Discover the Essence of St, Clair February and March 2020

Blair Goodgame Guides Tourism • Breakfast With New London VFD A Chandler Mountain Landmark • Training Cybersleuths

February & March 2020

SO MUCH TO SEE & DO

— Special Outdoors Edition 2020 —

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Features and Articles Discover

The Essence of St. Clair

SO MUCH TO SEE & DO

A St. Clair County outdoors special section Page 38

Breakfast with New London Page 8

Traveling the Backroads

Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church Page 14

A Special Calling Foster parents provide love Page 29

St. Clair Outdoors

Training Cybersleuths Page 24 Marion Frazier Page 32

BASS fishing with a new twist

Page 38 Alabama Bass Trail tournament on St. Clair lakes Page 44 Outdoor activities abound Page 50 It’s all close to home Page 54 Pickleball anyone?

Page 56 Pickleball rules Page 60 Kayaking Big Canoe Creek Page 63

Business

Blair Goodgame takes helm of St. Clair Tourism Page 68

February & March 2020

www.discoverstclair.com

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Carol Pappas

Writers AND Photographers

Carol Pappas is editor and publisher of Discover St. Clair Magazine. A retired newspaper executive, she served as editor and publisher of several newspapers and magazines during her career. She won dozens of writing awards in features, news and commentary and was named Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist at Auburn University. She serves as president/CEO of Partners by Design, the multimedia group that publishes Discover.

Jackie Romine Walburn Jackie Romine Walburn, a Birmingham native and freelance writer, is an Auburn journalism graduate who has worked as a reporter, editor and corporate communications manager. She’s had recent writing published in the Birmingham Arts Journal and Alalitcom. Jackie is currently seeking an agent and publisher for her first novel, Mojo Jones and the Black Cat Bone.

Joe Whitten Joe Whitten was born in Bryant on Sand Mountain. When he arrived in Odenville in 1961 to teach at St. Clair County High School, he found a place to call home. He and his wife, Gail, taught across the hall from each other. He continues to live in Odenville in a 1904 house they called home for 36 years. Joe was active in the Alabama Writers’ Conclave and the Alabama State Poetry Society. The society named him Poet of the Year in 2000. Joe has also published a number of St. Clair County local history books.

Linda Long Linda Long has worked in communications for more than 25 years in print, broadcast, nonprofit promotion and special event planning and implementation. Her writing has appeared in Business Alabama Magazine, Technology Alabama, Mobile Bay Monthly, Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Partners Magazine, Birmingham Magazine, Alabama Alive, Cahaba Talk, Hoover Outlook and Shelby Living. She served as news and special projects producer for NBC13 News, where her work won national, regional and state honors, including two Emmy Award nominations.

Mike Callahan Mike Callahan is a freelance photographer who resides on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City. He specializes in commercial, nature and family photography. Mike’s work has been published in Outdoor Alabama Magazine, Alabama Trucking Association and Alabama Concrete Industries magazines. Publishing his work to the internet frequently, he has won many honors for pictures of the day and week.

Elaine Hobson Miller

Elaine Hobson Miller is a freelance writer with a B.A. in Journalism from Samford University.

She was the first female to cover Birmingham City Hall for the Birmingham Post-Herald, where she worked as reporter, food editor and features writer. A former editor of Birmingham Home & Garden magazine and staff writer for Birmingham magazine, she has written for a variety of local, regional and national publications.

She is a member of Alabama Media Professionals and NFPW (the National Federation of Press Women). Follow her weekly blog about life with a dozen four-legged critters, life in the country and life in general at www.countrylife-elaine.blogspot.com.

Eryn Ellard

Eryn Ellard is a freelance writer living in Pell City. She graduated with her B.A. in Journalism in 2006 from The University of Alabama.

She was on the editorial board for The Crimson White while earning her degree and also served as the communications director for Bill Poole, (R-Tuscaloosa), who now serves as an Alabama State Senator. She has been published in The St. Clair News Aegis, Al.com and The Tuscaloosa News, which ultimately led to her securing an internship and becoming internationally published in Cosmopolitan Magazine in New York City.

Wallace Bromberg Jr. Wally graduated from Auburn University where he graduated in 1976 with his BA in History and minors in German and Education.

Wally’s skills in photography blossomed during college.After a 30-year career, he decided to dust off his camera skills and pursue photography full time.

Scottie Vickery Scottie Vickery is a writer with a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and was a reporter for The Birmingham News.

Her first assignment was covering St. Clair and Blount counties. She has more than 30 years of writing and editing experience and her work has appeared in a variety of publications. She also has worked in the nonprofit industry.

Kelsey Bain As the owner of Kelsey Bain Photography, Kelsey is a regular contributor of photos and editorials for our publications. An Alabama native and graduate of Auburn University, Kelsey now resides on Logan Martin lake with her husband Adam and their daughter, Sawyer.

From the Editor

Springtime in St. Clair - A revival of the soul Springtime in St. Clair – A revival of the soul It’s funny how things seem to come together about this time every other month when we put the final touches on the magazine. When we created the first one back in 2011, we decided to call it Discover because we wanted it to be a vehicle for discovery for our readers – whether they’ve lived in St. Clair all their lives or whether they were transplants or just passing through.

The unexpected turn for us was that we would be discovering things right along with them. Not an issue goes to press that we don’t learn a little something new.

And that’s a good thing. We’re doing our job, even if it applies to us.

This issue is no different. We wanted to put together an outdoor section, but not your typical one with hunting and fishing. Oh, there’s plenty of fishing in here. With two lakes and creeks stretching from one end of the county to the other, you sure can’t leave out fishing when you focus on the outdoors.

But since it’s February, and spring lurks just ahead, we wanted to create an outdoor section that simply gets our readers outside to enjoy what the county has to offer.

February has always been a ‘limbo’ month for me. It’s that time of year – post holidays – that can get bitterly cold and wet. The sun sets early, skies are more often gray than not, and the allure of spring seems just out of reach.

And then, out of nowhere, peeps the sunshine, and an uncharacteristic taste of spring warmth whets your appetite for more.

So that’s where we found ourselves as we put this issue to bed, dreaming of spring and what draws us to the outdoors.

And along the way, we made a ‘discovery’ or two.

At the Pell City Civic Center, we found a new sensation out

on the tennis courts. It’s called Pickleball, and the popularity is growing like spring bulbs ready to break through. It’s played on a smaller version of the tennis court with oversized ping pong paddles and a whiffle ball. And while it can be quite a workout, it’s not as demanding on the body as tennis.

Another discovery involves fishing, but not your typical approach. It’s kayak fishing, and B.A.S.S. has just created its inaugural kayak fishing tournament series. Kayak fishing differs from regular bass fishing in that you trade live wells for rulers and cameras to determine the winner. The fish are measured, a photo is taken, and the five longest fish in your catch determines the winner in the competition.

We knew about kayak fishing, but what we didn’t know is that B.A.S.S. picked Logan Martin Lake to be its very first regional stop in the competition and the only venue in Alabama. Stay tuned on March 5.

In this issue, we learned about the birding trails found throughout St. Clair County, and we were enlightened even more about one of our favorites, Big Canoe Creek, where novices and pros alike come from near and far to paddle its waters.

Of course, there’s plenty more to discover in the pages that follow. Just take a cue from our name, turn the page and discover it all with us.

Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher

Discover The Essence of St. Clair

February & March 2020 • Vol. 52 • www.discoverstclair.com

Carol Pappas • Editor and Publisher Graham Hadley • Managing Editor and Designer Mike Callahan • Photography Wallace Bromberg Jr. • Photography Kelsey Bain • Photography Dale Halpin • Advertising Toni Franklin • Graphic Designer

A product of Partners by Design www.partnersmultimedia.com 1911 Cogswell Avenue Pell City, AL 35125 205-338-3466

Printed at Russell Printing, Alexander City, AL 7

What’s for breakfast?

New London firefighters serve community

Chief Jim Landrum

Service with a smile

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Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Graham Hadley Jim Landrum, chief of the New London Fire Department, glanced at the pancake order handed to him on a small piece of paper. He smiled, poured some batter onto the hot griddle, and plopped some plump blueberries on top of the mix. “Coming right up,” he said. “Have a seat, and we’ll get it right to you.”

Made-to-order pancakes and omelets are just a few of the offerings at the community-wide breakfasts hosted twice a month by Landrum and his crew of volunteer firefighters. There’s also applewood bacon, sausage links and patties, eggs cooked to order, grits, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. For a donation of $8 a head for all you can eat, it’s a deal that makes you look forward to getting out of bed.

At least twice a month, the firefighters put down their gear and pick up their spatulas. The tools may change on Saturday mornings, but the dedicated volunteers are still doing what they’ve always done best: serving their community. The 22-member department, however, serves up much more than a great meal at a good price. They also provide their neighbors with security, protection and peace of mind.

“They’re good people,” Candi Childers said after enjoying a recent breakfast.

“They do a lot of nice things for the community, and we try to support them whenever we can. They take good care of us.”

Percy and Sharon Jennings can attest to that. A few weeks before Christmas, a shed at their lake house went up in flames, and the responders managed to put it out just before it consumed their nearby home.

“We had hired someone to burn leaves, and they’d put them out that afternoon, but about five hours later, the fire started up again,” Percy Jennings said. “Next thing we knew, the world was on fire.”

The Jennings’ daughter and son-in-law

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Firefighters do double duty as short-order cooks.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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New London firefighters

The breakfasts are popular with people from all across the region.

were at the house at the time and tried to battle the flames with fire extinguishers, but that proved impossible once the gas in the lawnmower ignited. “They were there within three minutes,” Sharon Jennings said. “That’s what saved our house. How do you thank them for something like?”

Pancakes with a purpose

Enjoying a plate (or two) of breakfast is a good way to start.

The department receives $3 a month per household from the New London Water Authority, but the money raised at the breakfasts goes right back into the community. The firefighters have paid funeral expenses for struggling neighbors, helped provide Christmas gifts and given gift cards to help fire victims meet their immediate needs.

Mostly, though, the income allows them to purchase equipment to help them do their job more effectively. “It’s expensive to run a fire department,” Landrum said. “A nozzle to fight a fire is $600, and radios run about $700. We’re looking at buying our own air fill machine for air packs, and that’s $40,000. Turnout gear is $2,000 a firefighter, and we have to replace hoses and other equipment. We try to be as modern as we can on voluntary donations.”

They’ve come a long way in recent years, Landrum said. The department, which has three stations, boasts four full-size pumpers.

The Water Authority is providing a fifth pumper truck in February, at which time one of the older pumpers will only be used to carry extra water and air packs. The department also has a brush truck for wood fires, as well as a fire and rescue boat. “We’ve got a first-class fire department now,” Landrum said, adding that each house in the district is within five miles of a station.

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

The chief will make your pancakes to order.

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New London firefighters First stop, pay

Second stop, order everything from omelettes to bacon and more. Then put in a pancake order with the chief.

Like the residents of the New London community in Cropwell, most folks in Alabama rely on their neighbors in emergency situations. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alabama has 806 registered fire departments. Of those, 89 percent are completely or mostly volunteer, while the rest are totally or primarily staffed by career firefighters.

The New London crew, which provides fire protection, safety education and rescue services, participates in training twice a week. On Tuesday evenings, they focus on firefighting techniques and safety. Weekends are devoted to rescue skills, such as cutting people out of cars and lifting patients properly.

“I’m so proud of this fire department,” Landrum said. “These guys put a lot of time and effort into this, and they don’t get a nickel.”

Third, sit and enjoy breakfast with friends and family.

Neighbors helping neighbors

Landrum, who grew up in Birmingham and had a demanding career in Atlanta, came to Logan Martin Lake most weekends before he and his wife, Ilene, moved to the lake full-time about 11 years ago. He joined the fire department the same way most of the volunteers do – after being recruited by a friend – and has served as chief for three years.

