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May 17th - June 6th, 2019

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

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

Special Feature Boneyard Antiques On The Square: The One Year Birthday Bash And The Ballad Of Uncle Bert... For the folks of Boneyard Antiques on the Square, June 1 is a... Page 5

From The Vets' Museum

The 2019 Learjetjohn Aviation Camp: Real Life Experience Not Found In Books By Ali Elizabeth Turner From June 3 through June 7, area kids ages of 13-18 are going to have the chance of a lifetime to get safely up into the air and discover the joys of flying. The camp is being run by John Besherse and Judith Burleson Continued on page 15

Nature’s Apothecary: A Great Premise And A Grand Opening

Memorial Day Program Guest Speaker, Major General Jeff Drushal... It is with great pleasure that I announce this year’s Memorial Day program guest speaker... Page 7

Cooking With Anna Comfort Foods Without The Guilt... Webster’s Dictionary describes the word ‘comfort’ as “a strengthening aid, a satisfying... Page 16

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By Ali Elizabeth Turner When Derrick Mitchell was younger, he had one dream, and that was to be a commercial pilot. Aviation was in his blood; he got his degree from Continued on page 17

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May 17 - June 6, 2019

Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

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

Breakthrough Is An Apt Title People who know me well know that I love movies -- the craft, the filming, screenplays, music, costumes, set production, special effects, and don’t forget the acting. And as much as I love good movies, I detest poor ones, and there are a lot of those. However, recently we went to see the film, Breakthrough, and while I was familiar with the story, there were things that struck me by way of a secondary plot that I was not expecting. Let’s just say it was a marvelous undoing. The story is about a 14-year-old boy who fell through the ice at a Missouri lake on Martin Luther King Weekend in 2015. He was under the

water for 15 minutes, then retrieved, which itself was a miracle, and taken to a hospital. They worked on him there for almost 45 minutes; he had no pulse and was completely unresponsive. His mom was invited into the room to say goodbye. It was there that she prayed a desperate prayer of faith, and her son’s heart started beating again. While that defied medical logic, the specialist said that he did not expect the boy, whose name was John Smith, to live through the night. To say that the community stepped up and kept praying this boy back to wholeness is an understatement. People stood for hours outside John’s hospital

with candles lit, singing worship songs, and praying. Requests for prayer were put on social media and went viral. It was even reported by the local news more than once. As familiar as I was with the story, and as much as I was anticipating seeing it, I was not prepared for the loving smack upside the head that I was about to receive. It wasn’t about increasing faith, it was about letting myself embrace more fully what has become known as “living the let-go life.” The boy who had received the miracle has a mom, Joyce, who was a good hearted woman with a lot of control issues. She micro-managed her son, her hus-

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 The Chronicles Of Charles . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9

band, their pastors, and when it came to John’s crisis, the hospital staff. It was always for a good reason, which is why it was so hard for her to see what she was doing. Finally, her husband confronts her at the hospital with words to the effect that no matter what happened with John, she was going to have to live with the memory of how she treated people.

It was then that Joyce goes outside in the cold and surrenders. And it was that act of surrender that made all the difference, according to Joyce. We had a discussion in our fellowship on Sunday morning and the question was asked, “What if she hadn’t surrendered? Would things have turned out differently for John?” And while I don’t want to get into a theological debate over the sovereignty of God here, I just know that for me, I needed to keep looking for ways to let go and surrender, and I did.

Go see Breakthrough; you might just have one of your own.

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

May 17 - June 6, 2019

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

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All Things Soldier

If The Americans Make A Move, We Will Hit Them In The Head

B Y

by Ali Elizabeth Turner In 2015, I had the privilege of hearing John Bolton speak at a National Religious Broadcasters’ convention in Nashville, and most of his remarks had to do with the disastrous agreement between the U.S. and Iran that was soon to be signed. I remember him clearly saying, “This is a bad deal all the way around.” How right he was, and I for one was glad when the president began to get us out of entanglement with the Islamic Republic beginning a year ago, even if no other country followed suit. So, things are starting to heat up, as we knew they would. A week ago, the Pentagon announced that if necessary, it would deploy a battery for launching Patriot missiles to the Middle East in order to de-

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fend against threats from Iran. In addition, an amphibious ship, which could facilitate better launch capabilities for the Marines, would be deployed to the area. Recently, the Pentagon presented a plan to top national security aides that calls for up to 120,000 troops deploying to the Middle East. Included in the plan is a cyber-attack that has the potential to cripple the infrastructure of Iran which would be launched if Iran attacks U.S. forces or increases the speed of its nuclear program. The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is one of the ships that would be utilized in the Gulf to facilitate airborne bombing raids. The shifts in resource allocation came after a new intelligence re-

port was delivered to Congress on May 3. Iran is calling U.S. assets in the region a target, according to Reuters, which cited a report in the Iranian Students’ News Agency (INSA). “An aircraft carrier that has at least 40 to 50 planes on it and 6,000 forces gathered within it was a serious threat for us in the past but now it is a target and the threats have switched to opportunities,” said Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Iranian Guards’ aerospace division. “If (the Americans) make a move, we will hit them in the head,” he added, according to ISNA. In addition, over the weekend, four oil tankers off of the coast of the United Arab Emirates

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were damaged by drones for which Yemeni Houthis have taken responsibility. The Iranian government has called it a, “regretful incident,” tensions have increased, and the link between the Houthis and Iran is indirect but powerful. It is thought at this time that Iran does not directly control or support the Houthi rebellion in Yemen, but is glad to see the Houthis go after the Saudis, who are considered Iran’s rival, second only to Israel. The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is known to send speed boats at U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf, with the intention of provoking a military response. “It’s going to be a bad problem for Iran if something happens,” President Trump stated to reporters

Monday in response to questions about the attack on the Saudi tankers.

“The president has been clear, the United States does not seek military conflict with Iran, and he is open to talks with Iranian leadership,” Garrett Marquis, a National Security Council spokesman, wrote in an email to the New York Times on Monday. “However, Iran’s default option for 40 years has been violence, and we are ready to defend U.S. personnel and interests in the region.” As much as I am for peace, I am glad to hear that we are not going to be giving Iran any money-for-hostages any time soon, and that our president is not afraid to stand up to them. Prayerfully we will not get “hit in the head.”

May 17 - June 6, 2019

Special Feature

Boneyard Antiques On The Square: The One Year Birthday Bash And The Ballad Of Uncle Bert

by Ali Elizabeth Turner For the folks of Boneyard Antiques on the Square, June 1 is a big deal. Let’s talk about the good stuff first—the one year anniversary of the opening of the store, with an “everybody’s-invited” birthday party which will last all day. More formally stated, Andy and Wendy Yarbrough would like you to come to their store from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. for an all-day celebration, and the cake is going to be cut at 10 a.m. The store is located on the corner of Market and Jefferson on the Courthouse Square, and the address is 100 South Jefferson in Athens. Consistent with their love of whimsy as well as the past, in addition to a custom cake, they will be serving Tab, Fresca, and Moon Pies. If Wendy can get them, they will also have fresh Cracker Jacks in the nostalgic old-style packaging. There will also be door prizes and the chance to win a $50 dollar gift certificate redeemable (with some restrictions) at Boneyard. The 1st of June also marks what turned out to be the beginning of Uncle Bert Yarbrough’s last battle. Andy’s great-great-uncle, Bert was part of a family mercantile business which was located where Sweetest Things Tea Room now resides on the north side of the Square. On June 1, 1899 a brouhaha over property lines at the family farm in Clements broke out on Market Street.

