The Piedmont Journal - 03/26/14

IT’S SPRING BREAK THIS WEEK. ENJOY!!!

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RECIPES / COMMUNITY, 4

BASEBALL 2014 / SPORTS, 8

BJ LYLE HAS COMPILED A COOKBOOK

BULLDOGS CONTINUE TO HAVE GOOD YEAR

The Piedmont Journal www.thepiedmontjournal.com

75 CENTS

WEDNESDAY // MARCH 26, 2014

City says goodbye to Jon McDowell Paramedic had served Piedmont since 2009 MARGARET ANDERSON Journal News Editor Paramedic Jon McDowell made one last trip to Piedmont March 16. He had a police escort and was driven by friends, John Richardson and Tim Bates, through the town where he had helped save lives since July 2009.

McDowell, 35, died March 14 at his home in Rainbow City of an apparent heart attack.

Richardson and Bates had been McDowell’s partners for several years. They picked him up at a funeral home in Gadsden and brought him to Piedmont where residents could say their final good-bye to the critical care transport paramedic, ■ See McDOWELL, page 10

Submitted photo

Jon McDowell died March 14 of an apparent heart attack.

JOURNAL FEATURE

Piedmont native teaches martial arts to children, adults Heather Smyth is a Taekwondo instructor

SLOW MARKET

Retail customers scarce in Piedmont after industries’ closure LAURA GADDY Consolidated News Service

MARGARET ANDERSON Journal News Editor

H

eather Smyth was born and reared in Piedmont and, like many other residents, took advantage of the activities offered at the Clyde Pike Civic Center which, for many years, was called the Y. “I went to the Y my whole life,” she said. “One day when I was a young girl, there were kids running around the track in funny looking white uniforms kicking and yelling. It looked interesting to me so I went up to see what it was all about and joined the very next day.”

That was over 20 years ago. Heather has since become a Taekwondo instructor and proud owner of Survivalist Martial Arts, home of Piedmont Taekwondo.

She teaches four different classes of martial arts from 4:15-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Civic Center.

Two of the classes are for children. The Taekwondo Pups class is for children from 3-5. Children from ages 6-12 make up the junior class.

Her survivalist martial arts class is not a formal class. Participants don’t wear uniforms or belts. Heather explained that it’s basic hand to hand combat with real life self defense included. It

Anita Kilgore

Heather Smyth with niece Madison works on punching skills.

■ See SMYTH, page 12

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 12.

Buildings with brick storefronts and hand-painted signs on their windows line concrete sidewalks accented with bricks.

In the background, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains fade to blue and appear to encircle the old textile town.

Despite Piedmont’s aesthetic assets, its downtown district — comprised of two cross streets — can’t seem to retain retail business. Now City Council members and retailers are trying to decide what, if anything, they can do to bring it back to life.

“I don’t know what the answer is here,” said Danny Pope, who owns Pope’s Furniture with his son Nathan Pope.

Last year the city’s downtown lost one mainstay, a family-owned pharmacy that had been in town for more than 50 years.

The town’s longtime barber, Curtis Pope, quit after 65 years and move into a nursing home after he was attacked in his downtown shop last summer. And now the city is poised to lose another Piedmont staple: Stinson Howard Jewelry, a shop that used to be known as Dubar’s Jewelry and has been in town for 40 years.

Some business owners and city leaders say what Piedmont needs to fix its financial woes is industry.

■ See DOWNTOWN, page 10

Art Lyle returns to his hometown after Air Force career Continues to work at the age of 68 MARGARET ANDERSON Journal News Editor Art Lyle was 17 when he left Piedmont to join the Air Force. His father had died when Art was 5, and his mother’s health was declining. He had a lot of respect for those who worked at a local chicken farm and in the factories in Piedmont, but what he wanted couldn’t be found in Piedmont at that time.

“Me and my mother sat down and talked about it,” said Art. “She let me make up my own mind.

666000999999 PU MAGhad 80 NBAR .0104 for BWAme -0.0015 She to sign to join.”

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THE PEIDMONT JOURNEL

VOLUME 33 | NO. 14

Art was sent to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, for basic training. He became an air police officer. Later, he was sent to McDill AFB in Tampa, arriving there on the first day of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

By the time his Air Force career ended, he had served three tours in Vietnam. Art didn’t graduate from Piedmont High School but, thanks to a relentless master sergeant, he earned a GED and a college education in the Air Force.

“The old master sergeant at McDill wouldn’t let up on me,” said Art. “He made me go to school at ■ See LYLE, page 10

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OBITUARIES None this week.

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Anita Kilgore

Art Lyle served three tours in Vietnam.

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PAGE 2 / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

OPINION/EDITORIAL Birmingham Republicans have state GOP on top

There is a cadre of politicos in Birmingham who are approaching their 60’s that have been a close knit group of true blue Republicans since the get go. They have probably never been or needed to run as Democrats.

More than likely, they were Goldwater Republicans when they were little boys. Most certainly they were Nixon and Reagan Republicans in their youth.

This group is close knit and numbers about 12. The face cards are former legislator, State DHR Director, Hoover Mayor and now Jefferson County Administrator Tony Petelos, former State Representatives and now lobbyists Mark Gaines and Allen Sanderson, and current State Representative and former Jefferson County Tax Collector Jack Williams.

Like I said, these guys are not RINO’s. They have been on the ground floor of building the state GOP and supporting Republican candidates. They recruited and planned the grassroots campaigns for GOP candidates as early as the 1980’s.

They were together one night during that era when Williams said aloud, “You know, I believe Jimmy Evans could be beat.” Evans was the Democratic Attorney General who stalked, connived and prosecuted Republican Gov. Guy Hunt. Their imaginations began to wander and they brainstormed as to who could beat Evans.

Almost simultaneously they emerged with the idea that an obscure, but clean-cut, Boy Scout looking U.S. Attorney named Jeff Sessions would be the ideal candidate. They proceeded to call Sessions at home at

10:30 p.m. he took their call and they talked about an hour. Sessions told them he was not Steve interested but would Flowers sleep on it.

Days later, Sessions acquiesced and decided to run. They had convinced him. The rest is history. Sessions Inside The Statehouse beat Evans and became Attorney General. He went to the U.S. Senate in 1996 and will easily coast to reelection to a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate this year.

Jack Williams is credited with convincing Fob James to run for governor as a Republican in 1994. Fob had won the Governor’s office in 1978 as a Democrat.

Everyone knew he was a Republican. This group kept cajoling Fob to go for the brass ring again as the GOP standard bearer.

Guy Hunt had already broken the ice in 1986. Fob ran and won. This group helped him win, especially Williams, who managed his campaign. Fob was not a great campaigner. Some would say that his heart was not really in running nor serving as governor again.

Williams tells a story that occurred during the Republican primary that year that illuminates the old Alabama political maxim that home folks know you

best. There is a cardinal rule that you need to carry your own county if you run for a statewide office. In that race, Fob had to beat Winton Blount, Jr. and State Senator Ann Bedsole from Mobile to win the GOP primary.

Fob and Ann Bedsole made the runoff. They were invited to a forum in Huntsville during the runoff. As usual, Fob refused to go so he sent Jack Williams to represent him. When they were getting ready to speak, Jack courteously gave the floor to Sen. Bedsole first.

She thanked him for his gentlemanly gesture and proceeded to pounce on Fob. When Jack got up to speak he had done his homework. He said, Mrs. Bedsole is a nice lady but the best way to know somebody is to see what the folks who know them best have to say about them. Well Fob James has lived in four counties in his life. He was born in Chambers, built his business in Lee, lived in Mobile and now lives in Baldwin. Folks, he carried all four counties in the first primary. You know Fob beat Mrs. Bedsole in her home county of Mobile. He also beat her in her senate district and folks, you know Fob beat her in her own box where she lives and votes. Ann Bedsole had nothing to say. Fob went on to win the primary and general election.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in more than 70 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us

Grab these Easter treats before they are gone

Some of my earliest memories of Easter include wandering around Dawn’s Five and Dime store at Easter time. The store was one of the last dime stores on Noble Street and closed probably around the late1960s or early 1970s. My sisters and I bought jellybeans, chocolate bunnies, and sugar eggs with a peephole featuring a tiny Easter landscape inside.

Imagine my delight when I recently found those same sugar eggs at Cracker Barrel in Oxford.

Oddly, Calhoun County does not have a candy shop that I am aware of. Who would have ever thought that the best candy counters would be found in pharmacies and department stores? Like their predecessors, their shelves now overflow each Easter with delectable candy eggs, bunnies, baby chicks, and various other sugary indulgences.

The statistics about Easter candy are interesting.

Each year, consumers buy enough jellybeans to circle the globe three times. They buy 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies and 700 million peeps. They spend $2.1 billion on Easter candy, and sales have ballooned in recent years. Some stores have doubled the number of shelves to display these pretty . (I found these facts on www.infoplease.com.)

Only two years ago, pastry chefs in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, worked to created a chocolate egg that measured more than 27 feet tall and weighed 8,800 pounds. It was supported by a steel frame and attracted hundreds of spectators. The day grew hot, and as soon as the chefs finished assembling the egg,

it started melting.

Chunks of it were removed (some by a crane) and distributSherry ed to the spectators.

Kughn I would like to have been one of them.

I researched a list of what is considered the best Sherry-Go-Round all-time Easter candies, compiled by The Complex Newsletter, and I conducted my own research. The list follows: Cadbury Crème Eggs. Who was the brilliant person who created a yellow candy yolk?

Russell Stover Coconut Nests. These taste a lot like coconut bonbons and are topped with jelly beans.

Willy Wonka Golden Eggs. The eggs are little; but, during Easter egg hunts, everyone gets to find a golden egg.

Lindt Chocolate Carrots. These are a mixture of chocolate and hazelnut crème. Nuts and chocolate go together like sugar and butter.

Twix Eggs, Reese’s Eggs, Snickers Eggs, Mounds Eggs, etc. There is something special about placing an oval in one’s mouth at Easter time.

Brach’s Bunny Corn. These pastel-colored candy corns are pretty to look at. Maybe in Candyland, bunnies eat corn.

Whoppers Mini-Robin Eggs. I like these, and I like the bigger ones better. The crisp malt, creamy chocolate, and speckled outer shells add up to a treat that is my favorite.

Chocolate bunnies are made by all good chocolate makers. Everyone has a method for eating them, and I like to start with the feet and leave the face and ears pretty for as long as possible.

Russell Stover Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs.

There’s something soothing about biting pastel-colored marshmallows, and some are even made with cookie-dough interiors.

Jelly Belly jellybeans. These need no explanation.

My favorite flavor is buttered popcorn.

Rodda Candy Company’s Peeps. The flavor is too sweet for me, but I like the feel of an entire baby chicken in my mouth.

Cadbury Mini-eggs. This mention is for you, dear son-in-law Lance. I admit the chocolate in these is special.

My own research yielded more Easter creations.

Chocolate is inserted somehow into actual dyed egg shells, Charms Co. makes cotton candy bunny tails, Double Bubble makes egg-shaped gumballs, and Ghirardelli makes little squares with the prettiest Easter images on them.

