Athens Now 10-2-2020

October 2nd - October 15th, 2020

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

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Why Rita Jackson Should Be On The LCS District 4 School Board...

From 1994 until 2016, Rita Jackson served the parents, children, and teachers of Limestone County as a teacher, librarian, media specialist, school counselor, and a...

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All Things Soldier My 2020 Travis Manion Heroes’ Run Hero, Col. Dixey Behnken...

Four years ago, I wrote a piece entitled Bitten

By The 5K Bug, which chronicled my “couchto-5K” training that I completed under the careful tutelage of...

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Cooking With Anna Do I Have To Go Back?...

Last week, my husband and I spent a week of vacation in the Smoky Mountains. We were both in desperate need of rest and reconnection with each other...

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October 02 - October 15, 2020

Lang Chiropractic And Calmare Scrambler Therapy: Making Pain-Free A Reality

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Since 2008, Dr. David Lang, D.C., has continually explored ways to help his patients with chiropractic modalities and technological applications that can bring lasting, drug-free relief from pain. He worked at several clinics in the area, and in 2017, he was able to open his own clinic in the Athens Publix shopping complex. The clinic has grown to the point that he has purchased an acre of land for a new clinic, and as we speak, the designs and drawings are in the works. The new 4,000 square foot practice site will be near Athens High School, and Dr. Lang will be able to add associates, services, and partners to better care for the people of Alabama and Tennessee.

For years, Dr. Lang’s practice used a combination of time-honored chiropractic approaches and explored new treatments in order to continuously increase their ability to improve the quality of life of their patients. Then, as is often the case Continued on pages 16-17

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October 02 - October 15, 2020

Publisher’s Point

Let The Story Be The Story

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Sales & Distribution Degan Wilder

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Leigh Patterson Cayce Lee Anna Hamilton Joel Allen Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Lana E. Woody Jerry Barksdale Steve Leland

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 5

At this time in our nation when it sometimes looks like we are flooring it toward the edge of the cliff, there are scores of voices screaming about a number of things. The Tuesday night presidential debate was not a pretty sight, irrespective of who you will choose to vote into office.

And, while I personally am not going to vote for the former vice president of the United States and empower him to become the president on his third attempt, I echo his admonition to make sure you take the time to vote. People have died so you can, and as flawed as humans are, please cast your vote if for no other reason than to show honor to those who shed their blood so you could. Do it because it is the right thing to do, even if you have to hold your nose.

That Public Service Announcement leads me to the subject of this Publisher’s

Point: “Let The Story Be The Story.” What does that mean? It means that you let the good, the bad, and the ugly of any story or situation all work together to bring forth something redemptive, if at all possible.

What it does not mean is that you remove any one component in order to affect the outcome, or to somehow leverage your ability to own the narrative. As Oasis pastor Jerome Malone said recently, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Some One way wiser made that famous over 2,000 years ago, and that principle is still powerful.

most beautiful. The history of the South is full of tragedy and triumph, and I believe with all my heart that the best is still to come if people will allow it. So, one of the ways to “let the story be the story” is to be willing to allow little-known facts serve as qualifiers and modifiers of well-known facts. Then, when all the hard stuff comes together with the good stuff, there is a chance to have the awful become the awesome by grace. The shorthand goes something like this: the Cross-definitely bad, the Resurrection-definitely good, and one cannot exist without the other.

So, what does that look like? Let me use a contemporary example first, and then a biblical one. Without argument, the history of the South is one of the most complex, convoluted, and nuanced amongst humans, especially American humans. It is also one of the

Everyone knows that white people owned black people, and in ways we are all still reeling from that. But, far fewer know that black people in the South owned other black people in the South, that Africans participated in selling other Africans, and that Africans kept

All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 7 Calendar Of Events . . . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 10 Steve's Corner . . . . . . 12

ship-wrecked white Europeans as slaves. Truth be told, humans are fallen, and fallen humans enslave all over the globe irrespective of their color or the shape of their eyes. That is why the only way out of slavery and up to freedom is to surrender to the Master that sets His slaves free through their utter, unconditional permanent surrender. Nothing else has ever worked, and nothing else ever will.

Most people in the South consider the Bible to be the Holy Blueprint for a life well-lived. And the Holy God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob chose to leave totally unholy things that are Rrated squarely in the story to function as cautionary tales and point to opportunities for redemption. The rape of Tamar by her brother has never been sanitized out of the Scriptures, and most scholars agree that Rahab was not just “an innkeeper.”

What’s the takeaway? If the good, the bad, and the ugly are good enough for God and are the raw materials of redemption, then the good, the bad, and the ugly in our lives and our culture can be the same, if we’ll see them as such, and result in redemption.

Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13

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

Health And Fitness . . . . . . 15 Cover Story . . . . . . . 16 - 17 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 18 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . 22

October 02 - October 15, 2020

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October 02 - October 15, 2020

Special Feature

Why Rita Jackson Should Be On The LCS District 4 School Board

by Ali Elizabeth Turner From 1994 until 2016, Rita Jackson served the parents, children, and teachers of Limestone County as a teacher, librarian, media specialist, school counselor, and a proxy principal. Rita was either a student, taught in, counseled students, or was a substitute teacher at four schools in the county, and as such is uniquely qualified to serve the Limestone County Public Schools as the District 4 School Board representative.

Here is what she says about herself and her experience, and most importantly, why she is running for the position: There are people who feel that their experience can lead to ideas that build futures for our youth if given the opportunity to be elected to an office. That is the reason why I am running for Limestone County Board of Education, District 4. As a retired professional educator, I feel that my experience as a parent of 4, grandparent of 10, classroom teacher since ‘94, as well as a guidance counselor, librarian,

and even sitting in as a proxy administrator in my principal’s absence will provide perspective from multiple viewpoints to serve well. In addition, I will listen to the ideas of the folks in District 4 and bring those ideas to the Board. One of my favorite quotes is that of Helen Keller; “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

Born and raised in Limestone County, always living in District 4, Jackson, her husband Billy, and their children were products of the LCS system.

Serving 14 of her 25+ years as an educator in Limestone County, Rita taught school and Billy still drives a bus for LCS. She was raised by her parents, Otis & Opal Sanders, and attended school in Elkmont till the ‘70s re-zoning mandate. She attended Owens and then graduated from West Limestone in ’76.

As business owners, Rita and Billy pumped their share of gas as they continued her daddy’s service-oriented legacy by running their own service station in Northtown (North Athens), as he did. While busy with this,

Rita began college in the ‘90s.

Believing family to be the most important, Jackson waited till her youngest child began kindergarten to start college herself. She finished Calhoun and ASU in 3.5 years while tutoring fellow students in the ASU Writing Center. Initially hired

by LCS in 1994 as a substitute teacher, Rita began her certified teaching experience as an English/Spanish teacher at Ardmore HS, and taught there until 2001. She taught at West Limestone till 2008. Earning master certification in school counseling, library media, and English, she worked at Piney Chapel and Johnson Elementary Schools as a counselor.

She also served in the Morgan, Giles, and Colbert County school systems. Many of the families in District 4 are former students that either she taught or who rode Billy’s school bus.

Jackson said further, “Our students deserve the very best education that our schools can provide, so our administrators and teachers must be equipped with the tools they need, and keep lines of communication open between home and school.”