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An interesting feature of Boneyard Antiques is Eva Anderson’s selection of clothing that either requires corsets (which can be purchased or special-ordered and are helpful for women struggling with back pain) or has old-fashioned lace-up bodices as part of the fashions themselves.

Bert, as well as Andy’s great-grandfather, Walter Murray Yarbrough, along with his brother Will Yarbrough, came running out of the store. First it came to “blows and fisticuffs” only. Then, an 18 year-old youth by the name of Jesse Surginer fired a round into Uncle Bert’s chest because he “felt threatened,” and while Bert did not die immediately, ultimately the combination of the gunshot wound and the our ancestors are looking down and are saying, ‘Welcome home.'"

fact that he had tuberculosis ended his life. Suringer was charged with attempted murder; Jesse claimed self-defense, and the case went to the Alabama State Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that self-defense truly applies only to the self, and Jesse got life in prison. When you walk into Boneyard, there is a portrait of Uncle Bert proudly displayed, as well as a copy of the newspaper article. Incidentally, Walter Murray Yarbrough lived the rest of his life with a bullet

in his shoulder and in 1910, became Athens Chief of Police. Wendy said, “We are thrilled that our important date coincides with that date of family history here on the Athens Square. The irony does not escape us. We have lived all over the country and have put down roots through community and school involvement everywhere we have lived. It is so wonderful to plant ourselves where we already have so many roots, here in Limestone County. We feel as we open our doors everyday at Boneyard Antiques that

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So, if you come to shop in what was the original McConnell’s Funeral Home, what can you expect to find? Antiques, eclectic pieces, artwork, jewelry which is designed to be ‘wearable art,’ vintage clothing, candles, re-purposed pieces, and all kinds of barn wood. “We want to give people a chance to own a piece of history,” said Wendy. There are also collectibles, books, signs, glassware, fine furniture, and recently, I purchased a ladder back chair that was just right and more than reasonably priced.

The Yarbroughs are committed to being fairly priced and going the extra mile to help customers find what they are looking for. “We want to make old things available in new ways, and preserve history,” Wendy said. Why did Andy and Wendy give up other careers to open Boneyard? They are committed to honoring their own families’ heritage and to build a unique community here. “We have been working toward this all our life,” they said. Come to Boneyard and experience what it is like to “re-think antiques.” You’ll find what you are after, have fun while you are looking, and leave knowing you have new friends. And, don’t forget the birthday party!

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Calendar of Events New Life Assembly Child Development Program Open House May 18

16768 Hwy 72, Athens, AL, 35611. We want to let the community know about the programs we offer. 10:00AM - 12:00PM. Come meet our teachers, get some information and have some fun. We will have a bounce house, games and snacks available for anyone that comes. Call for more info. Church office: 256-2326119 or 256-614-4823. www.athensnewlife.com

Writer's Group Meeting May 21

Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens. 6:00PM-8:00PM. Enjoy the support of fellow writers, writing critiques, and more. For more information: Patrick Brunson patbrunson@cloud.com

2019 Alumni Golf Classic May 23

Athens State University Alumni Association at Canebrake Club. 23015 Founders Circle in Athens. 10:30AM-6:00PM benefitting scholarships of the 2018-2019 academic year. Rain date: May 30, 2019 For more information or to register: athens.edu or at Eventbrite.

Memorial Day Program May 27

Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives at the Limestone County Event Center. 100 West Pryor Street in Athens. Starting at 11:00AM. Key note speakers to be announced. Jerry Barksdale to speak on the life of WT2c Edgar Gross, U.S. Navy, whose remains are being returned to Limestone County for burial (more details to come) as well as the U.S.S. Oklahoma and its sinking on "Battleship Row" the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Free and open to the public.

Coffee Call June 1

Project Sweet Peas Jamboree June 1

Ardmore Town Park. 29910 Park Avenue in Ardmore, AL. 4:00PM-8:00PM with inflatables, games, and vendors. Proceeds benefit families in the Neonatal Care Units in Huntsville, Birmingham, and Tuscaloosa. Learn more about Project Sweet Pea and how you can be part of it at projectsweetpea.org

Bluegrass Jamboree June 1

Friendship North. 21960 Easter Ferry Road in Elkmont. 5:00PM-9:00PM with Celebrate Recovery. Music with Leipers Fork and Clabe McGruire and the Rocket City Ridge Band. $10.00 per adult; $5.00 for ages 5-12. Bring lawn or camp chair. Dinner plates of BBQ, hamburger, or hot dogs will be available for purchase. For more information: cr@ friendshipumc.org

D-Day Remembrance June 6

A day to remember D-Day and the landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy, France in 1944. Step inside the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives (100 Pryor Street W in Athens) and explore the life of our military as well as their families on the home front. Free and open to the public (donations welcome). If you are entering the State of Alabama on Interstate 65 South, you have the chance to stop at the Alabama Welcome Center. At the base of the towering Saturn 1B rocket are the veterans monuments. The public is invited to pause and reflect upon the names of each monument.

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

Veterans of all wars and their families are invited for breakfast and fellowship from 8AM-9:30AM at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archive. 100 West Pryor Street in Athens. 256771-7578.

Elkmont Hound Dog Half-Marathon June 1

Rescheduled from Jan 2019 date due to weather. Starting at Elkmont High School, 25630 Evans Avenue in Elkmont. 7:00AM. Winding through scenic countryside and portion of the Richard Martin Rails-to-Trails on certified route. For more information or to register, visit: ItsYourRace.com Page 6

Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival June 6 - 8

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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.

May 17 - June 6, 2019

The Chronicles Of Charles

On Perception by Charles Joseph

Hello all! My name is Charles Joseph. Some have called me a seeker. Others, a transparent picture of the human experience. I believe in creating value by sharing my observations in the hopes that it will help the reader venture into that unknown part of themselves. I am an avid kayaker, cycler and exercise junkie. I hope that what I write inspires and challenges.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking? For instance, have you ever paused and just listened to the thoughts that you allow into your mind? Everyone has thoughts. I would venture to say that most people pay little to no attention to their thoughts. I would even go as far to say that most of time people work rather diligently just to distract themselves from their thoughts. While there is merit in redirecting one’s attention to more important matters, I would like to take some time today with you, the reader, and break down what a thought actually is and how it affects the human experience. Have you ever heard of the phrase “attitude is everything”? What about the word perception? For the sake of breaking down a thought, I am defining a thought as a perception. This can be demonstrated by the fact that if you are more aware of an object or an experience on a day-to-day basis, then you are likely to notice that object or experience throughout your day. One example of this is when I buy a new phone. All of a sudden it seems like everyone has that phone too. The truth is, I just didn’t notice that so many people had that particular kind of phone until I held one in my hand and used it; and the experience caused me to add more relevance to

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get you? Or is it possible that your attitude towards people greatly affects how they treat you?

this new device that I like so much. With this, my mind begins to filter out other phones and zone in on phones like mine or better. What is happening here? I perceived an experience of having a new phone to be a relevant part of my life which caused my mind to seek similar information. How much was the phone? Was it worth it? Is there a better type of phone? What is unique about mine? In other words, my mind used the experience of a new phone as a catalyst or a foundation for new thoughts.

lies an emotion. An emotion is a feeling -- good or bad. Scientifically, a “negative thought” releases cortisol and a “positive thought” releases endorphins. But, back to the idea of perception. I want to clarify that perception is reality for the sake of this ar-

ticle. So, do you and I have a choice on the things that we assign relevance to? Absolutely. Are you grateful for the simple necessities of life or do you always have to have more? Do you complain more than you say thank you? Are people out to

Slow down on a daily basis and just listen to the thoughts going through your head. Write a few of them down. Ask yourself why you thought those thoughts and if they are beneficial to your goals in life. Do this once a day for ten days, and you may find that you are more aware and in control of your thoughts and decisions and feel more confident at the end of the day. I hope you enjoyed this article and thank you for taking the time with me to center yourself, build towards your future, and create a more and more purposeful life with each little step.

