Elmore County Living August 2018

August 2018

Elmore County Living

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From the Editor's Desk

STAFF

The talents of children never cease to amaze me. They have the spunk, motivation and energy to accomplish most of what they set their minds to. This issue of Elmore County Living magazine features children of all ages succeeding at different skills and lighting up the world with their enthusiasm.

Michael McLing began riding dirt bikes at age 7, and despite some learning curves and injuries along the way, he has qualified for the most prestigious national championship competition twice in his life. He recently returned from the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship after beating out thousands of others in his age group for the spot.

Balancing school, friends and family could be a challenge for any teen. Turn to page 22 to see how this Wetumpka 13-year-old succeeds in doing it all.

A truly inspiring group of young girls from Tallassee have stolen the hearts of the town by winning the Dixie Youth 6U girls softball World Series. Most of these players are barely 7 years old, but they had a winning season of 24-0. Check out the pride on their faces and the support from the community on pages 12 and 38.

With school just beginning, I had the opportunity to meet some high school students who are gaining experience in career and technical occupations before graduation. From banking internships and physical therapy practice to gaining certification in welding, students in Elmore County are embracing more options for continuing education. Read about these offerings and the neat enrollment options for high school students these days on page 14.

Our Out & Abouts, starting on page 32, reflect children celebrating their summer reading programs, attending movie nights with family and learning how to fish.

Kathy Monroe advises parents on page 20 to create healthy habits during the school year to keep children safe, focused and maintaining overall wellness.

Summer’s not quite over yet though, so check out the calendar on page 40 for some fun activities to help beat those back-to-school blues.

Maybe your child will be inspired to tackle a new task. You never know what they might discover.

Chairman

Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

President & Publisher Steve Baker

steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com

Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Editor

Amy Passaretti

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Distribution Manager David Kendrick

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultant Marilyn Hawkins

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

Marketing Consultant Kat Raiford

kat.raiford@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services Audra Spears

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors

Kenneth Boone Kathy Monroe Jeff Langham Kyle Bolton Carmen Rodgers Sharon Fox Jacob Saylor Sandy McLing Jessica Taylor Suellen Young MK Moore Lindsay Jordan Amalia Kortright

To subscribe to Elmore County Living, $25 a year for 12 issues, please call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281 For Advertising Inquiries 334-567-7811 For Editorial Inquiries 256-234-4281

Amy Passaretti, Editor

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

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 99 300 Green Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811

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CONTENTS ON THE COVER Wetumpka native Michael McLing has been riding motocross since he was 7 years old. He's qualified for the prestigious amateur nationals race more than once and trains year round. Photo by Sandy McLing

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28

Columns

Features 12

World Series Champs

20

Community Care

14

Students Embrace Potential

27

Back in the Day

18

Lake Jordan Stocked

28

Movie Man

22

Kickin' Up Dirt

46

Southern Delights

30

LML's Art & Photo Contest

Tallassee Youth Go Undeafeted Alternative Education Options Hybrid Fish Species Growing Wetumpka Teen Rocks the Track

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Back-to-School Health Fire and Films

Fall Movie Preview Figs & Rosemary

Entries Now Being Accepted

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In Every Issue 6

Extra! Extra!

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Business Spotlight

32

Out & About

40

Coming Up

44

Where to Find Us

News Briefs

Impact Fitness

In Elmore County Fun for Everyone Distribution List

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Bikers' Benefit

The Annual Save the Tatas Benefit Ride has raised more than $38,000 for the Joy to Life

Foundation over the course of its existence. Helen Phillips started the event in honor of her mother,

and she said it gets a lot of attention for being so personal to many people.

More than 100 bikers from all over Elmore County and surrounding areas rode along the scenic route earlier this month.

The poker-run style benefit ride was 125 miles long, beginning at Quail Walk Country Club in Wetumpka at 11 a.m. Motorcycles coasted their way through Alexander City, stopped in for a bite to eat at Niffer’s on the Lake in Dadeville and ultimately ended at the VFW in Tallassee.

Wooden Wonders A woodcarver needs three basic things, according to woodcarving instructor Mac Proffitt: a pencil, a Band-Aid and imagination.

There were plenty of all three at the 33rd annual Southeastern Woodcarving School and Exposition. The event, co-hosted by the Central Alabama Woodcarving Association and the City of Wetumpka, featured classes on different types of woodcarving and painting.

Artists displayed many of their works, and led classes on various methods of woodcarving. All levels of experience attended, as this was the first year the school was an exposition instead of competition.

Eclectic native one step closer to dream profession Eclectic native Blake Swicord completed a prestigious eightweek internship program at Massachusetts General Hospital that could positively impact his medical career.

Swicord was one of six students

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Blake Swicord is second from the right

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from around the U.S. chosen for this Harvard University Visiting Research Internship Program. The experience of a lifetime helped further the dream profession Swicord has longed for since age 13 when his father was injured in a motorcycle accident.

Extra!

Extra!

News from Elmore County and surrounding areas

Leading the Way Recent Tallassee graduate Haylee Osborne has never let her medical condition slow her down or be used as an excuse. The softball star had one lung removed at age 4 but doesn’t let any shortness of breath hold her back in the sport.

Many of her own teammates didn’t even know, and Osborne said it’s because she’s always wanted to be treated on the same playing field.

During the last season senior year, Osborne stepped into a leadership role.

The University of Mobile signee helped push the Tigers to a 32-15 record that included an appearance in the Alabama Sports Writers Association state rankings for the first time in more than a decade. Tallassee was ranked ninth in the final poll and made it to the regional tournament in the postseason with Osborne leading the way.

DAC impresses at Birmingham art show Earlier this month, the Dixie Art Colony Foundation presented an updated version of its main 15-minute video, followed by a discussion and slide presentation led by DAC Founder and Director Mark Harris.

This program was part of the Birmingham Museum of Art’s 2018 Art and Conversation series. More than 100 visitors attended the presentation, which was the largest audience, to date, of any of the other 2018 program series.

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Business Spotlight

Impact Fitness Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Suellen Young & Amy Passaretti

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wners Will Thames and Jake Carlton have a strong desire to influence the lives of the community by providing a cutting edge, state-of-the-art fitness facility available for anyone looking to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Impact Fitness and Sports Training opened its door in March, and the nearly 25,000 square-foot facility has sparked immense interest throughout the area.

“Everybody’s goals are different when it comes to fitness, so we built one gym that could meet the needs of all ages and levels,” said Carlton.

Impact Fitness offers brand new state-of-the-art equipment to exercise any part of the body; a fitness studio filled with different classes taught by certified coaches; an

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artificial turf for sport-specific needs; functional fitness; wrestling; jiu-jitsu; self defense and more.

“Phase one was to get the existing programs operational.

Phases two and three will develop the outdoor space, which will consist of fields for baseball, softball, soccer and football. We want to focus on sports-specific training with our indoor and outdoor amenities,” said Carlton.

Once the other phases are complete, sports-specific coaches will be hired for designated areas.

More than 450 members have joined the fitness facility so far. Memberships are provided at individual levels, family rates, corporate-level rates and walk-in rates for out-oftown visitors.

“There are tailored rates based upon the selection of individual training or services offered,” Thames explained.

