Lake Magazine January 2022

16th Annual

Swimsuit & Lifestyle Edition

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 1

AROUND THE LAKE Each Offfice Independently Owned and Operated JANUARY 2022

Lacey Howell 256-307-2443 LAKE 3

Apply by Responding to Our Job Postings on Indeed.com

Recruiting Top Quality Healthcare Professionals

Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Publisher STEVE BAKER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Editor BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Art Director AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Audience Development Director ERIN BURTON erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing RACHEL MCCOLLOUGH

RNs and LPNs

3701 Dadeville Road Alexander City, AL 35010

V 260 W. Walnut St. Sylacauga, AL 35150

385 East LaFayette Street Dadeville, AL 36853

RN and LPN Management and Charge Nurse positions available, 100% pre-paid scholarships for aspiring nurses, tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses, short-term contracts, and we consider buying out existing employment contracts

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Medication Assistant Certified (MAC)

Tuition FREE, paid training classes, prepaid exam fees, signon bonuses, and we consider buying out existing employment contracts.

Dietary and Housekeeping Positions Excellent Pay and Benefits

16 Jones Hill Road Goodwater, AL 35072

805 Hospital Street LaFayette, AL 36862

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Low co-pay & deductible BCBS Health/Dental/Vision/Prescription Drug Insurance, paid vacation, 401K, company paid life insurance, Longevity Bonus up to $1000 a year, employees and their children receive priority for scholarship opportunities, shift differential, and additional weekend differential that starts on Friday

JANUARY 2022

11/4/21 11:15 AM

rachel.mccollough@alexcityoutlook.com

MARILYN HAWKINS

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

CARSON WAGES

carson.wages@alexcityoutlook.com

BRITTANY HORNSBY

brittany.hornsby@alexcityoutlook.com

CATHY PARR

cathy.parr@alexcityoutlook.com

Digital Success Manager ELLE FULLER

elle.fuller@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE JULIE HUDSON GREG VINSON ROB WITHERINGTON CLIFF WILLIAMS SIRI HEDREEN PETE MCKENNY

ANDY ANDERS JOHN COLEY ERIC REUTEBUCH LONNA UPTON JAKE ARTHUR KATY SHELTON HAROLD BANKS

All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 | lakemagazine.life

On the Cover

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Alexander City native Maggie Dean Whaley earned her bachelor's degree at Auburn University and her master's at the University of West Alabama.

She became a first-grade teacher at Jim Pearson Elementary School because she wanted to make a contribution to the community that has been amazing in contributing so much to her life and happiness.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

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Serving Lake Martin Since 1997 docksunlimitedllc.com | 256-203-8400

Stationary and Floating Docks | Pile Driving Seawalls | Boat Lifts | Boat Houses

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 5

BEING A MEMBER COMES WITH PERKS IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER TO JOIN

BE A READER BE A MEMBER

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JANUARY 2022

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:

9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 14. CALENDAR OF EVENTS 16. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 60. LAKE PROPERTY

63. LAKE WATCH 51. FAB FINDS 66. HEALTHY LIVING 68. CHEF'S TABLE 70. FROM THE CELLAR 72. BIG CATCHES 75. THE SCRAMBLE

Contents 13. CELEBRATE THE BIG DRAWDOWN Harold Banks reflects on the gems that lake life offers once every six years 18. TAKE THE PLUNGE - OR JUST WATCH The brave and the bold support LMRA at the 6th annual plunge event 22. WICKER POINT'S HERITAGE LAKE CLUB A signature amenity is planned at Russell Lands' newest neighborhood

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- edition

28. SWIMSUIT & LIFESTYLE EDITION

30. Emma Tapley

36 Angie Cameron Smith

42. Olivia Walls

46. Landon Maynard

50. Madison Dunn

54. Maggie Dean Whaley

Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.lakemagazine.life.

JANUARY 2022

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Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing Candi Tate, Clinical Liaison

2334 Washington Street, Alexander City | 256-329-9061 | www.crownehealthcare.com

A Place To Worship Lake Martin Area Churches

WATERFRONT Church of the Living Waters Inside StillWaters, Dadeville 256-825-2990 New Hope Baptist Church 529 Peppers Road, Alexander City 256-329-2510 Church in the Pines Kowaliga Road, Kowaliga 334-857-2133

OFF WATER Equality United Methodist Church 281 AL Hwy 259, Equality 334-541-4063

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OFF WATER

OFF WATER

OFF WATER

First Baptist Church Court Square, Alexander City 256-234-6351

Alex City Church of Christ 945 Tallapoosa Street, Alexander City 256-234-6494

Hillabee Baptist Church Hillabee Road, Alexander City 256-234-6798

Red Ridge United Methodist Church 8091 County Road 34, Dadeville 256-825-9820

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Avenue Tallassee, AL 36078 334-252-8618 (12 Miles South of Lake Martin)

First Baptist Church 178 South Tallassee Street, Dadeville 256-825-6232

St. James Episcopal Church South Central Avenue, Alexander City 256-234-4752

First United Methodist Church 310 Green Street, Alexander City 256-234-6322 First United Methodist Church West Lafayette Street, Dadeville 256-825-4404 First Presbyterian Church 371 Jefferson Street, Alexander City 256-329-0524

Lake Martin Baptist Church 9823 County Road 34, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-7434 Lake Pointe Baptist Church La 8352 Highway 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-373-3293 Faith Temple Church 425 Franklin Street, Alexander City 256-234-6421

JANUARY 2022

St John The Apostle Catholic Church 454 North Central Avenue Alexander City, Al 35010 256-234-3631 Flint Hill United Methodist Church 2858 Flint Hill Road Alexander City, AL 35010 256-234-5047 Good News Baptist Church 10493 Hwy 280 Jacksons Gap, AL 36861 256-825-2555

Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

23 16 19

$776,874 $579,017 $573,105

$650,000 $522,500 $417,000

150 124 195

40 182 258

November 2021 November 2018 November 2015

Inventory/ sales ratio 1.25 7.23 8.97

The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single-family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy of Lake Martin Realty, LLC (a Russell Lands, Inc., affiliated company).

Start the New Year with a safe solo hike at the lake If you hike a trail with others, go back and hike that same trail alone for a completely different experience.

Of course, there are some things that you need to think about to make your experience pleasurable and safe. n Research your journey. Before you take on any hike alone, or even with a hiking partner, learn about the trail you intend to hike. Know the length of the hike, how well marked the trail is and if it is a loop or a trail that you will hike and turn around to come back. Visit ExploreLakeMartin.com for some great info on the local trails and even a local hiking challenge. n Let someone know where you are hiking. It is better to be safe and at least have someone know where you are.

Modern technology makes it super easy to share your location with a friend or family member. It gives me a little more confidence to know that if I did fall and twist my ankle or something unexpected happened, there is always someone who knows where I am and can easily find me.

recommend finding one that is waterproof. Take yourself to a local outdoors store and start trying on boots. There are a lot of options, so take your time and find the one that is right for you. n Stay on the trail. Hiking solo is not the time to take the road less travelled. The trails are marked, and Day hiking solo it is very important to stay on the can be a peaceful marked path. Trust that those that renewal exprience have gone before you have blazed the trail and have made a path that is n Stay hydrated. Even in the cooler months, you will exert energy and need to worthy of all your thrill seeking. n You can do it! Hiking alone can be a make sure you stay hydrated. Backpacks peaceful experience that I hope you find with bladders are one of the easiest as fulfilling as I do. Even as a solo hiker ways to carry water. These bags have a though, it is great to take advantage of removable bladder, which you can fill with water, and they have a tube that allows you some of the resources, such as local online hiking groups. They can provide a wealth to drink directly from the bag. of knowledge about the trails, and can be n Wear the right shoes. I can’t undermine great resources in giving you additional tips the importance of having the right shoes. to help you on your way.

Cinderella’s whole life changed because ~ Brandy Hastings of one shoe, and once you hit the trails, This article is an excerpt from you will quickly see how life will change ExploreLakeMartin.com's "5 Must Do's When with the right shoes too. It isn’t just a Day Hiking Solo." Reprinted with permission. comfort issue; it’s a safety issue. I definitely

Weather Outlook for January January 2022 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid 50s with average lows in the low 30s and close to 5.75 inches of precipitation in the month of January.The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will lean slightly above average and rainfall averages will be lower than normal this month.

Last Year

Precipitation: 42.19 inches Avg. high temp.: 75.6 Avg. low temp.: 53.5 Avg. temp.: 64.5

Our Normal January Precipitation: 5.72 inches Avg. high temp.: 56.0 Avg. low temp.: 32.1 Avg. temp.: 44.1

Information from the National Weather Service.

JANUARY 2022

Last Month's Lake Levels Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 482.93 Lowest: 481.66 Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com.

Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

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Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Evelyn Chriswell was not happy when she learned she was not old enough to be the captain of her grandparents' boat. (2) Frisbee, anyone? Buddy the Schnauzer-mix loves playing at Lake Martin. (3) Kyle Thornton snapped this shot at the end of another beautiful day at Kowaliga Bay. (4) A festive display of Christmas lights. (5) No two sunrises are the same at Lake Martin, but they all are beautiful.

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JANUARY 2022

Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Cheryl Gainer McCall sent in this photo of a firey sunset off Powell Drive. (2) Steve Malandro came across these beautiful mushrooms while hiking below the dam. (3) Nicky Spears teaches his son Johnny to skip rocks along the shoreline. (4) A family of deer came out to the Harbor Point Condominiums for an evening stroll. (5) Cheryl Gainer McCall said she has never seen a rainbow as brilliant as this one on Powell Drive.

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Celebrate the big drawdown

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STORY & PHOTOS BY HAROLD BANKS

In the good ol’ days, Lake Martin’s water level dropped at least 10 feet every winter. Under new rules in Alabama’s 2015 license, that only happens every six years now. This is the year. You weren’t going to go swimming or water skiing in December and January anyway. There is so much more to do. Repair the dock.

Shore up the seawall. Find the gold bracelet Suzie Q lost on the 4th of July. Clean up exposed trash. Build a bonfire. Have a wiener roast. Make s’mores.

Summer’s hustle and bustle is fun, but winter is a great time to enjoy quieter recreation. So paddle a canoe or kayak along peaceful secluded shores. You may see fox squirrels and turkey coming for a drink, migratory waterfowl visiting from far away; catch a deer swimming across a narrow channel.

