2013 Spring Franklin Living

SPRING 2013 VOL. 3 ISSUE NO. 1

Dirt track enthusiasts have home in county Women’s ministry mentors students

W

ell, it seemed like it would never get here, but spring has finally arrived.

And with it comes great opportunities to enjoy the things we have here in beautiful Franklin County, Alabama.

The lakes will soon be filled with fishermen, the nearby forests will be visited by hikers and campers and our local businesses will be busy making sure they are ready to accommodate us all.

It’s a fun time of year that allows us to get outside and play in the yard with our kids or take a trip to one of the many parks located in the different parts of the county.

The ball fields will be filled with little baseball and softball players looking for their moment of glory on the diamond.

Whatever you choose to do on a fun filled sunny afternoon, be sure to make the most of what we have in Franklin County. Whether it’s shopping, dining or looking for entertainment, we have a wide and varied selection right here to choose from, so make the most of it.

Spend an evening at the King Drive-In or at the monthly Rockin’ at the Roxy concert series. Spend a weekend at one of the BCDA campgrounds or an afternoon at the Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Trail. Take a hike through the Dismals Canyons or a canoe ride in one of the lakes.

All too often, we overlook the many great things we

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What’s happening?

See the Calendar of Events for can’t miss spring activities

Girls of God

Local ladies ministry mentors teen girls

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Incorporate exercise into your daily routine

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Draped in splendor

Local family, business providing fine drapes since 1965

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LeMay family takes on bee charming hobby

What’s hot?

View some of the latest spring decorations and fashions

Spring health tips

have right here at home.

I encourage you to take the time this spring to look around and remember all the things that make Franklin County special, what makes it home. That’s what Franklin Living is all about.

Busy as a bee

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FCNI Publisher Jonathan Willis with his wife, Mandi, and sons, Cade, 2, and Ty, 6.

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On the right track

Pro ATV rider opens dirt track for enthusiasts

Out of the wild

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Outdoorsman creates unique trophy room in home

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LIVING

Franklin Living is published four times per year by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2011 by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc.

P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com 6

Publisher Jonathan Willis Editorial and Photography Kellie Singleton and J.R. Tidwell Sales Peggy Hyde and Nicole Pell Composition Karen McAfee

FRANKLIN LIVING

WHAT TO DO Civitan Relay For Life concert April 6 The Russellville Civitan’s 2nd Annual Relay For Life Concert will take place Saturday, April 6, from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Sloss Lake in Russellville (inclement weather location at the Ralph Bishop Community Center). There will be tons of local entertainment as well as entertainers from outside the area.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students or $10 for the whole family. Other local Relay For Life teams will also have booths set up selling food, drinks, crafts, games and prizes. All proceeds from the concert and the booths will go to support the Franklin County Relay For Life.

Come out and have fun while supporting a great cause!

Swamp John’s fundraiser April 16 There will be a Swamp John’s fundraiser on Tuesday, April 16, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Urgent Care parking lot in Russellville. Proceeds will benefit the account set up in memory of Lesley Hope Plott, who was tragically killed this February.

Funds will go towards outstanding funeral costs and the ongoing care of her four children she left behind.

There will also be a bake sale with a variety of items for sale. Tickets are being sold prior to the date of the event at Dr. Kelly’s office through Zandy Mitchell or Leslie Duran.

Plates can also be purchased on site the day of the event.

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Plant sale

Relay For Life

April 20

May 3

The Red Bay Garden Club will hold a plant sale on Saturday, April 20, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the produce stand near Dollar General. Various types of vegetable plants, bedding plants, perennials, trees, shrubs, succulents, hanging baskets and other plants will be for sale.

The Franklin County Relay For Life will be held Friday, May 3, at the Russellville High School Stadium.

Opening ceremonies, the Survivor’s Lap and the Caregiver’s Lap will all kick-off at 7 p.m. and the event will last through the night until the next morning. It’s not too late to sign up to be part of a team. For more information, contact American Cancer Society community representative Megan Lovelace at 256-767-0825.

“The Ransom of Red Chief” performance April 25-28 The Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts in Red Bay will present “The Ransom of Red Chief,” by O. Henry and adapted by Anne Coulter Martens as the final play of the 2012-2013 season. It will be presented April 25 – 28 and will be directed by Keith Hager. Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 15, at the Weatherford Centre in Red Bay. For group tickets contact Beth Hammock at 256-356-9286.

Rockin’ at the Roxy April 13, May 11, and June 8 The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council hosts the Rockin’ at the Roxy concert series the second Saturday night of each month featuring the popular KGB and special musical guests. Visit the historic Roxy Theater for a night filled with great live local music.

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OUT & ABOUT

South Side Baptist Church pastor Daniel Welborn prays during the Day of Prayer event at Russellville City Hall.

Franklin County Department of Human Resources director Jerry Groce speaks with U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Community Spirit Bank’s Alan Rhudy speaks with U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions.

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FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUT

Russellville West Elementary teachers and mother-daughter tandem Tracy Ward and Channing Wright dressed for Dr. Seuss week at the school.

Russellville city schools curriculum coordinator Susan Hall and West Elementary School reading coach Jennifer Warhurst pose with kindergarten students Addyson Farris and Mia Davis during Dr. Seuss week.

Russellville West Elementary students dressed for Dr. Seuss week at the school.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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The annual Partnership Banquet sponsored by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin County Development Authority was held in March. Pictured are some of the award winners from the evening.

1. Mike Franklin and Tina Lawler receive the Best Kept Secret Award on behalf of the town of Hodges’ Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park.

2. Orland Britnell receives the Hall of Fame Award from Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cassie Medley.

3. Jolene Stockton receives the Unsung Hero Award from Franklin County Chamber of Commerce president Mike Shewbart.

4. Brice Forman and Danny Brown receive the Beautification Award on behalf of the town of Phil Campbell’s Memorial Park.

5. Neil Willis of Artistic Jewelry and Repair receives the Beautification Award for the city of Russellville.

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OUT & ABOUT

FRANKLIN LIVING

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FAITH MATTERS

Girls of God Club aims to build “inner beauty” of teenage girls

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STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

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ebbie Evans spends most of her day teaching ESL classes at Russellville High School.