Of course, I don’t really know how all of these candies taste. Someone just told me. Ha. Email Sherry at sherrykug@hotmail.com

Is America land of the free, or land of oppressed?

“At Hobby Lobby, we value our customers and employees War. Other exceptions include exempting Muslims from having and are committed to: to transport alcohol, and allowing Catholics and Jews to drink • Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company wine during prohibition. The federal government has exempin a manner consistent with biblical principles. tions for believers and unbelievers alike that conscientiously • Offering our customers exceptional selection and value in object to participating in wars, assisted suicide, abortion, and the crafts and home décor market. prisoner executions.

• Serving our employees and their families by establishing a President Obama promised to transform America, and work environment and company policies that build character, he’s kept that promise largely by ignoring or defying the strengthen individuals and nurture families.

Constitution and the God-given rights of all Americans.

• Provide a return on the owner’s investment, sharing the The Supreme Court should school President Obama on the Lord’s blessings with our employees, and investing in our com- Constitution. munity.

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in “We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Starkville, MS. You may contact him at Daniel@DanLGardner.

Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, com, or visit his website at www.danlgardner.com Feel free to and we trust him for our future.” interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger feature blog site blogs.

So, what does the Obama administration find so odious clarionledger.com/dgardner/ about this thriving, privately owned and family run business?

Hobby Lobby refuses to pay for abortion-inducing drugs because the owners believe life begins at conception, a belief founded on numerous passages in the Bible accepted by hundreds of millions of believers around the world.

The Green family has said they believe paying for abortifacients would dishonor God. The Obama administration argues that Hobby Lobby must pay for abortifacients for their employees because the Affordable Care Act requires this, and paying for abortifacients is more important than a family honoring God in their own privately owned business.

Please understand, the Green family has provided health insurance for all their employees from the beginning, and has no problem covering contraception products that are not abortifacients. In other words, the Obama administration is prohibiting the Green’s free exercise of religion and faith, and is literally forcing the family to commit murder (as myriad 7 Reasons to Choose Legacy Village of Jacksonville believers see abortion) or be • Caring Alzheimer’s Program • Professional Caring Staff driven into bankruptcy by tyrannical federal fines.

• VA Benefit Approved • Great Food Also note the government • Great Setting • New 14-Passenger Activity Bus has made many exceptions from laws for a variety of • Best Value in Calhoun County religious beliefs, including George Washington’s exempting Quakers from fighting in the Revolutionary FR

25 EE CA 6- LUNLL FO 78 CH R 2- & T A 09 OU 60 R

I can see why the Obama administration opposes Hobby Lobby in the latest round of cases before the Supreme Court. Hobby Daniel Lobby is an American sucGardner cess story about an evangelical family who has endeavored to serve customers and employees in God honoring ways.

My Thoughts According to their website, “Hobby Lobby officially began operation on August 3, 1972 with a mere 300 square feet of retail space, and has been growing ever since.” David Green is the founder and CEO of the Oklahoma City-based business.

Today the privately owned company has 602 stores that average 55,000 square feet, and offers more than 67,000 craft and home décor products. That’s a lot of growth in 42 years!

To what does the Green family attribute their success? They would answer not ‘to what’ but ‘to Whom.’ Read the values the family and company have maintained from the beginning as iterated on their website:

The Piedmont Journal The Piedmont Journal Established 1907 Combined with The Piedmont Independent 1982 ISSN 08906017 Second class postage paid in Piedmont, Alabama.

Published weekly by Consolidated Publishing.

“Our everlasting obligation and greatest privilege is to serve the fine people of our community.”

Austin Johnson, Founder and Publisher, 1907-1963 John Alred Publisher Shannon Martin Advertising Director

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NEWS: 256-235-3531 ADVERTISING: 256-235-9234

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To subscribe, mail cash, check or money order, along with your name and complete mailing address to: The Piedmont Journal, P.O. Box 2285, Anniston, AL 36202 POSTMASTER, send change of address to : The Piedmont Journal, P.O. Box 2285, Anniston, AL 36202

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, March 26, 2014 PAGE 3

Community Capsule • The Piedmont City School System will be having Kindergarten registration on April 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The registration will take place in the lobby of the K-3 building. Those students who will reach their 5th birthday on or before September 1, 2014 are eligible to register.

Parents must bring the following information with them at the time of registration:

more information call Alvin Robertson at 256-236-8780, Bill Ward at 256-2363629, Brenda Morgan at 256-435-3725 or Norman Parker at 256-447-7563.

• COPING WITH GRIEF. A coping with grief - even if nobody died group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church. Please call the church office for information and directions (256-435-6021).

1. Certified Birth Certificate • The Calhoun County Community 2. Social Security Card Band meets every Tuesday night at 6:30 at 3. State of Alabama Blue Immunizathe Jacksonville High School band room. tion Slip • Bradford Health Services has free 4. 2 Proofs of Residence family support meetings from 5-6 Monday nights at 1701 B Pelham Rd., S., Suite If further information is needed, please D (Brookstone Building next to RMC contact the Elementary School @ 256-447- Jacksonville). The meeting is for anyone 7483. experiencing behavioral problems with a • Salem Baptist Church on County loved one, has a family member of any age Road 8 will host a fifth Saturday night with drug or alcohol problems, needs help singing on Saturday, March 30. Singers will coping with a loved one’s drug or alcohol be the Gospel Three and Bill. Fellowship problems or needs help making decision on begins at 5 p.m. with the singing at 6. how to help a family member of any age. A • The White Plains Alumni Assocounselor will facilitate the meetings. ciation is having a membership drive.

• Venecia Benefield Butler’s book, “I Those eligible are graduates of White Have to Get Some Things Off My Chest,” Plains, attendees who may not have grad- can be purchased for $15 (including tax) by uated, and persons who may not have mailing a check to P. O. Box 572, Piedmont attended White Plains but desires to sup- 36262, or take money or check to Butler’s port the schools and students. The White sister, Randa Carroll, at the office of BenjaPlains Alumni Association awarded four min Ingram at 207 Rome, Ave., Piedmont. $1,000 college scholarships to deserving Proceeds will go to the V Foundation, White Plains seniors last year. Donations founded by Butler, to purchase gift bags for pay for these annual scholarships. For patients going through chemo treatments.

Warehouses might gain some businesses LAURA GADDY Consolidated News Service

Two companies that already have facilities in Calhoun County might soon move some business to Piedmont.

B.R. Williams Trucking, based in Oxford, and Federal-Mogul, an international auto parts supplier, are considering moving parts of their operations into warehouses on U.S. 278. Piedmont Mayor Bill Baker said the two companies are eyeing vacant warehouses owned by Springs Global U.S. Inc., a company that operates a textile manufacturing plant in Brazil.

But representatives with the trucking and auto parts supplier aren’t ready to say whether they will use the spaces.

“We’re looking at possibilities,” said Jim Burke, director of communications for Federal-Mogul. “No specific decisions have been made yet.”

B.R. Williams officials did not respond to requests for a phone interview, but confirmed in an email that the company is considering the possibility of moving into a warehouse in Piedmont.

Federal-Mogul has a facility on Alabama 21 about six miles south of Piedmont. Burke said the company already occupies some warehouses and that it is considering consolidating.

B.R. Williams’ website notes that it has warehouses in Anniston, Eastaboga and Tallahassee, Fla. It is unclear why the companies are considering the Piedmont warehouses, but Baker said city officials are encouraged by the companies’ interest. Piedmont has struggled to recruit industry

since it lost the Standard-Coosa Thatcher Cotton Mill in 2001.

“I don’t know where this is going to go, but I have to think this is a positive thing for the city,” Baker said.

He told a crowd of people at a Piedmont City Council meeting Tuesday that the companies would be moving in, but the companies Wednesday said no deals had been finalized.

The companies did not say how many people would be needed to fill the warehouses if they open. Baker said, however, that between 40 and 50 employees, likely those who are already employed by the companies, would operate the facilities.

“That’s 40 to 50 more people who will hopefully buy gas in Piedmont and eat at our restaurants,” Baker said.

The mayor also said the facilities could help generate tax money and lead to better industrial recruitment opportunities for Piedmont.

Jim Searcy is executive director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, a group that works to create jobs and industrial growth in the state. He said small gains like those being considered in Piedmont can bring positive change.

“It does create an opportunity for momentum,” Searcy said. “It’s much harder to create momentum than it is to maintain it.”

Staff Writer Laura Gaddy: 256-35-3544.

On Twitter @LGaddy_Star

FISH DAY!

IT’S TIME TO STOCK YOUR POND!

Delivery will be:

Wednesday, April 9 Piedmont: 11:30 - 12:15 @ Calhoun Farmers Co-Op

1-800-643-8439 www.fishwagon.com

IT’S TAX TIME!

& WE MAKE IT EASY!

Free Estimates, Fast Friendly Service

Certified Tax Preparers LOCAL CASH ADVANCE, TITLE PAWN AND TAX SERVICE

Manager: Lisa O’Connor

256-447-1360 •302 N. Center Ave., Piedmont, AL 36272 Located across from Bill’s Dollar Store

YOU WILL NEED TO BRING WITH YOU:

Asst. Manager: Candi Sherrill

Two forms of ID, current bank statement, proof of residency, current pay stub, and your personal check. For title pawn bring in clean title and keys.

The bags will include items such as comedy DVDs, chap stick, gift cards, gas cards, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, search-a-word, lubricant eye drops, gum and peppermints, soft toothbrushes, queasy drops, lotion, neck wrap or hydrating socks.

• Dogs for the Deaf, located in Central Point, Ore., is a non-profit organization that rescues dogs from animal shelters and trains them to help adults and children with different disabilities, challenges, and needs. For example, a Hearing Dog is trained to alert its owner to household sounds that could affect his or her safety and an Autism Assistance Dog would keep an autistic child out of traffic, bodies of water, and other dangerous situations.

Chris Hill, a resident of Anniston and a volunteer “ambassador” for Dogs for the Deaf, has a DVD presentation he will give to civic and community organizations or individuals. Contact him at 835-6918 • New classes for the Jacksonville State University Adult Wellness classes are at 8 a.m. in Pete Mathews Colseium.

Senior water aerobics and senior floor aerobic classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Senior water aerobics and senior therapeutic yoga classes are on Tuesday and Thursday. Contact Aubrey Crossen at 256-689-2580 or jsu9517k@jsu.edu for more information.

• The Alabama Shutterbugs, a new club for all skill levels of photographers, meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Noble Building, Suite 100, Anniston. Anyone interested in photography is welcome to join us. Call 236.8488 for more information.

• Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 21 meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.. at 114 N. Center Ave. downtown Piedmont, to discuss the latest veteran’s issues and benefits. If you are a service-connected disabled vet or you think you may have a military service related condition, the DAV may be able to help you. Help workshops are also available from 8 a.m.-noon on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans are urged to attend for possible compensation and benefits they’re not aware of.

• Anyone with knowledge about German and Italian POWs and their artifacts at Fort McClellan during 1943-46 is asked to contact Klaus Duncan at 782-2991.

• Piedmont Health Care has started an Alzheimer’s support group designed to increase public awareness and enhance individual and family education regarding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.

For more information call social services director Yolanda Pierce 447-8258, ext. 232.

Refreshments will be provided.