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Jake Carlton and Will Thames are co-owners of Impact Fitness

The artificial turf came from the Tampa Ray Devil Rays' old field “The gym also is an affiliate of the Silver Sneakers program and other insurance companies.”

While there are many gyms in the area, there is nothing comparable to the services provided at Impact Fitness, said Thames. An InBody machine, which performs a full-body composition analysis and presents results based on several factors – including water weight, percentage of visceral and body fat and skeletal muscle mass – is available to both members and non-members.

“For fitness objectives to be sustainable, they must be measurable. Using our InBody analysis, each person could track his or her changes and see real results,” said Thames.

This information also could be used to help identify a fitness plan based on the needs of the individual. The cost to receive this analysis is $10, but members get the

The facility is filled with brand new stateof-the-art equipment

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Impact Fitness houses a variety of exercise programs and sports training options first one free.

The jiu-jitsu and self-defense coaches are tenants at the facility; however, Thames said they are all part of the family.

Jiu-jitsu and self defense are offered three days a week for separate fees. All these coaches are experts in their fields and are serving or have served in the military.

Personal training and instruction also are offered at Impact Fitness. Shelby Nobles, the facilities manager, has a master’s degree in exercise science and is a certified personal trainer.

“It’s been a long dream of mine to work in sports performance. I grew up an athlete and want to provide opportunities for other kids that they may not otherwise have,” said Carlton.

While Carlton’s focus is more on sports, Thames complements his talents with his experience in orthopedic rehab, fitness and general health.

“I’m in the healthcare field and one of my passions is personal fitness and teaching others about improving their quality of life,” said Thames.

To adhere to an overall healthy lifestyle, Impact Fitness has added amenities on site, including massage therapy, cash-based physical therapy, meal prep, a kid’s lounge and two locker rooms with showers. Thames said they hope to add a dietitian to the facility and offer healthy amenities, such as smoothies and shakes, in the future.

The name Impact Fitness came from its location being on the edge of the Wetumpka impact crater and led to the strong tagline of “Impact your Health; Impact your Game; Impact your Life.”

Members have access to the exercise gym 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a key fob. Special events are posted on the facility website and Facebook page.

“We always have something going on,” said Thames. “Participating in special events is a great way to come in and try out our facility.”

Impact Fitness is located at 1040 U.S. Highway 231, Wetumpka. For more information about the facility, visit impact4life.com.

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World Series Champs Tallassee 6U softball girls dominate after an undefeated season The team celebrates after the last out against Mississippi

T

allassee’s Dixie Youth 6U girls were all smiles when they rolled home Aug. 1 after clinching the 2018 World Series Championship in East Rapids, Louisiana. With a season record of 24-0, the girls were greeted with lights and sirens as Tallassee’s police and fire departments turned out – along with parents, friends and townspeople – to celebrate the win.

Fans lined the streets and were on hand to welcome the pint-sized players.

“Y’all won 24 straight ball games and went on to win the World Series,” Councilman David Stough told them. “That is a great accomplishment. We here in the city of Tallassee, we are proud of y’all, proud of what you have done and what you have achieved. Years down the road, these will be memories that you will never forget.”

The team is made up of 11 tiny but mighty young girls: Anna Clair Turner, Sophia Grant, Zadie Stephens, Kylie Taylor, Zion Alleyne, Zraya Alleyne, Cay Cay Jones, McCall Clayton, Jazlyn “Cookie” Fitzpatrick, Kennedy Bickley and Chas Stokes. Ron Taylor is the team’s head coach.

“We’re overwhelmed by the grace of this community,” Taylor said. “Glad to be home. We drove seven and a half hours there and back.”

Tallassee High School baseball coach Adam Clayton took time out of his busy schedule to be the team’s pitching coach, and the Tallassee Wrestling Club coach Brent Tennyson stepped away from the mats this summer to coach the girls.

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Anna Claire Turner

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Story by Carmen Rodgers Photos by Jessica Taylor

According to Taylor, the ride was fairly quiet as the team was worn out from four days of tough competition. The Tallassee girls faced seven other teams while representing Alabama. The team played against teams from Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina, picking them off one by one before walking away with a 16-5 win over Mississippi for the trophy.

Tallassee’s 6U team is no stranger to the World Series, as four returning stars on the team placed second in last year’s World Series event.

“There is definitely a lot of natural ability for their age on this team,” Taylor said.

Several local businesses sponsored the team as it headed into the 2018 World Series: Neptune, AES Industries, Prime South Bank, 1220 Café, the City of Tallassee, along with many others, as well as individual donations, helped make this trip possible for the young team.

The girls charge the field to bring home the Aabama flag

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Chas Stokes

The team full of pride after its big win

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Students embrace alternative programs

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Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Lindsay Jordan & Amy Passaretti

ducation is more than just the average core classes these days. Students in Elmore County have more available career path options for heightened future success, and they’re ambitious about taking advantage of them.

Career and technical education, formerly known as vocational and trade professions, are the backbone of Alabama’s economy, so it’s no surprise that schools in Elmore County are providing more opportunities for students to follow a nontraditional path and experience life skills.

The Career and Technical Education program is spread across the four high schools in the county, including Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Holtville and Elmore County, as well as the Elmore County Technical Center.

“CTE is an enhancement to a student’s course of study that allows them to apply the principals learned in their core courses to real-world Students at ECHS operate scenarios and provides them the on-campus Panther the skills necessary to enter Branch Bank the workforce,” said Lindsay Jordan, career coach for Elmore County Technical Center.

Elmore County High School has expanded its CTE offerings to prepare students for financial, professional and hands-on situations. From the opening of its Panther Branch Bank five years ago to its second year offering Tallassee Rehab a spot on campus, ECHS is encouraging teens to broaden their skill sets.

“We are giving the students real-life experiences they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. Parents find it useful for students to implement classroom knowledge into everyday use,” said Wes Rogers, principal at ECHS.

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First Community Bank partners with the high school to provide internships for rising juniors or seniors during the summer. These same students then operate the on-campus bank branch on Fridays, two at a time with the supervision of a bank employee. Shifts run for about 45 minutes at a time, or during students’ advisement periods.

“The Panther Branch can do anything that a normal bank could do from cashing or depositing checks, opening accounts and making change,” said Renae Venable, Panther Branch liaison.

Nearly 40 students apply for the position each spring, but only six to eight are offered the job. This additional step in the workforce process teaches kids job skills, such as interviewing and creating resumes.

“It’s a very competitive program. The process can be overwhelming, but it helps encourage what we’re teaching here and exposes them to this process early,” said Rogers.

Having worked out the kinks of the program by now, Rogers said, they tend to have a good idea on who would be successful in the program. He said they have learned which types of students that would benefit from this experience.

“Over the last four years, at least a dozen of these kids who have worked at the bank, have either gotten hired at the bank after graduating or used it as a reference to land a job elsewhere, whether taking classes or working full-time,” said Venable.

Summer Fuller, branch manager and vice president of First Community Bank in Eclectic, said these same interns also could act as floaters throughout the summer if they return to the area and need work.

“They’re already trained, and we know they can do the

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Construction, welding and electrical students job shadow at Caddell Construction

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Public safety and law students train in the Alabama Fire College burn trailer

job,” Fuller added.

For students with a future interest in physical therapy Rogers said, Tallassee Rehab sets up a clinic on campus.

