September 4th - September 17th, 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 Museum Director invited to serve as honorary member of International Competition Jury to select the design for the new Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery... Alabama Veterans Museum & Archive Director, Sandra Thompson, has been chosen to... Page 11
Clean And Green The Race Is ON! The 20th Annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby... It’s the time of year that KALB likes to call “Duck Season!” The 20th Annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby is just about a... Page 12
Cruise Planners of Athens: Ready, Willing And Able To Help You Travel Well By Ali Elizabeth Turner These days, Dana Henry is a busy woman. She runs her family business, Hyatt & Sims, along with a Cub Scout den; was recently sworn in as the Athens City Councilwoman from Continued on page 15
All Southern Pest Control: Local, Experienced, And Affordable
Cooking With Anna Are You Committed?... Webster’s Dictionary defines commitment as “having made a pledge or commitment to someone or something.” What are you committed to in your life?... Page 13
September 04 - September 17, 2020
The 2009 Disney Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom that started it all
By Ali Elizabeth Turner
Shane Vess, owner of All Southern Pest Control
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Twenty years ago, Quad Cities native Shane Vess got into the pest control business through a family member. In 2011, he started his own business with the goal of being local, affordable, and thorough. That commitment to quality served him well and his business grew. Then, a Continued on page 17
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September 04 - September 17, 2020
Publisher’s Point
Zooming To Celebrate My Mother, the Seattle Centenarian
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 Sandra Thompson Anna Hamilton Joel Allen Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Roy Williams Steve Leland
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 5 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 6 Calendar Of Events . . . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 10 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 16 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 18 Steve's Corner . . . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . 20
My mom, Mary Ellen Hersman White, turned 100 years old on August 26th. She lives in Seattle, where I was born and raised, at a wonderful downtown facility with a gorgeous view of Puget Sound. Seattle has been one of the most hardhit American cities this summer, both with COVID and civil unrest, and coming up with a way to celebrate a century of her living in a remarkable era was somewhat complicated. I have two older sisters, Sharon and Kathryn. Sharon lives in Seattle, and Kathryn lives New York, the other Ground Zero when it comes to COVID. I sent them an email earlier this summer that suggested we do a Zoom party for our mom, and with the help of a number of people in several cities, we managed to pull it off. Let’s start with the folks in Athens who boosted my confidence enough to consider actually hosting a Zoom party. I have been on a zillion Zoom calls, long before COVID, but hosting one is a bit more daunting. In Athens, Tracie Spain of Frame Gallery Off The Square and Randy McKinney of Athens Athletics got on mock Zoom calls with me so I could practice hosting. They are in my Business Network International group, and the group also sent my mom flowers. My Juice Plus sponsor, Carrie Radnov, who lives in St. Louis, also practiced with me. As always, my Olympia, WA, friends Carl and
Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . 22
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My spry 100 year old mother, Mary Ellen Hersman White
Barb Walker rolled out the red carpet and took excellent care of me while I stayed in their home for the week. Just before I flew to Seattle, (and trust me, flying is straight up weird these days) Sharon texted me to tell me that I was actually going to have a chance to see Mutti. (Mutti, pronounced MOOtee is a German nickname that my former brother-inlaw taught me over 50 years ago. It closely approximates “mommy.”) She had, out of an abundance of caution been kept semi-sequestered on the 3rd floor of her building, and Horizon House had just decided to let residents “hold court” outside. On Monday, August 24, I sat down behind a clear screen with a mask on my face, and my mom was escorted to a chair on the other side. I was firmly instructed to
not try to reach around the barrier to touch her, and it was hard. All I wanted to do was hold her. Yet, I got to see her, and it was utterly worth the strangeness of the setting. As I was walking back to my car, my cousin Wendy Price called out of nowhere and said, “I have had this idea. What do you think of having a Zoom party for your mom?” Oh, man. How did she know that I still needed so much help? We made plans for practice Zoom meetings which were patiently attended by my sister Sharon and my cousin Caren; Wendy contacted missing cousins and sent out a much improved invitation to far-flung friends and family, and we were set. On August 26, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, my mom and an aid from Horizon House, my husband, my sisters, my
kids, stepdaughter, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members all gathered on Zoom for a virtual party that spanned from New Zealand to Seattle. Their birthday greetings were recorded, and at the end of our time together, it was suggested that we not wait ‘til someone turns 100 before we do it again. Who knows what could happen? All I know for now is that I will never forget the kindness of family and friends, and I have no way to convey my thanks to all who made this possible. May God bless all y’all.
Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com
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September 04 - September 17, 2020
What Makes Ronnie Roll
We’re All A Work In Progress by Ali Elizabeth Turner Years ago, when I first started interviewing Mayor Marks, I was privileged to attend, along with the mayor, a Steven Covey seminar for teachers and elementary students that was entitled, “The Leader in Me.” The seminar was run by Steven’s son, Ryan, and was held in Athens State University’s Carter gym. There was a second grade kid who introduced himself to the crowd of several hundred as “a work in progress,” and he was as polished as any we had ever heard. Our jaws nearly dropped open at the poise of this child as he talked about his longterm goals and plans for personal development and his career. Fast forward nearly a decade, and the kid, who
for the moment shall remain anonymous because I am not sure if he wants his name “out there,” now works for a radio station that recently interviewed Mayor Ronnie. The mayor remembered the kid, the kid remembered the mayor, and they laughed about the memory of “being a work in progress.” We laughed as well as we met on Monday, and the mayor asked again, “But we all are, aren’t we?” “We are indeed,” I said. We talked about his victory in the recent mayoral election, and he wanted to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to the citizens of Athens, the people who voted, the people who worked the campaign, and to his opponents. “It was a clean,
professional campaign,” said Mayor Ronnie. Then he told me about his 7-year-old grandson, Quinton, who got involved in the campaign and rode his bike around to people that he saw in their yards and said, “I want you to vote for my Pops.” In addition, there was a young woman who went doorto-door to campaign, COVID-style, and when she returned from the porches she would do a series of round-off back handspring flips to her mom’s waiting car. It was as good as anything you would see on Beale Street in Memphis. Of special note was the grace of Mark Wilson, who ran against the mayor. Mark went about town to pick up some of Ronnie’s cam-
paign signs, and Mayor Ronnie did the same for Mark. They had profitable conversations about reconciliation and moving forward in a way that will truly work, honor the Constitution, and be beneficial for ALL the lives of Athenians. “That’s why Mark ran for mayor, and that’s what we do in America,” said the mayor. Man, do I love this town! (That’s me talking) Speaking of loving this town, there is someone else who loves this town and shows it by picking up trash. Her name is Laverne Gilbert, and she has started a movement. Not only does she fill bags of trash, everyone from the mayor to neighborhoods have caught the vision for
how beautiful we could be. This town is cleaner because of Laverne and her crew, and we continue to be a work in progress when it comes to making Athens clean again.