Brad Hicks came on board about two years ago after calling the fire department himself. “About a month after I moved into my house, I smelled what I thought was an electrical fire.

They showed up on a snowy day less than five minutes after I called,” he said. It turns out his electrical box shorted out, which they discovered with a thermal imaging camera. Before leaving, the firefighters asked him if he wanted to be part of the team.

“I had a hard time saying no,” Hicks said. “How could you not want to be a part of a group of good people who do so

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

New London Fire Department Community Breakfasts When: Typically, the first and third Saturdays of each month from 7-10 a.m.

Where: New London Fire Department, 4040 Logan Martin Dam Road Cost: $8 per person Information: Don’t want to miss a breakfast?

The fire department puts a sign at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Logan Martin Dam Road the week before the event. They also post on numerous Logan Martin Lake and Pell City Facebook groups. In addition, The River 94.1 often announces upcoming breakfasts. much for the community? These folks are a family.”

Much like other families, they enjoy eating together so the breakfasts are a perfect fit. Landrum, who fondly remembers enjoying the community-wide breakfasts held in the 1980s and 1990s, proposed the idea of bringing them back several years ago. They have been a tremendous hit, often drawing diners from Birmingham, Anniston and other communities.

The breakfasts are typically held the first and third Saturdays of each month from 7-10 a.m., although the firefighters took some time off for the holidays and often host more breakfasts during the spring and summer months.

“One year, we did it every Saturday during the summer – that was brutal,” Landrum said with a laugh. “It’s turned into quite an event, though. It has grown and grown and grown. The community loves it, and we love doing it.”

Short order cooks

The breakfasts draw crowds of about 120-150 people. The crew arrives about 5 a.m. to begin preparing since diners arrive with big appetites. Each event requires 45-60 pounds of bacon, 6-8 pounds of sausage patties that are donated by Royal Foods, 4-5 pounds of link sausage and 12-14 dozen eggs. Landrum, who typically mans the griddle, estimates he makes about 150 plate-sized pancakes, which can be ordered plain or with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas or any combination of the toppings. About 60-80 omelets are made each time with any combination of bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapeño, salsa and sour cream.

“We look forward to breakfast here,” said Glenn Barton, of Lincoln. He and his wife, Debra, meet Barton’s sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Doug Robinson, at the events most weeks. The Robinsons, who live in Moody, have a weekend place at the lake and love to catch up with family and friends while enjoying a good meal.

That’s a draw for many of the diners. One recent Saturday, the seats were full, and a line of about 20 people had formed about 8:30. Conversation was in full swing and hugs were in abundance as folks greeted neighbors and family members they hadn’t seen in a while. “We meet somebody new every time we come,” Childers said. “The people are what makes this nice.

You get to socialize, and the money goes to what is needed.”

If that’s not reason enough to get out bed, there’s always Barton’s philosophy. “It’s a special occasion,” he said with a grin. “It’s Saturday, and there’s bacon.” l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Traveling the

BACKROADS

Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church A Chandler Mountain Landmark

Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church today 14

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Story by Joe Whitten Submitted photos Two hundred years ago, St. Clair County’s forested mountains and lush valleys had welcomed a number of pioneer families into its boundaries. Early written accounts record that these hearty settlers established homes among the Native Americans who populated the area until their removal by President Andrew Jackson.

Pioneers settling here were generally people of the Christian faith, and very soon they formed churches. First Baptist Springville (1817) and Ashville United Methodist (1818) are documented as over 200 years old.

But oral history speaks of an older one.

In the 1975 Some Early Alabama Churches, published by The Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is found written about today’s Macedonia Baptist in Ragland, “… this church is said to be the oldest church in St. Clair County, and it is thought [that] it was organized in 1812.” However, it gives no source for this date, and so far, none has been found.

One hopes that someday an old diary or family Bible might establish the correct date of this church. Presbyterian churches appeared later in the 19th century, and as the century progressed, populations increased, and churches sprang up throughout St. Clair County. Several of these will turn 200 years old in a few years, and many have celebrated over 100 years of existence.

One of the loveliest places in St. Clair is Chandler Mountain’s high plateau, which extends about 10 miles in northwest St. Clair County. Today it is the county’s garden spot, but it lay a wooded wilderness when Joel Chandler settled at its base in the early 1800s. Oral history states that hunters had a trail up the mountain near Chandler’s home, and it came to be called Chandler’s Mountain. Over time, the apostrophe “s” dropped off, and we have today’s name.

Vivian Qualls, in her History of Steele Alabama, records that in 1855 Cicero Johnson was the first brave soul to forge his way up the mountain to settle. Gradually, other settlers followed, but it wasn’t until 1905 that the first church was established there. However, community worship and revivals occurred before 1905, for people of faith have always worshiped together in some fashion even when denominational churches had not organized. Established churches existed at the foot of the mountain, but getting there wasn’t easy, for the trip would have been by foot, horseback or wagon down a mountain trail. Like any early settlement community, believers met together in homes to worship as often they could.

One of the early settlers, Hezekiah McWaters, was a Methodist preacher, and Mrs. Qualls writes that he preached and conducted revivals in Greasy Cove at the foot of the mountain.

The roots of today’s Mt. Lebanon rest solidly in Ellijay, Ga., for a large percentage of early

Wayne Deweese ready to baptize in Chandler Mt. Lake

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

The church has a warm welcoming atmosphere.

15

Traveling the

BACKROADS Mt. Lebanon 1954 block building

The Moats family - Annie pastored Mt. Lebanon.

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Chandler Mountain settlers came from there. Among those were the Robinson brothers, Bob, Jake and Dan. It was through the influence of this family that the mountain’s first church came into being.

Another Robinson brother, William J., a Congregational minister, would travel from Ellijay to Chandler and conduct revivals. It was a big event when William visited, and the collective Robinson families would attend his revival services. As a result of the 1905 revival, Mt. Lebanon Congregational Church organized with 11 charter members: William Robinson, J.J. Robinson, Elvina Robinson, Daniel Robinson, Elizabeth Robinson, Della Robinson, J.B. “Bent” Engle, Lucy Engle, Hettie Hyatt, Delia Wood and Ollie Engle Wood. Bent Engle sold the church two acres on which to build a sanctuary. Cost? $4.

William Robinson served as the first pastor of Mt. Lebanon from 1905-1911. He moved from the mountain, but in 1912, he returned to preach the revival services, and during that revival fell ill and died. His remains were interred in the cemetery across the road from Mt. Lebanon church.

The Congregational Church came to America through the English Puritans who suffered persecution for their non-Anglican doctrines. Coming to America, the Puritans established in 1620 the Parish Church, Plymouth, Mass., as the first Congregational Church in America. By 1640, 18 churches had been established in Massachusetts.

Jonathan Edwards, considered America’s greatest theologian, pastored a Congregation church when he

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Traveling the

BACKROADS preached the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” A sermon documented as having a profound effect during the 18th century revival movement known as the First Great Awaking.

We don’t know who brought the Congregational Church to Ellijay, but we do know that members of that denomination moved to Chandler Mountain and organized Mt. Lebanon Congregational Church.

Mt. Lebanon’s name has changed more than once over the years as the original Congregational denomination became less traditionally biblical in their theology. In the 1970s, the denomination’s name changed to United Church of Christ, which changed the meaning of “congregational” church.

Therefore, on Oct. 24, 1981, Mt. Lebanon held a conference to discuss membership in the First Congregational Methodist denomination. A month later, the church voted to make the change, and on Dec. 18, 1981, Lebanon was accepted to full membership. Today, the church’s name is Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church. The denomination’s headquarters is in Boaz.

Early minutes record interesting history. In the November 1928 business meeting, offerings received from members totaled $28.44. After paying National Conference dues and other expenses, $6.95 was “cash turned over to church treasurer.”

From August 1947 a penciled note in the record books states that it was a wonderful year with nearly “100 conversions.

Mary (Ma) Smith said, ‘the whole of Chandler Mountain got saved.’”

Unlike the United Methodist, the First Congregational Methodist local church owns its own property, chooses its pastors, baptizes by emersion and oversees itself rather than being presided over by bishops.

The church records contain the names of all who have served as pastors. The pastor who served from 1933 to 1936, Annie Moats, is of interest, for women pastors were not approved by most churches in those days. According to Mt. Lebanon’s history booklet, Annie and Alley Mathis “Mac” Moats came to Chandler Mountain in the early 1930s. Of German ancestry, Annie Struckmeyer Moats was an ordained Congregational minister. Having pastored churches in Cullman and Lawrence counties, she met and married Mac Moats in one of those counties. Annie died in 1937 and was buried in the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. The Moats’ granddaughter, Barbara Robinson, was a member of Mt. Lebanon from 1959 until her death on April 13, 2019, age 92. Barbara’s husband, C.L., was a church member from 1948 until his death on Sept. 27, 2018, age 91, and served as a deacon until his death. He was a direct descendant of charter member Dan Robinson.

In the 1940s, Mt. Lebanon replaced the original wooden church with one of cement blocks painted white. This building had a covered porch at the entrance and three new Sunday school rooms at the back. These rooms were fitted with doors that folded so the space could also be used as a fellowship hall.

As years passed, the block church was bricked and a steeple added in the mid-1980s. Around 1989, the church added a Fellowship Hall and in the 1990s installed a baptistry in the sanctuary and added more restrooms and a pastor’s study. The

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Easter 1983

2000s saw the inside of the sanctuary refurbished with new drywall, carpet and lighting in time for the 100th anniversary in 2005.

Prior to the baptistry being added, Susan Kell remembers when the church baptized converts in the creek and later in Chandler Mountain Lake. Karen Beasley recalls being baptized in the lake. “I was baptized in Chandler Mountain Lake by Carl Gaskin and Wayne Deweese. It was so funny, because my sister-in-law, Faye Beasley, was being baptized the same day, and her dog went out into the lake, and we couldn’t get that dog to go back, and the preachers finally said, ‘Well, just let him come on out.’ And they went ahead with the baptizing.”

However, a building with all conveniences is not the church; the individual members and the pastor who shepherds them are the church. So it has been with Mt. Lebanon, and it has flourished through the years because of the members’ faithfulness in serving God and in nurturing family and friends.

Caring for one another

The story is told of a teenage couple who wed and started married life in relative’s home. This did not work out and the adolescent couple suddenly found themselves without a place to live. Needing work, the husband went to a member of Mt. Lebanon, told him his predicament, asked, “Could I farm with you?”

This godly farmer and his wife took the couple under their compassionate wings and provided the help needed. The farmer is now in Heaven, but not forgotten, for the young man learned to farm well and successfully. Recently, he saw the farmer’s widow and told her, “Your family has meant a lot to me. Your husband put me on my first tractor, and told me, ‘Farm.’”

Yearly events at Mt. Lebanon include the Easter Sunrise Service; Homecoming every fourth Sunday in May; Women’s Conference in August; an October Fall Festival with soup, chili and desserts; then in December, participation in Franklin Graham’s international Samaritan’s Purse ministry, a Christmas program, and a fellowship meal. Of the Easter Sunrise Service, Susan Kell said, “That is a beautiful service. It’s outside, right

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Margaret Fore whith Sunday school class on picinc

on the bluff overlooking the distance.”

Many of Mt. Lebanon’s activities and events occur in cooperation with Chandler Mt. Baptist and churches in the valley. Karen Beasley told of the October Trunk-or-Treat event.

“Our men always come together and cook the hotdogs — we do 700 — and everybody helps wrap hotdogs. This event is sponsored by all the area churches donating and working together.” No hotdogs remain when the fun night ends.

