Lake Magazine August 2023

Wicker Point

Benjamin Russell Fising team headed to Nationals

Lions Lake Martin Poker Run in

hen I discovered the joy of watching birds, I was living in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and often paddled Busse Lake in a canoe. That was where I first caught a glimpse of the green heron’s entertaining antics. Kenneth Boone happened across one of these elusive birds last month, and the happy little guy spent half an hour posing for his camera. Turn to page 62 to learn about this small native wader.

On page 80, Greg Vinson speaks of the importance of mentoring kids who show interest in fishing. And you’ll find some results of just that kind of mentoring on page 30 in Henry Zimmer and Breanna Manley’s article about two recent high school graduates who won the state championship after years of mentoring from their fathers. But you might want to have a box of Kleenex handy, as it’s a very touching story.

Fishing isn’t the only sport that brought trophies home to Lake Martin this summer. Dixie Sailing Club swept the podium at the Catalina 22 nationals this year, taking first place in Gold and Silver fleet competitions, as well as Spinnaker. Read about the DSC adventure on page 58.

About eight years ago, my husband declared he’d taken all the ballroom dancing lessons he could tolerate, and it was time for me to learn to play golf. I’m so glad I did because if I hadn’t, the stunning reality that is the new Wicker Point Golf Club would have been lost to me. Russell Lands Director of Golf Matt Sheppard gave me a private tour last month, and if you play golf, you’ll be positively giddy about this incredible course. Get a sneak peek at the first nine holes on page 34.

And on page 38, you’ll read about the progress next door to the golf club at The Heritage with its incredible year-round lake living for the whole family year-round. Russell Lands released the second phase of home sites last month, and they won’t stay on the market for long.

Few things are as near and dear to Lake Martin residents as the memories made in their homes on the water. And few things feel like a punch in the gut more than a neighbor’s phone call in the middle of the night explaining that the lake house is on fire. Ed and Sherry Pruett were on the receiving end of that phone call one night during the pandemic, and they were devastated at the total loss of their cabin. But they built back on the existing footprint and are grateful for their Lake Martin neighbors. Read their story on page 48.

At Tallapoosa Publishers, we’re excited to bring back the exhibit and reception for our annual Lake Martin Living Art & Photography Contest. Dadeville Performing Arts Center on the beautiful courthouse square will host this year’s event, which will include catered hors d’ oeuvres, wine, music and artworks from around the state on Sept. 28. Turn to page 33 for details and plan to join us.

Staff

Chairman

WKENNETH BOONE editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

General Manager

TIPPY HUNTER editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Editor in Chief

BETSY ILER editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Art Director

AUDRA SPEARS audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Business & Digital Development Director

ANGELA MULLINS angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing RENEE TRICE renee.trice@alexcityoutlook.com

CRAIG HOWARD craig.howard@thewetumpkaherald.com

SHERYL JENNINGS sheryl.jennings@thewetumpkaherald.com

EMILY GREGG emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com

HIDEY ARRINGTON hidey.arrington@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors

KENNETH BOONE

BREANNA MANLEY

JULIE HUDSON

GREG VINSON

CLIFF WILLIAMS

PETE MCKENNY

WILLIAM MARLOW

LIZI GWIN

HENRY ZIMMER

ABIGAIL MURPHY

LONNA UPTON

STEVE FOREHAND

DAVE JENNINGS

ERIC WEIST

JOHN COLEY

ED JAMES

On the Cover

As the Wicker Point Golf Club nears completion, we took a sneak peek at the Coore & Crenshawdesigned course and can attest that it is absolutely spectacular. Walk the first nine holes with us in this issue and see that all the ado about it is true.

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief

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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

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

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Excellent Pay and Benefits

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

23. SHORELINE MANAGEMENT REVIEW Alabama Power hosts a meeting regarding shoreline management policies and potential modifications.

26. FULL AGAIN Children's Harbor camps reach full capacity for first time since the pandemic.

30. BRHS TEAM WINS IT ALL BRHS grads Stihl Smith and Slade Davis talk future plans and their dreams of going pro.

33. ART & PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Gear up for this annual Lake Martin Living magazine event to celebrate local art.

34. WICKER POINT

Construction nears its end for the highly anticipated Wicker Point Golf Club set to open in the fall.

38. THE HERITAGE Phase 2 homesites have been released at The Heritage, and they won't last long.

42. LIONS LAKE MARTIN POKER RUN Fun and games on Lake Mrtin to raise funds for local charities.

48. FROM THE ASHES

A Birmingham family builds back better after a devastating fire destroys their Lake Martin home.

58. NATIONALS CHAMP X2

Lake Martin's Dixie Sailing Club sweeps the national championship as Keith Bennett wins again.

73. FAB FINDS

76. CHEERS!

74. HEALTHY LIVING

78. CHEF'S TABLE

80. BIG CATCHES

83. LOVE OF THE GAME

90. PARTING SHOT

Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake

Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators

In scorching temps, boaters must be prepared

As the country continues to bake under record high temperatures, boaters often head to the water for respite; however, some may be unprepared for what it takes to withstand a high-heat day. Here are a few tips from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water that could help ensure everyone’s safety as temperatures climb.

n Create shade. Direct sunlight can make the air feel 10 to 15 degrees warmer. Reduce the time you spend in it. If you don’t have a cabin or bimini top that offers sun protection, widebrimmed hats; loose fitting, moisturewicking clothing (try a UPF-rated long sleeve shirt); or fishing neck gaiters are next best.

n Keep extra water aboard. Yeah, that’s a no-brainer; however, you’d be surprised how many boaters bring just enough water for a short outing. Crew and guests may want to consume water like out of a firehose on super hot days!

(Good boating housekeeping tip: Keep a supply of bottled water in a locker or dry bilge area next to the hull, below the waterline. The water will stay cooler

than the air temperature, and it makes it easy to share – or restock your cooler.)

n Know how to safely stay cool. Of course, boaters can take advantage of the best way to stay cool: Jump in! Just don’t jump off a moving vessel. Find a safe, out-the-way anchorage, drop the hook and enjoy!

Weather Outlook for Month

August 2023 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the low 90s with average lows in the upper 60s and slightly under 5 inches of precipitation in the month of August.The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will lean above average and rainfall will sbe lightly below average this month.

Year-to-Date

Precipitation: 32.48

Avg. high temp.: 72.0

Avg. low temp.: 48.1

Avg. temp.: 60.0

Information from the National Weather Service.

Our Normal August

Precipitation: 4.70 inches

Avg. high temp.: 90.2

Avg. low temp.: 68.6

Avg. temp.: 79.4

n Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to cool down. It can happen either gradually or suddenly. Telltale signs are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, fainting, skin hot to the touch, nausea or vomiting. Infants and children are especially susceptible. Immediately moving the victim to a cooler environment and providing lots of fluids can help buy time for a heat stroke victim until you reach first responders.

n Have a way to communicate. If you have an unexpected breakdown or other issue, this is not the time of year to be stuck out on the water. Not only is the temperature a significant stressor, atmospheric conditions, especially in the afternoon hours, can bring sudden and powerful storms. Bring your cellphone, keeping it dry and charged.

With no sign of cooling over the next month, pay attention to avoid dangerous effects from the heat.

Last Month's Lake Levels

Summer: 491 MSL

Winter: 481 MSL

Highest: 490.24

Lowest: 490.14

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.

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).

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) The sun sets behind Smith Mountain on Lake Martin. (2) Tony Johnson drops a few lines in the lake off his dock and goes up to the house where he can see the fishing poles from his easy chair. When he gets a bite, he runs down to the dock to reel in his catch. (3) Danielle Jordan and Mary Tate Prather venture into the water a bit on a Lilly pad over Memorial Day weekend. (4) Jill Heape's sunset photo on Lake Martin calls to mind The Crykle's 1966 hit, "Red Rubber Ball." (5) New to Lake Martin, Kelly Sanders sent this photo of Tilly, who already loves the lake life. (6) Rick Langhorne chills in the lake with Sadie and Chance after work on a Tuesday afternoon.

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) Mike Daniel sent this photo of Sky ending a beautiful day on the lake. (2) Wilks Turner is in his element with ample sun protection at Lake Martin. (3) Lauren Craddock started the summer with her dogs, Milo and Brewster, at the family cabin on Lake Martin. (4) A pair of hummingbirds flies away over Lake Martin after feeding at Lexy Oliver's station. (5) Not all of the Lake Martin azaleas on Powell Drive were lost to the frost. (6) Rebecca Harris' grandson, River, and his friend, Leighton, feel the wind in their hair on a Real Island boat

ride.

Aug. 3

Lake Martin Area United Way Campaign Kick Off

Lake Martin Area United Way invites you to join them at the Alexander City Municipal Complex for their 2024 Campaign Kick Off. The event begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and include heavy appetizers with one drink ticket per adult. Enjoy live entertainment by the Blackberry Breeze duo and join LMAUW in celebrating their new campaign.

Aug. 3

Teal Town Fundraiser

EXIT Realty

Hometown is hosting this networking fundraising event in hopes to raise money for the Butterfly Bridge. The event will be held at the Eclectic Warehouse and will feature live and silent auctions, a wine pull and raffles.

Aug. 5

Duck Norris Race

This annual fundraiser for Tallapoosa County Sheriffs’ Girl Ranch and Tri-County

Aug. 7

Alexander City Schools

Classes for the fall semester start back for all schools in the Alexander City School System.

Aug. 7-Oct.16 GriefShare

Meet at Red Ridge United Methodist Church on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for GriefShare. This 11-week program is a community event open to all. Workbooks for this program cost $20. For more information, contact the Rev. Dorothy Scott at 205-907-5270 or email dorothy.scott@umcna. org.

Aug. 12

Local Author Reading

Dadeville Public Library will host a reading with local author Rachel Canady Edwards at 10 a.m. Come out to hear the presentation of her children’s book, The Adventures of Jack Jack and BoBo: Jack Jack Goes to the Doctor. This book is the first in the series.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Children’s Advocacy Center has raised more than $23,000 since the duck race began in 2018. Purchase individual rubber ducks for $5 each or increase your chance to win by buying in bulk. Purchase five ducks for $20. Ducks are available for purchase at Chuck’s Marina. They will be released upstream, and the first one to reach the finish line wins. Funds raised through this event help to provide therapy services and transportation. Visit the Chuck’s Marina Facebook page for more information.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN

Aug. 12 Night Hike

Russell Lands Naturalist Marianne will guide you through Russell Forest from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to listen to the evening sounds and watch night fall in the woods. Insect repellant will be provided. Bring a flashlight and drinking water and wear comfortable shoes. There is a $10 charge for this event, and reservations are required. To reserve your spot call 256-496-2710.

Aug. 15

Aug. 4

Tallapoosa County School District

Fall semester classes start back for the Tallapoosa County School district.

Aug. 4-5

Taking the Old Man HomeTour Auditions

Auditions for Taking the Old Man Home Tour by Patti Smith will take place at Dadeville Performing Arts Center on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Shows will be staged Sept. 14-17. For more information, call Patti Smith at 256-750-7153.