Smith Mountain hiking trails maintained by the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association are a great place to access the exposed shoreline. Hike the Lakeshore Trail that hugs pristine, still-wild shoreline until you come to the Island Hop Trail, which crosses land bridges to four islands that are accessible only during the low winter pool.

Lower water exposes artwork in the rocks

The entire exposed lakeshore opens up many miles of walking possibilities to explore nature. Look for unusual pieces of driftwood. Hunt for arrowheads. Find freshwater mussels as big as your hand. Collect pretty rocks. Did you know that Tallapoosa County is nationally known as a rockhound super site because of the abundance and diversity of minerals?

This area has seen violent geologic upheaval. To oversimplify, the Lake Martin area lies along a line where the ancestral continents to Africa and North America once collided, then split apart. Extensive volcanic activity and massive earthquakes reshaped the earth.

Three parallel fault lines still pass right through the Lake Martin area. Layers of rock have been twisted and folded over to create complexity seen in few other places. You must peel back the vegetation and topsoil to reveal this complicated geology, and the receding waters of Lake Martin expose where that occurred.

I have found garnets bigger than marbles laying on top of the ground, smaller gem quality garnets embedded in schist, large sheets of mica, quartz crystals.

Tree stumps display grain that flows like water

Observe the wildlife

There are some areas where the patterns and colors of exposed rock resemble abstract art masterpieces, and it is hard to fathom that these scenes are natural.

Where exactly are these wonders? I don’t give away my best secrets that easily, but you can find them yourself. You only have 800 or so miles to explore, and I guarantee you will find miracles of nature in every mile. But you had better start walking. The water will start rising in a couple of months, and you won’t have this opportunity for another six years.

Search for arrowheads

Admire the beauty of found things when the water is at its lowest

Lake Martin’s Marine Construction Company 6732 Highway 63 South, Alexander Cit y, AL 35010 | (256) 392-5200 | www. sunrisedock sllc.com

JANUARY 2022

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Starting Now Tend to Your Health in 2022

Education Foundation. This event has raised thousands of dollars to provide equipment to support local K-through-12 education. Cost is $40, which includes run registration, an event shirt and admission to the after-party that is expected to return this year. Run in person or enter the virtual event. Visit russellforestrun.com for details and registration.

Group exercise classes and personal training at its best for medical exercise is available at Total Fitness RMC. Russell Medical’s Total Fitness offers quality exercise prescriptions for everyone, from athletes to the geriatric population. Training is available for any type of need. For information about getting fit and healthy in 2022, call Amy Jones CALENDAR OF EVENTS at 256-215-7455 or Cara Tidwell at 256-329-7624.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN

Jan. 15 LMYP Polar Plunge

Save the date for one of Lake Martin Young Professionals signature events, the annual plunge into the frigid waters to benefit Lake Martin Resource Association. Tickets are $30 and include live music, selfie station, food from Kowaliga Restaurant’s special Polar Plunge menu and a front row seat to watch the plungers brave the cold – or take the plunge yourself. Come in costume for the chance to win $100 and grab another $100 if you win the Dash for the Cash, which takes place immediately Get your 2022 after the main plunge event. fitness resolution Beverage service begins at 10 off to a great start a.m., and the fun continues until with a medical 4 p.m. Sponsors include Lake exercise program at Total Fitness RMC Martin Dock Company, Russell Lands, Russell Marine, Valley Bank, Steve Robinson, Ballard Construction, Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., First Insurance and Zajac’s Auto Collision. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page for details and tickets.

Jan. 22-23 Lakeside Marina Boat Show

Visit Lakeside Marina in Blue Creek for the annual boat show, showcasing Bennington and Robalo lines. Enjoy good food, refreshments and great company from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Feb. 10 What a Wonderful World

This tribute to Louis Armstrong at Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium features Longineu Parsons, one of the world’s finest trumpeters, who has earned the reputation of channeling the great master of American music.

For performance time and tickets, visit alexcityarts.org.

Feb. 26 13th Annual Russell Forest Run

Mark your calendars now for the annual run through Russell Forest to benefit the Alexander City Schools 14 LAKE

Feb. 26 Ebony & Ivory

The dueling pianos will return for the Russell Medical Foundation gala at The Mill Two-Eighty. Two years ago, the black tie event raised more than $95,000 for The Women's Center at Russell Medical. Look for details coming soon.

Season-long Events Artists Association of Central Alabama

AACA is back. The artists meet on the third Wednesday of the month at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds. Meetings are followed by an open studio program, which also is open to the public.

Club dues are $20 for the year.

Bingo Wednesdays

Come out to the alley next door to Castelluccio on Wednesday nights for bingo.

Order dinner and wine from Castelluccio or your favorite downtown restaurant and have it delivered to your table.

The event is limited to six people per table, and the number of tables is limited to 20, due to social distancing.

Reservations for this weekly event go quickly, so email Main Street Executive Director Stacey Jeffcoat at sjeffcoatmainstreetac@gmail.com to reserve your table.

Wellborn Musclecar Museum

Housed in a restored vintage auto dealership in downtown Alexander City, the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection of great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s is open for public viewing Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This exemplary collection includes the famed K&K Dodge, the 1970 Grand National Champion, as well as Aero cars designed for NASCAR. You will see an example of each manufacturer’s highest horsepower cars of 1970, from Dodge, Plymouth, Chevrolet, Buick, Porsche and Oldsmobile. The inventory on display changes frequently, so every visit includes something new and exciting. Admission for adults is $11; children ages 7 to 17 admitted for $7, and children ages 6 and under are admitted for free. To arrange discounted group or private tours, email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com.

JANUARY 2022

Soup to Go

Drive through the parking lot at St. James Episcopal Church at 347 S. Central Ave. between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. every Tuesday and pick up a free brown bag dinner with soup, sandwich and more. COVID-19 precautions are taken by volunteers who prepare, pack and distribute the meal, which is open to the whole community.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month. On the third Saturday of the month, meet at 8:30 a.m. at Broad Street Plaza in Alexander City to pick up trash cleaning supplies and cleanup area assignments to clean up in town or meet at Ourtown Volunteer Fire Dept. to clean up lake area roadways. to sign up email Jacob Meacham at at jacob.meacham@alexandercitychamber.com, visit the website at alexandercitychamber.com/ cleancommunity or call 256-234-3461 for information. In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the first Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Dianna Porter at 256750-0075.

Lake Martin Creativity

This group meets every Monday at 1 p.m. in the downstairs community room at the StillWaters Residential Building. Anyone interested in arts and crafts is encouraged to join. Bring something to work on or come see what others are doing. A monthly fee of $5 is charged to help pay for the use of the space. For more information, contact Christine Glowacki at 205-535-5974 or Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506.

Real Island Supper

The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome.

Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share.

Some nights are themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.

Amateur Radio Club

The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney at 256-825-7766 or Mike Smith at 256750-5710.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/ events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Fourth Fridays at EPAC

Library Storytimes

Storytime for children aged 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children. In addition, the children’s library hosts board games and puzzles every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information, call 256-234-4644 and ask for Melissa Finley.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

Memory Makers Quilt Guild

p.m. and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5 p.m., followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.

The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts music and other events on the fourth Friday nights of each month at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 in Equality. Visit the Equality Performing Arts Center Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming artists.

Trivia Night at Niffer’s on the Lake

Every Thursday, Niffer’s hosts trivia night at 7 p.m.

Winners receive Niffer’s gift cards. First place gets $40; second place gets $25; and third place gets $15. Grab a group of friends and come out for a night of games. A bonus question is posted on the Niffer’s Facebook page at 2 p.m. Thursdays.

Coffee & Connections

Every third Tuesday of the month, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking event at 8 a.m. open to any chamber member. Participants should meet at the TPI bullpen at the Lake Martin Innovation Center for coffee, a light breakfast and a chance to network with community members.

This social quilting group meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus. Participants come and go between 1 JANUARY 2022

LAKE 15

Lake Martin News include children with cancer, organ transplants, autism, serious burns and spinal cord injuries; as well as those with visual impairments. The facilities are donated at no cost to organizations that apply annually through a grant process with Children’s Harbor. ~ Cliff Williams

Russell Marine's Dave Commander (fourth from right) presents Children's Harbor Director Cat Outzen with a donation of $8,400 generated through customer service index responses

Craft group speads cheer

Children's Harbor benefits from customer service reviews

For nearly 10 years Russell Marine has been supporting Children’s Harbor through customer service index forms. This year was no different, only the amount was more than years previous.

Russell Marine president Dave Commander last month presented $8,400 to staff at Children’s Harbor to use at its locations on Lake Martin and at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Russell Marine encourages customers to return surveys of boat purchases from Russell Marine, and for each survey returned, Children’s Harbor receives $50.

Children’s Harbor’s mission is to serve seriously ill children and their families through unique, no-cost services at both the Family Center located at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham and at the Lake Martin retreat facility. Children’s Harbor has been in service since 1989.

The Family Center provides patients and their families a place of respite, comfort and fun. Mental health services are provided to patients and their families through licensed, illness-specific counselors at no cost to the families and without limitations. Other services offered include educational support, scheduled interactive activities, an exercise room, hair salon, nap rooms, library, laundry facilities and play areas.

The retreat facility at Lake Martin boasts 66 acres with extensive water frontage, zero-entry swimming pools, handicap accessible treehouse, miniature golf, basketball and volleyball courts, canoeing, activity rooms and more for families and children to reconnect and meet other families with similar diagnoses. Visitors 16 LAKE

If you live in the Dadeville area and find yourself the recipient of a reindeer candy-cane Christmas ornament or jar of peppermint hand scrub, don’t be surprised.

The ornament and the hand scrub are two recent projects of the Lake Martin Creative Group, which meets every Monday at the StillWaters Residential Association for a new arts and crafts activity.

Kay Fincher, a StillWaters resident, started the club in April of last year, in part due to the influx of Lake Martin homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It started because I met a new person, a new resident, and she asked me if there was an arts and crafts club in the area. I said ‘no, but we could try and start one,’” Fincher said. “We have a lot of new residents this year in StillWaters. Every year it seems to be more and more people coming here, but COVID kind of pushed everyone here.”

However, the group is not exclusive to those that live within the subdivision – anyone in the Dadeville area is welcome to join, Fincher said.