Before praying, we moved to things that really are not nearly as important as the fact that we just had an opportunity to exercise our right to vote and be heard in the public square. Things like two possible major retail developments, and two major commercial developments, both of which will provide jobs. Then we prayed for the mayor, his family, the city, the next four years, our country, the next election, and it was time for Ronnie to roll.
Laverne Gilbert has put Mayor Ronnie and others to work cleaning up our town September 04 - September 17, 2020
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All Things Soldier
V-J Day, 75 Years Later by Ali Elizabeth Turner
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 was the 75th anniversary of what was referred to in the West as V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day. My dad served in the Pacific as part of the US Naval Air Corps, and calendars always clearly marked this day when I was a kid. For many years in our culture, Pearl Harbor Day, D-Day, V-E Day (Victory over Europe Day) and V-J Day were dates that one knew like the 4th of July. The actual day of the end of the war was August 15, but the formal
ceremony took place on September 2. The surrender papers were signed aboard the USS Missouri, which at the end of WWII was anchored in Tokyo Harbor. The ship, which was referred to with great affection as the “Mighty MO,” then went into dry dock for several years at the US Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. The actual location of the table where the surrender papers were signed is marked on the deck, and I have stood on the
spot. In 1999 the Mighty Mo was moved back to Pearl Harbor, where our involvement started and ended, and the battleship can still be toured. It is an awe-inspiring ship, to be sure, but what truly matters is what happened there. Our country had to take drastic measures to stop the war with Japan in the form of dropping the alltime deterrents on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Thankfully, those measures have never been deployed again, and
as horrific as was their use, the number of lives lost pales in comparison to the number of casualties on both sides that would have occurred if conventional warfare had worn on. Emperor Hirohito said, in part, “Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but would lead also to the total extinction of human civilisation." It is well documented that Hirohito thought he was
a god, and as such gave an eight-hour interview in March of 1946, just a few months after the end of the war, where he lay on a white bed in white pajamas propped up by white pillows and tried to advance the narrative that he had been forced by his advisors into the war in the first place. He stated, “I was a virtual prisoner and was powerless.” This is odd coming from a man who was the Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army, which among other things committed genocide against 20 to 30 million Chinese through the use of gas, raped Chinese women by the millions, had beheading contests, and practiced vivisection. While trivia about the battleship and the man in the white PJs may be interesting to some, what should be riveting to all is what guys like my dad helped to stop -- yet another quest for world (or shared world) domination by yet another man who thought he was god and would stop at nothing (except what he called "a new and most cruel bomb") before he capitulated. What is mind-boggling to me, and what makes our nation even more amazing, is that America and Japan are now allies, and strong ones. Think about that the next time you hop in your Honda, and if you have what is now the unlikely chance to thank someone “who was at Pearl,” please do so with heartfelt honor.
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September 04 - September 17, 2020
Enjoy your LABOR DAY Weekend!
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Calendar of Events Chick-Fil-A Athens 10K, 5K & 1-Mile Virtual Race September 5 - 26
30 vendors, food, Maggie Moos Ice Cream. Entertainment with Daniel Jones from 9:00AM-11:00AM and Lance Turner.
This race will be held virtually. Registration open until September 25, 2020. Run the distance registered between September 5th and September 26th by 11:00AM. Submit time online, virtual race app available at registration link. Proceeds benefit East Limestone High School Band. Registration and Information itsyourrace
RealTree Kayak Bass Fishing Trail Wheeler Lake Southeast Regional Final September 12 - 13
Ingall's Harbor (Decatur) starting at 6:00AM and ending 2:30PM on Sep 13 presented by Dee Zee. Fee: $100.00 Tournament Questions: kbfjoe@gmail.com Register: TourneyX.com
Run Like A Boss 5K ​September 5
Virtual Race for an at-your-own-pace run/walk of 3.1 miles whether at the gym on treadmill or your favorite trail. Fee: $25.00 Register online at RunLikeABoss.org
Cruise In on the Square September 5
Annual Trail of Tears Remembrance Day Observed September 15
This annual event day marks the anniversary of the day when the last Cherokees arrived in Oklahoma and commemorates the people forced to marches from their tribal lands in the east to the lands of the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) from 18381839. Learn more with the National Park Service
September in downtown Athens from 6:00PM-9:00PM all makes and models welcome. No judging, no trophy - just fun, fellowship and amazing cars.
Play Outside Day September 5
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
Veterans Post Free Veterans' Breakfast September 12
At the Amvets Post 21. 22769 Black Road in Athens. A pancake or egg breakfast with the trimmings from 7:00AM-9:30AM. Non-Veterans $6.00. All are welcome. For more information: 256-444-2793 or www.AmVetsAL21.com
9/11 Heroes Run - Athens September 12
8th Annual Foundation for Mental Health Golf Tournament September 17
Canebrake Club of Athens. 23015 Founders Circle in Athens from 11:30AM-5PM. Individual player ($150.00) and teams ($600.00 foursome) welcome to enjoy the lunch, beverages and golf. For more info or to register: www.mhcnca.org/golf
3rd Annual Olde American Thyme Primitive, Antique and Vintage Show September 19
Ardmore High School. 30285 Ardmore Avenue in Admore, AL from 9:00AM-5:00PM with vendors offering premium primitive pieces. Entrance fee: $5.00 per person benefiting the Ardmore High School Band.
National Bike to Work Day September 22
Celebrate by peddling your way to work today and give your health, mental health and wallet a boost.
Heroes Run has transitioned to a virtual race. Lace up your running shoes for Alabama's only Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run. Runners and walkers will wind through the scenic streets of Athens as they remember the fallen of 9/11 and those who have fought the wars since. TravisManion.org
3rd Annual Main Street Market Day September 12
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.
Ardmore Avenue in Ardmore, AL from 9:00AM-2:00PM with Page 8
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September 04 - September 17, 2020
Slinkard On Success
Think BIG! by D. A. Slinkard
If you think it, you can achieve it. I remember the first time I heard this message, and I was blown away by the simplicity yet impactful truthfulness of this statement. The human brain is absolutely amazing, and it is astonishing how God, the creator of everything, was able to design such an intricate system that fits perfectly between our ears. It has been proven that we use only a fraction of our brain, and I cannot even fathom a world in which we use more brain power. Even Elon Musk has created an invention, the Neuralink, which reminds me of something you can read about in the book of Revelation.
goes back to us not using our brains. This article is to challenge you with how you use what God has given you to think with. This article is to challenge you to THINK BIG! This article is to get you to think about what you want to achieve in life and then set out to achieve it. It was a monumental moment in my life when I understood that what I pictured in my mind, I had the ability to achieve in real life. I was nearly 25 years old when I heard this concept. By that time I had already graduated from college
and was married with two precious daughters. If I would have been introduced to this concept before, I am not for certain what all I would have been able to achieve at a much younger age. I found out that when you think positive, positive things happen. When you think negative, negative things happen. This is true in your life today. If you want to know what kind of day you are going to have, you need to ask yourself what kind of attitude you are going to take. Too often we ask ourselves what else is going to go
When it comes to our lives, though, too many people are not doing enough thinking. I can remember being a kid and told, “Use your imagination,” and now kids are being told to, “Use your iPad.” We have a society that is being completely dumbed down because of the great advancements in technology, and we have people who cannot think for themselves. Do not believe me? How many phone numbers can you remember of people who are your contacts in your phone?
