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March 15th - April 4th, 2019

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

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

Madison Street Baptist Church: Moving Forward In Christ

Special Feature

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Drainage improvement project to begin in Athens Elementary area during Spring Break... A contractor plans to start work on the First Avenue Area drainage improvement project while... Page 5

What Makes Ronnie Roll A P.S. On Poke Sallet... Mayor Ronnie’s weekend had been a full one—three days of presentations of Poke Sallet Follies, Trash Attack, greeting a new... Page 8

Last week, I had the joy of meeting the pastor of Madison Street Baptist Church, a young man by the name of CW Kennedy. In addition, he let me play the church’s grand piano, which is located in the sanctuary, and that was an unThe Wyler Family will be ministering March 30th thru April 3rd

Yellowhammer Roofing: Voted The Best Of The Best In The Valley By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Cooking With Anna Busted For Biscuits... One lovely Saturday, we found ourselves taking a little trip up the Natchez Trace. We quickly found ourselves in Nashville where the trace ends... Page 10

March 15 - April 4, 2019

Continued on page 15

At a BNI meeting on March 5th, I heard Clint Vining of Yellowhammer Roofing give a ten minute presentation about roofing in general, and the Yellowhammer Roofing Company in specific. That brief presentaContinued on pages 17

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Team Yellowhammer

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March 15 - April 4, 2019

Publisher’s Point

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Ilhan’s Illness

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Anna Hamilton Sandra Thompson Rosemary Dewar Jackie Warner Roy Williams Deb Kitchenmaster Holly Hollman Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Tim Lambert

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets' Museum . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 The Millennial Mind . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health & Fitness . . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . . 22

March 15 - April 4, 2019

No matter where one lands on the political spectrum, it is inarguable that the current Congressional “freshman class,” (oh, wait, should I say “freshwoman” or “freshperson” just to be “inclusive?”) is turning heads. There are wet-behind-the-ears media darlings and starlets, and in my opinion their antics often reflect what happens when you raise kids to believe that they deserve a trophy for getting out of bed in the morning. Add the entitlement of democratic socialism, which is the self-proclaimed political philosophy of newlyelected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the 5th District in Minnesota, toss in a bit of anti-semitism, and at the very least, you have one hot mess running around the House. Perhaps in this season of Purim, Passover, and Easter I could coin a new term and refer to anti-semitism as “semitaphobia.” Maybe a new word would get people to re-think a hatred that dates back to Hamaan, and sound the alarm as it is allowed to increase in our country. By way of the American Dream, Ilhan is the quintessential poster child. She and her family were Somali refugees who lived in tents in Kenya for four years. They came to the United States 1995 and first settled in Arlington, VA, then moved to Minnesota. She has spoken about being bullied as a teenager for wearing a hijab. Ilhan went on to get bachelor degrees in political science and international studies from North Dakota State University, be-

came involved in politics, served in the Minnesota State House, and then replaced disgraced Congressman Keith Ellison in the 2018 mid-term elections. By way of her politics per se, she is what I was 50 years ago—a radical Progressive who basically believes in “free everything” as in medical care, college, student loan forgiveness, $15-per-hour minimum wage, and what we would have defined as “anti-establishment,” which in 2019 looks like calling for the dissolution of ICE, and objecting to all things presidential. In a tweet from 2012, Ilhan made the mistake of acting like a millennial, airing her innermost thoughts to the planet, and perhaps hoped that it would not come back to bite her. Her first semitaphobic trope was replete with hash tags: "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel.” Not long after, a question was posed to her in an interview that asked how she would respond to American Jews who found the remark offensive. Omar replied, "I don’t know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans. My comments precisely are addressing what was happening during the Gaza War, and I’m clearly speaking about the way the Israeli regime was conducting itself in that war.” Later, Ilhan apologized for not "disavowing the antiSemitic trope I unknowingly used.” The great irony is that Is-

rael is full of Muslim Israelis who are firmly opposed to the two-state solution, have no complaint as to how they are treated, and happily serve even as officers in the Israel Defense Force so that they can stay much freer than those who live in the surrounding Muslim countries. And, may we add, that back in Somalia, Ilhan’s antics (including speaking to men) could get her killed. So far, Ilhan has made Nancy Pelosi really nervous, has been part of the drafting of a House anti-bigotry resolution, and then almost immediately said of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, “One is human, the other is not.” I’ll leave it to your imagination as to whom she is referring. She has even been called out by members of her own party for her anti-Semitism. Here is the great problem, the elephant in the room: If you are a faithful Muslim who believes that the Quran and the Hadiths are the Word of God, what are you going to do with the following? “Judgment Day will not

come before the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Jews will hide behind the rocks and the trees, but the rocks and the trees will say: Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him — except for the gharqad [boxthorn] tree, which is one of the trees of the Jews.” If Ilhan truly believes this, then in spite of what she says, she suffers from what I will graciously refer to as an “illness,” but in reality is the age-old problem of hatred. And, from my experience, love is the only solution to that problem, and love is what runs through the veins of an incontrovertibly Jewish King. My job, our job is to pray for this leader, maddening as that may seem. May the Kingdom truly come to Ilhan and her colleagues, and that right early.

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

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All Things Soldier

“Veteranpreneurs” Thriving In “The Tank” by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Vets are used to facing down threats, but few things can be more daunting than fighting for your business in front of the likes of famed investors Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and Kevin O’Leary of ABC’s business reality show, Shark Tank. The Tank first aired ten years ago and has become a monster hit, most likely due to the miraculous turnaround of our economy. People are realizing that America is still the land of opportunity, and veterans are parlaying their skills learned while serving into profitable businesses that are also passionate about

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giving back.

support has been inestimable.

One of the Sharks, Daymond John, has an esOther examples of pecially soft spot in his vet ventures that have heart for vets, and until thrived in the Tank March 20th, if you are are Bottle Breachers, what has come to be which takes dummy .50 caliber shells and concalled a “veteranpreneur” with a “bootstrapverts them into bottle ping biz” that needs inopeners, and R. Rivetvestors, you can apply er, which makes handbags out of up-cycled to be on the episodes military surplus. Bottle dedicated to honoring Breachers was started vets, and face down the Sharks. If you get Former Air Force C-130 pilot Kristina Guerrero created in the garage of a former Navy SEAL, and selected from the thouTurboPUP canine meal bars for on-the-go adventures sands that apply, you R. Riveter is the dream with her dogs. (Courtesy ABC/Shark Tank) child of several milimight just end up travelC-130 pilot Kristina Guer- MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) ling up the Empire State tary spouses who went Building elevator with Mr. rero, who created Tur- for her canine compan- in together to bootstrap. John to “sign on the dotted boPUP canine meal bars ions when they would go No matter the product, the for her dogs. Kristina was on outdoor adventures, line.” heart of veteranpreneurs trying to find something but there was nothing out to give back, whether it’s That is exactly what hapthat could function as a there. Seeing how busipened to former Air Force to vet support organizaness is all about finding a tions or other nonprofits “pain point” in the market runs fierce and deep. Forplace and then relieving mer Navy SEAL Elijah the pain through goods Crane, who with his wife and services, she develJen started Bottle Breachoped TurboPUP as a way ers had this to say: to make sure her dogs had what they needed. "If cash is king, having a Before jumping in the mission is queen. This is Tank, Kristina had about so important. The mission 30 stores carrying Tur- is up to you. For us it is to boPUP, and after partner- employ veterans and give ing with John, that num- back to veteran nonprofits. ber has now jumped to Not only does it give you one more reason to sucaround 1,000. ceed, but it also helps the One of greatest benefits of team that you have built having a Shark invest in feel like they are a part of you is their commitment something much bigger to mentor you. After all, than a paycheck." they are risking thousands of dollars as well as their The Heroes to CEOs conreputation by partnering test is in its third year, with you whether you are and is sponsored by Bob a vet or civilian, and be- Evans Farms, the paring tossed in the tank and ent company of Bob Evtold to swim solo amongst ans Restaurants. To apply all the sharks out there is to get in the Tank, go to not in anyone’s best inter- www.ourfarmsalutes.com. est. Kristina says that the But hurry, they must have value of Daymond John’s your application by March level of mentoring and 20th.

