May 04, 2017

May 5th - May 18th, 2017

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

Puttin’ On The Glitz, And Puttin’ Forth The Gratitude

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Coming Soon: Paws And Whiskers Boutique’s Grand...

Twelve years ago, Amy Glasgow started teaching school in the Huntsville Public School System. She started out in...

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Special Feature

April 29 marked yet another Gala sponsored by the Athens Limestone Hospital Foundation, and when I stopped by for the interview, I think it is safe to say that everyone at the Foundation was thrilled with how it went, understandably a bit tuckered out, and

Continued on page 15

Temple Of Blood To Kick Off Singing On The Square 2017...

“Bring your earplugs.

You’re gonna need ‘em,” said Garth Lovvorn with his trademark grin. Why?...

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Clean And Green WOW! It’s Been 40 FANTASTIC Years!...

In April 2017, Keep AthensLimestone Beautiful celebrated 40 years as a...

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

The 35th Annual Limestone County’s Sheriff’s Rodeo: Rated One Of The Top Five Outdoor Rodeos In America

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Limestone County is celebrating its 35th consecutive Sheriff’s Rodeo beginning the week Continued on pages 17

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

The Broken Window Theory

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Shelley Underhill D. A. Slinkard Wanda Campbell Paul Foreman Joel Allen Rosemary Dewar Teresa Todd Jerry Barksdale J. Patrick Boyett, DO

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . 9 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Shelley . . . . 13 Millennial Mind . . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . . 18 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23

May 5 - May 18, 2017

I am the unashamed and self-proclaimed Queen of the self-help book industry.

If you come to my house, you’ll find that typically I am reading about four books at once on any number of topics, but there is always one in the mix that has to do with getting better….at something. This is a good thing; it beats what my husband calls “lying around on the couch in your bathrobe, eating bon bons, and watching soaps.”

Unfortunately, it can also be the creator of clutter if left unchecked. I have such choice titles as Success For Dummies, Your Perfect Weight, Fifty And Fabulous (except now I am in my 60s), and of course, there is a whole section on beating clutter, including the Don Aslett classic, Clutter’s Last Stand. The problem is, that particular section in my personal library to which I am referring is, er, cluttered. Truth be told, I make great strides, and then I backslide.

However, today I learned something about my dilemma that just may prove to be of help, and it’s called the “broken window theory.”

I realize we can get fed up mighty quick with feeling like we are at the continual mercy of psychologists and social scientists who have garnered yet more grant money to study God knows what, and then apply their findings to humans. And, from where I perch, humans are fabulous, flawed,

they are redeemable if they are willing, and are created in the image and likeness of an amazing Creator.

The “broken window theory” was a concept that was first advanced from a field experiment that placed a seemingly ownerless, vulnerable, abandoned car in a not-so-great New York City neighborhood in order to see how quickly it would get stripped or vandalized.

The theory morphed into a much debated criminological premise and of course became politicized, then

has some definite weight.

I know that if I plop my purse, keys and other workrelated schmutz on the dining room table rather than put it away when I walk in

such a concept is annoying to many people of faith.

They think that He is only engaged in the big stuff, and you are on your own for the rest. I don’t have the

strength to debate that here at this Point, all I know is that I have been praying about my own inner and outer “broken windows,” and BOOM! I came across this stuff today right in the middle of putting the paper together.

rejected, and finally reembraced on a modified basis. In simpler terms, the idea is that if you have a window that has one pane broken out and don’t fix it right away, it won’t be long till that one broken place seems to attract more breakage, and before you know it, someone has taken out all the windows. The broken window theory is touted as one of the keys to urban decay as well as urban renewal, and I think it

the door, in a maddeningly short amount of time there are piles everywhere, and I get tempted to go put on my bathrobe and collapse onto the couch because it’s so overwhelming.

Then there’s the obligatory shame-and-blame-fest, and finally I get fed up enough to do something about it, although not as a very happy camper. However, I happen to believe that God cares about little things like this, and I am fully aware

Could it really be that simple, that the tiny things add up and compound at the speed of light? It makes sense, and Lord knows, I am ready for a change. The proof will be in the pudding, my dears, and by grace I am purposing to put the bowl used to make that symbolic pudding straight into the dishwasher from here on out, no excuses.

Join me?

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

athensnowal.com www.athensnowal.com

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All Things Soldier

The Military Matters, Especially In May

by Ali Elizabeth Turner The month of May has been designated as National Military Appreciation Month, and it is something that stretches through all 50 states. Many retail chains and vacation destinations give discounts to current or former military members all year long, and others wait to offer deep discounts during May only. With the expenditure of a little legwork and fact finding energy coupled with some planning, current and/or ex-military men and women as well as their spouses can reap some serious benefits in this last month of spring.

for it, but most will require official proof that you are/ were, in fact, in one of the branches. Sometimes this involves typing in a code for online purchases or giving it to a live agent on the phone.

Some establishments extend the discounts to the entire family, or to the couple, and

some only to the one person who served. Find that out before you trek across country with your entire tribe in tow and discover that the only one who is getting in at a discount is you, Mr. or Ms. Ex-Mil. Some discounts apply to cer-

tain branches only. You will find this more often in businesses that were themselves formed by former members of a particular branch. Don’t take offense; you will find from a list below that there are plenty of businesses who will welcome you during the month of May as well

be prepared to pay for your drink and other extras.

Double check to make sure that the local installation is, in fact, participating in the program. “At participating locations only” may apply, as well as other restrictions; so do your due diligence

Here are some basic ground rules, guidelines and caveats: You must be able and ready to prove that you have served. Equally important: if need be, you must be able to prove that you are currently serving, if those are the terms of the deal. Some outfits will take your word

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)

$7

May 15th

11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm

Musical Entertainment • 5-7pm 17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4

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as the rest of the year. Some hospitality chains and theme parks require that you use your discounted reservation before May 31, others will grant you the discount if you make your reservation during May, but for a date that is later in the year.

and avoid an awkward situation for you as well as the poor schlub behind the counter who is just following orders.

•Check the fine print before you hit the road, and call the participating organization to make sure the offer is available when you want to be there.

Here is a list of some of the businesses that have signed on to especially show their appreciation for you during the lovely month of May: Home Depot and Lowe’s, the Hilton and Homewood Suites, Red Roof Inn, Westgate Resorts, Disney, Blue Star Museums, the National Park Service, Valley Fair, the Bronx Zoo, and Penske truck rentals. There are more, and you will need to contact each organization separately.

•”Free” is not always completely free. For example, a free meal doesn’t always come with a beverage, so

For more information, you can go to www.nmam.org, and we thank you for your service!

Here are some more tips from Karen Jowers, who covers Morale, Welfare and Recreation-type issues for the Military Times:

May 5 - May 18, 2017

Special Feature

Coming Soon: Paws And Whiskers Boutique’s Grand Opening On May 13

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Twelve years ago, Amy Glasgow started teaching school in the Huntsville Public School System. She started out in UNA’s nursing program, and then realized that education was her true calling.

She graduated from Athens State University with a K-6 certification. She then got her Master’s degree in Special Education, and currently is teaching 2nd graders in a regular classroom at Lakewood Elementary. Amy loves to teach math because she has access to such great curriculum. She also greatly enjoys teaching reading because she likes the small-group work. She serves as a go-to resource person for other teachers who need ideas for their special education students, and I know first-hand from talking with Amy that her dedication to her profession runs deep. However, Amy has another “love,” and that’s animals, any kind. “I love everything from spiders and snakes to dogs, cats, and horses,” she told me. So keen is her passion to be with her animal friends that in addition to her responsibilities as a teacher, wife, and mom, she has a second career as a dog groomer.

Amy is the owner of Paws and Whiskers Boutique, and would like to invite all of you to her Grand Opening event on Saturday, May 13, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The boutique is located in the grey building on the east side of the family’s property, and is on the edge of the huge yard where dogs who are boarded get to play.

The address is 14899 Old Banford Street, in Athens just off Capshaw Road. From 1-3 p.m. there will be live music, hot dogs, water and photos with pets. All day will be raffles and door prizes for things such as a free grooming, free boarding, specialty gifts from in-store, and more. If you are not able to make it between 1 and 3, stop by anytime during 11 a.m.-7

May 5 - May 18, 2017

p.m. to tour the facilities and enter the contests.

Amy and her husband have undertaken an extensive remodeling project in preparation for the Grand Opening. The en-

HSV Elementary teacher and Paws & Wiskers Boutique owner, Amy Glasgow trance of boutique is the retail part, with numbers of must-have items such as leashes, feeding bowls, toys, clothes, and accessories. The back boasts two washing sinks, grooming platforms, cages, doggy doors for boarders to have free access to the back yard, and storage.