Jackson believes that a mentoring/advisor program (as an extension of the guidance office) can provide a confidante/rolemodel for each student while at school, and provide life lessons that make productive, lifelong learners. “It takes all kinds of professions to make a functioning society: lessons learned through the classroom, through vocational/technical education, through college-prep for some, as well as through sports and extra-curricular activities,” she said. All four Jackson kids (Brody, Brianna, Brandon, and Will) were year-round athletes, so she feels strongly about sports programs and how good coaches can positively influ-

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Billy and Rita Jackson Rita taught and Billy still drives a school bus ence kids. Limestone County Schools offer all of this with great schools, competent teachers, caring administrators, and includes an outstanding vocational/tech program.

Ideas that Jackson would love to implement include: the aforementioned mentoring program which would offer contact with parents via technology on a weekly basis, testing teams at the district level to allow more individual and large group guidance, and duty-free lunches for teachers.

This would provide more principal, assistant principal, and SRO role-model interaction with students during meals.

In addition, she wants to see teachers have the freedom to express more creativity in the classroom with less teachingto-a-test and fewer paper trails.

She wants to secure funds to start up a drug-prevention program in cooperation with local law enforcement, and encourage more service-related proj-

ects for students through club or extra-curricular activities.

High on her list is keeping open lines of communication between the central office, administrators, superintendent, and parents.

If elected, Jackson hopes to provide a voice for District 4 families, students, teachers, and administrators by being present during PTO meetings and listening to the concerns of all. She wants easily-accessible technology available to parents, and will gather ideas from other systems as to what is working well during this unprecedented challenge of COVID. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller If this is what you are looking for in a school board member, then Rita Jackson would appreciate your vote on November 3.

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All Things Soldier

My 2020 Travis Manion Heroes’ Run Hero, Col. Dixey Behnken

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Four years ago, I wrote a piece entitled Bitten

By The 5K Bug, which chronicled my “couchto-5K” training that I completed under the careful tutelage of certified road runner Eric Patterson, and his wife, Leigh, now the Executive Director of Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful. The target race was the Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes’ Run, which I completed in a reasonable amount of time for a senior citizen, much to my amazement. It’s four years later, and while I am not out continually waging war with the road, I still remain a fan of 5Ks, even in the era of COVID.

on Terror. Over time it evolved into honoring soldiers that are still alive, and this year we were asked to give the foundation the name of the hero for whom you are running. I chose Col. Dixey Behnken (R)).

The Travis Manion race is one of my favorites, and I will be glad when we can get back to having our race run through our beautiful city of Athens with all the accompanying festivities and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Col. Behnken was our chaplain in Iraq, and he

is an undisputed gem.

He preached well, gave us enormous freedom when it came to planning the worship music for services, and had a particularly wonderful ability to gain the trust of Iraqis. I think they just sensed that he was a trustworthy man. He was an excellent leader, and the value of a solid chaplain in a combat zone is inestimable. He had been stationed for years in Germany, and one time when I could not return to the States (because of the requirement to stay out of the US for 330 days each

Because of the Coronavirus crunch on so many social activities, race organizers across the nation have gotten creative in keeping races open and going, but at least for this year there is not the satisfaction of having people cheering you on, getting awards, or speeding up that last bit of the race to see if you have bested your previous race times.

Some people run in groups six feet apart, and post selfies. Some complete races by themselves, which is what I chose to do this year for reasons I’ll explain in a bit.

The Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes’ Run was started to honor fallen soldiers, especially those who had perished in the War

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year to comply with the foreign worker tax regulations), Dixey and his wife Julie let me come stay with them in their lovely home in Darmstadt. Being treated like royalty in the land of my forebears made not being able to come home during the holidays just that much easier.

So, why is Dixey my 2020 Travis Manion hero, and why did I choose to complete the 5K all by myself at “ohdark-hundred?” It was to pray for my friend, brother, and chaplain who suffered a massive

stroke, and to considerM just what it must be likeh to claw your way backs when you are fiercelyw independent and haveL taught others to strikew the balance betweens self-reliance and lean-s ing hard on God. That isa what he did for us everyb Sunday for a year, andt I wanted to find a way,C 15 years later, to saya thank you. So, dear Dix,A may God bless you andm keep you, make His facem to shine upon you, andh give you peace. You area a good shepherd, and Ic am honored to know andg w run for you. f t C b m t l 1 C T fi A w a o g a m w d a U F

Col Dixey Behnken baptizing an Iraqi in one of Saddam Hussein's swimming pools

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October 02 - October 15, 2020

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Communication Has Never Been More Important

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Mayor Ronnie and I had both been at the same event over the weekend, the For the Love of the City “citywide family reunion,” sponsored by the Oasis Center. It had been a perfect joy, attended by people of every type and stripe, City Council members, and members of the Athens Police Department. There was live music, games, free hot dogs, food trucks, amazing homemade crackers, and awards given to Athenians who are making a difference. Tina Cook, of the Family Resource Center; Laverne Gilbert, who has started a movement to pick up trash and has personally picked up more than 100 bags of trash; and City Councilman Frank Travis all received the first annual Spotlight Award, and all three were thankful to people as well as God for the opportunity to serve. “A grand time was had by all,” as they say, and the mayor said, “It was so well done. I hope they do it again.” He also attended the “Shower Up” event sponsored by First United Methodist

movie Wag the Dog. The film is about creating a fake war in order to create a national diversion from other, more important things. It is brilliant and sad, and has some funny parts.

What was hard was thinking about the fact that she is now in college and old enough to be doing papers. “Where does the time go?” That was the question on both our minds.

Church. Mobile shower units had been set up to provide homeless folks a chance to take one.

“Shower Up” is also going to have an event in early November. “People had been bathing in the creek,” he said, and while the subject of homelessness is one of the toughest, most complicated ones being faced by cities and their mayors everywhere, he was glad that 15 people had been helped.

The mayor smiled ruefully as he mentioned that his granddaughter had just done a college poli-sci paper on the

The Birdie Thornton discussion brought things full circle -- the need to communicate well, learn about each other, reach out, and make a difference. “Hearts and minds are open, and we need to love each other; it’s as simple as that,”

said the mayor. He added, “There has never been a greater need for all of us to communicate clearly.” I couldn’t agree more, and so we prayed to that end. And then it was time once again for Ronnie to roll.

We moved on to the topic of October being Breast Cancer month. There are numbers of events, including the Pink Lady Walk and the BBQ for Breast Cancer Awareness event to be held on October 17 at LincolnBridgeforth Park.

The mayor had taken the Youth Commission students to the Birdie Thornton Center prior to COVID, and the kids had been really affected by the people there.

Many of the kids had had no idea that a center like this was in Athens, and the perspectives and gratitude gained by their experience stretched them.

Please Do Your Duty VOTE on November 3rd!

It Matters.

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Calendar of Events Play Outside Day October 3

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

20th Annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby October 3

With KALB at Big Spring Memorial Park. 127 East Street in Athens. 4:00PM-6:00PM. Buy your lucky duck or quack pack at the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful office or online at KALBcares.org for your chances at prizes like a Marriott Hotel package, jewlery and other great prizes. $2,000 Grand Prize. Sponsored by American Leakless Company.

Veterans Post Free Veterans' Breakfast October 10

At the Amvets Post 21. 22769 Black Road in Athens. Receive a pancake or egg breakfast with the trimmings from 7:00AM9:30AM. Non-Veterans $6.00. All are welcome. For more information: 256-444-2793 or www.AmVetsAL21.com

1st Annual AMVETS Post 21 Horse, Pony & Mule Fun Day October 10

Games begin at 9:15am. Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena, Athens AL. For riders of all ages! Class Fees $5 per class. Admission $5 Non-riders / Children under 5 free.