Youth Night includes all churches. “We have Youth Service,” Karen said, “where we do a community Youth Night with all the local churches — Ashville First Baptist, Chandler Mt. Baptist, Steele Baptist, Deerman’s Chapel and Reeves Grove.

We do that on nearly every fourth Sunday night. The churches rotate. Susan’s grandson, Garrett Spears, played the guitar at our last one at Chandler Mt. Baptist.”

Four churches work together to prepare Backpack Buddies.

This local mission outreach provides nutritious food for families who need help in providing for their families.

A nursing home visit each month is another local mission’s outreach. “We go to the Attalla nursing home and Gadsden Healthcare,” Susan Kell said. “Brother Alvin Turner, our pastor, brings a short sermon, and the residents enjoy that spiritual contact — even the staff enjoys it. Our choir members who are

not working also go. We take a keyboard with us. The lady who plays it is in her 80s, but you’d not know it. Afterwards, we go out to lunch.”

Mt. Lebanon has international missions outreach as well.

For several years, the church has partnered with New Desire Christian Ministries Church and Mission in La Ermita, Honduras.

Bro. Alvin Turner has pastored Mt. Lebanon for 16 years, which is a testimony to his ministry considering the fact that some churches change ministers often. In an interview, he said that growth in numbers is good if it is connected with spiritual growth. His heartfelt desire is for the church members to continue to grow spiritually as the years progress.

In speaking of Mt. Lebanon’s missions’ work, Bro. Alvin’s voice revealed the excitement. “Going on a mission trip will change your life.” He feels blessed to have made several mission trips, for the church has worked a number of years in Honduras at La Ermita with a mission and a church owned and run by New Desire Christian Ministries. Mt. Lebanon has helped support them financially and physically with constructing buildings there. By returning year after year to the same place, the church has built a relationship with the community. Bro. Turner sees these mission trips as obeying

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Traveling the

BACKROADS God’s command to “go into all the world” and share the Gospel.

Current Mt. Lebanon deacons are Josh Kell, Jerrell Jordan, Jason Ballard, Steve Bryant, Eddie Beasley and Johnny Beasley. Bro. Alvin said that he and the deacons “have a wonderful relationship” working together in the church.

Brothers, Eddie and Johnny Beasley, are descended from early Chandler Mountain settler Bob Robinson.

For the music of the church, Sandra Dobbins, pianist, and Bro. Alvin, choir director, work together in selecting congregational songs and choir specials.

When asked about the church’s senior member, Frances Kell, Bro. Alvin spoke of her as “an amazing lady” who is a godly influence in the church and community. He also spoke of Frances’ husband, Ernest, and of his work in the church, recalling that “he didn’t like to spend money.” And that’s a good thing since a church is using God’s money given by its members.

When asked about church members who are or were influential in the church, Karen Beasley and Susan Kell both responded with these names: Aunt Margaret Fore, Ernest Kell and Wayne Deweese. Both ladies talked of Deweese, telling how people used to walk to Mt. Lebanon, and “… you’d see them coming through the fields and hear the most beautiful singing as they sang all the way to church.” Ernest Kell’s widow, 94-year-old Frances, is a sustaining influence in the church today.

Of Ernest Kell, Susan said, “My father-in-law, Ernest, remembered coming from Ellijay to the mountain in a wagon.

He said he walked a lot of the way, but when it would rain, he would get up in the wagon, and his mother would cover him with her long dress. He said somebody had been here and came back to Ellijay and said, ‘That’s where we need to go; there’s all sorts of farmland.’ He was 12 years old.”

An autumn drive up the mountain with the sunshine making a stained-glass canopy of arching multi-colored trees ended at Frances Kell’s home. Although in her 90s, she remains more active than many folks who are years younger. She drives herself to church and Steele Nutrition Center during the day, but confides, “I don’t drive at night.”

She and Ernest married right after he came home from World War II and settled in to farming, first growing cotton and then tomatoes. She recalled the early freeze of 1948 that caused enormous loss to the farmers. “We were picking tomatoes in that field right over there, and somebody said, ‘We’d better turn our buckets over, it’s gonna snow tonight.’ We turned the buckets over, but we didn’t think it would. But boy did it come a big one.” Interestingly she did not mention the financial loss, which gives evidence of faith and courage in the face of adversity.

She spoke lovingly of her church and workers there, mentioning Margaret Fore as having taught the Kell children in Sunday school. She told how Ernest had been a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and the song leader for many years.

“He attended those old-timey singing schools,” she recalled, “and he really learned music. I went, but I didn’t learn it. When he was getting to where he’d forget which verse he should be on — that problem had started to set in — they were trying

20

Will Spears on Africa Mission trip to decide on a new song leader. They talked to one they were interested in, and when they asked what he’d charge, he said, ‘Why, I’ll not charge you anything.’ And Ernest spoke up and said, ‘That’s your man!’” Declining in some ways, perhaps, but he was still thrifty with church monies. That was Ernest Kell.

Revivals, fellowship kindle memories

When asked if she remembered any special church event, she told of a revival conducted by Bro. Bean. “He tried to bring it to a close three times, and it kept going — went on for three weeks. People were going to the altar and getting saved. That was the revival that Ma (Mary) Smith said, ‘Everybody on the mountain got saved.’ And all of her family did get saved, and they were grown men. People prayed back then,” she said thoughtfully.

Every church-going person knows funny things sometimes happen in church meetings, and Frances’ memories go down this path. “People would shout back then,” she said. “Bellie Hyatt was shouting in a service one day, and she looked out the window and saw their mules had got loose from the wagon. She stopped shouting long enough to tell her husband, ‘Quinten, the mules are loose!,’ then went back to shouting.”

Another memory came to mind. “Aunt Mollie Barnes

Bro. Alvin Turner and wife Denise

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Deacons: Eddie Beasley, Johnny Beasley, Josh Kell, Jerrell Jordan, Steve Bryant, Jason Ballard. shouted, too. She had long hair that she rolled up in a knot on the back of her head, like women did back then. She’d get to shouting and her hair would shake loose, and bobby pins would go flying. Joe, her husband, would come behind her picking up the pins off the floor and give them to her when her shouting was over.”

The subject of church fellowship dinners came up, and when asked what special dishes she took, she replied, “I usually take cakes. I used to take different ones, but now they like for me to bring my strawberry cake.” This cake is famous at Mt. Lebanon for it is Frances’ own recipe. “My husband’s favorite cake was coconut — you know, the old-fashioned kind with sevenminute icing. Well, one year we had so many strawberries that I wondered why I couldn’t use strawberries and sugar instead of coconut and sugar for the icing. So, I tried it, and they loved it.

“I have a friend who’s been bedridden for years, and he loves that cake. So, I made him one for his birthday. I enjoy doing that for people.” Frances may never have given thought to this, but she has a ministry of baking that is as useful in God’s work as any other area of service. Recently on the PBS The Great British Baking Show, a contestant said this of her cooking: “When I cook for family and friends I mix in love. If I’m kneading dough, I knead in love; if I’m mixing cake batter, I mix in love. I bake with love.” That seems to describe Frances Kell’s method as well.

When Frances’ great grandson, William “Will” Kell Spears, was asked what he loved about his great-grandmother’s cooking, he said, “Her biscuits! Nobody can make biscuits like she does. I’ve tried and mother has tried, but we can’t make them as good.” When Frances heard this, she laughed and said, “They just don’t try often enough. I’ve been making ‘em a long time.”

Will Spears is a sophomore at the University of Mobile majoring in Special Education, and he bears the hallmarks of a godly heritage received from great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and church. At age 12, he went on his first mission trip to Honduras, and has returned seven more times. In January 2019, he wrote in an online article, “I truly have no words to describe how grateful I am that God has allowed me to be a

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part of New Desire Honduras from the very beginning, and has allowed me to experience His presence at work. ... This ministry ... has challenged me to grow in my faith, to love more, to listen and trust God’s will for my life, and to know that we serve a God who is good and can make even the worst of situations display His majesty and sovereignty over our lives.”

Of Will’s 2018 trip to Africa, Will told in an interview, “My Trip to Kenya changed me in ways I could have never imagined. I went on this trip to serve, love and share the Gospel with the people in a large village outside of Nairobi. I didn’t expect, however, to be taught so much myself, about God’s love, His faithfulness, and what true worship looks like from the amazing people I met there. ... It truly rocked my world.

Join me in praying for the believers in Africa, Honduras and America, and know that we are all called to make disciples, whether it be across the sea or across the street.”

Near the end of his Honduras article, Will wrote, “The people who make up the New Desire Christian Church are some of the most loving people you will ever meet in this world.” These words seem to describe Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church as well. You’d be welcomed to worship with them on a Sunday or to join them for Bible study on Wednesday evening.

Try to visit on a day when they’re having fellowship lunch afterwards and Frances Kell is there with her famous strawberry cake. You’ll find food for both soul and body at this historic St. Clair County church. l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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CYBERSECURITY

Eden Career Tech training the next generation

Story by Leigh Pritchett Photos by Kelsey Bain Daily life in the digital world of 2020 can seem like scenes from a sci-fi movie.

Cell phones provide worldwide communication, receive satellite information for global positioning and serve as debit cards, televisions and computers.

Robots accompany passengers through the maze of airport corridors, guiding individuals right to their gate of departure.

Digital amenities in a vehicle may correct an automobile’s path if the driver gets too close to the lines of his lane.

Digital technology recognizes faces, retinas and fingerprints.

The “personalities” of digital devices can even be testy at times, just like some humans we know. A case in point was an artificial intelligence (AI) unit aboard the International Space Station. When a particular astronaut gave the unit some voice commands, the unit refused to comply. As a result, the astronaut repeated his requests a tad more forcefully. The AI unit not only continued to defy, but also told the astronaut not to have such bad manners.

The reality of 2020 is that digital technology is all around us almost constantly, and it underscores the need to approach education in new and innovative ways.

As the uses for digital technology have grown exponentially, so have the means for invading and misusing it. News stories have reported vehicles, nursery cameras and even refrigerators being hacked for malicious purposes. Business systems have been crippled by malware, and government computers paralyzed by ransomware.

Just a few weeks before Christmas 2019, security vulnerabilities reportedly were found in some brands of smart watches made for children.

The matter of cybersecurity – protecting systems, networks and sensitive information from attacks, damage, theft and unauthorized access – has become a crucial and daily concern.

Eden Career Technical Center (ECTC) in Ashville is training some high school students to be the next generation of “cybersecurity guards.”

These Information Technology (IT) students are learning to find and correct system malfunctions, as well as detect and dismantle hacks, breaches and criminal activity.

In October 2019, two IT teams from ECTC participated in a “capture the flag” competition at the inaugural BSides Birmingham* cybersecurity conference. “Capture the flag” participants were required to locate vulnerabilities and use them to access “protected” areas within a certain timeframe.

The ECTC teams took two of the top three winner slots in the competition, held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Craig Lindsey, a network security engineer as well as founder of the nonprofit BSides Birmingham, presented checks in November 2019 to the winning students. The first-place team – consisting of Jade Templin, Victor Moore, James Walker and Diana Rodriguez – got to share the $1,500 prize. Members of the third-place team – Nathaniel Hulsey, Damion McClellen, Samantha Dailey and Parris Brown – split $1,000 in prize money.

A college team took second place.

Rick Barnes of Steele, a cybersecurity consultant and a speaker at BSides Birmingham, said the work of the ECTC teams shows that IT and cybersecurity education at the high school level is a good investment. “These are the people who are going to protect from those kinds of things (in the future),”

he said.

Austin Duncan, who designed BSides Birmingham’s “capture the flag” competition, said, “The high school rankings show extreme promise in the ability of the future security talent. ... I will say that I was impressed by the ECTC teams and that they never gave up. Many of the challenges were fairly difficult for someone in high school, and they were able to solve quite a few.”

