Walker Magazine | Spring 2018

A Publication of the Daily Mountain Eagle

volume 6 • issue 3 • spring 2018

FREE

What’s Inside

+ A Companion in Guidance + Photo Essay + Boys 2 Men + Bayou Fresh Seafood + More!

2018 Tournaments:

FLW Tour 2018 (Smith Lake)

Alabama High School Bass Tournament

The Anchor Holds Fishing Tournament, presented by Ryan’s Creek Baptist Church

April 26–29, 2018

May 4–5, 2018

May 12, 2018

Angling for Autism Bass Tournament

May 19, 2018

“Thank You, Chamber Investors, For Making These Events Possible.”

[ linda@walkerchamber.us ] • [ www.walkerchamber.us ]

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Front Row: Leigh Ann Rotter, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager, NMLS #718264; Libba Elliott, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Lisa Killingsworth, First Bank of Jasper, Commercial Banker Back Row: Kenny Allen, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager; Bert Hendrix, First Bank of Jasper, President; Toby Banks, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Phillip Lee, Synovus Mortgage, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #664139

In today’s busy world, your financial needs can be complex and ever-changing. It takes more than an individual to meet those needs.

It takes a team. At First Bank of Jasper, we have a team of professionals with the expertise and resources you need. We work together with a single focus – helping you reach your financial goals.

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Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. GLOBALT Investments, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Synovus Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp and an affiliate of Synovus Bank. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank.

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SPRING 2018 / 3

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • SPRING 2018

FromTheStaff...

MAGAZINE Established October 2012

PUBLISHER James Phillips EDITOR Jennifer Cohron ART DIRECTOR Malarie Brakefield CONTRIBUTORS Scott Day, Elane Jones, Ron Harris, Lea Rizzo, Nicole Smith, Rick Watson ADVERTISING Jake Aaron, Brenda Anthony, Zach Baker, Renee Holly, Liz Steffan, Tammy Wood BUSINESS MANAGER Charlette Caterson DISTRIBUTION Michael Keeton Walker Magazine is a publication of and distributed seasonally by the Daily Mountain Eagle, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher. Walker Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. Walker Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information.

The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher.

Our mission is to promote Walker County and to showcase its many attributes as a quality place in which to live, to work and to play. We welcome ideas and suggestions for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2018 Daily Mountain Eagle WALKER MAGAZINE P.O. Box 1469 Jasper, AL 35502 (205) 221-2840 email: walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com 4 / WALKER MAGAZINE

At Walker Magazine, we seek out stories that not only entertain and inform but also celebrate how our county is growing and changing from year to year.

Recent issues have highlighted Jasper’s first breweries and a semi-professional football team based in Parrish. For the spring edition, we turned our attention to a downtown dojo and gas station sushi.

Gracie United, which opened in downtown Jasper in 2016, has introduced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to men and women of all ages. Several of instructor Jason Darty’s students share how BJJ has shaped their life in our cover story on the dojo.

Across town, Mr. Zhu has been serving up sushi at Bayou Fresh Seafood since shortly after moving to Jasper in 2012. In 2016, the restaurant was one of two from Alabama to make Southern Living’s list of the South’s Best Gas Station Restaurants.

For readers who prefer traditional Southern cooking, we’re offering Dot Beason’s Old Fashioned Banana Pudding as our Food for the Soul recipe. This is the second consecutive recipe we have shared from members of the Walker County Homemakers group that meets at the Walker County Extension Office the second Friday of each month. They welcome new members, and we are grateful for their willingness to share their favorite recipes with us.

Our photo essay for this issue was inspired by the rock painting craze that has become popular around the county in the past year. Local seniors seemed to have a good time tapping into their creative side while painting rocks for a recent contest. Be on the lookout for their colorful gems in public spaces around the county.

As the county continues to evolve, some things never change. One example is a commitment to service found among many of our residents.

Gail Smith, who lost her vision at age 14, is an active member of the local Visually Impaired People Support Group and volunteers with the National Federation of the Blind as well. In this issue, we tell the story of how Smith acquired her first guide dog and how the two have been received when they are out together in public.

We also highlight the work of Boys 2 Men, a group of volunteers who want to help local youth stay on the right path as they become young adults. Josh Walls and his friends are serious about setting a good example for the kids they encounter because they know what a difference mentors have made in their own lives.

We hope you enjoy getting to know the people featured in these pages. If you have feedback or story suggestions, contact us at walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com or 205221-2840.

::: SUBSCRIBE to Walker Magazine! If you’re an out-of-towner, get a year of great stories right at your doorstep.