Each week, one of the 20-25 club members is responsible for coming up with an activity. Lake Martin Creative Group is split about half-and-half between crafters and fine artists, plus some just there for the fun.

KD Larsen, who led the peppermint hand scrub project, falls into the latter.

“I’m not very crafty so I was like, ‘what can I do for the ladies that’s more self-love, or a gift for someone else,’” Larsen said.

Carol Riddle, a recent Birmingham transplant, came up with the idea of making reindeer ornaments, which were delivered to Dadeville Elementary School and handed out to all 608 students. The project is one of many community-oriented events Lake Martin Creative Group hopes to do in the coming year, Riddle said. ~ Siri Hedreen

JANUARY 2022

lakemartindock.com

334.857.2443

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LAKE 17

Take the plunge or just watch it The brave and the bold support LMRA at 6th annual plunge event

O

One of Lake Martin’s favorite events is will return for its sixth year on Saturday, Jan. 5 when the Lake Martin Young Professionals host the 2022 Lake Martin YP Polar Plunge at Kowaliga Restaurant. Presented by Lake Martin Dock Company, the event will benefit Lake Martin Resource Association.

Join the event as a participant and take the plunge into Lake Martin from the shores of Kowaliga Beach or watch the action from the shoreline or docks. Entry to the event is $30, which includes selections from Kowaliga Restaurant’s special Polar Plunge menu, live music, selfie station and costume and Dash for the Cash prize opportunities. Kowaliga’s bars will be up and running to serve your favorite beverages.

The Dash for the Cash is a sprint from the shoreline to a buoy beyond the docks and back and takes place immediately following the Plunge at noon.

The event supports the Lake Martin Resource

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Kowaliga Restaurant hosts the annual plunge with a special menu and a beach party

Association mission of keeping Lake Martin clean, safe and prosperous.

Changing tents will be on-site, so those taking the Plunge can dry off and change clothes after the cold swim. Participants taking the Plunge should bring a pair of water shoes, as the beach is a little rocky.

Doors open and beverage service begins at 10 a.m. with food service at 11 a.m. The Plunge will take place at noon with the Dash for the Cash at 12:15 p.m. Live music will play from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the event will conclude at 4 p.m.

Lake Martin Dock Company is the presenting sponsor for this year’s event with generous support from venue sponsor Russell Lands, gold sponsor Russell Marine and silver sponsors Valley Bank and Tallapoosa County Commissioner Steve Robinson. Ballard Construction will sponsor the Dash for the Cash, and First Insurance will sponsor the costume contest with Zajac’s Auto Collision

JANUARY 2022

sponsoring the changing rooms.

Lake Martin YP is a program of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and aims to connect young residents of the Lake Martin area through a variety of activities and events, including the annual Polar Plunge and the summer

concert series, Strand Sessions, in Strand Park in Alexander City. LMYP balances social activities with charitable and other events supported through voluntarism, local businesses and building leadership opportunities. Membership is $25 per year.

Visit lakemartinyp.com for more information.

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 19

Honest,

Get Experienced, Help Buying or Selling Your Home.

LakeMartinTeam.com

256.749.8681

Excellent Customer Service

Rhonda Jaye & Allison Ladson

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JANUARY 2022

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Wicker Point's

Heritage Lake Club A signature amenity at new Russell Lands neighborhood

A saline pool, tennis and pickleball courts will be among the outdoor facilities at the lake club

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JANUARY 2022

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LEGEND LEGEND

The Heritage Lake Club will be nestled on the lake front among interior home lots

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Heritage Lake Club Arrival Court Service Drive

Heritage Club 4. EventLake Lawn 5. Pool Grill Building 6. Pool Deck Arrival Court 7. Water Feature 8. Stair to Beach Service Drive 9. Beach Pavilion Beach Event10.

Lawn 11. Fire Pits Boat Docks Pool 12.

Grill Building 13.

Boat Shed 14. Amphitheater Pool 15.Deck Residential cul de sac 16. Circular Village Green Gazebo Water17. Feature 18. Multipurpose Field Folly Stair 19. to Beach 20. Tree Save Area 21. Shaded Seating Beach Pavilion 22. Tennis Courts 23. Pro Shop & Restrooms Beach 24. Pickle Ball Courts 25. Parking - 115 Spaces Fire Pits Boat Docks Boat Shed Amphitheater Residential cul de sac Circular Village Green Gazebo Multipurpose Field Folly Tree Save Area Shaded Seating Tennis Courts Pro Shop & Restrooms Pickle Ball Courts Parking - 115 Spaces

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Russell Lands on Lake Martin

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Heritage Lake Club - Conceptual Site Plan

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One of the signature amenities in Russell Land’s remain the central focus for golfers.

8 5 newest neighborhood, The Heritage, will be a waterScheduled for availability in 2022, The Heritage front residential lake club, providing the perfect boasts more than 1,500 acres along 12 miles of pristine opportunity for all Heritage property owners to gather Lake Martin shoreline and will include approximately with family, friends and neighbors to enjoy an array 200 waterfront home sites and 150 wooded interior of resort-style amenities. The clubhouse building will lots. The Heritage was designed to provide a compreinclude a large indoor event space with a catering hensive lake experience. Waterfront properties will be kitchen and event bar, a fully equipped fitness facility large and will maximize the unparalleled water views, and expansive views of the lake from covered veranwhile many off-water properties will have stunning das. views of the Wicker Point Golf Club course, the cenThe lake club grounds will offer extensive outdoor terpiece of The Heritage community. Home sites will amenities, including a saline pool with an adjacent grill provide ample lot size and privacy, with the first phase facility, eight tennis courts, a tennis pro-shop and eight of development along Wicker Point peninsula. pickleball courts. Guests will be able to enjoy a beautiThe name, The Heritage, is intended to honor ful event lawn, covered pavilions, firepits, waterfront Russell Lands’ namesake, Mr. Ben Russell, whose beach area and community dock system. The lake club grandson and chairman of the board, Ben Russell, has been designed by renowned Atlanta-based architec- dedicated this pristine lakefront acreage to honor his tural firm Cooper Carry. Construction of the lake club family’s legacy. The first offering of Heritage lakefront will follow the completion of the Wicker Point Golf real estate will be early summer of this year.

Club clubhouse.

Russell Lands owns, manages and develops comConstruction already is under way on the highly mercial and residential real estate, primarily along anticipated Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed Lake Martin’s 41,000 acres of pristine water and 880 Wicker Point Golf Club course, the only Coore & miles of shoreline. Founded on the achievements of its Crenshaw-designed course in Alabama. The private namesake, Benjamin ‘Mr. Ben’ Russell (1876 – 1941), club is expected to open in summer 2023 and is whose love of the land and visionary investments put inspired by the unique topography at the heart of The Alexander City on the map more than 100 years ago.

Heritage. Defined by its pine plantations, meanderTo learn more about Russell Lands, visit ing creeks and lakefront holes, the 18-hole course will RussellLands.com. emphasize the land’s natural beauty and serenity.

A Plan Heritage Lake Club - Conceptual Site 0 25 50 100 limited number of golf-front home sites will feature course views tastefully set back, allowing the course to 24 LAKE

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Olivia Walls and Landon Maynard

16th Annual

Swimsuit & Lifestyle Edition

Madison Dunn Emma Tapley

STORIES BY KATY SHELTON, LONNA UPTON & BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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Clayton Foshee, Brian Jackson, Jaxon Hay, Sophie Pike, Kennedy Tate, Thomas Tate, Alese Pike and Makenly Waters are outfitted for fun on the lake with dogs Lili and Molli McDaniel in a 25Q Twin Engine from Lakeside Marina

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Emma Tapley

Emma Tapley will major in health sciences at Auburn University this fall

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Emma Tapley packs a lot of activity into her everyday life. An energetic senior at Benjamin Russell High School, she starts the days early and ends them late. From classes to sports to school clubs and church, Tapley’s schedule keeps her busy, busy, busy.

“I’m involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Student Government Association and Wildcat Pals,” said Tapley, who serves as a senior class representative. “Wildcat Pals participate in activities throughout the year, including the Special Olympics. Our goal is to create lasting relationships with students with disabilities. It is one of my favorite organizations.”

Academics also keep Tapley occupied.

“My favorite classes are math and science,” she said.

She takes an environmental science class at the high school and pre-calculus at Central Alabama Community College and has been accepted to Auburn University, where she plans to major in a health sciences program this fall.

“Maybe I’ll go to physical therapy school after that, but I’m not sure,” she added.

Tapley’s typical day consists of a full schedule at school, which includes all of her academic classes in addition to a fourth period workout.

“Workouts aren’t bad,” Tapley said. “We usually go to the weight room to lift; and then, we run.”

Her school day is followed by volleyball practice in the fall or softball practice in the spring.

“Although volleyball didn’t end like we wanted this year, we had a really good volleyball season,” she said, recalling the area tournament that resulted in an early loss for the Wildcats. “I’m really looking forward to my senior softball season. I have played softball since I was 6 years old. I moved to catcher during my junior year and have really had fun playing a new position.”

Explaining further her busy life, Tapley continued, “On Wednesdays and Sundays I spend time at church. We have a great church family, and I enjoy my time there a lot.”

Tapley and her family are members of Alexander City Methodist Church.

As busy as Tapley is, she has always made time for Lake Martin. Growing up in Alexander City, Lake Martin has always

a She was dual-enrolled at BRHS and CACC this year

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She loves a Lake Martin sunset and exploring the lake by boat with friends

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Tapley will play catcher for BRHS softball this spring

been a big part of her life. During summers when she wasn’t playing travel softball or working out, she went to the lake. Her grandparents own a lake home in River Oaks, where she has enjoyed spending time with family and friends when her schedule allowed.

“The lake is one of the best things about Alex City.

There is always something to do, and I really enjoy spending my free time there,” said Tapley, who appreciates the beautiful sunsets the lake offers.

She especially enjoys riding Sea-Doos to Chimney Rock and exploring the lake by boat.

“I like to take the boat to different islands around the lake and hang out with friends,” she said.

Tapley is not only good friends with her volleyball and softball teammates, but also, she has a group of friends that dates all the way back to kindergarten.

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“We like to go to just hang out or go to sporting events, and sometimes, we make a trip to Auburn,” Tapley said.