Duncan is director of offensive assessments with the Hoover-based company, Packet Ninjas. The company provides penetration tests and advisory services to aid businesses in securing their digital systems. Packet Ninjas also was a sponsor of the BSides Birmingham conference.

Lindsey said the “capture the flag” competition certainly was not simple. “There were professionals there having as much trouble as anybody else. It wasn’t an easy task, for sure.”

Dailey agreed. “The competition was a little bit tough.”

Hulsey found it thrilling, though. “I like the one that you have to hack into the IP camera,” he said. “That was a nice, little challenge.” He noted the intensity of the team members as they worked together in the competition. “We were determined.”

Walker recounted an instance when three members of his team were “going furiously” at one time on one computer trying to solve a problem during the competition.

Rodriguez said the experience offered “a lot of exposure to new things in technology.”

Government figures on just a single digital source – computers – reveal the exponential expansion of cyber influences. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “In 2016, the American Community Survey (ACS) found that 89 percent of households had a computer, making it a common feature of everyday life.” In 1984, that number was only eight percent.

Take a look at the level of exposure that computers alone have on two particular age groups – preschoolers and school students: “In 2015, about 88 percent of 8th-graders and 83 percent of 4th-graders reported that they used a computer at

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

25

CYBERSECURITY

home, and 80 percent of 8th-graders reported using a computer for schoolwork on a weekday,” states the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. “...

In 2015, 94 percent of children ages 3 to 18 had a computer at home and 61 percent of children ages 3 to 18 had internet access at home.”

With digital technology ever expanding in use and capability, having people trained in cybersecurity is going to be more important and valuable, Barnes said.

Brown and Dailey noted the need not only to improve their cybersecurity skills, but also to increase the speed of finding vulnerabilities and breaches.

Starting early to train more students to become cybersecurity experts is one of the reasons the BSides Birmingham conference was established, Lindsey said. One of the missions is to give high school and college students practical experience.

“Most universities and high schools alike don’t teach security in conjunction with the broader concepts of computer science,” Duncan said. “Even if they do, hands-on application and experience isn’t always included. The earlier we can expose students to security concepts, the better.”

Gabe Lee, ECTC instructor, said cybersecurity is one of the components of the broad-spectrum approach he uses for teaching the center’s 36 IT students.

“We cover a little bit of everything,” such as programming, robotics, 3-D printing, 3-D design, network building, cabling, among others, Lee said.

To give the students actual experience, Lee “engineers chaos” in the classroom computer system and tasks the students with finding and correcting the problems.

Barnes commended such an approach, saying this causes students to use skill, analytical thought processes and creativity to solve problems.

“We are very proud of our IT program here at the Eden Career Tech Center,” said Trisha Turner, career technical director for St. Clair County Schools and principal of ECTC. “They have accomplished so much this year, and I expect more to come. Mr. Lee does a great job keeping the students motivated to compete. Just in this first semester, they not only received first place in ‘capture the flag,’ but also received an invitation to compete at the South’s BEST (robotics) competition in Auburn. I could not be more proud of

26

Mr. Lee and his students, and I look forward to seeing what else they achieve this year.”

The investment in IT training at ECTC is reaping results.

Moore has been described by a fellow student as a “server wizard.” Lee said McClellen designed and now maintains the website for St. Clair County Historical Society. Lee noted that Templin will assume the maintenance role when McClellen graduates from high school.

The IT training also is serving as a springboard to career decisions. McClellen wants to be a cybersecurity specialist; Hulsey is looking to work in telecommunications, particularly fiber optics; similarly, Rodriguez would like to install and repair fiber optic lines and equipment; Walker plans to go into digital media productions; Brown may pursue architecture “to design buildings that promote the environment,” and Dailey would like to teach IT. “IT helps us create the future because we are learning more and more every day,” said Templin, who is considering a career in animation. “And who knows? One of us may be the next computer genius.” l Editor’s Note: The second annual BSides Birmingham cybersecurity conference will be in the fall of 2020. Find out more about BSides Birmingham on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and at bsidesbham.org.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

A special calling

Foster parents provide home filled with love, toys and discipline Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Mike Callahan On the one hand, perhaps Pat and Ives Harris should have birthed their own girl child sooner.

After all, it was Pat’s desire for a daughter that prompted them to foster children in the first place.

On the other hand, they might have missed the joys of foster parenting, and 339 children would have missed the love and affection the Harrises have dished out over the past 25 years.

You read that number correctly. The Harrises have fostered 339 children since 1975, which must be some kind of record. They have had as many as seven at one time, while raising five of their own, including that little girl they eventually birthed. “We often filled up a church bench on Sunday mornings,” says Ives, pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church for 29 years.

“We had three boys, and I wanted a girl, so I finally talked him into letting me foster,” Pat says.

“Our first one was a girl straight from the hospital.

I cried and cried when she left. She was the hardest one to send home.” About three years later, she gave birth to daughter Lisa, but the fostering didn’t stop then and shows no signs of slowing down now. “It’s my calling,” says Pat, who is 74. “When people at church ask me when I’m going to quit, I tell them, ‘When the good Lord calls me home.’”

The Harris house and grounds practically shout, “Kids welcomed here.” Under a copse of pine trees in the front yard are a trampoline, swing set and rocking horse on springs. Next door is a corral with a live horse owned by Joe Harris, one of the couple’s four sons. Inside a modest, four-bedroom manufactured home, crayons and Play-Doh fill a basket on a large kitchen island, family photos line the walls, and a kids’ computer game sits on a desktop, screen icon flashing in anticipation of a pint-sized user.

The smell of pinto beans cooking in an Instant Pot is enough to make the pickiest eater hungry.

“We eat a lot of beans and taters,” says Ives, who worked 40 years in pipe plants until he retired in 2011. “We also eat a lot of wieners and kraut.”

That’s just one way the Harrises manage to stretch the $16 per day per child they receive to feed, clothe and provide toys and school supplies for

Pat and Ives Harris, a.k.a.

Memaw and Papa.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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A special calling

their foster children. Obviously, they aren’t in it for the money.

The longest they’ve had any one foster child was six years, the shortest was one night. Six months is the norm. They have fostered them as young as five days, as old as 18. Children can stay in the foster care system until they are 19 or finish high school, according to Pat. She doesn’t foster teenagers anymore, unless it’s an emergency.

“It’s too hard to raise teens in this day. Four to 10 are the ages we prefer, while they’re still moldable.”

They have two foster kids right now, both boys, ages four and seven. One of them had been in four foster homes in two months’ time and has been with the Harrises since June of 2019. Most of their foster children go back to their own homes or the home of a relative, although some do get adopted.

In fact, Pat and Ives adopted one of their foster children, Kevin, when he was three. “We got him when he was two months old,” says Pat. “When he was about five months old, he got sick. He had pneumonia, seizures and a high fever.” At Children’s Hospital of Birmingham, doctors told the Harrises that he wouldn’t live. So, they brought him home, where he thrived. Then doctors said his brain would never be right because his mom was schizophrenic, but he graduated from Jacksonville State University on the president’s list, became a traveling nurse and is now head of nursing at a hospital in Texas. He is 38.

Their other children are 42, 48, 51 and 53. The oldest, J.R., is a bi-vocational minister, like his father. Joe is a computer repairman, Mark is a welder and directs music at his father’s church, Lisa teaches piano and plays for her church. One son lives in Sterrett, one son lives next door, another lives nearby on the family property and daughter Lisa lives behind them on the nine acres she bought from her parents.

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All in the family Foster parenting seems to run in the Harris family. Pat’s parents were foster parents, and two of her brothers are. Son Mark was a foster parent until he adopted two sisters, ages five and seven, that his parents had fostered as toddlers. “As a child, I hated my parents being foster parents at first, because it felt like the other kids got more attention,” Mark says. “As I got older, I realized they needed extra loving care. You just don’t know their situations.”

It’s harder to be a foster parent than to be a biological parent, Pat says. “You cannot use any corporal punishment. You can do time out, take away a toy or privilege, make them stand in a corner or whatever. Our current four-year-old jumps up and down when he gets mad, so to punish him for something, I take him to the laundry room and make him jump up and down. He does not like yielding to authority.”

Being a foster parent means getting licensed and following stringent rules set in place by the St. Clair County Department of Human Resources (DHR). In order to get that license, the Harrises were required to take a special 30-hour course.

They must have an additional 15 hours of continuing education each year, hours that include updates on DHR rules and regulations. “Your home must be certified, and they check it every six months,” Pat says of DHR. “Your house must have a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher, must be kept clean, and the water in your water heater cannot exceed 115 degrees.

You must provide a bed for each child, unless they are samesex siblings. When they turn five, sleeping rooms have to be separate from the opposite sex. You can’t smoke in the house or car with the foster kids, you must have a physical every two years, and if you keep babies or medically fragile children, the entire foster family must have DPT and flu shots. Once a week

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

you have to take them to DHR in Pell City for a parental visit.”

Children under five attend the Head Start program, but they cannot ride the bus until they turn five, which forces foster parents to drive the younger ones to school. “Ives gets up and gets the oldest on the school bus. I get up and get the second one ready, and Ives drives him to school,” Pat says.

Ives, who is 78, had to take on most of his wife’s household duties last year because Pat was so ill. She was in the hospital 11 times in 2019 but is on the mend now. “He had to do the dishes, sweep the floors, take the kids to school and for their Wednesday parental visits for most of last year,” Pat says.

“He’s never had to do all this. The kids and I did it.”

Giving the foster children chores helps teach them responsibility, the Harrises believe. The children help fold clothes, wash dishes, clean floors and handle some of the yard work, too. They also learn to say, “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am,” something the Harrises require of their temporary charges, just as they required it of their own children when they were growing up. “We teach them to say grace at mealtime, too,” Pat says. The kids call them Memaw and Papa, just like their biological grandkids do.

Retired banker Joe Dorough, who was a high school classmate of Ives, is one of many folks in the Ragland community who notices the work the Harrises do with foster children. “Pat doesn’t brag, she’s just an old country girl, salt of the earth,” Dorough says. “It’s amazing what she does. I have a soft heart for kids that get shifted around (in the foster care system). I don’t see how she turns the kids loose. She’s my hero.”

Larry Moody, co-owner of Hawk Plastic in Childersburg, where Ives was plant manager and then truck driver for many years, speaks just as glowingly of the couple. “They’re genuine, pure gold,” says Moody. “Ives has a lot of patience. He was excellent with employees, they loved him. He was firm, demanded at least reasonable behavior and work ethic, but was also a very compassionate and caring person.”

It’s not the praise of friends or community leaders that drives the Harrises, however. It’s the satisfaction of seeing smiles on the faces of the children that keep them going.

“I love children,” Pat says. “Every now and then I’ll say, ‘This is it. This is the last.’ Then I’ll get another one. At one point we were down to a three-bedroom home, and the last kid left it, and we thought we’d quit. Then DHR called again, and here we are.” l

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Marion Frazier

A BEACON OF LOVE, HOPE AND SERVICE

Story by Joe Whitten Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr. Submitted photos “How would I describe Marion Frazier?” Bill Hereford, asked, echoing the interviewer’s question. “That’s easy — dynamite comes in small packages. Marion is a great community leader and friend who lives her faith. She gives me chills when she sings our national anthem.”

If you don’t know Marion Frazier, you’ve missed knowing a Pell City personality whose countenance and demeanor radiates her love for God, family, church and community.

She has a deep concern for others — a life principle instilled in her by her mother, Lizzie Roberson. Marion voiced this when she spoke of her students as “the students I served.”

Only the rarest of the best see teaching as a service to students.

“My mother was one to help people in the community,” Marion recalled, “She instilled in us that we needed to help somebody when they need it … and that’s what I’ve done.”