One of Amy’s skills is dealing with dogs that are, for lack of a better term, “complicated.” She had a dog that was nervous and described by the owners as a biter. Amy asked the owner to toss her the leash, sat down cross-legged in her driveway, and bit by bit drew the dog to her through the use of the leash. As she slowly and carefully got acquainted with the dog, the dog ended up sitting on her leg and licked her. The owners were amazed, and Amy and the dog are now friends. “I love all dogs if they don’t fight me,” she said. She also tells of a standard poodle that came into the shop with

his head down and unable to socialize or make eye contact.

After he was groomed, Amy said, “The change in him was remarkable. It was as though his confidence had been restored.”

“I not only want the owners to feel good, I want the dogs to feel good and be at their best,” Amy told me. I asked her why I should choose her as a groomer for a dog, and here’s what she said: “I will do for your dog what needs to be done to make them feel their best. I’ll also do it at a reasonable price.”

One of the things Amy offers

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to clients who have dogs with lighter colored coats is a blueberry facial wash. It helps reduce the appearance of tear stains. She also features natural dog products developed by a firm called Nu Vet. They are recommended by veterinariansand are made with human grade ingredients. They support immune function, and contain no fillers, artificial flavors, or binding agents. They fight free radical damage, which is a major source of illness both in pets as well as humans.

Nu Vet products have been known to help dogs suffering from dry skin, allergies, dry eyes, hair loss, hot spots, and more. Cats have benefitted as well, and both dogs and cats which had no energy have

gotten their “zip” back. Amy swears by this stuff.

Amy has a reputation as a boarder for going above and beyond, just as she does for her students. Recently Amy was paid a high compliment by her neighbor, and it was this: “I know when you are boarding dogs that they’ll be safe.

They’ll have playtime, be fed, watered, given attention, and not stuck in a cage. They’ll be well taken care of.”

Come on May 13 to see Paws and Whiskers Boutique for yourself and see what Amy has to offer you and your canine “kids.”

Paws and Whiskers Boutique

14899 Old Banford Street, Athens AL 35613 256-497-4314 or 256-497-3759 Page 5

Calendar of Events Chick-Fil-A Athens 10K, 5K & 1-Mile Race May 6th

Premier Women's Organization & Food Pantry First Saturday of Each Month

8:00AM in downtown Athens, AL and wind through historic Athens on USATF Certified courses to benefit Loads of Love.

Prayer • Elderly Assistance • Feed The Hungry Clothes • Scholarships • Empowering Women Volunteers Wanted & Needed Call for Details -256.233.5995 Meeting Time: First Saturday of Each Month at 1:30pm Food pantry open now. wewoa.org • E-Mail: wew5995@gmail.com

Limestone County Master Gardener Association Meeting May 8th

Limestone County Extension Office. At 12:30pm, we have social time with light refreshments. Our speaker is at 1pm with a meeting to follow at 1:30pm. Our speaker this month is Melanie Newton with Athens Mainstreet. She will be talking about the 2017 Garden Tour and the first day of Athens Saturday Farmers' Market. All are welcome.

Gardening Questions Answered Every Tuesday

Limestone County Master Gardeners Association (LCMGA) is available every Tuesday and the first Saturday of every month at Athens Limestone Public Library from 10 - 2 to answer gardening questions.

Cruise In and Crawfish Boil May 12th

Secure Women Standing On The WORD of GOD Ladies’ Conference May 6th

New Oakland Independent Baptist Church, 20959 Old Elkmont Road, Athens, AL. 9am - Noon. Special Speaker: Christine Young. Special Music: Carolyn Strong and Ladies at New Oakland Baptist Church. Ladies of all ages invited! Lunch will be served by the men of our church after the morning conference.

No Cost. RSVP: Contact: Dianna Raburn @ 256-233-4321 or Deborah Hargrove @ 256-497-6100.

Play Outside Day May 6th

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

Ladies Pampering Expo II May 6th

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 511 Post, 17915 West Elm Street, Athens. 10:00AM-2:00PM. Enjoy a festive atmosphere where YOU are the top priority! Learn to pamper yourself with new clothing, skin care, beauty idea's and accessories. Receive personal attention as you meet local companies that cater to health, cosmetics, nutrition, crafts and schedule a paint party with DeeDee Morgan. Free admission.

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Redstone Harley-Davidson, 15100 AL-20 or Exit 3-Greenbrier on I-565. 11:00AM-7:00PM. Bring your souped up classic car, bike or big boy toys out to show off and chow down on some amazing grub from Red Mountain Crawfish. Plus cool yourself down with some amazing cold beverages Redstone H-D will have on tap from Yellowhammer Brewing.

Relay for Life Event May 12th

Relay for Life of Limestone County comes together at the Athens Sportsplex from 6:00PM to Midnight to honor those lost to cancer, to celebrate those who have won the battle, to recognize those who have stood by those with cancer and to raise awareness.

The event is free to attend. Variety of team tents, goods and concessions will be for sale to continue the fundraising to end cancer through research by the American Cancer Society.

Pancake Breakfast May 22nd

Pancake Breakfast to benefit Girl Scout TROOP 1922. Tickets $5.00 and can be purchased at door on day of event. At Applebee's Bar & Grill, 1331 US Hwy 72 E, Athens, AL. 8am - 10:30am.

3rd Annual Catfish Literary Festival May 27th

10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Come meet local writers and celebrate the arts at Athens-Limestone County Public Library’s 3rd Annual Catfish Literary Festival. We’ll have 20+ local writers signing their books, author panels, and nature photography by local photographer Denise Grisham. The Little Kitchen food truck will be serving up gumbo, fried catfish, and more! This event if free and open to the public. If you’re an author interested in having a table at the festival, please contact Kris at 256-232-1233.

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

Special Feature

Temple Of Blood To Kick Off Singing On The Square 2017

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

“Bring your earplugs.

You’re gonna need ‘em,” said Garth Lovvorn with his trademark grin. Why? Because Temple of Blood, a heavy metal band whose members are Christians, husbands, fathers, and members of their respective church’s praise bands are going to be kicking off this year’s Singing on the Square series.

from the fact that there was a whole lot of blood.

He told me that years ago, when the band was first getting started, they would play around other metal bands whose lifestyles were those that would make mamas want to hide their children, and the fact

this is about country, and this is about America. If you know the words, sing it,” says Simmons as he and the band get the crowd of troops from all the branches on their feet singing “God Bless America.”

“We know this is not for everybody,” says Garth. “We

are just some middle-aged guys playing the music we love, and we are not trying to become rock stars.”

We laughed about movies that have been made about bands, and Garth said, “We are a combination of The Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World, and Airheads.” So I

On Friday, May 19, Temple of Blood and another metal band known as Contagon (pronounced “contagion”) will be performing on the Limestone County Courthouse Square from 6-8 pm. This year marks a bit of a departure from the norm, but Garth told me there is quite the “metal movement” amongst the youth of Athens, and he wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few hundred who show up.

Before you recoil in horror and fear that this means Athens has been invaded by rock stars whose music and lifestyles are not fit for human consumption, nothing could be further from the truth. Temple was founded in 2001 by Jim Mullis, and Garth has been with them off and on from the beginning. Garth came back full time around two years ago, plays bass and occasionally provides back-up vocals.

“Our songs are biblical,” said Garth, “And sometimes what is biblical is real and raw. Faith is critical to our message and the music we do, and the Bible is a great source for songs.” If you think about what used to happen at the temples of the Old Testament, you can’t escape

May 5 - May 18, 2017

that Temple was different opened up opportunities to get the Word out. “We have people who have come up to us after concerts, or have contacted us through Facebook, that have told us they were touched and encouraged by our music,” he said. Garth also told me that almost all of the famous metal bands have men of faith in them, and in addition, metal bands are famous for their support of the military. Anyone who has ever seen Gene Simmons and KISS do a musical tribute to the members of our armed services knows what I am talking about. “This is about God,

‘hair metal’ for fun,” said Garth. For those of you who have no idea what ‘hair metal’ is, Wikipedia defines it like this: “Glam metal (also known as hair metal and often used synonymously with pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal which features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, and borrows from the fashion of 1970s glam rock.”

A further explanation is from the actual use of the word “hair.” If you were around in the 80s or 90s, everyone had “big hair,” whether they were in a glam band or not, which then led to the term “hair metal.” Just take a look at a high school yearbook from that era, and you’ll see what I mean.