Call: (205) 221-2840 Email: editor@mountaineagle.com

::: FOLLOW the Daily Mountain Eagle and Walker Magazine on Facebook for the latest community news!

::: SUBMIT AN IDEA We are always eager to receive suggestions from our readers. Please email your ideas to walkermagazine@ mountaineagle.com.

::: ADVERTISE For any information needed on how to promote your products and services, call (205) 221-2840 or send an email to advertising@ mountaineagle.com.

Jennifer Cohron, Editor

OnTheCover Members of Gracie United – Team Jucao Jasper spar inside the downtown Jasper dojo.

Photo by Scott Day

GetHooked!

For your entertainment we have placed this fishing hook (actual size) within the pages of Walker Magazine. This will be a permanent feature for our readers. We hope you enjoy searching for the fishing hook in each issue.

HAPP Y HUNTING!

SPRING BRINGS NEW LOCATIONS & BUSINESS TO THE STREETS OF JASPER The City of Jasper welcomes you.

Ella’s Boutique

& Sweet Tooth (coming soon)

SNEAK PEEK to 2018’s

Taylor Hicks

The SteelDrivers

Robert Randolph & The Family Band

Mayor David O’Mary District 1 Sonny Posey Inc. 1887

District 2 Danny Gambrell

District 3 Gary Cowen

District 4 Jennifer W. Smith

District 5 Willie Moore, III

(205) 221-2100 | 400 19th St. W, Jasper, AL 35501 | www.jaspercity.com SPRING 2018 / 5

What’sInside 10

32 | Boys 2 Men Mentorship shaping lives

08 | From The Vault Downtown Through The Decades 10 | A Companion in Guidance Gail Smith and Tatum 16 | Downtown Dojo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Jasper 24 | Photo Essay Rock paintings

8

32

16

24 42 | Food for the Soul Old Fashioned Banana Pudding 44 | Community Calendar What’s going on in the county 46 | Snapshots Past events in Walker County 50 | We Are Walker County Lori Jackson

38 38 | Roll With It Bayou Fresh Seafood’s story

6 / WALKER MAGAZINE

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From The

Downtown Through The Decades Compiled by Jennifer Cohron Photos courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle

8 8 / / WALKER WALKER MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

A) A downtown urban renewal project entered its final stages in February 1979 as paving began on 19th Street. B) Employee Bobby Richardson is pictured outside the Jasper News Stand, which opened for business in 1983 on Third Avenue. C) Chuck Key, manager of Dairy Queen in downtown Jasper, presents a portable TV set to contest winner Billy Wade in August 1982. Also pictured are Billy’s sister, Deanna; mother, Peggy; and Dairy Queen employee Margie Heath. D) Lisa Ann’s, a women’s clothing store, opened on Aug. 6, 1982 at 107 West 19th Street. E) Burton Manufacturing, which began as a horse harness business, started making golf bags in the 1920s.

By 1994, company president Jim Cannon estimated that a majority of the bags used on the PGA Tour had been made in Jasper. F) Young Jewelers expanded its sales area by one-third in 1982 when it expanded into the building formerly occupied by Records N Things. winter 2018 / 9

10 / WALKER MAGAZINE

A COMPANION IN GUIDANCE SOMETIMES, WE ALL NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE…or perhaps a furry friend.

For Gail Smith, her 3-year-old guide dog, Tatum, provides both, with a little “spunk,” as she puts it.

Smith lives just across the Walker County border in Winston County, with her husband, Don, and Tatum, of course. On Smith’s 14th birthday, she lost her vision, and doctors later determined a cerebral fluid infection destroyed her optic nerves. Now 48 years later, Smith said she recalls seeing the world around her.

“I remember all the colors. I remember everything from the skies to the trees. I do have all of my memories,” she said with Tatum by her side on a sunny Tuesday afternoon at the Jasper Public Library. “It’s been a long time, but I never think about it, because I’ve learned skills to live as a blind person. I’m just very blessed with what I do.”

The Alabama Freedom Center for the Blind now offers a Structured Discovery program for people who are blind to learn a number of life skills from cooking and cleaning, to traveling and shopping, at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. However, when Smith became blind, she didn’t have those resources. She taught herself.

Smith jokes that her husband (who has his vision) forgets she can’t see, because she can accomplish nearly every household task.

“It’s amazing to me what all she can do. It really is,” Don Smith said.

After using a cane for 38 years, Smith contacted Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York several years ago to hopefully receive some assistance. The nonprofit provides guide dogs for individuals all over the country, free of charge.