Students are hired or could shadow PTAs as they work. The clinic is open to students, faculty and anyone who needs the services.

“This has opened up some avenues for students to see if this is what they want to do,” said Rogers.

Enrollment numbers at the ECTC have almost tripled in recent years, said Rogers, and its program offerings continue to expand.

Base campus programs offered at the four high schools include agriscience, business/marketing, culinary arts, family and consumer sciences, finance, JROTC and television production.

Twelve programs are offered at ECTC’s site location, including two new additions to this school year. Programs include automotive service technology, computer technology, construction technology, electrical technology, hospitality and tourism, medical sciences, plumbing and pipefitting, pre-engineering, drafting and design, public safety and law and welding, and the two new offerings are aviation technology and HVAC. “These programs have been identified as areas of workforce needed regionally and statewide,” said Jordan.

Along with educational classes and hands-on skill development, CTE students experience simulated real-world experiences, including industry tours, college visits, classroom visits from industry representatives, mock interviews, resume workshops and job shadowing or internships.

“We are a pretty blue collar community, and I would say about 70 percent of the graduating classes from Elmore County High School go into the workforce after high school,” said Rogers.

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Hospitality students learn knife skills in the lab These professional opportunities better prepare young students to do so.

Through a partnership with Central Alabama Community College, the ECTC also provides academic and technical dual-enrollment options, some at no cost to the students, said Jordan.

“These courses allow students to earn credit for both high school and college at the same time with the potential for students in welding dual enrollment to earn a short certificate from CACC at the same time they graduate from high school,” Jordan explained.

The most valuable aspect of the technical program is the ability to enter the workforce with credentials for various jobs and positions with ECTC’s career readiness indicators.

“In 2017, more than 800 career readiness indicators were earned by Elmore County students, which was up from about 300 the year before,” Jordan said.

Whether graduates decide to pursue a college career at a two-year or four-year university or train to earn employment directly after school, these additional career and technical offerings widen the doors of educational possibilities.

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The fish will breed with the current species to form a larger hybrid fish

The Alabama Division of Wildlife Freshwater Fisheries Section stocked the fish above Bouldin Dam

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More than 300,000 Florida largemouth bass were added to the lake

Lake Jordan stocked for change

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Photos by Kyle Bolton

The fingerlings are only 1 to 2 inches long

nglers in Elmore County may have the thrilling opportunity to catch larger bass in the coming years.

To allow for a greater growth rate of fish in Lake Jordan, the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries' Fisheries Section recently stocked the lake with approximately 300,000 Florida largemouth bass.

In May, these fish were added to Jordan Reservoir in an effort to introduce certain desirable genetic traits of the Florida sub-species into the population.

The 1- to 2-inch fingerlings were supplied by representatives from WFF fish hatcheries based in Eastaboga and Marion. They were released in the New Lake region of the reservoir above Bouldin Dam. If survival is good, these fish have the potential to cross-breed with the Norhtern sub-species to create a hybrid capable of superior growth potential.

The WFF has concentrated its stockings in the New Lake area in recent years due to its isolation from the mainstream reservoir. The man-made Bouldin canal has poor habitat, which acts as a barrier to the movement of stocked fish, making it an ideal place to stock Florida bass to increase the likelihood of cross-breeding with the Northern sub-species.

This area also offers extensive shoreline vegetation, which is a suitable habitat for largemouth bass.

Over the last three years, nearly one million pure Florida largemouth bass have been stocked into this Elmore County lake. The WWF Fisheries Section representatives said WFF would assess the stocking efforts during the next few years by collecting fin samples for genetic analysis.

If successful, these changes should be seen throughout the entire reservoir. Visit outdooralabama.com for more information.

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Back-to-school Routine

Prepare for a healthy year Kathy Monroe

COMMUNITY CARE Kathy Monroe is the assistant to the adminstrator

CFO Community Hospital. and the at

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A new school year is already on its way, and parents, kids and teachers are wondering where their summer breaks went. School supplies are purchased, new clothes and shoes are bought, new school year anxieties are calmed, but that is not the end of the checklist.

It’s important to consider how children could prepare to have the healthiest school year possible.

First, check with healthcare providers to determine if children’s immunizations are up to date, for the safety of themselves and others.

At some point every year, the flu makes its way through the community. To reduce the risk, be sure children get flu vaccines each year. Ideally, the entire family should receive the flu vaccine annually before October.

Good hygiene habits – washing hands frequently, avoiding touching their faces, sneezing or coughing into a tissue or a sleeve – will help reduce exposure to various germs that circulate throughout school environments.

Make sure to ask children’s healthcare providers to do hearing and vision tests, especially if there are any concerns. Impaired vision or hearing can adversely affect learning. Young children who can’t hear or see properly often don't realize there is a problem.

It is very easy to break any form of sleep routine during the summer months; however, sleep is an essential part of children’s health and well being. Adequate sleep is crucial for proper focus in class. Establish a school night bedtime and stick with it. Also, remove access to screen devices from children’s rooms at night – such as cell phones, tablets, computers, TVs and other gadgets.

Healthy breakfasts are important to kick off days of

learning. Mornings can often feel rushed, so keep quick healthy options on hand to ensure everyone is fed and gets out of the house on time.

Don’t forget lunches. If children bring lunch to school, be sure to include wholesome choices, which will help keep their energy levels up and attentions high throughout the afternoons.

Children’s backpacks often become heavier than parents realize. Experts recommend carrying no more than 10 to 15 percent of children’s body weights in their backpacks. Heavy backpacks can cause significant back, shoulder and neck pain.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Children should always use both straps, and adjust the packs so the bottom sits at their waists. Find ways to reduce the extra weight, such as using lockers to store unneeded materials between classes.

We live in a busy world. Parents work, and they are tired when they come home. Children sometimes go straight from school to an activity, and they are tired, too. Watch for signs of stress in children. Encourage open communication with children every day – even teenagers. Keeping the lines of communication open could go a long way in preventing potential problems.

Consider planning family meal times and providing quiet spaces with good lighting for studying. Assisting children with homework could instill good study habits that could provide lifetime benefits.

Make sure children have yearly checkups to keep up with their growth progress and other health concerns to maintain the healthiest version of themselves.

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Kickin' up Dirt

Wetumpka teen rides to the top

Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Sandy McLing

Michael McLing's racing number is typically 926 to reflect his birthday

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F

or dirt bike enthusiasts, qualifying for the Amateur National Loretta Lynn Championship is a prestigious honor and an indication of hard work and talent. At just 13 years of age, Wetumpka native Michael McLing has qualified to compete there not once, but twice.

McLing outraced thousands across the country during area and regional qualifiers to claim a position in the 42-person gate for his age level, at nationals.

“As soon as you pull into that gate, you get excited. Once you’re about to race, you feel like you’re about to throw up from the excitement and anticipation,” said McLing, who has been riding since he was 7 years old.

This year’s AMA National Motocross Championship from July 30 to Aug. 4 was especially memorable for McLing, as he was baptized at the creek surrounding the Loretta Lynn Ranch track with MXers for Jesus. As a result, he said his new tradition is to pray before each race.

Professional rider Malcolm Stewart ap-

proached McLing at the gate during this year’s nationals in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, which was one of McLing’s best moments he said.