Therefore, you need to make more of a conscious effort to change your thought process. The moment you realize your thoughts are negative, you need to change your thoughts and find your happiness. Get out of the negative zone and into the happy zone. This is an extremely impor-
tant step to take in your daily life because most people walking around are only thinking negatively. They are thinking negatively about their spouse; thinking negatively about their job; thinking negatively about their life; and we need to change the thought process. Once we have the thought process, or mind set, established in a positive manner, then we can focus on what we want to achieve. If you have the mentality that you can obtain your goals, you are more likely to achieve them; but if you think it is not possible, then good luck trying to find any kind of success. The reality of life is that most people do not think about what they want to achieve in life. They go about living the rat race of life with no dreams, no aspirations, no desires. If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. You need to set your sights on something that gets your blood pumping. If you think it, you can achieve it. What has been on your mind lately? What is it you would like to see yourself achieving while the negative mindset has been getting in your way? This article can be impactful for people of all ages, young or old, because you should not stop living until you draw your last breath. Too many people give up too soon…will you?
I still remember the phone number of my childhood friend, yet many people cannot even tell you the number of their spouse. It
September 04 - September 17, 2020
wrong, and we find more of what we do not want. If you think it, you can achieve it. This goes for the good and the bad. If you focus in on what you do not want, you are going to get it because you have been thinking about it.
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Tourism
September Ushers In The Return Of Familiar Events by Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association As summer draws to an end and wishes of cool fall breezes begin to creep into the minds of many, September is filling up with events from cruise-ins to commemorative events, golf tournaments to open arena nights, and more. Whether you’re looking to get out and about and enjoy the great outdoors or are ready for a little spooky fun, you’re sure to find something to fill your calendar with. Here are just a few highlights of events happening in September and you’ll find the details to these events and more at VisitAthensAL.com/ events. Get Outdoors… Redstone Harley-Davidson will be the starting point for a variety of rides including the September 5th Cody’s Ride, Trail of Tears Commemorative Ride on September 19, Bikes and Blades Poker Run on September 26, as well as
an Axe Throwing Contest. Golfers can take their swings to the links for upcoming fundraisers for the Foundation of Mental Health on September 17 and AOD Scramble for Scholarships on September 28. Horseback riders can enjoy Open Arena Nights on Wednesdays with Grassland Ranch on Airport Road. Those looking for a little competition might enjoy the September 26th Have Fun or Go Home Open Horse Show at Dixon Stables on Bain Road. Those with a swift eye and shotgun prowess might enjoy the Elkmont Lions Club Dove Shoot on September 5 and 6 or maybe the Shoot4Shelter Sporting Clay Tournament will offer a great challenge when they take over the Limestone County Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays on September 25. Kayak anglers will be in town to compete at the Realtree Kay-
ak Bass Fishing Trail – Wheeler Lake Southeast Regional Finals on September 12 and 13. Two Cruise-Ins Set Square in September…
for
The traditional first Saturday Cruise-In with all makes and models of cars, trucks, motorcycles, rat rods, and specialty vehicles is still set for September 5 around the Limestone County Courthouse Square. However, a special “Trucks Only” edition will be rolling in on September 12 showcasing a variety of vintage makes and models. Dining to give back… Smokin’ on the Sod Cook Off comes to Tanner on September 12 benefiting Mosaic of North Alabama. Elkmont Fire Department is hosting a Swamp John’s dinner fundraiser on September 17 to help fund the operations of the station and other programs. The Vietnam Veterans Spaghetti Day fundraiser as well as the Senior Lunch Matinees are canceled for September. Remembering Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle…
Fireman and Runners of 9/11 Heroes Run: Though the run won't happen on the streets of Athens this September, organizers are asking runners and walkers to virtually step up and answer "If Not Me, Then Who..."
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The Richard Martin Rails to Trails will be the backdrop commemoration of the battle as historians mark the 156th anniversary. Retired Brigadier General John Scales, author of The Battles and Campaigns of Confederate Nathan Bedford Forrest and Sherman Invades Georgia; Retired Colonel Edwin Kennedy, former Tactic and Historic Instructor for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and others to speak. Honoring the Trail of Tears… As motorcycle engines rev and processions grow, a solemn reminder of the Trail of Tears
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will happen on September 19. The annual commemorative ride will begin in Bridgeport TN and navigate its way to Redstone Harley-Davidson for lunch where riders and the public can mingle before heading up Mooresville Road to U.S. Highway 72 and turning west to head to Waterloo. Local races steps…
take
virtual
September is usually packed with a variety or races benefiting various causes in our community; but this year you won’t see streets closed and runners en masse because many organizers are heeding words of caution and moving races virtual. Eli’s Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation may have canceled Superhero Fun Day but they’re inviting runners and walkers to be superheroes for their Superhero 43 Ribbon Races happening over Labor Day Weekend. Run-Like-ABoss 5K invites runners and walkers to put in their 3.1 miles virtually as well. The ChickFil-A 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile run that usually takes over downtown Athens with family fun has moved their race to the virtual world. The 9/11 Heroes Run - Athens continues to answer, “If not me, then who…” by migrating its race to the virtual circuit as well. Screams In the Dark… Haunted Lester Hospital will be kicking off their 2020 season of screams and terror on September 25 and 26 as darkness falls over the small town of Lester. Things that go bump in the night… Athens-Limestone Tourism has partnered with Southern Ghost Girls Tours and Paranormal Investigations for a Halloween
fundraiser on October 24 in the never-before investigated Gray and Holt Building that was home to the silent movie era Dixie Theatre and longtime community mercantile Gray and Son, later Gray and Holt. Ticket seekers can visit Eventbrite.com and search Athens, AL Gray and Holt and Facebook users can search for “Ghost Hunt and Paranormal Investigation, Gray and Holt on Market Street” for the October 24th event which features 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. options. Tickets are $30.00 (plus fees) per person and a portion of the proceeds benefits the AthensLimestone County Tourism Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving the community by promoting and developing quality of life activities and recruiting travelers, conferences, conventions, tournaments, historians, students, and industry for the benefit our local economy and tourism industry. We’re beginning to think a lot about Christmas… Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association will begin taking tree sponsorships in September for their annual family-friendly tree stroll that takes over the beautiful Big Spring Memorial Park in December. With hopes of a tremendous outpouring of support, Athens-Limestone Tourism strives to make this a spectacular event to brighten everyone’s Christmas. This annual fundraiser features trees sponsored and decorated by businesses, families, individuals, church groups, civic groups, and non-profits. For more information, please call: 256-232-5411.
