June 20 - July 3, 2014
AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali: 256-468-9425 Deborah: 256-309-9399
James Curtis Turner For Limestone County Commission, District 3
See Our Listings Inside this edition... Pages 25 - 32
Special Feature 2014 Kiddie Carnival Is Here... Local kids have been eagerly awaiting the Athens Lions Club 2014 Kiddie Carnival which opens... Page 7
By Ali Elizabeth Turner In November, residents of Limestone County will be choosing a new County Commissioner for District 3. James Curtis Turner is running on the Democratic ticket and would like
James Curtis Turner
Clean and Green
Spring Cleaning - Reducing Clutter In Your Environment... According to Dictionary. com, one definition of the word environment is “external conditions or surroundings, especially those in which people live and work... Page 12
Cooking With Shelley Pretzel Salad... It’s that time of year again. Time to break out the ingredients for Pretzel Salad... Page 13
Continued on pages 15
Seibert For Senate District One: Experience And Vision By Ali Elizabeth Turner July 15th is the date of the run-off election to determine who is going to be the Republican Candidate for the position of Alabama State Senate, position one. As is Continued on page 17
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Chris Seibert
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Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner
Sales
Deborah Huff
Graphic Design
Jonathan Hamilton
Web Design Teddy Wolcott
Delivery
Hunter Williams
Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Lynne Hart Wanda Campbell Janet Hunt Sandra Thompson Teresa Todd Jim Doyle Deb Kitchenmaster Rachel Clark Mike Besh Jackie Warner
Helen Keller-“Life Is A Daring Adventure…Or Nothing” I think it’s safe to say that Helen Keller is one of our most famous and revered citizens. Her incomprehensible limitations as well as accomplishments have been the subject of plays, movies, books, and documentaries. Her birthplace in Tuscumbia, Ivy Green, is one of my favorite places on the planet. Her birthday is on June 27th, and nationally the month of June is devoted to underscoring the awareness of just what it means to be blind.
faces of every president from the “silent” Calvin Coolidge to Lyndon Baines Johnson. She handled the moustache of Charlie Chaplin, and touched the faces of opera singer Enrico Caruso, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Eleanor Roosevelt. If you ever watch the footage of people such as Ike being “handled” by Helen, two things are apparent:
could see. What was not known by the audience is that what “led” her was the smell of two dozen roses, functioning somewhat like the proverbial carrot to the donkey, and she would arrive center stage without a hitch, the flowers waiting for her as a “reward.”
late Athens dentist Dr. Lyndon Campbell to thank for encouraging me to fearlessly use my imagination, and her empowering me to do so is one of the things that gives me the courage to dig deep and manage to produce a Publisher’s Point for each edition of Athens Now.
There are so many times that we are called upon, or many times forced, to go to places
he was being stretched, and she is being delightfully enlightened. The sighted were outside of their comfort zone, perhaps, and she is beaming because she “sees” them. It is, indeed, all a matter of perspective, especially when worlds and worldviews collide.
we don’t want to go, through circumstances for which we would never sign up if we were given a choice, but at the end of the day, it is Helen that said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Success through suffering is not a popular concept these days, but its truth stands.
Lastly, Helen said the following about being blind:”The calamity of the blind is immense, irreparable. But it does not take away our share of the things that count—service, friendship, humour, imagination, wisdom. It is the secret inner will that controls one’s fate. We are capable of willing to be good, of loving and being loved, of thinking to the end that we may be wiser. We possess these spirit-born forces equally with all God’s children. Therefore we, too, see the lightnings and hear the thunders of Sinai. We, too, march through the wilderness and the solitary place that shall be glad for us, and as we pass, God maketh the desert to blossom like the rose. We, too, go in unto the Promised Land to possess the treasures of the spirit, the unseen permanence of life and nature.” In a word, Alabamian Helen Keller and her life make me want to be a better person. How about you?
I have written about her before, and I don’t think I’ll ever get to the end of things to be learned by the things she said and did. For the purposes of this article, I am going to focus on three things: adventure, keen senses, and imagination. All three are part of an abundant life, and all three were possessed by Helen in resplendance and clarity.
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . . . 20 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Security Savvy . . . . . . . . . 23
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Her statement, “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing” really stood to be my mantra while I was in Iraq, and has continued to be so. I am not suggesting here the kind of adventure that exists for itself, or one that tries to satisfy the demands of some kind of bored, self absorbed thrill quotient. I am talking about the kinds of risks taken to live life well, and to not ever grow shriveled inside. Helen, as all blind people, had a remarkable sense of touch, and it was in part by touch that she “saw” people. She touched the
Helen was on the vaudeville circuit for a while, demonstrating her triumphs over blindness, deafness, and the inability to speak, and her ability to adapt to her surroundings caused some to wonder about the extent of her limitations. She would flow effortlessly up on to the various stages with the same ease as someone who
On imagination, Helen had this to say: “Without imagination, what a poor thing my world would be!” In my own life I have Rita Campbell, wife of the
Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com
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All Things Soldier
Insight On Iraq by Ali Elizabeth Turner It was ten years ago this week that the greatest adventure of my life so far began, which was when I landed in Iraq and began to do what I could to make the lives of those around me a bit better. This week, ten years later, has been heartbreaking for me as I have watched the most brutal form of jihad threaten to undo all that was done. If I were not a woman of faith, I think that despair would overtake me. I do know this: it will get worse before it gets better, but I have read the end of the book, and Iraq, and more importantly, the One true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will win. Next to Israel, Iraq is the second most mentioned nation in the Bible, is the object of some remarkable prophetic
consider as to what could have been done differently, regarding Operation Iraqi Freedom, the first being tactical. If I were the one calling the shots, the thing I would have done would have been to have waited before Iraq was returned to the Iraqis in 2004. I do understand that the US did not want to look like promises, and there is a remnant that will not bow. They lived through Saddam’s terror, they lived through Al-Zarqawi’s terror, they lived out in the desert and the mountains waiting for the chance to be free, and I have no doubt they will get through this, though their numbers have already been savagely diminished. There are several things to conquerors or Crusaders, either to the Iraqis, the Coalition, or to the rest of the world. However, it typically takes about five years for “hearts and minds” to kick in, that is, having the chance to learn a new way, get stable, and grow. Saddam had done so much to cripple even the cognitive development of Iraqis that there would have been much less bloodshed if we hadn’t been in such a hurry to get out of there. On the flip side, announcing to our enemies that we were leaving and letting them know exactly when that would be was just stupid, or perhaps worse. What has happened was exactly what we expected as a result of such a blunder. The other day, in LuVici’s, of all places, I had the privilege of talking with a man who asked to remain anonymous and who served under General “Stormin’ Norman”
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Schwartzkopf. He was in Desert Storm and is now retired. We talked at length about Saddam, WMDs, the revival going on behind the scenes as a result of people having dreams and visions of “Isa,” (Arabic for Jesus,) Iraqis and their desire to be free. He corroborated everything I have experienced and have written about. He also knows my husband’s cousin, Sgt Major Laverne Dose, who was involved in handling Saddam right after he was captured. We talked about the fact that Saddam had the Iraqi Air Force ready to fly through Jordanian air space with planes loaded with chemical weapons bound for Kuwait and Israel, and the Desert Storm Coalition took them out right before they launched the operation. He told me that it was the Germans who sold Saddam the components of a nuclear bomb that were buried in the backyard of an Iraqi official. Saddam only needed a few more parts, and he would have beaten Iran to the nuclear capability punch. We chillingly discussed the sad truth that some who had written about such things were no longer with us, having mysteriously died. But the most important part of the conversation for me was the fact that, after all that we had respectively experienced, observed and deduced from our time in Iraq, we both still know it was worth it to be there, and that evil will ultimately be obliterated. May we remember to pray for Iraq and Israel as ISIS/ISIL waxes prideful over the shedding of innocent blood and the resurgence of 7th century Islam.