Tapley’s family includes her parents and her 14-year-old brother, Hank, as well as half-brother and sister Brayden and Lucy Phillips. Tapley’s grandparents all live in Alexander City, as well. As much as she loves her hometown, Tapley is excited about and looking forward to experiencing the next step in life.

“I really plan to focus on two things at Auburn: my major and meeting new people,” she said.

Based on her current life, as well as her past, Emma Tapley will excel at both.

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She looks forward to what her future holds

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Will Heidt and Hannah Henley are ready to roll in a Can Am Defender XMR from Russell Marine

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p Angie Cameron Smith

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Birmingham attorney Angie Cameron Smith grew up on Lake Martin

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The lake still is one of her favorite places to spend time

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Birmingham lawyer Angie Cameron Smith grew up Angie loves to discover on the shores of Lake Martin in Alexander City. new-to-her places “Growing up, I didn’t really appreciate what I had. at the lake I mean it was 20 minutes to the grocery store, which then seemed so far. Now, the lake is one of my favorite places to be,” Smith said.

After obtaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, Smith worked in politics before returning to the university to obtain her law degree. She moved to Birmingham following law school, where she practices healthcare law. She handles regulatory compliance, as well as malpractice lawsuits, for nursing facilities and other healthcare providers throughout the state of Alabama.

Smith has another connection to healthcare all the way back to her grandfather, Dr. James Cameron, and her mother, Scooter Copeland. Dr. Cameron was a general practitioner who moved his practice from Eclectic to Alexander City in 1936 and saw patients for 50 years. Smith’s father was the only son among four children, and Smith is the youngest grandchild in a long line of family members that have been instrumental in the growth of Alexander City.

She met her husband on a blind date set up by an Alexander City friend. Her soon-to-be husband already had a love for Lake Martin. They were married at the Church in the Pines and held their reception at Willow Point. Her husband purchased a cabin he had been renting on the lake, but last year, they bought a house near friends from both Birmingham and Montgomery.

“We know how hard it can be to find a house right now, and we were lucky enough to hear about this before it went on the market,” she said.

Smith said even though she grew up on the lake, she is having so much fun learning that there are other areas of the lake to explore, and even other parts of the county.

“When I was growing up, I don’t think we ever went past Chimney Rock, so I love it when I don’t even know where I am on the lake. Our two dogs are my children, and the last couple of years I feel like I am finding hidden treasures with them. I took the dogs for a hike at Horseshoe Bend two years ago at Thanksgiving and realized the history and the beauty of that place. We have hiked up to the Smith Mountain tower. I had never done either of those, even though I grew up here,” she said.

In her spare time without the dogs, Smith works on her golf game. She grew up going to golf clinics at Willow Point, but she became more serious in law school. She purchased her own clubs and joined Willow Point, where she and her husband improve together.

“I love our small town where everybody knows everybody. And, I guarantee that everywhere I go The smalltown life holds someone knows somebody from Alexander City. A a special appeal friend of mine jokingly says Alexander City is truly for this big-city lawyer the center of the universe. I have to agree,” Smith said.

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From left: Clayton Foshee, Brian Jackson, Jaxon Hay, Sophie Pike, Kennedy Tate, Thomas Tate, Alese Pike and Makenly Waters make a day of it on the lake in a Bennington 25Q Twin Engine from Lakeside Marina with pups, Lili and Molli McDaniel

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Alabama fan Olivia Walls will transfer to Auburn University this fall

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Walls grew up in a sports-focused family

She played softball and cheered in high school

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Growing up in a sports-focused family, Horseshoe Bend’s Olivia Walls knew she wanted a sports-related career, and while searching exercise science majors one day, she found it: sports nutritionist.

“I was so excited when I first heard about it; I looked it up on YouTube,” said the 21-year-old Central Alabama Community College sophomore. “A sports nutritionist basically designs an athlete’s whole day – what time they wake up; what meals they eat – how many calories they need to gain weight or muscle or lose weight; the workouts they do; when they go to bed, everything.”

She loved the idea so much that she started applying the principles of sports nutrition to her own life.

“I work out every day, eat healthy, and the more I did it, the more I saw differences in myself. People started asking me how they could do that for themselves, and I thought, ‘This could be a career,’” she said.

Her choice was heavily influenced by her family’s lifestyle. Walls grew up playing softball and cheering while her father coached her younger brother in football. As avid sports enthusiasts and Alabama fans, the Walls family frequently attends Crimson Tide games and watches a lot of sports channels on television, especially football, she said.

“I always watched the coaches and the players. I could see how much they love it, how passionate the coaches are. They’re all in it, and I want to be around that,” Walls said.

Her career path will require a master’s degree, and this dedicated Alabama fan has chosen to attend Auburn University.

“I’m still passionate about Alabama, but I want to be closer to home. Every person I have talked to about Auburn absolutely loves it. They say it’s like a family, very welcoming. And I have heard that they have a very good nutrition program,” she said.

“I prayed a lot about it and talked to my parents. The more I prayed about it, the more I was drawn to sports nutrition and Auburn,” she said. “I take my relationship with God very seriously. We go to Rocky Creek Baptist Church and have been there since I was in the fifth grade. I love that church.”

But Walls chose to start her college education at a community college because she did not think she was ready for big-campus life right after graduating Horseshoe Bend High School in 2019.

“I went to Horseshoe Bend School from kindergarten up. Everyone knew each other. I graduated with about 70 people, and we were very close. We had so much fun. It was like we were all brothers and sisters. The teachers

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She works out daily and looks forward to a career in sports nutrition

were very helpful. They care about you as a person, as well as in the classroom and your grades. It’s very much like a family,” she said. “I went to a very small 2A high school, and I just thought going right to a big campus would be too much too fast for me, too overwhelming. I was more comfortable with a small school.”

Walls’ first choice was to attend Southern Union Community College, but she hesitated at the thought of

the long drive.

“Going to CACC was a last minute decision. I wasn’t too excited about it, but I love CACC. It was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “I love the teachers and the size of the classroom. Every teacher cares so much about the students individually. They are very, very helpful. They take their time and really care about you and your grades.”

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Landon Maynard

Landon Maynard curls the rope over a cleat to the amusement of Olivia Walls

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A pitcher on the Central Alabama Community College Trojans baseball team, Eclectic native Landon Maynard fell in love with the game of baseball at 4 years old and hasn’t missed a season, despite moving multiple times in his 20 years.

“As soon as I started playing, I fell in love with the game,” Maynard said. “I met all of my best friends through it. I like the adrenaline rush you get during play, and it teaches me important life lessons.”

Among the most important of life lessons he’s learned from baseball is dealing with failure, Maynard said.

“Baseball is 70 percent failure. You’ve got to learn to overcome it and work with other people to work out the problems and come up with solutions,” he explained.

A sophomore in the classroom, Maynard has the advantage of being a COVID-19 freshman on the field. College athletes that missed tournaments and playing times during the height of the pandemic last year are allowed an extra year of eligibility in their competitive sport. He hopes to attend Auburn University, following his time at CACC, with plans for a career in sports medicine.

“I want to stay working in sports. I have a long history with sports, and I want to help other athletes the same way trainers have helped me through the years,” he said. “They helped me get my body right after past injuries, and they help me all the time with tightness and soreness, so I can play at my very best.”

Born in Eclectic, Alabama, Maynard moved to Panama City with his family before he started school. He also lived in Nashville, Tennessee, for a year. Living in different places was an adventure that helped to shape who he is today, Maynard said, as he experienced life with different groups of people.

“I saw different ways of living between all three places, which allowed me to experience different things,” he said.

In Nashville, Maynard acquired a cocker spaniel named Moose.

“We adopted him when I was in the fourth grade, and we grew up together. He is 12 now, and he is my best friend,” Maynard said.

Maynard made the move back to Eclectic with his family when he was in the fifth grade.

Back in Eclectic, Maynard attended Eclectic Middle School before moving to Edgewood Academy for eighth through 10th grades but transferred back to Elmore County High School to graduate.

He followed in his older brother’s footsteps

An academic sophomore at CACC, Maynard is a COVID freshman on the Trojan baseball team

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o Baseball has taught him lessons he can apply to life, Maynard said

and started his college career at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. After a year at LBW, Maynard wanted to be closer to home, so he transferred to CACC and lives in an apartment adjacent to the school. That move put him about 30 minutes away from his family who play an important role in his life.

The move to CACC was a good one, Maynard said, 48 LAKE

and he recommends it highly.

“It’s a great college to go to for your associate’s degree. Just remember to be friends with the teachers because they will help you a lot in every way possible. If you are struggling or need help, just talk to them, and they will help you out.”

JANUARY 2022

He wants to work in sports training, as his own experience with trainers has significantly helped his pitching game

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Madison Dunn

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Happiness for Madison Dunn includes spending time outside with her Boykin spaniel named Waylon

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Dunn is a Paul Mitchell stylist in Auburn

She looks forward to adding chickens, goats and cows to her family of dogs and barn cats

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Madison Dunn’s Boykin Spaniel, Waylon, doesn’t know he’s a dog.

“He thinks he’s human,” Dunn affectionately said about the almost-3-year-old pup that doubles as lap dog and bird retriever.

Dunn and her husband Larry, an avid duck hunter, chose the name Waylon because they wanted a good country name for their dog. The couple also has a 2-year-old German shepherd, Kaia. Named after the main character in Delia Owens’ novel Where the Crawdads Sing, Kaia serves as the Dunns’ protector and Waylon’s best buddy. Along with their dogs, the couple will soon move into a house they are building on 36 acres of land off state Route 22.

Dunn grew up in Alexander City and has a lifetime of Lake Martin memories.

“All of my school breaks were spent at the lake,” she said, “with my amazing girlfriends.”

Having been friends since they were 4 years old, the group of seven grew up spending time at one of the girl’s family’s home. Ironically, Dunn’s mother later bought that same house, and Dunn continues to make memories, including wake surfing behind her step-dad’s Master Craft. Incredibly thankful that all of her closest childhood friends have moved back home, she continues to spend time with these very same women with whom she grew up.

Dunn graduated from Benjamin Russell High School in 2010 and went on to earn an associate’s degree in science at Central Alabama Community College. After working one summer during college at the Body Shop, a hair salon in Alexander City, she made the decision to attend the Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School in Birmingham. Dunn graduated at the top of her class, and her excellent performance at the school earned her two trips to Las Vegas for hair shows. After graduating from cosmetology school, Dunn took a job in Tuscaloosa for a year, but then decided she wanted to return closer to home.