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March 15 - April 4, 2019

Special Feature

Drainage Improvement Project To Begin In Athens Elementary Area During Spring Break by Holly Hollman City of Athens Communications Specialist A contractor plans to start work on the First Avenue Area drainage improvement project while school is out for Spring Break.

and Athens Elementary School. The work includes new reinforced concrete pipe, over 30 inlets and pavement work.

Hawkins Groundwork will start on North Houston Street by Athens Elementary on Monday, March 18. Public Works Director James Rich said crews will block North Houston Street north of Pryor Street to through traffic but will make it accessible for residents.

As the project progresses, it will impact various neighborhood streets. The contractor has 120 days to complete the project.

“During the major rainfall we recently received, the issue with drainage in this area from surface water was readily evident,” Mayor Ronnie Marks. “This area has issues even on a rainy day, much less a rain event.”

Spring Break for Athens City Schools is March 18 through March 22. The City of Athens received a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to improve drainage in the area between Athens Elementary and AthensLimestone Hospital. The city’s match is $159,560. The project involves improvements to the drainage system along First Avenue, Horton Street and Hobbs Street in the First Avenue neighborhood. The project will improve drainage for over 150 single-family homes, two multi-family housing buildings, Athens Senior Center, a few medical businesses

March 15 - April 4, 2019

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Calendar of Events Organ Concert Mar 14

McCandless Auditorium on the campus of Athens State University. 300 North Beaty Street in Athens. 12:10PM-1:00PM featuring the Greater Huntsville AGO. Free.

50th Anniversary Kick-Off Mar 22

Athens-Limestone County Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens. 10:00AM-12:00PM with light refreshments and exhibits highlighting library history.

Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge Mar 23

Limestone County Event Center. 100 West Pryor Street in Athens. 10:00AM-2:00PM. Music, kids' activities, silent auction and more. Tickets: $10.00; Children 10 & Under: Free. AthensLimestoneHospice.org

Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Mar 23

Wheeler Lake will bring competitors from all over for fantastic fishing amid the grass, shoals, and croppings. Anglers are welcome at Tennessee River Milemarker 287, Lucy's Branch Marina with docks, fuel, repairs and more. alabamabasstrail.org

Spring Fling with Candlelight Antiques Mar 30 - 31

26051 Upper Elkton Road in Elkmont. 9AM-5PM each day for perusing the collections; refreshments available.

Grief Support Group Apr 4

Hosted by Amedisys Hospice at Traditions Senior Living of Athens. 22171 Traditions Way, Athens. 11am to noon. Open to the public / all are welcome to meet. We meet the first Thursday of every month with the next one being the 4th of April. Questions call the Amedisys Hospice at 256-760-7877.

Annual Eli's Block Party South Apr 6

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.

Craft Show Apr 6

Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens. 10:00AM-2:00PM. For more information call Mr. Kris at 256-232-1233.

Celebrity Waiters Night Apr 9

City of Athens Relay for Life Celebrity Waiters Night at Applebee's. 1331 U.S. Highway 72E in Athens. 5:30PM8:00PM. Come dine with Applebee's and be waited on by East Limestone Band Director Jennifer "Miss Sam" Janzen; Athens High Football Coach Gross; Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks; Athens City Councilman Frank Travis; Athens Police Officer Michael Stainbrook decked out as the Black Panther; and Athens Firefighter Jordan Pugh. Cash or check tips to your Celebrity Servers will go to benefit Relay for Life.

Athens Garden Club Monthly Meeting Apr 10

Club Business Meeting at Tanner Baptist Church. 11590 U.S. Highway 31S in Tanner. Starting at 9:00AM. For with more information: AthensGardenClub@aol.com

Andy Leftwich & Friends In Concert Apr 11

McCandless Hall of Athens State University. 300 North Beaty Street in Athens. 7:00PM-9:00PM as part of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Concert Series. Tickets are $10.00 (plus fees) at Eventbrite.

7:30am to 12:30. Topic Generation Rx & Social/Ethical Issues of Drug Use. Registration fee, $20. Contact Tina Cook at alcfamilyrc@gmail.con or 256-230-0880.

Bethel Church of Christ. 26772 Capshaw Road in Athens. 9:30AM-2:00PM. Cruise-in parking or judged-show parking with trophies in 17 categories, vendors, music, bbq by the Smokin' Box. elisblockparty.orgâ€‹for more information or to register

Play Outside Day Apr 6

Families everywhere are encouraged to get outside the first Saturday of every month and play in public parks, enjoy trails, hit Page 6

(4) CEU Seminar Apr 19

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Spaghetti Meal at the Vietnam Veterans of America Building 3rd Monday Monthly

17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m. Cost is $8. Eat in or carry-out. Profits fund scholarships for local students. Please call ahead for group carry-outs or more info 256-431-3213.

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

A P.S. On Poke Sallet by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Mayor Ronnie’s weekend had been a full one—three days of presentations of Poke Sallet Follies, Trash Attack, greeting a new crew training at Leak City for the current Fire College, and the annual Pancake Breakfast at Friendship United Methodist church. We were both kind of dragging, as I had been to a women’s retreat in Houston, and we just weren’t sure what we were going to talk about. Then it became apparent that the theme for this edition of Ronnie was summed up in Kelly’s Studio of Dance owner and Poke choreographer Kelly Nave’s Facebook quote of Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Kelly’s thanks to our community for the privilege of “Poking” is dear and worth the read, whether you were there or not. So, Mayor Ronnie regaled me with stories of Saturday’s Trash Attack, which was a success in spite of the storms. City Councilman Chris Seibert and his son Brock were on one of the teams, and in the midst of the trash, Brock found a twenty-dollar bill. “Finders keepers,” as they say. By contrast, poor City of Athens Communications Specialist Holly Hollman found a bottle of urine. Limestone County Chairman Collin Daly said, “I had a blast and am looking forward to

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Cast of Poke Sallet Follies, 2019

"That's a wrap!" Mayor Ronnie Marks, City of Athens Attorney Shane Black, Kelly's Studio of Dance owner Kelly Nave, and Athens City Councilman Frank Travis after the final performance of the 2019 Poke Sallet Follies next year.” (In addition, see Lynne Hart’s Clean and Green column about Commissioner Daly’s “One Bag Challenge”.) Collin Daly’s joy became the perfect segue for our discussion on Poke Sallet. It was Collin’s first time as a cast member, and he showed up in a plethora of pictures. This

year the Follies commemorated the bicentennial by telling several of the “tall tales” of our history, as well as some of our wild and wooly true stories. City of Athens Attorney Shane Black and City Councilman Frank Travis wrote and directed, and while most of the time Mayor Ron-

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nie is his alter ego, Barney Fife, this time he was, wait for it… THE MAYOR OF ATHENS! In his skit he was the reluctant recipient of some moonshine that would have knocked him on his keister had he not been caught by other surrounding cast members. Sheriff Mike Blakely dressed as a woman in a back-handed tribute to his predecessor, Buddy Evans. Back in the day, Buddy used to show up “in drag” for the purpose of busting moonshiners, and apparently Buddy was really good it. Then, there was the mandatory nod to the “green rock” that fell out of the sky sometime in the early ‘80s. This is one of those “ y o u - c a n ’t - m a k e - t h i s stuff-up” things, and it is no tall tale. The rock was a strange shade of glistening green, and it turns out it was a frozen block of human urine which had fallen out of an airplane!