September 04 - September 17, 2020
Special Feature
Museum Director invited to serve as honorary member of International Competition Jury to select the design for the new Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery and Museum at Westerplatte by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum
Alabama Veterans Museum & Archive Director, Sandra Thompson, has been chosen to be an honorary juror in the competition to select a design project to build a cemetery and museum at Westerplatte that will give justice to national heroes and commemorate the fallen with dignity they deserve. Westerplatte, a landmark of great historical significance, is recognized today as a symbol of heroism, perseverance, and resistance. On September 1, 1939, Polish soldiers engaged in an uneven fight against the German invaders, who, despite their colossal advan-
tage, could not weaken the morale of the Poles; instead, they encountered decisive, brave, armed response. Around the world, on many battlefields, soldiers from different countries and historical periods made similarly important sacrifices. In creating a cemetery on Westerplatte, the desire is to build on the experience of those noble museums -- such as Verdun, Gettysburg, USS Arizona Memorial, or Waterloo -- that have managed to give justice to their national heroes and even, in some cases, honor all those who took part in a battle, recognizing them not as soldiers of the warring sides only,
but also as human beings. Embedded in the national collective memory of each country that has fought the war are universal values such as extraordinary courage, patriotism, and unwavering faith in victory. Director Thompson met with Director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, Mr. Karol Nawrocki, who is in charge of the project, on a visit to Poland in August of 2019. They met to exchange ideas on museum design and displays and to discuss tourism as a whole. In a recent invitation letter,
Director Nawrocki stated, “I am strongly convinced with your sound historical judgment we can engage in a constructive debate on the symbolism of Westerplatte
and reach a decision on the most fitting concept for the new Polish Army War Cemetery at Westerplatte.” “It is quite an honor to be chosen to be part of this very historical event. We must never forget the sacrifices that were made by all for the freedoms we have today; this was but just one part of that sacrifice in the beginning of World War II,” says Director Thompson. She also recently received an invitation from the Polish Ministry of National Defense to attend the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend due to travel restrictions at this time. For further information on the competition for the cemetery design concept, go to https:// muzeum1939.pl/en/competition-westerplattecemetery-concept
September 04 - September 17, 2020
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Clean and Green
The Race Is ON! The 20th Annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby by Leigh Patterson - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful It’s the time of year that KALB likes to call “Duck Season!” The 20th Annual Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby is just about a month away. This year’s event will be taking place on October 3. Because it is the 20th anniversary of the Ducky Derby, the Grand Prize will be doubled to $2,000 this year! KALB would like to thank American Leakless Company for being our Grand Prize Diamond Duck Sponsor. Earlier this year, we had to make the hard decision to cancel our annual Duck and Run 5K due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled for September, and it is one of our two largest fundraisers. As a non-profit organization, KALB relies heavily on our fundraisers to make ends meet, and having to cancel even one event makes a big difference in our already small budget. The race is ON for the Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby this year! Due to the event being held outdoors, there will be plenty of room to practice social distancing. Another perk is that you do not have to be present to win, even though it is a fun event to watch! Our prize list continues to grow. All prizes are generously provided by sponsors, so that every donation made to adopt ducks supports the work of Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful. THE DERBY The event will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 at Big Spring Memorial Park (The Duck Pond) in Athens. Hundreds of specially-designed rubber ducks will be racing down
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the spillway and into the duck trap. For a $5 donation to KALB, one numbered racing duck will be entered into the race in your name. Ducks will be divided and raced in 4 to 6 heats, depending on the total number of ducks adopted. The numbers of winners in each heat will be determined by the number of prizes at the time of the derby. Winners of each heat will then be entered into the Championship Race, where every duck is a winner! Prizes won will be determined by the order the ducks come through the duck trap. Winners will be announced as soon after the final race as possible. Papa Murphy’s Quack Pack For a $25 donation to KALB, you will receive a Papa Murphy’s Quack Pack. This includes 6 ducks (1 free) and a coupon for 25% off your entire order at Papa Murphy’s Pizza, with no expiration date! You will also be guaranteed that you will have a duck in each heat, unless you request otherwise. Special Drawing for Disney Tickets This year there will be a special prize drawing for two sets of 4 Walt Disney World Park Hopper Passes*. Anyone purchasing 4 Quack Packs ($100 donation) will have their name entered into a drawing. There will be two winners and each winner will receive 4 Disney park hopper passes. *Passes expire on June 21, 2021. How to Adopt Ducks Ducks can be adopted online at www.KALBCares.com. Click the EVENTS tab and
Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby. Instructions are listed on the event page. Printable adoption forms are also located online and may be mailed in to PO Box 1089, Athens, AL 35612. You may also drop by the KALB office at 125 East Street in Athens and adopt your ducks in person. Ducks may be adopted in person until 1:00 p.m. on race day (October 3) at the KALB office. Online adoptions close at midnight on Friday, October 2. On behalf of the KALB Commission and Staff, we are truly grateful for the support of the community that we continue to receive. We could not do the work that we do without our wonderful sponsors, supporters, and volunteers!
$250 Cash – American Leakless Company
$100 Cash – First National Bank
$200 Cash—Brody Jackson State Farm
$100 Cash – Morell Engineering
$200 Cash – Distinctive Landscaping, inc.
$50 Cash – American Leakless Company
$200 Cash – Morell Engineering
$50 Cash – Brody Jackson State Farm
Gift Basket – The SK Salon ($190 value)
$50 Cash – Distinctive Landscaping, Inc.
$100 Cash – American Leakless Company
$50 Cash – Morell Engineering
$100 Cash – American Leakless Company
MORE TO COME!
$100 Cash – Brody Jackson State Farm
Lazy Duck Awards provided by Dub’s Burgers
$100 Cash – Distinctive Landscaping, Inc.