“He just came up to me and said, ‘The hard part’s over. Don’t over hesitate and over think.

Just get out there and have fun’,” McLing explained.

The Tennessee course poses a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of racers. It’s also only used once a year, so there is no home court advantage.

Fun for this 13-year-old could be defined differently than most. Not your average teen, McLing spends all of his free time on the weekends, holidays and summer months training to pursue his dream of reaching the professional level of riding.

In motocross, a rider must be 17 years old to qualify to compete on a professional level and receive cash prizes. Now in Mini Senior 1 (ages 12-13) and Mini Senior 2 (ages 12-14) competition classes, McLing has the ability to win trophies and plaques, along with contingency money designated for necessary parts and equipment

McLing and other racers line up at the start ready to take off

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Michael McLing

for the sport.

Local sponsors also help offset the costs of race fees, bike parts, tires, gear, boots, gas, etc.

As he’s grown, so have McLing’s dirt bikes. He now competes on a faster Husqvarna 85, and McLing and his family recognize this is not a traditional sport.

“He’s been injured quite a bit. It comes with the territory. He had a bad wreck in

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2016, and I tried to beg him to stop racing.

He wouldn’t do it, and I would be selfish if I asked him to. It’s something he loves, and he’s good at it. I want him to explore who he is,” said Sandy Mcling, Michael’s mother.

As a parent, it can be nerve-wracking watching a child compete on this level, but Sandy said taking photos during the races helps to take away her nerves.

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"It's scary but prideful.

That's your kid out there with the elite."

- Sandy McLing ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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At only 13, McLing has qualified twice for the prestigious Loretta Lynn nationals

“It’s scary, but prideful. That’s your kid out there with the rest of the elite,” she added.

Another aspect of McLing’s lifestyle that could be challenging for his family is that he’s away from home quite a bit. After beginning his training at local tracks Monster Mountain in Tallassee, Millcreek MX in Pell City and Crossbones MX in Billingsley, Mcling said he felt the need for more coaching.

“To step up his competition, Michael now competes outside of Alabama and trains in Albany with Nario Izzi whose son is a pro,” said Sandy.

McLing is learning responsibility and time management by having to balance school, other hobbies – such as hunting and fishing – and friends, while keeping dirt bike riding as his priority; however, his parents let him compete only if he maintains his grades at all As and Bs. “I have definitely learned more common sense.

I sometimes have to squish in school, but I am

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always studying on the road,” McLing added.

It takes more than just hard work and talent to be competitive in the sport, said McLing.

He maintains a healthy diet low in sugars and spends a lot of time working out. Motocross uses every muscle in the body, he said, so it’s different from other sports.

Most of McLing’s friends are made on the road, and some are even international. He sees a lot of familiar faces throughout the country’s races and said the dirt bike world is like one big family.

During events, such as this year’s nationals, there are often other activities to promote community among riders and their families. Tournaments host family-friendly activities, such as swimming, talent shows, concerts and church services.

McLing’s journey may have only begun, but with the effort and passion he exudes for riding, it could be a great adventure ahead.

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Fire and Films Lesser-known local documentaries impact county history

Sharon fox

BACK IN THE DAY sharon fox is the curator at the elmore county museum located in wetumpka.

It's a common belief that the first movie filmed in Wetumpka was Big Fish, released in 2003. It’s thought that the first movie filmed in the state of Alabama was The Long Walk Home, filmed in Montgomery in 1989.

Technically, neither of those is true. Those films would be the first famous movies recorded in Alabama and Elmore County. There are at least two others that don’t quite make that list.

There is the Story of Holtville, filmed in the 1940s by the State Department Office of Education as part of its culture and information program. The principal of Holtville School at the time, James Chrietzberg, attended a six-week workshop at Vanderbilt University and came back to make “innovative and progressive” changes.

Chrietzberg spent his evenings visiting the area farms, talking with the farmers and offering to hold night classes at the school for adults. The meetings would allow farmers to discuss problems with their land and share ideas. The concept took off slowly, but it eventually grew, and soon, farmers were assisting one another.

The movie documents the progression of this project but to see the rest of the story, watch it online. It’s not just an interesting story but also a big part of the history of Elmore County.

Just a few years before The Story of Holtville, there was another movie made by the government, also filmed in Elmore County. The American Farm Bureau Federation in Chicago, Illinois, partnered with both the Alabama and the Elmore County farm bureaus to produce the movie Flaming Dollars in the early 1930s. The film was used as an educational movie featuring fire protection for farms.

The opening scene shows the Hawkins family,

Mr. and Mrs. along with their daughters, Minnie and Irene, riding down the road in their car. The movie documents life in a small farming town where insurance agents worked diligently to encourage farmers to protect their lands with fire insurance.

All of the cast members were residents of Wetumpka, including our very own Lucia Lull, later famous for her Broadway portrayal of Cindy Lou Bethany in Kiss The Boys Goodbye. In this film, Lull played Minnie Hawkins, the oldest daughter of farmer Jim Hawkins.

Other local townspeople that played roles were J. M. Holley as Jim Hawkins; Bertha Lancaster as Irene Hawkins; Phil Enslen as the friend of everyone, Bill Jeffers; and Mrs. Charles McMorris played Mrs. Brown, the wife of another farmer. Sim Penton, Mary Joe and Gene Sanford played farm children.

The only two members of the cast not from Elmore County were L. O. Brackeen from the Alabama Farm Bureau who played an insurance agent and J. P. Maloney from the Pyrene Company who played an engineer from the – you guessed it – Pyrene Fire Protection Company.

The area prominently featured in the movie was Harrogate Springs, the plantation of John G. Crommelin. When the filming was complete, Mr. Crommelin invited the entire cast and crew to enjoy a barbecue on his plantation.

The movie was first shown in the local theatre – and chances are it was the Fain Theater – then in vocational schools all over Elmore County and finally anywhere else where there were “picture machines.” It was then used as a part of a farm bureau agent’s job to convince farmers of the need for insurance and eventually, was used by agents all over the U.S.

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Fall Movie Preview Jeff Langham

MOVIE MAN

School is back in session. Summer vacation is just a distant memory, but this means it’s fall movie season again.

Approximately 100 movies will be released between now and the end of the year in an effort by the studios to win box office gold, Academy Award gold or both. Why not settle down in a local movie theater for one of the many film treats coming in the months ahead?

September

Dr. Jeff Langham is State Assistant Superintendent for External and

Governmental Affairs and a lifelong lover of film.

Peppermint – Jennifer Garner returns to her action roots (remember TV’s Alias?) in this explosive thriller. Garner portrays a young wife and mother who seeks vigilante justice against the cartel members who killed her husband and daughter.

The Predator – This has come a long way since its debut more then 30 years ago as a nemesis to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the reigning action hero of the 1980s. Buckle your seat belt for this fourth installment in the Predator film series.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls – Eli Roth, a director known for gore (the Hostel series), lightens his touch (a little) and helms this fantasy based on the novel of the same name written by John Bellairs. The film stars the irrepressible Jack Black and endlessly fascinating Cate Blanchett.

Night School – Picture this: A group of adults returning to school to prepare for the GED. Kevin Hart is one of the students; Tiffany Haddish is the teacher; hilarity ensues, resulting in box office gold.