Tallapoosa County Cares Meeting

Head out to the East Alabama Mental Health Center from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to join the discussion on ways to resolve the issue of underage drinking. The meeting will be held in the conference room. Contact Ashley Williams at 256-373-3538 or email ashley.williams@eamhc.org for more information.

Sept. 1-2

Labor Day at Crossroads

Russell Lands will host a free, two-day Labor Day weekend concert series at Russell Crossroads at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets, blankets and coolers or pick up

Meet friends and family at Friday On The Green at Russell Crossroads every Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

dinner and your favorite beverage at Catherine’s or Fanny Goldmine Diner. Pups on a leash are welcome, too. Visit russelllands.com/blog/events for details.

Sept. 8

Blackbird Pickers at Central Park

Head to Central Park located across from Blue Bell in Sylacauga for a performance by the Blackbird Pickers. The show starts at 5 p.m. and lasts til 8 p.m. and features a variety of cover songs and original music with a unique American/Rock ‘n’ Roll sound.

Sept. 14-17

Taking the Old Man HomeTour

Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host the readers theatre presentation of Taking the Old Man Home Tour by Patti Smith. Tickets are $10. Performances take place Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. The performance on Sunday begins at 3 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

Sept. 19-21

Creating Magical Bird Paintings in Oils

Award-winning painter Michelle Held will lead this three-day studio workshop at Tallapoosa School of Art. Class is limited to 10 students. For information or to book online, email dorothylittleton@gmail.com or visit the website at tallapoosaworkshops.com.

Sept. 28

Lake Martin Living magazine Art & Photography Contest Exhibit & Reception

Tallapoosa Publishers will host an exhibit and reception for the annual Lake Martin Living magazine Art & Photography Contest at Dadeville Performing Arts Center from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. See the article on page 33 for details.

Sept. 30 - Oct. 1

Lake Martin Multi-Hull Rendezvous

Dixie Sailing Club will host an open multi-hull regatta for catamarans and trimarans to invite multi-hull sailors to DSC for races and general hospitality. For information, email jsimons944@aol.com.

Season-long Events

Friday On The Green

There’s free music on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Friday night this summer. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, pups on the leash and coolers. There will be food trucks and lawn games. Friday On The Green is a great way to kickstart your weekend at the lake.

LMYP Game Night

Every third Thursday of the month, grab your crew and meet at The Local at 41 Main in downtown Alexander City

from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for games, laughs and exclusive LMYP drink specials. It’s free to play the games, like trivia and bingo and more, and the grand prize is always $50. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page for more information.

Yoga on the Green

Russell Lands will host yoga on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings from Memorial Day weekend to the end of September. Bring a mat, water bottle and towel and start your weekend at Lake Martin with yoga in the open air.

Driving & Docking Clinics

Boost your confidence and learn to operate and dock your boat during these free clinics at Singleton Marine. Sessions are held at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Call 256-825-8888 or email lnowling@singletonmarine.com to reserve your free spot.

n First Wednesday of each month through AugustPontoons

n Second Wednesday of each month through AugustSterndrives

n Third Wednesday of each month through August - Tow Boats

Lake Martin Strand Sessions

Lake Martin Young Professionals invite you to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, coolers and family and friends to Strand Park in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month through August for free music in the park. Watch the kids play, meet friends old and new and enjoy a pleasant evening. Visit the Strand Sessions Facebook page for details.

Lake Martin Civitan Club

The Lake Martin Civitan Club meets at noon in the private room at JR’s Grill, 145 Alabama St., Alexander City, on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call Audrey Moore at 256-786-0465.

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. 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 tours or private tours, email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com or call 256-329-8474.

Artists Association of Central Alabama

AACA artists meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds with a general meeting followed by open studio. Club dues are $20 for the year.

Alexander City Lions Club

Serving 27 local charities in Tallapoosa County, the Alexander City Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at Lake Martin Area United Way office on Main Street. A meal is provided at the second meeting of the month, which features an engaging speaker. For more information, contact Mae Lynn O’Neil at 256-750-7404.

Dadeville Community Chorus

Dadeville Community Chorus will begin rehearsals at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. No auditions are required to join the chorus, just faithful participation. All ages are welcome to join, and there’s a $30 quarterly or patreon/performer membership fee. Enroll at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com. For more information email office@dadevilleperformingartscenter.com. Concerts will be held on Nov. 26 and Dec. 5.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month. In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the second Saturday of the month. Meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. For more information, contact John Thompson at 334-399-3289 or Michelle West at 256-786-0584. In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the second 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 dropoff on site. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

Fiber Fridays

Bring your knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery and other fiber art projects to The Yarn Shop Around the Corner in Dadeville from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays to meet fellow fiber artisans, share tips and techniques and talk with others who share your interests. For more information, call 334-444-1038.

Library Storytime in Dadeville

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

Children’s Library in Alexander City

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children.

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. For more information, call 334-857-2008.

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 256-750-5710.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne 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. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Fourth Fridays at EPAC

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.

Tallassee Lions Club

The Tallassee Lions Club meets every Tuesday at Cozumel Restaurant, across from the football stadium in Tallassee, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to join for an hour of humor, information, civic pride and patriotism. Call Marilyn Speake at 334-283-6864 or email her at marilyn.speake@tcschools.com.

Main Street Farmers Market

Main Street Alexander City will open the Farmers Market from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday through September. Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, jellies, jams, breads, baked goods, handmade items and more at the market’s location in the old City Hall parking lot on Main Street.

What’s Downtown Wednesday

Visit Alexander City’s downtown merchants, restaurants and lounges on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for extended hours with live music, special sales, drink specials and more. For more information, visit the Main Street Alexander City Facebook page.

Lake Martin News

“It will work,” Fuller said. “This year not getting to have it, I think a lot of people have asked them about doing this.”

~ Cliff Williams

Publix to break ground this month in Alexander City

Officially named The Gateway at Lake Martin, the new shopping center at the intersection of the U.S. Route 280 and Highway 63, will feature a Publix supermarket as an anchoring retailer.

The 46,000 square-foot store will include a grocery store, pharmacy and deli.

River Fest may return next year

For two years the Tallapoosa River Fest attracted kayakers to view the Cahaba lilies on the river.

Tallapoosa County Tourism created the event to bring visitors and their tax dollars to the area. The event outgrew its location at Kylee Cooper Farms, and logistics saw the event not come together last year. But Tallapoosa County Tourism Director Sandra Fuller and New Site Mayor Phil Blasingame are hopeful for the future of the event.

“We want to add a festival feel to it with vendors, food trucks, live music, just a larger type of festival for New Site,” Fuller said.

Blasingame sees the possibility of River Fest coming to New Site as a positive. He envisions kayakers spending the day in town eating and more.

“We think it could be built into an extremely nice project for our community because the river is so valuable,” Blasingame said. “You could go a lot of different directions with that. You could do a trade day. You could have people sing, have a cook out. There are all sorts of avenues to spin off on that.”

New Site offers opportunities to grow River Fest, according to Fuller. She said the festival has maxed out at about 150 paddlers.

“There are places there in town we could easily add 50 more the first year,” Fuller said.

Ideally the festival needs to be held between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the prime season for Cahaba lilies on the river. Fuller and Blasingame want to look at New Site and beyond for potential partners.

“We are trying to establish whether the fire department uses it as a fundraiser or maybe school clubs get involved,” Blasingame said. “Let’s see who we can pull together there in the center of town.”

There are still things to work out. Blasingame said the town wants to make sure it knows what it is getting into.

Two meetings have already occurred between Fuller and New Site officials to begin the process of bringing River Fest to New Site but more are in the works.

Evan Conder with Venture South Investments also confirmed a Starbucks and a Barberitos Mexican Grill among the shopping center’s dining options.

Other retailers set to join the shopping center include a national specialty discount store, a footwear retailer, a national wireless company and a nail salon.

These afore-mentioned companies will announce new store locations within the shopping center in the coming weeks, Conder said.

The shopping center will comprise 93,000 square feet in total with a cost of $35 million.

Conder said he looked forward to breaking ground on the development during the first or second week of August.

~ William Marlow

River Fest is held between Mother's Day and Father's Day, which is prime time to view the blooming Cahaba lilies.

Publix will anchor a new shopping center at the intersection of U.S. Route 280 and State Route 63 with construction set to begin soon.

McDaniels leave legacy at Lakeside

The McDaniel family has retired from Lakeside Marina –passing the torch to Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell of Momentum Marine.

The previous owner, Donnie McDaniel, died of heart failure on Dec. 5, 2022. Survived by his brother Buddy McDaniel, the two had discussed selling the marina earlier that year.

Buddy said he believes the new owners can take Lakeside to new horizons with the foundation Donnie had built up for the past 20 years.

According to Buddy, Donnie took the marina from barely on the map to one of the top single-owned, small business marinas in the county.

“It was an enjoyable time of servicing people and also having the No. 1 line of pontoon boats in the county, Bennington,” he said.

With Donnie’s legacy at Lakeside, Buddy said he first got into the marina business with his brother about six years ago. Currently he is the owner of Lakeside Marina at Bay Pine, which he will continue to manage and run.

shoreline with at least 100 feet of shoreline each.

Robinette said the potential development would be under the Amadeus umbrella but meet many of the requirements of Russell Lands developments.

“We can’t just turn around and sell it,” Robinette said. “We have to be involved. It will be pretty much like a Russell Lands’ development because we are using their covenants, restrictions and restrictions on docks not being covered.”

Robinette said just land sales in the development are not allowed. Instead, potential home buyers would select a home model and lot with the home built by Lake Martin Signature Construction, also affiliated with Amadeus. The construction company is already an approved builder for Russell Lands developments.

“It will be a very nice community,” Robinette said. “It will be something that hasn’t been done on this end of the lake.”

SpringHouse wins Best of Bama award

Alabama Magazine named SpringHouse at Russell Crossroads as the state’s best fine dining destination in their 2023 Best of Bama awards. Visit https://www.russelllands.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ best-of-bama-2023.pdf for the complete list.

As the new owners of Lakeside take over, the marina will continue to sell Bennington, Centurion, Robalo, Monterey and Starcraft deck boats.

~ Abigail Murphy

New lakefront neighborhood in the works in Alexander City

Amadeus Development Group is close to closing a real estate deal with Russell Lands to develop a lakefront property within the city limits of Alexander City.

Amadeus’ David Robinette and Russell Lands’ Steve Arnberg said the potential new neighborhood is between Coven Abbett Road and Elkahatchee Creek.

Robinette said the development, potentially to be named “The Pines,” is approximately 440 acres with about 150 lakefront homesites along more than 4 miles of Lake Martin

Robinette said it is a master planned development with a clubhouse, pool, dog park, walking trails, golf cart accessibility, community docks and a community boat ramp.

“The interior lots will have access to the water, but not necessarily a deeded slip,” Robinette said. “They will have docks to use for the day.”

~ Staff Reports

Arnberg said Russell Lands is comfortable with Amadeus and its partners having worked together for years on various projects around Lake Martin.