I don’t know if Garth is going to wear a wig, but I do know that he told me with confidence, “If you like 80s heavy metal, you’ll like us.” He also mentioned that they want to showcase Contagon’s music, as well as desiring to make contact with the metal kids who are working hard at El Opry, which is located on Hwy 127 just as you leave Athens proper heading toward Elkmont.

definitely have a niche, and not everyone will like us.”

We talked about the fact that music builds community and brings commerce to our city. “Back in the day our band traveled all over the Southeast, and we know that people drive hundreds of miles to hear bands,” said Garth. He added, “We

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asked, “You’re putting the band back together and are on a ‘mission from God?’” (This is probably the most famous line from Blues Brothers.) We laughed again.

“Ok,” I said, “Why should I come to hear you?” “It’s original stuff, and we enjoy what we do. We do

Temple of Blood hopes that if this type of music “resonates” with you, you’ll bring your family as well as your earplugs and join them on May 19 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Limestone County Courthouse Square. It is located at 200 W Washington Street, Athens, AL. The concert will be held rain or shine on the east side, which is Marion Street.

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

For The Love Of Cities, Part 7 Thriving Through Loving

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

We have known that as enlightening as it would be to keep exploring Peter Kageyama’s awardwinning book entitled For The Love Of Cities for the rest of the year, it was time to move on to new topics.

Mayor Ronnie expressed thanks once again to the staff of City Hall for giving him the book as a Christmas present this past December. This will be the conclusion of this series, and I would recommend the book to anyone who has a love for cities in general, and for Athens in specific.

The mayor waxed philosophical for a bit as we scheduled several meetings ahead due to an extraordinarily busy summer season for us both. He asked, “How do we grow, which we need to do, and at the same time get better as a city? How do we really love folks in a way that makes a difference? We are a society that is much threatened by a lack of love,” he concluded.

We had just come through a pretty stout storm the day before, and Ronnie’s granddaughter Molly, who is 14, and Quinton, who is 4 and calls him “Pop,” were over visiting their grandparents during the tornado

to believe that both high school and college graduations are just around the corner, and Mayor Ronnie has been asked to give the commencement speech at Athens State University this weekend.

Before then, though, the lively rivalry that happens each year at Celebrity Waiters’ Night at Applebee’s was waiting for yet another go around to be held on the night of May 2. All proceeds from tips

Jennifer "Miss Sam" Janzen getting tip money from her niece Sissy Sampieri

Ronnie, and City Councilman Frank Travis are fierce competitors. So is City of Athens Attorney Shane Black. We shall see who emerges as the winner.

The “waiters” are a good example of the last few words of For The Love Of Cities: “Remember, every place has people who love it.

Find them. Bring them together, ask them for

warning. He watched with the kids as a mama robin stretched her wings out and down over her nest in order to protect her newborn chicks. “That’s love.

It’s instinct, but it’s love,” Ronnie said. It was a good segue into Kageyama’s conclusion. Peter said, "When we are loved, we thrive. When cities are loved, they too thrive.

When we recognize we are in a relationship with our place, we start to treat it differently and we act accordingly. When cities give back to us, even in small ways, they make themselves more lovable. When we connect with our cities on an emotional level, we are more likely to do things, sometimes extraordinary

The hard working Applebee's crew are the real heroes of the Celebrity Waiters' Night things for our cities.”

We talked about what a great weekend it had been, and how the Mayor’s Youth Commission had helped at Earth Day. It was hard

collected by the celebrity waiters go to Relay for Life, and “Miss Sam” (the band teacher from East Limestone High, and last year’s winner), Mayor

their help. Find what is lovable about your place and make it better. Rediscover your city. Start small. Make a simple gesture. Then another. Then another. Make it easier to make your imprint. Open your hearts and make up new things. This is our work, and frontiers are all around us.”

So, as we always do, we prayed, and asked for true strength to “do our work,” and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

Slinkard On Success

Life Is A Decision

by D. A. Slinkard

D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store I want to say “Thank you” for the overwhelming support I have received from readers of these articles who have taken time to let me know my writings have been helping transform their lives. The journey we have had together has seen us focus on attitude, building a reading library, making an impact on the world, to even building self-discipline.

This past week, I reflected on these articles and it led me to realize every single article comes down to one word – decision. Every second, of every minute, of every day, we must make a decision. When to get up, when to go to bed, what to eat, what to wear, these and many more are all questions that bombard our brain on a daily basis.

I have to question how we function and do not get overloaded with the millions of questions that arise daily. This thought process led me to the belief that our lives, as they turn out, are not because of bad things happening to good people or what some people deem as lucky breaks. Not at all.

I believe our lives turn out according to the decisions we make. A simple decision to sleep a little longer leads to having to rush to get to work, to having to put the pedal to the metal. The culmination of these decisions leads to a friendly meet-and-greet with a local police officer who kindly obliges with a complimentary piece of paper which impacts your

May 5 - May 18, 2017

bank account.

The next decision we make is to put blame on anyone and everything to justify the outcome of our initial decision. In life it is much

easier to place blame on someone or something else than to realize the actual problem stems from the person staring back at us in the mirror. This may be a hard pill to swallow; we must be accountable for our actions and our decisions.

What separates a millionaire from a beggar? Believe it or not, decisions. Choosing to stay at a job you hate is a decision. Choosing to

stay in an abusive relationship is a decision. Choosing to live in the body you hate is a decision. Neither the millionaire nor the beggar can buy more time, but

both can choose how to spend it.

To make any kind of positive change in your life, you must think about the decisions you are making and how they are negatively impacting you and those around you. Experts say that humans are creatures of habit, both good and bad, but the reality is these habits we have formed are all from the decisions we

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have made.

When we think about the habits we have, they are all routines we have formulated in handling our lives.

From the moment we get

up to the moment we go to bed, most of us are living with decisions that have become habits over time.

If you want to make the most out of your life, if you want to change the direction your life is headed in, I urge you to give a second thought to the decisions you are making on a daily basis.

What decisions are you making today that you need to change in order to be successful tomorrow?

You must take the time to think about this question so you can begin living the life you were always destined to have. I suggest you look at your goals and form them as a question.

If your goal is to make $100,000 extra this year, pose this goal as a question. Take out a piece of paper and write down, “How am I going to make an extra $100,000 this year?” The idea of this exercise is to come up with 20 answers to this question. It could be reading a book or it could be calling more clients. Regardless of the answers you write, you must really dig deep to find the answer. By the time you get to the 20th question, you will find your answer. The answer is normally the easiest decision that we overlook because we live a life of habit. Go ahead; write out your goals in a question and make the decision to find your answer to living the life you’ve always wanted.

It doesn’t matter how young or old you are.

Once you start making better decisions, you will start to notice a better way of life. Ultimately though, the first decision you must make is to start…today.

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Tourism

Travelers Spent $129 Million In Limestone County Last Year

by Teresa Todd, TMP

President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Montgomery, Ala – “The tourism numbers have been released from the State Tourism Department for 2016,” said Teresa Todd, President of the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, and the numbers are great! With our Bicentennial Celebration starting this year (2017) and continuing through 2019, I foresee an even greater percentage of travelers coming to visit Limestone County and

many other Counties.”

Alabama

In our community travelers spent $129 million and were responsible for 1,569 jobs last year in Limestone County, according a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department. To break it down another way, that figure represents a 3.9% increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation.

Looking statewide, the tourism industry grew by 5.4% with more than 25 million visitors spending $13.4 billion last year, according to the report conducted by Auburn University Montgomery.

“The tourism numbers for 2016 bring great economic news for Alabama,” said State Tourism director Lee Sentell. “The dollars spent on tourism creates jobs, it grows local economies and generates needed tax revenues.

Travel spending in Alabama has doubled over the previous 14 years.”

Without the dollars collected by the tourism industry, each household in the state would end up paying $444 in additional taxes, according to the report developed by economist Dr. Keivan Deravi.

Todd gave the amount locally saved; without the dollars collected by the Tourism Industry each household in Limestone County would end up pay-

ing $341 in additional taxes.

The five counties in which tourists spent the most are: Baldwin County with $4.2 billion, Jefferson County with $1.9 billion, Madison County with $1.2 billion, Mobile County with $1.1 billion, and Montgomery County with $814 million.

The complete state tourism economic impact report will be available in early May.

May 2017 Tourism Events May 6th -- Coffee Call: Veterans of all wars and their families are invited for breakfast and fellowship from 8:00 a.m.9:30a.m. at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archive, 100 West Pryor Street in Athens. 256771-7578 May 6th -- Play Outside Day: Families everywhere are encouraged to get outside the first Saturday of every month and play in public parks, enjoy trails, hit the waterways, explore greenspaces and just play!