Visit us on the web:www.thepiedmontjournal.com

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PAGE 4 / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

Learning to cook led BJ Lyle to write cookbook Works in three businesses with her husband MARGARET ANDERSON Journal Editor

W

hen Betty Jean Thornton Lyle married and moved to Texas in 1975, she suddenly realized she couldn’t cook. Her mother was an excellent cook, but never allowed her daughters in the kitchen.

Realizing the predicament she was in, she phoned her mother and told her she needed to teach her two youngest daughters to cook. Her mother told BJ she didn’t want anyone in her kitchen.

BJ persisted, telling her it wasn’t an option, that they needed to learn.

“So she started letting them help her cook,” said BJ. “When she grabbed a handful of flour, they grabbed a measuring cup.

When she picked up a pinch of cinnamon, they grabbed the measuring spoons. They wrote down her recipes. Then, they wrote them down again. It took a few tries, but they did get some of her recipes perfected and sent them to me in Texas. I thank them so much for doing that.”

BJ said her sisters are now excellent cooks.

“When we have fundraisers, their cakes and pies are in demand,” she said.

Learning to cook and realizing how much she liked it started BJ on a new hobby of collecting recipes, including some that have been handed down through generations.

She started out typing the recipes on computers and saving them. When the Internet came along, she retyped them.

“I saved them on my computer and on big floppy discs,” said BJ. “I saved them on little floppy discs. Then I saved them on CDs and flash drives. But, I saved them.”

BJ named her file “BJ’s Family Recipes.” Then, she started adding to them. She found old and new friends on line who gave her their recipes. She had to change the name of her file to “BJ’s Friends and Family Recipes.”

“If you get a copy of these recipes, hold on to them,” she said. “Some are over 100 years old. You can’t get these recipes from Betty Crocker or recipes. com. Just from good family and friends.”

BJ’s mother, Shirley (Bagwell) Roden, lives in Piedmont. Her father, William Thornton, is deceased. She has two sisters.

Tammy Jones lives in White Plains, and Sherrie Thornton lives in Piedmont. She has three brothers. Tommy Thornton lives in East Moline, Ill., John Bates in Phil Campbell and Billy Joel Thornton in Rogersville.

Betty Jean became BJ when she lived in Texas and had two other friends by the name of Betty.

When she came home, her family liked it so much they continued to call her BJ. BJ was born in the Tennessee Valley town of Rogersville.

During her senior year in high school, she attended college a half a day. When she finished Hazelwood High School in Colbert County, she had a college scholarship. She never went to college though. Instead, she went to Texas on vacation and ended up staying here 18 years.

She was working in the office of the owners of the McDonald’s franchise in Jacksonville and Piedmont when friends Lane and Carol Weatherbee introduced her to Art Lyle. She and Art have been married 16 years.

BJ is Associate Matron of Lozahatchee Eastern Star in Piedmont and is a member of Aromaz Daughters of the Nile in Birmingham. She likes to read.

Her favorite authors are James Patterson and Debbie Macomber.

Anita Kilgore

BJ and Art Lyle with Chancie and Bailey.

She recently read Venecia Benfield’s “I’ve Got to Get Some Things Off My Chest.”

“I’m a big fan of Venecia’s and the work she does,” said BJ. “I’m currently reading Tracy Stewart’s book, ‘Dying Was Not On My Agenda.’ ” BJ said Stewart’s book reminds her of what she went through having open heart triple bypass surgery and trying to recuperate with a crumbled kneecap.

“That’s one of the reasons I love pool therapy so much,” she said. “It’s so much easier to exercise in water when you have knee (kneecap replacement), neck (triple fusion) and back problems (multi surgeries) like I do.”

Art has helped her recuperate by installing a heater in their pool so she can start exercising earlier this year. An elliptical sits among the furniture in their den. They

use it when watching television.

She appreciates Art for another reason.

“Art’s woodwork is really beautiful,” she said. “From cutting the trees down and stacking them in our yard for two to three years to having them sliced and tongue and grooved to having the kiln dried to watching the transformation in our house as he puts them up on the walls, ceilings and floors is really amazing. We even have a couple of knot holes we put picture behind.”

She and Art have three companies. PrepaidsoutheastLLC, a wireless company, can be found at www.prepaidsoutheast.com; Thirty-One Gifts can be found at www.mythirtyone.com/256284; and Body by Vi can be found at www.artbj.myvi.net.

She believes she and her

husband make a great team.

“I like being second in command,” said BJ. “It works out real good, with Art being the boss.

He’s really good at that, and I’m good at computers, so that’s what I do.”

BJ enjoys making jewelry and painting pictures she finds online and making pendants and portrait pendants from them. She collects rocks from everywhere she’s traveled, including several countries. She uses them to decorate the hillside behind her home and pool. She has over 1500 baseball caps she’s collected from all over the world.

BJ shares some of her most used recipes -- Cheesy Squash Casserole, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Roll Ups and Breakfast Muffins.

(Contact Margaret at pollya922@gmail.com)

RECIPES BJ’S CHEESY SQUASH CASSEROLE 1 lb. squash, chopped 1 c. milk 1 small onion, chopped 15 oz. grated Mozzarella cheese 3 T. butter 1 1/2 c. Ritz cracker crumbs 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 c. parmesan cheese 2 c. ham, chopped in small pieces Salt and pepper Combine squash, onion, and butter. Boil until tender. Drain and mash. Pour in buttered casserole dish. Spread a layer of ham over squash mixture.

Spread layer of Mozzarella cheese over ham.

Spread layer of cracker crumbs over cheese.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top. Bake at 375 degrees until firm (+/-)

2 T. ranch dressing 1 t. mild curry powder Seasoning salt Lemon pepper Bacon bits Chop potatoes into about 1/2 inch pieces. Put in a pot with some water and boil until they are soft.

Pour over a colander and put drained the potatoes in a large bowl. Add butter, seasoning and ranch dressing. Mash together with a potato masher until everything is well blended and smooth. Spread into a 13 x 9 pan. Serve warm.

stack of potatoes on the crescent rolls. Add a couple teaspoons of the syrup mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up and pinch ends together.

Splash some syrup over the top and between the roll ups. Sprinkle cinnamon over them.

Bake until they are light golden brown. Just before serving add more syrup over them. After they have been refrigerated they can be sliced. Very good hot or cold.

“I got this one while I was in the pool doing physical therapy for my knee,” said BJ. “I never quite got the whole recipe, just played with it until it tasted good.

SWEET POTATO ROLL UPS 1 lg. can sweet potatoes.

BREAKFAST MUFFINS 1 cup or more of brown sugar.

6 eggs 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup onions 1 t. vanilla for flavoring or Tennessee Honey Jack 1/4 cup bacon bits or cooked and chopped bacon Daniels.

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese BJ’S GARLIC MASHED POTATOES 3 cans crescent rolls Splash of milk 5 lbs. Irish potatoes Cinnamon 2 medium sweet onions Drain the liquid from the sweet potatoes into a Whisk together in a bowl. Spray muffin pan with 1/2 glove of fresh garlic (or a tablespoon from the bowl. Add the honey. Add the vanilla or Tennessee cooking oil. Pour muffin cups half full. Bake about little jars) Honey. Stir until mixed. Smash the sweet potatoes. 20 minutes. Serve hot or put in freezer ziplocks and 2 sticks of real butter Roll out and separate the crescent rolls. Put a heat in microwave.

White Plains Class of 1959 celebrates reunion

Submitted photo

The 1959 class of White Plains School met for their 55th reunion on March 15 in Oxford. Class members attending were front row, left to right, Jimmy Hyatt, Frances Lipham Adams, Barbara Tucker Duke, Sara Renfroe Prickett, Betty Jones Clay, Leola Brown Kendal, Eloise Cheatwood Cobb, Lyndth Morgan Hunter (teacher), Richard Madden (coach); back row, left to right, Billy Couch, Doris Hightower Parker, Gerald Willis, Jerry Curry, Floyd Clay, Kenneth Barnwell, Joy Barnwell Patty, Joyce Huckeba Vaughn and Wayne Hollingsworth. Barbara Tucker Duke traveled the most distance from Orlando, Florida. Ten members of the class are deceased.

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 / PAGE 5

A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY

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ABOVE: Back row, left to right, John Palmore, James Thomas, Herman Spear, Bumus Spear, Frank Griffie, Harold Marshal, Walter Weaver, William Henry Sharp, Preston Vansant, Henry McDonald, Charlie Alexander Andy Palmore, R. Frank Own. Front row Seating: Wil Houston, William Alexander, John Henry Richardson, (teacher) John Gregg, Andrew Jackson, Alonzo Sawyer, Alonzo Gonzolas M. C. Ammon, George Ammon, and Andy Diamond.

(Editor’s note: The Piedmont Journal has begun publishing older photographs on a regular basis. Those having older photographs who would like them published can send them to jalred@jaxnews.com or akilgore@jaxnews.com. Identify the people in the photo and, if possible, include some information about it.)

PIEDMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HONOR ROLL “A” Honor Roll First Grade: Abby Baird, Jaylen Brown, Gracie Bangs, Hannah Kate Barber, Rebecca Bloodworth, Carson Bostick, Cacey Brothers, Kayla Brothers, Katelynn Brown, Dalton Chandler, Harrison Chaney, Brandon Christopher, Bennett Clemons, Addyson Cromer, Ansley Crowe, Gerald Dykes, Noah Farmer, Evelynn Fox, Anabelle Hilburn, Morigan Hinson, Rylie Ann Holbrooks, Gracelynn Hooper, Reece Kirkpatrick, Eli Ledbetter, Haylie Lee, Nyckolus Little, Madeline Maddox, Drew McCrelles, Andrew Miller, Gabrielle Moyer, Kaydence Palmer, Joseph Parris, Colton Proctor, Victoria Sims, Isaac Smart, Abagail Smith, Alley Smith, Ta’Naisha Spears, Morgan Studdard, Taylon Swain, Caden Thornton, Caleb Tidwell, Marley Walker, Brooklyn Whitmore, Jackie Wright and Carson Young Second Grade: Jessica Adams, Mary Claire Barber, Addison Benefield, Caden Buttram, Mayce Chandler, Angela Clark, Tanner Curvin, Claudia Dempsey, Jaycee Glover, Rowyn Goodwin, Brookelyn Goss, Allie Hase, Hunter Hilburn, Emily Jones, Matthew Jones, Will Jones, Dontavious Jordan, Cooper Kelley, Emmie Kerns, CloeRae McBrayer, Kaylee McClendon, Jacob McCurdy, Levi McFry, Alivia McGatha, Sarah Miller, Jakob Myrick, Hayden Ningsanont, Abby Nolan, Ava Pope, Lexi Ray, Luke Rhinehart, Davin Roberts, Savannah Smith, Kayleigh Somers, Dustin Stinson, Justice Thomason, Sam Tolbert and Abbey Tyson Third Grade: Ashllyn Adderhold, Devin Bentley, Jenna Calvert, Molly Clemons, Avery Cook, Ty Franklin, Camden Garmon, Landon Gilley, Serina Hooper, Skarlett Hooper, Erin Johnson, Malijah Johnson, Jack Lamey, Victoria Langley, Madison Law, Camron Lockridge, Makayla Lockridge, Joallen Man-