In that capacity, she meets students from all different walks of life and as a teacher, she cares about their futures and the paths they each will take once they leave the halls of RHS behind.

Evans said she had been praying for a long time about a way to minister to her students, particularly the female students, outside of school.

“Girls at this age all face challenges,” Evans said. “I wanted to find a way to minister to these girls and help them learn some skills and some principles that could help them now and later on.”

Evans said she began to ask some of the girls she knew if they would be interested in being part of a club outside of school that would focus on the kinds of issues they deal with as young ladies, and what formed was La Bella Dentro, which means “inner beauty.”

“Our club had our first meet-

ing in September, and even though our numbers are small, we’ve had some really good meetings and hopefully the girls have gotten a lot out of it,” Evans said.

“I know I have. It’s been such a blessing to share with the girls and watch them learn new things.”

Evans asked Pat Richardson to help her co-sponsor the club and she said they typically meet at different places each month depending on what their lesson is about.

During the month of March,

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La Bella Dentro organization members Anna Juan, Bianca Lucas, Ashley Rocha and Karina Felix learned how to bake and decorate cakes during the group’s March meeting.

La Bella Dentro gathered at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville to learn how to decorate cakes.

“We try to utilize women in our community who have different sets of skills they can share with the girls,” Evans said.

“We have had speakers talk to them about overcoming various obstacles and how to not let an obstacle define them, and we had someone teach them the different skills they would need for a job interview and how to dress appropriately.

“In March, we had Beth Pounders come teach the girls how to decorate cakes because that’s something she does to make money.

“We want them to see that they can turn something they enjoy doing or something

FRANKLIN LIVING

they are passionate about into a way to earn money to support themselves or their family one day.”

But Evans said she also wanted to teach the girls some biblical principles that she believes will also help them throughout their lives.

“At the start of each meeting, we have a short devotion,” Evans said. “Pat had a book called ‘What I Wish I Knew at 18: Life Lessons for the Road Ahead’ and that was our starting point to give us some direction with the lessons, but we also incorporate Bible verses as well.

“We want to focus on that inner beauty that every girl has and let them know how important it is to be beautiful from the inside out.”

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La Bella Dentro organization members Anna Juan, Bianca Lucas, Ashley Rocha and Karina Felix listen to Debbie Evans and Pat Richardson during a devotional time at the group’s March meeting.

Before the cake decorating session, Evans read passages from Proverbs 31, a book and chapter that is well known for outlining principles for biblical womanhood.

“I discussed how the Proverbs 31 woman worked with her hands to help her family,” Evans said. “Then the girls got to see first-hand how Beth works with her hands baking and decorating cakes and how that helps her family and others.”

Anna Juan, 18, said she didn’t know much about the club when she joined, but she’s glad she took the time to be a part of it.

“I heard Mrs. Evans talking about the club and I wanted to know more about it because I was curious,” Juan said.

“I’ve really liked coming to the meetings. It’s been special for me because she was teaching us more about God and that meant a lot to me.”

17-year-old Bianca Olivia Lucas said it was fun to learn a lesson and then be able to apply it like they did with the Proverbs 31 woman and the cake decorating.

“I always want to learn new things and I’ve learned a lot in this club like the importance of getting more involved in church and learning about the Bible,” Lucas said.

“And it’s also just fun to get together and talk about different things and just be part of something.”

RHS senior Ashley Rocha agreed.

“This has been a cool experience and I know it will help me in my future,” she said. “These girls feel like they’re my family.”

Karina Felix, 17, said the group has taught her a lot about selfconfidence.

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“I think I have really grown since being in this club,” Felix said.

“It helps you build character and learn how to develop relationships with other people. I’ve also learned how to handle different situations in life and how to be more outgoing and just have a good time.”

Evans said they had several more lessons lined up for the year dealing with relationships and money management.

“We’ll look at the lesson and also see how the scripture is relevant to these areas of our lives as well,” she said.

“I’m very excited about the future of this group and I hope it will continue to grow.”

Evans said the group was open to any girl of high school age who wanted to participate.

For more information about La Bella Dentro, contact Evans at 256-332-6156.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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FRANKLIN LIVING

WELLNESS

Simple ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine Red Bay Parks and Recreation director Mike Shewbart

Exercise is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle.

When coupled with a healthy diet, exercise puts men and women on a path toward optimal health while reducing risk for a host of ailments, some of which can be deadly.

But many people find they simply don’t have the time to exercise regularly. Commitments to career and family can be demanding and time-consuming, and exercise is often a casualty of a hectic schedule.

Though getting to the gym every day or even making use of exercise equipment at home on a daily basis may not be feasible, that doesn’t mean people still can’t find ways to incorporate a little exercise into their daily routines.

The following are a few simple ways to fit more exercise into your day no matter how busy you may be.

• Avoid the elevator, and attack the stairs. The elevator may be inviting, but it’s also somewhat of an enabler. Instead of taking the elevator up to your office each day, take the stairs, and take them with more gusto than you’re used to. Rather than taking one step at a time, take the stairs two by two, lifting your legs high as you scale each pair of steps. This helps build your leg muscles and makes the daily climb up the staircase a little more strenuous.

• Turn TV time into treadmill time. Watching a little television at night is how many people relax and unwind, but it can be a great time to squeeze in some daily exercise as well. Opinions as to what’s the best time of day to exercise vary, and no definitive study exists to suggest one time of day is better than another.

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People who like to relax with a little television time at night should make the most of that time by hitting the treadmill, elliptical machine or exercise bike instead of just plopping down on the couch.

Add a television to your home’s exercise room or purchase a gym membership where the cardiovascular machines are connected to televisions. You will still get to enjoy your favorite shows while simultaneously getting the benefit of exercise.