Limestone County offers over 20 trails to explore including walking, cy-

cling, horseback riding and kayaking – perfect for all ages. For more information: 256-232-5411 May 6th -- Paddle for a Cause: Fort Hampton Outfitters LLC, 28890 AL-127 in Elkmont, will host their annual fundraiser from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. They provide the kayak, paddle and flotation device. This year’s proceeds go to a local family who needs help with medical expenses. To schedule your Paddle for the Cause, contact Don Bowling: (256) 431-8988 May 6th -- Ladies Pampering Expo II: At the Viet-

nam Veterans of America Chapter 511 Post, 17915 West Elm Street in Athens, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Enjoy a festive atmosphere where YOU are the top priority! Learn to pamper yourself with new clothing, skin care, beauty ideas and accessories. Receive personal attention as you meet local companies that cater to health, cosmetics, nutrition, and crafts. Schedule a paint party with DeeDee Morgan. Free admission.

May 6th -- Chick-Fil-A Athens 10K, 5K & 1-Mile Race: Starts at 8:00 a.m. in downtown Athens and winds through historic

Athens on USATF Certified courses to benefit Loads of Love. Registration: 10k - $30 pre-registration, $35 race day; 5k - $25 pre-registration, $30 race day; 1 Mile Fun Run - $15 pre-registration, $20 race day -- More info at visitathensal.com May 6th -- Eli's Block Party: Cruise In and Paint Night with The Broken Brush, 107 South Marion Street in Athens, from 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. for a cruise in and paint night fundraiser. Sign up and send a picture of your car! The Broken Brush will pre-sketch your car on your canvas and then

teach you step-by-step how to make your car come to life! Refreshments provided! Open to ages 10 and up for a 3 hour class. Fee is $55.00 per painter.

May 6th -- Mom/Dad and Me Fairy Garden Workshop with 1818 Farms, 24889 Lauderdale Street in Mooresville: Our team at 1818 Farms developed this unique “make and take” fairy garden workshop using only the highest quality containers, plants and handmade painted fairy garden pieces.

Workshop includes stepby-step instructions on how to design, plant, and care for your magical garden. Children must be accompanied by an adult. One fairy garden project will be created by each pair. More info at visitathensal.com May 6th -- Spring Krusher Century Ride: The Alabama Backroads

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

Century Series arrives to tackle the roads of Limestone County for their Spring Krusher. Riders can choose from three different distances: 31, 64 and 100 mile options.

The ride starts at 8:00 a.m. at Elkmont High School. Info at visitathensal.com May 12 -- Relay for Life of Limestone County: At the Athens Sportsplex from 6:00 p.m. to midnight to honor those lost to cancer, to celebrate those who have won the battle, to recognize those who have stood by those with cancer and to raise awareness. The event is free to attend. Variety of team tents, concessions and goods will be for sale to continue the fundraising to end cancer through research by the American Cancer Society.

May 18 -- Tourism Day at the Ardmore Welcome Center at I-65: South-bound travelers are amazed at the hospitality shown here as they stop to take a break and stretch their legs. Everyone will enjoy the tourism activities, entertainment, free soft drinks, cake and loads of free

May 5 - May 18, 2017

items from hotels and restaurants. Stop by from 10 a.m-2 p.m.

May 18 -- Yesterdays Events presents “Elvis Remembered” for the senior matinee and lunch. Doors open 10:30 a.m. Program begins 11:00 a.m., showtime noon - 1 hour show.

Complete lunch $12, cash or check; show is free with paid lunch. Contact info@ yesterdaysevents.com May 19 -- Singing on the Square: Limestone County Courthouse, Marion Street in Athens, AL. Join the Athens-Limestone County Tourism and sponsor Jimmy Smith Buick GMC for a free concert starting at 6:00 p.m. with Contagan and Temple of Blood at 7 p.m. This is our first Heavy Metal band, playing tunes of the 80’s.

Be sure to bring your lawn chair and maybe some ear plugs. Rain location is the Vietnam Veterans Bldg, 17915 W Elm St, Athens.

Next month’s band will be Trippin Dixie on June 16.

8:00 - 10:30 a.m.

May 27 -- 3rd Annual Catfish Literary Festival: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Meet local writers and celebrate the arts at Athens - Limestone County Public Library. We’ll have 20+ local writers signing their books, author panels, and nature photography by local photographer Denise Grisham. The Little Kitchen food-truck will be serving gumbo, fried catfish, and more! This event is free and open to the public. If you’re an author interested in having a table at the festival, please contact Kris at 256-232-1233.

May 29 -- Memorial Day Program: At the Limestone County Event Center, 114 West Pryor Street Athens, AL. Join the Alabama Veterans Museum and area veterans’ organizations for a Memorial Day presentation. Open to the public.

May 22 -- Pancake Breakfast to benefit Girl Scout TROOP 1922: Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at door on day of event. Where: Applebee's Bar & Grill 1331 US HWY 72 E, Athens, AL,

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Clean and Green

WOW! It’s Been 40 FANTASTIC Years!

by Lynne Hart, Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful In April 2017, Keep AthensLimestone Beautiful celebrated 40 years as a Keep America Beautiful affiliate!

KALB celebrated that milestone with the public at our 9th annual Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO held at Friendship Church on April 29. It was a wonderful day!

If you would like to enjoy the many photos taken, please visit the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Facebook page.

2002, the name changed to reflect our affiliation with Keep America Beautiful.

Education is the key to changing attitudes, and we continue to reach thousands of students and adults with our message of environmental stewardship.

The following is a list of Executive Coordinators who have led this organization:

77-80 Barbara Anderson 81-82 Doris Cox 82-96 Joyce Counter 96-98 Kim Gentry 98-99 Lynn Randolph 99-Present Lynne Hart The coordinators before me have worked hard to change mindsets about litter and recycling. It is an honor to have

ganized the A-L Recycling Board to oversee the program.

Recycling continued to grow making it necessary to move the center to its current location on Lucas Ferry Road in 2004. The center currently processes about 2,000 tons of materials per year.

I tip my hat to Mrs. Joann Christopher who was in-

Our History

This board is also responsible for the triangle at Hwy. 72 and Clinton Street as well as the flowerpots and benches that adorn downtown Athens. At Christmas, this board places wreaths on the graves at the Old City Cemetery on Washington Street. Many early settlers to Athens are buried there.

KALB became an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in April of 1977. Our program was one of the very first to become a KAB affiliate. At that time, the organization was known as Athens-Limestone Clean Community. In

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1922 lead guests in the Pledge of Allegiance at the Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO. Sandee Krantz, far left, participates after having sung the National Anthem to help open the celebration. photo courtesy: Lacey Beth Black my name included. Although I am not an Alabama native, I consider this my home, and I take great pride in Athens and Limestone County. I know that each of us would agree we could accomplish nothing without the thousands of wonderful volunteers who take up our challenge.

Sparky is anxiously waiting to celebrate 40 years and his 40th birthday. photo courtesy: Lacey Beth Black

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tification Board was formed to manage beautification programs. Over the years, there have been many improvements to our city cemeteries.

One that stands out for me is Roselawn Cemetery. When I moved to Athens in 1999, the trees that line Hwy 31 and the landscaped entrances were not there. The Beautification Board acquired a grant to landscape the cemetery and continued to work on beautifying this and other city cemeteries throughout the years.

In 1977, a science club from Athens High School began a recycling fundraiser to raise money for out-of-town travel.

The program was a huge success and became too large for the students to manage. Eventually, the Athens-Limestone Clean Community Commission (now KALB) was asked to take over the effort. The Commission agreed and or-

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volved with KALB since its inception. When the Recycling Board was established, Joann took on the responsibility of board chair and kept that position for many years. The recycling program was her baby and she made sure it was a success and received community support. Thank you, Joann Christopher. We have all benefited from your hard work and dedication.

Everyone involved with Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful should be very proud of the accomplishments seen over the past 40 years. I am referring to anyone who has volunteered, stopped littering, started recycling, became conscious of water and air quality, or has made any improvement in attitude toward the environment. Earth is the only planet we have. It behooves us all to take care of our “home.”

Also in the early 1980’s, the AthensLimestone Beau-

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com

Become a Fan

May 5 - May 18, 2017

Cooking with Shelley

What’s In Your Salad?

by Shelley Underhill

If you enjoy fruit with your green salad and really like a variety of things in your bowl, then you will enjoy making this salad, and eating it too. The biggest of skeptics in my home had to cry “mercy” and admit that the concoction (that’s what one family member called it) was very good after all!