Around $15,000 was raised to help the Limestone County Council On Aging, and as Mayor Ronnie said, “It was a miracle that once again we were able to pull it all together. There were so many volunteers, so many people who worked to make this happen.” We talked about why something so “frivolous” as follies can be so powerful. First of all, laughter is indeed the best medicine and science along with scripture agree. In addition, things like this build community and improve quality of life. Everybody comes together—young, old, first responders, regular Joes, all colors, private citizens and public officials -- to dance and sing, “poke” fun at themselves and each other, and in an odd way, make history.

It was a “pedal-to-themetal day for the mayor, so we prayed, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

March 15 - April 4, 2019

Slinkard On Success

Seeing Is Believing by D. A. Slinkard D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store Seeing is believing. I had this conversation recently with an employee about how sometimes we have to see things before we will believe them. Nothing’s wrong with this approach because, honestly, we live in the world of outrageous claims leaving most people saying, “Yeah, right!” I am from the “Show Me State” of Missouri; so I understand a thing or two when it comes to not always believing something right away. This got me to thinking and wondering how many times we go about with the improper thought process and say a half-hearted prayer to God about something we do not even mean, and furthermore, we do not expect God's blessing to happen. Our thinking needs to be that we expect the right things to happen. Our thinking needs to be in such a manner we expect the desired outcome. However, many times we do not properly believe the way we should because we do not think it will happen anyway. I want you to think about a time in your life in which you knew something was going to happen. This occurrence is something that you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was going to come to fruition. I played collegiate baseball, and there were

March 15 - April 4, 2019

times I knew I was going to get a hit off a certain pitcher. Lo and behold I was right. There were other times I questioned whether I could get the barrel on the ball; even worse, I could not even get the bat off my shoulder. Why? I was expecting the wrong thing to happen and it did. When we expect the wrong things to happen in our lives, we will never achieve the right things. When we focus on the negative, we are going to get negative results. I firmly believe that we, as a society, could do much better when it comes to our goals we have in life. We tend to be too broad, or at least I know I am. Yet, the times I am more specific about how I will achieve my goals, the better my chances increase of actually hitting my desired outcome. If my goal is to increase

my business sales, this sounds great; but what am I going after? What will I be targeting? This is why specifics are important. This may seem like an elementary thought for some people; but I assure you, we have an inadequate knowledge when it comes to goal setting. Do you not believe me? Next time you go into a book store, check out the goal-setting and self-improvement section, and then tell me I am wrong.

Orlando, Florida, then I have missed the boat. Just like anyone who plans a trip knows, there are designated stops and routes along the way. Can you imagine trying to go to Orlando with no game plan in mind? This is a horrible idea; but this is how we go about our goals in our everyday life. We just take life as it comes at us; and we become reactive instead of proactive. Anytime I plan a trip I typically have two to three alternative routes ready to go in case an unforeseen event happens. Your goal planning should be no different. So, what specifics are you missing in your life? If you quickly answer

this question, you may say, “I don't know”; but if you take the time to map out your journey and begin with the end in mind, you will have better chances of having success. The easy thought process is to realize what you want to achieve and then work your way backwards, in reverse order. Take the time to map out each step of the way in achieving your goals; but take the time to fully see yourself hitting the mark. You would not plan a vacation without the proper game plan, and your life goals should be no different. It is time to get specific with your life; you need to decide what your outcome is going to be and work backwards to get there.

How does one become good at goal setting is a common question I am asked; and I believe in Stephen Covey's thought process of “beginning with the end in mind.” I correlate this to planning a family trip. I live in Athens, Alabama, and if I want to take the family to Orlando, Florida, I already know what my destination endpoint is going to be. If I end up anywhere other than

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

Honoring Women Heroes Every Month Of The Year! by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum Each year, the month of March is set aside to honor the women who have gone before us and changed history. Here at the Veterans Museum, we honor them every day of the year! During WWI, over 21,000 Army nurses served in military hospitals in the United States and overseas without holding military rank or grade. However, this was rectified by the National Defense Act of 1920, under which Army reorganization granted military nurses the status of officers with "relative rank" from second lieutenant to major (but, of course, not full rights and privileges). During WWII, things really started happening for our women in the military. More

than 60,000 Army nurses served stateside and overseas during World War II. The Army established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942, which was converted to the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943. The Navy recruited women into its Navy Women's Reserve, called Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), starting in 1942. Before the war was over, more than 80,000 WAVES filled shore billets in a large variety of jobs. We salute women like Della Tribble, the first person from Limestone County to volunteer for the war. Of course, at that time women were not allowed in the Army; so she was turned

Marianna, Florida, on July 31, 1943 to do her part as a Navy Wave. During the Korean era, over 120,000 women were on active duty. In addition to the nurses actually in Korea, many women served at support units nearby in Japan and other Far Eastern countries. Yet in

Ella Fay Ferguson away. But she eventually joined the Women’s Army Corps. Capt. Frances Calvin served in the Army Nurse Corps from 1943-1946 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for “exemplary nursing beyond the call of duty.” Her WWII patch collection is on display at the museum. Navy Lt. Nell Lutz left her home in

Mattie Murray researching women in war, it appears that the women who served during this campaign have become as forgotten as the war itself. Women like the unforgettable Amn. Mattie Murray, who graduated from Trinity High School and went on to serve in the Air Force until 1955. Ella Fay Ferguson, served in the Women’s Army Corps from 19551957. She attended stenography school at Ft. McClellan and went on to become the secretary to the Commanding Officer Counter Intelligence Corp at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Women’s roles in the military changed dras-

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tically with the start of the Vietnam War. Although 90% still served as nurses, new careers were opening up in air traffic control, intelligence, weather monitoring, and communications. Photographer’s Mate 3rd class Edith Stewart grew up in Andalusia, Alabama. At that time, there were not many available jobs, so she decided to follow in her uncle’s footsteps and join the Navy because she thought it sounded interesting and exciting. She went to basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland, and then to Pensacola, Florida, for photography training, after which she was sent to the Naval Photographic Center in Maryland. One of her most memorable moments was hearing of President Kennedy being shot and getting to document this black period in history with her pictures. She met her husband, Harry, in 1967, and since the military frowned on WAVES being married, she decided to separate. These are but a few women who are honored here at the museum. Today, women make up over 20% of the military, and we are breaking through barriers every day. However, without the courage of the brave women who went before us, what we do today would not be possible. We Salute You!

March 15 - April 4, 2019

PlayAction Sports

Basketball Season Wrap-Up; Theme Song For Spring: "How High's The Water, Mama?" by Tim Lambert

Tune in for the PlayAction Sports Update, three times each weekday on 1080 AM WKAC. Visit us online at www.pasnetwork.net! email: playactionsports@hotmail.com

Local basketball teams were gradually weeded out in postseason tournaments. West Limestone's boys beat Deshler at the buzzer 62-60 in sub-regional action, and knocked off Curry (5126) and Brooks (58-54) in the regional tournament. A 50-48 victory over Booker T. Washington put them in the state finals against Talladega where their road ended in a 60-48 loss. Tanner's boys beat Sulligent 77-54 in the subregional, and Sumiton Christian (51-46) and VIncent (46-33) in the regional tournament before being eliminated by Central-Coosa County (66-58) in the state semifinals. Lindsay Lane's boys downed Woodville 79-70 in the program's first sub-regional basketball appearance, but were defeated by Spring Garden 91-65 in the regional semi-finals. East Limestone's boys got by Fairfield 54-45 in the regional semi-finals before losing to Wenonah 64-32 in the finals. The James Clemens girls reached the end of the road in a 60-38 loss to Spain Park in the regional semi-finals. The Jets fell to Mountain Brook 62-40 in the following game. Spring sports experienced some false starts with excessive rain and flooding; games are only just now starting to