A Simple Favor – Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) and Blake Lively (The Age of Adeline) star in this mystery thriller based on the novel

by Darcey Bell. There are plenty

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of twists and turns, betrayals and reversals all culminating in a nail-biting conclusion.

Smallfoot – With a plot focused around the Bigfoot legend and the vocal talents of Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common and LeBron James, this 3-D computer-animated film is destined to be a treat for audiences of all ages.

October

Unbroken: Path to Redemption – This film features the inspiring third act of the book Unbroken, which was completely missing from Angelina Jolie’s 2014 film. As a spiritual sequel to the original film, the story chronicles Louis Zamperini following his return from World War II and his conversion to Christianity after attending one of Billy Graham’s church revivals.

A Star Is Born – Bradley Cooper serves up a triple threat as star, director and screenwriter for the fourth remake of this romantic drama.

This musical take on the story also stars Lady Gaga in a performance that is already generating awards season speculation. Surely this latest Star can top the disastrous 1976 Barbra Streisand/Kris Kristofferson version. I have my fingers crossed.

First Man – Ryan Gosling stars as astronaut Neil Armstrong in this true story depicting the years leading up to the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Oscar-winner Damien Chazelle directs, and this is his first feature following his meteoric success with 2016’s La La Land.

Venom – It’s the first film in Sony’s Marvel Universe, and acclaimed actor Tom Hardy, so effective as the menacing villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), stars in the title role here.

And don’t miss, Halloween, as the story continues 40 years later with Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role from the 1978 horror classic.

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The Predator

On a lighter note, Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween promises to scare up some thrills as well.

November

Bohemian Rhapsody – Get ready for this electrifying biographical film about the British rock band Queen, focusing on lead singer Freddie Mercury’s life and starring Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) as Mercury.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – This sequel to 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a screenplay

by J. K. Rowling and features an ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The film is a computer-animated version of Dr. Seuss’ 1957 classic featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.

Robin Hood – Is it already time for another dose of Robin Hood? Director Ridley Scott’s 2010 version with Russell Crowe effectively covered this territory, but alas this new version features Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Mary Poppins Returns

The Girl in the Spider’s Web – That Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Lisbeth Salander (actress Claire Foy), returns and finds herself caught in a web of cybercrime adventures in this adaptation of the bestselling novel.

Also, during November: Don’t miss Viola Davis in Widows, a heist thriller written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. Run to see Jennifer Lopez in Second Act, a romantic comedy strongly reminiscent of 1988’s Working Girl. Cheer for Creed 2 in which star Michael B. Jordan continues the Rocky film legacy.

December

Aquaman – Jason Momoa appears as the title character in his third outing following 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017’s Justice League.

Mary Poppins Returns – Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago), this sequel to 1964’s Mary Poppins represents one of the longest gaps to a follow-up in film history. The movie stars Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Meryl Streep.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Mary, Queen of Scots – This remake of the 1971 film centers on Mary Stuart’s attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England. It features a screenplay by Beau Willimon (House of Cards) and stars Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan.

Yes, indeed, the fall movie season has arrived. So, this fall, with nearly a hundred new releases headed your way, it’s time to swing by a local multiplex and “fall” into the thrilling escapism of these cinematic treats. Until next month…

Aquaman ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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Lake Martin Living's

Art & Photography Contest Story by Betsy Iler Photos by Kenneth Boone

E

ntries are now being accepted for the 2018 Lake Martin Living Art and Photography Contest, which this year will include monetary awards and a reception at Gallery 128/Emporium Wine on Oct. 1.

Judges for the annual contest launched by Elmore County Living's sister magazine will designate awards to the winners in separate art and photography categories prior to the gallery reception. Renowned Montgomery artist Barbara Davis will judge the art category, and TPI chairman and photographer Kenneth Boone will judge photography entries. Judges will be present at the reception.

An oil artist who loves to paint the effect of light, Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is the winner of many awards, and her works have been widely exhibited. She will teach an oils class at this year’s Sarah Carlisle Towery Alabama Art Colony, which will sponsor an art walk at Children’s Harbor on Oct. 7.

Kenneth Boone is an award-winning and popular photographer who has taken photos around the world. He is the owner of Lake, Lake Martin Living and Elmore County Living magazines, as well as The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune and The Eclectic Observer. His photographs frequently grace these publication covers and inside pages.

The first place art winner in this year’s Lake Martin Living Art and Photography Contest will receive $200, and the first place photography winner will receive $100. One of these first place entries will be featured on the cover of the October issue of Lake Martin Living magazine, and every entering artist and photographer will be featured inside the issue.

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Woodpecker photo

by Shannon McDuffie

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Japanese Magnolia Bloom

by Donna Harris Cantrell

Second place in the Children's Harbor Island art category will receive

by Mary Timberlake $150; third place will receive $100. In the photography category, the second place winner will receive $75 with $50 for the third place photographer. The juried awards for the contest are sponsored by Main Street’s Discover Downtown Alexander City.

In addition, the overall People’s Choice winner will receive a gift certificate for art supplies from Hobby Lobby in Sylacauga.

An entry fee of $10 will apply for each work of art or photography entered in the contest, and each entry will include one ticket to the reception at Gallery 128/ Emporium Wine from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 1. Each individual artist or photographer may enter up to three pieces. The works will be displayed at Gallery 128, 128

Calhoun St., Alexander City, through the month of October. To enter, see entry details on the inside back cover of this issue (page 47) and deliver submitted works to Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., at 548 Cherokee Rd., Alexander City, by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept.

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Non-entrants may purchase tickets to the reception for $10. Each ticket entitles the holder to a vote in the People’s Choice competition, as well as eligibility for door prizes donated by local merchants.

Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be included. Tickets are available at TPI, Emporium Wine and The Wetumpka Herald.

Contact Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., at 256-234-4281 for any additional questions.

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OUT & ABOUT

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Eclectic Girls' Club

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July 11, 2018 cornerstone coffee, Eclectic 1. Anita Holley and Kitty Graham 2. Judy Kopecky and Martha Tack 3. Wanda Burt and Betty Coker

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4. Sheila Lockett and Peggy White 5. LueVanie Thompson 6. Penny Holley and Gina Sanders 7. Mary Anne Brown 8. Peggy Jones 9. Doris Griffith and Jennifer Searcy

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Movie Night

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July 10, 2018 Mt. Vernon Theatre, Tallassee 1. Lainey Denning, Sid Edwards and Kaileigh Denning 2. Brad, Brady, Brinley and Brooke Barron 3. Cason and Carly Hornsby

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4. Hannah Johnson and Mary Edwards 5. Marilyn, Ben and Craig Speake 6. Hunter, Hudson and Beth Timmerman 7. Brooke, Bryson, Braylon and Hamilton Rigsby 8. Jake, Milly, Ruby and Jennifer Crain 9. Chris and Carey Beth Smith

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OUT & ABOUT

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CoosaPalooza Brewfest

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July 21, 2018 Downtown Wetumpka 1. Drew Prince and Debbie Wright 2. Michelle and Patrick Tyson 3. Stacy and Kyle Reed

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4. Donny Bozeman and Brian Camire 5. Nicolette Palmisano and Adam Ballard 6. Jordan and Jillian Stone 7. Torie and Joe Champion 8. Gabe Harris

