall youth sports registrations at the Athens Recreation Center: baseball and softball--through July 8; soccer and flag football-June 20-July 20; archery-September 1-30.

Various fitness classes are being offered Monday through Saturday at the Athens Rec Center, including Super Circuit, Yoga, Balanced Bootcamp and more. Call 233-8740 for more information or visit the Parks and Recreation page on the Athens City website at athensalabama.us.

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Clean and Green

Summer Contests And Activities To Celebrate Our Beautiful Planet by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful We at KALB understand that to appreciate and value the natural world it must be experienced. Looking at a flower from a distance is not the same as getting up close and seeing the detail. Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is much more exciting than seeing a picture. Nature is truly amazing! So let’s get our kids and ourselves outside! Here are several activities and contests with prizes for you and your kids: Gift Bags: Participants in the Earthy Art Contest, Nature Scavenger Hunts, and the All About Bugs Zoom program will receive a gift bag with items to help them explore nature. Stop by the KALB office (125 East St.) to register and pick them up. Earthy Art Contest: Help your kids explore nature and collect items they find along the way that can be used to create art. The finished artwork can take any form: framed, glued to a background, hung, etc. If items used are perish-

able, the work can be submitted by photo. All artwork must be three-dimensional (3-D). Artwork will be judged and prizes awarded to the top three in each category. The Group/ Family category is for those who wish to work on the project with others. • Age Categories: 5-7 years 8-10 years 11-14 years Group/Family • Prizes in each age category: 1st-$100 2nd$50 3rd-$25 • ENTRY DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 • I N F O R M AT I O N : KALBCares.com under EVENTS tab Nature Scavenger Hunts: Hunts have been created to suit three different age groups. Take the kids outside and let them “hunt” for the items on their list. Each child who submits a completed scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes. • ENTRY DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 15,

• REGISTER: Send email to KALBCares@gmail.com with names and ages of participants. Rain Barrel Painting Contest:

2020 •INFORMATION / PRINTABLE FORMS: KALBCares.com under EVENTS tab or call 256-233-8000 Guided Walks At Marbut Bend Walking Trail: This walking trail was a cooperative project between TVA and the Limestone County Commission, and is considered A.D.A. accessible with boardwalks and crushed walkways. Leisurely walks will be guided by Damien Simbeck who was involved in the creation of the trail and is extremely familiar with the wildlife that call the area home. Suitable for all ages. • Three morning walks at 8:00 a.m.: June 27, July 18, August 8 • One evening walk at 6:30 p.m.: July 9 • Participation is limited. Early registration encouraged. • INFORMATION/ R E G I S T R AT I O N :

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Tickets available through Eventbrite.com or by calling 256-2338000. Insects and Arthropods Zoom Program: Scott Clem, Entomologist at the University of Chicago, will provide a 30-45 minute Zoom program about the top 8 orders of insects and arthropods. All ages are welcome. Presentation will be geared toward kids. Each participating child will receive a goody bag with items to help them explore the insect world on their own. • PROGRAM: Session one is full. We will notify all registrants of the time and date of a second presentation.

This contest is sponsored by the Limestone County Master Gardeners organization to promote the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve our waterways. All ages are welcome to participate. Top three winners will be selected by the community and will receive cash prizes. • DEADLINE: All painted barrels must be presented by July 18, 2020 • INFORMATION: KALB Cares.com under EVENTS tab or call 256-233-8000 Thank You, Sponsors! American Leakless Co., Indorama Ventures, WestRock, In’Tech Medical, Bank Independent, Clem Tire, TVA, Redstone Federal Credit Union, and Aviagen.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8000 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com June 19 - July 02, 2020

Cooking with Anna

Is It Really All That Bad? by Anna Hamilton

Since my last article, I have gotten the test results back and nothing showed to be unusual. My antibodies were slightly elevated, but otherwise everything turned out all right. While this is all good news, this still doesn’t offer an answer to my grocery list of symptoms. The next step is going to be to see a cardiologist. At this point, we are just ruling out what it not is instead of what it actually is. The rollercoaster of ups and downs can be overwhelming, unless you take a second, step back, and see how good you actually have it. No matter your circumstances, there is always a positive. We tend to dwell on the negative in life. Imagine if we focused on the positive. Your entire outlook would be changed. Even focusing on your weight can be a source of sadness and another avenue to make you feel like you have nothing good in your life. Remember that your current weight is someone else’s goal weight. Be kind to yourself! Someone else is looking at you and wishing they could have your life. The recipe this week is perfect for summer. It is

an old recipe that I found in one of my grandmother’s old cookbooks. It is called Farmer’s Salad. It is creamy, cool and delicious. It makes the perfect light lunch or supper for these hot summer days that are right around the corner. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