cilla, Esther Martin, Emma McKnight, Gracie Naugher, Madeline Naugher, Jonah Pike, Trevor Pike, Princess Pragas, Leah Pruitt, Brooklyn Reid, Easton Reynolds, Jake Rhinehart, Ta’Leaha Ridley, Andrew Sterling-Allen, Kylie Taylor, Emma Todd, Noah Troxell, Breana Webb, Reece Winstead and Mason Yates Fourth Grade: Raven Baker, Anna Grace Barber, Emily Farmer, Sarah Farmer, Lilly Fox, Jordan Prater, Max Hanson, Jackson Hayes, Alyssa Hicks, Katie Lawler, Makenzy Miller, Alex Odam, Anna Pace, Breanna Roberts, Sloan Smith, Hayden Smith, Remington Steed, Cassius Fairs, Louise Tibbetts, Madison Welsh and Conner Williams Fifth Grade: Madison Bentley, Megan Bentley, Haley Bostick, Halee Brown, Madison Byers, Jaden Cantrell, Victoria Christopher, J.T. Coheely, Emma Cooper, Alex Cullen, Elliot Ford, Brandon Foster, Reese Franklin, Hayley Garrett, Slade Haney, Gage Hitchcock, Autumn Holbrooks, Belle Keener, Tylar Little, Austyn Cole Love, Sara Luna, Braiden McClendon, Sean Peek, Kasandra Poole, Steven Raney, Landon Smart, Ta’Miya Spears, Jack Tolbert, Lauryn Truett, Kolbie Williams and Brody Wolfe “A/B” Honor Roll First Grade: Hunter Bagley, Lazarius Blackmon, Nolan Blakley, Demrish Bryan, Jewel Bryant, Jacarie Campbell, Aubie Clay, Hannah Cox, Abbie Dickeson, Tae’vion Fife, Kalaya Fletcher, Will Fortenberry, Leighton Gilley, Benjamin Hughes, Kuantae Mann, Jamil McCoy, Jamila McCoy, Landon McMurray, Canyon Pace, Makenna Parker, Demirits Smart, Evan Smith, Davion Stitts and Scott Studdard Second Grade: Fisher Adams, Dylan Brewster, Allison Bright, Nora Burkhalter, Henry Chaney, Ethan Couch, A. J. Curtis,

Gary Shay Dobbs, Izak Duke, Glenn Dunaway, Eric Edgeworth, Julissa Garrett, Brylee Grimes, Cain Hendon, Briyana Hutcheson, Deserea Kidd, Shanna Lauricella, Brodie Leighton, Jacob McElroy, Natalie McFry, McClane Mohon, Logan Morgan, Brooks Naugher, Alyse Rader, Emily Smith, Andrew Strickland, Emily Striffler, Shyanne Studdard, Gracelyn Sutton, Kristopher Weber and Cole Wilson Third Grade: Hailey Bagley, Ashlyn Bain, Emma Bloom, Ethan Bright, Brodey Brothers, Ieshua Diaz, Gatlyn Gardner, Anna Garrett, Sarah Goss, Braxton Haney, Carlie Huddleston, Chase Jenkins, Davis Jones, Ronnie Key, Aniyah Lathan, Gavin Lawler, A J Lee, Anna Maddox, Ellie Maddox, Jayden Matthews, Cane Mayhall, Ethan McGatha, Amelia Nixon, Armoni Perry, Blake Preston, Olivia Tant and Timothy Van Puymbrouck Fourth Grade: Gavin Bass, Cloey Bedwell, Courtney Burns, Kaleb Cook, T. W. Curtis, Mason Fleming, Hayden Floyd, Blake Fortenberry, Omarion Foster, Cody Holloway, Kayley Kirk, Cade Kirkpatrick, Colton Lester, Kaylin McElroy, Amariyana Moore, Joshua Moore, Caden Ooten, Emilee Parris, Huntley Pointer, Jordyn Pressley, Jamason Rainey, Peyton Smith, Nathaniel Somers, Z’Hayla Walker and Hailey White Fifth Grade: Chase Amsler, Douglas Benitez, Emily Bruce, Autumn Cambron, Robert Cowser, Ember Danford, Charles Floyd, Jeffrey Heuer, Lakene Hilburn, Stevey Jenkins, Xavier Langley, Honesty Mayhall, Jayden McCain, Hayley McGatha, Tykiya Mitchell, Mikayla Murphy, Sadie Naugher, Kaitlyn Nixon, Tateona Patterson, Jade Pruitt, Lauren Pruitt, Coleman Reid, Hunter Rogerson, Tra’shaun Swain, Joshua Wooten and Hayden Young

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PAGE 6/ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 Piedmont Health Care Center The Rehab Center of Piedmont

30 Roundtree Drive • Piedmont, AL 36272 Phone: 256-447-8258 • Fax: 256-447-8230 Email: info@piedmonthc.com

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

“This devotional is made possible by these sponsors who encourage all of us to attend worship services.”

Specialty Services: • 24 Hour On-call Physician and skilled Nursing Care • On-site Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Services • Licensed, Professional Staff • Admission and Discharge Planning • Medicare and Medicaid Certified • Private rehab rooms with cable & private phones in each room Other Specialty Services: Vision, Dental and Podiatry Services Emergency Call System in Each Room

Dr. Amy C. McCurdy 212 Rome Ave. Piedmont, Al Monday and Wednesday 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m. & Friday 10:00a.m. -2:00p.m.

RIVER CITY PROPANE 256-447-4427

23115 U.S. Highway 9 in Piedmont, Ala.

256-447-2366

• NO ROUTE SYSTEM • SAME DAY SERVICE • NO HIDDEN FEES • NO ENVIRONMENTAL FEES • NO PRESSURE TEST FEES

75.00 FIRST VISIT

$

Includes: 2 X-rays, Exam, Consultation, Report of Findings and Spinal Adjustment.

All other services will be performed at our regular fee.

OWNERS: RONNIE & DONNIE RIDLEY

ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY BE INCURRED FOR RELATED SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN INDIVIDUAL CASES.

Dorothy Nelder, MD Family Practice

Lively’s

FOODLAND

210 ROME AVE. PIEDMONT, AL 36272 Phone:(256) 447-1375 Fax: (256) 447-1357

256.447.8006

115 E Ladiga St Piedmont, AL 36272

Office hours by appointment: Mon. - Thurs. 6:30am - 4pm Walk ins welcome: Tues. - Thurs. 9am - 10am

BAPTIST

BENJAMIN B. INGRAM, D.M.D. INGRAM DENTAL CLINIC, P.C. 207 Rome Avenue Piedmont, AL 36272 (256) 447-6071 Fax: (256) 447-6077 www.ingramdentalclinic.com

Mission Statement: I Thessalonians 4: 11-12

Good Neighbor Agent since 1979.

State Farm® Providing Insurance and Financial Services.

Mike Douglas Ins Agcy Inc Mike Douglas CLU® ChFC®, Agent 102 Memorial Drive, Piedmont, AL 36272 Bus: 256-447-8254 www.mikedouglas.biz

Piedmont Fencing & Reid HaRdwaRe All types of fence material & installation.

Lumber • Feed • Tack • Electrical Plumbing • Paint • Tools 824 US Highway 278 West

256-447-2111

DAILY STREET BAPTIST 106 S. Church St. 447-6301 FIRST BAPTIST 105 N. Main St. 447-9496 HOLLEY CROSS ROADS BAPTIST 141 Chinch Creek Rd. 435-7498 NANCES CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH 3670 Hollingsworth Road Jacksonville, Al. 36265 Pastor Rev. Garry Brown Church # 256-435-1411 NORTHSIDE BAPTIST 400 U.S. Hwy. 278 Byp. 447-6735 PLEASANT ARBOR BAPTIST 4825 County Rd. 29 447-2277 RABBITTOWN BAPTIST 2450 Rabbittown Rd. 435-2880 REPUBLICAN BAPTIST 6125 County Rd. 14 927-2170 THANKFUL BAPTIST 308 N. Church St. 447-8071 TRINTIY MISSIONARY BAPTIST 542 Vigo Rd. 447-9469 WELCOME BAPTIST 3415 Tom Cat Rd. 492-7926 CHURCH OF CHRIST

701 N. Center Ave. Piedmont, AL Call us!

(256) 447-0099 Terrapin Outdoor Center

CHURCH OF CHRIST 105 Memorial Dr. 447-9311 CHURCH OF GOD PIEDMONT CHURCH OF GOD 506 E. Ladiga St.

HOLINESS CONGREGATIONAL HOLINESS 601 Hughes St. 447-6855 CONGREGATIONAL HOLINESS 3475 Possum Trot Rd. 447-7284 EXIE CONGREGATIONAL HOLINESS 8515 County Rd. 14 475-5273 NANCES CREEK HOLINESS CHURCH 100 Hobson Circle Piedmont, Al. 36272 Pastor Rev. John Cole Phone 256-557-6568 METHODIST FIRST CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST 310 Southern Ave. 447-9741 FIRST UNITED METHODIST 300 N. Main St. 447-7421 GOSHEN UNITED METHODIST 625 AL Hwy. 9 S. 447-6039 MOUNT PLEASANT CME 305 Lea St. 447-9319 NANCES CREEK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4089 Hollingsworth Road Jackson, Al. 36265 Pastor Rev. Tommy Pritchett Phone 256-831-8222 UNION GROVE UNITED METHODIST 2495 County Rd. 45 447-0210

YOUNG’S CHAPEL METHODIST 44 Youngs Chapel Rd. 492-5553 PRESBYTERIAN CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN 23746 AL Hwy. 9 N. 447-7275 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 107 E. Ladiga St. OTHER ARRINGTON CHAPEL 795 County Rd. 181 447-3888 DAYSTAR MINISTRIES 4800 AL Hwy. 21 N. 435-4359 EXTENDED HAND 209 Taylor St. 447-2233

Established 1986 See us for all of your insurance needs.

Auto • Home • Work Comp Business • Contractors Bonds • Life • Health

BRIAN JENNINGS - Agent 1470-H West Main St. Centre, AL 35960 256-927-2012

101 S. Center Ave. Piedmont, AL 36272 256-447-7943

256-927-2011 Fax

256-447-7959 Fax

SMITH

PLUMBING & MINI STORAGE OWNERS: Randy & Brenda Smith

For all your plumbing and storage needs call

256-447-9200

22766 HWY 9 N, Piedmont, AL

HOMETOWN SPIRIT

ST. LUKE FBH 614 Draper St. 447-1990 WESTSIDE CONGREGATIONAL 401 Anniston Ave. 447-7445

447-2173 PIEDMONT PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER

Carmel

Community Church

Proclaiming salvation by grace since 1835

Proclaiming the Gospel of Redemption through our Savior - Jesus Christ • Sunday School at 9:15am • Worship Services at 10:00am

Carmel Community Church

130 Cherokee Cty. Rd. 33 Off of Hwy. 278.

256-473-9650

www.carmelcc.org

Kim Compton, General Mgr. info@piedmontoutdoor.net (256) 447-7211 (w) (256) 282-3943 (c) 613 North Main Street Piedmont, Alabama 36272 www.piedmontoutdoor.net

Jewelry Sales & Repair • Watch Repair

STINSON & HOWARD

Dansby Heritage Chapel

Fine Jewelry

Compassionate Service www.dansbyhc.com

HIGHWAY 200 Across from Piedmont High School Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11am-8pm 256-283-5262

PCA INSURANCE

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST 3940 Hwy. 9 S. 452-5846

Now serving FUNNEL CAKE!