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really get going after the season actually started in February (yes, spring sports). Highlights so far: Baseball ABS has defeated Clements 134, Sumiton Christian 10-9, New Hope 126, and West Limestone 9-3. Ardmore has knocked off Lawrence County 4-1, Lauderdale County 6-5, and Decatur 5-4. Athens has eclipsed East Limestone 2-1 and 14-4, Lee 4-1, St. John Paul 17-0 and 12-2, West Limestone 6-3, Westminster 202, and Ardmore 14-4. Clements has claimed wins over Tanner 11-0 and Mae Jemison 176. East Limestone beat ABS 3-1. Elkmont has turned back Priceville 6-5 and 15-10, Danville 7-6, Clements 5-0, and Tanner 17-1. James Clemens has victories over Grissom 9-3, Thompson 7-5 and 5-0, Hazel Green 8-7 and 8-5, Huntsville 2-0, and Lee 4-3. Lindsay Lane split with Mae Jemison 2-4 and 9-3, but has beaten Addison 9-6 and Woodville 9-2. Softball Ardmore has notched victories against Hazel Green 4-0, Athens 5-4, and Scottsboro 1-0. Athens has wins over Grissom 8-3, Muscle Shoals

West Limestone's Justin Taylor instructs the Wildcats during a state tournament timeout (Photo credit: Dean Baucom) 19-9, and Columbia 230. East Limestone has defeated Lexington 7-6 and Madison County 10-2. Elkmont has defeated East Lawrence 12-9 and Brooks 11-1. James Clemens overcame Florence 10-7 and Austin 3-1. Lindsay Lane topped Tanner 7-2. West Limestone got by Grissom 7-6. Soccer The ABS boys held off Clements 2-1. Ardmore’s boys shut out Elkmont 2-0. Athens’ boys beat Hartselle 2-0 and Muscle Shoals 5-0. Clements’ girls topped ABS 4-2. East Limestone’s boys have gotten past Hazel Green 5-1 and 2-0 and Buckhorn 1-0. Elkmont’s boys have sent Mae Jemison packing 1-0; the Lady Red Devils slipped by East Limestone 3-2. The

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third-ranked James Clemens girls downed Grissom 4-1. Tanner’s boys blanked Clements 100, while the Lady Rattlers got a close 3-2 win. West Limestone’s boys have two wins against Clements (8-0, 1-0) and have also beat Ardmore

4-1. The Lady Wildcats also got by Ardmore 3-2 and Clements 3-1. Tennis The ABS girls downed New Hope 8-1. The Athens girls defeated Hazel Green 6-3.

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Clean and Green

One Bag Challenge

The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown Down! Will You Pick It Up? by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful On Saturday, March 9, several very dedicated and brave volunteers came out to clean up areas in Ardmore, Tanner, West Limestone, and Athens -- even with the threat of rain.

Ricky Pressnell (shown) was joined by Bill Garrett and Russell Campbell to attack trash at the Marbut Bend Walking Trail.

Because of the potential for heavy rains, many volunteers stayed home, and that’s okay. Safety first. It is not too late to be a part of our attack on trash and make a difference. Anyone who picks up trash and documents the amount of trash picked up (number of bags, description and location of large items, etc.) will be celebrated on our social media sites! More importantly, the reporting of your cleanup activities will help us to receive additional funding to purchase supplies from Keep Alabama Beautiful and the Alabama Department of Transportation. The supplies used during this Trash Attack were funded by these organizations, and the more we can document the results of their use, the more funding could come our way.

A large group of Ardmore residents showed up to attack trash despite the rain predictions. They are the perfect example of Loving Where You Live!

72 interchange, which was an embarrassment. When the event was over, several of us were sharing how we felt about the amount of litter that is present in this community. Mr. Daly said he’d like to see everyone pick

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Back Row (L-R): Richard Lax, Christopher Cunningham, Lyss Amos, Paris Pride, and Jada McNair Front Row (L-R): Lexi Brown and Aubrey Lax. Not shown: Michelle Williamson, photographer

up just one bag of trash near their home or in front of their business. It would be AMAZING what could be accomplished if even 10% of Athens-Limestone residents took him up on that! So, the gauntlet has been thrown down! The challenge has been issued!

ONE BAG CHALLENGE Limestone County’s new county commission chairman, Collin Daly, rolled up his sleeves to help with the attack on trash last Saturday. He partnered with Sally Marks to clean up the I-65/Hwy

pick them up. Then go out and make a difference!

Student members of TRAIL (Together Renewing And Improving Limestone) cleaned up around the Athens Square and ancillary streets. Members present were (in no order) Mary Frances Moore, Addison McFarland, Sarah Hobbs, Lexi Griffin, Daylee Bucker, Mason Howard, William Hobbs, Eric Jefferson, Monica McConnell, Emily Norman, and Troy Young. TRAIL Sponsor: LauraLou Smith (photographer, not shown)

KALB would love to see photos of everyone who takes up this challenge. So get out there. Pick up at least one bag of trash and post your photos on the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Facebook page using the hashtag

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#OneBagChallenge. SIGN OUT SUPPLIES KALB is prepared to sign out supplies needed for any volunteer willing to attack trash! We can provide vests, trash bags, litter grabbers, and gloves. Just give us a call and let us know when you’d like to stop by the office to

It is inconceivable to everyone associated with KALB, including our volunteers, how anyone can just toss their trash. It is selfish and shows a definite lack of community pride. Sadly, there will always be those among us who will never care. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. Their carelessness does environmental harm, causes injury to wildlife, and is an embarrassing welcome to anyone visiting our county. BE ONE WHO WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com March 15 - April 4, 2019

Cooking with Anna

Busted For Biscuits by Anna Hamilton

One lovely Saturday, we found ourselves taking a little trip up the Natchez Trace. We quickly found ourselves in Nashville where the trace ends. Some of you may know what lies at the end of the Trace. It is much like a “pot-of-gold” at the end of the rainbow; the Loveless Café is at the end of Natchez Trace. The Loveless Café is known worldwide. They have delicious food, especially the biscuits. Now, at this point it had been almost a month since I had ate any bread of any kind. No pasta, no rice, no beans, no crackers, no potatoes…. I had quit starches cold-turkey. We sat down to the table, and I found myself face to face with a plate full of the most scrumptious biscuits and jams I had ever seen. Y’all, I could not contain myself. I dove into the biscuits. I even ordered the biscuit sampler for my meal. I had lost my biscuit-loving mind! I’m not going to lie and say they weren’t delicious and that I didn’t enjoy myself. They were some of the best biscuits I’ve ever eaten, and I was as happy as a pig in the mud. I allowed myself the indulgence of the biscuit. On January 24, 2018, I had my wake-up-call appointment with my doctor. Since then, I have drastically changed the way I eat and approach food. I have tried to approach my recipes for the paper as an easy way to introduce healthy eating into your busy lifestyle. I had my monthly follow up appointment on February 25. I didn’t really know what to expect the scale to say. I knew that I felt better. I was sleeping through the night. I had energy

throughout the entire day, and my mood was much better. Now that I have separated myself from foods that were sabotaging my body, I can see such a major difference. I cautiously stepped on the scale, I didn’t even look down to see the number. The nurse then prompted me to look down, and the number I saw was 21 lbs. lower than that first visit. I was in shock. I knew I felt better and my clothes fit better, but I hadn’t imagined that I would lose that much weight within one month. Even though I had busted my “diet” with biscuits, I had lost 21 lbs. I had allowed myself to enjoy, to indulge for one day. In the past, those biscuits would have derailed my entire outlook. I would have just slipped back into my old habits. But this time it’s different, I don’t feel deprived of foods. I’m eating great, feeling great, and looking better than I have in a long time. This week’s recipe is a classic egg dish. It works great at any meal, and it’s one that is sure to please the entire family. Serve this alongside a green salad, and your meal with be complete. I promise you won’t feel like you are eating diet food. It tastes delicious and will even fool your friends that aren’t trying to eat healthy. As we all strive to be the best version of ourselves, remember that you are worth it! You owe yourself the time, you owe yourself your health. Don’t give up, we are all in this race together. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Recipe #6 - Frittata with Fresh Spinach What You Need:

5 oz. diced bacon or turkey bacon 8 oz. fresh baby spinach 8 eggs 1 cup cream (feel free to use skim milk) ½ cup shredded cheese Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fry the bacon on medium heat until crispy. Add the spinach and stir until wilted. Remove the pan form the heat and set aside. Whisk the eggs and cream together and pour into a greased baking dish (9x9) or in individual ramekins. Add the bacon, spinach, and cheese on top and place in the middle of the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set in the middle and golden brown on top.