At 52 years old, Smith got her first guide dog from the organization — a black lab named Finley — whom she had for nine years before his passing. In November 2016, Smith was placed with another black lab, her current guide dog, Tatum.

Dogs in the Guiding Eyes program are specially bred and trained to work with people who are visually impaired, and more than 7,000 guide dog teams have graduated from the program, with 170 dogs placed annually, according to the organization.

Prior to Tatum’s placement with Smith, the female lab spent 18 months of her life learning basic obedience and another six months learning skills to help blind people navigate the world around them. Those who will be placed with a dog also spend three weeks at Guiding Eyes to train with their new friend.

Smith said the organization’s dogs are matched with their new owners based on tempera-

Text and Photography by NICOLE SMITH

SPRING 2018 / 11

12 / WALKER MAGAZINE

ment, and the three-week course is rigorous to prepare each team for any life experience.

Smith trained with Tatum near traffic, and the pair had to master elevators, escalators, revolving doors, bus rides, trains, subways, car riding and other tasks. Tatum was trained to lead the way during all exercises.

“We go through everything you can imagine. They go through every scenario you can think of,” Smith said. “If you can do that, it builds a lot of confidence that you can come home and do anything with your dog.”

The final training test involved Tatum and Smith walking three miles through Central Park, boarding a train at Grand Central Station, riding a subway and a bus, and eventually arriving at a restaurant. After passing all tests, the pair graduated and Smith brought Tatum home to Alabama.

Tatum, now 3 years old, is allowed to accompany Smith in all public places by law and should only be asked to leave if she were to start barking or act unruly. Smith often visits businesses in Jasper who are welcoming to her and Tatum, but she said not all businesses understand the law, where guide dogs are concerned.

“I was recently denied access in a public place with my guide dog. It’s against the law, but I don’t know that all of the stores in Jasper know that,” Smith said. “I just left [that business], because they didn’t want me in there. That upset me, because they had been recommended to me.”

Smith said Tatum isn’t always working, and admits she’s a big goof ball at home.

“She’s just a big puppy. Our whole floor is covered in toys, and we have a fenced in yard where we play fetch and she runs. She’s just the sweetest girl,” Smith said.

Tatum helps Smith travel in her quest to educate other blind or disabled people through speaking engagements at schools and other organizations in Alabama and surrounding states. She volunteers with the National Federation of the Blind, for which she is secretary of the Alabama State Board, and she helped form a local V.I.P. (Visually Impaired People) Support Group, where she and others help blind people learn about the resources available to them.

The VIP Support Group of Jasper meets the first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at the Jasper Public Library and serves people in Walker, Winston and Jefferson counties. The VIP group is open to anyone with a visual impairment and their family members. Smith, along with Cyndi Drummond and John Black, started the local VIP group that celebrated its 9th anniversary in March.

There have been many success stories from Jasper’s VIP group, including the introduction and eventual marriage of Jasper VIP’s Lenear Jones and the late Harold Jones.

VIP Jasper guests enjoy fellowship to share their experiences, and monthly guest speakers educate the group on available resources.

In terms of resources, Smith said the iPhone is incredibly valuable for low-vision or blind people, thanks to its voice activation capabilities.

“It talks to you. Everything is functional,” she said.

Apps can be downloaded on the iPhone to help visually impaired people as well, such as Microsoft’s Seeing AI app that allows users to take a picture of the area they are in to hear a description of what’s in frame. The app can also recognize facial expressions, speak text, scan barcodes and describe a scene.

A computer program called JAWS can read everything on a screen, and there are television devices that allow for descriptive video and read TV menus. She said apps can also provide magnification, read UPC codes and prescriptions, and provide many other services.

While Smith has many technological resources at her disposal, she does rely on her husband of 22 years to drive her to some speaking engagements, and he helps with other needs. She said she is thankful to have the support of Don and Tatum so she can continue assisting other visually impaired people.

“...we can all do something to help...”

SPRING 2018 / 13

Top, Smith with her graduating Guiding Eyes class, November 2016. Bottom, Jasper’s VIP Support Group meeting.

“I spend most of my time helping other blind people and setting a good example. It’s just sad to me when older people, especially, lose their sight because of macular degeneration or something. Then they’re cut off from the rest of the world because they no longer can drive. They feel like they don’t have anything to offer,” she said. “It’s sad, so I tell them we can all do something to help, no matter if we have a disability or not.”

Despite the emotional trials a blind or low-vision person can experience, Smith said she never gets offended by the general public’s cautiousness and often concern around blind people. She also doesn’t mind speaking about life as a blind person.