Hope you will give it a try and enjoy... send your questions to shelleysdesk@gmail.com.

What you will need: 1 bag of mixed greens 1/4 cup of crumbled Blue Cheese 1 cup strawberries - washed and sliced 1 can of drained mandarin oranges 1/2 cup of crushed walnuts

What you will do: Combine all together and toss well...

Dressing: Top with Raspberry Vinaigrette to taste

May 5 - May 18, 2017

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The Millennial Mind

The Battle For Life

by Rosemary Dewar The sanctity of life is the usual cornerstone argument for opposing elective abortion. Human life is a tender and sacred component of society. The Judeo-Christian worldview defends mankind up to the point of being willing to die in order to preserve it.

Once a life is criminally extinguished and thereby robbed of its value, that life ought to be vindicated. A failure to validate that life devalues both the perpetrator and the victim, which will cause a weakness in a society.

The defense of the death penalty is being diluted by the fact that it is not a pleasant subject. Ignoring it makes it worse. The idea of ending a human life “before its time” is being framed to be just as equally wrong for the perpetrator as well as the victim. That is far from biblical morality or that of conscience alone. To have the same amount of empathy for a murder victim as well as the murderer is a direct ethical contradiction. A just solution must be resolute.

Many in the religious community have a real problem with the death penalty. They believe that once one is killed and another one is to be killed, it is an unending circle of violence.

That would make sense if they misinterpreted or completely ignored what is asserted in the Judeo-Christian foun-

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dation. Within the Ten Commandments, the sixth commandment says “You shall not murder.” Most English versions poorly translate the Hebrew word for “murder” as “kill.” There is a massive difference. For those who go hunting, people don’t say they murder deer and turkey (Unless you’re PETA). That’s why there are three degrees of murder. Here we are discussing the worst of the three: premeditated murder.

The one law that is to a standard, as well as knowing when to hold an individual wholly responsible for their actions. Anyone living with unbearable, irreconcilable guilt is neither liberated nor happy. As odd at it seems it is more moral and humane for a violator to face justice.

cited in each of the first five books of the Bible is that murderers are to be put to death. Refusing to carry out the law is considered an additional violation against God and the community.

The astonishing reality is that under the U.S. Constitution the perpetrator holds the same inalienable rights as the victim.

As soon as justice is denied or delayed for the victim, the perpetrator is

elevated over the victim.

This only feeds into the delusion the perpetrator accepted in order to feel justified in violating the victim.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are provisions that government is responsible for preserving. The argument to abolish the death penalty would essentially nullify all three.

Human life can’t be preserved without holding it

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Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle simply stated, “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.”

Now, some assert that the perpetrator should be held in a lifetime of servitude instead of being sentenced to death.

Not only is the perpetrator living with their guilt, they are now being worked to death. Most would rather die than to be forced into labor against their will. That is treating someone as if

they are sub-human.

The mental health of the perpetrators and miscarriage of justice aside–because those are rare occurrences among felony cases– the death penalty is not only moral, but a defensive measure. A community that does not defend the sacredness of innocent life leaves the community vulnerable to cruelty.

In order to protect the human-value of the victim and the murderer, the perpetrator must die. They are both human, and they are to be treated as such. It is impossible to argue biblical ethics in opposition to the death penalty. A community or society that elevates wrongdoing over innocence ignores basic human decency. Don’t deny humanity to either party.

May 5 - May 18, 2017

Cover Story

Puttin’ On The Glitz, And Puttin’ Forth The Gratitude

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

deeply grateful for all of the support from many sectors of the community to make Puttin’ On The Glitz a roaring success. There were about 300 people in attendance, medical professionals, as well as other businesses and private citizens who understand the value of the Foundation’s mission.

The fund-raising focus for this year’s Gala was to purchase what was described as “the most recent, advanced equipment for the AthensLimestone Hospital Outpatient Surgery Department.”

Hospital President David Pryor said the project will be a “medical office building, include a surgery department with six operating rooms, imaging and laboratory services, and physician office space spread across 75,000 square feet. Construction is expected to take about 1.5 years to complete. The project is considered an expansion of the Athens-Limestone Hospital surgery department.”

This was Leah Beth McNutt’s first year to chair the event, and she told me her story about the evening from the perspective of working the event as well as simply enjoying herself. “People LOVED having the Red Carpet photo shoot, and they were smilin’ big and feelin’ famous for a minute.” She mentioned that the backdrop for the photo op was designed well, and showcased the logos of the sponsors, which pleased them. The ticket price also included a photo booth so attendees could capture the evening just like an A-lister, and it was one of the more popular features of the event.

The Gala Committee mem-

May 5 - May 18, 2017

bers helped with centerpieces, which were created by Dugger’s Florist, the black and white Hollywood style linens, the tea lights, and the logistics of getting the auction items placed so the room would

tickets and sponsor donations, the Gala grossed over 73,000 dollars.

They have not finished tallying up the final results of the evening, but the Foundation did not

#ALFHGala2017, and there were selfies galore invading cyber-space from the Rocket City. You can check them out on any of those platforms.

At the Gala it was announced, “Because of generous donors like you, our 2016 event fundraisers provided AthensLimestone Hospital with advanced technology and helped further our women’s health programs. Our three events grossed a total of $131,040. Thank you. Thank you Thank you!” look stunning. “I could go on all night about the auction items,” she said. “Jewelry, bags, trips, and more. It was amazing. And, Gracie found a home.” Gracie is a shelter dog who had been rescued and placed in a loving home, and her adoptive owner needed to find a new home for her. Mission accomplished, and everyone benefitted. A special thank you to Limestone Veterinary Clinic and Invisible Fence of Huntsville for making Gracie’s transition to her new home a great success!

Some of the “hot items” of the evening were the trip to Ireland, as well as the trip to Napa Valley, California. Osborne’s Jewelers had a game that involved each guest having a puzzle piece to a large puzzle. The person with the missing piece won either a bracelet or a watch.

Prior to the auction, just from

want to wait to express their gratitude for all that made the evening a success.

Leah said the food was “gorgeous and delicious. The guests had their choice of Beef Wellington, snapper or chicken, and the desserts were a sampler plate.”

Other things that Leah Beth enjoyed were the Erik Blue Band, a cover band from Nashville which provided what she described as “soft music during dinner and more lively music after dinner.” Leah Beth enjoyed the fact that the people attending felt comfortable either getting really dressed up, “puttin’ on the Glitz, if you will,” or dressed a bit more casually. “I enjoyed watching everyone else enjoy the evening. Some people were there for ‘date night.’ Some were there representing their corpora-

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tion, and everyone had fun.

Radio personality Abby Kay from 96.5 FM was the emcee for the evening, and she was a GREAT emcee,” said Leah Beth.

Of course in this digital social media age there was coverage on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The “hashtag handle” for the evening was

Leah Beth finished our interview with a happy sigh and the following comment: “It was, I guess the best word is ‘heartwarming’ to see people being so generous and supporting our mission,” and she along with the rest of the Foundation members want everyone to know that they are glad to be “puttin’ forth the gratitude.”

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Health and Fitness

Weight Loss Maintenance

by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.

Maintaining weight loss long-term is difficult. Research shows that most dieters regain their lost weight within five years and up to two-thirds gaining more weight than they lost.

But researchers have also learned some of the traits and strategies that help increase a person’s chance of maintaining their weight lost. The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) has tracked more than 10,000 people over the last 23 years who have successfully maintained their weight lost. Here are some suggestions for maintaining your weight loss: Focus on lifestyle changes and not a diet. These habits/changes must be adaptable to your situation and needs and sustainable for long term.

Move it!

The NWCR

reports that 90% of successful losers exercise an average of one hour a day. This may seem discouraging, but activity does not need to be strenuous or extreme.

The most common exercise reported to the NWCR is walking.

Resistance training helps to preserve and build muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn throughout the day, even while resting. Focus on working all the major muscle groups two or three days per week. If you are unsure or need help in finding a program best for you, contact a certified personal trainer that can set up a simple program for you.

Keep a food and activity diary to help raise your awareness. You might want to include the fol-

Plan for barriers that may obstruct your activity schedule or your new eating habits such as stress, vacation, financial issues, etc. If you do have a “setback,” use it as a learning experience rather than calling it a failure.

Always remember why you worked so hard to lose weight because it is easy to fall back into old habits.

Go ahead and write down your reason and look at it every day as a constant reminder to stick with your new healthy behaviors! lowing in this diary: •What you ate and how much (calories, points, or carbs, etc.)