Concessions available on the grounds. Pre-Registration: https:// forms.gle/86tQZWGGtgbqsN2q7 Pre-registration is preferred.

Still must show up to registration and check-in, but process will be faster. More info and updates can be found on Facebook @ Amvets Post 21 Horse Show. https://www.facebook.com/ Amvets-Post-21-Horse-Show-108470637595258/ If you would also like to purchase t-shirts, please fill out this form: https:// forms.gle/oqDPuiFXfWTWdVK39

6th Annual Sports-Plex Charity Car Show October 10

respectful of everyone's personal spaces. (at this point, mask will not be required but encouraged). Show and Shine only - No trophies or judging. All cars/trucks/bikes welcome. Door prizes and cash awards throughout the day. For more info: Joseph at 256-777-0606

Halloween ATV Trail in Elkmont ​October 10

28890 AL-127 in Elkmont. 9:00AM-8:00PM. The Halloween decorated trails are great for beginners and the whole family so bring the dirt bike and/or four wheeler and make a day. $5.00 per rider.

Truck Invasion Cruise In on the Square ​October 10

Downtown Athens from 6:00PM-9:00PM for all makes and models of Trucks and SUV's only. No judging, no trophies-just show and shine; enjoy the shops and eateries around the Square. Please leave parking on the north side (Lucia's and Village Pizza) for patrons.

The Right to Vote: History of Women's Suffrage October 14

Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens. 11:00AM-12:00PM. Free and open to the public, visitors are invited to bring a lunch for this presentation by the League of Women Voters of Tennessee Valley. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Candlelight Memorial ​October 15

Limestone County Courthouse. 150 South Marion Street in Athens. 7:00PM-8:00PM. The Alabama Chapter of the TEARS Foundation will be lighting candles to honor the name's of baby's lost to miscarriage, still birth and infant or child loss. The name's will be spoken aloud as each candle is lit on the east side steps of the courthouse. You may submit a name to honored by mail alabamachapter@thetearsfoundation.org and you do not have to be present for your baby to be honored.

Athens SportsPlex. US31 and Elm Street in Athens. 9:00AM2:00PM benefiting Eli's Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation. Registration: $20.00 per vehicle; registration ends at 12:00PM. Food and drink concessions, Kids' Dug Out Playground, DJ & music by David Sharp. Notice... we will be practicing 6 ft. social distancing and doing our best to be

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For the health and safety of our volunteers and the public, we regret that the VVA Spaghetti Day has been canceled until further notice. Thank you for your support and understanding.

October 02 - October 15, 2020

Slinkard On Success

Dare To Care

by D. A. Slinkard

I was recently speaking with my wife, and we were talking about how the world is revolving. One of the things pointed out is how people go about doing their jobs. It seems more and more people are content with only showing up, clocking in and clocking out, to earn a paycheck. I am a firm believer many people no longer have the desire to fully commit to the job they are doing and are just merely existing as an employee.

What would our society be like if more people dared to care?

I was brought up to take pride in the work I do, and no matter how big or small the job is, my goal is to do it to the best of my ability. However, today we have people who do not care about the effort they put in. If they do a good job, if they do a mediocre job, it makes no difference to them.

This way of thinking needs to be stopped. If you have this mentality, the time is now for you to change your approach.

try to blame their work environment; they try to blame their boss; they try to blame their employer. What would our society be like if more people dared to care?

It is one thing to do a good job when someone is watching, but it is another thing to do a good job when no one is paying attention. We live in a world that is hungry for instant gratification and constant recognition.

We have a generation of workers who want to be praised for doing the basics and feel it is harassment when they receive constructive criticism.

We have a generation of workers who cannot accept the realities of their shortcomings, and this has been brought from the rewarding of participation trophies -- the idea that everyone gets

a trophy for participating had a damaging impact on the mentality of our society.

How does someone turn their attitude around and dare to care? First, they must commit to become the best person they can be. There are times we need to take an honest assessment of who we are versus who we want to be. I recommend you take out a piece of paper and write out the characteristic traits of who you want to be as a person in all aspects of your life. For instance, I would make a list of the characteristic traits of a successful spouse, a successful employee, a successful servant of God. While your list may be different than mine, the idea is to get your brain thinking about who you desire to

be.

Too often, though, we find it hard to be honest with ourselves. We think to ourselves that we are not as bad as what we really are. We try to downplay the negative aspects of who we are as a person, and this exercise is going to take you being completely honest with yourself.

If the baby is ugly, the baby is ugly; and we need to be prepared for what we have.

The next step is to contemplate what actions will be required to possess the character traits you want. Once you have identified these steps, then you must begin to map out what your journey will look like. Sometimes people appear not to care when they do not know how to

care. They do not know what it is they want to achieve, they do not know who they want to be; so they aimlessly go about life just hoping they find themselves.

When you understand who you are in comparison to who you want to be and then take the steps to make it a reality, you will notice a change in your life. It will not happen overnight and it will take work; but the end results will be worth it in the end. The world is full of people who do not care and if you have been one of them, now is your opportunity to change how you have been living your life. What are you waiting for? No one else is going to do it for you, and I dare you to care.

We have people who are lackluster in the work they do. They cannot figure out why they get passed over for promotions. They get negative employment reviews, and instead of properly taking the blame based on their own actions, they try to pass it off on someone else. They

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Tourism

October Welcomes Fall Dreams And Screams

by Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association We’ve been enjoying the cooler temperatures lately, and thoughts of fall leaves, pumpkin spice, freshly harvested apples, and s’mores by the fire are creeping into many minds. Along with those comforting images and taste bud treats are thoughts of what October holds – and it’s actually a lot! The events highlighted below are many of the crowd favorites plus a few new ones, and you can find all their details and event more events at VisitAthensAL.com on the event calendars.

The Spirits Return… Mark your calendars for October 4 to join the spirits for the Athens Cemetery Stroll as the voices of Limestone County's history come to life. Costumed re-enactors portray individuals representing all walks of life from the county's past on the beautiful grounds of Athens City Cemetery.

Walk Through Athens’ Haunted History… Each Tuesday and Thursday in October offers a chance to explore the darker side of Athens’ history, including forlorn love, mischievous poltergeist, and tragedy, with Athens-Limestone County Tourism’s Haunt Walks.

Tickets are pre-sale only for ages 12-up with tours limited to 15. To purchase tickets, visit the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center.

Go In Search Of Ghosts…

Just in time for a little Halloween fun -- perfect for a girls’ night out, date night, or an escape into the unknown. Step inside one of Athens’ iconic buildings in downtown Athens with the Southern Ghost Girls and

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Horse Show.

Ready For Some Screams… The halls will once again be filled with screams as Lester Haunted Hospital swings open its doors in October each Friday and Saturday to terrorize the brave who enter – but might not leave. Doomsday Haunt has moved to Athens and has loads of surprises in store as they open every weekend in October with terror-inducing fun.

The late Buzz Estes, pictured atop the steps at McCandless Hall, spins the tale of forlorn love and tragedy during a Haunt Walks Tour Paranormal Investigation on October 24 for a little history and search for ghost, including opportunities to use paranormal equipment as is seen on TV. Get Quacked Up… It’s time for the rubber duckies to float their way down the sluice and for you to take home some awesome prizes. Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful’s annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby is ago for October 3 with loads of awesome prizes up for grabs. Stop by their East Street office and “adopt a duck.”