“I feel like it’s up to us to put the situation at ease, because people are afraid they’ll say something to offend you,” she said. “I try to take charge of that situation and sort of set the tone. Some people don’t know what to say, and I think that’s a big thing.”

After the VIP Jasper meeting in March, Smith sat with her husband, Don, in the back of the community room at Jasper’s library. Tatum laid dutifully at Smith’s feet as she petted her and reflected on her life’s journey so far.

“Every person living, no matter if you have a disability or not, can help other people. I think we all have something to give and to contribute, and I just always try to look for those opportunities where I can help somebody else,” she said. •

14 / WALKER MAGAZINE

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SPRING 2018 / 15

DOWNTOWN Text by JAMES PHILLIPS and BRIAN HALE Photography by SCOTT DAY

Dojo

BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU is one of the fastest growing fighting arts in the world. It has grown beyond a simple martial art into a way of life for many people who participate in the discipline, including a large group of people in Jasper.

Jason Darty believed in the life-changing aspects of BJJ enough that he left his job in underwater construction to open Gracie United – Team Jucao Jasper, which trains in a restored building on 19th Street in downtown Jasper.

“I was doing underwater construction in Louisiana and one of the guys that worked with me in the shop introduced me to Professor Rafael Ellwanger, the founder of Gracie United,” Darty said.

“When I walked in, I was almost 300 pounds and couldn’t do the warm-up. But I saw from the first day that it was life changing. I left that job to come here, open this school and spread the heart.”

While the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu started in the United States as many as 20 years ago, the surge in combatants locally only started in the last few years.

“The growth of BJJ is amazing,” Darty said. “It got its roots in self defense and the Gracies came up from Brazil and pretty much challenged any style, any art and no one could defeat it. It started to take great notice in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) when everyone started to see the ground game that Royce Gracie used to choke big guys out — it got everyone’s attention. The more the UFC grew and MMA (mixed martial arts) branched out, the more people saw that BJJ was the dominant art in the cage. That led to everyone wanting to train in it. In the past 10-15 years, it has just blown up.”

A major reason for the popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the fact that any age or gender can participate. Men and women from 4 to 60 have participated in classes at the Jasper dojo.

“I’m 44-years-old and in the best shape of my life,” Sheri Hendon said during a recent BJJ session in Jasper. “I’m a therapist in my day job, and it’s great for stress relief, as when you’re on the mat you have to be focused on what you’re doing or you’ll find yourself with a lot of problems. It’s good to allow me to leave

16 / WALKER MAGAZINE

SPRING 2018 / 17

“I can do things that I couldn’t do before, as I can push myself endurance-wise and mentally.”

- MATTHEW VANCE 18 / WALKER MAGAZINE

work at work and my problems outside of the dojo.”

Hendon recommended the discipline for other women as a means of self-defense.

“I work with a lot of women who were sexually abused and BJJ would be great for them to build their confidence, as well as be able to defend themselves to where things can go differently if a bad situation happens again,” she said. “It also helps to get back in touch with your body and how it works. BJJ is all about technique beating strength — that’s always attractive to small ladies.”

Phillip Williams, a deputy with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, said the self-defense techniques are applicable for men and women. He added that building relationships

with other participants is a key reason he continues to come back to the dojo. BJJ is a tight-knit community that encourages individuals to support and help each other rather than go against each other. The camaraderie turns into long-lasting friendships outside of the training room.

“It obviously enhances my career in law enforcement.

Outside of the techniques in self defense, it helps greatly with my fitness,” Williams said. “I think one of the biggest benefits is with the relationships that are built. I have my natural family, my family in law enforcement, then my family here at the dojo. Everyone here supports each other and wants to see everyone be successful — not just here, but outside of the dojo. That encompasses all ages, genders and

SPRING 2018 / 19

20 / WALKER MAGAZINE

Everyone here supports each other and wants to see everyone be successful — not just here, but outside of the dojo.

That encompasses all ages, genders and backgrounds.”

- PHILLIP WILLIAMS

SPRING 2018 / 21

jiu jitsu

backgrounds.”

Other participants at the Jasper dojo said they’ve seen a boost in self confidence since starting in BJJ. “I’ve learned how to defend myself and have lost weight,” Keith McBride said. “When I began, I weighed 220 pounds — I’m now down to 180 pounds. Seeing the results has really boosted my confidence — it’s benefitted my social anxiety. I can be around a lot of people now, where before, it was very stressful. Mentally, the focus you develop is tremendous — if you’re not focused, you won’t learn.”