• Say “bon voyage” to the conference room. Professionals who spend lots of time in meetings can add a simple twist that incorporates exercise into a typical business meeting. Rather than conducting the meeting in a conference room, propose a walking meeting when possible.

A walking meeting is the same as a standard business meeting, but it’s conducted on foot outside of the office. Walking meetings can provide some much-needed energy for you and your fellow staff members, who may appreciate the chance to get out from behind their desks and stretch their legs while still getting work done.

Take your smartphones or tablets along to jot down important ideas, just like you would in a more traditional meeting. And make the most of your walk by leaving time for some light stretching before and after the meeting. Chances are you will return to your desk reenergized and glad you found a way to get some exercise despite of a busy schedule.

• Park far away when shopping. It’s tempting and almost human nature to hunt for the parking spot closest to the door when shopping at the mall or even the grocery store.

But for those who want to include more exercise in their daily routines, parking far away from the entrance to your favorite store is a great way to incorporate more walking into your life.

Walking is a simple yet effective cardiovascular exercise, one that the Mayo Clinic notes can lower your blood pressure and manage your weight while lowering your low-density lipoprotein, which is commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

In fact, research has indicated that regular, brisk walking can be just as effective at lowering a person’s risk of heart attack as more vigorous exercise, including jogging. When parking far away from the entrance, just make sure you park in a well-lit area where others can easily see or hear you.

Many adults find they simply don’t have the time to commit to routine exercise. But there are several simple ways to incorporate exercise into your existing routine without taking time from your already busy day.

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Part of Kim Perdue’s job is helping clients sort through fabric samples to find a pattern and color that is best for their home.

Buddy Perdue installs plantations shutters at the home of Greg and Sandra Lane.

Draped in splendor

T STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

here’s something about the warm sun, cool breezes and budding flowers of spring that inspires people to clean up, clean out and re-organize in their homes.

In all this cleaning and re-organizing, many people will decide it’s time for a change as well.

Maybe it’s a change in the color scheme or the accessories that add pops of color to a room. Or perhaps the drapes hanging in the living room are starting to look out-of-date. And the light fixtures hanging in the dining room are the same ones that came with the house, even though you meant to change them out right after you moved in – 10 years ago.

Whatever changes you might want to make to brighten up the places and spaces that you frequent everyday, Thompson’s Drapery and Interiors in downtown Russellville probably has just what you need.

Allie Thompson started Thompson’s Drapery and Interiors in 1965.

Thompson’s Drapery and Interiors specializes in beautiful custom drapes like the ones in the home of Greg and Sandra Lane.

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Maxine King, who has worked at Thompson’s Drapery and Interiors for the past 40 years, works on custom-made window treatments.

Thompson’s has been a staple in Russellville since it first opened in December of 1965.

Allie Thompson, who started the business with the help of Yvonne Porter, said the store actually grew out of her need for some new drapes in her own home.

“I was wanting to have drapes made for my living room and Yvonne was helping me,” Thompson said.

“We got to talking and decided we should just start a business, so that’s what we did.”

Thompson’s soon gained a reputation for adorning a home of business with just the right items to add sophistication and class to all types of settings.

The business continued to flourish for many years until Thompson’s daughter, Kim Perdue, and her husband, Buddy Perdue, took over the store in March of 1994.

“I grew up in this store and have so many memories here, so I was happy for Buddy and I to take over when the time came,” Perdue said.

“It’s something I love doing and I consider myself very lucky to have a job I enjoy where I am also able to work with my family. And there’s always something new to do every day. I might be picking out fabrics out front or helping a customer or working in the back or going out to a client’s house to gather samples or measurements. There’s never a dull moment around here.”

Thompson’s is renowned for creating beautiful, custom-made drapes, window treatments, bedding, pillows, tablecloths and virtually anything else made from fabric, save for upholstery work.

They also specialize in ordering and installing custom wood and vinyl blinds, plantation shutters, arch coverings, natural and bamboo shades, vertical blinds and soft shades.

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And if you just need that certain something to accent your home, like a lamp or a candle or a decorative lantern, Thompson’s storefront has many home décor items to choose from as well.

“We have something to fit all budgets, styles and tastes,” Perdue said.

“Whatever the vision is, we can find something that will make that vision a reality.”

And if you are someone who doesn’t quite know what they’re looking for, Perdue’s creative eye and sophisticated tastes allow her to be the perfect person to help you come up with some fabulous ideas.

She takes the time to sit down and personally go over fabric samples and ideas until the perfect match is found.

“I’m a people person so it’s fun to meet all the different people who come by the store,” she said.

“Our return clients are the backbone of our business, but we love having new faces in the store as well.

“Some of our clients come in and think they don’t have a creative eye but when I start working with them, they really surprise themselves.

“It’s great to see people figure out what their tastes are and what they like and then see how proud they are of the finished product.”

Perdue said the trends and styles that she sees vary from year to year, so she is constantly brushing up on what is up and coming in the designer world.

“Right now it seems like we’re seeing less of the heavy, formal window treatments and more of the lighter, simpler treatments,” Perdue said. “Natural products like linens and cottons are very popular as well as the gray and yellow or taupe and light blue color combos.”

But she added that it’s important for someone to be comfortable with the feel and style a fabric or accessory pro-

vides because it will be something they look at every day.

“There’s a big movement towards light fabrics and simple décor that gives off a clean, airy feeling,” she said, “but that’s not everyone’s taste.

“Some people enjoy the darker, richer color combinations or the having an earthy, warm, natural feel to their home.

“You should do whatever works best for you so that you will have the feel you want for your home or office. Nothing is out when it comes to decorating. There isn’t just one style that you have to stick to right now.”

Perdue said a good way to find ideas that speak to your specifics tastes is to browse popular websites like Pinterest.

“Our store is very accommodating to the Pinterest generation because many people come in with pictures and ideas they’ve seen on the site and want us to help them recreate something similar to it,” she said.