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OUT & ABOUT

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End of Summer Reading Party

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August 1, 2018 Tallassee Community Library 1. Quintrell McCullough, Ahmorrie Goggans and Marquez Thomas 2. Tariah Bozeman

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3. Jermiah Zellers 4. Kellen Jo Zellers 5. Carleigh Norrell, AnnaClaire Turner, Carolina Norrell, Mackenzie Little and Kallan Norrell

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6. Jontavious Nettles 7. Raelyn Sifuentes, Chloe Acreman and Adaleigh Sifuentes 8. Tyler Acreman, Abby Mann and Autumn Acreman 9. Rosa and Emily Vazquez 10. Aubrey Myers and Ava Blankester

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OUT & ABOUT

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13th Annual Wags & Whiskers July 27, 2018 Wetumpka Civic Center 6

1. John and Kimberly Hammock and Jenny and Troy Stubbs 2. William and Dee Hartley 3. Rea Cord 4. Mark Sr. and Cindy Presnell 5. Isabel Huddleston, Haley Neal and Gabriel Melton 6. Leigh Cross and Carol and Lloyd Haugland

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Lake Martin Lions Club Poker Run

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July 21, 2018 The Ridge Marina 1. Ben, Heather, Ella and Olivia Worby

2. Emily Sprayberry, Dave Commander and Jerry O’Neil

3. Emily and David White

4. Nathan Parker

5. Payton and Heidi Gilbert

6. Kaylee, Rachel and Joey McAllister

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OUT & ABOUT

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Welcome Home Celebration for Tallassee's 6U World Series Champions August 1, 2018 Tallassee Recreation Center 1. Addison Merritt 2. Scott Hammonds 3. Kaileigh, Jennifer, Logan and Mazie Denning and Anmarie

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Burner 4. Abbi Carwile 5. LuAnne and Bob Clayton and Michael Jones 6. Jeff and Mona Rhodes 7. Katelyn and Kody Fussell and Lanie Denning

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AWF Annual Fishing Rodeo

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August 4, 2018 Alabama Wildlife Federation 1. Jacob Harvey and Anderson Harris 2. Katherine, Jonalan and Tyler Wright 3. Trey Robinson and John Allen 4. Graham and Joe Kemp

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5. Nick and Adam Cahoon 6. Stefan, Rens, Evi and Charlotte Willemen, Blake and Steven Wallace and Sven Willemen 7. Cade Henderson and Susan Wood 8. Ja’Tavious Capleton

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Coming Up CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 18 Gator Tails

Join the Alabama Nature Center at 11:30 a.m. for a program about one of the swamp’s top predators. Visitors will get to meet ANC’s baby alligator named Delta, and kids will get to make a cool take-home alligator craft. All materials are provided. ANC is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook. Contact Matt Vines at 334-285-4550 for information.

Aug. 23 Putts Fore Paws Golf Tournament

Hosted by the Humane Society of Elmore County, this inaugural golf tournament at Emerald Mountain from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. will support the needs of the shelter. Registration is $300 for a four-person scramble, and the team fee includes green fees, golf carts, door prizes and more. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and the shotgun start begins at 8 a.m. For information or to become a sponsor, call 334-270-2834.

Aug. 24 Clay for Kids

The Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center will host its inagural clay shoot at the Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Club. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the day will be filled with competition shooting, fellowship and food. Team donations are $200 to enter. All proceeds go directly to BBCAC. The Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Club is located at 4758 Lower Wetumpka Rd., Montgomery.

Sept. 2 Labor Day Concert

Gates open at 5 p.m. at The AMP for the annual summer close-out concert. Bring coolers, kids, friends, lawn chairs and blankets and turn out for one last big party at the lake.

Tickets are $20 and kids 6 and under are admitted for free.

The Bank Walkers open at 7 p.m., followed by Sister Hazel at 8:30 p.m. For tickets, visit theamponlakemartin.com.

Sept. 11 Second Annual Drawdown and Silent Auction

The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce will host this drawdown event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Businesses can drop off items to

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donate at the chamber office located at 116 E. Bridge St. General admission tickets are $25 and include admission for one, with one drink and dinner. Tickets are $30 at the door.

Drawdown tickets are available as advanced sale only and limited to 300. Tickets are $100 and include admission for two, one entry into the drawdown, two drinks and two dinners.

Sept. 12-13 Healthy Foods, Healthy Economics Summit

Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission will host this third annual summit at the Millbrook Civic Center to discuss how local and regional food systems can promote healthy local economies. Registration is $25 for both days, which includes lunch on Thursday featuring local food sources.

Register online at CARPDC by Aug. 31. For more information, call 334-262-4300.

September 19 Lunch and Learn: Easel Painting with Barbara Binford Davis

The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will include a slideshow about Davis' work and a painting demonstration. Davis also will talk about her transition from a part-time artist to a busy full-time artist. This will be a joint program between the Dixie Art Colony and the Elmore County Art Guild. Reservations are required.

Sept. 22-23 AWF Big Backyard Campout

Come spend the night at the Alabama Nature Center, located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook, for the fourth annual backyard campout. Enjoy a night with family under the stars and activities, including s’more making, a movie and a glow stick hike. Kids will get to make their own glow stick lanterns to take home. Guests will need to bring their own camping supplies, and all camping is tent only.

Contact Matt Vines at 334-285-4550 for more information.

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Sept. 29 18th Annual Titus Bluegrass Festival

It’s time again for a boot-stomping good time at the annual bluegrass festival held at the Titus Community Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Barbeque will be available, and booths will be filled with crafts, cookbooks and peanuts.

Performing at this year’s concert will be Cottonmouth Creek, Over the Mountain and Crains Nest. The Titus Community Center is located 10 miles north of Wetumpka on Highway 231, then north on county Route 29. Admission to the festival is $10 for adults, and children under age 12 are admitted for free. Bring lawn chairs and friends to enjoy a good time on the shady grove in Titus. For more information, visit tituscommunitycenter.org.

Oct. 6 Dam Century Bike Ride

Riders can choose to go 28.15, 67.29 or 101.25 miles, for scenic views of Tallassee through four of Alabama’s counties: Elmore, Macon, Montgomery and Tallapoosa.

There will be sag trucks, rest stops and on-site mechanics along the way. After the ride, enjoy free food, music and fun to celebrate the trek. Register online at tallasseechamber.com. For more information, call 334-283-5151.

Oct. 6 Coosa River Challenge

This two-person team or individual race includes three to six hours of mountain biking, trail running and river paddling with many obstacles and special tests in between. The route incorporates Alabama's major river systems and finishes in downtown Wetumpka.

For more details or to register, visit coosariverchallenge.com.

October 7 DAC Historical Reenactment

Coosa River Challenge includes obstacles along the river banks

Join the Dixie Art Colony Foundation at 2 p.m., along with local artists Shirley Esco, Barbara Binford Davis and Carol Barksdale at Nobles Ferry on Lake Jordan for a very unique painting experience. During the 1930s and 1940s, artists that attended the DAC were asked

to paint a square panel on the tin ceiling of the colony studio. Many of the whimsical compositions have been preserved. At this event, artists will be supplied square Masonite 20 inch by 20 inch panels on which to paint whimsical compositions similar to those of the original colonists. The new panels will be displayed in the new studio at Nobles Ferry. A limited number of reservations will be accepted.