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June 20 - July 3, 2014
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Calendar of Events Singing on the Square Jun 20th
Downtown Athens, AL. 6pm. Join Athens-Limestone County Tourism for the 2014 season of this free concert series on the Marion Street side of the Limestone County Courthouse in downtown Athens, AL. For more information, please call 256-232-5411, or visit the Singing on the Square page.
6th Annual Ardmore Tractor/Truck Pull Jun 20th-21st
7:00 PM at John Barnes Park, 26425 Hamlett Street, Ardmore, TN 38449. Classes: Light Super Stock Tractors, Heavy Super Stock Tractors, Limited Pro Stock Tractors, 6200 TWD Trucks, 9300 Super Farm Tractors, P4=PSFWD Trucks Admission: $10.00 (each night), 6 & under FREE, No Rain Checks, No Refunds For more info call: Mike Magnusson, 256-468-4950/ Mike Zeitner, 931-625-7858 orwww.lionwap.org/eclub/sites/ArdmoreTN
Complete lunch for $10.00 per person which includes the show. Reservations required - all seats by reserve. For more information or to reserve your seats, email Info@yesterdaysevents.com.
22nd Annual Freedom Festival Jun 27th
Rogersville United Methodist Chruch 51 Turner Lindsey Road, Rogersville, AL. Join Rogersville UMC at 6:30PM for free community event with hots dogs, chips, drinks and watermelon. The Community Choir will present “Top Anthems.” There will be a Kids Fun Zone and fireworks at dusk. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music and fun.
4th Annual Spencer Black 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run Jun 28th
Downtown Elkmont, AL. $125 team entry fee covers 20’x20’ space and all categories for this event. Prizes and People’s Choice Award Admission to be announced. For more information, call Larry or Susan Pylant 256-732-4493, email ldpylant25902@yahoo.com www. elkmontlionsclub.com.
Blue Springs Elementary 16787 Hardy Road, Athens, AL 35611, 8:30AM. The fundraiser benefiting Clements High School and Blue Spring Elementary School fitness programs and facilities had been postponed due to tornado damage to Blue Spring Elementary, Clements High School and the track where the event is held. This is the newly scheduled date, existing runners will receive notice from coordinators and do not need to re-register. New participants are welcome. For more information, signup for runners notice or to make a donation, please contact Gary Van Wagnen 314-4095102 or email garyvanwagnen@aol.com.
Rehearsal for Murder Jun 25th - 28th
Athens Fireworks Show Jul 4th
Elkmont Lions Club Smokin’ Railroad Street Barbeque Cook-Off Jun 20th - 21st
Black Box Theatre, Fine Arts Building, Calhoun Community College 6250 U.S. Highway 31 North, Tanner, AL. Join the Calhoun Theatre Deparment for their production of the mystery thriller Rehearsal for Murder. For tickets, times and information: vist the Calhoun Theatre calendar, call 256-306-2693 or email whp@calhoun.edu.
Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival Jun 26th - Aug 2nd
309 East Forrest Street, Athens, AL. Join the Athens Lions Club for another season at the Kiddie Carnival on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays - closed July 4th - from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. 10 Rides for toddlers and small children to enjoy. Concessions including pop corn, sno cones, cotton candy, funnel cakes, sandwiches and drinks. Older kids and adults can enjoy bingo too.
Senior Lunch Matinee Jun 26th
Yesterdays Event Center 15631 Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. Senior (ages 62 and up) groups and individuals are welcome to enjoy the show featuring singer-impressionist Dixie Flavor. Doors open at 11:00AM, followed by lunch and the show at 12:00PM. Page 6
Athens High School 100 U.S. Highway 31N, Athens, AL. After sunset, Time TBA.
Red, White and Fun! Jul 4th
Sci-Quest 1435 Paramount Drive, Huntsville, AL. Before rockets glare and fireworks are in the air, declare your right to have some science fun with red, white and blue experiments and activities from 1:00PM-5:00PM. Free admission all day to military personnel active and retired - and their families. For more information: sciquest.org/plan-your-visit/red-white-and-fun.
Alice’s Garden Wonders Now - Aug 31st
Hunstville Botanical Garden 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue Huntsville, AL. Step inside the looking glass and experience the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, play the Queen of Hearts’ Chess, get lost in the Door Maze, play a round of Queen’s Croquet, cool yourself at the Teapot and Teacup, wander the Queen’s Castle, visit Tweedledee and Tweedledumb’s home, and learn the mysteries of the Jaberwocky and the Mock Turtle. For ticket information, contact the Huntsville Botanical Gardent at 256-830-4447 or visit www.hsvbg.org.