March 15 - April 4, 2019

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The Millennial Mind

We Need to Talk by Rosemary Dewar We all know that actions speak louder than words, as well they should. However, words exchanged without repercussion, or with an empty call to action, are to be taken as no more than a point of discussion. They are merely a critique, a clarification, or a challenge of an idea. When it comes to communication that succeeds in solving actual problems, a possible lack of sensitivity or the understanding of any particular concept shouldn’t be the focus of the questions raised in the process. Furthermore, actions taken against others for the purpose of demanding attention damages the fulfillment of the goals of any cause, and a retreat from morality will reward those who deserve it the least. Ironically for some, the greatest violators of their well-being and bliss are themselves.

Just when you think the “culture of outrage” has reached its peak, it manages to surpass all expectations, and ravages its next target. Anyone can be judged by every little thing they express without consideration of context at any time. It doesn’t matter ‘how’ one said it, or ‘why’ one said it, but because something was said at all is a social sin. Interpretation is stigmatized beyond the original meaning of what was said, and the language loses all meaning. When one’s aim is to make someone a victim instead of an ally, he or she becomes tyrannical in nature. Character indictments don’t seem to be enough for those who have vehement anger for those with whom they disagree. Absolute ruin is the goal of the outrage, not just redistribution or taking the time to prove them wrong,

Bestselling Author Andrew Klavan but a complete confiscation of a person’s social significance and personal wealth. The fuel of a false sense of imminent danger combined with the feeling of self-righteousness from “neutralizing an enemy” has become an emotional drug. As bestselling author Andrew Klavan has stated, “Anger is the dev-

il’s cocaine.” Klavan has also said that “The devil doesn’t care who does the hating, as long as the hating gets done.” Unfortunately, it is an addiction from which one does not simply detox; it has to be replaced with some ideal that possesses intrinsic value. There is power in influence, but that’s all it is, “influence.” Swaying influence takes more money and effort to manipulate than it would to just let people say what they feel they need to say, and censorship is a form of indoctrination whether you like it or not. The purposeful removal of pertinent information is suppression. On the immediate communal level, this type of manipulation ultimately never saves anyone; it only delays the inevitable: truth though pain. The Judeo-Christian perspective does express that life and death are in the power of the tongue

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– figuratively and literally. Furthermore, the actions of foolishness are what traps those who participate. The individual ought to manage his or her manner of communication, and more so be conscious of the impact of actions. One’s intent and/or negligence will determine the value of the outcome. Thoughts are not crimes, but actions can be. Both thoughts and actions have consequences, but thoughts only have one victim. William Shakespeare stated, “Talking isn't doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.” If you are going to take the time to express yourself, be sure to invest in saying it with the highest quality you can muster. If defending what you say demands that you manipulate others, what you had to say was not imperative in the first place.

March 15 - April 4, 2019

Cover Story

Madison Street Baptist Church: Moving Forward In Christ by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

expected blessing. It is a fine instrument, and the church is a wonderful venue for worship. I could have stayed all day “tickling the ivories” as well as fellowshipping, and what I discovered is a man who has a heart for Athens as well as the Almighty, someone who is a regular guy as well as a relentless pursuer of the Kingdom. CW was raised in Indiana, and while he wasn’t a “P.K.” (Preacher’s Kid), he was a “D.K.” (Deacon’s Kid). He is the youngest of 5 children, and had the privilege of getting an excellent private Christian education. However, it is not at all uncommon for kids who grow up in the ministry to go through some unique struggles that can come as a result of feeling like they have to be perfect while they live in a fishbowl.

March 15 - April 4, 2019

While CW is open about the fact that he went through what he describes as his “rebellious time,” the good thing that came out of it was a faith that has been tested, and a heart for souls. He particularly loves people, young and old; and his personal and congregational battle cry is, “Moving forward in Christ.” He knows what it is to be forgiven, and he knows what it means to forgive. All of it is fuel for the fire in his soul and love for his flock, no matter their age. CW served as a youth pastor and associate pastor before becoming a senior pastor, and his last congregation was in Orlando. He moved here with his wife, Angela, and their two daughters in August of 2016. Like many pastor’s wives, Angela has worn several hats, and when they first moved to Athens, she was the church secretary; and while she is active in

The newly remodeled sanctuary

many areas, God has provided a missionary’s wife to fill that secretarial position. Currently, Angela loves being a teacher at a Christian school in Decatur, something CW feels his her true calling as she is a master with children. One of the first things CW and the congregation set out to do was repair and remodel the sanctuary. That task has been completed and now this church, located at 901 N. Madison in Athens, is inviting, comfortable, and welcoming. “We want to grow, and this auditorium is a testament to that,” he said. It’s important to point out that a church is not the building; it is the people and vision they have for serving God, each other, and the community. It is the 21st century walk-out of what it means to “rescue the perishing,” as the old hymn says. Madison Street Baptist has a congregation of about 50, and I know from experience that a church that size is big enough to “feel like a congregation,” and small enough for people to really know each other. These days on Wednesday nights, CW is doing a series on “Understanding the Will of God,” something that has never been more important for God’s people.

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CW is a big sports fan, and all his life has played football and basketball, in addition to baseball. He describes himself as competitive, and sports analogies show up right alongside his careful use of King James scriptures when he preaches. We both talked about how much we have been inspired by a particular scene in the excellent Christian film, Facing The Giants, where the football coach has a player with a team mate on the player’s back crawl without collapsing to the goal line. The important thing, besides having the commitment to “never quit,” is the fact that the coach is down on the ground eyeball to eyeball with his player, cheering him on as he inches forward. That is how CW approaches pastoring; shepherding the flock well by being involved in their lives and helping them “move forward in Christ,” irrespective of their starting point.

We also talked about the fact that people are really tired of what CW calls “fakeness” in the American church. “Christ is real, not fake,” he said firmly, and he wants to build a church culture that genuinely reflects that reality. “We want to translate the love of God out into the world and make it relevant.” One of the things that has made Christ more real in his and Angela’s life was a trip to Israel in 2013. Having been there myself, I can attest that standing in the places where Jesus ministered and did miracles changed my life, and I am glad that CW is able to bring that added dimension of first-hand experience in Israel to his flock. If you are looking for a Biblebelieving church whose pastor says about Athens, “I’m here, and I’m all in,” then come to Madison Street Baptist church and see if this where you want to “move forward in Christ.”