From The Big Tent To Your Home… Athens Storytelling Festival will still be bringing the storytellers but they won’t be under the big tent in downtown Athens this year – they’re coming straight to you in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy your favorite tellers Donald Davis, Bil Lepp, Carmen Deedy, Andy Offutt Irwin, Josh Goforth, Kevin Kling, and Michael Reno Harrell, plus two kids for Children’s Day -- Simon Brooks and Bobby Norfolk.

Rev Things Up… October 3 will have the Ardmore Car Show at John Barnes Park in Ardmore, TN, and the Cruise In on the Square in Athens.

October 10 brings the annual Sports-Plex Charity Show benefitting Eli’s Block Party and Childhood Cancer Foundation and the return of the Truck Invasion Cruise-In on the Square showcasing only trucks and SUVs. Each Saturday and Sunday in October

offers a great adventure for families who love to ride their ATVs and dirt bikes to enjoy a decorated Halloween ATV Trail in Elkmont.

Pony Up… Join the AMVET’s Post 21 on October 10 for their Horse, Pony, and Mule Fun Day open to riders of all ages. October 17 brings another opportunity to hop in the saddle with Dixon Stables Have Fun or Go Home Open

We’re Beginning To Think A Lot About Christmas…

Athens-Limestone County Tourism is bringing its Athens North Pole Stroll back to Big Spring Memorial Park in December for families to enjoy the creatively and beautifully decorated trees as part of their family tradition. The key to this great event is the support of local businesses, churches, organizations, and families that make it possible, and we are happy to announce that applications are now available at the AthensLimestone Visitors Center.

The highly animated storyteller, Donald Davis, may not be under the tent in downtown Athens for Athens Storytelling Festival this year but you can still enjoy his stories and other tellers in the comfort of your own home www.athensnowal.com

October 02 - October 15, 2020

Steve’s Corner

The Lord’s Prayers

by Steve Leland

First off, let me apologize to anyone who has allergic reactions to sermons. I feel you; if it smells like a sermon it probably is…even if that is not my intention.

Prayer has become an art form. Those who can wax long and eloquent are very intimidating to those of us with faltering lips and a stammering tongue. They have seemed to me to exemplify the epitome of spirituality.

So it was with great interest I realized that of all the words written that were uttered by Yeshua, we have very few prayers, and the one that was given to us as a specific example was quite short.

This prayer was recorded for us in Mathew and repeated in Luke. It dovetails nicely with the prayer that he prayed shortly before he was

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arrested.

What stood out to me was the phrase “Thy will be done” in both prayers. In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed three times, using slightly different words, that Yah’s will, not his own, be done.

After much consideration, I’ve made this a principle part of my own prayers, having decided that no matter what my request may be, I would rather have what furthers the Kingdom of Heaven than my own desires and plans. I’ve come to realize that it is the heat of the fires that we go through that gives our iron the temper necessary to be a tool fit for Yah’s hand. If we were to be able to pray our way out of every hot spot that we got into, where would we expect our strength to come from?

May we be forged in our fires and not shrink from them. May we see each fire as an opportunity to become fit for His Kingdom. May we pray as Yeshua did: “...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Depending on how you interpret it, part of Yeshua’s prayer in John 17:15 may reflect the concept that we aren’t to be preserved from problems. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

It is hard to watch friends and family go through hard stuff. We want to protect them and have Yah relieve them. Sometimes He does, but not as often as we would like.

Instead, we are asked to bear one another’s burdens. Which, interestingly enough, is a subject for another day.

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Clean and Green

Bragging On The Beautification Board

by Leigh Patterson - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful When strolling through downtown Athens, you may have admired the beautiful flowering pots on the sidewalks around the Square. Or, as you are driving on Highway 72 and exiting onto Clinton Street, you may have noticed the festive fall display at the triangle.

These spots of beauty are cared for and maintained by the Athens-Limestone Beautification Board, a division of Keep AthensLimestone Beautiful.

The Beautification Board does a lot of good work around town on a very small budget. This board has been in existence for more than 40 years and has made numerous improvements to our county by adding spots of beauty and green space. All board members are hard-working volunteers who choose to work toward a better quality of life for themselves and their neighbors. They have many ongoing projects throughout the year, some of which are listed below.

“Welcome to Athens” Signs As you enter the city of Athens from all four directions, you will notice the “Welcome to Athens” signs.

These signs have been cared for and maintained by this board for many years. They show hospitality to our visitors and provide a warm welcome for those of us returning home.

Downtown Project The Beautification Board works hard to plant and maintain the large concrete pots that are located on the sidewalks around the Square and surrounding streets. These pots are wellcared for and it shows, as

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they are especially beautiful this year. The board is also responsible for purchasing and maintaining the hanging baskets that are on the courthouse grounds. Be on the lookout for hanging baskets of colorful mums to make an appearance in the next few weeks.

Triangle Project The triangle green space area located at the intersection of Clinton Street and Highway 72 is another board project. Several years ago, large stone pots were purchased by the board to dress up the space, and they have done an outstanding job keeping this spot looking beautiful, and it’s currently dressed for fall.

Roselawn Cemetery Roselawn Cemetery, located on Highway 31, is a labor of love that the board has taken on. They work with the Athens Parks and Recreation Department and continue to make improvements to the entrances and landscaping of the cemetery. They plant

flowers and trees and keep the mulch looking fresh year round, along with planting and maintaining the large stone pots purchased by the board located at the Highway 31 entrance.

Old Town Cemetery One of the projects that the board has completed over the last several years has been the addition of the wrought iron fencing, landscaping, and headstone repair at the Old Town Cemetery. They are also responsible for decorating this cemetery during the holiday season with wreaths, drawing attention to the historic sight holding some of Athens’ first citizens.

Beautification Award Judg-

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ing The Beautification Award program encourages local businesses, industries, churches, and government buildings to take pride in their properties. This program has currently been put on hold during the pandemic, but the board is not sitting

idly by. The signs are in the process of being painted and refurbished so that they will be ready to place when the program is able to continue. Previous award winners were allowed to keep their signs during this time until judging resumes.

As was mentioned earlier, all of these projects are done by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for the Athens-Limestone Beautification Board, please call the KALB office at 256-2338000. And if you happen to see someone working at the triangle, or perhaps tending a pot on the square, please smile and wave to thank them for all of their hard work and for making our town a more beautiful place to live, work, and play!

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8000 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com October 02 - October 15, 2020

Cooking with Anna

Do I Have To Go Back?

by Anna Hamilton

Last week, my husband and I spent a week of vacation in the Smoky Mountains. We were both in desperate need of rest and reconnection with each other. This year has been hard on everyone. During the craziness of 2020, we have started two business on top of my husband’s busy freelance graphic design work and me working 40 plus hours a week at a very busy Ford dealership. To say we are stretched thin is an understatement.

While on vacation we ate at so many good restaurants! Did I stick to eating all healthy foods you may ask? The answer is a resounding NO!!! I let myself enjoy food and not think about every little calorie, fat graham, or carb I was putting in my body. It was nice to just eat what I wanted for a week. One of our favorite dishes, however, is perfect for my lowcarb lifestyle and I cannot wait to try it at home.