•Where you were and what you were thinking and feeling before you ate •How much time it took you to eat

becomes challenging.

Maintain a circle of friends and family that are supportive, enjoy healthy eating and exercise. Work with a certified health coach to overcome obstacles when they come up.

For more information about weight loss and maintaining that weight loss, call Janet Hunt at 256-614-3530 or jhunt9155@gmail.com

•What you were doing while you ate (watching TV, playing computer games) •How you were feeling and level of fullness after you ate •When you exercised and type of exercise •Time of day you exercised and length of time •How you felt before and after exercising •Sleep patterns after exercising in the day Self-monitoring can help when maintaining your healthy behaviors

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May 5 - May 18, 2017

Cover Story

The 35th Annual Limestone County’s Sheriff’s Rodeo: Rated One Of The Top Five Outdoor Rodeos In America by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

of May 13 and ending May 20, and everyone involved is sure that this year’s is going to be bigger and better than ever! As always it will be held at the arena which is located on Hwy 99 in West Athens.

The rodeo has grown to be an impressive, multi-award winning event from its humble beginnings 35 years ago, and helps the economy, promotes tourism, supports the special needs community, provides equipment such as squad cars for the Sheriff’s Department, and brings our town and county together for what has been called “impressive entertainment.” It has other affectionate nicknames as well, such as “The Greatest Show On Dirt,” and Deputy Sheriff Paul Cain says it is “the last bastion of true family entertainment.”

From the perspective of serious rodeo industry standards, our rodeo is one of the top 5 International Pro-Rodeo Association outdoor rodeos in the entire nation, and this year Paul says we’ll have “the biggest program in 20 years.”

He went on to say how much he appreciates the support of the local business community and that of local government.

“Just this morning Mayor Marks and Commissioner Yarborough were here to sign a joint resolution declaring ‘Rodeo Week,’ and we could not do it without everyone getting involved,” said Paul.

He added that we have over 624 businesses supporting the rodeo through ads; there are 30 skyboxes and 26 sponsors contributing to the prize money.

One of the goals for this year’s event is to get two new squad cars, as well as to continue making improvements and renovations on an arena that has literally withstood some fierce storms.

The renovations include installing aluminum bleachers,

May 5 - May 18, 2017

MacKenzie Brooke Harrold Miss Limestone Sheriff's Rodeo 2016

which handle the weather well, along with installing handicapped access and seating.

“We are entirely dependent upon the weather,” said Paul.

We all know from years gone by that at times the rodeo has been rained out. Even with the weather occasionally throwing a crank in the works, the show does go on, and Paul says, “We just about have this down to a science.” He then proceeded to explain some of the logistics involved in getting the riders slotted, the Rodeo Queen Pageant, the Slack Rodeo and the Special Needs Rodeo organized, as well as the dance and parade in place.

I learned something about

“Slack” that I found interesting and pass on to you. I had been under the misunderstanding that people who competed in the Slack Rodeo were kind of like a junior varsity version of a sports team, and this was their chance to gain experience before they “hit the big time.”

Not true. There is a complicated process of working around the schedules and registration sequences of the professional riders, and sometimes a champion rider needs to ride Slack on Thursday night so he can get to other events held on a Friday or Saturday. This means

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that if you cannot come to the Rodeo on Friday or Saturday night, you’ll still see just as good of a show. Paul describes it as a “full blown rodeo without the frills.”

The Sheriff’s Rodeo is not only nationally known for its caliber of riding and roping competitions, it has produced several national Miss Rodeo USA winners. “I want people to know that Debbie Blakely works just as hard on the Pageant as Sheriff Mike does on the rodeo,” said Paul. This year’s Rodeo Queen is MacKenzie Harrold, who hails from Ohio. “She is one of the best ambassadors we have ever had,” said Paul, and the people of Athens-Limestone County have welcomed her with open arms. She had a situation where she was in a tough Miss Rodeo USA competition in Oklahoma City, and her parents regretfully could not be there with her. Much to MacKenzie’s relief and delight, she looked up and saw a whole passel of folks from Limestone County sitting in a row, just there to support her. In this Pageant, MacKenzie won First Runner-Up, as well as the Photogenic and Speech awards. She narrowly lost the Miss Rodeo USA title to Brittany Howard from Kentucky, also one of our Limestone Rodeo contestants, and who will be joining MacKenzie for this year’s Rodeo. MacKenzie says she’ll never forget our kindness toward her, and is planning on returning here for the Rodeo long after her reign ends in a few weeks.

One of the most important parts of the event is the Special Needs Rodeo. “This year we are going to have 500 kids participating,” Paul said. It’s another part of the Rodeo that just would not happen without community support. He went on to tell me that “the Athens Gas Department grills all the hot dogs. The Fire Department shows up, puts on displays,

and the kids can climb on the trucks and see them. The Lions Club brings the little train and gives free rides, and we rent a second train as well.” Of course, there is also the parade that does not charge a fee to enter, the free pony rides, the dance, and the Slack event that serves as a reward program for winners of the reading contest. Paul finished our time by saying, “If you’ve never been, you need to come. You’ll never miss another one.”

For the first time, tickets to the rodeo will be able to be purchased online at

w w w. l i m e s t o n e s h e r i ff rodeo.com, and full information on prices and schedules can be found there.

RODEO EVENTS

Saturday, May 13 11AM 35th Annual Rodeo Parade Monday, May 15 Preston’s Rodeo Kickoff 5PM Preston’s Western & Outdoor Wear. Kid’s Day, Horseback Rides. All Free Fun Tuesday, May 16 Street Dance & Fashion Show 6PM Limestone County Courthouse Square. Live Band, Line Dancing, Western Fashion Show. Music provided by the “JEFF WHITLOW COUNTRY” band.

Thursday, May 18 Slack - 9AM Friday, May 19 Special Needs Rodeo 10AM – 1PM Rodeo for individuals with special needs Fri, May 19 & Sat, May 20 Main Performances 7PM Kids Gold Rush 8PM Opening Ceremonies Bareback Bronc Riding Calf Roping Break-Away Roping Steer Wrestling Saddle Bronc Riding Kids Calf Scramble Cowgirl’s Barrel Racing Chuck Wagon Races Bull Riding Professional Rodeo Clowns

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Summer Concert

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 Athens State’s Center for Lifelong Learning is pleased to announce that tickets are on sale now for “The Story Behind The Song: Songwriters Showcase,” which will be presented on Friday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Alabama Center for the Arts, 122 Second Avenue, Decatur, Alabama.

Tickets are $15 each.

The Songwriters Show-

Holmes, and Narmore have each received numerous awards and accolades, including ACM Song of the Year (Phillip White), Songs from Grammy-Award Winning Country Album of the Year (Monty Holmes), and Most Played Country Song on the Radio (Mark Narmore).

Phillip White is an Alabama native who has

Country Music’s Song of the Year. White has been recognized in the TV and Film industry as well, writing “I’m A Survivor,” the theme song for Reba McEntire’s selftitled hit TV show. His work is also featured on the soundtrack for the film Act of Valor.

Monty Holmes’ love of traditional country music was instilled in him as a child growing up in Lubbock, Texas. Monty

Monty co-wrote Lee Ann Womack’s debut single, “Never Again, Again,” as well as “What I Do the Best” for John Michael Montgomery.

Mark Narmore hails from the music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He has had over 80 major recordings to his credit including the likes of Josh Turner, John

2000's decade, "That's What I Love About Sunday." Mark has a bronze star in the lobby of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in the Shoals for his achievements.

This is the second Songwriters Showcase offered by Athens State’s Center for Lifelong Learning, and we are

Monty Holmes Phillip White case features Nashville songwriters Phillip White, Monty Holmes, and Mark Narmore performing an array of award-winning songs that they have written for Country Music’s Top Recording Artists. Each songwriter will also talk about what was happening in their lives that inspired the song to “come to life” and how they worked with the singers and recording artists to tell the story. White,

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spent the last 20+ years writing songs for some of the biggest artists in the business.

George Strait, Luke Bryan, Chris Ledoux, Vince Gill, Bonnie Tyler, Scotty McCreery, Darius Rucker, Wynonna, Reba, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, and Neal McCoy are some of the artists who have recorded Phillip’s work. Rascal Flatts recorded White’s “I’m Movin’ On,” which won the Academy of

has penned several hit songs for George Strait, including the chart toppers “I Know She Still Loves Me,” “When Did You Stop Loving Me,” and from the 2009 Grammy award winning Country Album of the Year, “Troubadour” and “House of Cash.” In 2009, “Troubadour” was honored with the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International’s “One of the 10 Songs I Wish I Had Written” award, which is voted on by fellow songwriters.