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Special Feature
2014 Kiddie Carnival Is Here by Mike Besh, Athens Lions Club Local kids have been eagerly awaiting the Athens Lions Club 2014 Kiddie Carnival which opens June 26th. This summer tradition mixes rides for young kids, with bingo and concessions for a fun filled family outing. The sounds of laughter and screams of joy can be heard as kids zoom into the air on the rocket ships, while others create a breeze while circling on the small swings. Others wait in line for delicious favorites including funnel cakes, popcorn and hamburgers. Concessions also include corn dogs, chicken sandwiches, cold drinks, sno cones and dippin dots. The Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival has provided generations of fun for kids and their parents, grandparents and friends. Located at the same site since 1957; it’s a summer pastime for many who now bring their kids out to enjoy the Kiddie Carnival. The Kiddie Carnival will open June 26th, with an opening ceremony at 6:00pm and rides opening around 6:30pm. Each ride is just a 50 cent ticket. Attendance by families from surrounding communities continues to grow as others learn about this Athens summer tradition. The entertainment opportunities abound with June 20 - July 3, 2014
children circling on the small ferris wheel as it takes them up to look over the crowd and then back down. Another favorite ride is the big swings that arch out as the ride picks up speed. Other rides include the old pedal cars filled with toddlers smiling to each other; the carousel turns as kids ride the horses and visit with each other.. The carnival includes the traditional rides such as a roller coaster, parachute rides and even a scrambler where seats rotate as the entire ride turns. A mainstay for any kids who have attended before is the small vintage train that circles on its own track. It carries loads of happy and smiling riders who scream out as they enter the dark train shed.
The Kiddie Carnival is operated by Athens Lions Club members and other countless volunteers. President Mike Besh says “the Kiddie Carnival provides great family entertainment for young kids and families, while helping the Athens Lions Club to raise funds. We would not be able to do this without the countless volunteers www.athensnowal.com
and time given by our members”. Assistance to operate the Kiddie Carnival is provided by spouses of club members, the Leo Club, local high school sororities and other civic groups and businesses. Funds from the Kiddie Carnival are used to fund a scholarship for a deserving Leo Club mem-
ber, Lions International key focus area of Sight. The Athens Lions Club supports helping those who qualify with sight exams or glasses, as well as collecting used eyeglasses to be recycled. In the past year they have contributed in excess of $4,200 to Alabama Lions Sight Conservation Association and $1,000 to Camp Seale Harris, a camp for youth with diabetes. The club, through manpower or funding, has provided assistance to Learn to read council, Athens Limestone United Way Disaster Relief Fund, Athens Grease Festival and the Athens Storytelling Festival. The big train has been taken to numerous civic events including riding in the Athens Christmas parade. It is the generous support of the Kiddie Carnival that allows these programs and community support by the Athens Lions Club. The Kiddie Carnival is located across from Athens Middle School at 309 E Forrest Street. It is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night June 26 through August 2 (CLOSED JULY 4TH), 6:30pm-9:30pm. Additional information about the Kiddie Carnival can be found at http://e-clubhouse.org/ sites/athensal/ or their Facebook page: Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival. Page 7
What Makes Ronnie Roll
The Seamless City, Part 2 “Schools (And Libraries) Belong To Everyone” by Ali Elizabeth Turner
We met in the Student lounge at Athens State University immediately following the Flag Day ceremony. Jerry Barksdale had given a stirring reminder of the significance of the flag, Carissa Lovvorn sang, the ASU Community Band played, and it was a marvelous mid-day reminder of how blessed we are to live in America, as well as to live in Athens. Previously in the week, he attended a similar ceremony that also included the Change of Command at Redstone, and was going to be heading out of town to represent us in other capacities, including bringing about more economic growth.
We quickly turned to The Seamless City, an outstanding book whose subtitle is A Conservative Mayor’s Approach To Urban Revitalization That Can Work Anywhere. It is written by
Rick Baker, the former Mayor of St. Petersburg, FL, and like Gary McCaleb’s The Gift Of Community, should be required reading, in my view, for anyone seeking office. As we did with The Gift Of Community, we are going to spend a goodly amount of time talking about applying Mayor Baker’s excellent goals and experience to our beloved Athens through the use of this column. Mayor Ronnie loaned me his copy of The Seamless City while he was out of town, and as is always the case with his personal book collections, there are notes in the margins, dog
ears, (sometimes from the bottom up,) pages folded back, highlighted quotes, pertinent points underlined, and multi colored page markers as well as postits throughout. He literally internalizes the books he reads to make him a better leader, and does not know that I am disclosing in an edition of Ronnie behavior that could get him in trouble with a librarian. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission, and if I am consequently in hot water for outing him for “book abuse,” I’ll take my proverbial lumps. It is worth it to me to have you know how seriously he is as a lifelong learner, and passionate about personal
growth. He asked me to begin with a quote from Seamless which was made by Benjamin Franklin: “A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district-all studied and appreciated as they merit-are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty.” This quote is at the head of the chapter entitled “Schools Belong To Everyone.” In this chapter, Baker makes an interesting point: “If our schools are not doing well, we cannot attract businesses to our city. Companies want to know that they can employ a workforce that graduates from quality schools, and they want their employees’ children to go to good schools.” One of the things that supports our schools is the quality of a city’s library. Our own library is slated to be finished midSeptember, and to open in the middle of October.
He then said, “Can you imagine moving all those books and getting them organized?” We both agreed that we were glad we could dodge that particular bullet, and that our library staff was willing to do it.
Libraries support schools, schools support economic development, sidewalks connect a community, and recreation is a necessity for community building. Baker believes this, and so does our Mayor. All of the items on this list are things that are currently being worked on in Athens.
As was mentioned last time, it is the season for budgets to be solidified. In Athens, we have a 207 million dollar budget for our electrical needs. We own Athens’, as well as Limestone County’s, electric utility system, a service that is so easy to take for granted, and whose workers the Mayor makes a specific point to continually affirm. “They are first responders as far as I am concerned.” We spoke of the election, discussed the need for people to vote in the run-off on July 15th, prayed, and then, Ronnie had to roll.