She moved to Auburn and started her own business as a hairstylist at 2 Chic Salon & Boutique, a Paul Mitchell salon that offers colors and cuts, as well as clothing, jewelry and accessories for women. Her clientele consists of mostly women who vary in age and come from not only Auburn, but also other surrounding towns.

After having been together for more than five years, Dunn and her husband will celebrate their first wedding anniversary in May. Their future plans include adding chickens, goats and cows to their current family of dogs and barn cats. The couple plans to move into their new house this spring and spend time hunting and fishing on their property and beyond.

Dunn’s perfect picture of the future includes a view from her new back porch overlooking the couple’s ponds on their expansive land.

“This is what happiness looks like to me,” she said.

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Jaxon Hay, Thomas Tate and Clayton Foshee spend a great day at Lake Martin in a Robalo 246 Cayman from Lakeside Marina

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d Maggie Dean Whaley Maggie Dean Whaley teaches first grade at Jim Pearson Elementary School

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Maggie Dean Whaley became a teacher to give back to the community that poured so much into her life. Born and raised in Alexander City, she and her husband made the decision to return to her roots after college and marriage, so their family could enjoy the smalltown feel.

“I was so lucky to grow up in Alexander City.

I have a group of seven girlfriends who have been friends since we were in preschool, and we have all moved back to Alexander City. Our group gets together at least once a month and more during football season. We are really so blessed that it worked out that way,” Whaley said.

Although Whaley did not grow up living on Lake Martin, she said she spent so much time with family friends that it feels like she did. In college, she and friends spent many sunny days floating all day with their boats tied up together at Chimney Rock.

“Some of my best memories are from those floating days. On Fourth of July a few years ago, one of my best guy friends asked me out. We had been best friends for so long that it was a little awkward, but we started dating and were married about a year and a half later. I think we are so strong now because we were friends first. Our life as a couple really started in the lake,” she said.

Whaley said she and her husband have discussed eventually living on the lake or buying land, but right now, they have the best of all worlds, visiting one of her brothers for lake time and living next door to her parents, Ellen and Kenny Dean. Her father has hosted The Front Porch, a local television show, since 1996. She said her 2-year-old, Fitz, is so blessed to have her parents involved in his life.

Whaley became passionate about working out after Fitz was born, and she wanted to take control of her health.

“I enjoy doing at home workouts, because I am able to get up in the morning before everyone in the house gets up, and it’s quiet. I can do my morning devotion and read the Bible; then, get my workout in. It sets the tone for the whole day,” she said.

Whaley attended Auburn University for her undergraduate degree and the University of West Alabama for her master’s degree. Her decision to teach was based on a life of working with children – teaching gymnastics and Sunday school and working at a daycare. Now, she teaches first grade at Jim Pearson Elementary School.

“I love working with young kids, because I believe I can advocate for them. The community support for the kids has been amazing. Different people in the community sponsor my students to get them a Christmas present every year – some years a book, but this year, a board game. I can only do so much alone, but with the community working toward a common goal, we can do so much. That is why Alexander City is so great,” she said.

The daughter of The Front Porch host, Kenny Dean, she counts herself blessed to have grown up in Alexander City

Whaley said one of the best things about being a teacher is the community support for her students

JANUARY 2022

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Hannah Henley and Will Heidt paddle White Knuckle Brand Fury kayaks from Russell Marine across Lake Martin's quiet winter water

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Fishing boats from Bass Cat, SeaArk, Key West and Crevalle Boats. Off-road vehicles from BRP Can-Am. We also offer Nautique, Godfrey Pontoon Boats, Scarab, Supreme, Sea Ray, Bryant and personal watercraft from Sea-Doo.

Longest operating bass boat builder in the industry.

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View all of our inventory from the comfort of your home at RussellMarine.net or visit any one of our 6 locations. Financing is available.

RUSSELL MARINE BOATING & OUTDOORS 256-397-1700 l SMITH LAKE 256-841-6365 l KOWALIGA MARINA 256-397-1210 RIVER NORTH MARINA 256-397-1500 l THE RIDGE MARINA 256-397-1300 l REAL ISLAND MARINA 256-397-1200

JANUARY 2022

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Make these three no-sweat lakehouse resolutions

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hen you’ve lived as many Januarys as I have, you realize that they are full of advice that the late author, J.R.R. Tolkien, (1892-1973) might have described as, ‘unlooked for.’

Maybe you don’t want yet another list assigned to you.

Maybe you dread getting busy to the task of turning over those new leaves in 2022.

But I would counter that this is a January column, and it’s almost law that tasks must be doled out. I give you three below, but I also know that, since this is Lake magazine’s annual Swimsuit & Lifestyle Issue, you probably won’t be reading them anyway.

Install a Wi-Fi thermostat

Yes, we might have thought about a few cool things we wanted to do last summer. But like the hare of Aesop's Fables, we just ran out of time. In 2022, let’s all take one clue from the tortoise and schedule a few days to get it done.

Maybe last year you heard yourself say, “We oughtta take a long boat ride to see so-and-so.” Or maybe it was, “We oughtta see the sun rise over by Kowaliga Bridge.”

Whatever. If you go ahead and put it on the calendar, odds are much greater that it will happen.

My ‘we oughtta’ is a fish fry. For the last three years, my wife has mocked my lack of execution of this big idea. I want to have a family-and-friends fish rodeo that turns into a fish fry at night. Everyone can pursue whatever species they want as long as they catch them legally and eat all they catch.

Whoever eats the most fried fish that they catch is the winner. It is scheduled for June 4.

As a full time real estate agent here at the lake, it baffles me how many homes I walk through homes that still don’t have a thermostat that can be controlled through Wi-Fi. The barriers used to be internet availability, cost and difficulty of installation. Those excuses have been erased by progress.

Meet two new neighbors LAKE PROPERTY You already have internet service at I am of the opinion that if more people

BY JOHN COLEY your lake house. Don’t act like you don’t. I grew up in small towns we would all be know, I know, for a time you held out like a modern-day kinder to one another. I think this is because in a small Thoreau, but you finally gave in during COVID-19, so town you can’t help but bump into your adversaries. It you could keep up with the office. Fortunately for you, takes no guts whatsoever to disagree with a person when while you were fighting the good fight against tech, the you know for a fact that you won’t bump in to them at cost came down. My latest research shows that a Wi-Fi The Pig next Tuesday. It is harder to say ‘no’ to little thermostat can be purchased for a little more than $100.

Joey’s raffle ticket sale when you know that next month The last barrier to a Wi-Fi thermostat was the difficul- your kid will be trying to sell raffle tickets for a different ty of installation. That one is gone, too. The manufacturcause to little Joey’s family. ers have videos and tutorials to help you out. If you can This January, why don’t you try to meet two new operate a screwdriver, you are qualified to take this one neighbors? Really make an attempt to learn their names. on. It is that easy. You may have members of the family Put their cell numbers in your Contacts on your phone. that still fear this project, but you should use their ignoYes, I mean it, rance for your gain. Tell them it is going to take at least I know that is a big thing to ask, but if you know their eight hours and that you need everyone to clear out of names, you can always check your phone when you see the house. After 10 minutes, you will be done installing, them from afar and be prepared to greet them by name and you can spend the next 470 minutes catching up on when you get close. If you have their phone numbers you important things like streaming The Bachelor season 73. can text to check in to see if they need anything when you are headed to the store. On July 4, they will ask you if you have extra ice or maybe even will bring you over Schedule some ‘we oughtta’ days some ribbon sandwiches. Whatever happens, you will Usually, I highly discourage the use of the words, gain two new friends. ‘schedule’ and ‘lake,’ in the same sentence. I hold to the So why not spend your January knocking off these valid theory that lake days should be filled with creative three easy tasks? You won’t have to sweat, and you boredom instead of invaded by the tyranny of task checkwon’t risk taking in any extra calories. There will be no ing. But let’s face it. Sometimes, if you don’t schedule it, guilt, only the upside of saving money, scheduling family it won’t get done. You just have to carefully select what fun and being a more connected neighbor. you schedule.

Haven’t we all met the end of a summer with regrets?

John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Can we all not relate to realizing what we shoulda done?

Voice Realty. Contact him at john@lakemartinvoice.com.

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inSight DOCK C O M P A N Y

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JANUARY 2022

Regulated pretreatment planned at Alexander City's new graphite processing facility

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was shocked and dismayed several weeks ago to learn negatively impacting the lake. that a Coosa County graphite mining venture I’d been Representatives from Alabama Graphite Products hearing about was going to build their processing plant presented detailed information on the processing of the in Kellyton, just west of Alexander City, and planned to graphite ore. Their method is a new, more environmentally pump their industrial wastewater to Alexander City for friendly method, which they are in the process of patentdischarge into our Treasured Lake. After being alerted to ing. They also presented information as to the treatment of this by none other than the Eagle-eye Campbells (Matt and their wastewater. To our relief, they will have a wastewater Ann), we’ve been taking a crash course on graphite mining pretreatment plant onsite. The pretreatment will neutralize and processing. That’s difficult because curthe wastewater, filter it and recycle processrently there are zero graphite processing plants ing chemicals before it is pumped to the in the U.S. Alexander City Sugar Creek Wastewater Most of the world’s graphite comes from Treatment Plant.