Think of the mind like a spider-web. In the center you have a single thought. From each thought flows more and more thoughts. All of this happens instant by instant due to the miracle of nature. Within each new thought

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Caps, Gowns, Fixing Roads All Over Town by Ali Elizabeth Turner May is always an emotional time; no matter how many times you hear “Pomp and Circumstance” play at high school graduation ceremonies, there is a sense of relief, triumph, sadness, anticipation, joy, and wistfulness. It is no different for the mayor and the staff involved with the Mayor’s Youth Commission. “We have 18 seniors and one homeschooler,” said Mayor Ronnie, meaning the ones he was going to have to say goodbye to for now. “It’s emotional to let ‘em go,” he added. The mayor went on to tell me that one of the things that is different about “kids these days” is that far more of them are talking about going to technical schools. We have so many more opportunities for them now,” he said.

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Mayor Ronnie figured that they all had “senioritis,” so his plan was to have April be the last meeting of the Mayor’s Youth Commission. However, at the kids’ insistence, they met one last time in May. At that meeting, they did a mock City Council meeting. Holly Hollman prepared a script for each role, and they included a belligerent citizen and someone who would not stop interrupting. They rapped the gavel, did the pledge, the invocation, and debated whether or not to add one dollar to the total bill of hotel patrons per stay. They voted 3-2 in favor of it. The Impact Club, which is the Rotary’s youth group, did a Color Run

for clean water on May 11. Their project is clean water, both in our state and around the world. We moved on to the subject of streets, no one’s favorite. “It takes a long time to get caught up,” said Mayor Ronnie. One of the things that I learned is that when you dig a street up, whether it’s for laying fiber optic cable, increasing water pressure, or fixing potholes, you have to let the land sit for awhile or the new paving will not settle. “I know the

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streets are a rut board right now,” he said. As a result of the once cent tax passed in 2012, the City of Athens now has money designated for these kinds of repairs. “$1.3 million goes into getting the streets fixed every year,” he said, and added, “Jefferson Street is going to get paved on June 1.” That was welcome news, and of course, the conversation had to move to growth in our area. Mayor Ronnie then showed me an article citing a statement made re-

cently by ACRE, which stands for University of Alabama’s Alabama Center for Real Estate. “Athens is number one in the state for new construction.” I just shook my head, so grateful that we have leadership at the City and County level that lay awake nights considering the best way for us to handle the growth that is upon us. There was just one thing left to do, and that was to pray. So we did, and once again, it was time for Ronnie to roll.

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Slinkard On Success

Do We Really Believe In God? by D. A. Slinkard D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store The King James Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We also see in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We have in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” I start with these scriptures because I believe we need to be reminded of what God's Word tells us in His Book. Yet I believe we, as a society, have watered down the preaching in which we have compromised on God's Word. Just recently I read an article about how people should dress in church, and the comment was made about who really cares? For starters, God cares. With our finite minds, we try to put God's level of thinking down to our small way of thinking. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 which states, “...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There is to be an obvious difference from the lost soul compared to the saved soul; but sadly we live in a time you cannot tell the difference between the two. God expects Christians to be separate from the world. From 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

behind what the parent was doing, but this is what is wrong with the world in which we seek the opinions of a child to dictate our way of thinking. There will come a day in which we will stand before God Almighty and give an account for the life we lived. Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” The Great Commission tells us in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Matthew

28:19-20 states, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...” Here we have God commanding the church to go and seek the lost; God does not command the lost to go and seek the church. Yet we live in a day in which we have people say, “Just come as you are...” which tickles the ear, but keep in mind

Now you may be saying to yourself that only man looks on the outside and God can see on the inside. And I would say that you are right; but as a Christian, our outward appearance should be a direct reflection of who we are in Christ. We expect the very best from God but only want to give Him the least amount of effort from us. If you look at our U.S. currency, you will see

the words, “In God We Trust” but really this is becoming a lie. We do not live in a country that believes this motto anymore. People question what is happening to our society; the wickedness that prevails is because we have moved away from THE God of the Bible. We have moved away from keeping God's Word close to our heart. Instead, we have everyone doing what they deem to be right in their own heart, and in Jeremiah 17:9 we see, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” We need to focus on restoring our relationship with God and truly raise up our standards. Until then, we are going to continue down the slippery slope we are on. If we raise our level of expectations, then we will see a change in the world around us. We have low expectations, and we get low results because of it.

The article went on to have a bunch of “What if's...” and even an example of a parent getting advice from the 8-yearold daughter on the topic. I get the thought process

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

Memorial Day Program Guest Speaker, Major General Jeff Drushal by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum It is with great pleasure that I announce this year’s Memorial Day program guest speaker, Major General Jeff Drushal. General Drushal is the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC). USASAC leads the AMC Security Assistance Enterprise; develops and manages security assistance programs and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases to build partner capacity; supports COCOM engagement strategies; and strengthens U.S. Global Partnerships. USASAC is the Premier Security Assistance Organization in the Department of Defense. USASAC advances U.S. Strategic Partnerships by providing exceptional support in Security Assistance and FMS.

He also deployed to New Orleans International Airport in support of stateand national-level relief operations resulting from damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Major General Drushal most recently served as the 29th Chief of Transportation and Commandant of the United States Army Transportation School at Fort Lee, Virginia. During 27 years of service, his key assignments include Platoon Leader and Assistant Battalion S3, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; Battalion S1, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea; Supply and Servic-

es Officer, DISCOM S4, and Company Commander in the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Support Operations Transportation Officer, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea; Assistant S4, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Fort Lewis, Washington; Division Transportation Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, Brigade S3, Brigade Support Operations Officer in the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq; Battalion Commander of the 57th Transportation Battalion, 593d Sustainment Brigade, 1st Corps, Fort Lewis;

Major General Drushal was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps in 1989 after graduating from the University of Tampa as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management degree. He earned a Master of Science in Logistics Management degree from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Major General Drushal’s operational experience encompasses a career spent mostly in tactical units with three deployments to Iraq, two deployments to Afghanistan, and one to Kuwait.