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Tourism
Athens-Limestone County Week Of Independence
by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum and
Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
Join us as we celebrate 238 years of our nation’s freedom. This year’s festivities will kick off on Monday, May 30th. Come to the Alabama Veterans’ Museum for a historical display that chronicles our nation’s independence through American flags. Mr. Ron Pettus has been collecting flags for over 50 years and has some amazing pieces, everything from Ronald and Nancy Regan flag slippers to a civil war flag with 34 stars. Mr. Pettus started collecting flags when he was a high school history teacher. He believed that actual artifacts from the time periods being taught would make history come alive for his students. This year, the exhibit will be in the Powers Room at the museum
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and will be on display from 9:00am – 3:00pm, Monday, June 30th thru Thurs, June 3rd and until 12:00pm on July 4th. Mr. Pettus promises some new flags not seen in his previous collection. Share your red during the Red, White, and Blue Blood Drive at the LifeSouth Blood Mobile, Wednesday, July 2nd 10:00am - 2:00pm presented by Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association. Athens fireworks organizers are excited to announce that we will celebrate our annual tradition with the Independence Day Celebration Fireworks Show on Friday July 4th. The excitement will begin at dusk at the Athens High School football field. Parking is available in the school parking
lot, Athens Rec Center, Central Church of Christ, and the parking lot across from the school. Independence Day is a favorite holiday of adults and children alike. For some it is the beautiful colors and loud popping from the fireworks, but for others it is more symbolic. The United States became independent of Great Britain on July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was approved. We all should remember that this holiday is the result of the valiant efforts and strong commitment of our American forefathers. We are fortunate enough to live in this land of the free, with the privileges other countries envy and some will never have. We should work together to maintain the integrity and
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values established by our forefathers. This year, the fireworks show is made possible by the City of Athens, Limestone County Commission and Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association. Bring the entire family and enjoy the show. Also, just a reminder, due to arena conditions resulting from the recent unusually wet weather, the 3rd Annual Sam Gibbons Memorial Walking
Horse show was rescheduled to July 19th, 2014. The show will start at 5:00pm. Sponsorships and program ads are still available for this free event! For further information on these and other events for the week of Independence, contact the Athens Limestone County Visitors Center at 256-232-5411 or Sandy at the museum, 256771-7578.
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Visit smart.athens.edu to get started.
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Clean and Green
Spring Cleaning - Reducing Clutter In Your Environment by Lynne Hart
•Household Hazardous Waste According to Dictionary. com, one definition of the word environment is “external conditions or surroundings, especially those in which people live and work.” We usually think of the air, water, forests, and other outdoor things that surround us when we talk about the environment; however, our environment also consists of our homes and workplaces. I can only take clutter for so long, then it just has to go! When I get in the mood to really “clean house,” I’m ready to just start tossing things out! I have to stop and remember that what I consider junk or trash can be another’s treasure. So I take a breath, slow down, and think about each item. I then separate everything into five groups: •Yard Sale / Donations •Special Give-Aways •Recyclables
•Trash Yard Sale / Donations Having a yard sale is a great way to get rid of unwanted items that still have some good use in them while taking in a few dollars for yourself. If you don’t want to spend the time having a yard sale, then donate the items to a local thrift store. If you do have a yard sale, a thrift store would be happy to take what is left over at the end of your sale. Everything finds a place that is NOT in YOUR environment! Special Give-Aways Sometimes we find things that are a bit harder to part with, and it feels better to give them to someone we know. Offer these items to someone you believe might need or treasure them. If they accept, you have reduced your clutter and made someone else happy. If they
decline, do the hard thing and add the item to your yard sale/donation pile. Recyclables When something is broken or no longer usable, our first instinct is to toss it in the trash; however, “broken” does not necessarily mean it has no value. We should remember that anything made of metal can also be recycled such as bikes, grills, tools, pipes, wash tubs, etc. Metal Exchange located at the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center on Lucas Ferry Rd. will accept all metal items, and will buy copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. You can contact Metal Exchange for more information at 256-585-0976. When the effort is made to bring items to the recycling center, valuable material is being provided to companies that create brand new items out of what we might consider junk. You can find recycled
metal in everything from your microwave oven, cookware, and wrenches, to wall art and the plane that takes you to your next vacation destination! Don’t forget that electronics of all kinds can be recycled, too. Anything that has an electrical cord or takes batteries, along with anything that plugs into those items can be brought to the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center. That includes items such as cell phones, toaster ovens, copiers, vacuum cleaners, computers, microwaves, clock radios and the list goes on! No need to pile these items up in a corner and wait for a special collection. Bring them to the center from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday! Household Hazardous Waste Items such as cleaning fluids, automobile fluids, insecticides, oil-based paints, fertilizers, and other toxic items should not be put in the trash.
These items must be disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste Collection. There are no events currently scheduled for Limestone County residents. Please let your local representatives know if you would like to see such an event take place. Trash The pile considered trash should be the smallest of all. These are the items that will go into the landfill and remain for decades. We should only put in this pile the items that cannot be dealt with in any other manner. If you are like me, I feel much better in an uncluttered home and workplace. It isn’t always easy to keep things uncluttered, so we’ve set a cleaning date here at KALB. Set your date to reduce the clutter in your environment and we can feel better together!
(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com
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Cooking with Shelley
Pretzel Salad by Shelley Underhill
It’s that time of year again. Time to break out the ingredients for Pretzel Salad. Everybody loves this summer classic, so get ready to crush some pretzels and slice some berries. You can share this simple desert with your family and friends. Let me know if you try it. Email me at shelleysdesk@ gmail.com Enjoy!
What you will need:
9x13 pan 3/4 cup butter, melted 3 tablespoons white sugar 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed 2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored Jell-OÂŽ 2 cups boiling water 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries 2 cups crushed pretzels Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Stir together crushed pretzels, melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar; mix well and press mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until set. Set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture onto cooled crust. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set briefly. Pour and spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.
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Learning As A Lifestyle
World War II And The Birth Of Artificial Intelligence by Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 playing program. www.kurzweilai.net/turing-s-prophecy. How accurate he was!
June 6th was the 70th anniversary of D-Day, (Operation Overlord) or the Normandy Invasion. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and a turning point in World War II. A military armada carrying more than 156,000 troops across the English Channel started just after midnight. Minesweepers went ahead to clear the waters in preparation for the more than 2,300 landing crafts that would be carrying men, vehicles and supplies. About 6:30 am, troops began coming ashore on a 60-mile front, landing on the five beaches – Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword. (D-Day Fast Facts, May 26, 2014) Most of us can remember at least one movie made about the landings in Normandy, particularly Omaha Beach. Saving Private Ryan (1998), starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns and Tom Sizemore, follows a small unit sent to retrieve Private Ryan, whose four brothers have been killed in action. Band of Brothers (1980) was a short series produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg; the stories followed “Easy Company” from the landing at Normandy to VJ day. If you are closer to my age, perhaps, you remember The Longest Day (1962), starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Robert Mitchum. Something you might not know about World War II, however, concerns the development of computers. Alan Turing (1912-54) was a British mathematician who made history by breaking the German U-boat Enigma cipher in World War II. This ensured Allied-American control of the Atlantic, but Turing’s vi-
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The Turing test is a test of a machine’s ability to demonstrate intelligent behavior. In the test, a human judge carries on a natural conversation with a machine. If the participants cannot tell they are talking with a machine, the machine passed the test. Recently, A computer program known as “Eugene Goostman” passed the Turing Test by convincing a group of people, via chat, that it was actually a 13-year-old boy. Developed by PrincetonAI (a small team of programmers and technologists not affiliated with Princeton University,) and backed by a
sion went far beyond the desperate wartime struggle. Already in the 1930s he had defined the concept of the “universal machine,” which underpinned the computer revolution. In 1945 he was a pioneer of electronic computer design. But Turing’s true goal was the scientific understanding of the mind, brought out in the drama and wit of the famous “Turing test” for machine intelligence, and in his prophecy for the twentyfirst century.” (Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges (author), Douglas R. Hofstadter (Foreword), Princeton University Press, May 2012). Four years before Turing’s apparent suicide, he published a paper entitled, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” which appeared in the Journal, Mind. Ray Kurzweil notes that Turing believed
computer and some gee-whiz algorithms, “Eugene Goostman” was able to fool the Turing Test 2014 judges 33% of the time — good enough to surpass the threshold set by computer scientist Alan Turing in 1950.