Born to John H. and Lizzie Roberson, Marion grew up in a home full of love. The family was one of togetherness that included evenings at the fireplace singing, playing games and mom making popcorn ball treats. These times contributed to a large family learning to live together. Her parents believed, “All of us want to live and want to be in harmony. That’s what we were taught at home. We didn’t fight at home.” She paused, then with a laugh confessed, “But we took care of each other if we needed to when we got outside!”

Her community influence started in 1967 at Eden Elementary School, and she’s been a driving force since then in the betterment of Pell City and St. Clair County. “She is dedicated to the betterment of the community,” said Sherry Bowers.

For 32 years, she “served” Pell City’s children. Her first year at Eden, she had a combined

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Marion Frazier

Marion Frazier singing solo

Marion Frazier singing with a ladies’ group 34

first- and second-grade class, which presented difficulties, she admitted. However, it was a good year. “Although I was the only black teacher there,” she remembered, “they took me under their wings — teachers, parents and children. … And all those children at Eden school, I loved them. I still get letters from them, and I see them in town and we just had a wonderful year.” She taught at Eden seven years, at Iola Roberts nine years, and finished her career teaching at Kennedy. She emphasized that she enjoyed teaching in each of those schools. All of her “children” were under her wings of love and acceptance.

“Marion Frazier was an exceptional teacher who loved her students and was dedicated to meeting each one’s individual needs,” said Sherry Pate, Marion’s principal at Kennedy. “She not only educated minds but also hearts. Mrs. Frazier’s spiritual beliefs spilled over into the lives of her students. It was an honor and pleasure to work with my good friend, Marion Frazier.”

Her God-given compassion got her appointed to the YWCA Purse and Passion Steering Committee.

“Purse and Passion is a part of the YWCA,” Marion explains. “We work to fund Our Place, a home for abused women and children from St. Clair and Blount counties. It has been in existence since 2008. I came on the Steering Committee in 2010.”

The biggest fundraiser for this is the summer luncheon. At this event, tables are sponsored by individuals who invite friends to come who know they’ll be asked to donate to the local domestic violence shelter. Corporate and private foundation gifts are collected or pledged prior to the luncheon.

The event raised $54,000 in 2019, though naturally the amount fluctuates year by year. According to the August 8, 2019, St. Clair Times article, Purse and Passion has helped raise $650,000 over the past 10 years.

Blair Goodgame, who served as co-chair of the event, considered Marion’s help as vital to the luncheon’s success, saying, “Marion has been an invaluable asset to the YWCA Purse and Passion Luncheon. Serving on the steering committee and as a table captain for many years, Marion has contributed not only her time, but also her talents. She often sings the National Anthem at the luncheon. As her voice fills the First United Methodist Church’s Beacon, it puts a smile on the faces of everyone in attendance … She is a true blessing for the St. Clair County community.”

For more than 20 years, Marion has served on the boards of The Children’s Place and DHR. The Children’s Place provides help for abused children.

An April luncheon raises funds for this important facility. The director of DHR meets with the board to bring concerns to them for their counsel. “Marion and I worked together as DHR board members,” said Rev. Paul Brasher. “She is one of the most caring and tender-hearted persons I’ve ever known. She’s a

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Jesse and Marion Frazier have been married for 46 and a half years. fantastic person and a fantastic Christian that I really respect.

It’s an honor to be her co-worker.”

Marie Manning spoke of Marion’s work in helping college students financially. “She has served on the Scholarship Committee of the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma to provide students with funds for college. … She is truly a leader in her community and the city.”

With a servant’s heart, her sunshine disposition has blessed many people at St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, where Marion has volunteered as a Pink Lady for 26 years.

She has served patients by reading to them and family members by praying with them in the chapel, and she now works in the gift shop. Undoubtedly, she has brought comfort to a hospital room through her singing, for songs can soothe the troubled soul.

Church is a sustaining force in her life. She’s been active in First Missionary Baptist Church, Pell City, since childhood. “I was over the Youth Department for 27 years,” she said. “My mother was a singer, and I enjoy singing. I have been singing in the choir since I was in the youth choir, and then the adult choir, and now I’m still singing in the senior choir.” Of their September 2019 Women’s Conference, she said, “We brought in a speaker, a singer — she was a recording artist — and we had a splendid time!”

Although having given up a lot of her church responsibilities, she’s still over the program committee and does all the programs for special events. “She has worked in the church and community for many years, and I’m certain her efforts are

36

appreciated by many,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, her pastor, Her sphere of service extends beyond the local church, for since 2000, she has been secretary of the Mount Zion Coosa Valley District Association of churches serving St. Clair and Jefferson counties.

Married to Jesse Frazier for 46 and a half years, they have one son and daughter-in-law, Jamey and Kimberly Frazier, who are parents to Isabella.

Kimberly Frazier wrote, “To my second Mother, You have been the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. You portray everything good in the world, and I am honored to be your daughter. You are always there for us, without hesitation, and with loving, open arms. Thank you for the father and husband you raised for Isabella and me. He carries your Godly spirit.

You mean the world to us, GG.” Marion’s mother was the great influence in her life, and the love of God the guiding force. A song she loves is Dottie Rambo’s “He Looked beyond My Faults and Saw My Need.”

The concluding stanza reads: “I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary / To view the cross where Jesus died for me. / How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul; / He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.”

Marion Frazier has looked beyond the faults of others, saw their need and sought to lift up wounded, falling people to give them help and hope.

Faith and dynamite — that’s Marion Frazier. And when faith and dynamite join hands, step aside. l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2019

D iscover St. Clair Outdoors

2020 edition

Welcoming a new take on a classic bass fishing competition Photos courtesy of Old Town

The popularity of kayak fishing is at an all-time high, just one of the reasons B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing organization, has formed a new tournament trail aimed specifically at kayaking enthusiasts, and the first in the series is heading to Logan Martin in March.

B.A.S.S. officials have announced the schedule for the inaugural Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia. The trail will feature five regularseason events in 2020 on well-known bass fisheries across the country with a championship to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Academy Outdoors + Sports Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2019

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St. Clair Outdoors

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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“You don’t have to look very hard these days to find a kayak in the bed of a truck or strapped to the roof of a SUV,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “People are bass fishing from kayaks all over the world — and they’re doing it everywhere – from big lakes and rivers to small creeks and ponds.

“With this new trail, we wanted to give those anglers an opportunity to show what they can do from a small craft.”

The inaugural tournament will be held in conjunction with the 50th edition of the Bassmaster Classic on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City on March 5. Classic competition kicks off on Lake Guntersville the next morning. Other events will be held on Lake Fork in Lake Fork Marina, Texas (March 14), Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn. (May 23), the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. (Aug. 15) and Clear Lake in Lakeport, Calif. (Aug. 29).

Entry fees for all the events will be $250, and each will pay 30 places. Based on a full field of 150 kayaks, the total purse for each event will be $30,000.

“Huk is proud to work with B.A.S.S. on this exciting new tournament series designed to push the limits of kayak fishing,” said Melinda Hays, freshwater community manager for Huk. “Bass fishing is an integral part of our DNA here at Huk, and we endeavor to inspire anglers to explore their home waters by kayak.”

In addition to title sponsor Huk and presenting sponsor Abu Garcia, the kayak series is partnering with Old Town for the inaugural season.

“Abu Garcia is always looking for a way to connect with passionate anglers,” said Jon Schlosser, VP of marketing for Abu Garcia. “With so many people fishing for bass from kayaks now, this was the perfect partnership, allowing our brand to help serve a growing segment in the sportfishing community.”

Instead of a standard weigh-in that uses scales to measure pounds and ounces, anglers will practice “catch, photograph and release” to determine the standings.

When an angler catches a bass, he or she will photograph the fish lying on a standard-issue measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each fish in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

“There will be certain criteria for the photograph to be deemed a valid photograph,” B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart said. “It will have to show the fish’s nose touching a certain part of the board and the fish’s tail touching a line. It will also have to show the identifying mark on the board that is

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St. Clair Outdoors

2020 Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia • • • • •

March 5, Lake Logan Martin, Pell City, Ala. March 14, Lake Fork, Lake Fork Marina, Texas May 23, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.

Aug. 15, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis. Aug. 29, Clear Lake, Lakeport, Calif.

specific to that tournament.”

Once the photograph is submitted via the TourneyX app, a tournament director and judges will deem them legal or not and enter an official length. A real-time leaderboard will be available online during the tournament until an hour before weigh-in.

“This is pretty standard procedure for kayak tournament fishing,” Stewart said. “In fact, most tournament trails use this very same app when hosting kayak events.”

The Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Championship will be held in conjunction with the 2021 Bassmaster Classic at a site to be determined. The top finishers from the kayak season will be recognized during Classic festivities.

“It’s just one more opportunity for bass anglers,” Stewart said. “That’s what we’re all about.”

As for Logan Martin as the choice for the first stop, Stewart added, “What better way to introduce the inaugural Kayak Series event then to make it part of the 50th Academy Sport + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by HUK and all the festivities that will surround this iconic event! We have high school and college events going on all around the Birmingham area, at Lay Lake and Smith Lake specifically, so Logan Martin fit right in as a perfect place to hold the first Kayak event!”

Registration is now open online at ssl.palmcoastd.com/app/ bass/registration/kayak/2020. Anglers must be a B.A.S.S. member to sign up.

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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LURES St. Clair Outdoors

Alabama Bass Trail tournaments highlight St. Clair lakes, bring economic boosts

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Story by Jackie Walburn Submitted photos Alabama Bass Trail fishing tournaments on St. Clair County’s Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake were among the 10 bass tournaments for 2020 selling out within hours of registration opening to the public. It’s the unmistakable signs of the increasing interest in the bass fishing competitions that highlight local lakes and bring millions in economic impact across Alabama.

The 2020 tournament series that begins Feb. 22 saw 900 anglers sign up for all available boat slots within 24 hours, says ABT director Kay Donaldson. The quick sell-out includes the April 18 tournament at Neely Henry Lake and the May 9 competition on Logan Martin Lake.

Sanctioned by B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the ABT Tournament Series contains two divisions, North and South, with Neely Henry’s tournament part of the North division and Logan Martin’s competition highlighting the South division. Each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes.

Two-person teams pay a $1,300 registration fee per division. Teams must fish all five tournaments in a division to be eligible for the no-entry-fee championship fished Oct. 23-24 at Lake Martin. The tournaments also include slots for student and college-age anglers.

Strong monetary net

The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series casts a strong monetary net, creating an estimated $4 million in annual economic impact for Alabama and host communities and offering $500,000 in cash and prizes to top anglers at 10 tournaments statewide.

When the ABT championship tournament was held for the first time on Logan Martin Lake in October 2017, the two-day event pumped an estimated $600,000 into the St. Clair and Pell City economy through revenue generated by some 360 anglers and family members dining, shopping and staying in local motels and hotels, according to sponsors and ABT officials who track economic impact directly, through surveys completed by participating anglers.

“Anytime we have people come to Pell City to enjoy our wonderful Logan Martin Lake, it’s always a positive,” says Urainah Glidewell, executive director of Pell City Chamber of Commerce, a sponsor and partner for the Alabama Bass Trail’s 2020 tournament at Logan Martin. Visitors and competitors spend money and support local businesses, Glidewell says, creating a measurable economic boost to Pell City. Major fishing tournaments also spread the word about all that Logan Martin Lake has to offer, another reason why the chamber partners with ABT and other fishing tournaments.

Fish, facilities and support

Bass trail officials see Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes as meeting all the criteria for great bass tournament fishing – including strong populations of largemouth, spotted and striped bass, great facilities and infrastructure and partnerships with local sponsors.