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Task Force Commander of Joint Logistics Task Force 57, 593d Sustainment Brigade, 1st Theater Support Command, Arifjan, Kuwait, and Iraq; Brigade Commander, 45th Sustainment Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Afghanistan; Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, United States Army, Washington, D.C.; and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, C/J-4, United Nations Command/ Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea, Republic of Korea. He is a graduate of the Transportation Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced

Course, Command and General Staff College, Logistics Executive Development Course, the United States Army War College and the Army Senior Leader Seminar program. His training includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, 7th Infantry Division (Light) Air Assault School and the 82d Airborne Division Jumpmaster School. He is also a CrossFit Level I certified trainer. Major General Drushal’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1 OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (4 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with five campaign stars, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Korea Defense Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He has earned the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge, as well as the British Parachutist Badge and Ukrainian Parachutist Badge. Major General Drushal is married and has two children.

Major General Jeff Drushal

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This year’s Memorial Day program will be held at the Limestone County Event Center (across from the museum.) Our program will start at 11:00 a.m. Please contact Sandy at 256-771-7578 for further information.

May 17 - June 6, 2019

PlayAction Sports

Clock Ticking Down On 2019 High School Season 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

As we’re now in the figurative final seconds of the 2019 spring sports season, let’s take a look at each school’s highlights since last month’s column: Ardmore - On the soccer fields, Ardmore's boys overcame Danville 5-2. A sweep came over ABS 6-0 in the boys' game and 2-1 in girls' action. The Lady Tigers beat West Limestone 11-1 and Summertown, TN, 2-0 on the softball fields. Ardmore went through the area and regional tournaments undefeated, turning back East Limestone, Scottsboro, Boaz, Russellville, and Sardis. The Lady Tigers advanced to the state tournament for the third straight year. Athens Bible - First round baseball playoffs had the Trojans sweeping Hackleburg, before Donoho eliminated them in round two. The ABS boys were second at the sectional track meet.

Top finishers included Nicolas Ulrich (800 and 1600 meters) and Lillian Bradford (long jump). In the area softball tournament, ABS defeated R.A. Hubbard twice and went 2-1 with Covenant Christian to finish runner-up and advance to regional play where they fell to Skyline and Waterloo. Athens High - The Lady Golden Eagles defeated Muscle Shoals and Madison County in softball action and turned back Muscle Shoals twice to claim the area title. At the regional tournament, they beat Cullman, were shut out by Buckhorn, stayed alive with a victory over Oxford, then were eliminated by Hartselle. JaCaury Mason topped the 6A boys' discus in the sectional track meet. Clements - At the area softball tournament, the Lady Colts fell to Lexington and topped Westminster before having

their season ended with another loss to Lexington. Jarrice Pryor was second in the 3A boys' 100 meters at the sectional track meet. In sectional golf action, Abigail Baker, Hunter Towe, and Landon Martin qualified as individuals to go to the sub-state tournament. East Limestone - The Indians lost to Arab in baseball playoff game one, but bounced back in games two and three; second round losses to Springville ended their year. At the area softball tournament East Limestone got by Scottsboro, then lost to Ardmore and lost a rematch with Scottsboro. Alex Robinson was first in the 400 meters at the 5A sectional track meet and came in third at the state meet, while the Indians' 4x400-meter relay team was also third. Elkmont - At the area softball tournament the Lady Red Devils out-

Ardmore wins Class 5A North Region softball tournament for third straight year. Courtesy photo May 17 - June 6, 2019

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did West Limestone, then put down West Morgan twice to move to the regional tournament, where they defeated DAR, succumbed to Wilson, then topped Madison Academy. A loss to Rogers put a finish to their season. James Clemens - The Lady Jets’ soccer team took care of Sparkman and Bob Jones to reach the state semifinals, where they were eliminated by Vestavia Hills. The softball team swept through the area tournament, beating Austin and Bob Jones to move on to the regional where they were part of three shutouts: a win over Huntsville, a 3-0 loss to Sparkman and a 6-0 elimination against Bob Jones. The homestanding Lady Jets won the 7A sectional track meet getting first places out of Kiara Risher (100 meters, high jump), Ashlee Osaji (200 meters, 400 meters, long jump, triple jump), Kristin Day (3200 meters), Cadence Huntsinger (100-meter hurdles), Rachel Seeley (300 meter hurdles), and the girls' 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay teams. Trevor Hunziker also claimed first

in the discus and javelin as the boys came in 3rd as a team. The girls won the 7A state track meet as Kiara Risher took the high jump and Ashlee Osaji placed first in the triple jump and long jump. Brooks McKeller was low medalist with a 69 at their 7A golf sectionals; teammate Jackson Mitchell shot a 75 as the Jets finished second.

Lindsay Lane - The girls came in second at their sectional track meet led by Sydney Perkins, who won the 800 and 1600 meters; Whitney PriseCook was first in the 100 meter hurdles, Roderick Watkins took gold in the boys' high jump and the boys' 4x400-meter relay team won their event. In sectional golf action, Lindsay Lane's Kyle Davis qualified as an individual to go to the substate tournament

Tanner - On the soccer fields, the Rattlers won their area with victories over Westminster and ABS. Alex Guster was runner-up in the 100 meters at the sectional track meet in Scottsboro.

West Limestone - The Lady Wildcats defeated Brooks at the area softball tournament and were taken out by West Morgan.

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Clean and Green

Put On Your Boogie Shoes And Have A Good Time! by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

If you are looking to enjoy a couple of hours of great toe-tapping, singalong, grab-a-dancepartner music, then plan to join the First Presbyterian Mission Committee and Keep AthensLimestone Beautiful at this year’s Boogie Shoes Bash. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. The church’s mission committee does several events through the year to assist non-profit organizations. This year, KALB will be the recipient of all funds raised at the Boogie Shoes Bash. The fun will take place on Saturday, June 1, at First Presbyterian Church’s Revival Building located at 303 W. Washington St. in Athens from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Trippin’ Dixie will provide music and guests will be treated to free refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres. Tables and chairs will be available; however, guests should feel free to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the courtyard. A variety of items will be included in a silent auction with all proceeds to benefit KALB projects and programs. Last year, I came home with a wonderful painting and some great items for my grandchildren. The 2018 Boogie Shoes Bash supported Learn To Read, which is another great organization worthy of support. The KALB Commission is

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very pleased that KALB has been chosen to be the recipient of funds raised at this year’s event. Membership Drive April and May are important months for the KALB organization. This is when we hold our annual membership drive. We ask our community to support our mission to empower citizens of Athens and Limestone County to take greater responsibility for enhancing their community environment. We do this through numerous educational presentations covering many aspects of litter abatement, recycling, and beautification at all city and county schools for students from preschool through 6th grade, and by invitation to club meetings and other adult

gatherings. KALB provides a variety of volunteer opportunities, including our annual Elk River Cleanup and Trash Attack, Adopt-A-Spot program, #OneBagChallenge, and at our Duck & Run 5K Race and Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby. Important information is also shared through twice-monthly articles here in the Athens Now, our monthly eNewsletter, social media, and other media outlets. KALB’s budget is about $70,000 for the year and that includes payroll, taxes, office supplies, insurances, projects, programs, and more. It is a very frugal budget and is tightly managed to make it work. Unfortunately, over the past few years, we

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have lost our appropriation from the Limestone County Commission, making our membership drive so very important.

Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby ($1,000 grand prize) or $5.00 off registration fee for our annual Duck & Run 5K.

Memberships are as follows:

Mail Checks: KALB, Membership, P.O. Box 1089, Athens 35612.