When you become that busy, something is eventually going to be neglected. Once that starts happening, you are forced to make a choice of which thing you are going to let go. How do you decide which thing is going to drop? With careful discussion and leaning on the wisdom of God.

It is a delicious creamy tomato casserole.

It is filling and comforting and a cinch to put together. We are just at the start of fall and fresh summer tomatoes are harder and harder to find. This recipe is a great way to make your home feel like summer while you use the hot house tomatoes of the winter. My husband and I loved it, and I hope you do as well!

A full week of relaxation has helped recharge us and helped us re-center our focus. We are excited for what is about to happen in our future and are leaning heavily on God to help us continue to make wise decisions. We are coveting prayers right now in our lives, for sure!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Tomato Casserole Ingredients: 6 medium whole tomatoes 1 Tbsps. mayonnaise 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place a layer of tomato slices in an 8x8 inch baking pan. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the tomatoes and sprinkle with about 1/4 of the Cheddar cheese and salt and pepper. Repeat layers, ending

October 02 - October 15, 2020

with the rest of the shredded cheese.

Bake until tomatoes are softened and cheese is melted and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

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www.JuicePlus.com Page 14

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October 02 - October 15, 2020

Health and Fitness

Why Lean Protein?

by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist

When it comes to meat, most of us truly love chicken thighs and wings, or maybe pork is your weakness. There is nothing quite like a grilled pork chop or some slowsmoked barbeque ribs, and we won’t even start on the amazingness of bacon. Beef is a popular choice among proteins for a lot of us as well, and nothing quite tops a good prime rib or ribeye steak.

All of this tastes amazing, HOWEVER, unfortunately, that does not mean they are the protein choices which will help shed fat or fuel the body to function at a peak fitness level. These meats work well as a treat every now and again; but if consumed consistently, will slow you down and prevent you from reaching your health goals.

Protein is absolutely essential to good health. The word itself actually comes from the Greek word proteos which means primary or first place.

Protein is a macronutrient that is essential for building muscle mass. It is commonly found in animal products, though it is also present in other sources, such as nuts and legumes. The body functions best with lean proteins. Turkey, chicken (white meat), and fish like salmon, halibut, and yellowfin tuna are excellent choices. Eggs, whole or just whites, also fall in this category along with very lean beef, such as filet

mignon, both depending on your goals.

Turkey and chicken are positive choices because the fat content is low as opposed to dark meat. Lean white meat has a fat content of 10 percent or lower, and in some cases its even just 5 percent.

This provides the nutrients needed by the body for energy and function without the extra unwanted fat for the body to store.

Protein is carried throughout the body with a glucose transport system. Protein cannot work alone once digested through the small intestine into the body. The amino acids the body needs from protein have to have this vehicle to reach their destination in order for the body to gain the nutrients which are used for multiple functions within the body.

sult in disease. Various amino acid chains form protein peptides which make up several of the body’s hormones and transmit information between your cells, tissues, and organs. There is even a class of proteins known as fibrous proteins which provide various parts of your body with structure, strength, and elasticity.

Although it may sound strange, proteins actually affect the fluid in the body.

They act as a buffer system helping the body maintain proper pH values, specifically of the blood. Proteins in the blood stream actually maintain the fluid balance between the blood and the sur-

rounding tissues. If enough protein is not consumed, the levels of albumin and globulin eventually decrease, which means the proteins cannot keep blood in the vessels and the fluid forced into the spaces between the cells.

If this continues to build up in the spaces between the cells, swelling and edema occurs, particularly in the stomach region. Protein malnutrition to this level is rare but needs to be discussed.

Finally, some proteins transport nutrients through the entire body and store them for later use when it’s required.

Another key roll proteins play is forming antibodies to protect the body from foreign

invaders, such as diseasecausing bacteria and viruses -- something which we all need to keep in mind in today’s world.

Each of us is different; because of that, it is important to be well informed but also to make protein choices in your regular diet which best fit YOUR body, considering current goals, activity level, and any other underlying factors such as medications, etc. As always, I believe personalized nutrition is important so that decisions are not made with good knowledge but ultimately devastating effects due to lack of full understanding of your individual needs.

Protein plays a vital roll in so many areas of the body. There are several functions which require protein, to be at prime performance. The body needs protein for growth and maintenance of tissues which can vary based on current health and activity level. Enzymes are proteins that allow key chemical reactions to take place within the body, such as energy production, digestion, blood clotting, and muscle contraction. The lack or improper function of these particular enzymes can even re-

October 02 - October 15, 2020

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Cover Story

Lang Chiropractic And Calmare Scrambler Therapy: Making Pain-Free A Reality

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

with breakthroughs, Dr. Lang went through that excruciatingly painful experience that sometimes strikes the soul of a health care provider -- not being able to help someone find comfort and relief from intractable pain. David had a patient who had had a simple, clean knee arthroscopic procedure that was performed perfectly, and she ended up with what is called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome all over her body. First it was in the knee that had surgery, then her opposite knee, and then it spread for reasons that no one understands. Please understand, this is a real, red, swollen, painfully tender condition that can even be discerned by the naked eye, but no one knows why it develops in the brain and spreads to places that have never been traumatized.

David told me, “CRPS sufferers are in so much

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pain that they can’t handle getting any type of adjustment.” His desperate patient then discovered a unique treatment developed in Italy called Calmare, and went to Dr. Michael Cooney in New Jersey to get several treatments that brought her great levels of relief.

It uses what is known as scrambler therapy.

Scrambler therapy sends a series of low-level amp signals to the brain that disrupts neuropathic pain and sends a signal that it is ok for the brain to stop hurting.

Here is what the Calmare people have to say (in laymen’s terms) about the science behind the treatment protocols.

The Calmare® device uses a biophysical rather than a biochemical approach. A 'nopain' message is transmitted to the nerve via disposable surface electrodes applied to the skin in the region of the patient's pain. The perception of pain is

cancelled when the nopain message replaces that of pain, by using the same pathway through the surface electrodes in a noninvasive way. Regardless of pain intensity, a patient's pain can be completely removed for immediate relief.

Maximum benefit is achieved through follow-up treatments. The patient may be able to go for extended periods of time between subsequent treatments while experiencing significant pain control and relief. The period of time between treatments depends on the underlying cause and severity of the pain in addition to other factors.

Then Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome struck closer to home, affecting David’s father’s foot after both a successful back surgery along with the death of a family member. The CRPS developed only a few weeks after the

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surgery. The great results from the Calmare therapy that David’s patient had received gave the David’s father encouragement to go to Memphis to get treatment. “My dad’s foot no longer looked like a kielbasa sausage,” he said, and what amazed him was how quickly it happened. David knew that

he needed to do whatever it took to bring Calmare to Alabama, and has just finished the training and his trials with sufferers of CRPS here in North Alabama.

The machine is up and working, he and his staff have been trained, and he is pleased to announce that Calmare Scrambler Therapy will

October 02 - October 15, 2020

whatsoever in my ankle. I noticed a reduction of pain after the first treatment in my right knee. I am more mobile now, and I don’t have to think and plan the way I am going to walk in a particular area and compensate for it to save steps. be available at the clinic in about a month.

Who can benefit from Calmare Therapy?