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Health and Fitness

Avocado – More Than Just A Happy Hour Appetizer

by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist In recent years, the avocado has begun to get a lot more press and gain popularity. It is truly a healthy choice but needs to be understood so it can be implemented properly in your diet. You want to gain the most benefit possible from this tasty, healthy fat. Unfortunately, chowing down on chips and guacamole at your favorite Mexican restaurant once a week won’t quite cut it! Avocados contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, the most important and unique being vitamin K, which is also found in a few other superfoods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, and spinach. This vitamin can help lower cholesterol, build stronger bones, and relieve itching, but the most interesting thing it does is aide in the bloodclotting process, which is very useful for those who take blood thinning medication.

dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at bay. One of the most surprising vitamins the avocado is packing is vitamin C. We all reach for the vitamin C when cold and flu season comes around, but the most effective way to fight off the germs and stay well is actually to boost our system by maintaining a daily intake of vitamin C, not just when symptoms arise or your kids bring home something from school. Each avocado contains roughly 100 grams, which in your daily diet can significantly enhance your immune system. The surprises keep coming with this unique superfood. The avocado ac-

tually contains an ample amount of potassium for our daily needs as well. I know most of us think of bananas when it comes to potassium, but the avocado actually contains more. In case you do not fully understand why we need potassium daily, here are a few reasons for you. Potassium helps reduce blood-pressure levels which helps those who have or are at risk for heart problems, such as heart attack and stroke. It has even been shown to help prevent kidney failure. Now let’s talk healthy fat and fiber. Yes, healthy fat is a thing we really do need. Certain types of fat, like monounsatu-

Another great vitamin found in avocadoes is folate, a form of vitamin B, which has a variety of benefits. Folate has been shown to help women during pregnancy, help prevent certain types of cancer, help insomnia, and may even help keep

rated fatty acids found in the avocado, can actually keep us healthy. These fats can boost our heart health and fight against inflammation, preventing infections. Fiber is also a very important part of our daily diet. Very few of us actually get enough fiber daily, and that is one main reason we do not feel full and tend to snack too much. Finally, the tricky part, choosing the right avocado in the produce isle! There are few indicators to help you make the right choice. Unless you want to eat them right away, choose a firm, green avocado with the brown “stem” still in place. Keep them in your fruit bowl on

the counter at home; this is how they will ripen best, usually in just a matter of 2 to 3 days. Quick tip: If you want them to ripen faster, put them in a brown paper bag. When they are ripe, they will be much darker in color, soft to the touch, and that “stem” will just sort of fall off when touched. At this point, make sure you eat them within about 24 hours. Unfortunately, they won’t stay at peak ripeness much longer than this. Carefully cut around the fruit and remove the pit; if it is truly ready to eat, this should be very easy. Avocado adds a nice, creamy element to so many various dishes. You can cube it right in the shell and scoop it on top of some soup, slice it and add it to your grilled chicken, or you can even just sprinkle it with some sea salt and eat it with a spoon as a great afternoon snack…and of course, you can mash it up and make some amazing guacamole; just use all fresh, healthy ingredients! For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423-8050870.

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

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March 15 - April 4, 2019

Cover Story

Yellowhammer Roofing: Voted The Best Of The Best In The Valley by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

tion taught me more about the ins and outs of roofing than I have ever known. When the time comes for us to replace our roof and because of what I have learned regarding the lengths to which Yellowhammer goes in order to protect their clients, I’ll be talking to Clint. Here are some things you need to know about Yellowhammer Roofing Company, and they are coming our way just in time for storm season. In 2018, Yellowhammer was voted the The Best Of The Best Roofer In The Tennessee Valley by the readers of the Decatur Daily. Yellowhammer Roofing also has the distinction of being a Platinum Preferred Contractor with Owens Corning. Yellowhammer’s President, Roger Jones, and Vice President, Will Jones, have become part of the company’s Platinum Advisory Board. Because Owens Corning only has 300 certified roofing contractors nationwide, which breaks down to about 1% of all roofers, this is a huge honor as well as a responsibility. In addition, Yellowhammer Roofing has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which is their highest possible ranking. So what does this award-winning roofing company provide for their clients? Everything from roof repair, replacement, and insulation installation, as well as painstaking education so their clients can make a choice that will truly meet their needs. They also have options for financing available because they know that sometimes roof repair or replacement can come along at a time when you least expect it.

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Here is a brief description of what they do: Roof Repair is completed in a three-step process • Damage assessment – problem areas are located and inspected • Repair plan – repair needs are addressed and an estimate is composed

ucts, and styles available for you. During this meeting, they will discuss the different warranties and projected lifespan of the roofing system to help you make an informed decision. After you have decided on a roof and a contract is signed, a time is scheduled to begin the project.

• Repairs completed – the roof repair team arrives on site to fix the roof Roof Replacement is available for residential or commercial properties, and is shingle or metal. It is comYellowhammer's Clint Vining speaking at the March 5th, 2019 Limestone Leaders BNI meeting held at the Veterans' Museum

• Installing the Roof Each roof that we install meets or exceeds the industry standards. We take great pride in working on each new roof as if it were our own. • Project Completion When the roof is completed, it passes local inspection codes. After it is approved, we submit the bill. You have a new roof that is beautiful and designed to last! If you have any questions, we are only a phone call away.

pleted in a four-step process • Initial Roof Inspection Before the roof can be designed, measurements are taken to determine slope, square footage, and the unique details of your roof. A professional contractor from Yellowhammer Roofing takes care of this step in one easy visit. • Assessment/Consultation Designing a roof can be a daunting task. After the initial inspection, Yellowhammer will sit down with you to talk over the brands, prod-

“Dear Roger & Will Jones, On April 2, a severe storm came over my house and pulled a 60 ft tree from my neighbor’s yard onto the corner of my house causing severe damage to several areas of it. When I contacted ALFA Insurance the next day, they recommended Jordan Lovell from Yellowhammer Roofing and when Jordan showed up at my house so quickly on April 3 and I met him, I knew immediately that the Lord had sent him to me. No words can express how much help Jordan was to ease my concerns, his knowledge and take charge attitude of what all needed to be done, his directions and his kindness and respect for me there throughout the entire process of getting repairs done and his coming back to inspect them. All the work that has been completed is outstanding. I have truly been blessed by having him from Yellowhammer. Thanks for your top notch work.” - Lillian Jenny Campbell, Huntsville, Alabama

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Insulation Installation Home insulation is a major component of consistent energy savings and comfortable living. However, not all types available are suitable for the humidity of southern states. An effective way to boost your home’s efficiency would be to add insulation such as AttiCat® Expanding BlownIn Insulation. This type comes in cellulose or fiberglass and is blown into the attic using a large machine. The machine blows small pieces that fill all the gaps providing a complete yet airy layer. Blown-in insulation is tighter and more efficient than using batts or rolls, and prevents airflow from entering the attic. It can also reduce noise transmission. A qualified roofer like Yellowhammer Roofing is experienced in providing professional installation. If you are planning on replacing your roof, need repair, or want to be prepared for storm season, give Yellowhammer a call today for a no-risk assessment from the best of the best!

Yellowhammer Roofing, Inc. 1620 Lindsay Ln S, Athens, AL 35613 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30PM Phone: (256) 232-1933 yellowhammerroofing.com Page 17

Learning As A Lifestyle

4th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 Athens State University’s Center for Lifelong Learning is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Dynetics Solutions Complex, in Huntsville. The theme for this year’s symposium is “Beyond the Glass Ceiling: No More Limits.”

OB/GYN and founder of Women4Women OBGYN. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio where she also did her residency. This is Dr. Reidy’s second career, as she practiced law for 10 years after graduating from Georgetown Law School before going on to medical school.

Your $59 registration fee will include your admission to the event and access to an amazing panel of speakers, as well as networking breaks, lunch, and interactive discussions. This event is an opportunity for purposeful communication and strategic leadership development. You can register online at www.athens. edu/CLL or call the Center for Lifelong Learning at 256-233-8260.