Advance Reservations Required for Rentals and Shuttles

www.canoeshop.net 4114 Co. Rd. 175 • (256) 447-6666 Piedmont, AL 36272

WELL SPRING 11040 U.S. Hwy. 278 E. 492-2806

Tweeners Cafe

Canoes, Kayaks, SUP’s & Accessories • Sales & Rentals

Alabama’s Largest PaddleSports Retailer

FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE

Owners: Jerry S. Dansby, LFD Lynette L. Dansby, CFSP 707 E Hwy 278 Bypass Mailing: 707 Southern Ave. Piedmont, AL 36272 256-447-4747

Security for Those You Love Ashley Penton 706 Hwy. 278 Byp. (256) 447-8501

Linda Jones Store Manager

104 North Center Ave. Piedmont, AL (256) 447-9612 Oxford & Heflin

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 / PAGE 7

CALHOUN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Work Week....The Voice of Business Mark Your Calendars Thursday, April 3, Business & Biscuits 7:30-8:30 A.M. Creedmoor Sports 167 Creedmoor Way, Anniston Thursday, April 10, YLCC Gadsden State/Technology & Career Day 8:00 A.M. Chamber of Commerce Friday, April 11, Dale Carnegie & Jeffrey Gitomer: Sales Success Training 8:00 A.M. Chamber of Commerce Call the Chamber to RSVP and for information.

Tuesday, April 15, Business After Hours 5:30-7:00 P.M. Webb Concrete Showroom 1021 Snow Street, Oxford Wednesday, April 16, Emergency Preparedness “Ready Business� Series 9-11 A.M. Chamber of Commerce Call 256-237-3536 to RSVP. Wednesday, April 23, Chamber Night at JSU Baseball vs TROY 6 P.M. Ruby Abbott Field at Jacksonville State University Tickets for Chamber Member are available for $1 at the Chamber.

Now Accepting Small Business of the Year Nominations for the 2014 Small Business Awards.

Each May, the Chamber celebrates Small Businesses. You may nominate more than one Chamber Member business with 75 or less employees. Winners exhibit growth, excellence, risk, diversity, and innovation, and involvement in community activities.

(Past nominees are eligible, but not the past award recipients.)

Nomination forms are available at www.calhounchamber.com.

Nomination deadline is Friday, April 11, 2014.

For more information, call the Chamber at 256-237-3536.

In Case You Missed It

Each year, the Chamber and Jacksonville State University host an Economic Update for the year ahead with reports from our County, State, Region, and Nation. The 2014 Forum was presented on March 5, by America's First Federal Credit Union and JSU. Thursday, March 6, Business & Biscuits was held at Hubbard's Off Main in Oxford. This southern cuisine restaurant is located off Main Street in Oxford at 20 Choccolocco Street.

Save the Date for the LCC Leadership Luncheon Thursday, April 24, at Noon Featuring speaker: Tommy Bice, Alabama Schools Superintendent More Information to Come.

Staff Contact Linda Hearn Chamber Manager lindah@calhounchamber.com Lisa Morales Leadership/Community Dev. Director lisam@calhounchamber.com Kim Boyd Membership Director kimb@calhounchamber.com Judy Myers Customer Services Representative judym@calhounchamber.com

March 6, the Chamber held its spring semester Get Linked event with JSU students. This time we took the event to campus with Margaret Roberts of Wells Fargo Bank, Amy Daley of Swank Boutique, Mark Hearn of Jacksonville State University, and TK Bardwell of BR Williams Trucking and Logistics.

Thank you to our new and existing members for attending our Chamber 101 on March 17. Pictured are representatives from Alagasco, New Life Apostolic Center, Sunny King Ford, EMSI-Occupational Safety Services, Keller Williams and America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses with Chamber Membership Director Kim Boyd.

Emily Duncan Public Relations Coordinator emilyd@calhounchamber.com

Stay Social For the most up-to-date information, follow us on social media. www.facebook.com/ calhouncountychamber @calhounchamber calhounchamber.wordpress.com www.youtube.com/user/ calhounchamber

March 18, the Calhoun County Chamber joined forces with the Etowah/Gadsden Chamber for a Regional Business After Hours at Robert Trent Jones Silver Lakes.

PAGE 8 / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

Girls play in tourney at Gulf Shores RIP DONOVAN Sports Correspondent

Caleb Adams, Blanchard and Hayes each had one hit.

In the opener against Boaz, the Bulldogs won 8-5. Piedmont led 8-2 after five innings and gave up three runs in the top of the seventh.

Tyler Lusk was the winning pitcher with six innings of work. He allowed six hits, didn’t issue a walk and struck out one.

Piedmont touched a pair of Pirate pitchers for 14 hits and seven earned runs. All nine of Piedmont’s batters had at least one hit.

Hayes and Payton Young each had three hits. Hayes’ knocks included the only hit for extra bases by a Bulldog, a double. Strott drove in three runs with one hit. Hayes had two RBIs. Young, Blanchard and McCord had one RBI each. Blanchard finished with two hits and scored once.

McCord, Lusk, Whitten, Adams and Easton Kirk each had one base hit and scored one run. Young and Hayes also scored once.

The Bulldogs opened Class 3A, Area 10 action with three games against Saks last week and blasted the Mildcats for mercy-rule wins in each of the three games. The two teams played a single game at Piedmont Thursday with Piedmont winning 11-1 in six innings. The Bulldogs led 9-1 entering the bottom of the sixth then Hayes scored on a balk to make it 10-1 and Jaret Prater’s RBI single scored Whitten to end the game.

Whitten threw all six innings and fanned nine. He tossed a three-hitter and walked just one. The lone run for Saks came on a solo home run in the top of the third inning. Whitten also benefitted from solid defense behind him as Piedmont turned double plays in the second and fourth innings.

Young had a two-run home run for Piedmont in the home half of the first inning. In the bottom of the third, Blanchard’s two-run single upped Piedmont’s lead to 4-1. The Bulldogs got two more in the fourth when Lusk walked and scored on an error and Kirk added an RBI single.

A change in the pool-play lineup, two days before tournament time, matched Piedmont against five larger schools in the Gulf Shores tournament Monday and Tuesday. In Monday’s opener, Class 6A Buckhorn defeated Piedmont 9-0.

Class 4A Beauregard bested the Bulldogs 5-0 in Monday’s second game then a 6-4 loss to 4A North Jackson ended the day.

Piedmont coach Rachel Smith said the initial information she received showed pools for smaller pools and separate pools for larger schools.

“We’re here to try to better ourselves and so we’re playing bigger, better schools. We’re going to try to look at it with the glass half full and try to better ourselves,” Smith said Tuesday morning prior to her team’s first game.

That positive attitude paid dividends when the Bulldogs held off a late rally by 4A Ardmore and won 4-3. Piedmont scored once in the first inning when Torre Roberts led off with a single, stole second and scored on Madison Pike’s single. In the second, Mallory Roberts walked to open the inning. Hayden Tyree had a base hit and Hannah Hulsizer walked to load the bases. Roberts came home on a ground ball to the right side by Rachel Baggett and Gena Prater, running for Tyree, scored when Torre Roberts hit another ground ball to the right. Pike’s two-out single drove in Hulsizer with what proved to be the winning run. Kendall Pressley had Piedmont’s fifth hit, also a single.

Ardmore scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings.

Kayleigh Williams pitched all four innings. She allowed three hits, three walks and two earned runs with four strikeouts.

■ See BULLDOGS, page 9

■ See TOURNEY, page 9

Doug Borden

Piedmont’s Tyler Lusk slides safely into second base against Boaz.

Bulldogs ready for tourney; hope to start new win streak RIP DONOVAN Journal Sports Correspondent

Starting a new winning streak will be the first order of business when Piedmont meets Woodland Thursday at 1 p.m. at White Plains on the first day of play in the annual Bradey Munroe Memorial baseball tournament. The old streak reached 10 games before the Bulldogs lost to visiting Boaz in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

Munford will be Piedmont’s opponent immediately after the Woodland game Thursday. First pitch for the Bulldogs and Lions should be around 3:30 p.m. Piedmont continues tournament play Friday in Heflin with a 6 p.m. game against Cleburne County. The Bulldogs return to White Plains Saturday and meet Priceville at 10 a.m. and Handley at 12:30 p.m.

Bulldogs’ head coach James Blanchard said Tuesday afternoon that in past years the tournament has allowed his players “to get as much baseball as we can in before we go into that stretch where we’ve got two weeks back-to-back with (area opponents) Weaver and the next week White Plains.”

Playing five games over three days locally gives the Bulldogs the opportunity to take lots of swings against live pitching and makes lots of plays in the field and Blanchard can set his pitching rotation in anticipation of the coming games against Weaver. The way the Bulldogs have played in the tournament in the past has also been a good indicator of how they will fare the remainder of the season.

“We’ve reeled off a lot of wins in the Bradey Munroe Memorial tournament,” Blanchard said. “If we’re playing good coming out of that, we usually do good. It’s been a good gauge.”

The 6-3 loss to Boaz Saturday came after Piedmont led 3-0 through five innings. All the runs for the Bulldogs came in the second inning and two were unearned. Cale McCord, Taylor Hayes and Bayley Blanchard scored. Matt Strott had two of Piedmont’s five singles and drove in one run. Peyton Whitten had the other RBI for the Bulldogs.

Piedmont track teams finish strong The Bulldogs will take part in the Scottsboro meet, one Mitchell called “the closest thing you get to a section or a state meet we go to all year” on Saturday, April 5, then participate in the annual Calhoun County meet at Competing against Class 6A Oxford, Class 5A Jacksonville State on Tuesday, April 8.

Benjamin Russell, Class 4A Anniston and Class In taking the boys’ title at Lincoln, Piedmont had three 4A Lincoln at the Lincoln track meet on March 18, individual champions. Chase Keener won the pole vault Piedmont took first-place honors among the boys and at 11 feet, 1 inch, improving his personal best by 10 finished second to host Lincoln among the girls. inches. Jaden Amberson took first in the javelin with his The Piedmont boys scored 150 points in 17 events. throw of 120 feet, 1 inch. Denard Spears won the 100Anniston was second (115), Benjamin Russell third meter dash with a time of 11.36 seconds.

(107) and Oxford fourth (97). Behind the top four were Four Bulldogs earned individual second place finishes.

Lincoln (77), Pleasant Valley (73), Moody (25), Victory Mitchell Bennefield placed second in the 300-meter hurChristian (5) and Alabama School for the Blind (3). dles with a time of 46.64 seconds. Wil Mitchell was secLincoln’s girls scored 157.5 points in 18 events. The ond in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet, two inches, Piedmont girls ended with 148 points. Oxford finished an improvement of two inches. Skylar Fontaine threw third (132) followed by Anniston (113), Pleasant Valley 104 feet, 11 inches for second in the javelin. C.J. Savage (52.5), Benjamin Russell (28), Alabama School for the was second in the 200-meter dash at 23.06 seconds Blind (12) and Victory Christian (10). Moody did not which was .4 of a second better than his previous best. enter a girls’ team.