“These are folks we have long-term relationships and knowledge of,” Arnberg said. “They know how we think. We know how they think, and we are comfortable with each other.”

Robinette said Amadeus is proud to be working with Russell Lands.

“It is an honor to be able to purchase a piece of land and do something this large,” Robinette said. “It is an honor they put their trust in us with something of this magnitude.”

~ Cliff Williams

SpringHouse is nestled on a hilltop overlooking The Stables at Russell Crossroads

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Shoreline Management Review

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS

FFall extension of summer pool might not occur again during a 10-foot drawdown year, according to Dave Anderson, Alabama Power Hydro Licensing Specialist. Anderson presented a review of Lake Martin’s current shoreline management policies and some potential modifications at a public workshop on July 18 in the ballroom at the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Technology Center.

During the discussion portion of the meeting, Lake Martin Resource Association Legal Counsel Steve Forehand suggested a condition prohibiting

the fall extension implementation during a 10-foot drawdown year. Forehand said the most recent coincidence of the fall extension and the 10-foot drawdown compressed the time available for dock and seawall maintenance, putting a strain on homeowners and dock companies to complete permitted work.

The conditional fall extension was granted in the 2015 license issued to the utility company by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to operate Martin Dam and manage the Lake Martin reservoir. The license allows the summer pool level to be maintained for six additional weeks after the stipulat-

ed drawdown date of Sept. 1 if certain conditions are met within the river system. The license also calls for a 10-foot drawdown every six years, as opposed to an annual 7-foot annual drawdown from summer pool to winter poo.

Anderson said the change would be proposed to FERC before the next 10-foot drawdown year of 2027.

“That’s on the to-do list for before the next drawdown,” Anderson told the estimated crowd of 350 lake property and business owners. “We have some time to get that through before the next 10-foot drawdown.”

Anderson said most changes to the shoreline management policies will be minor and will be made to coincide with the shoreline management policies at Lewis Smith Lake on the Black Warrior River.

“Although permitting guidelines differ among the reservoirs due to regional topography and historical development, Alabama Power strives to manage its shoreline consistently among its hydroelectric projects. Doing so provides some efficiencies in the management program and provides a level of uniformity when talking to the public and state and federal agencies,” he explained.

Minor changes could be made to the natural/undeveloped land classification, due to recently acquired updated elevation data to define the full pool contour, which is 491 mean sea level feet, Anderson said.

“We are still working on updating the maps to reflect FERC approved changes and updated elevation data and do not know if it will result in a minor addition or loss of natural/undeveloped lands. If it does, we expect it to be less than 5 acres,” he noted.

Another expected change would extend the shoreline management policy review period to 10 years instead of the current six.

“Reviewing the plan every six years is tied to a recreation report that Alabama Power used to have to file with FERC, but FERC has removed that requirement. Reviewing the plan every 10 years is more reasonable in order to capture trends in shoreline development, changes in the permitting process, and that would be consistent with our next scheduled recreation study, which is to occur in 2031,” he said.

During the discussion period following Anderson’s presentation, several residents questioned the increase in commercial development around the lake on properties that once belonged to Alabama Power.

Such properties may have been developed by Alabama

Power, but since development, the lots were deeded to individual owners. Restrictive covenants have conveyed with the deeds, and attendees urged Alabama Power to take action against the alleged violations of the covenants.

“These issues have been brought to our attention,” Anderson explained, “but once we sell the subdivision, we don’t have any say in what goes on there.”

A spokesperson for Alabama Power further explained the company’s lack of authority to address commercial development issues in former company neighborhoods.

“Developers create covenants in neighborhoods to protect the homeowners from various issues. These covenants apply not only to the original, but also to each subsequent owner within the chain of title for the property. A developer may monitor and enforce such covenants while a neighborhood is being initially developed, but upon completion, ongoing issues with restrictive covenants typically are the responsibility of the owners and neighbors within the neighborhood and/or its homeowners association, if any,” the spokesperson said.

In addressing future commercial development, Anderson explained that Alabama Power will not develop land that is classified as natural/undeveloped in the current license from FERC for the duration of the license.

Other issues brought up for discussion included large wakes and congestion, but these matters also fall outside of Alabama Power’s authority, Anderson said.

“The water is owned by the people of Alabama. The land under the water up to the full pool contour line is owned by Alabama Power,” he said.

He referred matters of erosion, water quality and fertilization run-off to Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s Green Book for procedures in filing complaints. Though attendees expressed frustration in their attempts to communicate with ADEM, Anderson said Alabama Power cannot take action regarding issues over which they have no authority.

As for reports of dangerous activities on the lake, he referred those concerned to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol.

For issues regarding permitting of docks, seawalls and other structures up to the contour line or on lands managed by Alabama Power, Anderson referred questions to the local shoreline management office in Dadeville.

Visit apcshorelines.com for the current guidelines, permitting forms and best management practices information.

Previous Pages: Docks and seawalls are among the permitted structures included in Alabama Power's shoreline management policies; Above Erosion, wildlife and some other issues at the lake are enforced by ADEM, DCNR or ALEA.

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Full Again

Children's Harbor camps in full session for first time since pandemic

STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHILDREN'S HARBOR

FFor the first time since the pandemic, Children’s Harbor camps are at full capacity with 25 youth and family camps scheduled through the end of August. Returning and new campers are flocking to the beloved Lake Martin campus that caters to seriously ill children and their families.

Vicki Tuggle, chief operating officer at Children’s Harbor, said she couldn’t be happier to see the number of campers continue to climb.

“It’s the first time in four years we’re at full capacity. Because of the pandemic, it was impossible for the seriously ill campers to make it out, and they couldn’t really return until this year. Now, they’re able to come back, and we’re able to provide additional camps for other illness populations,” Tuggle said.

The surge in campers for youth and family sessions has prompted the hiring of additional employees on the Children’s Harbor team, she added.

“We have had a full staff this year. In fact, we had to add to our staff because of the number of camps we’ve had at Children’s Harbor this year,” Tuggle explained.

Children’s Harbor was established in 1990 with a generous donation of acreage by Ben and Luanne Russell of Alexander City. The facility hosts camps and organizations that serve families through The

Harbor Family Center at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. Built in the style of a nautical New England village, the Lake Martin campus at Kowaliga offers handicap-accessible lodging, dining and recreation facilities, including putt-putt golf, swimming pool, basketball, playground and more.

Along with a full roster of hosted camps, interest in family camps and retreats is growing, Tuggle said. Through retreats, families with health-challenged children can take advantage of the accessible facility to reconnect and unwind, taking a break from the stress of the everyday life of doctor visits and medical treatments to have fun.

“Our youth camps are filling up, but the family retreats are where the growth is. We have weekend availability set aside for family retreats all year long. As of now, we have just about every weekend booked through December,” Tuggle explained.

Tuggle said more family camps will be added as the interest continues to grow.

With so much activity at the Lake Martin campus,

Facing Page: Volunteers take kids in a Children's Harbor camp session for a boat ride; Below: Camp staff have a great time on the boat, too.

"It's the first time in four years we're at full capacity.

"

~ Vicki Tuggle

volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities. In 2022, Children’s Harbor created a volunteer group called Harbor Helpers to assist with camps, family retreats and the general upkeep of the facility.

“By the end of the summer when we first introduced Harbor Helpers, we were just blown away with the number of people who showed up; and then, they would tell their neighbors about it. One of our volunteers said she thinks she found her purpose,” Tuggle said.

No matter the time of year, volunteers are needed on the Lake Martin campus. During various camps, volunteers offer boat rides to campers, serve meals, prepare materials for camper activities and assist with many other projects. Volunteers also help to beautify and maintain the grounds.

Volunteers work in the Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store adjacent to the camp facility, as well. Sales of donated items at the store help to fund programs and maintenance.

“The word about Harbor Helpers just continues to spread throughout the lake community. Our ability to continue hosting more camps is based on the people in our community and their willingness to help. Our volunteers continue to be the story,” Tuggle explained.

To learn more about Children’s Harbor partnerships with various organizations and/or upcoming camps and family retreats, visit the website at childrensharbor. com. Contact information for partnering organizations can also be found on the website.

Those interested in volunteering through Harbor Helpers could find more information and sign up for volunteering opportunities through the “Support Us” tab on the website.

Top: The Lake Martin campus serves patients at Children's of Alabama; Left: Camps are full again for the first time since COVID struck in 2020.

BRHS team wins it all

STORY HENRY ZIMMER & BREANNA MANLEY PHOTOS BY HENRY ZIMMER

With high school graduation in the rearview mirror and their futures already set to fish in college, Benjamin Russell High School’s Stihl Smith and Slade Davis pulled off the miracle. Going into the tournament at Lake Eufaula in June, they didn’t have enough points to head to the national stage, but they came home with the state championship trophy.

Smith and Davis have been fishing ever since they can remember.

Smith has been bass fishing since he was 12 years old.

“Nobody I knew really cared to fish for bass back then, so I learned to do it myself. I got a boat around 12, and that’s when I really started learning all I could about it,” Smith explained.

Though he’d played baseball through his elementary school years, Smith gave up the sport in his sophomore year; and then, he joined the BRHS fishing team.

“I played baseball almost all my life, and I realized I

Wdidn’t like how much time the sport took away from me. I still wanted to do something, though. I talked to Coach Williams, and I joined the fishing team after talking with him about it,” Smith said.

Davis, who transferred to Benjamin Russell from Dadeville for his eighth-grade year, has been around fishing his whole life and believes he developed his love of fishing from the anglers in his life.

“I was raised around it, and it really has turned into my whole life. Mainly, my dad taught me how to fish. Both my dad and grandad helped me learn more about fishing early on, but I really credit my dad when it comes to my love of the sport,” Davis said.

Davis was first introduced to tournament fishing when he joined the Dadeville fishing team. When he transferred to the Alexander City, he looked up fishing team Coach Josh Williams.

“I joined the Ben Russell fishing team in the eighth

grade. I transferred from Dadeville to Benjamin Russell, and I wanted to join the team because I had so much fun fishing on Dadeville’s team. I talked to Coach Williams,” Davis explained.

The two teamed up in a boat, and Smith’s father, Jeff Smith, captained for them. He was a father figure and a coach. He also handled the background duties for the duo, organizing coolers in the boat and booking hotel rooms.

But a week before the state tournament, which the team expected would be their last, Jeff was killed in a tractor accident.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” Williams said. “Stihl struggled a bit, but he told me that he was going to win state for his dad. We did everything we could to prepare them.”

Every Benjamin Russell boat adorned a flag remembering Captain Jeff.

Many of Benjamin Russell’s anglers struggled during the opening round. Only the boats of Smith and Davis and fellow Wildcats Jackson Fuller and Davis Barnett hit their three-fish limit on the first day of fishing.

When every fish had been counted and the final tallies came in on the first day of the tournament, it was the boat that said it would win that led the field.

“After that first day, I thought they might actually pull this off,” Williams said.

On the second and final day, Smith and Davis crushed the pack. Smith reeled in the tournament’s biggest fish, a whopping 7.31 pounder, adding to his boat’s final score of 28.99 points across two days. The boys finished more than four points ahead of the second place boat.