Those who contend with: • Chemotherapyinduced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) • Chronic Cancer Pain • Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) • Sciatic and Lumbar Pain • Phantom Limb Syndrome • Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) • Post-surgical Neuropathic Pain • Brachial Neuropathy • Low (LBP)

Back

Plexus Pain

• Chronic Neuropathic Pain Calmare Scrambler Therapy makes use of dermatomes, which are sensory zones in the skin that correspond to places in the spine.

Dermatomes trace along a specific route on the body that corresponds to a specific nerve route out of the spine.”We use dermatomes as a road map to see how close we can get to the pain,” said Dr. Lang. To treat his dad, they placed the sensors above his knee, even though the pain was in the foot.

One of David’s other success stories from his patient trials involves a man who had suffered with neuropathy in his feet and hands. He had not been able to feel his feet at all for 10 years, and receiving treatment caused him to be able to feel the wind of the car’s air conditioner on his feet. The numbness in his foot went down by 75%, and the numbness in his toes was completely eliminated.

In addition, the numbness in his fingers was reduced 100%, and he was able to use tools for the first time in years.

“People don’t realize what a difference being able to do simple things makes,” said David. He also made it really clear that people are different, and it’s impossible to predict how many treatments may be needed to clear up pain, “But you’ll know after the first treatment if Calmare therapy is going to help you.”

ment in April. In the interim I wanted to walk more to lose weight before the surgery. I am more of aware of the pain in my right knee, which was overshadowed by the pain in my right ankle. I had a knee scraping to remove broken cartilage a few years ago. I am not feeling any pain

It’s uplifting. I was depressed before. This device has helped me a lot. This should be available to everyone in pain. It’s a shame that it’s not.

One of the most promising results of Calmare Scrambler Therapy is that it is entirely possible for some patients to come off of opioids,

which have become a huge problem in our nation. While that is not guaranteed, it is not uncommon. If you are suffering from any of the conditions we have discussed in this article, call Dr. David Lang’s office today to make an appointment to see if Calmare Therapy is right for you.

Lang Chropractic

22099 Hwy 72 E Suite G, Athens, AL 35613 256-444-1600 Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8-11 and 1-5 Closed for lunch daily between 11 and 1

Fri 8-12 www.langchiropractic center.com

Calmare Therapy can help things as varied as phantom pain syndrome after an amputation to helping with pain after a back surgery. Read the following: I am a 60-year-old guidance counselor for a local high school. My right ankle has no cartilage and is just bone on bone. I will be having an ankle replace-

October 02 - October 15, 2020

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Robin Hood

by Wanda Campbell

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

One of my favorite legends is the story of Robin Hood. In 1973, I took my kids to see the Disney cartoon version of Robin Hood. My kids were never satisfied with watching something about a “person” without knowing more about them. So the questions started. Was Robin Hood real? Was

Richard the Lion-hearted real? What about Maid Marion? Was there a Little John? When did the story happen? What was happening in real life then?

Here is what I found out.

Thanks to David Baldwin, author of Robin Hood: The English Outlaw Unmasked (Amberley Pub-

lishing, 2010; reprinted in 2011), I learned there were lots of researchers who searched for Robin Hood after the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe in 1820. Ivanhoe is the story of an Anglo-Saxon noble family at a time when the nobility in England was Norman. It follows Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe,

who is disapproved of by his father for his loyalty to Richard the Lionheart.

Sound familiar?

We know, or think we know, a lot about Robin Hood – the heroic archer in English folklore who robbed the rich and gave to the poor – but hard facts about him are thin.

Robin Hood was a real person Robin Hood is an invented, model hero, whose career summarizes many of the common frustrations and ambitions of his era.

Robin (or Robert) Hood (aka Hod or Hude) was a nickname given to petty criminals from at least the middle of the 13th century – it may be no coincidence that Robin sounds like ‘robbing’ – but no contemporary writers refer to Robin Hood the famous outlaw we recognize today. The individual(s) whose deeds inspired the legend of Robin Hood may not have been called Robin Hood from birth, or even during in his own lifetime.

Robin lived during the reign of Richard the Lionheart Robin Hood is often portrayed as the enemy of Prince John and the ally of his brother, the Richard I (1189–99), but it was Tudor writers of the 16th century who first brought the three men together.

Robin Hood was a philanthropist who robbed the rich to give to the poor It was the Scottish historian John Major (1521)

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who wrote that “Robin permitted no harm to women, nor seized the goods of the poor, but helped them generously with what he took from abbots.” Earlier ballads are more restrained; the longest, and possibly the oldest ballad about Robin Hood is The Lyttle Geste of Robyn Hode, believed to have been written down c1492–1510 but probably composed c1400. It concludes with the comment that Robin “did poor men much good.”

Robin was a dispossessed nobleman, the Earl of Huntington or the Earl of Loxley Again, there is no basis for this theory – the Robin of the early ballads is always a yeoman (a farmer or a servant to a royal), and his attitudes are those of his class.

Robin married Maid Marian at St. Mary’s Church in Edwinstowe Maid Marian is as much a part of the Robin Hood story as Robin himself, yet she was originally the subject of a separate series of ballads. Robin and the outlaws of the earliest stories do not appear to have had wives or families – the only slight feminine interest was Robin’s devotion to the Virgin Mary. Storytellers may have thought this inappropriate after the Protestant Reformation, and Marian may have been incorporated into the tales to provide an alternative female focus.

October 02 - October 15, 2020

Jerry’s Journal

Where Hell Was Green, Part 2

by Jerry Barksdale Lt. Joe Rogers received orders to replace the artillery Forward Observer in the field who was going home It was a dangerous assignment. He would be humping through the jungles with grunts on search and destroy operations. When the enemy was encountered, he would radio the coordinates back to the Fire Direction Center, and within seconds, big guns would be belching steel toward the enemy.

After being issued an M-16 rifle and flak jacket, Rogers boarded a “Log Bird” (supply helicopter) loaded with ammo and supplies and lifted off.

From above, the triple canopy jungle appeared serene, but he knew better. Beneath the beautiful green were poisonous snakes, tigers, monkeys, swarms of biting mosquitoes, stinging insects, ants, leeches that sucked a man’s blood, and most dangerous of all, North Vietnamese soldiers bent on killing Americans. “Before landing, we were shot at a few times,” says Rogers. “That was my first baptism under fire.”

The chopper landed and Rogers jumped off and met the Company Commander. They had been ambushed the night before and several dead and wounded soldiers were loaded aboard for evacuation. Incoming mortar rounds began falling, trying to knock out the chopper. Rogers looked for cover. He spotted a large ant hill about eight feet in circumference and ran behind it.

“Every time a mortar round fell, I moved around a little bit further to get away from the impact.” When the firing ceased, he was told to prepare to move out.

“Get rid of that flak jacket. It weighs 20 pounds and you’ll sweat off 40 pounds while you

are here,” he was told. The seasoned grunts were bare from the waist up, a bottle of mosquito repellant attached to their helmet for easy access and dog tags tucked inside their boots to prevent rattling. They moved out through the thick jungle where visibility was often limited to eight feet, sometimes crossing fields of tall elephant grass with sharp blades that would slice a man’s skin, never knowing when a sniper’s bullet would find it’s mark. Later, Rogers would trade his M-16 for a pump shotgun.

Near sundown, they halted in the jungles, put out a defensive perimeter some 500 meters from the encampment and dug in. Sand bags were filled with the excavated dirt and stacked around the hole. It was stifling hot and the men usually slept on poncho liners on the ground near their hole. Chinch bugs came out at night, making a creepy sound and crawled beneath the men. Mosquitoes feasted on their blood. “Everything was out to get you,” says Rogers. “If you sat down, it would probably be on a thorn or a snake. I leaned against a tree and a thorn stuck in my head.”