Oct. 14 Alabama Scoundrels

The Elmore County Museum will host Alabama author Wil Elrick and co-author Kelly Kazek at 2:30 p.m. to discuss their book, Alabama Scoundrels. The scoundrels include “Bloody” Bob Simms, anarchist Albert Parsons, the mysterious hobo bandit Railroad Bill and the nefarious outlaw sheriff Steve Renfroe. Admission is free and light refreshments will be available. Copies of the book will be for sale after the presentation. Call 334567-5097 or email elmorecountymuseum@gmail.com for more information.

Season-Long Events Haunted Wetumpka Investigations

In-depth paranormal investigations will take place in the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce building from 7 p.m. to midnight on the third Saturday of each month. Cost is $50 per person, and reservations are required. Call 334-567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org for information and registration.

Country Music Jam

Every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Red Hill Community Center hosts an open-stage country music jam. All players, singers and listeners are welcome.

Coffee and snacks are provided at this family-friendly event. No admission is charged, but donations are welcome. The community center is located at the Old Red Hill School on state Route 229 south of Kowaliga. Email Paula Castleberry at mcasby53@windstream.net for more information.

Alabama Wildlife Federation Naturalist Hikes

Every Tuesday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., hike some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails with an experienced ANC naturalist by your side. Learn how to bird or indetify plants and animals; splash through the creek; or catch insects in the meadow. General admission applies and is $5 per person, with a $20 maximum per family. AWF is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook.

Visit alabamawildlife.org to check holiday closings.

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Alabama Wildlife Federation Creature Feature

Every Monday and Wednesday, from 3:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., come learn about Alabama’s woods, water and wildlife. Get up close and personal with some of the creatures you may find in your own backyard and even some you may have never heard of. General admission applies and is $5 per person, with a $20 maximum per family. AWF is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook.

Visit alabamawildlife.org to check holiday closings.

River Region Women in Business

This women’s networking group meets once a month to support, encourage and help other women succeed in business. Topics and speakers vary on tips, advice or support for professional and personal growth. The group meets the third Thursday of each month at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, 116 E. Bridge St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. No cost to attend the first meeting; and then, dues are $50 per year for chamber members and $100 for non-members. Contact Shea Irvine at 334-651-8289 or sheainal@gmail.com for more information or to RSVP.

Tuesdays with Kelly

On the third Tuesday of each month, The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery hosts free events with various speakers, topics and demonstrations. This is a brown bag lunch event beginning at noon. The Kelly is located at 408 S. Main St., Wetumpka. For more information or a list of upcoming programs, visit thekelly.org.

Kids experience and learn about Alabama's outdoors at AWF

Music on the Deck at Kowaliga

On the first and third Sundays of August, Kowaliga Restaurant will be offering live acoustic music on the deck from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting.

For the artist lineup, visit kowaligarestaurant.com.

Santuck Flea Market

The Santuck Flea Market is held the first Saturday of each month at 7300 Central Plank Rd., state Route 9 in Wetumpka.

Master Gardeners Lunch and Learn

Bring a sack lunch to the Elmore County Extension Office in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month for a gardening presentation hosted by the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association. The event is free and open to the public. Drinks are provided. For information, call 334-567-6301 or visit www.aces.edu/counties/Elmore/.

Dixie Art Colony Foundation Exhibit

Regular gallery hours are held from 10 a.m. until noon on Mondays and Wednesdays at 219 Hill St., Wetumpka. Appointments and small group tours are available upon request. Special tours include a 16-minute video, Dixie Art Colony: A Look at Its Lasting Legacy.

Exhibits rotate every four months, and a selection of periodicals and books from the DAC Foundation Resource Library also are on display. For information, contact Mark Harris at 334-328-0730 or email him at M.Harris@ DixieArtColony.org.

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Friday on the Green

Every Friday through September, come listen to live music from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads Lawn games are available, and people are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, coolers, kids and pets.

Eclectic Trade Days

The second Saturday of August and September, the City of Ecelctic will host its inaugural trade days with local vendors from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 145 Main St., next to Town Hall. The event will continue again in March 2019. For more information, contact Elizabeth Greer at 334-541-3581 or Carmen Winslett at 334-201-0092.

To have your upcoming event featured in the Elmore County Living’s ‘Coming Up!’ pages, email information to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com by the first of the month.

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C O M E COME Kids’ Kingdom

P L AY PLAY Alabama Nature Center

W I T H US U S WITH Grandview Family YMCA

Tallassee Health and Rehabilitation, LLC

The Pines Golf Club Welcome to Millbrook, where the 307 Deatsville Highway, Millbrook refreshing outdoors awaits!

334-285-7529

There are times in some of our lives when we have to make a transition.

A very good place to do that is Tallassee Health and Rehabilitation, LLC. There is a well trained staff who are also kind and helpful. It doesn’t take long to feel like it’s a family. -Mary Bellury, a Resident

“Our Family Caring for Yours” “For long-term care or short-term rehab, Tallassee Health and Rehabilitation, LLC is a 5-star facility dedicated to providing the best care right here at home.”

CALL SUNNY TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS TODAY!

w w w. c i t y o f m i l l b r o o k . o r g

334-283-3975

2639 Gilmer Avenue • Tallassee, AL 36078

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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Business & Service Directory

Acapulco Mexican Grill MONDAY

Night Kids Eat FREE! TUESDAY

$2 Beer after 4pm THURSDAY

Karaoke Night 6-10 $1.99 Margarita ALL DAY 2867 Gilmer Avenue Tallassee (334) 283-2725

Best Margaritas in town!

MADE FRESH DAILY!

O’Neal Electric Michael O’Neal

256-510-2146 Electrical • Controls DataCom • Security Serving Central Alabama for over a decade!

Pick up Elmore County Living at these locations: Eclectic

Bezlo's Bar & Grill Cornerstone Cafe Red Hill Gallery Eclectic Town Hall Eclectic Library Johnson Furniture 1st Community Bank Eclectic Do-It Center Trustmark Bank

Lake Martin

Russell Lands Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Children's Harbor Cotton’s BBQ

Millbrook

Verizon Wireless First Community Bank Lucretia Cauthen Realty Bliss Salon Millbrook Chamber of Commerce Realty Central Stone & Britt Law Gene Jones Insurance

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Liveoak Agency

Mitchell Veterinarian Hospital

Lake Pharmacy The Golden Frog The Boy’s Store First Community Bank

Aldridge Borden Company Bennett’s Archery 1st Community Bank Russell Do It Center Bumper’s Karen’s Mane Tamers River Ridge Steakhouse Emerald Mountain Store Redland Market Seivers Accounting Wetumpka Depot Players A Touch of Class Angel Locksmith Verizon Wireless Unplugged Must Stop Café Alfa Realty Wetumpka Century 21 Brandt Wright Realty Wells Fargo BB&T Jackson Thornton Lee’s Auto Repair McQuick Printing Company Hankins Insurance Hog Rock BBQ

Slapout

Tallassee

Kent Eagle Y Petro RoadRunner Convenience Store Herren Hill Pharmacy The Apothecary Community Hospital Tallassee Health & Rehabilitation 5 Points Store Tallassee Automotive Tallassee Rehab 1st Community Bank PrimeSouth Bank Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Tallassee Community Library Wal-Mart District Nineteen St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church Three Lakes Dental Ivy Creek Game Day Clips

Wetumpka

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Wetumpka YMCA Adams Drugs Bell Chiropractic Wetumpka Urgent Care USAmeriBank A Beautiful Creation Austin’s Flowers Camo Country Alabama State Employees Credit Union Smokin S BBQ Elmore Community Hospital Wetumpka Preschool Wetumpka City Library Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce City of Wetumpka Administration Bldg.