Farmer’s Salad Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream 1 cup cottage cheese 4 green onions, minced 10 radishes, sliced 1 cucumber, chopped ½ tsp dill ½ tsp celery seed Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients. Chill for 4 hours or overnight. Serve on a bed of fresh greens. This also makes a delicious dip.

June 19 - July 02, 2020

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June 19 - July 02, 2020

Cover Story

The New Athens UPS Store Will Be Open For Business On June 22 by Ali Elizabeth Turner

to the mailboxes is protected after hours, and you can get your mail 24/7. That is only one of the many services offered by their store. The store packs, ships, does printing, makes banners, and can assist you with mar-

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stan. When the time came for them to retire, they had as one of their top goals to become franchise business owners with a parent company whose focus is both serving the community and “giving back” generously. “We researched several franchises and knew that UPS was ‘the one’ when we saw how they emphasized the importance of supporting the community,” Jason told me. He, Bridgette, their family, and their newly hired crew are putting the final touches on the store, which is located on Hwy 72 just a few doors down from Starbuck’s. The address is 1260 Hwy 72 E, Ste B in Athens, and on June 22 they will be fully open for business. Their grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce will be soon, and the date is yet to be announced. It will be sometime in the next 60 days. Jason and Bridgette consider the opportunity to own and operate a UPS outlet to be nothing short of miraculous, as the corporation had absolutely no plans to open anything in Athens. Jason did his

June 19 - July 02, 2020

rome Malone ways that they can help Jerome and his wife Tiffany advertise a project they are planning with the intent of bringing healing and reconciliation to our whole community. It was a joy to watch these guys fellowship, and listen to their dreams to do good for Athens by doing well in their respective businesses. Jason and Bridgette

UPS store owner Jason Santo chats with Jerome Malone about flyers for a community event research on the growth forecasted for Athens-Limestone County, and, as he puts it, “sold the [UPS] corporation on the city.” Like the rest of us, they know that Athens is a special place, and they want to be a part of a viable franchise in a thriving city. We talked at length about the “awesomeness” of Athens, and Jason told me, “You can just feel it.” The other miracle was how his recentlyhired staff “found” him. “All we need now is one more full-time person, and we are set,” said Jason. The crew trained this week, and they can’t wait to serve you! “We really want people to understand that our choice to go with UPS was not based on finance. More than anything,

The UPS Store crew is ready to serve you! UPS has mailboxes of all sizes, and also provides an address for the box holder keting campaigns, large and small. They can help you we wanted something that alwith recruiting for your own lows us to get into the commubusiness; they provide notary nity. It’s a have-to,” Jason said. By that, he means that he and service, and can help with acBridgette can’t be happy if they counting, expense tracking, can’t serve in a significant way, direct mail, financial services, and Jason particularly loves telecommunications, and even the UPS ads that say, “We do business coaching. Just reevery ‘ing.’” (If you have seen member, whenever you see the the TV ads, the list of services famous brown UPS truck out making deliveries, the comis hilariously endless.) pany that is behind that driver So, what does a UPS store in in the brown uniform has the general, and the Santos’ shop in ability to highly impact your particular, do to serve the peo- success as a business owner, ple of Athens? In a word, Jason and surpassingly meet your says that they are “your small needs as an everyday consumbusiness solution.” UPS is al- er. ready well known for giving the USPS a run for its money As retired Army veterans, in terms of on-time deliveries, Jason and Bridgette wanted prices, and service. The price whatever business they enof a UPS mailbox is compa- tered to be highly supportive rable to one at the post office, of present and former memand instead of a PO Box, you bers of the armed services. I get a real address. The access also heard Jason discuss with Splash of Ink shop owner Je-

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want to help schools, churches, civic groups, businesses, anywhere with anyone and anything that is consistent with the Golden Rule. “We want to be a part of the community, and when you support me and us, you support the community,” Jason told me. And that is really how it works. What goes around comes around, and you will find that Jason and Bridgette’s commitment to serve others will give you a chance to join them in making Athens even more amazing. Stop by and see just what I mean!