Winning at the state competition secured Smith and Davis one more chance to fish together. Earning a top-five spot at state guaranteed the team a place at the Bassmaster National Championship, alongside Fuller and Barnett. That tournament was fished after Lake magazine’s presstime, so check The Alex City Outlook’s sports page for the results.

This fall, the anglers will fish again, but they’ll be on separate teams at separate schools.

Davis accepted a fishing scholarship from the University of Montevallo.

“I decided to go to Montevallo because they’re the No. 1 fishing team on the collegiate level in the nation. They also have this neat program called the President’s Outdoor Scholars Program, which is where students can take trips. The program isn’t traditional for colleges. Those who participate in the program have a love and appreciation for the outdoors, and Montevallo encourages that,” Davis said.

He plans to major in business marketing and hopes to go pro.

Much like Davis, Smith is eager to see what the future holds.

He’ll stay close to home to start his college career, attending Central Alabama Community

College in Alexander City.

“I decided to go to CACC because I’m not quite sure what I want to do career-wise, so I thought I could go to CACC and get a good education in my hometown. I’m still deciding what’s next. CACC fishing team is also doing really well, and I’m excited to be part of it,” Smith explained.

Smith and Davis had needed at least a top-five showing at state to guarantee their trip to the national championship.

And in the first tournament ever without their captain, they won it all.

“I knew I wanted to win it for Dad,” Smith said. “I went down there with the mindset of winning and trying to make my dad proud. Luckily we did.”

Facing Page: Smith and Davis show off their big catch; Below: Both anglers won scholarships for college; Bottom photo: Smith (center) will fish at CACC this fall, and Davis (right) will go to Montevallo.

Lake Martin Living Art & Photography Contest

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

LLake Martin Living magazine’s Art & Photography Contest this year returns Sept. 28 as an exhibit-and-reception event at Dadeville Performing Arts Center with cash prizes for the winners, as well as recognition of every entering artist in the October issue of Lake’s sister publication.

“We’re excited to bring our annual art show and awards reception to Dadeville’s arts center on the beautiful courthouse square,” said TPI Magazine Editor-in-Chief Betsy Iler. “We’ve watched the Dadeville arts scene grow in recent years and are looking forward to being a part of it.”

Entry fees in this year’s contest are $20 for each work submitted, and each entry includes one ticket to the exhibit and reception, as well as one vote for the People’s Choice Award. Event-only tickets (no artwork entered) will be available for $15 and include a People’s Choice vote. The event will include catered hors d’oeuvres, and each ticketholder will receive two drink tickets. The reception also will feature live music. Ticketholders are eligible for door prizes, which will be drawn throughout the reception.

Tickets are available through Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., at 548 Cherokee Rd., Alexander City or call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

First place winners in each category (art or photography) will receive $200; $150 will be awarded to second place winners; and third place in each category will receive $100. The People’s Choice winner also will receive $100. All submitting artists will be featured

inside the October issue of Lake Martin Living magazine, with one of the first place works featured on the cover. Artists and event sponsors also will be recognized in the Alex City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald and The Tallassee Tribune and on TPI websites and social media.

Deadline for entries will be 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. All entries must be ready to hang and clearly identified on the back with the artist’s name, mailing address, email and phone number. Entries must be submitted to 548 Cherokee Rd., Alexander City. Each artist will be limited to three entries. Only original works that have not previously been submitted in the contest are eligible for entry.

Entries must reflect the nature, beauty or lifestyle of Alabama.

Look for more details about the exhibit and reception in the August issue of Lake Martin Living magazine and in TPI newspapers, websites and social media.

Wicker Point

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUSSELL LANDS

TTake a moment to breathe before you make the turn through the gates because Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s Wicker Point Golf Club course will take your breath away long before you take your first swing.

Check in at the 4,000-square-foot golf shop with its intimate pro shop, well-appointed locker rooms and cozy post-play bar. The rich, earthy interior here introduces you to the golf experience you are about to remember for the rest of your life. White oak plank walls, pecky cypress ceilings, reclaimed oak flooring and chestnut-stained maple lockers complement the eight-foot, eight-pane craftsman doors, the warm stone fireplace in the Wind Down room and the views. And you haven’t even put your shoes on yet.

Warm up on the 40,000-square foot practice green, practically a course on its own; and then, step on over to the No. 1 tee box. It’s only about 30 feet away. The close proximity of greens to upcoming tee boxes is part of Coore & Crenshaw’s signature design. They wanted the course to be very walking-friendly, like the old courses, as if it’s always been here. And it truly has.

One of – if not the – most in-demand golf course architects in the world, Coore & Crenshaw didn’t build the Wicker Point course as much as they revealed it, the way a woodcarver teases an image from the grain. The gently rolling contours of the land, the burbles of a winding creek, the plantation stands of pine have graced the Wicker Point peninsula since before the Tallapoosa River Valley was back flooded to create Lake Martin a hundred years ago. It’s as if Coore & Crenshaw merely aided the property in becoming all that it dreamed it could be, the

centerpiece of Lake Martin’s most exclusive golf lifestyle.

“Four years ago, Cary Whiteard and I walked with these two through the woods out there, wearing snake boots and leggings and carrying a topographical map,” said Russell Lands Vice President Roger Holliday. “I dropped pins on my cellphone to keep us from getting lost. We did several walkabouts, taking notes on the topo map and later matching that up with Google maps.”

Even the concept of the course was developed in increments, starting with the locations of the greens and tee boxes. They did not use dynamite to lower the morainelike rolls but let the lay of the land lead them through the course. When trees were cleared, the flow of fairways became evident, and the architects could see where the bunkers should be located.

“They were very deliberate about the purpose of the bunkers. Sometimes, they are risk and reward; sometimes, they are penalties and other times, just for guidance,” Holliday said. “What makes Coore & Crenshaw special is that their courses are designed to be fair and challenging on all levels of play.”

On No. 8, for example, after determining the yardage from the back tee, Bill Coore instructed his team to not cut a tree that would otherwise be cleared, as it was uniquely positioned to offer shade for the ladies’ tee box.

But you haven’t approached that hole yet; come back to the first hole and take that swing.

The No. 1 fairway in front of you stretches 542 breathtaking yards from the back tee box with sightline over the seniors’ and ladies’ tees. Between banking knolls of plantation pines, the fairway rolls toward the mere glimpse

of a creek just inside the fairway, one of the many natural elements the Coore & Crenshaw team preserved.

Though no one would suspect the transition had been excavated, the ridge between the knolls was cleared to expose the creek to view, explained Russell Lands Director of Golf Matt Sheppard.

“Bill Coore doesn’t want blind trouble off the tee. With the ridge there, you couldn’t see the creek, and he didn’t want you to tee off without knowing you had to clear it on your drive,” Sheppard said.

“On this first hole, you just hit the ball as hard as you can. The fairway is wide open, and you’ve got plenty of room. That bunker halfway up the fairway won’t come into play. It’s just for looks. No one will ever hit it that far,” he added.

The native areas under the towering pines were developed with the help of Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Claude Jenkins. The picturesque native grasses and seasonal wildflowers are part of a carefully formulated quail habitat mix developed by Jenkins.

This plantation setting is one of three distinct backdrops you will encounter during your round. In addition to the plantation pine features, the course includes a series of creekside holes, as well as stunning lakeside fairways.

No. 3, a short par 4 at about 350 yards, is the first green the architectural team sited.

“As we were walking around the property with the architects, trying to see if it was a viable location for a golf course, this is the area where they said, ‘Yes, we can make a golf course here,’” Sheppard said.

Unlike the first two long holes, No. 3 ends with a small green. Coore & Crenshaw have proportioned the green sizes to the fairway lengths. A small green paired with a short hole.

No. 4 is a favorite among those who have labored over the Wicker Point Golf Club course for the last four years, and it’s one that Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw spent a great deal of time developing. On their first visit to the property, the architects spent 12 hours here.

“This hole ties the whole course together,” Sheppard said.

Little Ben’s Creek runs along the right fairway edge from tee box down, merging with another creek in front of the green. The creeks influence play in several places on this hole, where the two creeks border the green on three sides.

While the sights and sounds of Mother Nature enhance the golf experience throughout the course, she’ll bring a smile to your face on the No. 4 green. In the ethereal solitude that is a golf course, the soft bubbling of Little Ben’s Creek as it runs by the green, the gentle breeze in the treetops and the unexpected music of birds in the ravine create the formula for a thoughtful, relaxed putt. A goal of the architectural team was to make every hole memorable, and this delightful, intimate connection with nature may well be what you recall about playing No. 4.

“Ben told us the creek that runs through the front nine has the opportunity to be as impactful and as pivotal in the building of the course, as Raes Creek at Augusta,”

Sheppard said.

The par-4 No. 7 hints at the third setting at Wicker Point, as it’s the first hole where you catch a glimpse of the lake through the trees. While the entire course includes about one-and-a-half miles of Lake Martin shoreline, the lake comes into play on six holes.

“One of Russell Lands’ requirements for the course was that they had to use the lake,” Sheppard explained. “That was Bill’s biggest challenge, routing 18 holes in a way that used Lake Martin and made it look like it had been that way since the lake flooded the area in the 1920s.”

When the lake comes into play, it does so in a big way on the par-3 No. 8. All along the 185 yards from tee box to the green, the right side drops steeply into the lake, and the fairway rolls like flowing water.

“It’s no easy birdie hole, that’s for sure,” Sheppard said of this striking lakeside play.

The challenge on No. 9 before the turn is a classic architectural lion’s mouth, a frontside bunker encroaching the green so tightly that the putting carpet wraps from one side of the sand to the other. Talk about risk and reward.

You’ll want to take a brief break in your play now. Check in at the clubhouse to freshen up. Designed by Hank Long of Henry Sprott Long & Associates of Birmingham, the clubhouse sets the tone for classic golf and provides the perfect spot to dine, host an event or just relax after a round. Prepare yourself for the unique surprises designed into each finely tailored hole on the back nine of Coore & Crenshaw’s Wicker Point Golf Club course. You’ll discover it’s even more spectacular than you could ever imagine, as the course challenges your game along Lake Martin like you’ve never before seen it.

As you sip a cool beverage in the clubhouse, you might start working on the list of friends you’ll invite to play here.

Wicker Point Golf Club members will also have access to overnight accommodations for guests at the golf cottages, finely appointed guestrooms with an optional living space available for family events. The groundbreaking for the golf cottages was imminent at Lake magazine’s presstime, with the intention to reduce future construction noise, said Steve Arnberg, Russell Lands Vice President Real Estate Sales.

With the back nine nearing completion at mid-summer in preparation for the fall grand opening, the once-in-alifetime experience of working with golf greats Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw will be missed as the construction process nears its end. At the same time, there is plenty of excitement about the prospect of another exclusive worldclass golf club on Lake Martin.

What comes next, Sheppard said, is a new challenge –living up to the promise.

“We’ve promised an exclusive experience, an inviting atmosphere of true Southern hospitality,” he said. “Everything we’ve done here has been focused on that goal.”