Ms. Julie Schumacher is the President and CEO of KODA Technologies, an engineering services company that supports weapon system development and testing in Huntsville, Alabama. Ms. Schumacher served as the Deputy to the Commander at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. As the senior civilian, she provided leadership for the Army’s space and missile defense programs. She also served as director of the command’s technical center where she led technology development for space, missile defense, targets, hypersonics; directed energy projects; and managed the Ronald Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands.

SPEAKERS: Dr. Ruth D. Jones is a Branch Chief for Industrial Safety Branch at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Dr. Jones directs and manages Safety and Mission Assurance functions and activities in support of Marshall Space Flight Center institutional operations. Dr. Jones is the second African-American woman to receive a Ph. D. in Physics in the state of Alabama, and the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Science in Physics degree from the prestigious University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Dr. Anne Marie Reidy is a Board-Certified

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Ms. Mary (Cathy) Dickens retired after a 37-year career as a civilian manager with the U.S. Army and joined COLSA in July 2015. Prior to departing civil service, Ms. Dickens was the Deputy to the Commanding General, US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Redstone Arsenal, AL. As Senior Vice President of Business Man-

agement Operations at COLSA Corporation, Ms. Dickens is responsible for providing executive leadership and oversight in the financial, human resources, contracting, subcontracting, proposal, and pricing functions. Her organization provides business services across all programs and geographical locations. Ms. Dickens serves in a key role in providing financial stewardship and overall compliance in the business functions with a focus on driving efficiencies and continued growth. She leads the efforts in business growth through the proposal process, working with government and industry partnerships. She plays a key role in developing and leading strategic planning initiatives for COLSA Corporation. Ms. Dickens also currently serves on the Athens State University Board of Trustees.

United States. Her areas of expertise are talent acquisition, human resources, career coaching, performance consultation, curriculum design of workforce and organizational development, project management, and community outreach development. She is the United States Division Senior Advisor of Talent Acquisition with Saputo Dairy Foods. Locally she and her husband Tommie are the owners of The Bridge "Where Community Matters" in Athens, AL, which is a community outreach center, and is also a contributing writer for the Athens Now news-

paper. We would love for you and the members of your team to join us on Wednesday, April 10, at the Dynetics Solutions Complex on Explorer Boulevard in Huntsville. Should you be interested in sponsoring a session or purchasing a table for your employees, please contact Kim Bell, Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at 256-233-8261. As a reminder, you may also register at www.athens. edu/CLL. We look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a wonderful networking opportunity!

Jackie Warner, is a Strategic HR Leader with over 20 years’ experience. She holds a B.A. in Communications. Jackie is a professional educator, Certified Targeted Selection Administrator through Development Dimensions International and a Global Career Development Facilitator with experience in various corporate and educational settings throughout the

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March 15 - April 4, 2019

The View From The Bridge

A Well“spring” Of Options by Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters Let’s start this spring off well! I am ready for some warm weather and the opportunity to get up and out without the cold temperatures. For those of us who made those wellness resolutions, you can get back on track. No excuses. Here are a wellspring of options: 1. Spring clean and declutter your home. Don’t store it in the garage, just take it to Goodwill or have a yard sale. Disorganization

March 15 - April 4, 2019

makes it difficult to find items you need. Clutter can also cause one anxiety. 2. If the allergens bother you, then keep windows closed and rooms pet-free to limit your exposure. Also, try a neti pot for a natural method of nasal cleansing. Remember to track pollen counts. 3. Stay hydrated! Start carrying a water bottle with you. Infuse your water with fresh fruit. Keep some bottled

water in the car so you are not tempted to make unwise choices. 4. Commit to making one new healthy recipe a week and eat it. Variety in your menu makes it easier to continue eat healthy. 5. Add healthy snacks to your purse or briefcase so you skip the vending machines and save money without feeling guilty later. 6. Eat more protein and good carbs and cut the

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sugar. It really works. 7. Walk, run, or just move…you will feel so much better. Wear a tracker or put the app on your cell phone. Aim for 10,000 steps a day. 8. Keep your brain active. Read a new book or complete a puzzle. Limit the TV. 9. Journal your activities and reflect for clarity. 10. Love yourself enough to detox

your mind and body. Remember this is your personal house. 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

Picture This by Deb Kitchenmaster It can be humorous having friends and family in other states. I get pictures from friends that show me feet of snow, snowdrifts that are up to stop sign levels, and frozen lakes appearing to be Icelandic villages on several inches of frozen water. I return pictures of daffodils, birds galore, and standing water in pastureland with horses needing a shedding blade to be swiped over their bodies. Are you aware of the pictures that came up INSIDE the screen of your mind when I mentioned snow, snowdrifts, frozen lakes, Icelandic villages, daffodils, birds, horses having shedding blades swipe across their bodies? I want to talk to you about the place inside of you where you picture things. You may refer to it as imagination, the big screen of your mind, the amphitheater of your soul; nevertheless, it’s that place where a picture is worth a thousand words. Two teenage BFF (best friends forever) girls enrolled in a three-day horse camp I ran in service to my community. Both were strong-willed, quite opinionated, and judgmental toward authority. After intake, the girls were unpacking and getting settled in their rooms. I slipped away and made a couple of calls to friends, requesting prayer. Each person I have spent time with through a horse session puts me through a test. I am serious about this. In sundry ways each wants to know answers to

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let me know she heard me and that she understood the instruction. I watched. When Amy and her horse got to that specific post, her horse turned towards the right into the center of the ring. I will NEVER forget Amy’s expression. It was priceless. Like I mentioned earlier, a picture is worth a thousand three underlying questions: 1. Am I real? 2. Am I safe? 3. Do I have their best interest in mind? I, as well, have three underlying questions for which I need answers from each handler: 1. Do you have ears to hear? 2. Do you have a willing yes (response) to instruction? 3. Are you here to relate or dominate? After disman-

words. “How did that happen?” she shockingly asked. “Picture,” I said.

tling the cowgirl mentality of "kick to go, pull to whoa," our round-pen sessions began to have some welcomed fluidity. Standing in the center of the round pen I asked 16-yearold Amy to picture this. When you get to this post in the round pen, I want you to picture your horse turning into the center. I do

NOT want you to give any physical cues. You cannot twist or slightly turn your wrist in any way, shift a hip, turn your navel; absolutely no physical cues. Only a picture inside where you “see” your horse turn towards the right to the center of the ring. Amy gave me a look that only Amy could, and continued riding. She nodded to

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THIS facilitated a quantum leap for her and her horse. From the round pen, she successfully entered corral environment and completed all the instructions joyfully. This opened the gateway for an entire afternoon trail ride in the prairie grasses, where at one point on the trail, we sat quietly on the backs of our horses, gloriously surrounded by butterflies. What is the picture you have of your horse, the sport you are passionate about, your family, school, summer, relationships, health, finances, marriage, or business? You learn from the horse. Inside (eyes to see) pictures produce actions or results. How many times have you removed a picture from a picture frame to replace the picture with a more current one? Creating a vision board where you cut out pictures and paste to express what you are going for in any focused area is helpful. If you haven’t done it, you might want to consider making one. If you have any questions or need help with this, email me at horsinaround188@gmail. com. I’d enjoy encouraging you.