• Individual/Family $25 • Business - $50 • Industry - $100 Anyone sending in an Individual/Family membership will receive a coupon entitling them to a free duck in our annual

Online: www.KALBCares.com/membership We are grateful for every dollar we receive and promise to spend each one with great care.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com May 17 - June 6, 2019

Cooking with Anna

Comfort Foods Without The Guilt by Anna Hamilton

Webster’s Dictionary describes the word ‘comfort’ as “a strengthening aid, a satisfying or enjoyable experience, to give strength and hope.” We often use the word comfort in correlation with food. The term ‘comfort food’ has become part of our everyday language. I think most of you would agree that eating comfort food makes you feel strengthened, satisfied, and hopeful. It’s like a warm hug. Unfortunately, comfort food has gotten a bad reputation. When you think of comfort food, you think of heavy, fried, greasy food… laden with thick sauces…foods that make you want to take a long nap… But I’m here to reform comfort foods. Brothers and sisters, let me tell you the good news. You can eat comfort food without feeling guilty! Since starting my journey to better health, I’ve learned to adapt my favorite recipes to be much leaner but not lose any of the great flavor. I always thought when you were on a diet that you had to give up anything that had flavor. You could only munch on rabbit food and become miserable. This new lifestyle change has opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. Baked pasta dishes are delicious. Let’s all be honest here; you can’t

beat a heaping helping of cheesy baked pasta. It is the definition of comfort food. Did you know that the average serving, 1 cup, of baked ziti has 35 carbohydrates? While it may taste delicious, it will leaving you feeling sluggish and guilty. You can still enjoy baked ziti without feeling so guilty, and you won’t sacrifice any of the flavor. This baked ziti replaces the pasta with the very versatile cauliflower. Cauliflower is a canvas, just waiting to soak up flavor. A cup serving of cauliflower baked ziti only has 8 carbohydrates! That is a drastic difference. For me, cutting out the carbohydrates has made me have so much more energy. I am sleeping better. My joints no longer ache. Plus, the 46 pound weight loss so far doesn’t hurt. I have been so touched by your kind words of encouragement since my last article. I love talking to all of you and knowing that we are all on this journey together. Building a community of individuals that hold each other’s hands during the hard times, rejoice during the good times, and learn to be healthy together is a wonderful thing. I would love to continue to hear from you on your journey. Feel free to email me anytime at annapella2003@gmail.com “God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

Recipe #10 - Cauliflower Baked Ziti What You Need:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 lb. ground beef 2 Tbsp. tomato paste 1 tsp. oregano One 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1 cauliflower, cut into florets 2 cups ricotta cheese 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook until beef is browned. Drain off any fat. May 17 - June 6, 2019

Stir in tomato paste and oregano and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes. Remove from heat. Pour meat sauce over the cauliflower and stir to combine. In a 9x13 baking dish, spread out half of cauliflower mixture. Top with half of the ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. Add the rest of the cauliflower mixture and top with remaining cheeses. Bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy!

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The Millennial Mind

The Pursuit of Life by Rosemary Dewar This week, the state of Alabama successfully passed a bill that demands the protection of human fetal development if a heartbeat is detected during gestation. Its passage is step one in testing the constitutional validity of the “right” to participate in elective abortions. Many lies are surrounding what the bill truly enforces, and many are using misleading verbiage to strike fear into an emotionally vulnerable public. The bill is signed, and it can be foreseen that it will be tested by the circuit courts, appealed, and will eventually be brought before the Supreme Court.

Here, the law will stand in absolute noncooperation with 1973’s Roe v. Wade. The probability of the Supreme Court’s historical position being overturned has just been raised. Doing so would do one simple thing: It would allow each state in the Union to choose for themselves whether to provide the elective procedure or not. The bill will criminalize doctors who illegally perform elective abortions: Section 6. (a) An abortion performed in violation of this act is a Class A felony. (b) An attempted abortion performed in violation of this act is a Class C felony. The bill will NOT criminalize a woman who has

had an elective abortion preformed on her: Section 5. No woman upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted to be performed shall be criminally or civilly liable. Furthermore, no physician

confirming the serious health risk to the child's mother shall be criminally or civilly liable for those actions. The bill gives medical exemptions for having a Dilation and Evacuation procedure, such as: “ECTOPIC PREGNANCY, LETHAL ANOMALY, MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SERIOUS HEALTH RISK TO THE UNBORN CHILD'S MOTHER.” The recent falsehoods asserted include the possible criminalization for women who have elective abortions. This is unequivocally false. Furthermore, it is also asserted that if a woman has a miscarriage, and she cannot prove she didn’t have an abortion she could be criminalized. Again, this is unequivocally false. The bill clearly and succinctly states that women will not be criminalized for having an abortion. This doesn’t keep women from seeking abortion procedures in neighboring or abortion practicing states.

www.JuicePlus.com Page 14

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Those that oppose the bill will claim religious fundamentalism, fascist rule,

toxic masculinity, anticonstitutionality, ethnic privilege, science denial, or hatred for women are the root inspirations for this law. They have overplayed their hand on this issue. The truth is that there are two competing definitions for human life. Due to the advancement of technology, the expansion of access to information, and the reversing of social trends, one definition of human life is being used to prevail over an outdated characterization of what was considered a form of human life. The necessary debate for the preservation of preborn human life is not a Republican verses Democrat one; it is a right versus wrong debate. If one cannot reaffirm their argument with empirical and coherent evidence, the assertion is unfounded. There is no need to conflate fear and persuasion. Something phenomenal has been won with this cultural change. Now, we have to be prepared to it defend it to its next stage of significance.

May 17 - June 6, 2019

Cover Story

The 2019 Learjetjohn Aviation Camp: Real Life Experience Not Found In Books by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

of Learjetjohn Aviation, and I have rarely seen adults more excited about the prospect of spending a week with teenagers! The school’s tagline is “Changing Attitudes with Altitude,” and I can’t think of a more powerful way to take the truth of that statement out for a spin than at an aviation summer camp. Both John and Judith are relative latecomers to flying, and to say that they are “hooked” is an understatement. John was a graduate of Athens Bible School, and worked at Steelcase for 23 years. He had always wanted to fly, had never been up in a plane, and one day walked on the field and took a lesson. He knew instantly this was what he would do for the rest of his life. He got all required licenses, and now flies a corporate plane and runs the flight

May 17 - June 6, 2019

Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Ed Yeilding school. Judith was a student at Calhoun when she decided to take a Discovery Flight. It was so awesome, she couldn't think of anything else. Later in the evening as she tried to complete a presentation on Steve Jobs, which was due the next morning for her literature class, her mind kept wandering back to that flight. With

only 8 hours left to finish the presentation, she stopped and wrote about the Discovery Flight instead. When she presented it the next morning, her professor could see that Judith had tapped into something she was passionate about, and she got a great grade. Neither John nor Judith expected life to take this kind of a turn. Through dedication and hard work, as well as the support of their respective spouses and families, Learjetjohn Aviation is beginning their fifth year in business. The flight school has grown to include four instructors, several students who have completed their training and gotten their pilot's licenses, and others who are working to get a license or add a rating to their current license. The 2019 Learjetjohn Aviation Camp will be June 3-8, from 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and lunch is included. Attendees will get two airplane flights at the controls under the guidance of a seasoned instructor! Five days of ground school will include: *Introduction to career opportunities. Aviation offers many opportunities in piloting, engineering and mechanics, airport operations, and aircraft manufacturing. *Ground school covers airplane engines, instruments