(The Life and Times of “Eugene Goostman Who Passed the Turning Test” by Lance Ulanoff, Mashable, http:// mashable.com/2014/06/12/ eugene-goostman-turingtest/)
Getting back to D-Day and remembrances of World War II, let us not forget the sacrifices and the contributions of all our men and women in the military. Let them be safe wherever they are.
by the early 21st century, “society will simply take for granted the pervasive intervention of intelligent machines in all phases of life, that “the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.” Turing went on to lay out an agenda that would in fact occupy the next half century of advanced computer research by describing a series of goals in game playing, decision making, natural language understanding, translation, theorem proving, and, of course, encryption and the cracking of codes. He wrote (with his friend David Champernowne) the first chess-
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Alan Turing June 20 - July 3, 2014
Cover Story
James Curtis Turner For Limestone County Commission, District 3 by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
Grandchildren Chandler and Carter
your vote. His desire is to move the district forward, and for years, he has been as involved as possible as a concerned citizen and faithfully attending meetings held by the County Commission, the Athens City Council and others. He is a conservative, he has served his country as a member of the US Army, and he had a fascinating career at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant in Chattanooga, TN. James was born in Athens and graduated from Tanner High School. He served in the US Army for six years, and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Chattanooga State College. He also earned a degree in Daughter Tameika Business Commerce and Gary Noland from the University of problematic. I asked, as I Louisville. He is a dad, a always do, “Why should grandpa, a Sunday school I vote for you?” As is the teacher, a member of the case with other contend100 Men Choir of the ers, James is a true man of Round Island Creek Bapfaith, and has felt prayertist Association, was infully led to run for this volved with Big Brothers/ position. His love for our Big Sisters, and helps with area is obvious, he underfundraising in our area for stands “Athenian excepthe American Cancer Sotionalism,” (the truth to ciety. Oh, and for those of anyone with one eye open you who are fans of Poke that Athens is an amazing Sallet Follies, this past place to live,) and his pasSpring James played the sionate assertion that “All part of “The Banker!” the communities must be One of the things that imstrong,” is tacitly credible. pressed me about James His response to my quesis his understanding of tion was that he was comthe budget for Limestone mitted to “representing all County. He told me with a the people,” and he knows chuckle, “I just about have that the community, like a the thing memorized.” chain, “is only as strong I have noticed that with as its weakest links.”He other candidates, there has extraordinary listening was seemingly no familskills, something I have obiarity with it and I find that served on a number of oc-
June 20 - July 3, 2014
casions, and that is something that these days is not very common. For someone who has not actually served as a commissioner, he has an excellent understanding of how the County Commission is supposed to run. “It’s not just roads, bridges and ditch-
James, Daughter Kirsten and Grandson Carter
possesses because of his nearly 30 years at Sequoyah. For starters, Sequoyah is a much more complex type of facility than Browns Ferry, and James had to take that complexity in stride with a work schedule that could vie that of a first year med student. Being a safety oriented operator at a nuclear plant is indescribably stressful, as you are literally responsible for the lives of millions every moment you are on the clock, and then some. Everything must be triple checked. There is no room for error. Even though there are fail-safes in place to back up the fail-safes, the level of vigilance that must be maintained is grueling. Every five weeks he would undergo a re-certification program to demonstrate c o m p e t e n c y. Whenever anyone in Operations was seeking a promotion, they would have to go before a panel of experts for an exhaustive (as well as exhausting) written and oral
exam. No notes, no props, but a stringent requirement that you demonstrate you know every piece of safety equipment inside and out, and that you have measurable and viable contingency plans already internalized and ready to implement, either in the wake of a disaster or in order to prevent one. In addition, there are budgets to be maintained and deadlines to meet. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission does a number of audits and inspections, and, as James said, “What we did determined whether or not Sequoyah maintained its license to operate.” Someone with this kind of commitment to exhibiting meticulous attention to detail, as well as a proven ability to “think on his feet” would be invaluable in a time of disaster, or just in everyday County life. Therefore, if you believe James Curtis Turner is the man who will best represent District 3, then please vote for him in November.
es,” he said, it’s about managing the County, all of it.” He has made it a point over the years to seek wisdom and knowledge from those who are actually a part of the Commission, and to learn from their mistakes as well as their successes. However, as important as all of the things previously mentioned are, what intrigued me the most was the level of transferable skills he
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Tips To Successfully Transform From Graduate To Employee courtesy BrandPoint content
With the start of summer comes warm weather, vacation planning and an influx of recent graduates on the job hunt. In fact, during the 2013-14 school year, colleges and universities are expected to award nearly 5.3 million degrees, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. All those recent grads can easily translate to a highly competitive job market. As students begin planning for their future outside the classroom and preparing for the next chapter of their lives - finding a job, apartment hunting, paying back student loans - many realize that graduation is an opportunity to refresh one’s persona and digital reputation. This can include social media makeovers, refreshing your tech skills and upgrading your outdated email service to something more suitable for the next phase in life.
quickly moves someone to the ‘no’ pile. Jobseekers first task: clean up their digital image and make sure it makes a positive impression.” There are several mail tools and features recent grads should leverage when making the transition from student to newly employed, including: * Manage your email reputation: Your email says a lot about you. In fact, it can be thought of as your first impression to employers. Whether you need to migrate over from an outdated email address or upgrade to a more professional email username, Outlook.com’s import wizard allows you to import and manage your mail from Yahoo Mail, Gmail and many other email providers. You can even keep your old email addresses, but manage them all from one place.