Horses have the ability to tune into your inside “picture” or “intention.” That’s why wild horses can be grazing peacefully in an open meadow with a lion close by because they instinctively know the intention of the lion -not hungry. On the other hand, you will see videos of wild horses swiftly running to flee the presence of a hungry predator. Horses are so amazing! Intention/ You become what you bepicture is like Jesus say- hold, PICTURE THIS, ing, “Which is easier to Your NEIGHbor, say? Your sins are forDeb Kitchenmaster given, or take up your bed Corral Connections and walk?” (Same thing, 256-426-7947 different language, as soda is to pop.) This experience Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner Amy had with PICTURE horsinaround188@gmail.com

March 15 - April 4, 2019

Mental Health Minute

Rewiring Your Second Brain by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“The gut is the seat of all feeling.” - Suzy Kassem In my last article, we discussed the gut-brain connection. I asked you to at least consider that there is a connection between inflammation in the gut and symptoms of mental illness. I am not a dietician nor a nutritionist, but if you are willing to go with me and take this relationship a step further, we may be able to find ways to cultivate good gut bacteria to reduce depression and other mental health challenges. Changes in what you put in your body can lead to healthier mental and emotional states. And this can now be verified by empirical research and data. Antibiotic Use: Regular antibiotic use can kill the diverse microbiota in the gut. Antibiotics can’t discern between which

March 15 - April 4, 2019

bacteria is beneficial for our health and which is not; and overuse can affect long-term health. For example, a connection has been made between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD,) which may be a result of a permanent change in microbiota, and depression. Probiotics: In 2013, a microbiologist in California discovered that mice with some autistic features had lower levels of a common gut bacterium (bacteriodes fragilis) than “normal” mice. These mice were stressed, antisocial, and had gastrointestinal issues. When the scientists fed the mice a probiotic (B. fragilis), the symptoms reversed. In a 2015 study, researchers in the Netherlands discovered that in a fourweek study, participants receiving multispecies probiotics showed reduced rumination and aggressive thoughts as a result of a reduction in sadness. Fermented

foods: Fermented food is the best kind of probiotic you can feed your gut. These foods contain a broad combinations of microbes, so your chances are better that you will get some useful bacteria. One of the easiest, most common fermented foods is yogurt. FF are recommended for improvement in overall symptoms including depression, anxiety, brain fog, hormonal issues, and fatigue. Here’s the Dirt: Are you obsessed with using hand sanitizers? (I’ll admit I have to work on this one.) Did you know that overuse of sanitization may be making us sick? Over-sanitizing can kill all bacteria, including the good kind. Scientists have been researching why children who grow up in homes with a dog have a lower risk of developing allergies. Turns out dog ownership is associated with a kind of house dust that exposes

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us to important strains of good bacteria. Additionally, the soil brought into our homes has wonderful healing elements that can boost our immune systems. Sugar and Processed Food: A diet high in sugar causes changes in the gut bacteria. In an Oregon State University study of mice with a high-sugar diet, it was discovered that cognitive flexibility was impaired. This impairment means that the mice experienced difficulty in adjusting to changing situations. Additionally, the high-sugar diet negatively affected the mice’s long-term and short-term memories. Plants and Fiber: By eating more plants, we are able to achieve and maintain microbiota diversity in our gut systems. This, by extension, would lead to a clearer mind and happier disposition. The gut microbes are kept busy feasting on fiber which keeps the intestinal lining intact, unlike the sugars that starve the gut bugs so that they nibble on the mucous lining of our intestines. Changing one’s diet transforms gut bacteria, which leads to happier and healthier mind, body, and spirit. Red Meat: In April 2013, a Harvard study compared the effects of extreme diets on nine participants. The first diet consisted of meat and cheese; the second diet was fiber-rich consisting of only foods from plants. The scientists

tracked changes in the microbiomes and discovered that on the animal diet, the bacteria in the gut produced more Bilophila, which has been found to cause inflammation and intestinal diseases. After about three days on the animal diet, the volunteers’ behavior began to be affected by the change in microbiota.

Let me add one more lifestyle change suggestion that can have an enormous positive effect on your gut health. Lower Stress: When you feel stressed, your body discharges natural steroids and adrenaline, triggering your immune system to release inflammatory proteins. (This happens whether the threat is real or imagined.) Your intestinal bacteria and immuneresponse system work very closely together to remove possible diseases or foreign agents. Chronic immune response weakens the health of your gut leading to unbalanced microbiomes which causes all kinds of diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and IBD. Does lowering stress lead to a healthy gut, or does a healthy gut lead to lower stress? Does it really matter? Literally, food for thought…

Lisa Philippart is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who divides her time between her own private practice in Huntsville and providing personal counseling services at Athens State University.

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The Alternative Approach

Conflict of Interest? by Roy Williams

We need medical freedom in America. Our convoluted system has gained so much power over the last 60 years that there are absolutely no checks and balances. The fox has literally been put in charge of the hen house.

pletely normal. Even enlarged hearts became normal size. The only accepted way to treat any aliment must be approved by, you guessed it, the FDA which, as I said, is controlled by the drug industry. The drug industry also owns the schools, creates the tests, decides which drugs can be prescribed, and then makes the rules -- one of which is that if you treat any patient with any surgery or drug outside their guidelines, your license to practice medicine will be taken.

A man or woman goes to medical school for a decade or longer to become educated enough to get a license to practice medicine. The school he or she goes to must be licensed to educate that person. The governing body that decides what can be taught and gives the school a license to teach that information is biased to the point of being immoral. Let me explain it this way. Because of the very rules and regulations that I just talked about, there is a monopoly, which is unconstitutional. It is 100% controlled by the drug industry; they have built an air tight system that guarantees that they maintain control and therefore eliminate any competition. A word about competition. When you live in a capitalistic society, the most important part of its success is that everyone involved has a playing field that allows competition. When two or more businesses can compete, prices are always

lower. If company A makes a widget for $100 and company B makes a better widget for only $80, over time company A will have to lower its prices or most of the market will go to company B. Because the pharmaceutical industry has a governing body called the FDA that makes the final decision on which drugs will be allowed on the market, nothing outside the pharmaceutical industry can compete. Even if you discover an all-natural supplement that not only works better than the drug but also saves more lives

and has no side effects, your doctor will never be the one to tell you about it. Therein lies the danger of being dependent on the medical profession. There are thousands of natural remedies that are much more effective, but if your doctor tells you about them, he or she runs the possibility of losing the right to practice medicine. You don’t believe me, then try to get a double-blind placebo-controlled study done on something like vitamin B-17 or Graviola for the treatment of cancer. You can have thousands of people with their doctor’s reports showing reductions in tumor growth and complete remission and they will never do the double-blind placebo-controlled study on them. Just consider the book, Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks But People Do. In it, Matthias Rath, using the most expensive medical

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equipment, proved that vitamin C along with a few other nutrients stopped and reversed heart disease in every patient. Not only did it stop the increase in size of blockages in 6 months, all blockages were cut in half in one year, and in two years, the blockages were eliminated. You might think that he would have been given the Noble Prize in Medicine. After all, his findings could put an end to heart disease, the number one killer in the industrialized world. No, instead they started doing character assassination, slapped him with lawsuits, and took away his license. In his book, he called the pharmaceutical industry “the drug cartel.” He shows the before and after treatment pictures of his patients; and he even shows the medical reports of people with cardiomyopathy, a death sentence without a heart transplant, being com-

No one working for the FDA should be allowed to own any stock or interest in the pharmaceutical industry because that is a conflict of interest. No organization or person that has an interest or stock in the pharmaceutical industry should be allowed to be involved in a doubleblind-placebo-controlled study for the approval of a drug. That would be a conflict of interest. At this point I believe that the only way to stop this insanity is to set new standards for drug approval. The drug must have at least a 50% success rate before it can be approved.

Until the American public understands just how corrupt and immoral the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA have become, let me suggest that you consider an all-natural approach to health care. To learn more, go by Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen or call NEWtritional Health Care at 800-745-4408. Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

March 15 - April 4, 2019

www.JuicePlus.com

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC March 15 - April 4, 2019

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March 15 - April 4, 2019