Fish first

Fish population is key for drawing fishing tournaments, says ABT’s Donaldson. “Anglers want to be able to catch

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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St. Clair Outdoors fish, period,” she says. ABT fishing competitions center on largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass.

She says Logan Martin and Neely Henry provide anglers with options throughout the year and allow them to use varied techniques. She points to the lakes’ shallow creeks, ledges and grassy areas as providing fertile fishing choices for bass anglers.

The Coosa River’s lakes in St. Clair and Etowah counties have strong populations of largemouth bass and the fun-to-catch Alabama Striper and Coosa Spotted Bass. “Also, each lake has good numbers of bass between 13 to 15 inches in length, which is a great spawning-age fish, so the bass population is experiencing natural repopulation each year,” Donaldson says.

The Coosa River, including Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes, is home to the renowned Coosa Spotted Bass, a breed of spotted bass known for its fight, says Hugh Stump II, executive director for the Greater Gadsden Tourism group that co-sponsors Alabama Bass Trail Tournaments on Neely Henry.

Plus, the Coosa lakes have naturally reproducing striped bass, likely descended from Atlantic-strain striped bass originally introduced into the Coosa system in the late 1960s through the 1980s by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

Stump says Alabama lakes are increasingly appealing to national anglers, who fish national tournaments. ABT tournaments and their big payouts – a $10,000 first-place prize plus $37,000 divided among the top 40 anglers in each of the 10 tournaments – attract nationally-placed anglers who come to fish the lakes before, during and after tournaments, says Stump.

“They love to fish for spotted and striped bass, which give a lot of fight and are fun to catch, and our lakes have lots, as many or more than anywhere else in the state.”

Tournament trifecta

When looking for a good tournament lake, ABT considers the size of the lake, public access to the water, truck and boat parking, plus good infrastructure with adequate boat ramps, plenty of surface acres and great hotel and dining options for anglers and families. “Both Logan Martin and Neely Henry fit our model well,” says Donaldson.

Facilities are key

Adequate facilities are essential for hosting a large tournament like the Alabama Bass Trail series. “We can’t simply take a 225-boat tournament to a city that only has boat parking for 100 boats or less,” Donaldson explains. She points to enhancements at Coosa Landing in Gadsden, at Canoe Creek at Rainbow City and at Lakeside Park on Logan Martin that have helped the lakes compete for big tournaments.

One of the newest St. Clair facilities opened in 2017. A new boat landing in St. Clair County on Neely Henry Lake features a 60-foot-wide launching slab, paved parking for 80 truck and trailer rigs, two fixed aluminum access piers and two 100-foot floating aluminum access piers. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) facility on the west side of Canoe Creek also has security lighting and is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Logan Martin was not on the ABT schedule in 2019 due to renovations at Lakeside Park and Pell City’s Civic Center and other recreational facilities. But, for the May 9 ABT tournament, the improvements will be evident in enhanced access, parking areas and lighting.

Renovations included in the 18-month, $2.3 million project are a new access road to the 67-acre park, a streamlined entryway from Alabama 34 to the Civic Center area plus an extension of parking areas and improved lighting.

“The additional access on River Road to Lakeside Park plus the improved entranceway into the park makes traffic flow better,” says Glidewell at the Pell City Chamber. She also points to increased parking and improved lighting that will benefit anglers, families and spectators for the tournament that’s expected to bring hundreds of visitors to Pell City the second weekend in May 2020. resources for generations to come and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources.

Partnerships must-haves The 13 Alabama bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Alabama Bass Trail must have a local partner in order to Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, bring an event to an area, says Donaldson, who has worked Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan with ABT for more than six years and with ABT founding Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula and organization Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association for the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. more than six years before that.

PICKWICK LAKE “In some cases, we will work with three to four agencies in Dates and locations for the 2020 Alabama Bass Trail an area,” Donaldson says, including chambers of commerce tournament series are: and recreation departments. Partners for ABT events on Logan Martin and Neely Henry include the Pell City Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Gadsden Tourism group. Partners North Division: help secure facilities for meetings and tournaments, and Feb. 22, 2020, Lake Guntersville — hosted by Marshall recreation departments help by providing bleachers for fans, County Convention and Visitors Bureau additional garbage receptacles and allow early morning access March 21, 2020, Smith Lake — hosted by the Chamber of to parks to accommodate fishing tournaments that start at first Commerce of Walker County light.

April 18, 2020, Neely Henry Lake — hosted by City of Gadsden May 16, 2020, Weiss Lake — hosted by City of Leesburg Anglers from everywhere June 13, 2020, Wheeler Lake — hosted by Decatur Morgan Alabama Bass Trail tournaments not only draw the state’s top County Tourism bass fishing pros but bring in fishing teams from throughout the country. Donaldson says fishing teams will be traveling to the 2020 tournaments from 10 states, including Tennessee, South Division: Mississippi, Georgia, California, Arkansas, Florida, South Feb. 29, 2020, Lake Jordan — hosted by the City of Carolina, North Carolina and Missouri.

Wetumpka The quick sell-out for registering for the Alabama Bass March 28, 2020, Lay Lake — hosted by Shelby County Trail tournaments is evidence of the growing draw of the Commission tournaments, the quality of the lakes and the noted payouts at April 25, 2020, Lake Eufaula — hosted by Eufaula-Barbour its 10 tournaments and the championship’s payout of $50,000 Chamber of Commerce to the grand prize winner plus $50,000 divided among the top May 9, 2020, Logan Martin Lake — hosted by Pell City 25 teams. Donaldson says registration for the south division Chamber of Commerce – which includes Logan Martin Lake – reached its 225-boat June 20, 2020, Alabama River at Cooter’s Pond — hosted limit within three hours after opening to the public. The north

by City of Prattville Parks and Recreation division, which includes Neely Henry, sold its 225 slots in 17 Hosted by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, the hours. championship tournament will be held Oct. 23-24, 2020, on Donaldson says the tournaments are popular with spectators Lake Martin at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City. because anglers often divulge their successful lures and tactics The no-entry fee championship event will include up to at weigh-ins, giving local anglers a potential boost in their own 185 boats. The 185 boats are comprised of the 10 divisional fishing. The events are streamed live during weigh-ins, at the tournament winning teams, top 75 teams in points from Alabama Bass Trail website, alabamabasstrail.org. both divisions that fished all five events in their respective The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama divisions, as well as the top 15 student boats, top five college Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote teams and the top five couple’s teams collectively from both Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural divisions that fished all five events in their respective division.

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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St. Clair offers bounty of outdoor activities Bouldering Triple Crown at Horse Pens 40

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Story by Carol Pappas Submitted photos To say St. Clair is diverse in its recreational offerings is like saying Auburn vs. Alabama is just another football game.

Whether it’s a solo sport, family fun or a group effort, look in just about any direction in St. Clair County, and you’ll most likely find what you’re looking for.

Miracles in Motion 5K in Moody

If running is your passion, a dedicated group in Moody has a passion of its own it has brought together with a running event to raise money for the Miracle League. The Miracle League is a ball field built in 1998 especially for special needs individuals, whether they have mental or physical challenges. It was the first of its kind in the state and has as its centerpiece the ideal, “Everyone deserves a chance to play ball.”

This is the sixth year for Miracles in Motion 5K Race and 1 Mile Walk/Run, which is set for Saturday, March 7, to raise funds for the Miracle League. To date, it has raised about $90,000 toward its $150,000 goal to replace the aging field.

Organizers expect 400 to participate with cash prizes going to the top three overall male and female winners. Top three overall male and female winners will earn cash prizes of $200, $150 and $100 and a race trophy.

The course has been certified as a 5K course with USATF. To register, go online to: runsignup.com/Race/Events/AL/Moody/ MiraclesInMotion5K.

Bouldering Triple Crown at Horse Pens 40

High atop Chandler Mountain, bouldering’s Triple Crown will return Nov. 21 at Horse Pens 40. Climbers from all over the world have made their way to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near Steele to compete in the Triple Crown or simply take their turn at climbing the boulders.

Bouldering is a form of rock climbing on rock formations, such as those at Horse Pens. Climbers usually use climbing shoes to gain footholds, and they use chalk on their hands to keep them dry and give them a firm grip.

Generally, they are performing the climbs less than 20 feet above the ground, and they use mats to cushion falls and prevent injuries.

These natural rock formations have been around for over 15,000 years, and the park itself is said to contain Native American burial grounds, making it a year-round attraction.

The Triple Crown is held at three of the Southeast’s premier boulder fields. In the fall, it kicks off at Hound Ears in Boone, N.C. This year’s event is Oct. 3. From there it moves on to Stone Fort in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 17. It concludes at Horse Pens on Nov. 21.

Miracles in Motion 5K in Moody

Cycling a favorite in St. Clair

It’s hard to point to any one place in St. Clair County as ‘the spot’ for cycling. After all, with its winding roads, picturesque views, rolling hills, creeks, rivers, lakes and mountaintops, it’s easy to see why the county is a destination point for cyclists from all around.

For 10 years, it was the course for Tour de Blue to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer. Birmingham Bicycle Club has included it as part of its Backyard Century Rides, including the 47th annual one beginning and ending in Ashville on Sept. 12. It is the longest running century event in the United States, according to Chris Cole of Birmingham Bicycle

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Cycling over the mountains in St. Clair

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St. Clair Outdoors Birmingham Bicycle Club century ride in St. Clair

Cardinals are just one of the many bird species you can see on the birding trails.

Photo by Carol Cosper Meadows

Club, which coordinates the event.

It takes riders on a trek from Ashville High School, along the Coosa River, Rainbow City, Steele, Sumatanga and St. Clair Springs and back to Ashville High.

Each year, it draws 350 to 400 riders from across the state and several surrounding states. “In 2019, we had riders from Texas, who will return and bring friends, and a team from Florida,” Cole said.

He noted that throughout the year, group rides of 30 to 90 miles are held from Springville and Ashville.

“With the wonderful roads around St. Clair, many cyclists will be seen out enjoying the views and countryside.

In fact, many century riders from afar, return to ride in the area.

Just like driving a car, there are do’s and don’ts to be observed. “To

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Bald eagles have also been seen around the lakes.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

make cycling more enjoyable for all, a good bike is essential, along with helmet and lights,” Cole said. “Safe practices on the road, obeying all road rules pertaining to cycling and road use are a must. Alabama Law has a 3- foot law, meaning motor vehicles should allow a minimum of 3 feet when passing. A few seconds waiting to pass a cyclist, or group of cyclists should not cause frustration. Cyclists are aware car drivers want to pass and will often indicate when it is safe to do so. Cyclists are drivers, too.”

Why cycle? “It is extremely healthy, social, and riders get to see natural beauty of the countryside in a much more serene way than from a car,” Cole said. “Cycling can be a very social undertaking, easy paced, or it can be fast, exciting and challenge a person’s body.”

And why St. Clair? “Finding areas to cycle safely can be a great challenge. St. Clair has some of the best roads and scenery,” Cole explained. The people who cycle come from every walk of life: teachers, nurses, doctors, scientists, engineers, moms, dads, uncles, aunts, parents, brothers, sisters.

Local riders like Michael Staley, Demetrious White and Brian Toon, have made long distance rides as well. In 2019, they ventured from Birmingham to Pike’s Peak, and Cole noted they used St. Clair County roads for the training.

Besides the exercise and pure enjoyment, the riders join together for good causes. For the past three years, the BBC Century proceeds have gone to UAB Cancer after Wayne Spooner, the events longtime ride director, was diagnosed with melanoma.

In 2020, proceeds will go to Hope for Gabe, a charity fighting for a cure for a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne.

Pell City Cycle Club has group rides, too. The easiest way to find out what is going on with the club is to monitor its Facebook page, Pell City “Peloton” Cycling Club. Watch soon for a new website.