China. As you may know, China is not known The graphite wastewater pretreatment for its environmental stewardship. The folplant requires a State Indirect Discharge lowing article even deepened our concerns permit from Alabama Department of about graphite production coming to our area Environmental Management before it is – a real environmental horror story: Google allowed to operate. This was also good news, ‘graphite mining pollution in China.’ since the SID permit requires that all conLAKE WATCH The mining operation is going to be over taminants in the wastewater must be within

BY ERIC REUTEBUCH in the Rockford area, about 20 miles west of safe limits. Thus, the wastewater that will be Alexander City in Coosa County. Alabama pumped to the Sugar Creek treatment plant Graphite Products, a subsidiary of Westwater Resources, will be safe, assuming the permit requirements are met, Inc., acquired mineral rights to more than 43,000 acres and the wastewater will not adversely impact the lake. The northwest of Rockford in Coosa County several years permit must be renewed every five years or when changes ago. Mining operations are scheduled to start in 2028. The are made to the processing facility. Overall, good news. processing plant is slated to begin processing graphite ore We also learned about the transport pipe system, which shipped in from another source in 2023. is being designed by Jacobs Engineering, formerly CH2M On the positive side, the proposed plant will be the first Hill. They have provided engineering services to the city of its kind in the U.S. and will provide a domestic source since 1975. They informed us that there is no inter-basin of graphite to meet the expanding demand for lithium transfer of water, as although the Kellyton graphite plant ion batteries. These batteries require a lot more graphite is in the eastern-most part of the Coosa Basin, the processthan lithium to manufacture. We all love our cellphones, ing water comes from Alexander City and the wastewater laptops, cordless lawncare tools, power tools and hybrid/ returns to the city, which is in the Tallapoosa Basin. They electric vehicles (my Kia Niro SUV is great ~ 50 miles per also informed us that the volume of wastewater from the gallon); thus, it is highly advantageous to have domestic graphite plant will be relatively small, about 0.17 million sources of lithium ion battery components. gallons per day; whereas, the Sugar Creek plant has sevTo assess possible impacts to our beloved lake, we gath- eral mgds of its 8.5 mgd capacity currently unused. ered all the graphite mining articles we got via Google, We left feeling grateful to Mayor Baird and the City for contacted professors at AU and poured through ADEM the opportunity to voice our concerns and get answers. We and EPA regulations, which had nothing on graphite also were especially grateful that the answers we got were processing as, until now, it hasn’t existed in the U.S. We what we wanted to hear : Onsite pretreatment that will be contacted Alexander City and set up a meeting to discuss regulated to meet water quality standards. our concerns.

We will continue to monitor this new development and Mayor Baird and Gerard Brewer, the city engineer, thoroughly examine the graphite processing plant SID responded to Lake Watch’s concerns and set up a meetpermit when it is issued to verify that no bad pollutants ing with city engineers, the mining company, Alabama will come into Lake Martin. We’ll keep you posted. And Graphite Products and Jacobs Engineering. We met on as usual, we’d love to have you come aboard – visit www. the first of December at the Alexander City Municipal lakewatch.org for info on how to join Lake Watch Lake Complex. Our Lake Watch Legal Committee – Matt Martin.

Campbell, Bill Butler, Dick Bronson, Jesse Cunningham and I – submitted a list of questions that addressed our Eric Reutebuch is president of Lake Watch Lake Martin. concerns. We were accompanied by the Lake Martin Learn more at lakewatch.org.

Homeowners and Boat Owners president, Harry DeNegre.

We were particularly concerned about this mining waste

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FABULOUS FINDS

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JANUARY 2022

8164 Deer Trail, Equality • $1,650,000 Beds: 6 • Baths: 5.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017 LakeMartinRealty.com

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Start 2022 well

s we begin the New Year, we are challenged to evaluate our personal choices. The way we live, as well as our styles, attitudes and possessions, are definitions of lifestyle. We could take this a step farther and look at what is healthy living or a healthy lifestyle. By definition, a healthy lifestyle means a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person. The definition of healthy living is the steps or actions we take to achieve optimal health. Healthy living is about taking responsibility and making healthy decisions for now and for the HEALTHY LIVING future.

BY JULIE HUDSON Our focus is always on healthy living and working toward goals to improve everyday life. Intentional living is a huge part of the equation when developing a lifestyle. Being intentional requires us to realize that our attitudes, feelings, thoughts and actions directly impact every one of our experiences.

Intentional living insists that we take responsibility for our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being, releasing ourselves from self-limiting conditions that will resolve on their own or have no harmful effects on health.

Intentional living requires us to establish clarity about what we want and who

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we are. It helps us to take ownership of what we say and how we choose to approach and contribute to situations.

Living intentionally pushes us to take responsibility to refine our skills, choose how to respond or react to situations or expand our thoughts and comfort zones while we increase our focus on experiences without preconceiving how they should look.

It is imperative to recognize how to achieve a sense of fulfillment, joy, delight and contentment. Living life to its fullest is about you making the most out of your life, being intentional with the situation in which you live and your world. It is about making the most of what you have, doing whatever you can to improve the situation and evolve into a well-balanced, well-rounded and loving person.

A healthy lifestyle can be achieved by making small adjustments in one or all of the nine areas of wellness. A healthy lifestyle begins by making small positive decisions within you; and then, turning those decisions into actions. If you train your mind, the process will become natural. These small positive decisions, together with small positive changes, make for big results that will improve your every day and make an impact toward your future. Patience and persistence is a must. I like the example of laying one brick at a time to build the castle of your dreams. Be the architect and the builder of your lifestyle.

Start by working on the nine areas of wellness.

Evaluate how you are doing in each of the areas; make changes in the areas that you feel are necessary; and then, review your outcome.

JANUARY 2022

1.

Physical wellness is the foundation of achieving overall wellness. Physical wellness encompasses fitness, nutrition and self-care. Do you have a regular exercise routine? Do you incorporate a variety of healthy foods most days? Do you hydrate with plenty of water? Do you set aside enough time to take care of yourself? Do you have a set time to relax and re-energize? Are you getting enough sleep to allow your body to rejuvenate?

2.

Emotional wellness is the state of being calm or stressed. Ask yourself if dysfunctions are taking over your life. Do you experience delight, joy and contentment in your life? Are you practicing intentional living in all facets of life? Are negatives overwhelming you, such as anger or resentment?

3.

4.

5.

Social wellness addresses your fostering of relationships. Do you have good relationships with family and friends? Are you being intentional with relationships, delighting in what you cherish and embracing those who bring meaning into your life?

Mental wellness means mentally stable. Do you have addictions? Do you experience anxiety, sadness or depression? Nutrition and physical fitness play a very important role in a stable mental wellness state.

Spiritual wellness is a way to calm the mind. Do you pray or meditate in the morning, during the day or before you go to sleep?

6.

7.

8.

9.

Financial wellness begins by evaluating your financial situation. Are you looking for ways to improve your financial situation on a daily, weekly or monthly basis?

Intellectual wellness is a willingness to learn. Are you challenging your mind? Are you learning to embrace new ideas, hobbies, a job and working on something inspiring every day?

Occupational wellness has to do with what you do on a daily basis. How do you spend your time and talents? How can you improve and be more productive with what you do? What do you really want to do with yourself?

Environmental wellness applies to your surroundings. How is your environment at home, school, work and during leisure time?

Is the environment very bad; bad; okay; good; very good; or excellent? Are you putting yourself in situations where you feel comfortable and relaxed?

I leave you with a quote that drives home the concept of intentional living.

“This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not a loss – good not evil. Success, not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it,” – Heartsill Wilson (19201994).

Julie Hudson is a dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

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LAKE 67

Persimmon French Toast

Persimmon Bread Ingredients 1-1/2 cups grated persimmons 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1-1/2 cups light brown sugar 3/4 cup olive oil 2 large eggs 1 egg yolk 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, zested 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour

together. Combine the eggs with the sugar mixture and blend until smooth.

Add ginger, vanilla, spices and salt to mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour and mix just until incorporated; then, fold in the grated persimmons.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The bread should start to crack and turn golden brown. Let bread rest 30 minutes before serving.

Bread Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 12-inch pan with butter. Peel and grate persimmons and place in a bowl. Add baking soda to the persimmons and toss to coat. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar and olive oil and blend

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French Toast Mixture Ingredients

6 eggs, whisked 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons grated orange zest 1 tablespoon light brown sugar Pinch of salt 3 to 4 tablespoons butter

French Toast Directions

Combine all French Toast Mixture ingredients together and mix well. Melt 3 to 4 tablespoons butter in a pan. Add soaked bread from egg mixture. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

JANUARY 2022

CHEF'S TABLE

BY PETE MCKENNY

Pete McKenny, chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes fourstar resorts in Ohio, Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club 12 years ago.

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New Year Toast

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fter all these months, who would have thought On the restaurant scene, we should be on the lookout that COVID-19 and its nasty variants would be for more wine-to-go, and portion control single servso prominent in our lives? As much as we would ing cans are gaining in popularity. Smaller wine lists like to think otherwise, it seems apparent that the world with more value wine options (not so pricy) and local is moving toward a new normal to which we will have wines will be in demand. Good luck with that one: to adjust. Apparently, COVID, in some form, is here to The local wines of a little village in France or Italy are stay. quite different from those born in a little town The hospitality industry, specifically food and beverin Alabama, Texas or Ohio. age, continues to be hard hit and is perhaps the sector For all the hassles and disruptions resulting from putting up the strongest fight to come back. Product the coronavirus, some of these trends might modernize shortages, supply chain and staffing issues are forcing the food and beverage experience. Once the disease is restaurant operators to rethink their strategies. As food brought under control, we may begin to see some benand transportation costs rise, we could expect to see efits from our unified struggles; however, some of the those increases on the menus as well. Staffing and prodtrends are not really new. uct shortages have led many restaurants to open fewer Take Rosé, for example, which was supposed to be days in order to survive. Please support the blockbuster wine 10 years ago. It has your local restaurants with patience and taken that long but has finally come into its understanding. own in this market. The Portuguese white, A year ago – a very fast year ago – I Vinho Verde, has long been a favorite and thought the biggest problem for the wine checks several of the trend boxes. It is industry would be the West Coast fires and relatively low in alcohol at 9 percent to 10 the resulting smoke damage. Winemakers percent ABV, and on a restaurant wine list, have done a fantastic job of salvaging and it would surely be a value-priced wine. It working through that devastating event. In a will be good to see a greater demand for the bit of a twist, our difficulties came from the small format bottles and cans. Sometimes, other direction, France. the smaller portion packaging is all we want We are pretty sure we know why or need. The smallest, at 187ml, is about Veuve Cliquot and Moet, both (French) one serving of just more than 6 ounces, and Champagnes, were so hard to get, but we FROM THE CELLAR the 375ml is half the size of a regular wine are not totally confident that the issues have bottle with almost three 5-ounce servings.