The Athens UPS Store 1260 Hwy 72 E, Ste B, Athens, AL 35611 Phone: 256-444-4044 FAX: 256-444-5055 Hours: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 10-4, Sun 11:30-4 Page 15

Health and Fitness

The Success Circle

by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist Be careful who and what you allow in your life if you want success. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter how hard you try, your success will be directly affected by your surroundings. What you read or watch, who you are around, what you eat, what activities you participate in, and so much more affect you. Everything ultimately filters into your life and affects your success. The intelligent choice is to keep your focus and discipline throughout all areas of your life. Compartmentalizing will NOT lead to success.

hard work -- physically and mentally -- which ultimately leads to the achievement of goals. Isn’t this why those of us in the fitness world so enjoy the medal at the end of a race, or those who perform enjoy the applause at the end of the show, or why the academic rejoices receiving their diploma, or the hardworking CEO loves their year-end bonus and promotion? It’s the sense that we did it. There was hard work and a culmination, including an appropriate celebration and reward.

If something is just given to us…well, that seems to prove a bit anticlimactic because there’s no sense of pride, and what is easily attained seems to be easily forgotten or taken for granted. Remember that first paycheck you got in your first real-world job? It may not have been much, but it sure felt good. I bet you called someone, probably your mom or dad, and told them how proud you were! A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work, even the Bible speaks to this. God addresses this topic a

There is a direct correlation with what goes in and what comes out…in other words, a few things need to happen for success to be achieved. You can’t put lazy junk in and get amazing success out, and just to be clear, I’m not talking about just any success by the world’s standard but the success which you specifically desire for your life. After all, that is the true-life achievement, right? Personal happiness and the peace and joy that brings. Human nature craves hard work, although it may not feel like it. There is nothing which can replace the blood, sweat, and tears of

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few different ways in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Psalms. And to be clear a “wage” may not always be money. Achievement stems from internal drive – no one can do it for you and it give you the same feeling. What’s easily or falsely attained will lack satisfaction. The absence of hard work will always leave a feeling of discontentment no matter what possessions or accolades you have in your name. It HAS to be real! Internal drive is something which takes immense fo-

cus. It takes a constant mindset and attitude in private and in public, you know…that special and rare thing called integrity. It takes a lifestyle which in all areas supports the overall goal you have set. Clear goals demand a circle of people who not only understand what you are after but support you in every way as you work to achieve those goals. This typically means a small but fierce few will form around you. Success ultimately demands leadership. This means that you have taken control of your life and an incredible and common side effect of this disciplined control is leadership. You tend to attract those on a similar path or those who desire a similar dynamic result when your life is clearly and wholly focused on a goal. Respect and trust are built here and longevity is developed because what you do in private and public is the same! When this is proven, it will resonate with a small group of loyal, like-minded people… these are your people. You will feed off of each other and achieve your life goals. Keep it tight. This is my version of the Success Circle. What goes in will come out, and what is desired will become reality!

June 19 - July 02, 2020

Cover Story

T&T Plumbing And Mechanical: Grateful For Growing Pains by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

they had no idea that their reputation for excellent service at more than reasonable prices would grow so fast that they would need to recruit experienced journeymen this early in the game. But, here they are, and the purpose of this article is to let you know about T & T Plumbing and Mechanical in case you are looking for an outstanding plumber, and if you are a certified, hardworking, teachable journeyman with integrity and a team spirit, T & T is looking for you. By way of background, Greg is a certified master plumber who spent nearly 14 years travelling all over the south working for a major poultry processing corporation. He not only had to deal with the plumbing “side of the house,” but he was responsible for all the machinery. The time came, as it does for so many of our Athens Now clients, when the desire to be an entrepreneur outweighed the security of a job with a large corporation, so he struck out on his own in 2017. At that time, his wife Beverly had built her career in the logistics and administration field, but Bev got bitten by the “business bug” as well,