“I can focus much better and I am stronger than I was,” Matthew Vance said. “I can do things that I couldn’t do before, as I can push myself endurance-wise and mentally.

I never would push myself before — here, you’re forced to and it benefits you greatly. I would recommend BJJ for anyone of any age.”

Along with competing in the downtown dojo amongst

22 / WALKER MAGAZINE

each other weekly, the Jasper Gracie United group also attends competitions across the Southeast from time to time.

Darty said they have seen much success, especially as the group has grown.

“In the local tournament we compete in Birmingham, every time we go we do great. We’ve been growing so we haven’t had that many students, but as our growth has evolved, our results in the competitions have gotten better,” Darty said. “We started taking five students and winning 12 medals, then eight students winning 17 medals. Our latest competition saw us taking 17 students and winning 32 medals. We’ve done well every time we’ve been to the show, and now we’re able to make a big impact due to our growth and the performances of the students.”

For more information on the Jasper-based BJJ group, see the Gracie United/Team Jucao Jasper Facebook page or call 205-388-2586. •

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A Community of Good Senior centers throughout Walker County hosted a rock painting activity in March. Seniors painted dozens of rocks that were later hidden in public spaces such as parks and local businesses. Several of the rocks were selected as prize rocks that could be redeemed for a goody bag at the senior center closest to where they were found. Seniors in Jasper, Sumiton, Carbon Hill, Cordova, Oakman and Parrish participated in the project. The contest was sponsored by Cordova Health and Rehabilitation and Comfort Care Hospice.

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BOYS MEN

JOSH WALLS doesn’t want his reputation to be defined by a single moment. Several years ago, he made a decision that he regrets. He took responsibility for it and moved on with his life. Today Walls is the leader of Boys 2 Men, a group of approximately two dozen men in their 20s and 30s who want to make a positive impact in their respective communities.

They introduced themselves to West Jasper residents at a Back To School Bash held in September 2016. A week later, the group hosted a community clean-up day at A.P. Howell Park that included music, food and activities for kids. Last year, Boys 2 Men organized additional clean-up days as well as community events such as a back-to-school pool party and a Halloween haunted house. However, the real work of the program is done every day of the year as participants look for opportunities to mentor local youth.

“A lot of us are figures in the community that everybody sees and knows, and we try to set the example for younger guys to look up to,” Walls said.

Many of them seek to make an impact through sports. Walls is a youth football referee and a coach for the P-Town Wreckaz, a semi-professional

Text by JENNIFER COHRON | Photography by MALARIE BRAKEFIELD

SPRING 2018 / 33

“When people actually encourage kids and push them, they’ll surprise you...”

- R.J. Wilson 34 / WALKER MAGAZINE

football team based in Parrish. Kelvin Johnson has helped coach basketball in the Jasper City School System for 13 years.

Raised by a single mother, Johnson knew that he wanted to be a mentor from the time that he was in high school. As a student, he was the manager of his high school basketball team and cites Scott Ware, who served as head coach of Walker High School’s basketball program from 2003 to 2013, as his own mentor.

“I never wanted to see anybody go through what I went through as a kid. It was rough for me to not have that guidance from a father figure that you should have as a man,” he said.

Shawn Mercer, president of Jasper Viking Toybowl, has seen plenty of young athletes who suffer from a lack of self-confidence because they don’t have parents to cheer them on when they get discouraged. Through foot-

ball, he teaches them the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them — lessons that he believes will serve them well in life.

“There is one guy who has been with us for about three years. At first, he had no confidence. He had potential, but he wasn’t living up to it. I kept telling him, ‘Practice hard and play hard. Don’t worry about those guys in front of you.’ He told my daughter later at school that he wouldn’t be the player he is today if I hadn’t stayed on him,” Mercer said.

R.J. Wilson, who is in his third year as a coach for Oakman’s junior varsity and varsity basketball teams, also took a special interest in a player whose lackadaisical attitude almost cost him a spot on the team. After he convinced the coach to give him a second chance, the young man became one of the team’s most successful starters.

SPRING 2018 / 35

“When people actually encourage kids and push them, they’ll surprise you and do a lot for you. It’s all about giving them positive feedback,” Wilson said.

Dion Oliver has been coaching youth sports for all of his adult life. His best moments are when former players approach him years after they have taken off their shoulder pads for the last time and express their appreciation.

“It makes you feel good to know that you got through to some of these kids and you know what path they might have gone down if you hadn’t been there. I 36 / WALKER MAGAZINE

love to see that in my life, and I think this group is reaching out to even more kids,” Oliver said.