Previous Pages: Lake Martin comes into play on holes 8, 11, 12, 13,16, and 17; Facing Page: On the 17th green, bunkers guide the golfer away from the water hazard.

The Heritage

LLakefront living at The Heritage will be unmatched on Lake Martin, and if market indications continue their current course, it soon could be an opportunity lost for those who hesitate. Last year, 90 percent of the 52 lots in the initial release of the lake’s most exclusive neighborhood sold in about half the time that availability was expected to last, said Russell Lands Vice President of Real Estate Sales Steve Arnberg.

“Given that level of response, we expect that 18 to 20 of the 27 Phase 2 lots will be sold by summer’s end,” Arnberg said.

Price lists for Phase 2 lots were released July 7, and Phase 3, with 30 to 35 lakefront lots, could be released as early as next year. No information about availability of water-access lots throughout the prop-

erty has yet been released.

“We thought Phase I would be a two-year supply and that all three phases would last five-and-a-half or six years,” Arnberg explained. “Now, we realize it could all be sold in three to three-and-a-half years.”

Eleven lots in Phase 1 are now under construction. Five have been through the architectural board approval process, and another five lot owners have submitted plans for approval, Arnberg said.

Bobby McAlpine, Ross Piper, Mitch Ginn, David Smeltzer, Jim Mancell, Adams Gerndt, Bill Moore, Chris Reebals and other approved architects are drawing up plans for the exclusive neighborhood, and more homes in this newest and most exclusive neighborhood are being designed as full-time residences.

“The home designs we are seeing are as beautiful

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUSSELL LANDS

as we have seen on the lake,” Arnberg said.

Like the level of luxury at Wicker Point Golf Club, the Coore & Crenshaw-designed golf course nestled in this premium Lake Martin peninsula, The Heritage will be second to none. Amenities include The Benjamin Lake Club with two saline swimming pools, a tennis pro shop with eight tennis courts and eight dedicated pickleball courts, covered pavilions with a modern grill facility, a private beach, fire pits and a community dock complex.

“The resort pool area will include two tiers of lounge chairs – one tier facing the pool and the outer lower level looking at the lake,” Arnberg said. “The second pool will be ideal for active users with swim lanes, so owners and their guests can exercise or socialize in that area.”

The pool complex will include a snack bar with architecture to match The Benjamin clubhouse, which was designed by renowned Atlanta-based Cooper

Carry. The two-story multi-use clubhouse will offer an owner’s bar and catering kitchen, fitness center, aerobic/yoga room, locker rooms and meeting and event spaces that will blend indoor activities with outdoor recreation. Finishes are purported to be world class.

The Benjamin Lake Club is expected to open in late spring of 2025.

The gated neighborhood will enjoy a high level of privacy, as most lots approach or exceed a full acre. A marina is planned, based on demand, for a 2027 or 2028 opening, Arnberg said.

“The Heritage is accessible to Russell Crossroads, where Russell Lands opened the Fanny Goldmine Diner this spring,” he added.

A variety of entertainment options at Russell Crossroads is just a short drive away from The Heritage. Fridays On The Green, occasional theatrical productions, juried art shows, wildlife presentations and seasonal festivals are among the activities held on The Town Green. In addition, Russell Crossroads is home to Catherine’s Market, a boutique grocery with an impressive inventory of fine wines, quality meats and organic produce. The lake’s finest dining is offered at SpringHouse, and The Stables – a picturesque working equestrian center and popular wedding venue – is nestled at the bottom of the hill.

Arnberg said enthusiastic cooperation with Alexander City officials has had a positive impact on the progression of the Wicker Point facilities, and more is soon to come from the city.

“When Publix is built in Alexander City, that also will make a huge difference for people who want to be at the lake full time,” he said.

Publix will be an anchor for the new shopping center, The Gateway at Lake Martin, which is expected to start construction this month at the intersection of U.S. Route 280 and State Route 63. It is one of several new construction projects that is expected to enhance lake life for residents and visitors alike.

But Arnberg doesn’t expect the abundance of construction in the area to hinder progress at The Heritage.

“We work with approved contractors who are known for the quality of their projects and their ability to complete projects in a timely manner. We’re getting things done,” he said.

And that means homes at The Heritage will grace the neighborhood’s 12 miles of waterfront in the proverbial blink of an eye. Visit russelllands.com/theheritage for more information.

The Heritage and Wicker Point Golf Club will adorn 12 miles of Lake Martin shoreline, blending with the natural elements on lots that approach or exceed 1 acre.

Lions Lake Martin Poker Run

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER & BREANNA MANLEY

Families, friends and co-workers teamed up to raise funds for Alexander City Lions Club at this year's Lions Lake Martin Poker Run, hosted by Russell Marine. Teams visited five marinas, collecting cards and goodies and met up at The Ridge Marina at the end of the day to see who had the best hand.

While temperatures pushed well into the 90s, the rain held off all day, and boaters had a great time. Shades of Gray played at the after party and awards ceremony this year.

More than 200 hands were sold at $175 each, and players picked up cash prizes, giveaways and more at each stop.

Clockwise from Left: From Jurassic Park were Anna, Josh, Garrett and Jack Stuedeman, Aaron Schaffner and Megan and Trace Parker; Matt and Stephanie Harkins, Ashley Schloegel, Jennifer Clark and Christie Sutton celebrated Stephanie's birthday; The Zissner Team included Kendell Willett, Stephanie and Ken Peavy, Keven Belt and Cason Willet; Dawn and Ray Reeves and Sandy and Tony Littleford ushered in Christmas in July; On the Buccee's boat were Kenny, Lindsey, Anthony, Railyn, Ronnie and Lynn Fuller, Brianna and Hunter Vickers, Angie Kittrell and Chad Caldwell; Beth, Russ and Jackson Campbell, Macie, Deuce and Maggie Taylor, Andy Knight, Emily Edgar and Kelly Johnson paid a tribute to America at Work; Todd and Sheila Fuller, Dawson and Danielle Jordan, Kimberly, Chad, Adalyn and Catherine Carter showed "snow" much love for Lake Martin.

This Page Clockwise from Left: Margaret Walker opened the treasure chest to win additional prizes; The Pac Man Team included Caroline, Sally and Katherine Warren, Kaylee Peavy, Izzy White, June Duck, Elizabeth Stewart, Aly Wood, Katie Prodoehl and Lindsay Grant; Mermaids with Margaritas were Joe Abercrombie, Cindy Hearn, Tynie Monk and Todd Casper; Making a Par-Tee of the event were Wood, Callie and Ross Jinright, Jimmy, Cindy, Carli and Brax Barron, Gary Baker, Lauren Phillips and Buddy Fennell; And Sandra and Tim Moser, Jody and Angi Pilkenton, Jeff and Amber Davis and Richard and Dee Dee Mooremon floated with flags.

More than $25,000 was raised for local charities through this year's event.

This Page Clockwise from Above: Chris Coan won best hand; The Skeleton Crew even included the pups; BAE Watch brought out the hunks and babes with Bryan and Andrea Parrott, Paige Watts, Chase Wood, Sam Wells, Tucker Runnion, Shannon Jones, Hayden Hugeley and Justin Mitchell; Titanic took first place in the best crew and boat decorations category with Ashley Laptas, Patrick Cosgrove, Kevin Harper, Paige Crutchfield, Jack Konas, Kennerly Werner and Davis and Stephen Elliott.

Over the last 20 years, more than $325,000 has been raised through the Lions Lake Martin Poker Run, and it's been a lot of fun!

From the Ashes

A Birmingham family builds back better after a devastating fire

STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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Ed Pruett grew up in Dadeville, spending almost every weekend on Lake Martin in one of the original Russell cabins, owned by his uncle. His wife, Sherry, grew up in Madison, camping and fishing on the Tennessee River with her family. They both love the water, so after retirement, they moved from Huntsville to Birmingham and were ready to begin a new chapter of outdoor fun with a house at Lake Martin.

In November 2016, they purchased their new home, located near Nero’s Point and built by Chad Sterns and Ted Watts. The couple enjoyed that home with family and friends until March 29, 2021, when they received heartbreaking news.

“We got a call from our security company that the smoke alarm was going off; then, a call from our neighbor whose sister could see our house burning from across the water. Ed and I drove down immediately, and it was pretty devastating,” Sherry Pruett said. “Several volunteer firetrucks were on the scene, but the house was fully engulfed by the time they arrived. The house burned to complete ashes, burned part of the seawall, melted the Jet Ski and Jet Ski port. We lost over 13 large pine trees. The only things I could save after the fire were an old iron cow bell and an iron ornamental gate, both from my family’s farm in Limestone County.

“Chad was there when we arrived, and after much hugging and crying, he promised he would rebuild for us. He and his wife, Cathy, were great. And, Jeff Ryals, the project manager, was just really helpful through the whole rebuild.”

The Pruetts rented a house in Dadeville that summer, so their grandson, then 14, would have a place to come and bring friends. She credits Justin Howard at Kowaliga Marina for really stepping up to help them get a new Jet Ski for their grandson when inventory was low and demand was high during COVID. Although their kayaks suffered burnt ends in the fire, they were still in working

order.

The couple bought new towels, sheets, pots and pans and other essentials for their summer rental. But unfortunately, at the end of that summer, everything was stolen from a storage unit.

“We were so disheartened, and no one was ever charged in the theft. But finally, we are in our new home for the summer of 2023,” Pruett said.

The couple kept the floor plan of the original house, with only a few minor changes, including a selection of Needlepoint Navy as the exterior color and Iron Ore for the double front doors. Since the Pruetts were starting from scratch this time, they enlisted the help of their daughter, Leslie Murphy, as their designer. Through her company, “Murphy Maude Interiors” located in both Memphis and Nashville, Murphy selected all the colors, furnishings, rugs, fixtures, bedding, artwork and wallpaper. Textures blend beautifully in the furnishings and fabrics, including wicker, rope, rattan and linen.

“We wanted to build the same house our family loved so much but with just a few updates and tweaks. It was important for me to make lemonade out of lemons by improving slightly upon the already stunning original design. We took inspiration from nature and the beautiful surroundings of Lake Martin, aiming to create a peaceful retreat for the family. You can see hints of blues and greens throughout the palette. A sunset-like abstract mural is the backdrop for the master suite,” Murphy said.

Murphy and her mother, using Zoom, selected all of the furniture for the home at the furniture market in North Carolina. Mother and daughter worked for three days on the installation.

“It was exciting and exhausting. We unboxed everything for the install, with the help of my grandson, two of my daughter’s employees and a moving and storage company out of Montgomery,” Pruett said. “We told Ed to stay

Above: The Pruetts chose Needlepoint Navy for the exterior of their new lake home; Right: Fire burned their home to ashes in 2021.

home until it was finished.”

They put a neutral sofa and two blue-green swivel chairs in the living room with a modern leather recliner. Fireballs were selected for the modern white stone fireplace. A live edge granite sofa table separates the living room and dining areas. The walls are painted Alabaster, and the interior doors are Gauntlet Gray.