Coosa River Adventures Stoddard’s Bait Shop Collier Ford Wee Ones Daycare Wetumpka Health & Rehab Canal Grocery Kim’s Corner Wetumpka Flea Market River Perk

Our Advertisers • To Join, Call 334-567-7811 Acapulco Mexican Grill..............................................................................4 4 Alabama Power.........................................................................................1 1 Allstate, Mark Shaw...................................................................................1 7 All That Space...........................................................................................1 0 City of Millbrook........................................................................................4 3 Community Hospital...................................................................................4 5 District Nineteen........................................................................................1 7 Gene Jones Insurance.................................................................................2 6 HR Management Solutions..........................................................................1 7 Jackson Thornton.......................................................................................2 1 Karen's Mane Tamers.................................................................................4 4 Kowaliga Whole Health.............................................................................4 4 Liveoak Agency.........................................................................................4 3 Mark's Service Center......................................................................................2 1 O'Neal Electric...............................................................................................4 4 River Region Dermatology................................................................................4 4 Russell Lands on Lake Martin.............................................................................4 8 Singleton's Alignment.......................................................................................1 0 Tallassee Health & Rehabilitation, LLC...........................................................4 3 The Apothecary Pharmacy..........................................................................1 7 Wetumpka Flea Market...............................................................................2 1 Wind Creek Casino.....................................................................................3

Don't see your ad in this issue of Elmore County Living? Neither did the thousands of potential customers who read our magazine monthly.

To advertise please contact - Marilyn Hawkins 334-202-5108 - Kat Raiford 334-444-8981 or stop by our office located at 300 Green Street, Wetumpka AL 36092

COMMUNITY MEDICAL ARTS CENTER

FOR YOUR CHILD’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECK-UP

334-283-3111 ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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Figs & Rosemary Have you ever noticed that in Alabama, when you want something to grow, it just will not? When you want something to not grow, it does.

Take grass, for example. A bald spot in my yard resists all coddling and remains bare. Yet, the grass grows luxuriously in the flowerbed where I do not MK Moore want it. So I’ve about given up on visions of perfect SOUTHERN plants in perfect beds. Most of the stuff in my yard DELIGHTS is left to itself. If it grows, it grows.

What does that have to do with food? Well, there are two things in my yard that grow in complete Mary abundance unaided by my human intervention: figs Katherine and rosemary. The rosemary came from a piece of Moore is an Sweetheart’s mother’s large rosemary bush. It was Alabama a gangly stem with a few roots, which I planted in a State Fair pot on my patio. Since then, it has grown to massive pepper jelly proportions. champion, has Over the years, I’ve hacked it back, but it keeps butchered a on growing. It never gets watered except in the most wild hog in random way. It now has a main stem – no, a trunk her kitchen – that is bigger than my arm. But what the heck do and grows you do with all that rosemary besides snipping a bit heirloom to flavor lamb or pork roast? tomatoes in The other neglected, yet abundant, thing in my her backyard. yard is a massive fig tree. I’m talking two stories tall. And boy does it produce. Again, I don’t water it. I don’t feed it. I trim it when it encroaches into my parking space. But it grows and grows and grows. I’m not a huge fig fan. I make preserves and jam and mostly give them away. But if I canned all the figs this tree produces, I’d end up with 100 jars. Sweetheart and the racoons will stand at the tree and eat them right off the branch, but I’m more a Fig Newton kind of girl.

One day, I was

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outside waiting for the grill to get hot, and it hit me. Figs and rosemary! Figs and rosemary! Why not put them together?

Armed with scissors, I cut a bunch of rosemary stems. Trust me, I barely made a dent in the bush. I stripped off the leaves, leaving only a little tuft at the end of the stick. I picked the ripe figs and gave them a little wash. The figs are completely unintentionally organic, but you never know what might be clinging. I rinsed them off with the hose. We all drank out of the hose back in the day, so I did not see any reason to trek into the house just to use sink water.

I skewered each fig with a rosemary stick and plopped them on the grill. Mind you I’m still outside and making this up as I go along. In a minute, the figs were slightly charred and caramelized, with a bare hint of the rosemary. We gobbled them up as soon as they cooled down enough to not explode like napalm in our mouths.

These rosemary-flavored figs are delish on their own, but you know I had to fiddle. Subsequent batches were given a tiny sprinkle of fancy salt, which gave them a salted caramel flavor. Some were drizzled with honey and served with Brie cheese for an appetizer or cream cheese for a dessert.

I encourage you to use what you have to make new combinations, whether you pick it from your garden or pluck it from your icebox. Think out of the box, and you may find something yummy. In the case of the fig tree and rosemary bush, I now give them lots more love … and actually remember to water them.

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Art & Photography Contest 2018 Event Description Art and photography entries will be exhibited at Gallery 128 in downtown Alexander City through the month of October with an opening celebration/reception the evening of Oct. 1. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be available; People’s Choice votes will be cast and counted; ribbons and prizes will be awarded; and door prizes will be given away. Tickets to the event will be $10 each.

Sponsors

- Main Street Alexander City - Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin - Art Walk 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Children’s Harbor

- Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., The Alexander City Outlook and The Wetumpka Herald - Gallery 128/ Emporium Wine - Hobby Lobby

Judges - Barbara Davis (Art) - Kenneth Boone (Photography) Entry Details - Entries must reflect the local area or its lifestyles.

- $10 entry fee per submission – each entry includes one ticket to reception and one vote for People’s Choice award.

- Limit three entries per person.

- Entry deadline Sept. 21. Bring artwork to TPI by 5 p.m.

- Each entry must be clearly labeled on the back with artist’s name and contact information.

- Submissions must be ready to hang.

- Pick up submissions after Oct. 26 at Emporium Wine/Gallery 128.

- Each submitting artist will be featured inside the October issue of Lake Martin Living magazine, and one of the first place awards will be the cover.

- Winners will be recognized in The Alexander City Outlook and The Wetumpka Herald Contest Prizes

1st Place: $200 (Art); $100 (Photography) 2nd Place: $150 (Art); $75 (Photography) 3rd Place: $100 (Art); $50 (Photography) People’s Choice winner will receive art supplies gift certificate.

Now accepting submissions through September 21, 2018.

Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin

Gallery 128

Emporium Wine

TPI

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

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Russell Lands On Lake Martin is a breathtaking lake community with 25,000 acres of forest set among Lake Martin’s 40,000 plus acres of pristine water and nearly 900 miles of shoreline. The largest premier neighborhood at Russell Lands On Lake Martin is The Ridge, where ownership comes with an array of extras including The Ridge Club, a 10-acre recreation complex; miles of hiking and walking trails, as well as nature and waterfront parks; and a state-of-the-art Ridge Marina—all designed to connect you with family, friends, nature, and always, the lake.