The members of Boys 2 Men work every day in their own way to keep the kids they know on the right path, but some needs are too big for them to tackle alone. For that, it takes a team.

“It doesn’t take much to get money for school supplies or some of the other small things we’ve been doing and want to keep doing. All it takes is a few people to make it happen,” Walls said. •

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38 / WALKER MAGAZINE

ROLL With It WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF GAS STATION FOOD, they picture peanuts, Cokes and Moon Pies. The stations that serve “real food” usually only offer microwaved pizza or fried chicken and potatoes baked hard under a heat lamp. Bayou Fresh Seafood is changing that perception and people in Walker County and outside the area have noticed.

Southern Living published an article a few years ago entitled “The South’s Best Gas Station Restaurants.” Bayou Fresh Seafood, co-located with Fuel Co. on Walston Bridge Road, was one of only two Alabama gas stations that made the list.

According to the article, “Small town gas station sushi is universally accepted as synonymous with a bad idea, but Bayou Fresh would like to serve you some shock and awe with a side of pickled ginger and wasabi. From sculptural sashimi to artful avocado rolls, the sushi you’ll find in this humble facility doesn’t require you to adjust your expectations for the location.

Prefer your fish cooked? They also offer fried, blackened, and grilled options.”

The owner of Bayou Fresh Seafood is Mr. Jianjun Zhu and his wife, Janice. He moved from China to California in 1996. Later he lived in Huntsville before moving to Jasper to open a restaurant.

“I had a friend who owned a business in Jasper, and we’d planned to open this business together,” he explained. His friend would run the gas station, and Zhu would handle the restaurant. But his friend had family problems and backed out of the deal. Another man stepped in and assumed the lease on the property and sub-leased the restaurant space to Zhu. When he first came to Jasper in 2012, he

Text and Photography by RICK WATSON

SPRING 2018 / 39

felt the city would be a good fit. He realized after looking around there was only one Asian restaurant in Jasper, and it didn’t serve sushi. He saw an opportunity and decided to move forward with his plans.

Business was very slow at first. Zhu thinks it was because the space was co-located with a gas station. “People think gas station food is bad,” he said. The first few years were hard. He stuck to his philosophy – take care of the food first and then take care of the customers.

One of the first customers was Charles Dillard, a local dentist. Charles (Chuck to his friends) went in Bayou Fresh Seafood just after they opened in 2012. “I got to know Mr. Zhu, and he seemed genuine,” he remembers. The food was great

40 / WALKER MAGAZINE

and the two men hit it off. These days Chuck never has to wonder where he’s going for lunch. “Sometimes I go after work too and Zhu makes sushi or some other dish for me. I love it.”

Dillard says he eats at Bayou Fresh Seafood six or seven times each week.

One of the struggles Zhu faced in the early years was the language barrier. “I don’t speak good English,” he said. But he hired local people to help run the restaurant. “When they first came to work here, they thought they’d be working in a gas station,” he said. But he trained them to cook and do the other things to make the restaurant a success. Lacy Farley, Ashley Peavey and Alex Wilhite were some of the first people to come to work at Bayou Fresh Seafood, and they are still there. Kerri

PREVIOUS PAGE Top, Bayou Fresh Seafood offers a variety of different sushi rolls as well as seafood.

Bottom left, employee Karri Fisher. Bottom right, the exterior of the gas station and sushi bar.

Fisher came on board in 2016. Not only do they help Zhu run the restaurant, but they also serve as interpreters when needed. He considers these people his friends now. “I am very fortunate to have friends.”

Business picked up at the restaurant in 2013. The following year in 2014, Bayou Fresh Seafood won a Facebook competition for gas station food in the Southeast. They won it again in 2017.

When customers walk into Bayou Fresh Seafood, a waitress greets them immediately, shows them to a table and takes their drink order. Zhu thinks greeting customers is a good way to make a positive impression on customers. The philosophy must have worked because many of his regular customers are like old friends.

The restaurant serves fresh grouper, oysters, crawfish from the gulf and country fried fish. They also have all kinds of sushi and other offerings. Zhu says the restaurant’s menu has selections that suit most people who like fish.

Lacey Farley says one of their most popular rolls are the California Rolls, which have crab meat, avocados and cucumbers.

Another favorite is the Hurricane Roll, which has crawfish tail, crab, cream cheese and avocados. Then the roll is fried with spicy mayo and eel sauce on top. The dishes look like works of art.