BY HENRY FOY been resolved. There are a few European A word of caution on vegan, gluten-free wines that must be stuck somewhere other than your and organic wines: Labels can be deceptive. Few wines friendly neighborhood wine shop. can claim vegan status, due to the common practice of The nice thing about the wine business is that using egg white to clarify the finished product. Use of there are so many equal or better choices. Granted, the trendy term, ‘vegan,’ is an attractive marketing tool Champagne is only produced in Champagne, France, that cannot be easily verified. Beware of any wine label a little corner of the world about the size (in area) of that screams ‘New and Improved.’

Atlanta, Georgia. Everything else produced in the clasOn the other hand, many wines that are organically sic method is more accurately, and to the French legally, grown and meticulously cultivated do not draw attencalled sparkling wine; Cava in Spain; Sket in Germany; tion to that on their labels because of the costs to gain or other national or regional designations. If one insists government certification. More and more vineyards are on Champagne, it will come from France, but there are managed with the utmost respect for the quality of their many alternative sparkling wines that are excellent. product, sustainability and protection of the environment.

Is that it? Are staffing and product shortages the new They know who they are and are more dedicated to maknormal? No, probably not, though certainly a weighty ing wine than political statements. Gluten-free is tricky pressure. Most businesses will adapt, and the cargo will with the gluten coming in with the yeast used in fermeneventually be offloaded. COVID-19 may be just the tation. Most wineries use natural, gluten-free yeast, but catalyst that influences “normal” and how we approach that, too, is difficult to verify. looming issues like climate and social change. Many Overall, the prospects for the coming year are posiof our once-sacred norms are being challenged as we tive, and the communities around Lake Martin will conreevaluate our personal needs, particularly the work/life tinue to grow. And we are just getting started. Happy balance in the restaurant industry where long hours often New Year! take a toll. The four-day workweek may not be far away.

Changes are also trending in the beverage alcohol Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine industry. Studies indicate strong growth for organic prod- and Spirits at 128 Calhoun Street in downucts, low/no alcohol, CBD infusion, vegan, biodynamic town Alexander City with a large selection of premium and “better for you” choices. One study suggested that wines and cigars. Call 256.212.WINE(9463) for current Rosé, specifically from Provence, would be big in 2022, hours and directions. Email emporiumwine128@gmail. as well as Vinho Verde, a light white wine from northern com for access to regular notices of wine specials and Portugal. other events.

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 71

The Challenge of the Catch

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ne of the most memorable fishing trips I had as a kid fishing with my Dad was a short afternoon trip. I’m guessing I was only about 6 or 7 years old. We put in at a ramp close to our house at Point Cloxon.

It was a perfectly warm and calm afternoon. Back then, my dad had brush piles all over the lake that he had built during the winter drawdown. Lake Martin usually dropped about 10 or 11 feet every year back then. Dad waded out as far as his rubber boots allowed, giving the piles another foot or two of depth when the water came back up. These piles hosted bass most times of the year, as long as the water was high enough on them. But on this day we were catching crappie.

I remember the rewarding feeling I had as I figured out just the right retrieve speed with my fiberglass rod and Zebco reel. When I pulled that tiny smoke-colored grub over the pile at just the right speed, it seemed like I caught a crappie every time. We always kept crappie when we caught them because they were so good to eat. My Mom knew just how to fry them up, and there was hardly anything I enjoyed eating more than some fresh fried crappie 72 LAKE

fillets.

A couple of years later, we moved to Bay Pines. We built a brush pile in front of the dock using some of the limbs that had been cleared when the house was built. Over the years, I fished that brush pile when the water came up. The early spring was the most fun because the crappie came in to spawn and flooded into that brush pile. This was an exciting time for a kid who loved to catch fish from the bank. So much so, that I rushed down to the dock and tried to catch a few crappie before I headed off to school.

Man-made brush piles, and now artificial habitat like Mossback Fish Habitat structures, have always been magnets for many species of fish that swim in Lake Martin.

Lake Martin is a relatively old reservoir (nearly 100 years), so most of the original habitat the lake had to offer in the shallows has decomposed. Building a brush pile is a great way to attract fish to a spot of your choice, whether its within casting distance of your dock or around one of the many points at the lake. With the lake being drawn down to 10 feet this year, this winter could be a great time to put out some habitat that will be covered with water most

JANUARY 2022

years into the future. Next just above the fish to get the most bites. This month, we’ll go more in applies whether moving slowly around an area depth on habitat types and with fixed rods out or casting specifically to placement. schools using forward sonar.

That was the extent of Line size, jig weight and bait are also my crappie fishing knowlimportant. Crappie are not voracious predaedge for a long time until I tors like bass and stripers. They bite light and got to know our neighbor, can be fickle, adding to the challenge. But the Doug. Doug showed me reward comes in finding the right combinahow to catch them on a tion. For a more dependable approach, live jigging spoon in the fall minnows will do the trick, but many enjoy and especially well during the challenge of catching crappie on artificial BIG CATCHES the summer at night using baits. a lighted homemade barge A solid choice for crappie is 6-pound

BY GREG VINSON he had built. test line, but at times, it pays to downsize Fast forward a few to 4-pound line. I think this helps with bait years, and these days, we have excepaction more than anything. Since the jig is so small, the tional electronics that make it possible light line allows it to get down and move naturally without to locate schools of crappie at any the lift you’d get from a line with larger diameter. time of the year. With the addition Jig weight is as much or more important than the color. of forward-facing sonar like Garmin The rate of fall is affected by the weight of the jig head. If Livescope, I’ve recently rediscovered it falls too fast through the school, they are less likely to the enjoyment of catching crappie. I bite. The most dependable size I’ve found is a 1/16-ounce especially enjoy it as an escape from jig. It’s just heavy enough to get a decent cast but falls slow the grind of professional bass angling, and can be retrieved at a desired depth. Occasionally, a 1/8and Steph and Gaige enjoy eating fried ounce will work. crappie as much as I do. It is still a Some jigs come pre-tied with marabou in a variety of challenge, reminding me of what I discolors. Of course, white is the best minnow imitator day in covered as a kid: The right bait, presen- and day out, but light blue, light grey, pink or even chartation and retrieve make the difference treuse jigs could be the ticket as well. Another option that with the fickle crappie bite. works well is a tiny 2-inch grub or shad body, like the Big One of the best crappie anglers I Bite Baits or Bobby Garland minnows. They come in a know is Jonathan Phillips. He is a provariety of colors and can be threaded up onto the jig head. fessional crappie angler, and a couple of One bait is usually good for catching several crappie, espeyears ago, I had the privilege of getting cially if a drop of super glue is added at the top of the minto see how he catches crappie using now where it meets the jig head. forward facing sonar a couple of years Once you’ve found a suspected school of crappie on ago. I didn’t realize it at the time, but either standard 2D sonar or down-imaging sonar, mark the methods we use with sonar to catch that spot with a waypoint or a marker buoy; then, make crappie have served a dual purpose in getting me more in repeated casts, counting the bait down to different depths tune with my electronics. That, in turn, has helped in my and using super slow retrieves. The first bite will tell a lot profession as a bass angler. about how deep the fish are positioned and the speed of I am, by far, not a crappie expert, but I think sharing retrieve that works best. Occasional tiny movements of what I have learned in a short period of time may be helpthe rod could give the little bait life as well. With forwardful for anyone looking to catch a few this winter. I’ve found facing sonar, much of this equation is simplified because that on Lake Martin, the areas with more color in the water you can see the fish and, with precision, put the bait right are a little easier to find crappie and catch them. Some on them. It’s pretty exciting to see the fish react to the bait good examples of these areas are upriver or in the backs of as it comes over their heads. creeks. Crappie typically travel in large schools that resemA light tick on the other end of the line is often all you’ll ble batfish, except they appear much larger individually on feel when a crappie has taken the bait. I prefer a light-action the graph than bait. Look for them suspended over small spinning rod, so the fish doesn’t feel me on the other end, creek channels as they migrate in preparation for the spring which also avoids tearing the bait away from the fish. spawn. Any available cover could be a plus, but they seem If you’re thinking about trying out the winter crappie to move around more before they commit to the cover, like bite on Lake Martin, I hope this article will help. They are a our old brush pile. fun, challenging and rewarding fish to catch.

Conventional methods for catching these suspended crappie were to slow troll with multiple rods out. Depth Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler on is very important with crappie, as it is when targeting any the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in fish offshore, so noticing the depth in which the fish are Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. positioned is a major key. Ideally, the bait should be at or JANUARY 2022

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New Homes With Luxurious Amenities: Resort, Golf, Tennis, Fishing, Spa, and Wooded Trails

Everyday Grandeur D I S C O V E R A LU X U R I O U S G O L F L I F E ST Y L E L I V I N G A LO N G G R A N D N AT I O N A L G O L F C O U R S E Tucked away on the outskirts of Auburn University at the world-class Grand National Golf Course, the award winning National Village offers everything you’ll ever need for the way you want to live. The thoughtfully crafted master planned community features georgeous homes designed by national award winner Larry Garnett and built by Ab and Don Conner at Conner Bros. Construction Co., Inc., a local company with more than 100 years of experience. With the Marriott at Grand National on site, residents enjoy championship golf, miles of picturesque nature trails and lakes for fishing, spa and pool. National Village is truly an unbelievable place to live – inside or out.

Plus, thanks to the high speed fiber optic network of Opelika (Alabama’s first Gig City), our homeowners enjoy some of the Nation’s fastest internet for any work- or learn-from-home requirements.

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T O L E A R N M O R E , C A L L U S AT 3 3 4 . 7 4 9 . 8 1 6 5 O R V I S I T W W W. N AT I O N A LV I L L A G E . C O M .

JANUARY 2022

H

appy New Year, Lake Martin! shot. For example, if you normally would hit an I hope everyone enjoyed the blessings of 8-iron, choose to hit a 7-iron instead. You will begin the holiday season. As families gather, the to see a better pattern of success and will only occaconversations usually turn to stories from the past. We sionally be putting or chipping from behind the hole. reminisce about wonderful memories and share the In the winter months, the ball won’t compress and grief when tragedy has struck. All of this creates lovtravel as far as it does in warmer weather, so resolve ing bonds, provides comfort and creates to add two clubs to your normal shot until confidence as we move forward in life. spring delivers warm temperatures.