The dining table seats eight. Four decorative plates serve as table décor yet also function as trays for appetizers, condiments or as trivets for hot plates. Three bar stools with cushioned seats and woven backs add seating at the island. A sec-

ond island in the center of the kitchen offers extra prep space. Both islands are painted Classic Gray. The backsplash and the countertops with mitered edges are Sereno Gold Quartz. Cabinets are painted Pearly White, and the brass hardware is Jasper by Emtek. The kitchen faucet is by Brizo.

The master suite on the main level has access to the covered sun porch and offers a peaceful retreat for the couple. Custom wallpaper behind the cream and khaki upholstered bed was designed by their daughter’s company, “Mable Originals”. Roman shades are utilized in the four bedrooms and were custom made by Calico in Birmingham.

“Mable Originals, named after my grandmother, allows us to create wallpapers, murals, bedding, pillows and beyond through partnerships with regional artists. It was a pleasure to utilize so much of the Mable Originals line in this home. You can see her love of the water and nature in a lot of the Mable products; soft blues and greens, sunset-like patterns, fish, birds, etc.” Murphy said.

The master bath features custom wallpaper behind the double mirrors over the marble-topped

Previous Pages: The large covered porch includes three dinstinct gathering areas; Facing Page: Top: The kitchen offers two islands for prepping and serving; Inset: Seasonal fruits and flowers provide a pop of color; This Page: Clockwise from Left: Mable Originals created the wallpaper in the master bath; Thirteen trees were destroyed in the fire, so landscaping decisions were key in the rebuild; Custom wallpaper from Mable Originals hangs in the master bedroom as well; Four swivel rockers allow views of the fireplace and the lake; Plates on the table serve as both décor and serving pieces; Neighbor Rod Billet custom made the personalized carving board.

vanity, which is painted Templeton Gray. The shower walls are Polished Statuarietto Panels and Elon Pearl White Basketweave tile floor create a luxurious shower. Hardware is Mod Hex by Emtek.

In addition to art from Mable Originals, the couple has enjoyed making purchases at local Lake Martin art shows. They are fond of dragonflies, so in addition to hanging two large prints, they recreated a jigsaw puzzle of dragonflies that hung in the house before the fire. It now hangs in the downstairs hallway.

One guest room and bathroom downstairs are just off the main room. Two bedrooms and a bathroom are upstairs. The bath upstairs has Italian

marble, and the cabinets are painted Sherwin Williams Raindance. Full-length mirrors with ornate, detailed frames hang in every bedroom, adding purposeful, decorative flair.

Two sets of French doors open to the covered porch overlooking the lake, the boathouse and the dock. A white stone fireplace with birch gas logs anchors a comfortable gathering area with four swivel rockers and a round granite coffee table. A television was mounted above the mantel for watching fall football, and a dining table for four balances the opposite end, near the kitchen and a grilling porch.

An investigator from Atlanta was called in to determine the cause of the fire, but the origin

Clockwise from Above: The Pruetts' daughter, an interior designer, suggested a more modern look for the new home; Artwork featuring dragonflies has always been an essential part of the couple's lake house décor; A painting from Mable Originals adds a modern touch to a guest room.

could not be found. The most plausible explanation is that a tree in the yard was struck by lightning, spreading slowly through the yard and up to the house. They will never know with certainty, and Pruett said she still feels anxious when they leave the house.

“After two years of dealing with our insurance company, we have learned a lot. We now have everything we own listed on a spreadsheet –receipts from everything we purchased for this new house. We recommend photos of all your belongings. Be prepared,” she said.

After the heartache of a fire and theft from the storage unit, insurance claims and a rebuild, the Pruetts are happy to spend most of their time on the lake with their rescued pups, Ella and Harvey. Grandson Reeves and eldest daughter Lindsay plan visits from Birmingham as often as they can to enjoy boating, Jet Skiing and to fish.

“We have the best neighbors. They all reached out to help us after the fire, and we appreciate them so much. We just love being on Lake Martin,” Pruett said.

Top: The living, dining and kitchen areas offer beautiful lake views and easy porch access; Left: Fish swimming above a woven rush headboard add a touch of blues and greens in a guest room.

Nationals Champ X2

STORY BY JIM SIMONS & BETSY ILER

PHOTOS BY ERIC WEIST OF WEIST PHOTOGRAPHY

Congratulations were extended to Lake Martin Dixie Sailing Club’s Keith Bennett, who this spring brought home the 2023 Catalina 22 national championship trophy, as well as the Spinnaker Fleet championship trophy. DSC sailors swept the competition in Arkansas, as local members also won Silver Fleet.

“This is a unique situation for a national regatta, which will probably never be repeated,” said DSC Commodore Jim Simons.

DSC’s Mickey Richardson finished in second place just three points behind Bennett.

Bennett’s win is the second time he’s taken the national championship, as he came home with the trophy last year as well. This year’s feat was all the more challenging because the boat was a man short. The race usually is sailed with three people onboard, but when one bailed at the last minute, Bennett and crew Doug Thome had more to do.

“You wouldn’t think that one person would make a difference, but it’s an extra pair of hands. And eyes. And another opinion,” Bennett said.

The first two days of the competition were light wind with only two races in. The courses were shortened due to the wind. The next day turned out to be the best day, and five races were run, each lasting about an hour.

“It wore us out. We were out all day,” Bennett said.

Competition was tight until the third race on the third day, he added.

“After that, Mickey and I pulled away from the fleet and had a pretty comfortable lead. We race against each other every weekend. Could have stayed home to do this,” he joked. “It was a fun week.”

The perpetual trophy, which now has Bennett’s name on it twice, will be returned to the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association for next year’s race, but the club also has one to hang on the wall.

“They may need to add a new room to the clubhouse to showcase all the hardware from a long list of winning skippers,” a C22 NSA spokesperson said.

“It was great that we took all the top spots. First and second in Gold Fleet and first in Spinnaker, first Silver, and it wasn’t even close,” said Bennett, a longtime DSC member and a member of the C22 National Sailing Association.

It has been a long and steady climb to the top for Bennett, as he has participated in the championship races for 20 years. He’s traveled to dozens of competitive events at the regional and national levels, including the Catalina 22 Midwinters.

“He’s clearly at the top of his game,” Simons said. Thome was an asset as crew, as he has crewed

more than eight national championship winners over the last two decades.

The Silver Fleet win went to Bobby Edmond and crew Mark Cline and William Brown, all DSC members. Edmond will now advance to the more intense competition of the Gold Fleet.

The races were held May 20 through 25 at DeGray Lake, Arkansas.

The Catalina 22 is a family cruising boat that went into production in 1970. Since then, more than 15,000 C22s have been built, mostly in the U.S. Of the 136 boats at Dixie Sailing Club, 29 are C22s, Simon said.

“Our C22 fleet is the backbone of our racing program, which works with new sailors in encouraging them to improve their skills and increasingly enjoy sailing,” he said.

DSC moved to the New Hope area of Lake Martin just over 10 years ago and has been building docks, ramps and restrooms, as well as getting boat storage in order, between racing seasons. The new clubhouse has not yet been started but is on the horizon. Visit dixiesailingclub.com for more information about Dixie Sailing Club, youth sailing and introduction to sailing classes.

Previous Pages: Mickey Richardson guided his C22 to a close second; Above: Bennett won his second consecutive first in Gold Fleet Nationals with just one crew member; Left: Bennett's Alabama spinnaker also took a first place title.

Green Herons are little jewels on our shoreline.

And like any other gem, these smaller herons are often hard to find.

Green Herons tend to be shy, hiding in the bushes and shore grasses and quickly taking flight if you happen to get too close. If fact, most of the time when you do see a Green Heron, you’re looking at tucked feet and tail feathers, as this secretive bird wings away along the shoreline.

Green Heron G

But if you do happen to find a bold Green Heron that will let you get a closeup look – or if you have some good binoculars and the time to scan the waterline – you will discover a beautiful shorebird that is common all around the Lake Martin area.

Green Herons are about the size of a crow, much smaller than the more famous Great Blue Heron that also lives here. In fact, Green Herons are one of the smallest members of the heron family, standing less than 2 feet tall with a wingspan of about 27 inches.

They usually have yellow eyes and long, yellow legs, though sometimes their eyes and legs can appear more orange than yellow.

Their necks are long and shaped like an “S,” but Green Herons also hold their necks straight when hunting or stretching. When resting, they tuck their long necks in so tightly that it may look like they have no neck at all, a pose that brings to mind the character Gru, the grouchy former supervillain in the Minions movies, who also shares the heron’s long sharp bill.

Green Herons have feathers on their back, wings and crown that may look

dark or blue-gray most of the time but in the right light become a deep, iridescent green. Wing feathers are edged with buff coloration, so it’s easy to distinguish each individual feather. Green Herons have the ability to lift their normally smooth crown feathers into crests.

This bird has a chestnut or rust-colored chest and neck with patches or streaks of white below its bill, chest and on its lower belly.

And this bird has a long, straight dagger-like beak that’s mostly gray.

Both male and female Green Herons look alike, though the female is often a little smaller.

Green Herons are called by several common names, including the canoer’s favorite Fly-Up-The-Creek, as well as Skeow, Green-backed Heron, Little Green Heron and Swamp Squaggin. The scientific name for this bird is Butorides virescens, which is a combination of Latin and Greek words that mean “greenish resembling a bittern.” Bitterns are closely related medium-sized herons.

These birds are native from northern South America all the way to southern Canada, though in the U.S. they are only year-round residents in the Deep South coastal areas. Here in the Lake Martin area, Green Herons can be found during every month of the year.

During the spring and summer breeding season, Green Herons gather into large flocks and migrate north from the Mississippi Valley throughout the eastern U.S. and up the West Coast.

When startled into flight, Green Herons punch out a harsh, high-pitched “skeow” call, which they also tend to make as they

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

land in the next spot. If you want to find a Green Heron, you should look up its flight call online and listen for it in the wild … you’ve probably heard it before and just didn’t know what bird was making it. Other Green Heron sounds include a raspy series of clucks and a low call that sounds a lot like a dog barking.

Green Herons are waterbirds, adapted for the shoreline. They live around rivers and creeks, lakes and swampy places – both freshwater and saltwater – where they stalk and ambush-hunt their favorite prey: small fish in the shallows, which make up about half of their diet. Frogs, invertebrates, insects, worms, snails and other small animals account for the other half of their menu.

Although Green Herons are shorebirds, they have been observed diving into the water after prey and are able to paddle back to shore on the surface using their webbed feet.

Green Herons are both patient and crafty. They stand stock-still with their necks extended in the shallows, and when a small fish or other animal comes close, they strike down fast with their sharp bills and snap up their prey. These birds have also been observed dropping small feathers, insects or bits of sticks in the water as bait to draw curious fish into range – they are one of a very few bird

Previous Pages: With its webbed feet, the Green Heron has been observed paddling back to shore after diving for prey; Clockwise from Below: The bird looks smaller than its 2-foot length when its neck is tucked in; The Green Heron's wingspan measures about 27 inches; Green Herons have heavily streaked necks, chests and underbellies; At rest, the bird resembles the former supervillain, Gru, from the Minions movies; Green Herons have long, dagger-like bills.

species known to use tools.