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and aerodynamics. *A Rockstar tour of the airport FBO, maintenance facility and hangars. Learn about communications, radio procedures, and avionics *Weather and aviation maps. Safety ground school. *2 airplane flights with ATC communication and avionics experience. Flight time will be recorded in your very own log book. On June 5 at 11:00 a.m., guest speaker, Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Ed Yeilding will add an extra element by talking about his distinguished career as an SR 71 Blackbird Pilot. He is a decorated veteran who set the coast-to-coast speed record in the world’s fastest flying airplane! All this for only $699! Seats are limited! To register or for info, call or message Judith 256-777-8625 Judith_learjetjohn@aol.com The following is a quote from the brochure, but I had the chance to talk at length with John and Judith, and hear their heart that resides in “the back story,” and I’ll share that in a moment. All you have to do is see how John’s face lights up when he talks about flying medical missions, especially to Haiti, and you’ll “get it.” “Learjetjohn Aviation’s Summer Camp is designed to encourage and inspire students to pursue careers in aviation, ranging from piloting to aviation management, engineering and mechanics. Each topic will be presented by instructors with over 100 years of combined firsthand experience. Students will have their questions answered by professionals in their prospective field. They will leave with the understanding of what aviation is really about, and be prepared to make an informed decision as to whether avia-

tion is the right fit for them. Should they decide to pursue a pilot’s license, Learjetjohn Aviation will help them achieve their goals.” John spent several years coaching kids in sports and loved it. He found that there was just something special about 13-16 year olds. Judith has a deeply soft spot as well, but the secret to their heart is found in “changing attitudes with altitudes,” which also serves as the school’s vision statement. Of course, they are wanting to groom the next generation of aviation professionals—nobody’s getting any younger, and everybody in every profession needs to have a vision to hand off the baton smoothly. But at its core, it is how their own lives were profoundly changed, the self-imposed limits that were annihilated, the teambuilding, and learning to follow instructions that can be lifeor-death in terms of the consequences, contrasted with learning to trust the plane, their instincts, and God -- that is what drives them. In short, it is the sheer love and respect for the air and the airplane. If that is something that you want your child or grandchild to have a chance to experience, then contact Learjetjohn today to complete your enrollment. There is room for 50 kids, and it’s filling up. I will close by saying, if I were 13, this is definitely what I would want to do on my summer vacation!

Learjetjohn Aviation 21106 Flight Line Road Pryor Field Airport Tanner, AL 256-777-8625 256-777-0544 Facebook: Learjetjohn Aviation judith_learjetjohn@ aol.com Page 15

Health and Fitness

Peanut Butter Addiction May Not Be So Bad After All by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist Most of us have a life memory of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a snack, school lunch, or even college survival on a budget. You may even now be prone to simply grabbing a spoonful of peanut butter right out of the jar as you try to keep up with a busy schedule and crave that yummy comfort food. What you may not realize is that while you are just trying to survive life and quench a craving, you are actually bettering your overall health. Eating peanut butter regularly can help lower your risk of developing some serious health disorders and increase your energy. Let me give you some awesome health facts to help support your peanut butter addiction. Now, by calories alone, peanut butter may not look like such a great choice, but the truth is it actually has the perfect combination of fiber and protein to keep you full, which cuts back on other less healthy snacking temptation. Fat content may be another concern as you reach for the peanut butter, but do not let that slow you down because the fat found here is actually good for you. This healthy fat, known as monounsaturated fat,

is proven to help fight off disease and help your body function at a higher level. Studies have even shown that those who eat fats like this on a regular basis tend to have less belly fat. An added bonus is that regular consumption of peanut butter can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes in the future. Peanut butter packs quite a few health benefits as you can already see, but one that you might not expect is magnesium. This mineral is essential to body function, helping over 300 processes in your body. This high amount of magnesium aids in overall detoxifying, energy production, building stronger bones and teeth, and maintaining a much healthier nervous system.

crash later. And more than avoiding the crash and quenching your hunger is that satisfying calm that comes over you after you “indulge” in this spoonful of goodness. This is not just from nostalgia. Turns out the high amount of beta-sitosterol, a natural chemical found in peanut butter, helps bring down cortisol levels and balance them against other hormones, which means peanut butter is actually helping you fight stress. Now you have more than enough to back up your peanut butter addiction to anyone, but I want to give you two more huge reasons

to keep it going strong. There are several studies that suggest eating peanut butter everyday increases your intelligence. The large amount of monounsaturated fats found in peanut butter help protect your brain health and function due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This prevents free radicals from damaging the brain so you can maintain and improve your smarts for years. Finally, and just maybe the best part, is that peanut butter is actually proven to help you stay thinner against your genetic make-

up. Peanut butter contains the compound genistein which acts directly against the genes that cause obesity. The next time you reach for that jar of peanut butter, you don’t have to have any guilt! You can rest easy and defend your addiction fully knowing you are really helping your overall health in multiple ways while enjoying every last bite. For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423-8050870.

That “guilty” spoonful of peanut butter you grab during your midday snack attack is really an excellent choice because peanut butter is a triple threat of greatness for your body. It’s packing fiber, protein, and healthy fat which gives you an extra energy boost without a crazy blood sugar spike, which would only result in a major

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

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May 17 - June 6, 2019

Cover Story

Nature’s Apothecary: A Great Premise And A Grand Opening by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

Alabama Aviation College, and little did he know that just one required Econ class would change the direction of his life. His professor was an “entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” and lit Derrick on fire with the possibility of being his own boss. While Derrick still did commercial aviation, he became involved in real estate, construction, flipped houses, and even purchased the bankrupt Moontown Airport in Huntsville at the tender age of 20. He then sold it for a profit at the age of 23, and when he sold Moontown, he had turned around a failing company by clinging to one thing: principles before profit. He lived at the airport, built a positive culture amongst the pilots and the staff, and told me that “people were glad to see someone who had a sincere commitment.” Derrick was successful in his other ventures, and was a “man with a plan.” He had met Karen when they were kids in Lawrence County, and while they dated other people, he made a point of calling her every two years to see if she was dating someone, and if she wasn’t, would she like to go out with him? “All I heard for years was no,” he said, and as I listened, I marveled at the idea of someone having such a tough hide that was so resistant to rejection.

May 17 - June 6, 2019

door to the Athens Publix. Derrick told me that the plan is to open more stores in the area, and what he does with each store to ensure success is find staff members that truly want to help people. Then he shows them how. The two most important things he teaches are, “Principles before profit,” and, “If you do the right thing, the rest will follow.” Derrick went on to tell me that he doesn’t think having a heart to help is something that can

and added, “So I tell my staff to close your mouth and open your ears.” In addition, he tells them, “Everything in this store can be bought cheaper somewhere else. ‘Sincere help’ is not just showing a customer where something is on a shelf, it’s cultivating a relationship that is based in genuinely wanting to help solve the customer’s problem. It’s an intimate business because it involves someone’s wellbeing.” That kind of cli-

be created, but rather it’s only something that a mentor can draw forth. He has codified Nature’s Apothecary’s mission statement and corporate culture tenets for his stores, and personally interviews each potential employee. “We have been given two ears and one mouth,” he said with a smile,

ent care is a good reason to go pay them a visit! Nature’s Apothecary is having a Grand Opening celebration on June 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a drawing for a gift basket, the first 30 people will get goodie bags, and the treats served will be both tasty and healthy. See you there!