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Mark Narmore

Michael Montgomery, Terri Clark, Craig Morgan, Shenandoah, Blackhawk, Brandy Clark, Sylvia, Tracy Lawrence and Michelle Wright. Mark's first country hit was "The Moon over Georgia," recorded by Shenandoah, followed by Blackhawk's "Like There Ain't No Yesterday." In 2005, Mark co-wrote the most played country song on the radio that year and also Billboard's #8 song for the

so pleased to bring this summer concert once again to North Alabama. To purchase tickets, please visit our website at www.athens. edu/CLL. Then click on “Current Courses,” and find the Songwriters Showcase on June 23 in the Events Calendar.

Tickets are also available by calling 256-2338260 or by stopping by the Center for Lifelong Learning at 121 South Marion Street in Athens.

May 5 - May 18, 2017

Jerry’s Journal

Julia - Christmas Queen of Athens

by Jerry Barksdale

Motorists speeding down I-65 and seeing the “Welcome to Athens” sign pay it no attention. Just another wide place in the road. If they knew what happened here they would slam on their brakes, tour the town, and take selfies where world history was made.

I’m not talking about visiting Founders Hall where the first all-female college in America – maybe the world – was established in 1821; nor the Courthouse Square where General John Turchin’s Yankee soldiers sacked and pillaged the town in 1862; nor the former site of an opera house, law school and Niphonia Fairground, the latter said to be the “most costly and commodious in the South” before the Yankees burned it; nor Fort Henderson where 900 Yankee troops were tricked into surrendering to the “Wizard of the Saddle,” General Nathan Bedford Forrest. And I’m not referring to touring the historical homes of two former Alabama Governors and two U.S. Senators.

Nor, the gravesite of former Alabama Chief Justice Thomas N. McClellan, whose successor, after a long train trip from Montgomery to attend his funeral, allegedly became slightly inebriated and, while delivering the eulogy, fell into the grave. Certainly I’m not suggesting they drive and photograph a portion of North Marion, the shortest one way street in America.

And no, I’m not talking about taking selfies in front of 407 E. Washington Street where a local author, while under the influence of pork ‘n beans, floating in Louisiana hot sauce and cheap wine penned Cornbread Chronicles. None of that.

There is a French term that describes Athens – Savoir faire.

It means polished, cultured,

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refined. We are, to paraphrase former Gov. George Wallace, just as cultured as any foureyed, briefcase toting, Harvard professor who can’t park his bicycle straight. More so, I’d say.

Our greatest cultural achievement occurred in 1987 when Julia, a pig, was crowned Christmas Queen of Athens.

And for two years in a row!

Why? Well, Julia was a beautiful pig. Like Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, she had magnolia white skin – “that skin so prized by Southern

fb.com/jerry.barksdale.7 wandering the streets near Pilgrims Poultry plant, rooting for acorns, when Athens Vet, Dr. Bruce Young gave her a luxurious home in the servant quarters behind his grandparent’s stately old mansion at 310 North Jefferson Street. He named her Julia, after a pretty young lady he knew.

In 1987, I was honored to meet Julia after Dr. Young placed his grandparent’s mansion on the market. I was interested in purchasing it for use as a combination residence and law office.

While inspecting the outside, I

The attached picture of Julia is a 'Live Portrait.' You can even scan it on you computer monitor and see the attached video.

women,” beady black eyes, perky ears, a lovely snout and a good looking tail, a curly one that resembled an Arby’s French fry.

Only cultured and refined Southerners elect a hog Christmas Queen. While others talked about diversity and inclusion Athenians were bringing it about.

And how did a lowly porker who spent her youth rooting for acorns and wallowing in mud holes rise from obscurity to become Athens Christmas Queen? In America anything can happen. In Athens it probably will. She was homeless,

opened the door of the servant quarters. “OINK – OINK!” A large Chestershire hog lunged at me. I slammed the door and ran. It was Julia. I was so rattled I forgot to ask for her autograph. Her fame spread across the globe. Athens resident Kay McFarlen was living in Madrid, Spain the winter of 1988 and well remembers the Christmas parade. She was entertaining Spanish friends in her home, playing cards and watching tv when CNN International flashed the news that Julia was Christmas Queen.

Julia was riding in the Grand

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Marshall’s convertible as it slowly made its way through throngs of cheering Athenians, Dr. Young seated at her side.

Julia oinked her approval.

Kaye’s Spanish friends were impressed. “Say, isn’t that your home town?” Kaye puffed out her chest, burning with Southern pride. “Why, yes, it is.”

When Julia became pregnant, it was announced to Athenians on a large billboard. Associated Press and CNN International flashed the happy news around the world. And for a moment the world forgot about

copyright Roger Bedingfield, used by permission.

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war and was happy. Athens was famous. Our Citizens were proud.

But no-good lurked in the shadows. City Officials grew jealous and fearful she might run for office – even Mayor. And be elected! They conspired against her. They said it was a violation of ordinance for a pig to live in the city, even though pet dogs, rabbits, cats, ducks, birds, turtles, snakes, guinea pigs and lizards lived in town.

Blatant discrimination! Where was the ACLU? The people rose up and wore t-shirts proclaiming “LET JULIA STAY.”

Democracy in action. Our Founding Fathers would have been proud.

News of Julia’s success and Dr. Young’s good works reached Supreme Headquarters in hell. Ol’ Satan connived to destroy them. Some folks believe that Ol’ Satan always tempts men with booze, wacky-backy, dancing, rock ‘n roll and good looking women wearing tight skirts and high heels. Send a man good whiskey and a goodlooking woman and he’ll snare ‘im every time, it’s said.

That use to be true. But Ol’ Satan has grown more subtle.

His weapon against Dr. Young was a color copier. How subtle is that? “Hmmm, I wonder if it will copy a twenty-dollar bill?” Dr. Young asked himself. It did. Ol’ Satan egged him on. Dr. Young copied more – a whole stack, in fact.

Some folks said if he hadn’t started putting Julia’s face on twenties he wouldn’t have been caught. Dr. Young went to prison – all because he wanted to honor Julia. A real Southern Gentleman.

Julia was our most famous and beloved personality for a time. Her five minutes of fame extended over two years and brought smiles to many faces and worldwide attention to our town.

Our Athens motto is “Classic.

Southern. Character.” Julia embodied all three. The fate of Julia and her piglets is unknown. I’m sure she is wallowing in a celestial mud hole in hog heaven. Julia’s portrait, shot by Athens Ace Photographer, Roger Bedingfield, wearing her Christmas Queen Crown and enjoying “Swine dining” and eating her favorite food – corn on the cob - in her favorite restaurant, can be seen at Luvici’s Restaurant on Jefferson Street. Go by, eat a delicious meal, and take a selfie with Julia.

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Dog Barker

What’s In A Name?

by Joel Allen In Genesis, of the Bible, God allows Adam to name the creatures of the Earth. Even the name Eve was chosen for his wife by Adam with the meaning of “mother of all living.”

We witness names being given throughout the Bible, because they each mean something about the one named.

Eve’s name showed who she was. So, why preach about it you ask?

sion of a hug.

We also have a Brock.

He is built like a bull and tiger striped. He is larger than some Danes and looks very intimidating when you first meet him.

Lastly, but not the last of our “brood,” there is Ollie. Ollie is a large Dane who is considered to be a Silver Merle. His blue/ silver eyes betray nothing as to what he might be up to. Every time I look at him I think I see the expression, “I’m not doing anything.”

Who has a Canine Family Member named Chloe? Is your Chloe loving, mischievous, and destructive, (i.e. socks, underwear, furniture, beds, and much more). Our Chloe was the same.

How about Samson?

Our Samson is the epitome of Love Out Loud (LOL). He is proud, barks when excited and doesn’t like to be ignored. When you catch him doing something wrong, he always cocks his head sideways and gives you a look like, “The cat did it!”

What about the name Zues? Our Zues is a take charge, no one else comes first, likes-totalk-when-I-am-watching-a-show type of guy.

He acts like a snob to people by letting them think he will let them pet him, and then he pulls the “PSYCH” move and walks off.

He is like this when he is not working.

We have a Matilda.

So far our Matilda has

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These are names of some of our Canine Family Members. Their names seem to fit them perfectly.

Now, look at yours. Do they act anything like their name? Some of us name our dogs by their actions. There is nothing wrong with this. I just warn you all to be careful what you name your dogs. It could come back and “bite” you, literally. Just being superstitious and humorous…

“Remember to love your dogs because they love you. Maybe not the way you want them to, like chewing up your favorite shoes or what not, but that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the time you have with them always.”