Current Prize List $2,000 Cash – American Leakless Co. GRAND PRIZE Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa – 1 Night Stay plus Dinner for 2 at 360 Grille ($315 value) $250 Osborne’s Jewelers Gift Card
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Become a Fan
(256) 233-8000 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com September 04 - September 17, 2020
Cooking with Anna
Are You Committed? by Anna Hamilton
Webster’s Dictionary defines commitment as “having made a pledge or commitment to someone or something.” What are you committed to in your life? For many, the answer is their spouse, their home church, their job. Most people, however, do not name themselves as a commitment. For most of my life, I wouldn’t have listed myself in my commitments. I put myself on the back burner and just kept going. I think many women would agree that there is a sense of guilt associated with taking time for yourself. Some might even say that you are selfish for doing so. A wise friend and I were talking on the phone last week about this very topic. She assured me that taking care of myself, putting my health and mental well-being at the forefront of my mind, is actually the responsible thing to do. She so kindly reminded me that in order to be of good to others, you must be able; and if you don’t take care of yourself, you will not be able. Take the time to eat healthy foods, take good vitamins, take a long walk, take time to
pray and meditate. Give yourself time to build up your physical and mental health so that you can be of service to others. How do you actually put that into practice? For me, I am having to start slow. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous, learning to take time for yourself? I am starting this week to take extra time in the morning to just be in the stillness and quiet -- taking time to pray and meditate on the positive things in my life. What are you going to do that become more committed to yourself? I hope you learn to take time for yourself, we can learn to do it together! This week’s recipe is a simple side dish that is sure to be a crowd favorite. Simple roasted cauliflower takes on a Middle Eastern twist with savory curry powder. Enjoy!! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Curry Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients:
6 cups cauliflower florets 4 tsp olive oil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp garlic powder ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp cayenne Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup chopped cilantro for garnish
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with oil, lemon juice, curry powder, garlic powder, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Spread cauliflower in one layer onto a large, foillined baking sheet. Roast, stirring and turning over occasionally, until tender and golden, about 25-35 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
September 04 - September 17, 2020
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Home Improvement
Multigenerational Living: DIY And Home Improvements For The Expanding Family courtesy BrandPoint content (BPT) - The American household is evolving. Traditional family households with parents and children up to 18 have transformed into a mix of various generations. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the growth of multigenerational households, including adults with boomerang children living at home after college, or aging parents living with them rather than at assisted living facilities. While each household has its personal reasons for opting for a multigenerational structure, it's a trend growing across cultures. One in five Americans live in a multigenerational household, according to the Pew Research Center, which defines multigenerational living as a home that includes
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two or more adult generations, or including grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25. As quarantine and social-distancing impacts continue, the number of families choosing multigenerational living is poised to grow. As the pandemic has shifted the way a home functions in multiple ways, more people are putting time into homeimprovement projects that help a home function well for everyone who lives there. This is particularly important for people transitioning to multigenerational households. Consider three steps to help improve multigenerational living: Step 1: Expand living space When someone moves in, it's amazing how
what used to feel like ample space can suddenly seem very cramped. Space becomes a premium and with lack of adequate space to read, watch TV or simply sit to rest, home stress levels can rise fast. That's why you may want to consider ways to add common spaces, or transform the space you do have to accommodate more people. Finishing a basement is a smart option if you have financial means. You might also finish attic spaces or add a shed with seating and electricity. Stylish room partitions or curtains can provide privacy and the feeling of a room if you don't have money to invest in a larger homeimprovement project. Finally, consider refreshing outdoor spaces with seating spots
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grouped throughout the yard to expand the property's livable space and encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. Step 2: Add a bathroom without costly demo When the number of people increases in a home, the bathroom becomes a hot commodity. Whether it's to put a bathroom closer to an aging parent's bedroom or simply add a powder room in a nontraditional location to expand resources, consider affordable options such as macerating toilets and drain pumps from Saniflo. These above-floor plumbing options allow you to add a bathroom where no conventional, below-floor plumbing exists, so there's no need to bust through concrete floors and compromise a home's integrity. This was the case for designer and homedĂŠcor blogger Kristine Abram who dreamed of adding a bathroom in the basement of her Ohio farmhouse-style home for her kids to use. Unfortunately, the slope of the land would not allow her to build a conventional bathroom with below-floor drainage. She researched alternatives and found the Saniaccess 2: a 1/2-horsepower macerator pump system used to install a halfbathroom (toilet and sink) up to 15 feet below the sewer line. Learn more at www.
saniflo.com. Step 3: Add and enhance entryways With more people coming and going, entryways can become chaotic places in a home. If possible, consider refining the entry points to accommodate increased traffic and contain clutter. You may want to add benches and cubbies for each person's personal items to help contain messes and prevent tripping hazards. Proper lighting, stable hooks and grab bars are also useful additions to accommodate multigenerational living. Although you have a main entryway, you might also have other points of entry such as from the garage, the side or back of the home. Consider refreshing different entryways for different residents. For example, young adults just starting their careers may be coming and going a lot, so the door from the garage should be their main point of entrance. For aging parents with stability issues, the front entryway might be a good option, because it has railings and bright lighting. You can even change stairways into ramps if necessary. Thinking strategically and making a few smart improvements, you can update your home so that it is comfortable for many people for many years to come.
September 04 - September 17, 2020
Cover Story
Cruise Planners of Athens: Ready, Willing And Able To Help You Travel Well by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1
District 4; and she and her husband, Scott, now own a Cruise Planners franchise. Their newly-launched travel advisory service is located inside the Hyatt & Sims store, which has been a part of “Classic. Southern. Character.” in our town for decades. It is right across the street from the south side of the courthouse at 211 W. Washington Street in Athens. Dana basically grew up at the shop, and has run it since her parents died 8 months apart in 2007-2008. She went to Athens High School and also is a University of Alabama graduate. She met Scott while participating in the Jaycees, and being involved in community activities has always been a part of what they do because of who they are. Scott and Dana are also the adoptive parents of Mitchell, who is now 20 and is a student at Auburn. “Mitchell is a miracle,” Dana told me. Her tale
of how they got him is wonderful, and it was actually the process of planning and then taking several memorable family vacations that inadvertently prepared them for this new endeavor. “We love to travel, and Scott would be the one to do the research on the best deals,” Dana told me. At first, especially when Mitchell was younger, many of Scott’s skills as an accountant went toward planning and then taking Disney trips. They also got good at cruises, and over time they would have friends ask for help with planning their trips, which Scott was happy to do somewhat as a hobby. However, it was what Dana calls a “reward trip” which was promised to Mitchell that really convinced them that becoming travel advisors would be a beneficial new career, as well as something the Henrys could do when the time comes to “officially retire.” When Mitchell turned 18, he completed the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, which is no small accomplishment. He also graduated from high school, and Scott and Dana promised him he could pick anywhere he wanted to go for a celebratory trip. Mitchell chose Scotland, and in 2019 the Henry family took the trip of a lifetime. “That
September 04 - September 17, 2020
trip was what put us over the top regarding the travel industry,” Dana said. Now that Mitchell was leaving the nest, being able to travel more was possible; and getting paid to help others travel well and make the same kinds of memories the Henry family had been blessed to make was especially attractive. Scott set out to research travel advisory franchises, and narrowed it down to three. They finally decided in September of 2019 to go with Cruise Planners, Inc., which is headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Hyatt & Sims Travel, LLC (which is doing business as Cruise Planners) was formed in October of last year, and Dana went to Florida for her training as a certified travel advisor in November. They then set up a shop-within-ashop and quickly began to book trips for the people of Athens-Limestone County. Then COVID hit. Dana and Scott were so glad that they had chosen Cruise Planners as their parent company for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the quality of Cruise Planners’ response to the pandemic, as well as the integrity they demonstrated in helping people with now-ruined travel plans. Dana told me a bit about the history of their travel advisory franchise. “Cruise Planners was started by two best friends, and has been around for 25 years. At
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The 2019 trip to Scotland that launched a new career
first they focused just on cruises, but then they expanded to every type of travel, all over the world,” she said. Cruise Planners truly sets up their agents for success and gives them advisors and business development managers to help them grow; and Dana has been especially thankful for that during COVID. “The vendors are doing everything they can to make it right,” she assured me. Travel is picking back up, and people are planning ahead by booking trips now while the prices are so good. Her dreams for the business are undaunted. “I want to make educational experiences possible and help people have the best possible experience for the best possible price,” said Dana. She also emphasized that there is no charge to the customer who comes in to Hyatt & Sims Travel. It is the industry that
pays the travel advisors. I asked her, “I have choices, or I could do it myself; why should I choose you?” With that trademark grin she replied, “I will outwork anyone out there. Just like with District 4, I delivered and did what I said I’d do.” If you are looking for someone to help you to travel successfully, then stop by and speak with the woman who hit the ground running in the travel business during COVID and then went on to become an Athens City Councilwoman—Dana Henry.