and joined him in 2018. Together, the Tarpleys work hard, help each other, love their neighbors and veterans, and they want you to know that they are hiring. If Greg were to have a “sit down” with you, either to meet your plumbing needs or to hire you, this is what he would say: “We are a family owned and operated business out of Anderson, AL. We strive to supply each and every customer with the best support and expertise to fix any problems or concerns they may have. Not only do we fix the problem at hand, we also try to educate each customer as to how to prevent the problem from happening again. Not everything is preventable, but some things are. Our work speaks for itself, whether it’s a dripping sink or a new construction home, no job is too big or small. We offer full service and emergency service around the clock to help out with those pesky late night mishaps to “get you going back” as quickly as possible. We have 25 years combined experien-

ce in the field, and we at T & T Plumbing and Mechanical look forward to serving you and our friends, neighbors, and valued customers.” If it fell upon Beverly to do the interviewing for a potential addition to Team Tarpley, here is what she would say: “We are looking for someone with two years experience as journeyman. To start off, the position will be around 25 hours per week, with the hope of it becoming 30+ quickly. Besides being

June 19 - July 02, 2020

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able to pass all the necessary background checks, they need to be teachable. That person needs to have their own tools, as well as the understanding that while there may be more than one way to solve a problem, at the end of the day it is Greg’s name and reputation that is on the line. Greg absolutely loves to mentor people who are looking for a career, and he taught our sons well. They brainstorm for sure, but the buck stops with Greg. We rotate who is on duty for the weekend, who will cover the 911 calls as part of our 24/7 service. If you are on for the weekend, you get $100 plus your hourly wage if you get a call. You get the $100 even if there are no calls. You will get a paid a one week vacation after one year, and we are moving toward the possi-

bility of offering benefits soon.” T & T Plumbing and Mechanical services North Alabama and Southern Tennessee, and their base of satisfied customers within their service radius is growing every day. Anyone who knows Beverly knows she has a trademark smile and twinkling eyes to match. It was through that grin that she said to me, “We need someone we don’t need to babysit, and we need them yesterday!” If that is you, then go to Facebook or give T & T Plumbing and Mechanical a call today. If you are the right fit, they are ready to have you get started!

T&T

Plumbing and Mechanical

P.O. Box 22 Anderson, Alabama 35610 (256) 710-3411 Facebook: T & T Plumbing and Mechanical

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Quarantine Fatigue and Zoom by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262

It has only been four months and I am already experiencing “quarantine fatigue.” Some experts are saying it may be a year before everything gets back to “normal.” Stay-at-home is giving me alligator-skinned hands from washing so much and cabin fever from isolation. Getting back to work was freeing but the burden of social distancing, face masks, and devastating news cycles is difficult. While I am getting out for work wearing my mask, I am still pretty much staying home. Routines and schedules have been helpful for battling quarantine fatigue, so has trying new things. One thing experts recommend is to make time for exer-

cise. At the Center for Lifelong Learning we are trying new things this summer too. We are offering Yoga classes for adults and children via Zoom. Zoom is a video and online chat service on a cloudbased platform that is used for teleconferencing, telecommuting, distance education, and social relations. It is very easy to set up a personal account or to join a meeting. In June and July, our Yoga classes will be conducted via ZOOM. The Yoga for Adults classes are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5-6:00 p.m. These classes focus on relaxation and stress relief.

M a J a c m o l m C b f A w a a w a m

The classes are free but you must register online at www.athens.edu/ CLL. If you have prob-

lems getting registered, you can call us at 256233-8260. In Teen Yoga, ages 1016, offered July 6-9 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., teens will practice beginner-level yoga movements to help them physically and mentally. Relaxation techniques help to clear the mind and deal with day-to-day stress. No experience required. The fee is $19 which includes all four sessions. Four sessions of Yoga for Kids, ages 5-9, will start on Monday, June 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a second session will start July 13. The fee is $19 which includes all four sessions. Have you ever wanted to write your own pro-

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M t j t e gram and develop a t game from the very start? Game Coding for Kids, ages 9-14, will go through the basic steps of creating, writing, and implementing a game program with emphasis on the elements that make up a game program. The camp will be conducted via Zoom June 22-25, from 10-11:00 a.m. The fee is $49/ person. Computer Keyboarding Kamp, CSI for Kids, and Art Explorers are all being offered via Zoom in July. Check out all the offerings for adults and kids on our website - www. athens.edu/CLL. You can call us at 256-2338260 for questions or help registering.