Additionally 81 percent of all email users are using multiple email services, making it hard to keep up with numerous or old accounts, a recent study by Radius Global revealed. Consider consolidating to one personal email address to keep you connected and manage your contacts in one place. * Utilize a shared calendar to organize your networking schedule: Having an always up-to-date address book and shared calendar available across your phone, tablet, and other devices makes networking easier because you aren’t tied to any one device where information might be saved. Your Outlook.com calendar is accessible right from your inbox, so it’s easy to stay up-to-date, subscribe to online calendars, import events from your other calendars, or share your
agenda with family to keep everyone in sync. You can also send invitations, track RSVPs, and set notifications to stay on schedule. * Leverage the tools employers care about most: A recent Microsoft survey looked at the job and skill requirements from 14.6 million job postings from the second and third quarters of 2013 and identified the 20 most common skills required for those positions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office was among the top five skills employers look for in a prospective newhire. Outlook.com allows consumers to create, open, edit and share Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for free using Office Online, accessible from your inbox. It’s a great way to create, access and share your resume and there’s no need for you or those you share with to
install Office, and your formatting stays intact.
* Remember that’s it’s all about who you know: As the old saying goes, “it’s all in who you know,” so working off one set of contacts that pulls in information from your social networks allows you to check your contacts’ recent status updates, profile pictures, and Tweets while you email them. Additionally, many recent graduates are looking for jobs outside of their current residence. Don’t let distance be a factor in the job hunt by staying connected with Skype chat and video calls right from your Outlook.com inbox.
Staying organized and being informed can be the difference between landing a job and a missed opportunity. For more tips, visit www. MicrosoftForGrads.com to learn more.
“Think of your digital footprint - your email address, social media and even the results of a search of your name - as the first impression you make on a company or recruiter. An excellent one will open doors,” says Karen Elizaga, executive coach and author of Find Your Sweet Spot: A Guide to Personal and Professional Excellence. “Because recruiters and executives receive hundreds of inquiries a day, they need easy ways to weed people out. Many recent grads overlook the importance of their digital footprint and use amusing, old email addresses that undermine the professional image they want to convey, or their social media pages reflect a candidate who is irresponsible, profane or disrespectful, any of which
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June 20 - July 3, 2014
Cover Story
Seibert For Senate District One: Experience And Vision by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
often the case, two good men are running in a race that is close. Both men think they are the best choice for the job, and it will be up to the voters of Lauderdale, Limestone and Madison counties to carefully and prayerfully decide who they feel would do the most for their constituents. Before we get to the points Chris feels distinguish him from his opponent, may I make a plea to the people of these three counties to make the effort to vote? I will confess that in days gone by I didn’t often bother to vote in the primaries, let alone a runoff. However, being around people who were willing to die in order to vote changed me forever. I was surrounded by folks who bought their coffins because they had been promised by Al-Zarqawi that they would be laying in them by day’s end if they dared vote, and they voted anyway. Your vote counts, so don’t waste it. History is full of remarkable changes that were made by “the power of one!” End of exhortation, back to Chris Seibert. The first thing that sets Chris apart is his experience. As an officer in the military he was responsible for the well being of 70 guys, and his job was transportation and logistics, much of which occurred overseas. In the military he also had to learn to manage sizeable budgets. As a medical equipment rep he is responsible for his company’s territory from the Mississippi to the West Coast, as well as mentoring all of the sales force under him. He has been involved in three business start ups, and
June 20 - July 3, 2014
they are all still running. That is a good start, but Chris is the only one of the conservative candidates with experience in local government and local economic development. He has held a seat on the City Council of Athens since 2012. The past two years have been extraordinary in terms of what has occurred regarding job
Lauderdale County has lost 4,000 jobs. This is a great concern to Chris, and in the process of running for office, he has spent a good deal of time in Lauderdale listening to potential constituents. Without question the number one concern he has heard is that of jobs, and if elected, he would be ready to apply the
possible rating from the NRA. He is pro-life, ardently in support of local control of the public schools, and involved in his church. Another thing that is noteworthy about Chris is his experience with public service. He grew up in it as a kid clear up to being a young adult, and it was just considered a normal part of giving back and paying it forward. He is planning on having public service be a part of his life for the rest of his life. His health is strong, in terms of age and maturity he is in that “sweet spot” where he already has a goodly amount of experience behind him, and is perfectly poised to serve well the people of North Alabama for as long as they’ll have him. His vision is to see North Alabama develop
growth in Athens/ Limestone County, and Chris has been intrinsically involved in the negotiations that brought a much needed shot in the arm of our local economy. Winning contracts with Carpenter Technology, Remington and others have resulted in a total of 3,000 new jobs. Steelcase has expanded, Turner has expanded, and, as Chris says, “We have an educated, qualified workforce, and a good feeder industry.”There are other large businesses which are in negotiations with the County Commission and the Athens City Council as we speak, and the outlook is good. That’s our county, but
same successful process that has strengthened Limestone County. It is nearly a given in our area that potential legislators will be strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment, and Chris is the only one of the candidates that has a Grade A, the highest
economically, for healthy communities to grow, to make sure that we get our fair share of the money that is ours for roads and other infrastructure necessities, and to do all that he can to influence our federal legislators to repeal
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Obamacare and any other expressions of government overreach that we may be facing. On a personal note, recently Chris and his wife, Tiffany made a decision to create their own foundation in the wake of the April 28th tornadoes that hit Limestone County. Unfortunately, it seems our area continues to be a hot spot for severe weather. Their foundation, North Alabama United, raises funds for families so they can have the resources to put their lives back together. Chris’s commitment to service and giving back runs deep, and this is just one example. He has found time, or more accurately, has made time to be a coach for his boys’ soccer, basketball and baseball teams. The night of the primary election, Chris was coaching a play off championship game while everyone else was gathered at the Limestone County Event Center to watch election returns. The game went into overtime and then some, and Chris’s son Ben’s team lost by one point. I asked him why he didn’t get someone to fill in for him, and what he said struck me. “I signed up to do a job, and it was important to Ben and to his team. I wanted to demonstrate to the boys that it is important to keep your word, to do what you say you are going to.” On July 15th Chris Seibert would like your vote so he can serve you, and keep on keeping his word.