Hit the birding trails

Want a pastime that’s not so strenuous but nevertheless offers plenty of enjoyment? Join a growing crowd of bird watchers along St. Clair County’s birding trail.

While there’s plenty to see just in your own backyard, the county boasts four public sites perfect for spotting rare birds and waterfowl.

According to the website, Alabama Birding Trails, St. Clair is in the Appalachian-Highlands sector of the state. Its birding trail sites are at Horse Pens 40, Logan Martin Dam, Neely Henry Dam and Ten Islands Historical Park.

Horse Pens’ boulder fields are worth a visit all year long, but the best time for birding is during spring and fall migration.

The ridges of the mountain are especially productive for hawk migration in the fall.

Logan Martin Dam is ideal for seeing wading birds, especially black-crowned night heron. Waders are drawn to the rough water below the dam, where fish are in abundance.

Neely Henry Dam attracts water-loving birds, too. Gulls are attracted in winter and some Forster’s terns are spotted over deep waters above the dam. Barn and cliff swallows build mud nests on the dam, and their activity is seen mainly from late March to September.

Check out Ten Islands on the shores of Neely Henry. The park is a good spot for viewing songbirds, swallows, waterfowl and raptors.

In recent years, the bald eagle and American white pelican have been making appearances around the lakes, much to the delight of residents and visitors alike.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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It’s all close to home

St. Clair Outdoors

While St. Clair has plenty of outdoor activities to suit just about any taste, its location lends itself well to all kinds of recreational attractions inside and outside the county. From off road to mountain biking to cycling, hiking, shooting and more, all are within an hour’s drive from just about any point.

The Ridge

The Ridge is inside St. Clair County at Springville and is an impressive off-road riding park specifically catering to motorcycle, four-wheeler and side-by-side riders of all ages and abilities.

It features an OHV Park with dirt bike, ATV and sideby-side trails, Motocross tracks, single track, races and mud bog.

There’s fishing, disc golf, rappelling, zip lines, ATV and side-by-side rentals, mud runs and more.

They even have cabins, camping and hotel rooms. And new to the “adventure park” is Ridgeline Airsoft with two fields of play.

The Ridge

TOP Trails

They call TOP Trails in north Talladega County “2,800 acres of pure adventure and unrivaled fun.”

It features nearly 100 miles of OHV trails from novice to pro plus a Kiddie Track. There is a 12-mile single track trail loop available as well as archery ranges and primitive camping sites. Now open is a full-service campground with water, sewer and power hookups with 25 sites.

Visitors have access to the Environmental Center and shower house.

Civilian Marksmanship Park

The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park is billed as “the Home of Marksmanship” (no membership required).

It draws firearms enthusiasts from all over because of its cutting-edge technological advances in marksmanship.

Located just two miles from Talladega Superspeedway, the park is open to the public year round, offering marksmanship opportunities for all ages.

The 500-acre facility features a 600-yard rifle range with targets at 200, 300 and 600 yards, a 100-yard multipurpose range and a 50-yard pistol range. Also included are 15 action pistol bays and a trap field, 5-stand field and a 15-station sporting clays field, all of which have automated trap machines.

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Civilian Marksmanship program in Talladega County

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

Chief Ladiga Trail

A rails to trails project, Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama’s premier rail-trail.

Located in Cleburne and Calhoun counties, its 34 miles of smooth asphalt surface travels through the Tallageda National Forest and connects to Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail to the east (near Cedartown and Esom Hill).

When combined, the two trails extend 95 miles and form the longest paved trail in America. They are non-motorized trails and are ideal for walking, bicycling, rollerblading, hiking and dog walking.

Mt. Cheaha

Chief Ladiga Trail

Cheaha State Park is Alabama’s highest point at 2,407 feet above sea level, offering spectacular views and all kinds of recreational activities.

This 2,799-acre mountaintop retreat is renowned for breathtaking sunsets and waterfalls. The park offers overnight accommodations, or you can just visit for the day. Facilities include a restaurant, hotel, cabins, chalets and camping with a range of options.

Mt. Cheaha is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest with access to the Kentuck ORV-ATV Trail.

Located on Mt. Cheaha is the Cheaha Trailhead of the Pinhoti Trail, connecting the Appalachian Trail and accessing the Odum Scout Trail and the Chinnabee Silent Trail.

Within the national forest nearby is Lake Chinabee Recreation Area, featuring a 17-acre lake and opportunities for fishing, hiking and picknicking.

Cheaha State Park

Photo by Mike Callahan

Sylaward Trail

Located in south Talladega County in Sylacauga at Lake Howard, the Sylaward Trail is a hiking and mountain bike trail.

Its 14 miles travels into the Talladega National Forest, and there are stunning views of Lake Howard.

It features four loops and a connector. Maps are available at the trail head as well as a changing house and bike wash.

Ruffner Mountain

Ruffner Mountain

Located just across the line in Jefferson County, Ruffner Mountain offers 14 miles of trails – from easy to difficult.

They are open to the public seven days a week, from dawn to dusk.

The mountain was mined for iron ore from the late 19th century to mid-20th century, so you may observe relics of the industrial past and locate historic mining sites.

There is a nature center and exhibit hall with wildlife, such as snakes, turtles and freshwater fish.

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Pickleball?

IT’S ALL THE NEW RAGE

St. Clair Outdoors Pell City Civic Center’s tennis courts are doing double duty for pickleball now. The blue line is the boundary for pickleball.

*Not Pictured: Drs. Michael Bailey and Brian Snoddy

Story by Eryn Ellard Photos by Carol Pappas The winter chill is starting to wear off, and those sweet, sweet, fleeting days of spring are upon us again. For outdoor lovers, there’s a new game in town — pickleball. Combining tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball has become one of America’s fastest growing recreational sports.

The pickleball craze, which first began in the Sun Belt region about a decade ago, has made its way to St. Clair County, and residents are coming in droves to secure a court every day at the newly renovated Pell City Civic Center.

Tennis pro of Pell City Sarah Stewart has taught tennis for over 20 years and played the sport her entire life. Her heart belongs to the sport, as she has molded her career around her love for the game and the students she coaches – and she is amazed at the turnout the Civic Center has had for pickleball.

Stewart said several of the tennis courts have been taped off to create special pickleball courts, which unlike their tennis counterparts — make the court much shorter. “This game really isn’t your grandma’s sport, it gets competitive and is definitely a great workout,” Stewart said. “There are a lot of people who don’t enjoy tennis, but love pickleball.”

The game itself has a quirky set of rules — for example, players need not find themselves in “the kitchen,” otherwise the rules of the game are quick and easy to learn. Doubles are most popular, although singles are also popular. An entire match usually lasts around 15 minutes. Players also do not have to worry about expensive gear, the sport is played with an oversized ping pong paddle and a whiffle ball, which according to Stewart is another attractive feature about the game. “You can get a paddle and a package of whiffle balls at any sporting goods store for less than

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St. Clair Outdoors

Pickleball can be played in singles or doubles.

Ready to serve 58

$30 and be ready to go, where other racqueted sports can become costly with equipment.”

The game is simple, keep hitting the ball back and forth until someone makes a mistake. The game ends when the first team reaches 11 points and is ahead of the opponent by two points.

There also is a seven-foot area directly on each side of the net, which is considered a “no volley zone,” and in pickleball this is called “the kitchen.” The reason for having this badminton spin, “the kitchen,” is to keep players from making slam shots over the net, resulting in players making more planned out shots. It also adds more margin for error for the opposing team.

Many teams will make up their own penalties for stepping into “the kitchen,” from loss of point to forfeiting the match. Like tennis, both players serve once before handing the serve to the other team.

A player must allow the whiffle ball to bounce at least once before hitting it back on the first serve. The initial serve must be under-handed, as well as all other contact with the ball, and the hit must be no higher than the player’s bellybutton and clear the net and “kitchen.”

After the match’s initial serve and bounce, players can hit the ball back and forth without allowing it to bounce again. A point can also only be scored by the serving team.

For Smith, she enjoys watching some of the more advanced teams making calculated decisions, with their partners. “It definitely is a mental game,” she said. “Even though the court is much smaller than a tennis court, you have to be ready and be just as quick.”

She also added that the health benefits are great. “One of my regulars reserved a court, and they played for the longest time. When he was finished playing several matches, he was surprised to see he had taken in over 7,000 steps.” But there is a less amount of running, jarring and straining to big muscle groups, unlike in tennis. “I can definitely see how it is so popular … because anyone can play. It is a quick game, easy to

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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St. Clair Outdoors pick up, and it is far less strenuous on the body than other rec sports,” Smith said.

Pell City local Rodney White plays the sport with his neighbor as his partner for doubles. White said they both enjoy the sport because it is low impact, but also competitive.

Holding the number 1 spot as reigning pickleball champions of First United Methodist Churches of Greater Birmingham, the Gherkins said they are so glad the city has updated its facilities to include the sport, and are so happy to hear the upcoming news of an indoor court coming to the Civic Center as well.

“An indoor court will be just what we need in this Alabama heat,” White said. “We didn’t get near the practice we needed last summer to get ready for tournament play due to the heat and humidity—it was brutal.”

The Pell City City Council also approved funding to replace the flooring in the multi-purpose room, which will allow for an inside pickleball court. Civic Center Manager Valerie Painter said they are so excited about the new flooring and the expansion of activities the Civic Center will be able to offer.

Basic Rules Overview The Serve • The serve must be made underhand.

• Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist (navel level).

• The serve is initiated with at least one foot behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck.

• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.

• Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court; let serves are replayed).

Service Sequence • Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new game).

• The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.

• If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.

• As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve.

• When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game*).

• The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.

• Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right/even court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.

• In singles the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.

• *At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team.

Scoring • Points are scored only by the serving team.

• Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.

• Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.

• When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the

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The new flooring is called Elasti-Plus, which according to Painter, is much more conducive to indoor exercise, and still looks good.

“It has a cushioned feel and will give us the ability to expand our class offerings to include higher impact classes that put more strain on the knees or joints, such as dance classes or High Impact Aerobics,” Painter said. In addition, a pickleball court will be painted on the floor which will give the community access to indoor play.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the community two outdoor courts at the Tennis Center and soon we will be able to offer an indoor court as well,” Painter said.

“The addition of these three courts goes right along with the City’s desire to make the Civic Center a more active space that offers a little something for everyone at a very affordable price.”

Currently the Civic Center does not have any paddles or balls, so players need to bring their own, and call and reserve a court for $5. player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.

Two-Bounce Rule • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.

• After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).

• The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.

Non-Volley Zone • The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.

• Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.

• It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.

• It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.

• A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

Line Calls • A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”

• A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.

Faults • A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.

• A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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Kayaking the creek with Big Canoe Creek Outfitters

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Big Canoe Creek St. Clair Outdoors

Kayaking in nature’s splendor Story by Linda Long Submitted photos

Get out the paddles, the oars and canoes. Don’t forget fishing poles, tackle boxes and bait. Throw in those binoculars for some serious birdwatching. Some have even spotted an eagle or two. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Folks in and around St. Clair County are heralding the arrival of spring and all it has to offer. Tops on just about everybody’s favorites “to do” list is Big Canoe Creek. The treasured waterway runs through Ashville and Springville, providing adventures not only for kayaks and canoes, but also for fishing enthusiasts, birdwatchers and anybody who’s seeking to unplug and unwind.

For Meg Hays, who along with husband Perry own Big Canoe Creek Outfitters in Springville, getting out on the creek is almost a spiritual experience.

“We offer a trip down the creek where people get to experience nature in a different way … a way that a lot a lot of people never get to see,” Hays says. “It’s peaceful here. It’s quiet. We see all kinds of wildlife, a very diverse group of fish and birds, egrets, owls,

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Yak tha Creek is another business putting people on Big Canoe Creek.