“Sites like these are great tools. I actually use Pinterest a lot myself to get new ideas for fabrics, color combinations and decorating.

“You can get a lot of inspiration just by looking at what other people have done in their own homes – and inspiration can come from something as simple as one pillow. You can build the who theme of a room around that one special accessory and before you know it, the whole room has come together.”

Perdue said home decorating can be as simple or as complex as a person wants to make it.

“The great thing about decorating is that you can create a space that is all your own – that makes you feel good just to be in there,” she said.

“Whatever type of decorating you may be doing, we would be glad to help you make the ideas you have become a reality.”

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My Curves journey began March 7, 2012 with a goal in mind of losing 50 pounds in eight months. After 45 days of working out and “dieting” on my own, I had only lost 3.5 pounds.

It was then when I wanted to learn more about Curves Complete. My initial thought of Curves Complete was I am about to throw more money away on a “fad” diet. I have tried numerous diets including Weight Watchers and diet pills only to begin back at square one.

After Curves Complete, I reflect on my huge success of losing not only 20 pounds but 50 pounds on the program. Curves Complete was not just a diet for me, it was a complete life style change in my eating habits and the way I viewed food.

Before Curves Complete my choice of diet foods and eating habits were all wrong. I would often skip meals thinking I was doing myself a favor by not eating. Little did I know that there was a solution to my weight problems known as the Curves Complete program.

Throughout the program I learned the importance of planning meals, choosing healthier food options and exercising on a routinely basis. I loved that the program was designed so that I, the working mom of two, could succeed in losing weight.

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“For such a small insect, bees are just chalk full of smarts.

They are such interesting creatures, and that’s one of the main reasons I became interested in them in the first place.“ — Ted LeMay

STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

T

ed LeMay stands out behind his home with literally hundreds of bees flying around him.

For many people, this would be a panic-inducing scenario since most people run away at the mere sound of a bee’s buzzing, but LeMay barely notices as he goes about his business.

The Red Bay businessman has actually become quite accustomed to the sounds of buzzing honeybees in the past three years that he has spent as a beekeeper at the Belgreen home he shares with his wife, Angie.

LeMay said being a beekeeper is something he’s always been interested in, and after several years of pondering the idea, he decided to take the plunge and acquire his own bees and beehives.

“It took some getting used to at first because natural instinct tells you to swat and try to get away from bees buzzing around your head,” LeMay said.

“It was definitely intimidating to pull out a frame that had three or four thousand bees on it, but I barely notice it anymore. You just get used to it after a while.”

After he finally decided to enter the world of beekeeping, the first thing

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LeMay had to do was buy the parts to assemble his hives, which is where the bees live and produce their honey.

“Each bee knows which hive is theirs,” he said. “Even with all the hives lined up together, a bee will come back to the same hive. There are even bees that serves as ‘guards’ that will turn away bees who don’t belong to that hive.”

LeMay said once the hive parts were assembled, he purchased three pounds of bees and one queen bee from Georgia to get his apiary started.

“Once you purchase your bees and a queen, you put them in with the new frames and start feeding them sugar water for the first few weeks to give them a boost until they get their wax built up and have a place to put their own nectar,” he said.

“Once they make their first cycle, they’re good to go.”

LeMay said tending to the thousands of bees that live in the hives that are lined up neatly behind his home is an all-year task.

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“Before the spring season comes on, there is a spring build-up that occurs where the numbers in the hive will increase,” he said. “The time that this happens usually depends on the weather. This year it started in about mid-January.”

LeMay said he has to keep a close eye on the bees during this time because if they do not have enough food stored up, they will be susceptible to starvation with the increasing number of bees in the hive.

“Once they get through that period and move into spring, it becomes time for them to start producing honey,” he said.

“The average bee will make .10 of a teaspoon of honey in her life, and a good hive will put up about 30 pounds of honey per week.”

Late May and June is when LeMay and his wife, Angie, begin harvesting the honey.

“From the spring through the summer we’re working on the hives at least

twice a week,” he said.

“You also have to keep an eye on the numbers and make sure there are no pests that could kill off the bees, such as tracheal mites, varroa mites from Asia, and African hive beetles.

“Ideally you want to have bees that handle these pests naturally without any interference from pesticides. Our hives are treatment free with no pesticides that we have put in.”

Once the honey harvesting season is over, LeMay said the fall is the best time to make light “splits” in the hive so a new hive can start up.

“Once the weather starts getting colder, you just have to make sure they’re going to have enough food and then we lock them up for the winter,” he said.

“If it’s above 40 degrees they may fly a little bit but they mainly stay in the hive all winter and ‘cluster,’ which basically looks like a big ball of bees, to stay warm.”

LeMay said the honeybees all have

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different jobs, and in the wintertime, they utilize “heater bees” that are actually warmer in temperature and serve to keep the whole hive warmer in the cold weather.

“If you look at the hive with an infrared camera, you can tell where the heater bees are because they show up as warmer than the other bees,” he said.

“For such a small insect, bees are just chalk full of smarts. They are such interesting creatures, and that’s one of the main reasons I became interested in them in the first place. Sometimes I just take a lawn chair and sit outside and watch them work. It can be really fascinating.”

LeMay’s beekeeping became so interesting that he got his son, TJ LeMay, and his grandson, Bo, interested in the business as well.

“I got into beekeeping about a year ago and have my own hives that my wife, Michelle, and I tend,” TJ LeMay said.

“I heard my dad talk about it so much, and after watching him for a couple of years, I decided I wanted to get into it myself. I’ve really enjoyed it and it’s something my oldest son, Bo, has started to enjoy, too.”

Bo LeMay said he wasn’t scared of the bees at all.

“I like them,” the seven-year-old said. “I think it’s a lot of fun to watch them and see them make honey.”

LeMay said the honey they harvest at T&A Bee Farm, which is the name of the LeMays’ apiary, is sold at

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Consider the Lilies, their full-time flower shop in downtown Red Bay. He said he expects a new batch to be ready in May. “There are many benefits to eating locally-produced honey,” LeMay said.