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Health and Fitness
What is Metabolic Syndrome? by Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that increases your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. Below are five metabolic risk factors. You can have any one of these risk factors, but they usually occur together. If you have three metabolic risk factors, you will be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. •A large waistline. This also is called abdominal obesity or having an “apple” shape. Excess fat in the stomach area is a greater risk factor for heart disease than excess fat in other parts of the body, such as on the hips. The health risk is considered high when waist circumference is greater than or equal to 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men. •A high triglyceride level (or being on medicine to treat high triglycerides). Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. A triglyceride level 200 and higher is considered a high. •A low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level
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(or being on medicine to treat low HDL cholesterol). HDL often called “good” cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. A low HDL cholesterol level raises your risk for heart disease. An HDL level 60 or below is considered a low level. •High blood pressure (or being on medicine to treat high blood pressure). Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage your heart and lead to plaque buildup. Systolic blood pressure of 140 or greater OR diastolic blood pressure of 90 or greater on two separate occasions is considered high. •High fasting blood sugar (or being on medicine to treat high blood sugar). Mildly high blood sugar may be an early sign of diabetes. Fasting blood glucose of 100 or greater is considered high. Your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke increases with the number of meta-
bolic risk factors you have. In general, a person who has metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times as likely to develop diabetes as someone who does not have metabolic syndrome. Additional risk factors such as high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol level (equal or greater than 130) and smoking are major risk factors for heart disease, but they are not part of metabolic syndrome. The risk of having metabolic syndrome is closely associated to being overweight (BMI 25-30) or obese (BMI 30 or greater) and a sedentary lifestyle. Insulin resistance also may increase your risk for metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body cannot use its insulin properly. Insulin resistance can lead to high blood sugar levels, and it too is closely linked to overweight and obesity. Genetics (ethnicity and family history) and older age are other factors that may play a
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role in causing metabolic syndrome.
A healthy lifestyle is a lifelong commitment.
Metabolic syndrome is becoming more and more common due to a rise in obesity rates. In the future, metabolic syndrome may overtake smoking as the leading risk factor for heart disease.
For additional information about Metabolic Syndrome or Weight Management and Lifestyle Changes contact Janet Hunt, certified Personal Trainer at 256-6143530 or visit her website at www.janetsfitnessindustries. com.
It is possible to prevent or delay metabolic syndrome, mainly with lifestyle changes.
June 20 - July 3, 2014
The View From The Bridge
It’s Shaping Up To Be A Pom-Pom Day! by Jackie Warner Jackie Warner
Community Outreach “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters
Not to boast and definitely not because I want to scream team “ME” to the whole world, but sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader in the world of work. It’s a new business mindset and organizations say this is what it will take to get you noticed and considered worthy of the next step on your career ladder. In years past, we were taught to work hard and it will all pay off. I still believe it will. We were told don’t shine your light, just let your light shine. Fast Forward 2O years and the playbook has changed. I am not telling you to be that person we all know oh-so-well who toots their horn, is that artful fast talker and gets everyone’s attention while absolutely saying nothing of value- all talk and no real action. No, no, that is not the team “ME” Cheerleader that I speak of. Listen up: you are with YOU all day and AUTHENTIC self-appreciation, positive affirmation, and love for yourself should be a daily routine. The “World of Work” can be a very harsh place at times and we constantly observe actions that lead us to believe that we are not good enough, not the right fit, or need to be fixed in some form or fashion. We live in a draining society and there will always be someone competing against you or trying to break your spirit. The “haters” they are called, but don’t be ashamed to
June 20 - July 3, 2014
to add to your personnel file (it’s just a friendly reminder that you value your work).
6.Look for opportunities beyond your desk. Put your knowledge on the road and speak at conferences in your area of expertise.
7.Set your own benchmarks to measure your success
8.When someone compliments you, breathe, let it in and say “thank you.” No need to discount it your worth! Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional say out loud “I love me, get used to it.” Why shouldn’t you be your biggest genuine cheerleader? When we start with ourselves, then we have so much more to give and share with others around us so don’t forget to pack your pom-poms and most of all, your self-motivation.
your internal and external networks. 5.Plan for that upcoming performance review. Keep
2.You said “Oh that was nothing.” Erase that phrase from your vocabulary. It was something and yes you did it. Thank them for the acknowledgement without minimizing your time and actions. 3.Celebrate your successes. Pat yourself on the back. You have permission to buy your own flowers. 4.Know what’s happening in your industry. Build
Jackie Warner, Career Development Facilitator The Bridge “Where Community Matters”
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Horse Whispering
“Common Sense”
by Deb Kitchenmaster
New faces, new names, new friendships, and new connections are happening at Corral Connections. In each session, I purpose to create a pathway for each individual that will be exciting to follow in the arena of connecting with horses and humans. An elder can teach ‘proper’ manners, such as saying ‘thank you’, but gratitude comes from within the heart of the person. Someone can provide a piano for a student and teach timing and notes and keys, however, the music comes from within. An individual can mount a horse and be instructed on certain techniques, but the riding comes from within. Within each person is a leader, and through the horsepower of ‘common
trust a horse as much as that. The horses were very well trained and so beautiful If you are scared of horses, then Mrs. Deb is the “Horse Whisperer” that you can trust to get out of that fear.”
tive tools used. We have to be effective to be understood. We have to be understood to be effective. If you were drawing a symbol of these past two statements, it could easily be one of a horse and rider. Common sense reveals the difference between aggressive and assertive. Common sense encourages you to be as gentle
sense’, I desire to excavate, awaken (that can be alarming), and improve leadership, with the hopes that ‘corral connectors’ will think beyond themselves. Why? Because when you think beyond yourself, you enter into the zone of “considering.” That, dear reader, is a mega amount of horsepower! When we consider someone or something, we ‘soften’ inside, and connect with the power to understand the person or the situation. What a learning process! It’s
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like a spiral. You go over the same steps again and again, each time at a different level, with new perspectives and insights. This type of spiraling is not regression. Each spiral represents growth.
as you can and to be as firm as you need to be with your horse or a human. How to be gentle without being timid is another spiral in the learning process. Common sense shows you what it looks like to be firm without being mean or mad. Isn’t the learning process amazing! Even though our classroom is held outside in an arena of different sizes and shapes, and our teachers have four legs instead of two, we are learning! A precious equine student blessed me with a mug that reads, “In teaching others we teach ourselves.” Two sisters from Arizona came to visit their Grandparents in Tennessee. They chose to come to Corral Connections, and I am so glad they did! I received emails regarding what their first time experience was like for them. I would like to share some of their comments with you.