Derrick Mitchell recently made Justin Prater the manager of the new Athens store. The right time came around once again to reach out to Karen, but he hadn’t seen her in years. When he saw her, he told himself, “I am going to have tall kids!” They were married not long after that, and besides getting married, Derrick’s life was going to change again. Karen was a biologist, and had become interested in eating healthy and taking supplements. By contrast, Derrick had lived off of junk food for years, and it was beginning to take its toll. At first, Derrick began to look into a healthy lifestyle because he wanted to be a supportive husband, but the more he read, the more things began to make sense, and his career changed once more. By the way, he is now a father of two, and his kids are on track to be taller than he, which with him is just fine.

When I met Derrick and Karen in 2007, they were in the process of purchasing Herb-n-Life in Madison. It became their first store with a new name, Nature’s Apothecary. Derrick picked the name because his studies had convinced him that for so many of our ailments, the answer was in nature itself. He also told me that he “was blown away that he could actually help people, and make a living at it!” Their next store was the old Foods for Life in Huntsville. That had been one of the original health food stores in Huntsville, and just like the Moontown Airport, they were able to turn it around. That was five years ago, and this past March they opened their new store, which is located right next

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Learning As A Lifestyle

The First Weeks Of Camps 2019 by Wanda Campbell Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 We are excited to offer Summer Camps again this year at the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning. Complete information is available on our website – www.athens.edu/CLL - or call us at 256-2338260 to register. This is just the first two weeks of camps. ARCHERY CAMP LEVEL 1: Start your summer with us learning everything you’ve ever wanted to know about archery! This camp will focus on form, shooting, aiming techniques, range safety, eye dominance, equipment maintenance, and how to set up a shooting range. Snacks will be provided each day. On Day 5, there will be an archery tournament for campers to compete among themselves, and lunch will be provided to the campers. Level I Camp is scheduled June 3–7, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Carter Gym on the Athens State Campus. The fee is $139/camper. ARCHERY CAMP LEVEL II: This camp is a continuation from Level I Archery. Campers will experience advanced emphasis in the

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areas of form, shooting, and aiming techniques. Snacks will be provided each day. On Day 5, there will be an archery tournament for campers to compete among themselves, and lunch will be provided to the campers. Prerequisite: Archer Camp – Level I. LEVEL II Camp is scheduled June 10-14, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Carter Gym on

challenges based off Dr. Seuss’ classic books. Build a tower for Yertle, have a Butter Battle, play with Oobleck, and much more! Great camp for kids who love to create and build. Camp scheduled June 3-6, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Fee is $119/ camper. Recommended ages: 8-12 years. SUPER CAMP:

SITTER Topics to be

covered by a panel of experts: safety, which includes weather and 911; behavioral challenges; basic first aid and choking; and age appropriate activities, toys, and snacks. Camp is scheduled June 10-14, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Fee is $59/camper. Recommended age: 1017 years. A second camp will be offered July 8-12, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Recommended ages: 1017 years. LET’S HAVE A FOOD FITE COOKING CAMP: Campers will learn how to properly store food, how to work with a variety of kitchen utensils, and how to prepare a delicious meal that feeds up to 4 people (which will be taken home with them each day)! Camp is scheduled June 10-13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria of Sandridge Hall, on the Athens State campus. Fee is $129/ camper. Recommended ages: 8-14 years. Check out the website for more sports camps, more science camps, baking camps, sign language camps, keyboarding camp, and so much more. Please join us this summer for more fun with friends and lifelong learning!

the Athens State Campus. The fee is $139/camper. Recommended ages: 9-13 years. DR. SEUSS STEM CAMP: One brick, two brick, red brick, blue brick! Come have fun with Dr. Seuss STEM. We will have different STEM

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May 17 - June 6, 2019

The View From The Bridge

Mental Wellness Is Critical To Our Being by Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters 1. Value You - Go to sleep, eat better, and laugh a lot. 2. Listen to your body. Visit your primary care physician regularly. 3. Know the people you hang around. Make sure they are good for you. 4. Learn which coping mechanisms work for you to reduce stress. 5. Change up your routine. Make room for change and embrace the options. 6. Medication, Drugs and Alcohol are not the right answers to your wellness. 7. Get off the grid by leaving your smart phone at home. Disconnect from the emails and other technology interrupters. 8. Relax and pamper yourself. Get your beauty rest…men and women. 9. Exercise. Doing so lifts one's mood by releasing endorphins that are critical to

May 17 - June 6, 2019

experiencing happiness and feeling less pain. 10. Seek out the help you need. Give yourself permission to find peace. Seeking help is a sign of strength — not a weakness. Are you thinking about seeking the help of a specialist? If certain issues have been causing problems in your life and you aren't sure how to make the necessary changes, therapy can help. With the help of a professional, you can get out of an unhealthy cognitive, emotional, and behavioral pattern. 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

Happy Mare’s Day by Deb Kitchenmaster Songwriter/musician, Mary Ann Kennedy, on her album, THE TRAIL LESS TRAVELED, wrote and sings a song “MARES”: Mares are different from the boys. They know it’s their job to take care of their family. So many responsibilities, oh, it’s not easy to be a mare. Mares see things as they are, never moving far from the herd that leans on them for their sensitivities. Oh, it’s not easy to be a mare. Mares keep you honest, make you strong. They let you know when you’re wrong, but they will forgive you. They teach humility. There’s not a heart that’s as big as a mare’s. Mares will give you all

they’ve got, and then they’ll give you more.

I’ll never get enough, of… mares.

E. Became second filly to win the Kentucky Derby when she took home the top prize in 1980. Only filly to finish in the money in each of the Triple Crown’s events. Finished her career 10-15, earning just shy of $650,000 in the process.

In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old. The word can also be used for other female equine animals, particularly mules and zebras, but a female donkey is usually called a "jenny." A broodmare is a mare used for breeding. A horse's female parent is known as its dam.

F. First horse ever to win two different Breeder’s Cup races, inarguably the greatest moment in Breeder’s Cup history. She came from last to first down the Santa Anita stretch to the roar of the crowd to win the race over Gio Ponti by one length. She was named one of the top ten female athletes of the year by Sports Illustrated. After a brief retirement, she returned to racing in 2010, running her streak to 19 consecutive wins

That’s just what they’re made of. They’re tender and they’re tough.