Some of the offerings are raw, and others are cooked. Most seasoned sushi eaters know how the rolls are prepared, but the

staff stands ready to explain the menu if needed. Farley says that many of the people who come in to enjoy sushi have had it before, but sometimes they have people who try it for the first time.

At first, it was just the young people eating sushi, but now some of the older ones are trying it too.

Two companies out of Mobile supply the restaurant with fresh seafood out of the Gulf of Mexico.

Many of the customers who frequent Bayou Fresh Seafood are friends to the owners and staff. Sarah Spain is a good example. She sat at the front table flipping through a magazine. Spain said she was one of the establishment’s first customers. “I like the grilled fish,” she said. “I come every few days to eat. It’s great.

The service is good, and it’s peaceful here.”

Another regular customer is Nelson Vance, who comes to the restaurant to enjoy sushi. “I’ve had sushi all over, but I come back here because the food and service are good.”

Terry Rock said he came with his son and his coaches on Saturday night. It’s the following Friday, and he’s back with his friend Mike Reid to enjoy some fried shrimp and catfish.

One local customer leaving the gas station restaurant said that all the sushi looked good, but he was sticking with the country fried fish.

Visit Bayou Fresh Seafood’s Facebook for hours of operations and contact information. • SPRING 2018 / 41

OLD FASHIONED BANANA PUDDING

Ingredients: • 1 12 OZ. CAN EVAPORATED MILK • 4 EGG YOLKES (SEPARATE THE WHITES AND SET ASIDE FOR MERINGUE) • 1/2 CUP SELF-RISING FLOUR • 1 CUP SUGAR • 1 TBLS. PURE VANILLA • 4 CUPS OF 2% MILK (OR 1 QT.).

• MIX IN BLENDER 2 CUPS MILK AND THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS (RESERVE 2 CUPS MILK).

• 5 MEDIUM BANANAS • 1 BOX OF VANILLA WAFERS (RESERVE 20 WAFERS TO STAND AROUND TOP OF BOWL).

Directions: * Use double-broiler or microwave. To microwave pour blended mixture plus the reserved 2 cups of milk into a 5 quart bowl and cook on high setting 3 minutes, then stir with wire whisk. Cook 3 minutes and stir, you will see mixture beginning to thicken. Cook 2 minutes and stir well. Cook one minute. The pudding mixture should be thick. Add 3/4 stick of Parkay Light Margarine, and stir well. * Peel and slice bananas in separate bowl and sprinkle 1 tbls. lemon juice over the sliced bananas. This is to prevent the bananas from turning brown. * Use a 3 quart dish (oven safe) and start layering vanilla wafers and bananas until the bowl is almost full, then pour in the pudding mixture. Use a spoon and slightly stir the wafers and bananas, making sure the pudding gets to the bottom of the bowl. *Meringue topping - beat 4 egg whites and 1/2 tsp. of cream of tartar until firm, then add 2 cups 10X powdered sugar. Beat until sugar is mixed well. Pour over pudding. * Preheat oven to 350°. Place pudding on middle rack to lightly brown meringue.

The Old Fashioned Banana Pudding recipe is courtesy of Dot Beason, a member of the Walker County Homemakers/ Community Leaders Organization in Jasper.

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SPRING 2018 / 43

april – june

CommunityCalendar To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com.

April 20 AMERICANA SERIES Lavish Coffee Bar will host an Americana music series featuring Rick and Jilda Watson along with special guests each third Friday April through August. The concert series kicks off on April 20th with special guests The Spook House Saints.

>>> Square so you may also meet and speak with them about their visions for Jasper, Walker County, and Alabama.

Desperation Church will be sponsoring a section nearby the Square just for children, and Jasper Main Street will host live music with the Edmund Butler Band! This is a family-event so everyone is welcome.

May 12 ART IN THE PARK The Art in the Park festival, sponsored by the Walker County Arts Alliance, will be held Saturday, May 12th, at Gamble Park in Jasper. This event is free to the public and will happen rain or shine.

April 27 DOWNTOWN MULE WALKING TOUR Wander through the streets of Downtown Jasper learning about the mules located here with your Walker County Arts Alliance tour guide, Sharon Hogg. After the tour, stop in and have a snack or drink at one of our fine dining establishments. The cost of this event is $10 and will last from 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

May 5 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Musgrove Country Club will host a Mother’s Day Brunch benefiting the Pregnancy Test and Resource Center. The special guest speaker is Tabitha Argent. Door prizes are to be given away. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/brunchatmusgrove or can be purchased at the center. For more information, call (205) 221-5860.