They rose at daybreak, the ambush perimeter was called in, and everyone breakfasted on C-rations. No one liked a cold breakfast. Ingenuity kicked in.

Composition Four, a putty like explosive, that is detonated by electric shock, was set fire to heat the rations.

After emptying the sand bags into the hole, the men moved out, single file through the jungle, searching for the enemy.

The Point Man was out front acting as the eyes and ears of the company. Near the back was the Company Commander, a black officer from Texas who had a gold front tooth. His call sign was “Gold 6.” They were

October 02 - October 15, 2020

walking through tall elephant grass when the Point Man radioed Gold 6. “Sir, we just crossed a log on the trail.” They usually didn’t follow trails because enemy scouts would be watching.

The log was suspicious looking and the men stepped over it. A few minutes later, Gold 6’s radio crackled again. “Sir, the log is a snake!” A large python about ten feet long was lying in the sun digesting a wild pig.

“Sir, what are we going to do with the snake?” “Send it to the rear,” replied Gold 6. “If we tell someone they won’t believe it.” The snake was shot. Rogers tried to stuff it in a duffle bag, but it wouldn’t go. “We cut it in half and the ‘Log Bird’ took it back to the rear.”

The United States had long suspected that China was assisting North Vietnam. Chinese weapons had been found, but China steadfastly denied any involvement. Rogers and his men proved otherwise. “We found a Chinaman and killed him,” says Rogers. “He was about 6 feet tall and weighed 180 to 200 pounds. That was proof that Chinese were in Vietnam.

The corpse was getting ripe and smelling and we buried him.

Everything rots, rusts or reeks in the jungle. Everybody had to come and see him, including the Southern Pacific Commander, headquartered in Hawaii. The Press had to come see the corpse too. We buried that dude and dug him up three different times. He smelled. Wow! We finally buried him and left him.”

The men were always on the move searching for the enemy in underground bunkers, never staying in one place unless they discovered a bunker. The bunkers were large and cleverly concealed, usually chocked full of munitions and supplies.

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While moving through the jungles, they saw a parrot walking around in a circle with a string tied to one leg. Nearby, smoke was coming from the ground.

The smoke was being vented through an underground bamboo pipe from a bunker located a half a mile away. When the bunker was taken and searched, it contained a hospital, morgue, mess hall with cook stoves, a barracks and a training room with chalkboard and bamboo seats. “On the chalk board were pictures of U.S. aircraft,” says Rogers. “They knew the capability of our aircraft. They went to school underground to learn.”

Rogers rescued the parrot. “He was shell shocked. He’d walk around a bit and fall over.” A few days later, the men were flown back to Palace Guard (LZ Nancy) for rest where the parrot lived in peace with Rogers. “We’d swap out with someone to take care of the parrot. One of the Medics adopted him. He still had shell shock and would fall over.”

Rogers was due for 10 days of R and R and flew to Hawaii where he met his wife for the first time in 7 months. While there, he purchased a parrot cage at Sears. “I lugged that cage all the way back to Vietnam; hitchhiked back to my unit, catching rides on different helicopters. Along the way everyone as curious about the cage,” says Rogers. “When I got back, someone had turned the parrot loose. All that time and trouble I went to, and the parrot was gone.” Rogers returned to operations in the jungles. “Battles were furious, but often short and we took a lot of casualties,” he says. “Things were hairy, frightful and every emotional. You couldn’t see in the jungle, you responded to what you could hear and felt. Most soldiers developed a

sense of smell. It was survival of the fittest. My walking Bible was the 23rd psalm. When going into combat assault, I quoted it. It was the last thing I did. And there was also slack time when the men looked for entertainment to divert their minds from the reality of death that was always lurking nearby. Ant fighting was popular. Red ants and black ants were natural enemies.

They lived in bags hanging in a tree, similar to bag worms.

We’d take the black ants and put them in a tree with red ants and stand back and watch the fight,” says Rogers.

“They’d fight to the death.

They killed each other off and ate the remains and took all the fragments back to the colony for the other ants to eat.”

Morbid entertainment, but the men were living near death each day. And then there was bridge playing. If they happened to remain in one location several days “light discipline” was put in effect.

No lights at night. A lighted cigarette could be seen a mile away. “We’d get under a tent at night and using a flashlight would play bridge. We were out in nowhere in combat and playing bridge. We’d play with MPC (military pay certificates) called funny money.

Everyone sent their real money home except for about $50 bucks a month. There was nothing to spend it on.”

When Rogers was sent to Vietnam, he was told many times, “Don’t make close friends. It will affect how you act as a soldier.” He knew it was true, but didn’t heed the advice. Consequences bore fruit soon after a new Company Commander whom the men called “Beetle Bailey” took command.

To Be Continued...

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Dog Barker

Animal Cruelty

by Joel Allen

Many years ago, my Aunt Angie rescued a puppy from being beat to death with a brick by his owner. Angie was a short, stout woman and was willing to fight the cruel man over this German shepherd mixed puppy. Well, the puppy lived and was named Bowser.

Although Bowser was not quite right after that incident, he spent a good long life being a good dog but kind of goofy…LOL. Case in point, one day we were riding down the road in Montgomery, Alabama. It was a windy day and on the side of the road Bowser saw this garbage bag caught on a fence flapping in the wind. Well, he woofed and howled at it and beat my mom, unintentionally, with his front paws over the front passenger seat where she was seated.

My Aunt Angie was driving and just laughed

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and laughed as this all transpired. Poor Bowser, we always believed because he was beat in the head like that it made him real slow for a dog.

Animal cruelty has no place in our society and should be addressed and stopped!

I want to apologize in advance to my readers because this article will not be one of my best.

I want to make everyone aware that there is a darkness out there that relishes in the pain of the innocent, and I want to bring it into the light.

Just recently someone I know told me about witnessing the selling of kittens and how they were placed in a potato sack for transport. The only time I know animals to be transported like that is to be butchered, such as chickens. It was at a local flea market in my area. From my little bit of knowledge I have on

the subject and knowing the evil men can do, I got the impression that those kittens were going to be used for “BAIT.” I could be wrong, but that was my impression.

Everyone knows what I mean about bait, and I do not condone such as that. I want to place an “All-Points Bulletin” out there for my readers: “You see something, say something,” -- just not necessarily to the person committing the vile act of animal cruelty because if that person will be cruel to an animal, what will keep them from doing something to someone else? They do not value life but the money, their profit; and if someone is the seller of these poor animals, then they are no better than those who would participate in the terrible deed itself.

Look at all this technology we have, yet there

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are still cruel people getting away with these terrible acts of abuse! If they will harm an animal, then they would certainly harm other people, including children. Don’t doubt me on this!

I encourage everyone to look up your local state and federal laws pertaining to animal cruelty. Get contact phone numbers for the authorities who can and will do something.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a great start (888) 666-2279 or (212) 876-7700. I would also encourage everyone to use those cell phones and video record what happens. Get a description of the person or persons involved, and if a vehicle is used, get a description of that too -- year, make, color, model, and tag number.

We all know dog fight-

ing is illegal, and if someone knows about it, they should report it. Just please consider your safety and your family’s safety when reporting dog fighting. I have been informed that people who do these things are dangerous.