June 19 - July 02, 2020

The View From The Bridge

2020... Definitely A Year For The History Books! by Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters Make no mistake, we are still in a pandemic. Just because life and the activities we knew are coming back, doesn’t mean all is well. I was on a global call for work last week and the team mentioned the uptick in Covid-19 cases in Alabama. Yes, the numbers for Alabama are rising. At last count this week, we have 26,524 cases and 779 deaths. Be aware and stay prepared when going out. Mask and all. Yes, wear your mask!

help but think - Here is another African-American who has lost his/ her life within our culture of systemic racism. Yes, it does exist, and the recent protests are shining a light on those who uphold it and weaponize their privileges.

Moving to our next topic this month - Racial Injustice. The conversation has been had repeatedly. We see it all over the news, and I cannot

Conversation roadblocks -- assumptions, attitudes, or experiences that keep us from talking about our differences -can prevent us from con-

June 19 - July 02, 2020

If you haven’t joined the conversation, then it’s time to open your eyes and really look at where we are as a nation. Below are some tips for starting real dialogue with individuals who do not look like you.

necting, collaborating, and countering stereotypes and exclusionary practices. Do you worry that conversations about social issues and current events will do more harm than good? Or maybe you think when you speak, you will sound insensitive or hurtful? You have to start. No excuses. Do you feel things are “not so bad” in your organization or community, and, candidly, struggle to fully grasp your neighbors’ and colleagues’ experiences? Wake up! It is bad and there is work to be done. Remove the roadblock -- “Talking about our differences can only

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further divide us.” Ignoring our differences holds us back from doing our best work. We must openly discuss and value what makes us different from one another to create an inclusive culture where people feel like they belong and are valued for their unique perspectives. Acknowledging and then addressing these roadblocks can help you better understand deep-rooted issues and overcome challenges that would otherwise remain unresolved, buried, or unspoken. Set goals each day to hold yourself accountable and start a conversation. You may be uncomfortable or

make missteps but keep going. You are human and don’t need to have all the answers to make a real impact. REMEMBER: DIALOGUE IS ACTION. Learn more at https://www. catalyst.org/wp-content/ uploads/2019/10/Conversation-RoadblocksInfographic-Print.pdf Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@gmail. com Check out upcoming events: http://thebridge-us.yolasite.com/

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Horse Whispering

Storytelling by Deb Kitchenmaster

As the invisible plague has come to interrupt our varied daily activities, I have noticed STORYTELLING has showed up again and again to connect people. There are annual events centered on storytelling, there are individuals in households who carry the stories of the family, and there is the campfire’s warmth on a starlit night with story after story by people, of people and about people. Truly we are social people. Horses are social beings also.

not a contrived, shiny, pretend thing -- and are loved despite, and maybe even because of, your imperfections.” You have heard it said before and it is worth repeating, “Horses are mirrors.” They reflect YOU; a reflec-

I would like to tell you a story. I hope you enjoy. It’s about a rabbit and a little boy. Anything come to mind? If Margery Williams’s The Velveteen Rabbit comes to mind, we are on the same page. The rabbit (a stuffed bunny covered with inexpensive fabric) is a new arrival in the nursery surrounded by

other toys, puzzles, games, and stuffed animals. The rabbit has two desires: fit in with his peers and become special to the boy. Christmas comes and new toys are unwrapped. The rabbit is abandoned as the boy gives his attention to the ‘newness’ in his room. Who comes to soothe the rabbit? The wise, old Skin Horse! The horse tells the rabbit that eventually the boy will love him. The horse is right, and the Velveteen Rabbit is selected to comfort the boy through a terrible illness. The boy’s relationship with the bunny and the experiences they have together transform it from a toy into something the Skin Horse calls REAL. Quote from Skin Horse, “Real is what happens when you become your true self --