“It can really help with allergies since the honey contains local pollen. It helps you almost build up an immunity to certain pollens and make allergies less of a burden.

“This is especially true of honey that is made within 12 miles of your home or honey that is made in an area that has similar pollens to where you live.”

Being a beekeeper can be hard work, but LeMay said he didn’t have plans to hang up his bee suit anytime soon.

“This has been a great experience so far, and the people who have bought the honey say it’s some of the best they’ve tried,” he said.

“I think this is something I’ll do for many years to come.”

FRANKLIN LIVING

WMTY 45

TUNE IN

Sam’s Kitchen Tuesday at 6:30 pm Charter Cable 4 and online @ samskitchen.org

Sat. Night Auction 6-9 p.m.

CIRCLE OF PRAYER Thursday 6:00 - 6:30 pm

Kevin G. Kelly, M.D. Serving your Family for over 30 years

FAMILY PRACTICE Pediatrics • New Born Care 256-332-5901

Walk-ins Welcome General Medical Problems Plus

In the fall of 2009, I was ready to trade vehicles.

After several weeks of shopping around and test driving, I went to Ray Miller Buick GMC in Florence, Alabama.

Sales Manager, Kale Bragwell, helped me find a car suited to my needs and my budget. When buying a car, I like the process to be simple, easy to understand, and “hassle and haggle” free. I don’t like a high pressure salesman but I do expect him to be knowledgeable about the vehicle he is trying to sell.

I want a fair price for my trade-in and a good deal “up front”. This is what I felt like I got at Ray Miller.

Kale’s work was not over when I signed the papers.

He was there for me after the sale, ready to answer my questions and help me with my vehicle in any way he could. Their service department also was always there for me when I needed them.

Because of the service I received from them in the past, I recently went back to Kale and Ray Miller and traded for another Buick Enclave. I am happy to say that again, I had a pleasant buying experience. Also, I can truthfully say that, based on my past history with the folks at Ray Miller, I will more than likely call on them in the future, when I am ready to purchase another vehicle.

Tommie B. Bragwell Hodges, Alabama

• Sports Injuries • Work Comp • Employment Physicals • Immunizations • Routine Check-ups Ashley Ozbirn, CRNP, Dr. Kevin Kelly, M.D., Janette Wilmoth, CRNP

256-331-2092

Open Daily until 6:00 pm

• www.russcare.com

13150 Hwy. 43 S. Suite 10 • Russellville, AL (at the intersection of Hwy. 24 and Hwy. 43) FRANKLIN LIVING

Kale Bragwell Sales Manager

246 Cox Creek Parkway • Florence, AL

(256) 764-9661 • 1-800-755-3113 raymillergm.com

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FOOD

From Sam’s kitchen

Our cooking show has now been on the air for five months and what a joy it has been for me to share my old country recipes with you.

Some bring back memories from the farm and the life we had when things were in the garden and home canning--salt boxes and the smokehouse--potatoes and onions in the barn------real milk, butter and eggs.

I hope these recipes bring you a joy when cooking and most of when eating.

Our cookbooks will be for sale after April 15.

They will be available on our website, www.samskitchen.org, or at the following businesses: Franklin County Times,WMTY-45, First |Metro Bank, Green’s Depentable True Value and Big Star.

All proceeds from the sales goes to Warf-CooperRichardson Foundation and WMTY-45.

Check out our T-shirts, aprons, caps and our private label food products which are still being prepared for tasting because we want our recipes to be the best.

Thanks to the TV station, WMTY 45, Big Star, Green’s Depentable, Sibley |Oil and Spry Memorial Chapel for making a dream come true.

Thank you and Good Eating.

Slaw Small Cabbage 1/8 c. White Onion 1/8 c. Carrots 1/8 c. Red & Yellow Bell Peppers

--Sam Warf

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FOOD Sam’s Baked Beans 2 lg. cans of Pork & Beans 1 lg. onion 1 c. brown sugar 1 red pepper 1/2 lb ground chuck salt pepper 1 can Diced Tomatoes- garlic, onion and basil 1 t .garlic 1/8 t. onion powder Sweat onions and bell peppers. In a large bowl mix all other ingredients Pour in a 9 x 13 baking dish Top with 4 pc. of bacon Sprinkle 1/2 c. of brown sugar over top and cook for 45 minutes on 350 degrees

Garlic Cheese Biscuits 2 c. Bisquick 2/3 c. Milk 1/2 c. Cheddar Cheese 1/4 c. butter 1/4 t. garlic powder Preheat oven to 450 degrees Mix in a bowl with whisk until a soft dough forms. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Make 10-12 spoonfuls two inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.

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Beef Skillet with Wild Rice and Veggies 2 c. Beef Broth 1 1/2 c. Instant Wild Rice 2 Medium Carrots - 1c.

2 t. vegetable oil 1/2 lb. round steak cut into strips 1/4 c. onion 1 8 oz. jar pearl onions 1. c snap pea pods 1 t. Italian Seasoning Salt Pepper 1 c. English Peas Heat broth and add rice 8 minutes, add carrots Cook beef until tender with onions Add rice, carrots and English Peas Cover and cook 3 minutes Over night in the refrigerator marinate meat with Garlic, Olive Oil and a small amount of Pepper and Salt with Meat Tenderizer Apple Dumplins 1 lg. can of biscuits 1 stick of butter 1 c. brown sugar 2 t. cinnamon 2 Yellow Apples Melt Butter and Sugar Roll biscuits out Cut apples in 1/4 inch strips Put in biscuit, fold over and seal Sprinkle with cinnamon Place in 9 x 12 baking dish Mix 3/4 c. sugar and butter Melt in sauce pan add 2 T. of cinnamon stir in last and pour over apples.