Big Canoe Creek Outfitters also has camping areas.

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

St. Clair Outdoors

hawks. I mean all kinds of birds.

We even have a couple of bald eagles that live around here.”

She believes the creek’s solitude is a big draw for many visitors. “You don’t pass any civilization. You’re just out there in the woods.

Paddling the creek provides a great family time to enjoy nature together. “I think that’s why a lot of people have come to see us.”

Randall Vann, owner of Yak tha Creek in Ashville, couldn’t agree more. “We’re all outdoors people here at my house.

We’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, whether it’s on the water or in the woods. We’re passionate about it. We spend a lot of our downtime enjoying the nature that God has given us.”

Vann gives his business address as “off the side of the road, on Highway 231, at the bridge coming into Ashville.” Folks seem to have no trouble following those directions. On a weekend day from April through Labor Day, cars are lined up at the bridge, their passengers ready for an adventure on the creek.

“It’s about a three to three-and-a-half-hour trip,” said Vann, “although there is no time limit. We’ve got people who come just to fish. They’ll stay from eight in the morning till dark.”

But for the most part, Vann says, they come to “pretty much, just enjoy the creek, the scenery and the weather. They get in their boats and may have to paddle a little bit to stay straight, but typically, they just get out there with a Bluetooth speaker listening to music with a group of friends. They just hang out. They’ll find a place by the side of the creek to go swimming. It’s just a place to relax. Sometimes we get a mom and dad and a couple of kids, and the kids like to race their parents to see who gets back first.”

Yak tha Creek opened in 2016. Since that time, according to Vann, “we’ve grown and grown and grown. We started out with 12 little store-bought boats and one pickup truck. Now, we can handle about 60 people at a time,” he said. “We have a passenger van to haul people, and we run three pickup trucks all weekend long.”

He says visitors come from all across Alabama.

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St. Clair Outdoors

Live music at Big Canoe Creek Outfitters Vann’s success seems to reflect a national trend in kayaking. According to a recent report in Time, kayaking has risen to one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. It has grown to more than 8 million active participants, marking a substantial increase from 3.5 million just 10 years ago.

Hays isn’t surprised by the boat’s growing popularity. “Anybody can kayak,” she said. “One of the beauties of this section of the creek that we’re on is that it is very beginner friendly. We’ve had so many newbies come through. They had never been in a kayak before, and they loved it.

They learned the boat and how to paddle and were able to make it to the end. They said they couldn’t wait to come back.”

There is also, no age limit on who can paddle the creek. “I’ve sent them down as young as six and as old as 78,” she recalled. “We also had a 2-year-old ride the creek in a tandem boat, where the parent paddles in the back.”

The Outfitters have recently opened four primitive campsites, complete with picnic tables, fire rings and tent areas. The business is open yearround, seven days a week. Reservations are $35 for a single kayak; $50 for a double. The shuttle fee with your own boat is $10.

Yak tha Creek is open weekends, April through Labor Day, and weekdays with prior arrangements. Cost is $30 per kayak and $5 for your own boat.

Discounts are offered to the military, nurses, teachers, fire and police.

Group discounts are available with five or more renting.

Doug Morrison, president of the conservation group, Friends of Canoe Creek, has said, “paddling the creek is giving people a chance to explore, to stop and see, if they will pay attention. They’ll see that when you paddle up a creek, you tend to observe nature more than just walking outside in your backyard. When you paddle up a creek, you will see all kinds of creatures. In today’s society there’s just not enough outdoor recreation.

People are too plugged into their electronic devices.” l

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On the shore by the bridge with Yak tha Creek.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • February & March 2020

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St. Clair Alabama

Business Review Louis

Blair Goodgame at her desk with St. Clair Tourism inside the St. Clair EDC offices at Jefferson State in Pell City.

A new era begins at Northside

68 DISCOVER Essence St. Clair •••August & September 2013 of St. ClairThe •The Business Review DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair October && November 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair •August February &July March 2016 68 2016 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair & September 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair June & July 2017 68 DISCOVER DISCOVER Essence The Essence of St. Clair of St. ••Clair Clair December June 2016 & 2015 2017 Essence ofof St. Clair December 2017 & January January 2018 DISCOVER The Essence of St. •••April May DISCOVER The 2020 68• DISCOVER The Essence DISCOVER The St. Clair 2019 2020

Story by Leigh Pritchett Photos by Graham Hadley and submitted photos

St. Clair Tourism

Blair Goodgame promoting county in new post Blair Goodgame has been to 15 countries spanning four continents.

Though she relishes traveling, she tends to share Dorothy’s sentiments in “The Wizard of Oz”: “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!”

Enjoying the place she calls home ... and encouraging others to do so ... is what Goodgame does on a daily basis.

In September 2019, she became tourism coordinator with St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC). “It is a brand-new position and program, part of the EDC’s fiveyear plan, Partnership for Tomorrow,” Goodgame said. “We are in year one of that.” Hiring a tourism coordinator was one of the first-year goals.

As tourism coordinator, Goodgame spends her days exploring and discovering different aspects of St. Clair County and promoting them to potential visitors, businesses and industries.

Tourism “goes hand-in-hand with economic development,” Goodgame said. She called tourism a “clean” industry that is indicative of a vibrant life within a community. Such vitality is what business prospects want to see in a locale they are considering.

In quick succession, Goodgame enumerates one asset of the county after another, starting with the resort areas Neely Henry Lake in northern St. Clair and Logan Martin Lake in southern St. Clair. She adds to that Horse Pens 40 near Steele, Mustang Museum in Odenville and the Forever Wild park near Springville. She points out that the county has outfitters, outlets for kayaking, extreme sports parks, bouldering destinations, competitive events, motorcycle racing, off-road trails, aerobatics flight instruction, summer camps, national tournaments, nature preserves and Moody’s Miracle League, a baseball league for people with special needs.

As for the arts, St. Clair has a prolific visual, musical and theatrical community, Goodgame continues. A few examples would be galleries, concerts, entertainment, songwriters and music festivals and stage productions. She also mentioned learning opportunities, such as music schools and dance studios.

Plus, there are wedding chapels and venues for parties, reunions, receptions, conventions and conferences.

“We’re learning more every day. ... (There are) so many more things I didn’t realize we have here ... (and) other people in the county were not aware of also,” said Goodgame.

In addition to all that, Talladega Superspeedway to the east of St. Clair and Barber Motorsports Park to the west bring visitors through the county, visitors who may stop to eat, shop or refuel, Goodgame said.

“It is also hoped that the more people who visit on a

Spectacular sunsets over Logan Martin and Neely Henry delight locals and tourists alike.

regular basis, some of them will want to actually live and work in our community,” said Jason Roberts, EDC’s director of industry and workforce development.

When that happens, Roberts said, the county’s population increases, as does its workforce, which naturally appeals to prospective businesses and industries.

Among Goodgame’s responsibilities as tourism coordinator are compiling an encompassing list of sites, venues, parks, events and opportunities countywide; creating a calendar of events in the county; getting input from communities on promoting what they have to offer; establishing a multimedia means for disseminating information about St. Clair’s tourism aspects and using regional and state resources to spread the information beyond the county’s borders.

Soon, she will engage a branding company to create a slogan that captures the essence of St. Clair in a few words.

“Blair has really hit the ground running and has already begun cataloging and identifying assets throughout the county, while also building relationships statewide with other tourism organizations,” said Don Smith, EDC’s executive director. “She is preparing to begin a branding campaign the beginning of 2020, as well as meeting with event organizers for a variety of events in the spring. We had very high expectations for Blair after the extensive search

DISCOVER The Essence St. Clair •••August & September 2013 Business Review •July DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • 69 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair October && November 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair •August February &July March 2016 2016 69 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair & September 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair June & 2017 DISCOVER DISCOVER The Essence The Essence of St. Clair of St. ••Clair Clair December June 2016 & 2015 2017 69 Essence ofof St. Clair December 2017 & January January 2018 DISCOVER The Essence of St. •••April May DISCOVER The 2020 DISCOVER The St. Clair 2019 2020 69

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Business Review (for a tourism coordinator), and she continues to impress us all daily. She is the perfect embodiment of our county’s tourism opportunities.”

Goodgame grew up on marinas and in campgrounds in the Pell City area, enjoying St. Clair’s warm climate and beautiful scenery. Logan Martin Lake and the great outdoors were her playground.

“I’ve always had a love of the outdoors, and the water still resonates with me,” Goodgame said.

She credits her mother, Cindy Goodgame, with nurturing that desire to be in nature. “She is always supportive. She shares a love of the outdoors,” said Blair Goodgame, who kayaks, camps, gardens and participates in community theater and yoga classes. “... (She) made me the woman I am today.”

After graduating from The Donoho School in Anniston, Goodgame majored in English at Auburn University and minored in art history. Her plan was to become an attorney. To prepare, she served as a congressional intern in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL. Yet, at law school orientation in 2009, she decided this was not the path her life should take. She returned to Pell City and became operations assistant for Goodley Corp., the family business.

“I love Pell City. I love St. Clair County. It’s home,” said Goodgame, who lives in a 1902 farmhouse.

In 2011, she became owner of Lakeside Package and Fine Spirits, which she operated almost five years at her family’s Lakeside Landing RV Park & Marina. Determined that Lakeside Package should be an “experience” rather than just a store, Goodgame offered party supplies and events, such as wine tastings and an appearance by Tim Smith from the television show, “Moonshiners.”

That marketing strategy translated into a sales increase of at least 35 percent each year. Pell City Chamber of Commerce selected hers as “emerging business of the year” in 2013.

The business venture, Alexandra Blair Calligraphy and Celebrations, has operated concurrently with her other work endeavors. As an artist and event specialist, Goodgame plans weddings, showers, birthdays and other memorable occasions and produces the artistic elements and hand-lettered envelopes needed.

In the community, Goodgame was president of Pell City Rotary Club and district Rotary governor, a board member of Pell City Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Alabama Leadership Initiative, and a graduate and board member of Leadership St. Clair (which is an EDC program). In 2014, the Rotary Club deemed her “Rotarian of the Year” and a “Paul Harris Fellow.” She would receive the latter award again in 2015 and 2018.

Recently, Goodgame was selected to serve on the PARCA Roundtable of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

To help those in need, Goodgame serves as board of trustees secretary for Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama and was chairwoman of the YWCA Purse and Passion fundraising luncheon in St. Clair. During her four years as Purse and Passion chairwoman, corporate and community support for the St. Clair luncheon increased manifold, reaching $105,000 in 2017. In 2014, the Alabama Chapter of

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St. Clair Tourism

The Mustang Museum is one of the newest tourist attractions in St. Clair.

EDC Director Don Smith welcomes Blair to her new job as St. Clair tourism coordinator.

Fundraising Professionals chose Goodgame “volunteer of the year.”

Candice Hill, EDC’s retail/marketing specialist, sees Goodgame as the ideal fit for the tourism coordinator position.

“Blair has a vast knowledge of tourism assets in St. Clair County, as she has a history here and has always been an explorer of things around her,” Hill said. “In both her educational background and her personal experience, she has a host of abilities to bring to the table for tourism in St. Clair County. I believe that her spirit and energy, along with her love for St. Clair County, will make her very successful in this position.”

Goodgame finds that the more she discovers and learns about the county, the more enthusiastic she is to call attention to those assets.

She excitedly talks about one of her ideas, which is to establish “trails” through St. Clair for things like barbecue tasting, birding, history, outlaws and moonshiners, locally made items, you-pick farms. ...

“Our options,” she said, “are endless right now.” l Editor’s Note: St. Clair County Economic Development Council is funded through the St. Clair County Commission and private partners. The EDC is housed on the campus of Jefferson State Community College in Pell City.

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