Mares carry their young (called foals) for approximately 11 months from conception to birth. Usually just one young is born; twins are rare. When a domesticated mare foals, she nurses the foal for at least four to

six months before it is weaned, though mares in the wild may allow a foal to nurse for up to a year. Let’s have some fun with trivia about female race horses. Put the letter of the facts next to the name of the horse described. 1. Rachel Alexandra ______ 2. Rags to Riches ______ 3. Winning Colors ______

4. Genuine Risk ______ 5. Lady’s Secret ______ 6. Zenyatta ______ A. Sired from racing great Secretariat. Finished her career 2545 before being named 1986 Horse of the Year. She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1992. B. Won the 2009 Preakness Stakes (the second leg of the Triple Crown). First filly to win the race in 85 years (the last filly to win had been Nellie Morse in 1924). She was named 2009 Horse of the Year. C. First filly in more than a century to win the Belmont stakes, which she did in 2007. Neck-to-neck battle with favorite Curlin. Suffered a hairline fracture at the Gazelle Stakes in 2007

Here are the trivia answers: 1. Rachel Alexandra (B) 2. Rags to Riches (C) 3. Winning Colors (D) 4. Genuine Risk (E) 5. Lady’s Secret (A) 6. Zenyatta (F)

How did you do? Here’s to all the beautiful mares that have left their hoof prints on the fabric of our souls and in our memories -whether in the context of reading about them, riding them, grooming them, or racing them. Thank you for keeping us honest, making us strong, telling us when we’re wrong, forgiving us, and teaching us humility. Thank you for giving and giving. Thank you for being tender and being tough. Thank you for being in my life.

D. Third filly to have won the Kentucky Derby. Finished her career Your NEIGHbor, with 13 victories which Deb Kitchenmaster contributed to more than Corral Connections $1,500,000 in earnings. Euthanized at the age of 256-426-7947 23 due to complications Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner from colic. horsinaround188@gmail.com

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May 17 - June 6, 2019

Mental Health Minute

Identifying Communication Styles by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that is has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw When I am searching for a topic to write about, I often look to what I have most often going on in my sessions. And recently, I have been counseling couples in the understanding of communication styles. In the psychotherapy world, there are many theoretical orientations that define our ability to communicate. One of my favorites looks at connecting to others

May 17 - June 6, 2019

in terms of four basic styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. I’d like to use my space today to share with you some information about the first three challenging forms of interactions. Passive communication is a pattern of avoiding expression of true feelings and opinions, and not meeting the communicator’s own needs. Passive individuals often allow grievances or annoyances to build, and then once they reach a high tolerance threshold, they explode in an outburst, usually inappropriate to the incident. And then after the outburst, they feel shame

and guilt. Passive communicators tend to fail to assert themselves, even allowing others to infringe on their rights. They have difficulty expressing their feelings, needs, and opinions, and tend to speak softly with poor eye contact and “pulled-in” body posture. A passive communicator may say, “I get stepped on by everyone,” or “People never consider my feelings.” Consequently, passive individuals feel anxious because life seems to be beyond their control, or they feel depressed because things look hopeless, or they feel resentful (often unaware of it) because their needs

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aren’t being met. You can see how the passive communicators are generally harming themselves. Aggressive communication is a pattern of expressing feelings and opinions in a way that violates the rights of others. This form of communication is verbally and sometimes even physically abusive. These folks often attempt to dominate others by humiliating, criticizing, blaming, and attacking others. They will speak in a loud, demanding, and overbearing voice to control others. These individuals will interrupt frequently, use “you” statements, and act impulsively. Aggressive communicators will say, “I’m right and you’re wrong,” (think Matilda!) or “You’re not worth anything.” Other statements include: “It’s all your fault.” “You owe me.” “I’m entitled.” Unfortunately, aggressive individuals tend to alienate others or become alienated because their purpose is to generate fear in others. They always blame their victims, instead of taking responsibility for their own issues. You can see how the aggressive communicators tend to harm others.

Passive - aggressive communication is a pattern where individuals appear passive on the surface, but are really acting out in subtle, indirect, or even sneaky ways. Those who develop this type of style often feel powerless or stuck… incapable of dealing directly with their object of resentment. See if you recognize some of these passive-aggressive techniques: muttering to themselves rather than confronting the issue, using sarcasm, using facial expressions that don’t match how they feel, appearing cooperative while purposely doing things to disrupt. Passive-aggressive communicators believe that they are powerless to deal with people head on, so they often use subtle sabotage to get even. Consequently, these individuals become alienated from those around them, or they present with resentment, while real issues are never addressed. You can see how passive-aggressive communicators harm both themselves and others. In my next article, I will share with you the ideal communication style, assertiveness.

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

Are You Dying From Food Poisoning? by Roy Williams

If you ask most people what the number one cause of death in America is, most will answer heart disease or cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is number one, causing over 614,000 deaths each year, and cancer is number two, causing over 591,000 deaths. Then comes respiratory disease, accidents, and stroke. The truth is that most Americans are dying from food poisoning, and I am not talking about salmonella or any other pathogens. What I’m talking about are the FDA approved foods Americans are consuming and what has been added to them. Of the seven leading causes of death in America, all of them, except for accidents, can be linked to the toxins we are exposed to. Even though the food, for the most part, is not full of bacteria, germs, or other pathogens, we are still dying from food poisoning. Over the last 60 years, America has been sold a bill of goods by the food industry, medical profes-

sion, and the drug cartel. The food industry has convinced us that our food must be a certain color, thus food dyes, and must have chemicals added to preserve it and cooked to extreme heat, which kills many of the nutrients. On top of that, they insist on using pesticides to kill the weeds and then insecticides to stop the bugs. Our foods are planted in soils that are depleted of the minerals that are necessary to maintain health and are used to balance pH, grow bone, and help remove poisons from our bodies. So, not only are our foods toxic, to some degree they are also incomplete and, therefore, cannot do what they were designed to do. When I am talking about food poisoning, I am talking about what has been added to our food supply that is toxic and over time will destroy our health. Most of these toxins are fat soluble, which means they are stored in fat cells. Even though they may not be deadly in the amounts

that are in a single serving, they will build up. Given time they can lead to cancer, heart disease, stroke, and even Alzheimer’s. Many minor disorders are also associated with these toxins, including weight gain, allergies, asthma, emphysema, circulatory disorders, and what is fast becoming an epidemic -auto-immune disorders. When you combine the preservatives with the pesticides, insecticides, and add to that the glutens and genetically modified foods, over time you are thrown out of balance. A body that is out of balance may result in sleep disorders, which makes it harder to heal. That may be the reason so many people are having difficulties with healing. Yes, it is getting harder and harder to eat highquality food. So, what are Americans to do? My first suggestion is to shop from the outskirts of the grocery where you

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find the live foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Remember that you are alive, so eating live food makes sense. Grow some of your own food! With that said, I do recommend that Americans start growing more of the food they eat. With the new indoor tower gardens, anyone can grow a substantial part of their food supply. It is so easy, fun, and clean; and it only takes a small space. You get to pick what you want to grow, and you know exactly what you are eating. Growing inside means you don’t have to use pesticides or insecticides. The water you use is pure, and because it is inside, you can control the amount of light, which guarantees optimal growth. If you have enough space outside, you may consider having a garden. You will be blown away with the amount of tomatoes, potatoes, beans, onions, peppers, and even let-

tuce and okra that can be produced on a small piece of property. Growing a lot of your own food is not only fascinating, it is soothing to the soul. It is so easy to get heirloom seeds, which means that you can avoid the genetically modified foods. Clear your body of toxins! Now that you understand that most Americans are actually dying of food poisons, shouldn’t you consider cleaning your body from the inside out? It really isn’t that hard. Just go by Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen and ask for the Healthy Detox Combo. Just follow the instructions every six-months and rest assured that you are doing your part to eliminate toxins that may already be causing problems. Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

May 17 - June 6, 2019

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC May 17 - June 6, 2019

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May 17 - June 6, 2019