If you are watching a Green Heron and get inside his personal space, the bird will usually let you know you’re too close by flicking his tail and raising his crest … and then taking flight if you don’t back off.

Most of the time, Green Herons are quiet, secretive, solitary birds, but during the mating season, they find a single partner and parent one or even two broods a year. And sometimes these birds will build their nests near other Green Herons or other birds in small colonies.

When they are courting, the males perform several elaborate and aggressive mating dances at a nesting site, flapping wildly, sounding off loudly, snapping their bills and dancing from foot to foot while the females look on and try to decide if he’s the one. The Stretch Display involves the male stretching his neck tall and then bending backwards until his bill almost touches his back, then swaying back and forth while bulging his eyes calling “aaroo-aaroo.” If the gal chooses him, she makes a similar silent Stretching Display and joins him at the nesting site for some heavy feather nibbling and bill snapping.

Once that’s been decided, the happy couple will begin building a nest, which can be on the ground or up to 30 feet in a tree, usually near water. The male

collects and moves sticks and other materials to the nesting site while the female actually builds the nest. Copulation takes place during construction. When the nest is complete, females will lay two to six greenish colored eggs, and she and her partner take turns sitting on the eggs. About three weeks later, the chicks hatch out. Both adults tend to the helpless babies until they’re ready to fly another three weeks later. Even after the fledglings leave their nest, parents continue to bring food to the young herons for up to a month to get them off to a strong start.

The oldest recorded wild Green Heron was banded as a youngster in Texas and recaptured just shy its 9th birthday.

Some information for this article came from allaboutbirds.org, outdooralabama.com and animaldiversity.org.

The mating dance of the Green Heron includes stretching poses and eye bulging like this and more.

Is that right?

How to appeal your property tax appraisal

Have you received your property tax assessment yet?

HIf so, how did you feel about it?

In my role as a real estate agent, I have heard from many of my friends and past clients that were not feeling so hot about theirs. Some felt that their property tax assessment seemed too high, and they asked me what they could do about it. I have heard these complaints across the board from all of the counties that surround Lake Martin – Tallapoosa, Coosa and Elmore.

discussed before in this column.

How can you research past sales? Other states put property sales online very quickly and accurately. In Alabama, we are not quite there yet. You may want to talk to a local real estate agent who would be able to gather some comparable sales for you. That way you could at least know if you are in the ballpark of being correct in feeling that your assessment from the county is too high.

LAKE PROPERTY

In Alabama, the property tax year is a fiscal year that runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. It does not run parallel to Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Also, property tax is done in arrears, meaning you pay this year for the assessment value of last year’s property tax. For example, the assessment that you just got in the mail in the summer of 2023 was based on the value of your property on Oct. 1, 2022.

BY JOHN COLEY

The first step I advise is carefully reviewing the assessment for your property. Make sure it is correct. For instance, make sure it has the right amount of acreage and square footage and the correct number of structures on your property. Have there been any changes in your property in the last year?

Next, you need to research recent property sales in your neighborhood. Look for comparable properties that have sold. These could give an indication of the value of your property. You will want to look for properties with similar view, privacy and location. The view is especially critical in valuing waterfront property, as has been

After doing that, if you think you have need to appeal, the next step is to file a written appeal with the county in which your property is located (not necessarily where you live). The notice of assessment usually includes instructions on how to appeal the assessment. You need to follow those rules to the letter. Our counties are in rural areas, where offices are understaffed, and this appeal process can be overwhelming for the employees. Don’t try to just call them up on the phone and have a long chat about your property. Please respect their time and be sure to follow the appeal processes that they stipulate.

Once you have filed your notice of appeal, remember that the burden of proof is on you to prove that their assessment is incorrect. You can’t assume that they will take your case for you and just reduce your property taxes back down. You are going to have to make the case to them that your assessment is too high.

I think that the best chance to do that is always to hire a certified appraiser. Merely getting a list of comparable sales from a local real estate agent, in my opinion,

is not going to be enough evidence to ask them to lower your taxes. A certified appraisal for a residence is likely going to cost you anywhere from $800 to $1,000, so while it is not a free service, it may well be worth it for you if there’s a chance your taxes may be reduced.

Is it mandatory by law that you get an appraisal to appeal your property tax assessment? No, it is not. But, in my experience, you’re not going to get very far without one.

When you get your day in court, so to speak, this will be your chance to shine. I’m sure I don’t have to say this, because the readers of Lake magazine are so courteous and nice. But, just in case, I will say: Be polite. Be sweet. The employees in the assessment offices in all these counties are public servants. They are not out to get you. So do your best to be polite, prepared and succinct. Don’t go into a history of you and your property since Noah and the flood. Keep the conversation pointed on the appraisal and the recent sales during the period that you are appealing. What happened 10 years ago has a small chance of affecting anything. Stick to the facts. They will appreciate it, and you will have a better outcome, I think.

You should also be prepared for the decision to not reduce your property taxes at all. I have talked to a lot of folks that I thought had pretty good arguments, were prepared with appraisals and were very polite but still did not get their property taxes lowered.

Lake Martin and the rest of the country have seen property values soar in the last several years. Honestly, I think that most of the property tax increases I have seen have been justified. But that doesn’t mean you can’t appeal it if you have evidence that the increase was too much.

John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Realty. Email him at john@ lakemartinvoice.com.

SUMMERTIME IS A SPECIAL TIME, IS YOUR HEART HEALTHY?

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Our clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including:

• Advanced ultrasound testing

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Our expanded clinical team is ready to serve you. Schedule a visit today by calling 256-234-2644.

Where We Stand

LMRA legal counsel reviews status of pending issues

LLake Martin Resource Association (originally, Lake Martin Recreation Association) was formed on April 7, 1970, to intervene in the first relicensing of Lake Martin by the Federal Power Commission (later, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission). From its beginning, LMRA has been active in regulatory issues and advocacy on behalf of Lake Martin.

This article will address what has commonly become known as the “Water Wars,” as well as the relicensing of the R.L. Harris Reservoir just upstream of Lake Martin.

History

In 1957, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Buford Dam to create Lake Lanier, a 38,500-acre reservoir in Georgia. This is the largest and northern-most reservoir on the AlabamaChattahoochee-Flint River Basin. The primary purpose of this dam was flood control, power generation and navigation. Water supply and recreation were additional benefits.

In 1989, the USACE announced a plan to reallocate 20 percent of the water supply normally reserved for power generation in Lake Lanier to drinking water. Georgia then applied for permission to build a series of reginal reservoirs that would circle Metro Atlanta and “drought proof” North Georgia. The first of those reservoirs would have been near the Alabama state line and would have impounded water from the Alabama-CoosaTallapoosa River Basin.

War Is Declared

In 1990, Alabama, later joined by Florida, filed suit to block the proposed reallocation of water from Lake Lanier and raised concerns about the withdrawals of water from the ACT basin and Georgia’s plan to build regional reservoirs. This was the beginning salvo in what has become known as the Water Wars.

In 1992, the states agreed to call a truce in the lawsuits. They also agreed to conduct a $20 million comprehensive study to analyze how much water was available in each basin; how much each state needed based upon growth projections; and the possible economic and environmental consequences of meeting those needs.

In 1998, another drought spurred Congress to

enact water compacts among Alabama, Georgia and Florida to provide a framework for negotiations over water sharing in the ACT and ACF basins. With the comprehensive study as a guide, negotiations among the states continued off and on for five years. Eventually, the water compacts expired without final agreements having been reached.

In 2003, Georgia reached a separate agreement with the USACE that gave Metro Atlanta 23 percent of the water in Lake Lanier, a 65 percent increase. By this time, more than 3 million Metro Atlanta residents depended upon Lake Lanier for their water supply. Alabama and Florida challenged this reallocation in court, and it never went into effect.

In 2007, a drought that started in 2006 intensified, and water levels in Lake Lanier plunged to new lows. During this same drought, water levels in Lake Martin receded to 16.5 feet below full pool, a level not seen since before the 1970s. Water restrictions were declared across the region, including a total ban on outdoor water use in North Georgia counties. The crisis caused the federal government to intervene, and Alabama, Georgia and Florida agreed to a temporary reduction in flow in the Chattahoochee River. There was also a goal of working out a longterm agreement on water sharing. Despite continued negotiations, no agreement on water sharing was reached.

In 2008, the Georgia General Assembly approved funding for a statewide water management plan, including a three-year data-gathering effort to determine water availability in the state. At the same time, the assembly passed a resolution to “correct” a boundary error with Tennessee that would have effectively given Georgia access to 15 times the flow of the Chattahoochee. Also in 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. overturned the 2003 agreement between Georgia and the USACE that had increased water supply from Lake Lanier for Atlanta. That ruling specifically held that Congressional approval was required for such a reallocation.

Fast forward to 2013 when the USACE issued a draft water control manual for the ACT basin. The WCM made changes to the operation of Lake

Allatoona on the Coosa River system that basically gave the USACE unlimited authority to stop power generation at the dam, thereby shutting off releases of water. Interestingly, these changes were proposed in the interest of recreation, which was not a congressionally authorized purpose of the project. The final environmental impact statement stated that decreased flows in the Coosa could create water quality issues in the Coosa River and navigation issues on the Alabama River.

In 2015, the USACE adopted the WCM for the ACT basin. The State of Alabama and Alabama Power Company filed suit in Federal District Court in Washington D.C., challenging several provisions in the WCM. The City of Montgomery, City of Mobile, LMRA and Russell Lands all intervened in the suit as plaintiffs. LMRA intervened to advocate specifically for matters that could impact Lake Martin. The State of Georgia and various water suppliers in Georgia intervened as well.

BY STEVE FOREHAND

the rule curve at the time of measurement. If anticipated higher winter pool levels cause more water to be held in Harris on Sept. 1, it is possible that the fall extension for Lake Martin may be triggered more often.

When the modeling fall extension was being completed, it was estimated that the conditions for the fall extension would be met infrequently. As it has turned out, the fall extension has been triggered during most years since the Martin license was granted.

Remember, though, that averages do have a way of catching up over time. We might go another 15 years without a fall extension, depending upon rainfall.

Water issues will continue to be important to the State of Alabama and to Lake Martin residents and users. Perhaps at no other time in our history has it been more important to stay informed and make sure our source of water is protected. LMRA will continue to monitor any and all activities and issues that could affect Lake Martin.

All parties to the lawsuit have briefed their motions for summary judgment and have been waiting for a ruling since 2017. There has been very little movement of the case since that time. LMRA will continue to participate in the litigation and advocate for the interests of Lake Martin. As people continue to relocate to the Southeast from western states, water supply will become more critical.

R.L. Harris Reservoir Relicensing

The relicensing of the R.L. Harris Reservoir has been proceeding since 2017. This process has been very much like the Lake Martin relicensing process with a series of stakeholder meetings and studies of various proposals. LMRA has been involved in the relicensing since the start and has monitored the process for any potential impacts on Lake Martin. Alabama Power Company is required to safeguard Lake Martin by taking no action that is adverse to the lake, but LMRA still desires to participate in the process to have a better understanding of the issues.