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tion of your mental frame, your emotional networking, even your belief system. In a time when the stresses of daily life can steal your peace (if you don’t guard your heart/soul with all diligence) a horse holds INSIDE an invitation to lead us toward peace, selfacceptance, and true love. This is what the Skin Horse offers the rabbit in this story. “Real isn’t how you are made, “says the Skin Horse. It’s a thing that happens to you. When you are REALLY loved, then you become real! The rabbit asks, “Does it hurt?” “Sometimes,” says the Skin Horse, for he is always truthful. “When you are real you don’t mind being hurt.” “Does it happen all at once?” he asks, “or bit by bit?” “It doesn’t happen all at once,” says the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don’t matter at all; because once you are real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” The rabbit sees something in the oldest and wisest resident of the nursery, the Skin Horse. This horse is a

stuffed animal that has been loved so much and so hard that all of his hair has been rubbed off. However, the rabbit notices that the horse is happy, content, and secure in a way the other toys are not. The rabbit becomes intensely curious about how that might happen. I was intrigued with the horses at Mardi Gras. In the sea of people, much commotion, surrounded by sundry motions, these horses (though ears moved back and forth continually), their feet did not move as they stood tied to a lamp post while their handlers entered a cafe for a coffee break. I saw ‘relationship training.’ What a visual! Let’s consider REAL. Real is Possible. Real is a Process. Real is Emotional. Real is Empathetic. Real is Courageous. Real is Honest. Real is Generous. Real is Grateful. Real can be Painful. Real is Flexible. Real love Endures. A Friend of mine said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And remember neighbor, this same Friend is coming back on a white (skin) horse! Not because everything is such a mess but because it’s time to attend a wedding! Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections 256-426-7947 Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner horsinaround188@gmail.com

June 19 - July 02, 2020

Mental Health Minute

Knowing Your Brain by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“I am a brain, Watson. The rest of me is a mere appendix.” - Arthur Conan Doyle June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, which gives me the chance to share with you some interesting information and facts about the remarkable computer in your head, called your brain. Your brain is the three pounds of jelly that is responsible for controlling your thinking, feelings, movement, breathing, digestion, circulation, and more. It’s made up of three major parts that are highly interconnected and dependent on each other. Each part has its own primary set of functions. The cerebrum takes up 80 percent of your brain and sits up front and center. It consists of four major lobes and is divided into two halves, the right and left hemisphere. The right side of your brain controls motor functions on the left side of your body and vice versa. Areas of the cerebrum communicate to each other through nerve fibers called white matter. The largest white matter tract, or cable system, is called the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres. The cerebrum provides some pretty important functions. Your brain’s cerebrum is what allows us to interpret the sensations of vision,

June 19 - July 02, 2020

hearing, touch, and smell. It manages our feelings and emotions. Thinking, problem solving, adapting our behaviors, learning, and remembering all take place in the cerebrum. It lets us understand and use language to communicate. Without the cerebrum, we could not perceive the space around us or move our bodies. The four lobes of the cerebrum are the frontal lobes, the parietal lobes, the temporal lobes, and the occipital lobes. The frontal lobes are the largest and located up front. They are what is often called the “executive” part of the brain, or the brain’s CEO. This is where higher-order thinking takes place, such as reasoning, planning, organizing, and changing our behaviors to fit the environment or situation. The parietal

lobes, right behind the frontal lobes, are mainly responsible for recognizing and interpreting sensory data from the outside world. This includes taste, temperature, smell, and touch. They give us understanding of spatial relationships, such as shape, size, and location of objects in relation to our bodies. Most learning of academic skills, such as reading and math, takes place here. The temporal lobes are right above the ears and help us process sound, including music. They are also important for learning, memory, and understanding language. The occipital lobes are located at the back of the brain and help process what you see. There is actually a fifth lobe located deep inside the cerebrum right above the brainstem. It is called the limbic lobe and is actually a system

of interconnected parts that include the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. The thalamus is the central core of the brain receiving all information from the senses, except smell, and then forwarding it on to the other areas of the brain. The hypothalamus (just below the thalamus) regulates sleep, hunger, and body temperature by sending instructions to produce hormones. The hippocampus is critical for learning, especially turning short-term memories into long-term ones. And finally, the amygdala manages our emotions that relate to survival, especially fear for the responses of fight, flight, or freeze. The cerebellum is tucked away under the cerebrum at the back of your head. It makes up about 11 per-

cent of your brain and is full of neurons. Neurons are brain cells with interconnecting branches that pass along nerve signals. The cerebellum is where learning takes place and the coordination of movement and balance. This area of the brain also fine tunes our thoughts, emotions, touch, and other senses. The amazing function of the cerebellum is the automation of movements, so you can do things like type quickly or learn dance moves.