Piedmont’s ‘A’ team in the 4-by-400 relay, composed of “I think we’ve been progressing really well. My bigLee Stanley, Bennefield, Seth Pope and Justin Young, gest thing is competing and it was kind of windy and was second at 3:56.78. cold, a lot different than it was like Saturday. Our kids In the high jump, Dreek Thompson tied for third with compete and do their best in whatever conditions they’re in. It wasn’t ideal conditions. You had a lot of teams that Oxford’s Desmond Cooley at five feet, eight inches. left before the track meet was over and all our kids were Darnell Jackson took third in the triple jump with a leap all sitting together and they were all there until it ended,” of 39 feet, 6.75 inches. Exavyer Jackson threw 45 feet, 10 inches for third in the shot put. Savage finished third Mitchell said of the experience at Lincoln. in the 100 dash at 11.46 seconds. Spears was third in the Everyone who was in town – more than 70 in all 200 dash with his time of 23.29 seconds.

– practiced Monday and Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m.

In the triple jump, Thompson was fourth (36 feet, before Mitchell released the team for the remainder of 7 inches) and Neonta Alexander fifth (36 feet). In the spring break.

400-meter run, Jamal Young was fifth in 55.85 seconds.

“We had two really good days of practice,” he said Fontaine tied for fifth in the pole vault at eight feet, six Tuesday afternoon.

RIP DONOVAN Journal Sports Correspondent

inches. Justin Escamilla finished fifth in the 3200 meters with a time of 12:23 and Matt Locklear was seventh in 12:39. Krae Keener was fifth in the javelin with a distance of 96 feet, two inches. Chase Keener was sixth in the 300-meter hurdles (48.66 seconds) and Hunter McCord eighth (51.58). Savage was eighth in the long jump at 16 feet, 8.75 inches. Pope finished eighth in the 800-meter run in 2:21.01, improving his previous best by more than 10 seconds. He bettered his 1600 meters time by more than 17 seconds at 5:33.06 and just missed scoring by finishing ninth.

Mitchell said Pope, a first-year member of the track team, had made significant progress in a short period of time.

“He had a really good meet the other night (at Lincoln) because he’s understanding the pace and how fast or how slow he needs to run a lap,” Mitchell said. “He was a big surprise the other night.”

In the other relays, Piedmont’s ‘A’ team of Thompson, Savage, Spears and Darnell Jackson was fourth in the 4x100 in 44.89 seconds. The 4x100 ‘B’ team of Deangelo Foster, Cobey McFry, Trey Snyder and Stanley finished eighth in 52.07 seconds. The 4x400 ‘B’ unit McFry, Snyder, McCord and Fontaine – finished fourth in 4:17.95.

In the 4x800 relay, Mitchell, Pope, Justin Young and Jamal Young ran as Piedmont’s ‘A’ team and finished fourth in 9:44.31. The 4x800 ‘B’ group of Brett Akin, Pete Chaswick, Escamilla and Snyder was eighth at 10:13.46.

Karri Green continued to run well for the Piedmont ■ See TRACK, page 9

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 • PAGE 9

BULLDOGS: Off to strong start TRACK: Boys first, girls second From page 8

From page 8

In the fifth, Blanchard had a base hit and Hayes sacrificed him to second.

After Blanchard moved to third on a passed ball, he returned home on Whitten’s sacrifice fly. With two away, Lusk was hit by a pitch, Prater walked and Adams was hit by a pitch.

Strott then drove home two runs with a base hit.

At Saks on Friday, Piedmont Doug Borden took the series Peyton Whitten gets ready to pitch in action last with a 15-1 win week. in five innings. In the meaningless nightcap, the Twelve Bulldogs batted and seven Bulldogs again won in five innings. scored in the fifth inning. Hayes threw The nightcap score was 16-0. all five innings and allowed six hits In the opener, Piedmont got six while walking one and striking out two. unearned runs in the first inning, aided In the 16-0 win late, 12 walks, two by four Saks errors. Lusk had three sin- more hit batters, four errors by Saks gles and walked one time in four plate and seven hits by Piedmont put an end appearances. He had a two-run hit in to the game in five innings. Blanchard the first and another two-run hit in the started and worked the first four fifth and scored three runs. innings for the win. He struck out two, Adams struck for three hits, drove in walked two and allowed three hits. two runs in the fourth and scored two Lusk had two strikeouts in the fifth times. Whitten had two hits, three RBIs inning. and scored three runs. Kirk doubled Kirk and Whitten each had a home and scored twice. Hayes walked two run. Kirk also doubled and recorded times and scored after each free pass. four RBIs.

girls. She won both the 100-meter hurdles in 16.93 seconds and claimed the 300 hurdles in 50.03. Riesha Thompson ran 18.41 seconds in the 100 hurdles to earn Piedmont a 1-2 finish in the event. Carrigan Pasley ran 1:07.97 in the 300 and was sixth for the bulldogs. Green finished second in the 100-meter dash at 13.56 seconds and second in the 200meter dash at 27.2 seconds. Lincoln’s Shelbi White won both dashes, clocking 12.56 seconds in the 100 and 25.09 in the 200.

Bre Green was third in the 1600-meter run with a time of 6:33.83 and fifth in the 800 meters in 2:54.08. Macy Hanson was eighth in the 1600 meters at 6:48.95. In the 3200 meters, Katie Stroup finished third for Piedmont in 16:52.

In the relays, Piedmont’s 4-by-100 team of Megan Mohan, Carlie Flowers, Thompson and Karri Green was fourth in 55.71 seconds. In the 4x400, Piedmont’s ‘A’ team of Breanna Brasher, Flowers, Mohan and Bre Green was second at 4:55.04 and the Piedmont ‘B’ unit of Joyce Pleze, Carrigan Pasley, Katelyn Truett and Ashlin Smith took third in 5:29.46. Piedmont also ran two teams in the girls’ 4x800. The ‘A’ team of Mohan, Macy Hanson, Truett and Bre Green was third in 12:07.59 and the ‘B’ group of Rebekah Patterson, Smith, Pasley and Stroup was fifth at 13:51.36 In the field events, Mohan tied for first in the pole vault with Lincoln’s Karlee Watson at 7-feet.

TOURNEY: Girls defeat Ardmore North Jackson had a five-run first inning and Piedmont was unable to overAfter the win over Ardmore, 6A Chelsea come the early deficit. All four of Piedblanked Piedmont 4-0. The Bulldogs had mont’s runs came in the fifth inning. With two down, the Bulldogs got consecutive four hits in the loss, all singles. Mallory Roberts got two hits. Pike and Tyree each singles from Baggett, Torre Roberts and had one. Pressley pitched all four innings Williams to load the bases. Pike walked to and allowed two earned runs. The Chelsea drive in a run then Tant smashed a threegame completed pool play for Piedmont. RBI double before the inning ended.

Pressley pitched all four innings and gave Single-elimination bracket play starts up just three earned runs. today.

On Thursday of last week, Hokes Bluff In Monday’s game with Buckhorn, edged Piedmont 3-2 on a one-out, twoPiedmont got just two singles, one by run home run in the bottom of the seven Torre Roberts and one by Pressley. The inning by the Eagles’ No. 9 hitter. PiedBulldogs were shaky in the field, commont led 2-0 after five innings on runs by mitting nine errors. Against Beauregard, Tant and Torre Roberts. Williams had two Piedmont had three singles. Williams, singles to lead the Bulldogs.

Tyree and Caitlin Tant were the hitters.

From page 8

Hanson cleared 6-foot-6 and tied for third with Leah Johnson of Pleasant Valley. Each of Piedmont’s entries had fewer misses than the person with whom she tied.

Thompson was second in the long jump with a leap of 14 feet, seven inches and second in the triple jump with 30-4.

Breanna Brasher jumped 27-6 in the triple for fifth and 12-2 in the long jump where she was eighth.

Jaylen Major improved her best previous throw in the discus by 11 inches with a throw of 76 feet, six inches and was third.

Kaliyah Brasewell threw 61-1 for seventh place for the Bulldogs. Major was sixth in the shot put with a personal best of 31-5. In the javelin, Jamiyah Crutcher threw a personal best of 57 feet, an improvement of more than 10 feet, and was fifth.

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PAGE 10 / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

DOWNTOWN: Council members discuss hiring industrial recruiter From page 1

“If you can land some industry, you’re going to start getting jobs,” Councilman Mark Harper said. “It’s still going to be a couple of years before retail catches up.”

Piedmont was dealt a major blow when it lost the Standard Coosa Thatcher cotton mill in the 1990s, and another in 2007 when it lost Springs Global U.S. Inc., a company that makes towels and tablecloths. City officials said this week that Piedmont has lost about half its population as a result of the closures. Danny Pope said the loss of Springs Global was immediately evident to him.

“We lost about 65 percent of our business since 2007,” Pope said. “We lost it. It’s gone. It’s not coming back.”

With too few people in town and with so many in town struggling to get by — the median annual income for households in Piedmont was $33,370 for the five-year period ending in 2012, according to the Census Bureau, lower than the county median of $40,093 and the state figure of $43,160 — the city’s residents won’t have enough disposable income to support retail until they have a place to work, Pope said.

Jacksonville State University economics profes-

sor Christopher Westley said towns like Piedmont have two obvious options when it comes to retail development: Attract outof-towners with unique shops, and develop industry to ensure that residents who live in town have enough disposable income to support retail businesses.

“There is no reason why their manufacturing base could not resurrect itself,” Westley said, noting that the city already has a trained workforce. “What makes a city grow is investment. They need capital to come in.”

City officials are trying to recruit new industry to town, they say, and council members are discussing the possibility of hiring an industrial recruiter to work on behalf of the city.

“We decided in the council meeting that we wanted to move in that direction,” Piedmont Mayor Bill Baker said.

The city has also considered hiring Jacksonville State University to analyze its retail sector. Such an analysis would detail the city’s assets and needs.

Officials with the university told City Council members in a meeting that the analysis, which would have cost the city $7,500, could be used by a recruiter as a tool to attract businesses. But recently the council decided to hire a recruit-

er first and reconsider the study later.

In the meantime, the city is working on its own to attract business. Baker said he has called big-box chains and a rifle manufacturing company and many other businesses in an attempt to recruit business to town. Councilwoman Mary Bramblett has also worked to recruit industry on behalf of the city.

The type of business they would really like to land is industry, but they are willing to take whatever comes their way.

“You just reach out wherever you can to find whatever you can,” Baker said.

Tough business While the city works to pull more business in, existing businesses are deciding whether they will stay or go.

Danny Pope bought his business from Formby Furniture about 15 years ago, and the furniture store has been in Piedmont for at least 40 years, he said.

Pope, who also owns the business’ building, said he’ll stay as long as he makes more money than it takes to keep the lights on.

Another Piedmont staple that is sticking around is Strickland’s Hardware.

Owner John Strickland said his business, started by his father, J.B. Strickland, has been around for 74 years.