Sprinkle 1/4 c. brown sugar over apples Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes

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FRANKLIN LIVING

On the right

k c a r T M

any people either own ATVs or have fond memories of riding around on one when they were younger. Some hunters use them to get around over large distances in wooded areas and the like, and others professions may use a quad to cover ground at large sites, but for the most part the ATV is seen simply as a source of recreation.

But for some people, riding a quad transcends recreation and becomes a sport. ATV racing has been around for several years now, and one former professional driver calls Spruce Pine home.

Keith Little is a local man who traveled the country and raced ATVs professionally for several years. Little, 35, is now retired from the sport, but the impact it has had on his life and the impact he has had on the sport may still be seen around his home, garage and on the current local racing circuits.

“I graduated from Russellville High School. I went to Northwest-Shoals Community College. I pretty much started racing professionally when I got out of high school. I did some professional races when I was younger. 16 is when you can turn professional. But it wasn’t until I graduated high school that I started running the full circuit.”

Little did not always know he wanted to be a professional quad racer, but he did start driving ATVs and running in small races at an early age.

“I started at Shoals and I got a degree in business administration,” he said. “If racing wasn’t in the position it was and starting to take off I was probably going to go to a university, but growing up I always had dreams of becoming a racer. It seemed like things were starting to come through when I finished up at Shoals, so I opted to start racing full time. The first years were a bit of a struggle. I was always able to make ends meet, keep all the parts I needed and keep up the money I needed to travel, but I had to do a lot of mechanic work on motorcycles and ATVs, stuff like that, to help raise money. Racing was always pretty

FRANKLIN LIVING

STORY BY J.R. TIDWELL PHOTOS BY J.R. TIDWELL

35

much able to fund itself, and in about 2003-04 the factories started becoming involved in racing and everything took off. We could get big bonus checks for placing on the podium and we had up front salaries to cover our expenses throughout the year. We were finally able to put a true race budget together and it became a true professional racing program. I started racing when I was really young, five or six years old, on some tracks that Belgreen and other places had. Probably about 11 or 12 I started doing flat track racing and other courses. Somewhere between 11 and 16 is when I realized I wanted to do it professionally. I would read the magazines and see all the professionals at the time. That and racing locally is what really sparked my interest.”

Though Little no longer races on a pro circuit, he did grace the ranks of professional drivers for the majority of his adult life.

“The last time I took count of it I had raced professionally for 16 years. Out of those 16 years, 12 of those years I had good support and had a legit racing thing going. It was all like running

36

a business. I would find a sponsor that had a rig for traveling. Then I would find another sponsor that would pay for the gas, and another that would pay the entry fees of the races. On top of that you need all the parts, so you had to work that in.”

One added perk (or possibly nuisance depending on how you might look at the situation) of driving in a professional racing circuit is driving all around the country, racing different tracks and seeing the sites across our great nation.

“One time I figured up that there were six states I haven’t been to or through,” Little said. “I raced in California, Oregon, all the way to New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma. I’d say I raced in 20-25 of the U.S. states. I’ve traveled and raced in South Africa, France, England and Baja, Mexico. I ran the Baja 1000 nine times. The Baja 1000 is an experience in itself. Baja is three times the length of Florida. The race starts in the northern corner right below San Diego and runs all the way to the bottom.

Doing 1,000 miles on an ATV is a lot of seat time. It usually takes 35 to 40 hours

to run depending on the course. It was one of my favorite races.”

While driving cross country to follow the circuit can be a bit of a hassle, the biggest downside of quad racing is the likelihood of sustaining an injury do to the nature of the sport.

“ATV racing is a rough sport. You hope to not have any crashes, but it seems like you would have at least one every year,” Little said. “It was weird too. You might have a crash where you were going at a high speed and cartwheeled it. It looked terrible, but you might only have a few scrapes and bruises and you’d hop up, walk away and keep racing. Sometimes you might go into a corner not going that fast and barely roll over and that would be the one that would tear ligaments in your knee. ATV racing has some of the gnarliest crashes because they don’t have roll cages, the machines weigh 350-400 pounds, and they’re reaching speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. There’s been jumps that were up to 140 feet. ATV racing is known for its bad crashes.”

Every professional racer who has spent any amount of time around the sport

FRANKLIN LIVING

will likely have a story about the worst wreck they were ever in or the biggest injury sustained, and Little is no exception.

“I’ve had several concussions,” he said.

“I had one (wreck) in a whoop section (washboard-type mounds), and you try to drive across the top of them because if you fall down into them it kicks you.

My back tires fell down into the whoop and it kicked my back tires up. It kicked me up over the front of the quad, and as soon as it hit the next bump it kicked the front end up, and the front bumper popped me in the left eye socket. I had 27 stitches all around my eye and it broke my nose in three or four pieces and broke the bone under my eye. That one took some time to get over.

“I had to have surgery on my face and nose to get me back to breathing good again. I still feel like that wreck took a lot out of me, because afterwards my cardio wasn’t as good. I had a wreck where I broke some ribs in my back, and that set me back because I couldn’t breath as well. Cardio is important in racing and you can’t do it as well if you can’t breath.

I broke a femur, a tibia, tore ligaments in my right knee, separated both shoulders, broke my ribs several times, and something you would do two or three times a year was break a bone in your foot.

It’s pretty common for your foot to get caught between a bump and your foot peg, and it folds your foot backwards.

It is definitely taxing on the body. You have to spend a lot of time training to make sure you’re in good enough shape to be able to take the abuse you get

when you hit the ground.”

As mentioned earlier the “heyday” of the sport has come and gone as sponsorship money and viewership, as well as the number of drivers, has waned over the last few years.

“We had three years of the heyday when the WPSA was televised on ESPN 2,” Little said. “There was one year where, as far as racing, it was second to only NASCAR. It’s one of those things that the people who put together our TV package did a good job and the sport looked phenomenal and we got a lot of exposure.

That was 2005-07. In 2008 the TV package went back to Versus channel, and all the sponsorship money dropped. The TV exposure was the key element to getting the sport to make it big.”