The brain stem runs from under the cerebrum to the spinal cord. It controls all the body’s automatic functions. The brain stem connects to 11 cranial nerves in the head…every nerve except the one that controls smell. The brain stem is the oldest part of the brain and is essential to maintaining life. It sustains breathing, monitors your heart rate and blood pressure, regulates digestion and body temperature, and manages the reticular activating system (RAS,) which keeps your brain alert.

Now that you know a bit more about your brain, please make an extra effort this month take care of it with proper sleep, diet, and exercise.

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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Special Feature

Rude Awakening by Mae Lewis Recently, I came across a Facebook post by Taha Muntajibuddin. Taha is about 29 years old and attended Meadowcreek Elementary as a child. He posted about his third grade classmate “Jennifer”: "She was a frail girl, had pin-straight hair with bangs, and often wore the same purple outfit. She was often made fun of by the other third graders because her clothes would sometimes look as though they had been dragged through mud, which she would also smell like on most days. I distinctly remember my entire third grade class scoffing at her one day because our teacher had asked her to discard a [hair tie she had made from a candy bar wrapper]. After that year, Jennifer moved away, and she was forgotten about…. Several years later, after high school, I found myself thinking about her again. ...I remember searching specifically for Jennifer. Her name was so distinct that there couldn't be any more than a few people who shared the name, yet no matching results came up. I had naturally assumed that Jennifer was one of the lucky few who hadn't been bit by the social media bug. I also thought somewhere, somehow, Jennifer was probably living her best life. She was going to be that person at the reunion looking completely flawless and making six figures while the rest of us tried to conceal our receding hair lines and

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minimum wage jobs. I feel like we all kind of have that hope that those people who were marginalized growing up (sometimes by our own hands) somehow grew past those circumstances, and essentially grew up to kick ass in real life. That's what I had hoped for Jennifer. That she had used the insults that we hurled at her, the isolation we provided for her, and the ill-looks we gave her and used it as ammunition to forge a successful path in life. I was so sure that was what had happened, but today I was in for a rude awakening…."

you can't help but feel rotten when the classmate your peers made fun of for "smelling like poop" quite literally had to sit in her own waste because she was chained to her bed. It is nothing but sobering to know that the person who sat across from you at the lunch table went home to squalor and filth while you went home to a warm meal and a bedtime story.” The story is sobering, and it is a reminder that we never know the story behind anyone’s circumstances. It is a reminder to

“be nice.” You might be the only light someone sees in the darkness of their world. Befriend the isolated, befriend the marginalized. Especially in these days of separation and self-isolation, we do not know the demons that people face when they go home. We don’t know the demons that are tormenting the person next to us -- haunting reminders of an abusive childhood or past trauma. We can never completely put ourselves in another’s shoes, but a simple act of kindness could give a person hope to fight on another day.

The next time you see someone who is homeless, dirty, or marginalized, ask yourself: “What would have to happen to ME for me to act/dress/ be this way?” When you have that answer, you can know that this human being has lived through trauma like THAT. In a different set of life circumstances, you might have been someone’s rude awakening. Broken dreams and broken hearts create broken people. This is a reminder to be a light in someone else’s story… you might be all difference they need.

“Jennifer” was one of the Turpin family - Jennifer Turpin. One of 13 children who was tortured by her parents, starved, and chained to her bed. She was not allowed to shower more than once a year, or use the bathroom while in her bedroom, so most days, she was forced to sit in her own excrement. It appears that Jennifer is the 29 year old adult dependent who weighed 80 pounds. It appears her one “freedom” was being allowed to attend school (so that the parents could project normalcy for the children). At school, she was bullied, teased, and isolated. Taha goes on: “I've been reading these articles and seeing these statements and looking at these pictures, and I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame. Of course, none of us are responsible for the events that ensued, but

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