Joel Allen 256-651-2211

seemed obsessed with Uncle Herman and me.

She whines and dances for my attention. At dinner time she will stand outside the kitchen window looking in with her half blue right eye and the rest brown and cock her head sideways whining and talking. Her eyes make her look crazy and I have nicknamed her my “Stalker”.

Then there is Maggie. She is sweet, kind, loving, and quite pushy with her affections of sopping wet kisses and a dog’s ver-

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Medical Update

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

by J. Patrick Boyett, DO - OrthoSports Athens, LLC Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder that affects the quality-of-life of a large portion of the population.

Many patients suffer with carpal tunnel without realizing what their diagnosis really is, and what the treatment options are. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been associated with overuse type jobs. With the onset of the computer revolution, the keyboard has been a common source of blame for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel include numbness and tingling in the hand.

Specifically, the numbness and tingling involves the index finger, the long finger, the ring finger, and part of the thumb. This numbness, tingling, and burning are often associated with an aching pain that radiates into the forearm and occasionally even shoulder pain. The patients often complain that the symptoms awaken them from sleep at night. Many times they describe the sensation, when they awaken from sleep, with symptoms such as they need to shake their hand to make it “wake up.� If left untreated, carpal tunnel can progress to grip loss and atrophy of the hand muscles. When carpal tunnel symptoms begin, they are usually intermittent, but when left untreated they are typically progressive.

The underlying cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of a nerve within the wrist called the Median Nerve. This nerve has 2 functions in the hand.

First, it provides sensation to the index, long, and ring finger and portions of the thumb, thus resulting in the symptoms described

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above. Further, there is one branch of the Median Nerve that causes the muscles of the palm and thumb to function, and when affected it results in weakness in the hand and grip loss.

The anatomy of the carpal tunnel involves 9 tendons and a single nerve that traverse through a tunnel that has been named as the carpal tunnel. This tunnel is roughly located at the junction of the hand and wrist. The structure of the tunnel is a tight fibrous band of tissue that does not expand and will not accommodate for swelling. Because the canal does not have the

ability to stretch, when swelling occurs within the tunnel it causes compression of the contents of the tunnel. The tendons tolerate this pressure, but the median nerve which traverses through the tunnel with the tendons does not. However, the cause of the swelling is usually from the tendons. The idea is that the tendons within the carpal tunnel become swollen from overuse. Each tendon is sur-

rounded by a smooth slick layer called synovium, which when aggravated, it swells.

It is this swelling that is the underlying cause of carpal tunnel and ultimately causes compression of the Median Nerve.

Evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome occurs first with the physical exam. There are several specific physical exam findings that strongly indicate carpal tunnel syndrome. If physical exam findings are present, most physicians will proceed with a test called an EMG or nerve conduction velocity. This test is done by providing an

impulse externally to the arm with electrodes that measure how fast impulse travels. If there is compression to a nerve such as in carpal tunnel syndrome, this will result in a positive test.

Treatment options for carpal tunnel include bracing. Bracing immobilizes the wrist and allows for the swelling within the carpal tunnel surrounding the tendons to improve with just simply rest. One issue

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that makes this less effective is that although we can immobilize the wrist itself, fingers still need to work. Some of the tendons traversing the canal, function to create movement within the fingers.

So, despite bracing there is still motion within the carpal tunnel, and still a source for friction and swelling. However, bracing is effective and is a good option, especially early on. Anti-inflammatories also may be a good treatment option and function as a good adjunct to bracing.

Another conservative treatment option is to consider injection therapy. With this

treatment, a steroid is injected directly into the carpal tunnel usually under needle guidance using ultrasound.

The steroid acts as a very potent anti-inflammatory and reduces the swelling within the carpal tunnel. This takes pressure off the nerve and symptoms improve. Unfortunately, this may not be a permanent fix and often times symptoms will return. However it is a useful treatment

option in some situations.

When conservative treatment fails, patients will likely be referred to an orthopedic surgeon for surgical treatment. The surgical treatment for carpal tunnel is an outpatient surgery which can be done under local or general anesthesia. Most surgeons prefer general anesthesia. A minimally invasive 2 cm incision is typically made over the base of the palm and wrist and the carpal tunnel is released. This effectively turns the tunnel into a trough. This does not affect the function of the contents of the canal but allows for release of pressure and removal of friction caused from the swelling within the canal. By removing the friction and pressure, the swelling resolves and the cycle of compression is stopped. Carpal tunnel surgery is extremely successful and most patients are able to return to full use of the hand within 3 weeks.

Time off work is minimal, provided the patient can perform their work duties with minimal use of the operative hand for about 2-3 weeks. It is not uncommon for patients to have surgery on a Thursday or Friday, and return to limited duty work on Monday.

If you suffer from symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, I would encourage you to follow up with your orthopedic surgeon or your primary care doctor, and not ignore your symptoms.

Without some type of treatment, your symptoms are likely to progress. However with treatment, there is a high rate of success and improvement in quality of life.

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Foreman’s Forum

What Is Self-Defense?

by Paul Foreman The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

There are volumes of books and legal texts arguing about the Second Amendment. For today’s forum, I am sticking to fact that the Second Amendment says the PEOPLE have the right to own guns for self-defense. The Second Amendment does not grant the “right.” It says the “right” shall not be infringed!

When can citizens defend themselves? Self-defense is NOT getting even with someone who wronged you. Self-defense is not stopping someone from stealing your son’s or daughter’s bicycle. Even if someone threatens you, self-defense is NOT going back later and getting even

with them.

When I was a deputy sheriff in Southwest Florida, I saw a number of cases where someone used deadly force long after the threat had passed. Here is an example of what I mean: Two men were arguing. One man, let’s call him Fred, orders the other guy to “get off my property or I’ll get my gun.” John, the second man, runs back across the street to his home and gets his shotgun. John comes back outside with the shotgun and a box of 00 buckshot, and begins loading the gun while standing just inside his front gate.

Meanwhile, Fred, fearing for his life, gets his rifle ready, but he stays on his own front porch. Can you see what is happening here in this true story? John was safe at home, but went back outside and could be seen

by Fred loading a shotgun.

Fred did NOT pursue John.

John was pursuing Fred who was standing on his own front porch. John fired one blast of 00 buckshot toward Fred from about 75 feet away. The shot missed but Fred was not going to wait and see if the next shot was any better. Fred fired one round from his 30-30, hitting John just about the waist. John went down but got back up and ran into his house where he laid down on his bed and died.

When I got there, along with another deputy, Fred was plenty scared. At first he did not want to leave his gun and come out to talk to us. The other deputy who was with me convinced Fred to come outside, so we would not have to go in to get him. At this point, we didn’t know what had happened prior to our ar-

rival. Across the street, I could see the opened box of shotgun shells laying near the gate. I could also see a huge amount of blood leaving a trail up to the front door. An elderly lady was sitting just inside. She pointed to the shotgun lying on the couch. I asked her, “Where is John?” She replied, “He is lying across his bed; I think he is dead.”

The investigation found that Fred acted in self-defense.

He did initially threaten John, but had no weapon with him at the time of the threat. He feared for his life when he saw John coming back out with a shotgun.

John was dead, but his own grandmother turned out to be a very credible witness to the entire event. The Grand Jury cleared Fred, and he was not charged with any crime.

If you are going to own a

firearm for self-defense, you absolutely must understand what self-defense is.

1. Innocence: You cannot be the aggressor. You cannot start a fight, then because you are losing, shoot somebody and claim selfdefense.

2. The threat must be immediate, right now, not something that happened earlier.

3. The act of defending yourself must be proportional to the threat. You cannot use deadly force unless you are threatened with a weapon or by someone who could cause great bodily harm or death.

4. Avoidance: If there is a safe retreat, you must use it (not in a stand-your-ground state such as Alabama) BUT, retreat may be the best and wisest thing to do.

5. These elements must be present to claim self-defense.

Disparity of force means that a weaker person, such as an elderly person, is being attacked, and even though the attacker has no deadly weapon, or there are multiple attackers, the victim is in fear of great bodily harm or death if he does not defend himself or herself with deadly force.

By the time this Forum is published, I will be back in Athens and firearms classes will resume.

Paul Foreman is a retired deputy sheriff from Lee County Florida. Paul is an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor. For firearms training Paul can be reached through his web site, www.

Paulforeman.com, E-Mail at Captureman@ PaulForeman.com

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