Cruise Planners located in the Hyatt & Sims store
211 W. Washington Street Athens, AL 35611 256-777-6362 Hours: M-F 9-5, Sat 9-12 Page 15
Health and Fitness
Building A Sustainable Lifestyle – Part 2
by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist Take a moment and remember my last article, the reasons I listed for letting go of the yoyo dieting and supplementation and embracing a truly healthy lifestyle. A low-stress routine way of living which provides you energy and confidence without feeling the need for the latest diet or supplement craze. A sustainable life which gives you physical and mental stability along with energy for your daily grind and then some. The misconception with food and weight loss and/or maintenance across the board is that it takes less calorie intake and more energy expenditure – WRONG! If you are not eating enough of the correct calories each day, the negative weight gain or loss effects will catch you eventually. The premise of my approach to nutrition is based on RMR (resting metabolic rate). The body has to have nutrients providing fuel to draw from in order to burn what you don’t want and/or grow muscle. Therefore, to achieve a sustainable healthy weight and desirable energy level, you have to eat MORE than it will take your body simply to function at a resting state each day… YES, you read that right!
MUST change your thoughts on food intake versus weight. Old habits die hard; this is a LIFESTYLE change not a diet! It will be tough to eat 5 times a day, it will be hard to eat the right foods, it will be hard to do this consistently on time each day. But just as I said before, sticking to the plan laid out for you will allow you to form new, lasting habits in a 40- to 60-day time span. Each of us are made uniquely and have different overall
goals; therefore, a “one-sizefits-all” nutritional approach will NOT provide you success. I strongly believe that body circumference and body fat measurements best aide my nutritional methods when it comes to individual meal plan design. Yes, I take weight, but this is by far NOT the primary focus at any point during this lifestyle change. As a matter of fact, just throw the scale out! When these numbers are compiled and I have found your RMR, a personalized meal plan design
can be developed. My sustainable approach to nutrition is focused on allnatural whole food. Based on the measurements and calculations I take and personal goals you share with me, I develop a plan which will consist mainly of a balanced and timed daily intake of lean proteins, specific greens, healthy fats, complex carbs, and tons of water. This approach is one that may sound simple on the surface but ultimately, the correct use of
these things combined will provide you the ability to maintain this new lifestyle which can be sustained throughout any phase of life successfully! This is the foundation of the Prime approach to a sustainable healthy lifestyle. There will be at least one more edition in this series; however, if you don’t want to wait and are ready to start your personal journey down this path now, simply shoot an email to primeperformancetraining105@gmail.com
Most don’t want to hear this or are unwilling to believe the opposite of what society has always told them, and therefore will inevitably fail – once again mindset is everything. You
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September 04 - September 17, 2020
Cover Story
All Southern Pest Control: Local, Experienced, And Affordable by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
big box pest control outfit bought him out, but he found he just wasn’t finished with being at the helm of his own crew. Shane owns several other businesses, as well as residential rental properties, and in 2019, decided to return to the pest control business by forming All Southern. Shane and his company use Sentricon products, which are number one in the world of pest control. Much of his business centers around eliminating termites, which we all know can be a real problem in our area. They also take care of brown recluses, other spiders, ants, roaches, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and bedbugs. They have custom plans for your home or business, and they offer discounts for members of the military as well as first responders. “Especially during this time of
dealing with COVID, we want to honor and protect those who protect us,” said Shane. Shane is the proud dad of an Army daughter, and enjoys cooking out for her and her friends. Shane also has a son who works with him in the business, and who he hopes someday will take it over. Shane explained that one of the things that is important to him is to provide superior service that results in customer retention. He also understands that during COVID, several of his clients are in a protracted season of uncertainty, and All Southern is offering a very special termite protection program at an introductory rate that many will find helpful. Shane and his All Southern team will come and
service your home for an initial cost of $99 and then for $25 a month, you can pay off the rest so at the end of 12 months, you are all set. “No one else does that,” said Shane. They will check their installation 2 times a year, rather than the one time annual inspection which is standard to the industry, and because the bait stations are leased, they will remove the stations if someone chooses to not continue with their program. “Sometimes termite bait stations get damaged by lawnmowers or other things, and we also inspect them to make sure they are still effective,” said Shane. All Southern understands that no home or commercial establishment is impermeable to an infestation, but for businesses, there is a particular type of fallout that can occur from the presence of pests. A restaurant’s reputation can be ruined, houses of worship don’t seem exactly seeker-friendly, hospitals can’t give the best possible care to their patients, and neither can schools best meet the needs of students. Retail establishments can have inventory destroyed. Industries can have their manufacturing facilities and equipment ruined, and all of it means diminished revenue. Whether it is your home, which is most folks’ biggest investment, or your business, All Southern Pest Control Service promises
September 04 - September 17, 2020
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to:
vices when possible.
Begin with a visual inspection of your property, followed by a detailed inspection performed with you. This portion of their service allows you to show them the areas where you’ve seen activity or about which you are most concerned.
• They provide emergency services.
Once they have gathered this information, they will develop a treatment plan that targets the problem areas. All Southern will perform both interior and exterior treatments that include: • Crack and crevice treatments • De-webbing • Baiting Here are more reasons to choose All Southern Pest Control to care for your residential property or business: • They have over 20 years of experience treating pest problems. • They customize your treatments to meet your business’s specific needs. • They offer general and specialized pest control services. • They provide free inspections. • They provide free callbacks. • They offer same-day ser-
• They respect and care for their employees as well as their customers. They design their treatments to eliminate active infestations and prevent future ones, and they provide follow-up services on a regular schedule based on your needs. If pests are causing problems around your house or business establishment, it’s time to take action. Pests spread illnesses and damage property, but protecting your home, family, and business doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply contact All Southern Pest Control, and they’ll develop a pest control plan designed around your pest problems to ensure that you have a pest-free home or business. They are dedicated to protect to your Athens home or business from the threat of pests.