Little, who had raced for several years already, decided to retire from ATV racing when the popularity and sponsorship dollars dropped out. That does not mean, however, that he has not kept himself busy.

“I still help out with my dad’s trucking company,” he said.

“The past two seasons that I’ve been retired I worked with a tire company to help them develop s tire by gathering info at races. This past season I had a Pro Am guy hire me to travel to the races and help set up his stuff. I’m still helping a few companies here and there when they have a new product come out that they need help with R and D on it.”

Along with his work with companies that produce parts for quads and his dad’s trucking business, Little helps out his brother with running a local dirt track on

Highway 43 just south of Russellville.

“The track out here started out as my practice track,” he said. “A few other local racers started using it and we eventually started doing local races. The first actual race was in the summer of 2006. That’s when we opened the other track on the back side of it. This past season the races did good.

“Some we had 300 plus riders here. The numbers are down everywhere but the series that came through here last year has a good following. We’ll have six to eight races a year as part of a circuit that includes other southeastern states.”

Little may not be a pro rider in an ATV racing circuit anymore, but that does not mean he has lost his love and interest in the sport and its vehicles. Being retired at such an early age means finding a new line of work, but if Little gets his wish, his new occupation will be a familiar one.

“I’m hoping to get my own local shop going,” he said. “I know a lot about bikes, ATVs, side by sides and motorcycles. I still have a lot of connections in the industry. Sometime within the next year or so I’d like to open a shop and have it service the riders that come to the track.

“A lot of people come down here and have me help them. A lot of people are getting into racing, and it’s worth the money to have a guy who knows a lot about ATVs to set them up than try to do it yourself blindly.”

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Out of the Wild STORY BY J.R. TIDWELL

PHOTOS BY J.R. TIDWELL

FRANKLIN LIVING

E

d Mansell lives in Spring Valley now, just across the Colbert County line, but his roots run deep in Franklin County.

No matter where he’s traveled or what he’s done, this area is home. But through the years, Mansell has been fortunate enough to travel the world seeking the next big thing – or in most cases, the next big animal.

Many people in northwest Alabama are avid hunters, but many never stray past whitetail deer or smaller game during their time outdoors.

Many of these people wish they could hunt big game around the country, but Mansell is a man that has done it.

Name an example of a big game animal that can be found in the U.S. or Canada, and Mansell likely has a specimen (or several) displayed in the trophy room of his house, from a humble raccoon to a mountain lion and grizzly bear.

Mansell, when dressed in full garb, looks like the epitome of an outfitter, big game hunter or safari guide.

Mansell, who grew up in Mt. Star, began hunting at an early age.

“I’ve hunted all my life,” said the now retired 71 year-old.

“I hunted with my granddaddy. We squirrel hunted, hawk hunted and rabbit hunted. As I got older I took up deer hunting. I killed my first deer when I was 18.”

After moving to Michigan, Mansell found that his love of hunting could go far beyond the fields and woodlands of Franklin County.

“I moved up to Detroit and stayed there for 11 years,” he said.

“I hunted all over Michigan. I killed a bear and a few deer. I came back to Alabama, and a friend of mine out in Colorado invited me out to hunt. Before I could go out and hunt with him he passed away, but I said I’m going. So in 1974 me and my family loaded up and went on a summer vacation and checked it out. I went back that fall with

39

my two brothers.

We were mule deer hunting, and I killed a pretty nice 4x3 mule deer. That just turned me onto mule deer.

I’ve hunted every year since.”

His hunting prowess soon turned into something a little more.

“In 1983 I started outfitting.

A bunch of people said they wanted to go with me and they’d pay me, so I started an outfitting business. I took four or five people the first year, the next year I took 12 people, the next year 25 people. I was in it for eight years, and the last year I had 40 acres leased up in a national forest in Utah that bordered Colorado. I was hunting Utah and Colorado in a cabin. We had 15 horses and a couple of cooks. My wife Faye was the No. 1 cook.

She cooked for 20-25 people. They would actually ask me to quit deer hunting and come in early so they could eat her cooking. She was really good.

“We had good horses and we fed them good, and just about everybody who came out there would come back year after year.”

Taking others on hunting trips made some hunts a little different.

“The only thing I couldn’t do was, if I had a client with me, I couldn’t kill a big deer and not let him kill it. That was the hardest thing about being a guide is telling a guy to shoot that big deer when you want to shoot that big deer. We were very successful with the outfitting business. Then in about 1992 they stopped selling deer licenses over the counter and changed the laws, and that killed my outfitting business.

“Then they made the area I had leased a trophy area, and to draw a permit to hunt in that area today is like a $25,000 hunt. There are some big bulls in there. The high point of my hunting was in 1978. I went to British Columbia and hunted with an outfitter. That’s when I killed an 800-pound silvertip grizzly.

“I killed a 2,000-pound moose and this big 6x7 elk. He was the herd bull. That was all on a 10-day hunt. The outfitter said I was the blood thirstiest hillbilly he’d ever been around,” he said with a laugh.”

“The hardest thing about being a guide is telling a guy to shoot that big deer when you want to shoot that big deer.”

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Blood thirsty or just plain old good, something made Mansell quite successful.

“I’ve killed one grizzly and I’ve killed seven black bear. My

FRANKLIN LIVING

preference now is bear hunting. I’ve killed enough mule deer, I’ve killed enough elk; I’ve killed so many whitetail I hate to even think about it. I had a 190-acre farm down at Crooked Oak. Three years ago was the last year I hunted and I killed 53 deer - and it’s legal; you can kill something like 120 legal; two a day.

“I got tired of whitetail. After you’ve mule deer hunted, hunting whitetail is a totally different way of hunting. Elk is something else. I went to Mozambique in Africa with a friend of mine a couple of years ago and set up his safari camps for him. I had no desire to kill the antelope in Africa. I would like to have killed a big mane lion, but it’s just out of reason to pay $35,000 to shoot a lion. It’s $55,000 to shoot an elephant. All in all, if I was going to hunt something my next goal is to go get a brown bear and a Kodiak bear.”