For your safety, there are ways to report anonymously to the authorities, and, yes, 911 is also an option. Please do the right thing always, and again I apologize for the roughness of this article.

I want everyone to stay alert and help make this world a better place.

“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

October 02 - October 15, 2020

Mental Health Minute

The Enneagram

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

f t t r “The enneagram does r not put you in a box.

It shows you the box

I you are already in, t e and how to get out of it.” . e - Ian Cron

oWhat I love most about being a counselor is learning dfrom my clients. Lately, I ehave been working with .young people, especially ymillennials, who share stheir enneagram numbers with me. Initially, I knew nothing about enneagrams, but I have found that like other personality tests, a discussion of our “types” often opens doors for conversation and insight. The enneagram can be a powerful gateway to self-awareness and understanding of others, by describing the structure and dynamics of nine personality types. Stemming from the Greek words ennea (nine) and grammos (a written symbol,) the ninepointed enneagram symbol represents nine patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting that arise from a deeper inner motivation or worldview. The enneagram describes three centers of intelligence and perception: head, heart, and body. While all of us have all three centers, our personality type has a particular strength and “home base” in one of them. The Instinctual Center (body) includes numbers 8 (the protector,) 9 (the mediator,) and 1 (the perfectionist.) The Emotional Center (heart) includes

numbers 2 (the giver,) 3 (the performer,) and 4 (the romantic.) The Intellectual Center (head) includes numbers 5 (the observer,) 6 (the loyal skeptic,) and 7 (the enthusiast.)

Body Types: 1, 8, and 9 Type 1: The Perfectionist’s attention goes toward seeing and correcting what is wrong, and doing the right thing. They are honest, responsible and detailoriented while having high standards, ones can be critical, resentful, and nonadaptable.

Type 8: The Protector tends to take charge of situations. They are energetic, intense, occasionally intimidating, impatient, and justice-seeking. The challenge for eights is to combine assertion and control with interdependency and cooperation.

done. Threes are enthusiastic, successful high achievers. The struggles for threes include overworking, impatience, and concentrating on external rewards to keep up their image.

Type 4: The Romantic moves back and forth between seeking meaning and depth in relationships and being individualists needing their alone time.

They are compassionate and idealistic, which creates problems with their ability to cooperate and avoid melancholy.

Head Types: 5, 6, and 7 Type 5: The Observer focuses on intellectual un-

derstanding and accumulating knowledge. Their strengths include their analytical abilities, perceptiveness, and self-reliance.

While fives value their privacy, they may become isolated or spend too much time “up in their heads.”

Type 6: The Loyal Skeptic uses perception and intellect to understand others and the world. They are protectors, courageous, and strategic thinkers. Because of their loyalty to those in their circle, they often view outsiders with suspicion and pessimism.

Type7: The Enthusiasts are the forward thinkers and movers. These optimists

love adventures, and are fun-loving, quick-thinking communicators. Sevens’ attention can shift quickly, so they are often seen as dispersed, uncommitted, and even self-absorbed.

If you would like to learn more about the enneagram, go to: www.enneagraminstitute. com 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.

Type 9: The Mediator is balanced, accepting, and harmonious. Nines are willing to do what needs to be done while taking care of themselves in the process. They see all points of view, but can also be stubborn, ambivalent, and conflict avoidant.

Heart Types: 2, 3, and 4 Type 2: The Giver focuses on relationships, making connections, and empathizing with the needs and feelings of others. They are caring, often popular, and excellent communicators. Twos struggle with being naïve, dependent, and people-pleasing.

Type 3: The Performer channels their emotional energy into getting things

October 02 - October 15, 2020

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The Alternative Approach

Why Should We Be Taking Supplements?

by Lana E. Woody When I was younger, I was introduced to herbal supplements and vitamins. This started my obsession with finding out more about living healthy and exercising.

I found it hard to eat right when I was working and going to school all the time, so I turned to vitamins and supplements to give me energy and help me stay healthy. People made fun of me in high school for not wanting to eat certain things and going to the health food store, so I learned to keep my mouth shut about different herbs that I took.

Being excited about how two teas help reduce my dermatitis, I found others didn’t share in my enthusiasm and mocked me.

It seemed strange to me that this was occurring, and as I got older and worked in the medical industry I discovered why. You know all those commercials they put in between your favorite TV programs? Viagra commercials during prime time while your kids

are watching seem odd.

Then they have all these other drugs they push, and the side effects at the end usually last longer than the commercial, even though they say it as fast as they possibly can. Every time I hear one of these commercials, I shake my head thinking it sounds like the side effects might outweigh the reason to take the drug. Why is it that these drugs get passed, but we can’t get other treatments passed in the United States?

Who is really controlling this situation?

Working at a medical facility taught me something priceless; almost every patient told me a sob story of how sick they were. A long list of ailments would spill out of their mouths. Sometimes their story was contagious; other people would hear it and be like, “Well, that is what is wrong with me too.” There were times I would feel ill just listening to how sick they were.

Patients would hold up a bag full of prescriptions

saying, “My doctor told me to bring my medicine with me.” Then they would explain that this drug has side effects with that drug, but the doctor said to keep taking them.

Then I saw people given a death sentence and sent to hospice, but would get better. You know why?

Hospice would take them off all their medications and put them on comfort measures, and they got better! So, in my life, I found that even though getting treated by a medical doctor was necessary sometimes, I almost always did better taking herbs and dietary supplements.

I’ve seen doctors have a drug representative come in and in no time, every patient get put on that drug. Mainstream medicine has been bought out by companies that want to keep us sick. This really makes me sad. It makes you wonder why people who eat healthy and seek holistic methods are shunned so much by the average person.

If you see someone getting well, not having to see a doctor all the time, wouldn’t you want to do the same thing yourself?

After traveling to other countries where they don’t put their elderly in nursing homes, and finding out that their food isn’t filled with steroids and preservatives I realized, America is in real trouble. This great country has been bought

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out by people who don’t want us to get better, they don’t make any money if we learn to maintain our health naturally.

Just taking Ultimate Fruit & Veggie, which delivers the equivalent of five servings of raw fruits and veggies, including amino acids and enzymes, will go a long way toward supporting our health with no side effects. MSM+C has proven to support our joints and circulatory system, reduce inflammation, and give you thicker, softer, prettier hair.

It also supports healthier skin by supporting our body’s ability to produce collagen, improving elasticity, decreasing the appearance of wrinkles, and creating a more radiant look. If we have pain, taking Relief helps decrease inflammation, which reduces pain naturally.

For people diagnosed with heart and circulatory problems, Heart was formulated to support the entire circulatory system -- strengthening veins, arteries,

and capillaries. It also supports more natural blood pressure levels and may even reduce elevated cholesterol.

It is loaded with some very powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Being healthy is so much easier the natural and holistic way!

Thank you for reading this and let me encourage you to come by Herbs & More in Athens and visit us. I am there working Tuesday through Friday, and I look forward to meeting you and helping you find the right holistic approach to maintaining your health.

Simply go by Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen or call 800-745-4408. To learn even more, go to www.nhc19.podbean. com and listen to Roy’s radio programs or listen live Monday – Friday at 9:00 a.m. on WBTG in Sheffield and at noon on WKAC in Athens.

Your Friend in Health, Lana E. Woody

October 02 - October 15, 2020

www.JuicePlus.com

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC October 02 - October 15, 2020

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