All Southern Pest Control
301 3rd Avenue, Athens, AL 35611 256 777 1770 www.allsouthernpest control.com Facebook: All Southern Pest Control Page 17
Learning As A Lifestyle
Comparing Times by Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262
“America was tired. Tired of the stay-at-home orders, mandatory masks, business closures, and social distancing rules.” You would think that is a headline in today’s paper, but it is not. It is a headline from 1918 during the Spanish flu era. In an NBC news article by Dartunorro Clark, May 11, 2020, he wrote “More than a century before armed protesters stormed the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, last month, a vocal minority of San Franciscans risked going to jail rather than cover theirs face during the Spanish flu pandemic.” 1918 Spanish Flu The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal agreement regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide
during 1918-1919. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. 2020 Coronavirus As of September 1, the United States has 6,058,801 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been 184,818 deaths. In Alabama, there are 127,616 confirmed cases and 2,200 deaths. Over 25 million people have been sickened and more than 800,000 have died worldwide of the coronavirus since the start of January, according to NBC News and Johns Hopkins University. COVID-19 cases have been confirmed
in at least 200 countries and territories. Close to 90 countries have more than 10,000 cases, and more than 45 have reported at least 1,000 coronavirus deaths. But this is not the
only similarity to the 1918 pandemic. On March 13, 1962, John F Kennedy said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Red Summer Red Summer is the period from late winter through early autumn of 1919 during which racial riots took place in more than three dozen cities across the United States. The term "Red Summer" was coined by civil rights activist and author James Weldon Johnson, who was employed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1919, he organized peaceful protests against the racial violence that occurred that summer. Black Lives Matter The homicide of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, has led to weeks of protests and changes to address racism at all levels of society. As with numerous other
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police-involved deaths, peaceful protests for racial justice took place to call attention to this ongoing concern. Black Lives Matter and other activists behind the protests have issued numerous complaints against police for racial discrimination and brutality in policing communities of color. They have also demanded investment in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and disinvestment in police services. The calls for racial justice and the end of police brutality are resonating with people across the country beyond the Black community. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Studying history is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes. This saying comes from the writings of George Santayana, a Spanish-born American author of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
September 04 - September 17, 2020
Steve’s Corner
The Power Of Angels? by Steve Leland
I grew up believing that angels were an extension of Yah and wielded His power; that they could perform miracles and healing. I have come to realize that there is a problem with that view. If they have that type of power, where does the power of fallen angels come from? Their leader doesn’t have any kind of equivalency with our Creator. He was merely an angel, albeit a special one. Why do I think that the strength and abilities of fallen angels are on par with good ones? I believe that the story of Daniel having to wait three weeks for an answer to a question is one proof. The angel that
had been dispatched with the answer was held up by a prince of the fallen angels who was only overcome by assistance from the Archangel Michael. It took the two of them to break through the power that the enemy’s prince over Persia held. I am not saying that the angels are completely powerless, I am only making the point that they are more limited than what I grew up believing. We were created a little lower than the angels, and I propose that in some ways they may be a bit closer to who we are than they are to who Yah is. Remember that they can and do fall. Yes, I used the present tense. I don’t see any-
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thing in Scripture to indicate that it was a onetime occurrence. What would be the difference between then and now that would preclude it from happening? An even bigger question: Can fallen angels repent and return to the Light? Scripture says that there are ministering angels (spirits) sent to help us. Is it possible that the propensity that we have to give in to temptation could in any way contribute to the corruption of an angel assigned to help us? And here’s one more to consider: What do the numbers look like? Is it possible that there are more fallen than un-fallen angels?
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www.JuicePlus.com
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Dog Barker
Fear
by Joel Allen Recently, I dusted off an old dog toy made of red hard plastic and shaped like an egg. It is approximately a little over a foot long and half as wide and made by Kong. I ordered it from Chewy.com. Anyway, last week I found that after I was teaching my Danes it was a toy and kicking it around with them, Houston, my one year old, saw it sitting innocently on the dining room floor and remembered it was not the usual item found in that area. Well, it seemed to bother him to the point that he was growling at this toy. So, the prankster in me wanted to see what he would do if I pushed it his way. Now keep in mind this thing is oval shaped;
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therefore, it will roll around and change direction very quickly. The end result was the toy flipped this way and that, and I witnessed Houston jumping over the recliner and running for the hills, LOL. That is fear, though, and to help any of my dogs with fear, I usually make them face their fears. In saying that, I did have Houston come back and showed him that the “evil” toy was not going to get him. He smelled it and watched it closely; and then he decided he did not want anything to do with it. But, I slowly worked with him and helped him with his courage, poor baby! Fear is a bad habit that can lead to many problems. It is a learned be-
havior that can lead to ruining a good dog in so many ways. I have seen aggression be the main problem resulting from fear. Some dogs become so fearful that they back up in a corner or seek an area where they feel safe. If your dog goes under a table or to their crate, do not pursue them. Dog bites have happened this way. Instead, talk to your dog and coax them into coming to where they can see there is nothing to fear. A dog can pick up on your impatience too, either by your voice or mannerisms; so be sure to think and act patiently with your dog. So ask yourself, what scares your dog? They can be helped just by doing what I suggested
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in this article -- have them face their fears. This might take some thinking on your part, but a plan of action can be quite simple. Look at what is causing their fear; and if it is as simple as an item like Houston was dealing with, show them it is not going to get them. Be patient and touch the item in front of your dog. If walking toward them causes them to back away, stop and work with them at that point by showing them they have nothing to fear. I can imagine Halloween is tough on some dogs because of all those masks out there. In some cases, the dogs become fearful and get very reactive. My Zoey had this problem; and as a service dog, I must ensure she does not react. Back when she did have this issue, someone decided to walk through Walmart wearing a boogie man mask. Zoey was working and had her vest on. She quickly went from working to becoming a dog and almost made the young man have an accident on himself, as I was getting her back under control and telling the young man that he was not being smart doing that. LOL! I got her over the mask issue by taking her to the mask display, pulling one down, and showing her that it was nothing to fear. She smelled it and looked it over. After that, no more problems.
See what I mean about thinking out how to help your dog with their fear? Address the issue with them in a positive way and the problem will, in most cases, go away. Now, if the problem persists with the fear of whatever it may be, professional training may have to be your next step. Keep in mind that if they have been conditioned in an extreme way, that fear may never fully go away.