The list of big game kills displayed in Mansell’s trophy room is countless.

And when a hunter has as much experience as Mansell, he tends to have a few favorites and other regular choices as far as gear goes.

“My No.1 gun was a Ruger No. 1 .338. with a Leupold scope.

The biggest gun I’ve used is a .448 Winchester Magnum. The smallest I ever deer hunted with was a .270. I killed a couple of these mule deer with a .270.”

The rack, head and shoulders of a 2,000-pound moose adorns one wall of Mansell’s trophy room. The huge beast was actually killed with a single shot from Mansell, who had to go into freezing water to retrieve his trophy. This may have produced the single largest prize Mansell has hanging on his wall, but it is only one of his favorite stories to tell. The other is the account of the grizzly bear killed in Canada.

“We were camped at Bluebell Lake in Canada. It was the 10th day and I was bear hunting. I had killed an elk and a moose, but I went up there for a bear. My guide and I had already come in, and I saw a black speck down on the lake in the mud flats. I looked through my binoculars and it was that silvertip grizzly bear. It was about 400 yards out, but I shot at it anyway and hit it in the foot. The bear went in the woods.

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“My guide and I went down and checked it out, but we couldn’t find any blood. He said you missed him. It was a few hours before dark and we started walking back to the cabin and I thought, I didn’t come here to sit in the cabin, I am going after that bear. He said I’m not going with you.

“So I went after it by myself, and that was a mistake. You don’t go hunting a wounded bear by yourself. I went in, it was snowing and getting dark. I was about a mile from the cabin. I was going into the wind. There was a little pine marten, a little brown weasel sitting on a hollow log. I walked up to it and almost touched it, and it dropped down into a hole. So I got a stick and started poking around at it, then I hit it a few times and it sounded like an African drum.

“I said that thing’s not coming out, but I’m running off everything in these woods, so I threw the stick down. I walked about 30 or 40 steps from that log and I heard something like two rocks smashing together. Then I could hear a grunt.

41

“I said what is that? Coming out of the brush in the dark was that grizzly bear. All I could see over the brush was his hump, and he was walking about 30 feet across from me. I got out in a little opening where I could see him, and I shot him right through the left shoulder. He spun around like a dog biting at himself, then he stopped, threw his head up and roared. He had steam coming up from him, and it sounded like a lion at feeding time in the zoo. I shot him through the other shoulder.

He dropped down and bit a little old Christmas tree down and was swinging it around in a mad circle, and I thought something’s done made that old boy mad.

42

“A bear will make a death sigh; all of the air will go out of them, and I heard that sigh. My guide was about a mile away, and I heard ‘what in the devil are you shooting at?’ I said at a bear. He said I hope you killed it. I said he’s dead.

“The guide came and helped me start dressing him. He put his rifle against a tree and I put mine against another, and we started working on him. As we moved him he growled; some of that air came out. My guide went up a tree and left me standing there with a bear.

I said your no guide, you’re supposed to be between me and the bear.

He said ‘Every man for himself!,” Mansell said with a hearty laugh.

FRANKLIN LIVING

FRANKLIN LIVING

LOOKING BACK

Do you know these faces?

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LOOKING BACK

Do you know these faces?

44

FRANKLIN LIVING

Do you know these faces?

FRANKLIN LIVING

45

PARTING SHOTS

The old Reedtown High School in Russellville has been placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. The designation is the result of months of work and research by Rev. Charles Dale, a graduate of Reedtown High School, and Franklin County Extension Coordinator Katernia Cole. Reedtown High School was built as a “Rosenwald School,� which was the title applied to over 5,000 schools in the South that were built primarily to educate African Americans who were forced to attend segregated schools. Julius Rosenwald, part owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company, was the founder of the project and provided seed money along with money contributed by the rural communities, to build these schools like Reedtown High School. The school was constructed in 1952 and operated until its closing in 1972, even though the last graduating class was the class of 1968. A monument outside of the building should be erected this year.

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FRANKLIN LIVING

Tiffin Motorhomes WHEREVER YOU GO, WE GO.

“Treating employees like family” Phil Campbell native and now current Red Bay resident D. Ray Hester has worked for Tiffin Motor Homes for the past 22 years.

He first started out with the company in 1991 on the production line installing the rubber roofs on the motor homes.

He moved up to become a repair technician in 1994 and served in that capacity until he became the Service Center shop manager in 2005, which is the position he holds today.

“I’ve enjoyed working for Tiffin all these years because they are a family-owned and operated business,” he said, “and they treat their employees like family, too.”

And as the Service Center shop manager, Hester is in charge of 92 employees and seven supervisors who are all responsible for making sure the motor homes are in top working order. Hester said they service between 90-100 units per week, so the job can be hectic at times.

“My main function is to handle any problems that my supervisors might encounter and to make sure

everything is running smoothly at the service center,” he said.

“We take care of a wide range

parts of the world.

“We have people who come to our service center from Texas, Alaska, California Utah – you name the place and there’s probably been someone here that is from there,” he said.

“Just recently we even had some customers here from England D. Ray Hester who were having their motor home Service Center shipped overseas.

Shop Manager “It is very interesting to meet people of problems from something as from these different places simple as changing out a light bulb and from all walks of life. We to body work repairs sustained value our customers and it’s during an accident. always good to meet them “Anything that needs to be and put a face with a name.” repaired, it’s up to the service When he isn’t at work, Hester center employees to take care spends time with his wife of 14 of it for our customers to make years, Rhonda, and their three sure their motor home is in the children: Bryan, Katie and Shelby. best possible working order for He also enjoys hunting, fishing and their safety and enjoyment.” playing golf.

Hester said the best part about his job is meeting all the Tiffin customers who come in from all

105 2nd Street N.W. • Red Bay, AL • 256-356-8661 • www.tiffinmotorhomes.com