May 19 JAZZ IN THE PARK “Jazz in the Park” will be held Saturday, May 19, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Bankhead House & Heritage Center Amphitheater. Bring your chairs or blankets and enjoy the evening with N’Fusion, featuring saxophonist, James Crumb Jr. The event is sponsored by Honda of Jasper, Hyundai of Jasper and the Walker Area Community Foundation.

April 28 GOSPEL SINGING The Townley Community Center at 62 Townley School Road in Townley will host a Gospel Singing to benefit the second phase of the TCC renovations project on Saturday, April 28, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the center. Featured singers will be Trevor and Anna Grace Williams, Wayne Page, Townley First Baptist Church Drama Team and Prospect Methodist Adult Drama Team. For more information, call Bobby Lane at (205) 275-0591.

May 5 2018 DOWNTOWN DERBY The 2018 Downtown Derby, benefiting the Walker County Arts Alliance and featuring the Mule Race For the Roses, will be held Saturday, May 5, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Warehouse 319 at 221 19th Street in Jasper.

April 28 GUBERNATORIAL MEET & GREET Alabama’s candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will each speak on the Square in Downtown Jasper for 5-7 minutes explaining their platforms, and then spend time meeting their constituents. Local candidates and state candidates will have booths set up around the >>>

May 5 IVY G’S PIRATE PARADE 1/2 MARATHON & 5K RUN Ivy G’s Pirate Parade 2018 is a run/jog/ walk event benefiting Sasha’s Hope and the Walker County Humane Society. These two groups work with abandoned and stray animals, providing them shelter, food, vetting and rehabilitation services before they find their forever homes. The run will start and finish at the Jasper Memorial Park Natatorium beginning at 7:00 a.m. Visit the Ivy Redmill Foundation Facebook page for more information.

May 19 DOWNTOWN THROWDOWN The 4th annual urban disc golf tournament will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in downtown Jasper. Spectators are welcome, but watch for flying discs!

June 9 TALLULAH HALF MARATHON The 3rd Annual Tallulah Half Marathon will be held Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Jasper.

Combined with 5K & 1 Mile events, the Tallulah Half Marathon will start and finish on the square in beautiful downtown Jasper.

All athletes will receive a buttery soft Next Level race t-shirt, and half marathon finishers will receive a finisher medal. For more information, visit www.tallulahhalf.com.

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44 / WALKER MAGAZINE

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46 / WALKER MAGAZINE

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/forrester.law

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ROTARY CLUB TRIVIA NIGHT February 23, 2018 | Jasper Civic Center

James Phillips

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Eric Nail

Angela Harris and Ted Killingsworth

P.O. Box 122 200 18th St. W. Jasper, AL 35501

(205) 275-7789 mike@jaspermainstreet.com SPRING 2018 / 47

Snapshots BEVILL STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAREER FAIR March 9, 2018 | Jasper Civic Center

Shawn Stinson, John Jaye and Andrew Brasfield

Misty Haynes, Robyn Houston and Ashlyn Scobey

Robbie Spears, Rey Flores, Nathan Giles, Jarret Shelton and Caleb Martin

Travis Hill, Olivia Aultman and Dianne Williams 48 / WALKER MAGAZINE

Christa Woods, Penny Graham and Billy Doss

HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR DREAM DANCE April 6, 2018 | Huckleberry Farms

Jordan Hice and Michelle Chism

Selena Taylor, Andrea Kirkpatrick and Robin Doss

Anna Kate Gilbert, Aleeah Nix, Jordan Hice, Mary Frances Ward and Rebekah Sparkman

Jason Camp

Barbera Washburn and Charlene Cook SPRING 2018 / 49

WeAreWalkerCounty with

Lori Jackson

Lori Jackson has been the head librarian at the Sumiton Public Library since 2016 and has been working at the library since 2014. She’s been an avid reader since she was a child and enjoys helping others find books that spark their own love of reading. One way the library works to encourage reading in children is through the Summer Reading Program.

Registration for the program begins on May 1 and the program will run through June and July.

“When I first came to Sumiton in the third grade, Mrs. Hall got me interested in reading through ‘Harry Potter.’ That was the first big book series I ever read and I really haven’t put my books down since. Any time we have a spare minute, I’m reading a book. No matter what it is, whether it’s on my phone or something from in here. I’ve always loved it. I thought it was a perfect fit when they told me there was an opening [for a position here]. Working in a library, it’s another world.”

50 / WALKER MAGAZINE

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TAKE THE NEXT STEPS AND CONTACT US TODAY!

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