“I remember when it was

really busy downtown,” said Strickland, who hopes to one day sell the store to someone who wants to keep it. “All these little businesses were family-owned and for whatever reason the families didn’t carry on.”

The Solid Rock Cafe is relatively new to downtown Piedmont, but it has quickly become a fixture.

Locals routinely visit the eatery and it is popular with cyclists who use the nearby Chief Ladiga Trail.

Owner Jennifer Gillette plans to expand store hours and is hosting musicians on Saturday nights. Her store, she said, is not going anywhere, but it is for sale.

Gillette said she would only sell the cafe to the right buyer, someone who is willing to keep it open.

“I don’t know where people would go if we weren’t open,” Gillette said. “We have a lot of loyal customers and I wouldn’t want to disappoint them.”

Sam Stinson with Stinson Howard Jewelry said his Piedmont store is poised to close because longtime manager Linda Jones is planning to retire. He said the business is focusing on its Oxford store and its online store diamondsforcost.com.

He said no one is interested in commuting to Piedmont to maintain that business. The company bought and renovated the

Piedmont store within the past 15 years.

Potential buyers are already eyeing the building, but he said the store has not settled on a closing date. Since the closing was announced business has been steady, and it will remain open as long as people keep coming in, he said.

Still, going-out-of-business signs hang outside the storefront.

Giving it a go In recent months a few new stores have opened.

Fran Maddox, for eample, opened City Graphics, where customers can have signs, shirts and other items screen-printed. The shop also does custom embroidery.

“We decided just to try it and see what it does,” she said, adding that she picked a downtown shop, in part, because she was tired of seeing vacant storefronts there.

Steven Glover, 28, wanted to bring something good back to his hometown after graduating from Auburn University in 2008, so he opened Lovers By Glover two years ago. The shop sells decorative picture

frames, printed art, vintage tables, refurbished odds and ends and a few pieces of new modern furniture.

But things haven’t worked out for Glover. He’s closing the Piedmont store and looking for a new place to open.

“Six weeks ago on a Saturday it had been dead all day and I was like, you know, I just have to move the store,” Glover said. “On a Saturday in a downtown area it should not be completely dead.”

Thursday one of his customers, Charlotte Barnwell, stopped by to buy a gift for a friend. The closing wasn’t news to her, but it was still disappointing.

She said there are too few places to buy gifts and goods in Piedmont, about three miles from her Pleasant Valley home. After Saturday, she said, she will have to drive to Jacksonville or Gadsden to buy the types of items sold in Glover’s store.

“I think we should have more,” Barnwell said. “We should have more clothing stores and we should have more places to buy gifts.”

FUN & GAMES WITH THE JOURNAL

LYLE: Chairman of state Shrine tag program From page 1

night and get my GED. Then, he made me take college courses. He actually put me on the right path to get an education and make something out of myself. He instilled in me a positive attitude and a desire to make myself better. I appreciate it now. Back then I was a little irritated.”

Thanks to the old master sergeant’s persistence, Art received a degree in criminology.

After 20 years, four months and 26 days in the Air Force, in 1982 Art moved back to Piedmont. This time though, he was older, wiser, and educated.

He was happy to be home.

He went back to school, first at Ayers Technical College to get a degree in welding, then to Gadsden State Community College, where he received a business management degree. Both degrees helped him in his future endeavors.

The first business venture Art started was Alabama Prop Repair. It was a success.

Seven years ago, Art had to undergo surgery for bladder cancer.

“They took out 45 centimeters of my upper intestine and made a new bladder for me,” he said. “I feel great. Actually, I’m one of the lucky guys. I’m cancer free now. No chemo and no radiation whatsoever.”

Art said that’s one of the reasons he supports Venecia’s Foundation, started by Venecia Benefield Butler, a fourtime cancer survivor.

“I’m very happy to support that,” he said. “It’s a very worthy cause. She’s a fantastic lady and has such a positive attitude.”

Art’s father-in-law, William Thornton, has breast cancer and is currently taking chemotherapy.

Three years ago, he handed the keys to Alabama Prop Repair to his son, Sean.

“It’s a physically demanding business,” said Art. “You have to swing some hammers and do some labor, and I’m not as able to that as I used to be.”

Art’s daughter, Ashley Lyle-Hsie, lives in Orlando, Fla. His other son, Bill Sawyer, lives in Aurora, Colo. He has two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Art’s parents are the late Evie (Chastain) Lyle and Henry Lyle. His sister, Jean Bennett, lives in Piedmont.

Art, with the help of his wife, BJ, runs three companies.

Prepaid SouthEast LLC is a prepaid wireless business.

Thirty-One Gifts offers bags and totes. Art is one of three male consultants in the U. S. for Thirty-One Gifts. The other two work in the corporate office. All the other consultants are women. The link to this is www.mythirtyone. com/256284.

Supplements made by their third business, Body by Vi, has helped Art reduce his cholesterol and heart medicines and.BJ lose 40 pounds.

Art likes woodworking and is currently remodeling his house.

“I started at one end, and I’m going to the other,” he said.

“What I do is, I figure out the type of wood I want, then I go find the trees. There’s a guy in Jacksonville who has a sawmill, and he cuts them into shape for me. I found a guy in Crossville who kiln dries my wood for me. He planes and tongue and grooves it.”

Several years ago, Art helped start the Piedmont Food Bank, which eventually grew into what is now the Benevolence Center.

“Me and another guy got to talking about starting it,” said Art. “The guy said he didn’t have enough time to do it, so I said I would. He bought half the food and I bought the other half to get it started. Keith Word at the housing authority loaned us a building before we could get one of our own.”

Art said he believes the Benevolence Center is one of the best things that’s ever happened to Piedmont. It helps families with food and other things they can’t afford.

“They’re doing a really good job of running it,” he said.

“They’ve really got it growing. When you see how well somebody else can take over and do something, you walk away and let them do it. They’re doing an awesome job.”

Art is a member of the Lozahatchee Masonic Lodge and is a Shriner through Cahaba Shriners. As a member of the Vagabonds Shrine unit, he and BJ have traveled a lot.

They’ve been to seven countries since they married 16 years ago.

He is chairman of the State of Alabama Shrine Tag program. He and BJ make the deposits and write checks for the transportation funds and the Shrine hospitals.

“Every Shriner in Alabama that buys a Shrine tag pays $25 extra every year for that tag,” said Art. “The State of Alabama takes $3.63 of that to administer to the program. $21.37 goes to Piedmont Juvenile Healthcare Board.”

Eighteen percent goes to Shrine centers in Alabama to help transport children and their parents to and from hospitals.

Eighty-two percent goes to the Shrine hospitals.”

“Lane Weatherbee, grand master of the Alabama Masonic Grand Lodge, founded the Piedmont Juvenile Health Care Board in 1994,” said Art. “Lane has worked really hard on this. It’s done a lot for the kids. I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and Lane deserves a lot of credit for this.”

Art said that there are currently 714 children in Alabama being treated in Shrine hospitals for either burns or orthopedic problems.

He’s happy to be able to help these children and their parents, and he’s happy he came back to Piedmont.

“I feel like I’ve done well,” said Art, who is 68. “I’ve had a very good life and seen the world. My children ask me if I’m ever going to totally retire. I tell them I will when they plant me.”

McDOWELL: Chaplain Meeks officiates From page 1

flight paramedic and shift captain with Piedmont Rescue and EMS. The drive through town is known as a final call by emergency medical technicians, police officers and firefighters, many who came from other cities to join those in Piedmont to say remember to one of their own. About 150 of these friends and professionals, along with Mayor Bill Baker, attended a memorial service at the Piedmont Rescue Building to share memories.

Richardson and Bates drove their friend on to his family in West Virginia, escorted by Piedmont police. When they reached Cherokee County, they were escorted to DeKalb County by Centre police officers.

McDowell’s supervisor Phillip Winkles said McDowell’s loss is felt among those who work with Piedmont Rescue and EMS. “Jon McDowell was not only a great paramedic, he was a great brother in our family at Piedmont Rescue, and he will be missed,” said Winkles. “The knowledge and life saving skills he possessed will be almost impossible to replace. He has contributed to saving countless lives while working with Piedmont Rescue.”

McDowell was born in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Survivors include his parents, Estel and Anita McDowell; two sisters, Lani McDowell Honaker and her fiancé John

Freeman of Rainbow City and Cari Reed and her husband Mark of Huntington, W. Va.; a brother Perry McDowell (Marti Overman) of Second Creek, W. Va.; four nieces, Makenzie and Reilly Honaker, Jenna Reed and Courtney Lemons; two aunts, Anna Lee Corron and Carolyn Schneider; an uncle Jimmy White (Sue) and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ethel and Wallace McDowell and Gracie White and James White of White Sulphur Springs.

Prior to moving to Alabama, McDowell worked for several area rescue quads and was a member of the White Sulphur Springs Fire Department.

Funeral services on March 19 at Whatcoat United Methodist Church in West Virginia were attended by 14 of his co-workers from Piedmont: Phillip Winkles, Kevin Farmer, Shannon Hogue, Mark Haygood, Daniel Richardson, Lindsey Haygood, Carlos Farmer, Jamey Spencer, Nathan Bragg, Matt Meeks, Pami Meeks, John Hollingsworth, John Richardson and Tim Bates.

At the family’s request, Piedmont Rescue Squad chaplain EMT Matt Meeks performed the service in West Virginia.

He also officiated at the memorial service in Piedmont.

Robert McClintic also officiated in West Virginia.

Burial was in Mapledale Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the white Sulphur Springs EMS, P. O. Box 129, Sulphur Springs, W. Va. 24986 or the Piedmont Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 333, Piedmont 36272.

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Haulers LLC in Calera, Al has Call now 1-866-952-5303, Ext immediate openings for 199. regional semi dump and tanker _________________________ drivers. Must be 23 years of FOR SALE CHURCH FURNITURE: Does age, 1 yr CDL safe driving, your church need pews, pulpit good MBR, Class A, excellent set, baptistery, steeple, winpay and benefits. If interested dows? Big sale on new cushcall James or George ioned pews and pew chairs.

1-800-537-4621 or 1 - 8 0 0 - 2 3 1 - 8 3 6 0 . southernhaulersllc.com EOE www.pews1.com. _________________________ Job Opening DISH TV retailer. Starting Heavy Equipment Operators $19.99/month (for 12 mos.)

Lowboy Drivers. Need clean Broadband Internet starting TO THE BEST OF OUR driving record. Construction $14.95/month (where availKNOWLEDGE Co. Heflin Call All of the ads in this column able.) Ask about same day in256.463.7411 256.846.0852 Call now! represent legitimate offerings, stallation! however The Piedmont 1-800-311-7159.

MEDICAL OFFICE Journal does recommend _________________________ TRAINEES NEEDED! that readers exercise normal SAWMILLS FROM only $4897.

Train to become a business caution in respond- Make & save money with your Medical Office Assistant! own bandmill. Cut lumber any ing to ads.

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! dimension. In stock ready to Online training at SC Train ship. Free info/DVD: www.Norgets you job ready! woodSawmills.com.