One last parting issue -many dogs are terrified of loud noises, such as fireworks and thunderstorms. When dealing with a dog about these issues, give them a quiet, safe environment in the home. Usually a room in the center of the house with a TV or radio might help. Even having your presence there will help them in most cases. One trick I have seen work with dogs and their terror of thunderstorms is a used dryer sheet. Rub them all over, and it may calm them down. All I can think is that it takes the static energy out of their coat. Well, folks until next month, be safe. “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
September 04 - September 17, 2020
Mental Health Minute
The Hole In The Sidewalk by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor
t
Since March, I have ebeen trying to attend at -least one free webinar -a week related to men,tal or emotional health. eMost have been helphful, providing new tidtbits of information that lI can use in my counseleing sessions. Two weeks nago, this poem was inecluded in a webinar on nchoices and responsibilrity; and it has already ohad a profound impact on me and now my cli-ents. I’m almost emdbarrassed to report that sI was not aware of this -poem, but now that I am, gI am sharing it with eveeryone! Take a moment ato read it through. Then tread it again. a Autobiography in Five f Short Chapters r Chapter 1 n eI walk down the street. nThere is a deep hole in kthe sidewalk h I fall in. f dI am lost... mI am helpless. m It isn't my fault. n eIt takes me forever to rfind a way out. lChapter 2
Chapter 3 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit. My eyes are open I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter 4 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter 5 I walk down another street. Copyright 1993, by Portia Nelson from the book, There's A Hole in My Sidewalk.
Making mistakes is a natural part of life, and an important part of understanding the process of learning. This poem is about identifying, analyzing, and learning from our mistakes. In the first chapter, the person doesn’t even see the hole and is completely lost. There are times when we blame someone else instead of facing reality. It can be a challenge to see ourselves as the performers of our actions, which causes us to be “inside the hole.” It’s easier to blame someone else and run from the problem as a victim. If we look at the poem symbolically, the street represents life and the hole represents trouble or a struggle. And in chapter one, it’s all about feeling helpless.
By the third chapter, the person recognizes the hole, falls into it, but finally realizes that it’s a habit. The “eyes are open” to the awareness
of the action, understanding who has just performed the action of falling. The need to get out of the hole symbolizes the will to do things differently. The person sees that he is in an uncomfortable position and it’s his fault. At this point in the story we recognize the frustration and understand the reason for the fall. Acknowledging our mistakes is really important, and once we do that, we can start acting differently and take responsibility for our own deeds. This chapter is our “wake up call!”
Chapter four is when the person decides that he/she is not going to fall into the hole again (make the same mistake, act the same way and get the same result.) We have a new perspective.
In the last chapter, the person is taking another way, making a change, and moving on with life in a new direction. Once we face difficult situations, we have the opportunity for new outcomes. This autobiography shares the simple analogy that change cannot take place until we take responsibility for our actions.
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it.
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.
I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place but, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
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In the second chapter, the person pretends not to see the hole and falls into it again. The hole is there and even if the person falls into it, the person is pretending he is not the doer. Falling in is not our fault. Making a mistake can become a habit, and life gives us opportunities to learn from our mistakes. In some cases, it takes some or a long time for us to learn. It depends on our learning processes, culture, genetics, attitudes, etc. But everybody has the potential to learn. Wanting to change is the important issue, and this person isn’t there yet.
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The Alternative Approach
We Don’t Believe You by Roy Williams In an article titled: “Americans Overestimate Mortality Rate Among COVID-19 Victims,” we learn that Americans were asked how many people aged 44 and younger were dying because of COVID-19 and respondents reported 30 percent. In reality, only 2.7 percent was the correct answer. Americans thought people aged 65 or older accounted for roughly 40 percent when the actual figure was 80 percent. The misconception translates directly to the fear for one’s health that, as it turns out, vastly exceeds the actual risk. Fear and anger are the most usual drivers of misinformation; scary tales of young victims of the pandemic, intimating that we are all at risk of dying, quickly go viral. So do stories that blame everything on your political opponents, such as the lie that President Trump is responsible for the pandemic. Misinformation is everywhere. America has reached the point where we don’t know who to believe. If the truth sets us free, and it does, what can a nation do when
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its citizens can’t believe the mainstream media, don’t trust politicians; can prove that the CDC, WHO, FDA, FBI, and big pharma will lie or at the very least skew the research to make us believe what they want us to believe? Everything you see on the main stream media, which is now owned by five families, is propaganda pushed out to the public; and they are not only deciding what is allowed to be reported, they demonize and use character assignation to destroy anyone who reports differently. They are lying to us in an attempt to try and maintain power over us and put the people they want in powerful positions. Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York and one of the key-note speakers for the Democratic Nation Convention, is celebrating 11 thousand Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes and is currently writing a book about the whole ordeal. The mainstream media is putting him on a pedestal trying to convince us that he has done an excellent job. Remember, he is celebrating all those nursing home deaths and he is the
mainstream media’s hero. You can’t even trust the CDC reports on the numbers of deaths from COVID-19. They have now admitted that they were adding pneumonia and flu deaths in with COVID-19 deaths. Fiftyfour thousand COVID-19 deaths were reported in May when the actual number of COVID-19 deaths was only 11 thousand. Did you see any reports of the true numbers? Of course not, because it doesn’t scare people, and it doesn’t support their agenda. So, what is their agenda? Their agenda is all about control, and I mean control of every aspect of your life. Count the number of dead every second of every day, in every news headline. Remember, ninety-nine and eight-tenths of the people who get the virus, recover. Did you catch that? Less than ½ of a percent die. The CDC reports this week that only 6% of the over 153 thousand reported to have died from COVID-19 actually died solely of the virus. Why should we believe them when they lied about tobacco, the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, asbestos, mercury fillings, opioids, safety of vaccines, aluminum in deodorants, cancer causing talc in hygiene products, silicone implants, hormone replacement therapy, lead in paint, fluoride in drinking water, saturated fats, raw milk, pesticides, GMO’s, glyphosate or Round Up,
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sugar and artificial sweeteners, WMD in Iraq, cholesterol in statin drugs and chemotherapy and radiation. (And we are supposed to believe their stats about COVID-19?) Could they be blowing the numbers out of proportion just to take total control of our lives? It certainly looks that way when you look at what they have done to our way of life in just four months. Closed businesses = 35,000,000+ instantly unemployed; removed entertainment and prohibited recreation; closed parks, gyms, bars, restaurants, and sporting events. No dating. No touching. Isolate people. Dehumanize them by making them wear masks. Closing temples and churches, prohibit worship. Create a vacuum and let depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and desperation set in. Ignite unrest, Empty of the streets
hatred and civil creating civil war. prisons because virus and fill the with criminals.
Send Antifa to vandalize property, as if they are freedom fighters. Undermine the law, Riot, loot and attack all law enforcement, but tell government to order a stand-down. Then… defund law enforcement and abolish police. Are we being played by those who want to destroy America from within? Are we being set up for their socialistic plans as the “new normal”? Remember, protecting yourself from COVID-19 is easier than you may think. Simply go by Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen and purchase the Healthy Immune Combo by NEWtritional Health Care or call 800745-4408. 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, Roy P. Williams
September 04 - September 17, 2020
www.JuicePlus.com
Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC September 04 - September 17, 2020
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