“My experience at your farm and horse ranch was so amazing. I actually got to connect with my favorite animal……. horses. I got to walk and trot on bareback. It was the most awesome experience I have ever had with horses. Horses are like humans, they need water and food. They also need respect and honor too. They need to be treated fairly too. Just like people do. Horses are beautiful on the outside and on the inside. I learned you can’t expect the horses to do everything so fast. We learned how to get them to trust us and how to get their permission to ride. We learned how to groom and brush them properly I will never forget how amazing this day was.”
What common denominator word shows up in these two quotes? The word “trust.” Whew! You see, “trust” is a major building block for a healthy identity. Learning to trust begins in infancy, and is the foundation for the toddler to learn about autonomy (independence) versus shame (inadequacy).
Thank you, Michaela and Chelsea! Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections: Connecting with LIFE through a horse “My experience was Animal B.E.S.T practitioner ‘sooooooo’ amazing! I NEVER thought I could dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com
Common sense is about being consistent, sound, reasonable, valid and rational. Being consistent in training, whether horses or humans, is one of the most effec-
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June 20 - July 3, 2014
June 20 - July 3, 2014
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Medical Update
June Is National Scoliosis Awareness Month
By Rachel Clark, RN, BSN
Each month I try to devote the Medical Update column to an awareness campaign or specific health observance for that month. June, is National Scoliosis Awareness Month. In 2005, my then 13year-old sister had surgery to have steel rods placed in her spine. She had been diagnosed with Scoliosis 4 years before. She had tried to wear a brace to correct the improper curvature of her spine. The brace did not work, in part because of her failure to wear the brace as indicated by our pediatrician. She saw a specialist, and because our mother worked at the hospital at the time, the doctor knew her and knew that the surgery was such that we couldn’t afford to have it done. This doctor donated his time, waived all his fees, and did my sister’s surgery for free. A major portion of the bill was also picked up by the hospital because of our insurance plan through Mother. I remember right after surgery, my sister spent a couple of days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and was then transferred to the pediatric unit. Her recovery process was
•Back problems: more likely to have chronic back pain as adults if they had Scoliosis as children
long, painful, and involved a lot of physical therapy. Scoliosis, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is “a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty.” For the most part, the cause of this abnormal curvature is unknown, though it can occur in
•Appearance: as the condition progresses, it can cause a change in appearance and affect body image Testing and Diagnosis
As the curvature gets worse, the spine will often twist or rotate in addition to the side-to-side, s-shaped curvature. This can cause ribs on one side to stick out further than the other side. Severe scoliosis can also cause difficulty breathing and back pain. Risk Factors conjunction with other conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. My sister fit into the category of “we don’t know why she has it.” For most children, scoliosis is a benign condition and the degree of curvature is mild. For other children, (like my sister,) the curvature is more sever and needs medical intervention. The
condition continues to worsen as they grow and can become very debilitating. It can cause a wide range of complications, including not being able to breathe adequately due to decreased space in the chest. Signs and Symptoms In some children with mild curvature, it is difficult to see outward signs. In others, you can readily see the changes. Some that you might see would include the following: •Uneven shoulders •One shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other •Uneven waist •One hip higher than the other
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Though both males and females can develop Scoliosis, the condition is much more prominent in females. It occurs most often during the last growth spurt before puberty. Scoliosis may or may not have a genetic component as it seems to run in some families but not all who are diagnosed have a family history of the condition. Complications Complications from Scoliosis include the following: •Lung and heart damage: when severe, the rib cage can press against the lungs and heart, causing damage to these organs as well as others in the chest cavity.
If your pediatrician suspects your child is developing Scoliosis, one of the first tests they perform is very simple: they ask the child to stand up and then lean forward at the waist allowing the arms to hang loosely in front of them. This allows them to see if there is a noticeable shift of the shoulder blades or rib cage. Other testing that your doctor might suggest include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computerized tomography) scan, and bone scans (injection of radioactive materials that allow for visualization of injured or healing bone tissue). Treatment For mild curvature, general treatment is close monitoring. More sever curvatures may require braces or surgical intervention to correct the problem. Some alternative treatments include chiropractic manipulation, stimulation of muscles with electrical currents, and biofeedback. For more information about Scoliosis and raising awareness, visit the Scoliosis Research Society at www.srs.org and www.mayoclinic.org.
June 20 - July 3, 2014
Security Savvy
Gun Control And Mental Illness
by Jim Doyle, owner of Madison Security Group 203 Us Highway 31 S, Athens, AL 35611 How are so many people with a mental illness getting firearms? Why are so many people that need help not getting it?
a gun to harm themselves or anyone else. It seems that the most basic way to help with this type of violence is to keep aware of your own family, make it your duty to ensure that those in your family that have shown signs of unusual behavior get help. Addressing this might stop a tragedy. Notify the authorities if you hear or know of a potential problem with a person that could get their hands on a gun. Be safe not sorry.
There was a move back in the Reagan days where physiatrists thought people with mental health issues could be monitored with meds and possibly at a neighborhood clinic. This treatment alternative would save money and allow states to close facilities. I understand how the department of mental health works; I was a director of security in a large state hospital. I witnessed some of the clients get overly medicated and let out into the city without any monitoring. My question is how do we keep guns from a person that has a problem? We really can’t. Not all mental illness is easy to spot, especially with the way guns can be purchased. We as a nation will never be able to control who acquires a gun unless we become a nation under martial law. This would mean that no one could own a firearm except those in police work or the military. Even that would not guarantee people couldn’t get guns. I feel outraged that our children are being shot while in school. Almost every time these tragedies happen, it’s a person with a mental health
June 20 - July 3, 2014
of our own firearm. Make sure that if a family member has a problem you take action to assure that they don’t have a chance to get
problem that did the shooting. In addition, there were no steps taken when there were signs that something tragic was about to happen. So what do we hear as a solution? More gun control! Do we want to make it unlawful for a person with a family member that could have a mental illness to own a gun? That would open up Pandora’s Box. I don’t know how we can stop bad people from getting guns without harming good people
We as a country need to step back and take a hard long look at where we are going with our children. We seem to have become negligent in the raising of our kids and let them fall into the world of the Internet where games have become reality. Start talking and spending time with them. Maybe this could stop some of the violence.
and their right to own a firearm. I don’t believe that making it harder for people to own a gun will change anything. Look at Chicago. One of the cities with a comprehensive gun control ruling, yet it leads the country in homicides. Then again Tennessee has been voted a dangerous place to live along with other Southern states. This might sound silly but I believe that gun control should start with the family. Take control
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June 20 - July 3, 2014
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