HS Diploma/GED 1-800-578-1363 ext. 300N. & PC/Internet needed! _________________________ 1-877-649-3155 MEDICAL SUPPLIES TIRED OF WORKING FOR NEW AND used - stair lift eleTO THE BEST OF OUR vators, car lifts, scooters, lift SOMEONE ELSE? KNOWLEDGE BE YOUR OWN BOSS! All of the ads in this column chairs, power wheel chairs, James R. Smith Trucking of represent legitimate offerings, walk-in tubs. Covering all of AlCullman, AL is currently seek- however The Piedmont abama for 23 years. Elrod Moing Owner - Operators. Bene- Journal does recommend bility 1-800-682-0658. (R) fits incl: Daily Settlements; Di- that readers exercise normal _________________________ rect Deposit or Express Cash; business caution in respond100% Of Fuel Surcharge, Stop ing to ads. & Drop Pay; Discounts on Fuel, Cell Phones & Tires; PrePass Furnished; Exc. Home/Family Time & A Payroll MORTGAGE Deducted Truck Purchase Plan.

FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS Contact Greg Quick At 256.338.5168 or 800.841.9642 ABSOLUTE AUCTION - 2 log SALE cabins, farmhouse, cottage, Default having been made in 20+/ - acres in Alabama over- the payment of the indebtedTO THE BEST OF OUR looking Tennessee River, be- ness secured by that certain KNOWLEDGE All of the ads in this column tween Huntsville and Chattarepresent legitimate offerings, nooga, vacation rental history, however The Piedmont April 1, 1:00 pm. Details GtaucJournal does recommend t i o n s . c o m , that readers exercise normal 1 - 2 0 5 - 3 2 6 - 0 8 3 3 , G r a n g e r, business caution in respond- Thagard & Assoc. Inc., Jack F. Granger, #873. ing to ads. _________________________ PRIME COMMERCIAL real esDaily Home/Anniston Star tate auction. 13 properties Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Corner across from McDonalds & Hardee’s. Shane Albright Auctions AL#1569. Call Ben Piedmont- Grand Opening www.shafor USA Thrift Store & Mission 1-256-710-9683. nealbright.com.

703 278 Bypass on April 1 _________________________ 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday SERVICES DIVORCE WITH or without Star Plus TO THE BEST OF OUR children $125. Includes name KNOWLEDGE St. Clair Times change and property settleAll of the ads in this column ment agreement. Save hunJacksonville News represent legitimate offerings, dreds. Fast and easy. Call however The Piedmont 1-888-733-7165, 24/7.

Piedmont Journal Journal does recommend _________________________ Cleburne News that readers exercise normal HIGH-SPEED Internet is now business caution in respond- available where you live for Oxford Sun ing to ads. only $39.99 per mo. New SuTO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE All of the ads in this column represent legitimate offerings, however The Piedmont Journal does recommend that readers exercise normal business caution in responding to ads.

Arcade games for sale.

Full size multi-cade, all of your old favorites from the 1980’s, Ms. Pacman & others 256-435-4148

mortgage executed by Luke Varvell and Heather Varvell, husband and wife, to Regions Bank dba Regions Mortgage, on the 27th day of July, 2007, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Calhoun County, Alabama, in MORT Book 4450 Page 875; the undersigned Regions Bank dba Regions Mortgage, as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama, on April 21, 2014, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Calhoun County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 11, Block D, Forestbrook East, Third Addition, as recorded in Plat Book Y, at page 19 in the Probate Office of Calhoun County, Alabama, situated, lying and being in Calhoun County, Alabama.

THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure.

The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate.

This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation.

Regions Bank dba Regions Mortgage, Mortgagee/Transferee Ginny Rutledge SIROTE & PERMUTT, P.C. P. O. Box 55727 Birmingham, AL 35255-5727 Attorney for Mortgagee/Transferee www.sirote.com/foreclosures 283350 The Piedmont Journal Calhoun Co., AL March 19, 26, April 2, 2014

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Letters Testamentary on the estate of HENRY L. HEINE, SR., deceased, having been granted to HENRY L. HEINE, JR., the undersigned on March 07, 2014, by the Honorable Alice K. Martin, Judge of Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate, are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

HENRY L. HEINE, JR., Personal Representative of the Last Will and Testament of HENRY L. HEINE, SR., Deceased.

Alice K. Martin Judge of Probate

time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

WESLEY M. FRYE, Personal Representative of the Estate of ELOISE LEONARD, Deceased.

Alice K. Martin Judge of Probate The Piedmont Journal Calhoun Co., AL March 26, & April 2, 9, 2014

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF ALABAMA CALHOUN COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2014-0098 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GUY EDWARD DIFFEE, A/K/A GUY E. DIFThe Piedmont Journal FEE JR., DECEASED Calhoun Co., AL Letters of Administration on the March 19, 26, & April 2, 2014 estate of GUY EDWARD DIFFEE, A/K/A GUY E. DIFFEE, JR., deceased, having been NOTICE TO granted to the undersigned on CREDITORS March 04, 2014, by the HonSTATE OF ALABAMA orable Alice K. Martin, Judge of CALHOUN COUNTY Probate of said County, notice PROBATE COURT is hereby given that all persons CASE NO. 2014-0087 having claims against said esIN THE MATTER OF THE tate, are hereby required to ESTATE OF BENNY JERRY present the same within the KILGORE DECEASED time allowed by law, or the Letters Testamentary on the same will be barred. estate of BENNY JERRY KIL- MARTHA ANN BURNS, PerGORE, deceased, having been sonal Representative of the granted to JANET K. WIL- Estate of GUY EDWARD DIFLIAMS, F/K/A JANET K. FEE A/K/A GUY E. DIFFEE ESTES, the undersigned on JR., Deceased.

February 25, 2014, by the Hon- Alice K. Martin orable Alice K. Martin, Judge of Judge of Probate Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons The Piedmont Journal having claims against said es- Calhoun Co., AL tate, are hereby required to March 26, & April 2, 9, 2014 present the same within the time allowed by law, or the NOTICE TO same will be barred.

CREDITORS JANET K. WILLIAMS, F/K/A JANET K. ESTES, Personal STATE OF ALABAMA Representative of the Last Will CALHOUN COUNTY and Testament of BENNY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2014-0111 JERRY KILGORE, Deceased.

IN THE MATTER OF THE Alice K. Martin ESTATE OF WILMA FINK, DEJudge of Probate CEASED Letters Testamentary on the The Piedmont Journal estate of WILMA FINK , deCalhoun Co., AL ceased, having been granted March 12, 19, 26, 2014 to HAROLD F. FINK, JR. AND MARIE FINK HOLT, the underNOTICE TO signed on March 10, 2014, by the Honorable Alice K. Martin, CREDITORS Judge of Probate of said STATE OF ALABAMA County, notice is hereby given CALHOUN COUNTY that all persons having claims PROBATE COURT against said estate, are hereby CASE NO. 2014-0050 required to present the same IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ELOISE LEO- within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

NARD, DECEASED Letters of Administration on the HAROLD F. FINK, JR. AND estate of ELOISE LEONARD, MARIE FINK HOLT, Co-Perdeceased, having been grant- sonal Representatives of the ed to the undersigned on Last Will and Testament of March 18, 2014, by the Honor- WILMA FINK, Deceased. able Alice K. Martin, Judge of Alice K. Martin Probate of said County, notice Judge of Probate is hereby given that all persons having claims against said es- The Piedmont Journal tate, are hereby required to Calhoun Co., AL present the same within the March 19, 26, & April 2, 2014

STATE OF ALABAMA CALHOUN COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2014-0096 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF INA SUE CARROLL, DECEASED Letters Testamentary on the estate of INA SUE CARROLL, deceased, having been granted to PAMELA C. ROBERTSON, the undersigned on March 07, 2014, by the Honorable Alice K. Martin, Judge of Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate, are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

PAMELA C. ROBERTSON, Personal Representative of the Last Will and Testament of INA SUE CARROLL, Deceased.

Alice K. Martin Judge of Probate The Piedmont Journal Calhoun Co., AL March 19, 26, & April 2, 2014

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF ALABAMA CALHOUN COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2014-0108 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HENRY HEINE, SR., DECEASED

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PAGE 12 / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

THE PIEDMONT JOURNAL

SMYTH: Having black belt is beginning of new martial arts journey From page 1

encompasses a variety of other martial arts for self defense.

The fourth class is a Taekwondo class for adults.

Anyone interested in attending a free class can call 256-591-4822 to schedule one.

Technically, said Heather, Taekwondo is not the same thing as karate. Karate is a Japanese word that means to fight. Taekwondo is a Korean term that means art of foot and fist.

There are five tenants of Taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit.

“Granted, I do teach kids how to kick and punch, but they’re really learning to honor those tenants in every aspect of their life,” said Heather.

Heather’s children know and are quite competent at Taekwondo. Her oldest son, Evan, 11, has advanced to the rank of 1st degree black belt. He is now a trainee and helps his mother teach some of her classes. Bradley, 9, has a senior red belt, and Wyatt, 6, has a blue belt.

Her 9-year-old niece, Madison, is an orange belt. Her companion, Matt is a trainee in training in her classes and has a senior blue belt.

They travel often as a family to tournaments across the country.

Having a black belt, said Heather, is not the end of a martial artist’s journey, but the beginning of a new journey. There are multiple degrees of black belt.

Seventh degree is the highest rank in Taekwondo United, the organization Heather is affiliated with. Heather is a 4th degree black belt and a senior certified instructor.

“I home school my children,” she said. “They get to see a lot of the country. I believe this is one way for

them to socialize. We get to see the world, and they love it. Last year we went to several places, including New York. This year we’re going to California.”

Heather trains under senior certified instructor Ted Turgeon. Turgeon is a 5th degree black belt who has classes six days a week at 203 Pellham Rd. S., in Jacksonville.

“We may technically be considered competition since our schools are located so close together, but we both have a passion for the art so deep that we work together to spread the love of Taekwondo to others,” she said.

Heather suggests that anyone in the Jacksonville area who would like to take lessons from Turgeon to call him at 236-310-0718.

“I’ve been through a lot of ups and down in my life,” said Heather. “Our house burned to the ground in 2007, and the next year I lost my mother. Without the skills I’ve learned in martial arts, I don’t think I would have been able to as easily overcome what I’ve gone through.

It really prepares you for anything in life.”

Heather attended Piedmont High School and Jacksonville State University. Her mother is the late Kim Brown, who lived her entire life in Piedmont. Her father, Leon Brown, is a former Piedmont resident who now lives in Anniston.

Heather, her children, niece and companion, live on Alabama 204 in Jacksonville on a plot of land that is home to over 500 blueberry bushes. They charge $10 to pick a gallon of blueberries in their orchard.

“The blueberries are great,” she said. “Matt’s parents planted every bush, so they were already on the land when we moved. We built a house as a family to help keep Faye’s Blueberry Farm open for another generation to enjoy.”

(Contact Margaret at pollya922@gmail.com) ABOVE: Heather Smyth teaches four different classes of martial arts. LEFT: Madison, Matt, Wyatt, Bradley, Evan and Heather strike a pose for the camera.

PROGRAM

“

PROGRAM

. . . I do teach kids how to kick and punch, but they’re really learning to honor those tenants in every aspect of their life.”

Heather Smyth

// PHOTOS BY ANITA KILGORE

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