I always tell people, “We learn from I also recommend golfers make an honour past, we plan for our future, but we est assessment of their games from the must live for today.” previous year. Set some golf goals to seek With this in mind, let’s take a moment improvement on the areas that you admit to plan for our 2022 year ahead. need advancement following this selfResolution formation is almost a tradireflection. tion when it comes to bringing in the New We winterized our games in the Year. People tend to self-reflect at the end November issue of Lake magazine, but of the calendar year. From this is born a resolve to start the season by visiting personal desire to begin the year with a with your local PGA professional. We are new focus. Some seek better health habits trained and have spent our careers helpby changing their diets, quitting tobacco ing others improve their golfing abilities.

THE SCRAMBLE products, starting to exercise regularly or Together, we can develop some real golf

BY ROB WITHERINGTON making better use of their earned income goals and provide action plans to achieve through savings or investment programs. those goals.

A greater focus on faith or current love relationships is If you commit to the action plan with a real practice also a good way to enter the year ahead. program, your game will improve. Keep a club in your To our Lake magazine golf readership, let me rechand year-round and benefit from better golfing expeommend a few golfing resolutions for the 2022 season riences. Make a resolution for better golf and watch it ahead. Most golfers that play on a regular basis have happen in 2022. a good understanding of their own games. Often durAs the great Gary Player once said, “You must ing instruction, I give my students specific yardages work very hard to become a natural golfer. It’s a funny and ask them what club they would use to deliver thing; the more I practice the luckier I get.” that distance. Most have a club in mind, but I soon Praying that you and those you care about are discover that they often need an adjustment in their blessed in the year ahead. thinking. Most amateur golfers pick the club that, if struck properly, would get them the exact yardage for Rob "Gabby" Witherington is the PGA professional the shot. Unfortunately, most amateur golfers miss-hit at Stillwaters Golf Club in Dadeville. Contact him by slightly, thus coming up short of the distance desired. email at robwitherington@gmail.com.

This season, resolve to add an extra club for each JANUARY 2022

LAKE 75

Legend

63

22

280

To Sylacauga

23

Alexander City

Public Boat Ramps 19

9

Churches

4

Camp ASCCA

11 Flint Hill Church

Camps & Parks 280

Power lines U.S. Highways

3

22

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

11

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

10

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church

18 20

New Hope Church

Liberty Church

12 Willow Point

24

7

13

Equality

Paces Point Boat Ramp

63

Camp Alamisco

14

Kowaliga Boat Landing

22 The Ridge

55

5

Seman

Camp Kiwanis

1 15

Church in The Pines

24

2

The Amp Ko w

ali

19 80

9

Central

ga

Ba

y

29 90

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

20 Kent

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Union Landing

Children’s Harbor

Trillium

34

JANUARY 2022

Timbergut Landing

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin Alabama Marinas

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

49

Jacksons Gap 280

Bethel Church

21

Dadeville

57

280

25 Camp Hill

Smith Landing

28

16

6

33. River North Marina 256-397-1500

250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 20 334-541-2132

1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

42. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700

19 Russell Marine Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

4. Russell Building Supply 21 256-825-4256

350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853

52. Real Island Marina 256-397-1200

2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 22 256-794-1333

288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010

63. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

234. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026

410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

2. Parker Creek Marina 7 256-329-8550

486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026 83. Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600

397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net

12 Smith Marina - Shipwreck Sam's Froyo 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com

9

Restaurants & Venues

17 Walnut Hill

50

19 4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567

1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010

2. Alex City Marine 11 256-215-FISH(3474)

2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Stillwaters

8

22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

10 2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines 256-825-0999

3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

18 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

2. Lakeside Marina 9 256-825-9286

7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

Pleasant Ridge Church

27 26

50

6. SpringHouse 13 256-215-7080

12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 146. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070

17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 15 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

49

Business & Shopping

11. Kowaliga Marina 256-397-1210

255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

24. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 25 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 26 . Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717 8421 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Churches 27 Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 28 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

Dock Builders 29 Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25.

Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

16 Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337

5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853 17 The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill 256-307-1887 8605 AL HWY 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Reeltown

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 77

Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Carlos The Body Shop Walgreens Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Jake's Moore Wealth Management Carlisle's Emporium Wine Cloud Nine Downtown Girl Shay Aesthetics JR'S Hillabee Towers Senior Nutrition Center Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty Dark Insurance Warren Appliance MainStreet Family Care Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's General Merchandise Daylight Donuts Alfa Valley Bank - 280 Pricare Temple Medical AllState BB&T Bank Hometown Pharmacy Lake Martin Home Health Allen's Food Mart (Exxon) Karen Channell - State Farm Insurance North Lake Condo River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply Petro

Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Longleaf Antique Mall Playhouse Cinemas Chamber of Commerce Winn Dixie Re/Max Around the Lake City Hall A&E Metal Regions Bank Marathon - 280 Renfroe's Market Russell Medical Center Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors Koon's II Tallapoosa Ford Dylan Johnson - Country Financial Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Drugs Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark The Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Do It Center Russell Home Decor Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars Tippy Canoe Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office Wind Creek Gate Wind Creek Store Willow Point Office Willow Point Country Club Smith Marina on Lake Martin Nails Kowaliga Marina Kowaliga Restaurant Children's Harbor Catherine's Market Russell Lands Corporate Office

Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center Springhouse Restaurant Ridge Club Ridge Marina HACKNEYVILLE Hackneyville Water Authority NEW SITE Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland DADEVILLE Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin

lamberthandlamberth.com

256-234-6401 6 Franklin Street • Alexander City

Mon - Thur 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

78 LAKE

JANUARY 2022

Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Chuck's Marina Deep Water Docks Lake Martin Pizza CAMP HILL Link Gas Station EQUALITY Five Star Plantation Equality Food Mart Southern Star Parker Creek Marina Charles Borden ECLECTIC Lake Breeze Realty Offshore Marina Lake Martin Mini Mall Corner Stone Coffee Co. Lake Martin Dock Company Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Johnson Furniture WOW Catering LLC Eclectic Library Real Island Marina Anchor Bay Marina Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Office Tallassee Marathon Tallassee Eagle Tallassee Chamber Parris Mullins Jr. O.D. Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory KOWALIGA WHOLE HEALTH PET CARE

We’re Live! www.lakemagazine.life

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Mary S. Battistella, DVM

January Special

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Puppy & Kitten Vaccines

10% OFF

(334) 857-1816

8610 KOWALIGA ROAD ECLECTIC, ALABAMA

COACH KRAFT

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Floors ■ Carpets Bimini Tops ■ Custom Seats ■ Mooring Covers ■

IF YOUR ADVERTISING HAS NO AUDIENCE, IS IT REALLY ADVERTISING?

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE AUDIENCE.

Patrick Mason 334-283-6759 676 Dean Circle • Tallassee, AL www.coachkraft.com

ALEXCITYOUTLOOK.COM | 256-234-4281

LAKE

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE MARKETING CONSULTATION

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.

Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 79

Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing............................................................. 17

Homeology................................................................... 26

Precise Pressure Washing......................................... 79

Alex City Guide Service............................................. 8

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage............... 79

Prime Management....................................................... 4

Alex City Marine......................................................... 19

Insight Dock Company.............................................. 62

Reinhardt Lexus.......................................................... 65

Audio Video Security Pros........................................ 81

Kowaliga Whole Health............................................. 79

Renaissance Electronics............................................... 5

Big Fish Real Estate Group....................................... 64

Lacey Howell, RE/MAX Around the Lake............... 3

Rhonda Jaye, Lake Martin Realty............................. 20

Blue Creek Iron Works............................................. 79

Lake Martin Dock....................................................... 17

Russell Marine.............................. 25, 34-35, 56-57, 59

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation..........................................8

Lake Martin Mortgage................................................ 65

Russell Medical.............................................................. 2

CACC................................................................................ 42-49

Lake Martin Pecan Company..................................... 8

Satterfield........................................................................ 5

Childersburg Primary Care...................................... 17

Lake Martin Realty...................................................... 84

Security Pest Control.................................................. 8

Coach Kraft Upholstery............................................ 79

Lake Martin Signature Construction...................... 61

Singleton Marine......................................................... 62

Comfort Home Services........................................... 26

Lake Martin Storm Shelters..................................... 58

Sunrise Dock................................................................ 12

Custom Docks............................................................. 20

Lakeside Marina.............................................. 29, 40-41

Temple Medical Center............................................... 8

Davco............................................................................. 79

Lamberth & Lamberth............................................... 78

The Orchard on Washington................................... 58

Diamond Golf Cars.................................................... 27

Mark King's Furniture................................................ 21

TowBoat US................................................................. 27

Docks Unlimited........................................................... 5

Moore Wealth Management..................................... 83

Walmart........................................................................ 79

Electronic Technology Group................................... 79

National Village............................................................ 74

We-Haul.......................................................................... 6

George Hardy D.M.D................................................. 16

Odd Jobs......................................................................... 6

Hinson Galleries.......................................................... 80

Off the Beaton Path..................................................... 8

80 LAKE

JANUARY 2022

JANUARY 2022

LAKE 81

Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone

"The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence." ~ Blake Lively

82 LAKE

JANUARY 2022

L A K E M A R T I N R E A LT Y. C O M

Unlock the value in your lake home and trust the market leaders.

Jerry Purcell 205.382.3417

Allison Ladson 256.750.0711

Damon Story 205.789.9526

Mike Davis 256.226.1238

Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792

Amy Duncan 256.212.2222

Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071

India Davis 256.749.7592

Judy Voss 256.794.0779

Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681

John McInnish 334.415.2149

Michelle Brooks-Slayman 256.749.1031

Jan Hall 256.329.6313

Sawyer Davis 205.965.7940

Jim Cleveland 256.596.2220

Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017

Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

Adam Yager 205.914.0830

Mimi Rush 334.399.7874

Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099

Judith Jager 205.789.0698

Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372

David Mitchell 256.212.3511

Howard Haynie 334.312.0693

Haley Fuller 256.750.2411

Randall Rogers 334.707.5804

Denise Cochran 256.786.2484

John Shelton 404.858.9198

WE’RE THE MARKET LEADER Lake Martin Waterfront Market Share

DADEVILLE

256.825.9092

OURTOWN

256.212.1498

WILLOW POINT

256.212.1498

OTHER COMPETITORS

44.4% 84 LAKE

OUR CLOSEST COMPETITOR

LAKE MARTIN REALTY/ RUSSELL LANDS *LMAAR/MLS Member Firms Sales Volume Data Dec 2020 – Nov 2021

JANUARY 2022