To date, there appear to be no issues that should raise a concern at Lake Martin.

Much the same as during the Lake Martin relicensing, a group of homeowners at the Harris reservoir have requested higher winter pool levels. We are optimistic that this could provide a benefit to Lake Martin by making it more likely that the Harris water level would be within a foot of its rule curve when the Lake Martin fall extension is under consideration.

When the Lake Martin fall extension (which LMRA proposed during the relicensing) was being considered, the Harris measurement was the one of five reservoirs least likely to be within one foot of

Steve Forehand is Legal Counsel for LMRA. For more information, visit lmra.info.

LMRA

Russell Cabins at The Willows, Verandas II • $1,095,000

Builder: Classic Homes • Beds: 4 Baths: 4.5 • Sq Ft: 2,396

Russell Lands

Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com

1147 Willow Way N, Alexander City • $8,590,000

Beds: 11 • Baths: 12 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty India Davis 256.749.7592

LakeMartinRealty.com

77 Magnolia Lane, Dadeville • $899,900

Beds: 3 • Baths: 2.5 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099

LakeMartinRealty.com

224 Lakeview Drive, Alexander City • $2,950,000

Beds: 5 • Baths: 5 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071

LakeMartinRealty.com

Ridge Run, Bywater • $1,700,000

Beds: 3 • Baths: 4.5 • Sq Ft: 2,612

Russell Lands

Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com

27 Sandy Shores Road, Dadeville • $1,899,000

Beds: 5 • Baths: 4 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099

LakeMartinRealty.com

1137 North Ridge, Alexander City • $5,950,000

Beds: 6 • Baths: 7 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Jan Hall 256.329.6313

LakeMartinRealty.com

78 Old Tree Drive, Dadeville • $1,175,000

Beds: 4 • Baths: 4 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372

LakeMartinRealty.com

43 Lynwood Path, Dadeville • $1,975,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 4.5 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Adam Yager 205.914.0830

LakeMartinRealty.com

40 Windy Point, Alexander City • $1,990,000

Beds: 4 • Baths: 3.5 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

LakeMartinRealty.com

162 Village Circle, Dadeville • $389,000

Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Water-Access

Lake Martin Realty

Amy Duncan 256.212.2222

LakeMartinRealty.com

1559 Sturdivant Road, Jackson’s Gap • $1,599,000

Beds: 4 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront

Lake Martin Realty

Mimi Rush 334.399.7874

LakeMartinRealty.com

Use summer's fresh bounty

Barbecue Chicken Salad

(Makes 4 servings)

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce of your choice

1 head of green lettuce (approx. 8 cups lightly packed)

1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup canned whole kernel corn or Southwestern corn, drained

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

3/4 cup chopped cilantro, finely diced

LIVING

BY JULIE HUDSON

AAs we continue into the hottest part of the summer, August always reminds me that change is about to happen. Daily routines will become more structured, and schools will reopen. Labor Day weekend will mark the close of summer as we transition into early autumn with the start of football. Although summer is nearing its end, fresh produce continues to be plentiful in gardens and at farmers markets. I share with you some of my favorite recipes of summer 2023 that incorporate fresh vegetables.

1/2 of a medium red onion, diced

1 large ripe avocado

Optional Ingredients

Shredded cheddar cheese and tortilla strips or chips

1 or 2 large limes (2 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon zest)

2 tablespoons dry unprepared ranch mix

1/2 to 1 full jalapeno, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup regular full fat mayonnaise

1/2 cup buttermilk

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Fresh Green Bean Salad

(Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 red onion, sliced

1/4 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup toasted almonds

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper

Directions

Fill a saucepan with water and stir in baking soda. Water should cover beans plus 1 inch. Bring water and baking soda to a rolling boil. Cook green beans four to five minutes or until tender and crisp. Drain green beans and place in ice bath until cooled down. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Add green beans, tomatoes and red onion and allow to marinate at least 30 minutes. Top with Feta cheese and almonds just before serving.

To prepare the dressing, combine cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, dry ranch mix, jalapeno, garlic, mayonnaise, buttermilk, salt and pepper into a blender. Blend until smooth. Store in a jar and in the refrigerator.

Chop the lettuce into small bite-sized pieces.

Thinly slice or chop avocado and toss with lime juice to avoid browning.

Using tongs, gently toss shredded chicken in barbecue sauce until chicken is coated.

Assembly

Add lettuce to large bowl or plate. Top with black beans, corn, tomato, cilantro, red onion and avocado. Add tortilla strips and shredded cheddar cheese if desired. Drizzle dressing over salad. Gently toss.

HEALTHY

Chicken or Tuna Niçoise Salad

(Makes 4 servings)

Ingredients

1 pound red or golden potatoes, sliced 1/3-inch thick

2 tablespoons dry white wine

10 ounces fresh thin green beans or haricot verts, trimmed

4 large eggs, boiled, peeled, sliced in half

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 shallot minced

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

Freshly ground pepper

3/4 cup olive oil

8 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

1 head Boston lettuce, leaves separated

6 radishes, trimmed and quartered

2 5-1/2 ounce cans Albacore tuna or 2-1/2 cups rotisserie chicken, or 4 fresh grilled tuna steaks

1/2 cup kalamata olives

Directions

Steam green beans until tender; then, cool down in ice bath. Drain and pat dry.

Bring sliced potatoes to simmer in a pan of water for about five minutes until tender. Drain potatoes and place in bowl. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons white wine.

Prepare dressing by whisking white wine vinegar, shallot, mustard, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the olive oil slowly.

Toss sliced tomatoes in a small bowl with salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/4 cup of the dressing to the potatoes and toss.

Divide the lettuce among four plates. Arrange potatoes, green beans, radishes, eggs and meat of choice on top. Pour any juices from the tomatoes into the dressing; then, add the tomato to the plates. Drizzle the dressing on the salad and top with olives.

Cinnamon-Sugar Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup canola oil

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups grated fresh zucchini

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray two standard loaf pans with nonstick spray. Cut two pieces of parchment paper the same width as the bottom of loaf pan and 10 to 12 inches longer. Line each pan with one of the strips, so the ends of paper extend beyond the ends of the pan. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet, stirring until just combined. Stir in zucchini and mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pans and bake for 60 to 65 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes; then, remove loaves from pans using parchment paper slings. Cool completely on wire racks. Optional: Brush tops of warm loaves with melted butter while they are hot and sprinkle with a mixture of 4 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

with Roasted Summer Vegetables

Ingredients

1/3 cup uncooked or 1 cup cooked quinoa

1 small eggplant, diced

1 small zucchini, diced

1 small yellow squash, diced

Sliced kalamata olives

3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste

1 clove garlic, pressed or minced

1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, optional

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, optional

Roasted pine nuts or walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine eggplant, zucchini and squash, tossing with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast on baking sheet until vegetables are soft and begin to turn brown. Cook quinoa according to package directions with water or broth. Toast pine nuts or walnuts until lightly brown. Whisk lemon juice and garlic. Add 2 remaining tablespoons olive oil. Combine all ingredients together. Serve at room temperature or chill in refrigerator. Store in airtight container for five days.

Choices, Influences & Seasons

Consciously or subconsciously, you probably took a personal selection journey to settle on what is now your favorite beer. This selection process is more complex than most people realize.

Humans are unique in their personal preferences and tastes, and each beer produced also is unique in its composition and complexity. You see, despite the reputation of beer being an unsophisticated drink, it’s actually one of the most – if not the most – complex drinks we consume.

Wine is seen as a more sophisticated drink because of the allure of the winemaking process. Let’s compare the two for a moment. There are about 200 different wine styles available in the world while beer has about 100 different styles. The principles of making wine and beer are very similar. Yeast attacks the sugar presented and converts it to alcohol. But this is where the similarities stop.

Beer contains hops. Hops are a flower from the plant Humulus lupulus. They are used for three reasons in beer making: taste, aroma and color. With more than 250 hop varieties and 200-plus yeast strains, as well as a wide variety of grains, the styles of beer that could be produced is very extensive. Yes, beer is made from four simple ingredients – water, grain, hops and yeast – but the variation of these four ingredients allows for the imagination to create an unfathomable number of different beers.

We humans are so unique. We think differently, see differently and most certainly taste differently. What suits your taste buds will almost certainly not suit your spouse’s taste buds. This is why the beer industry will continue to evolve, invent and create new beer styles for the foreseeable future.

As a brewer, my focus is to offer products that suit the masses. We target beer styles that a wide range of people would appreciate, also recognizing that there are other taste buds we have to satisfy with different styles of beer.

Additional driving factors in any given beer you select include your mood and your environment. If you are in a relaxed mood, you may want to sip on a stronger style, or if you need to quench your thirst, you might choose a light refreshing beer.

I consider my palette well rounded. I want a refreshing beer in the summer; a spicy beer in the fall; heavy beer in the winter; and something in the middle for the spring.

At Lake Martin Brewing, we have developed two beer styles to substantiate the taste buds during these hot Alabama summers. Let me introduce you to Bay Pines Mango Ale and Dam Light Beer.

Bay Pines

Mango Ale is a light bodied ale, medium color, light earthy notes with a crisp refreshing mango finish. For all the manly men out there, this is a nice way to forgo the umbrella in your drink.

For the traditionalist, we have brewed the Dam Light Beer. There is a reason why domestic beer is popular. People want a light bodied, refreshing beer that can be gulped down. The Dam Light Beer extends the domestic experience toward the positive.

You see, our beer has all the expectations of your favorite domestic with added benefits. These benefits include no offensive off flavors as the beer warms up and more flavor without compromising the domestic experience.

You can drink a light beer that has a bit of complexity, depth and flavor. As the seasons change, your taste buds will follow suit.

Ed James is the owner of Lake Martin Brewing Co. on the circle in downtown Alexander City. Learn more at lakemartinbrew.com.

CHEERS LAKE MARTIN BREWERY

Salt & Vinegar

Vinegar Fries

Ingredients

3 to 4 Idaho potatoes, washed

3 cups white vinegar

3 cups cold water

1 to 2 cups kosher salt

Frying oil

Directions

Cut fries to desired thickness and submerge in water for 1 hour. Warm the frying oil up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain fries, preserving the oil, and pat dry; then, drop fries in the oil and cook (blanch) for three-and-a-half minutes. Once all fries are blanched, cool them in the refrigerator. Mix the salt, vinegar and water in a large container. Taste to see if you want more salt. It should taste like salty sea water. Combine the vinegar and fries and let sit for up to four hours.

Drain off. You can keep the vinegar solution for a second use, but after using it twice, discard the vinegar. Heat the frying oil back up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and fry the potatoes until golden brown. Salt generously and enjoy.

CHEF'S TABLE

BY PETE MCKENNY

~ Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star 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.

Make a difference

Teach a kid to fish

AAssociate Pastor Hunter Bethea at Mulder Church in Wetumpka talked about mentors a few Sundays back, people that have inspired our journeys in faith and how we could be mentors to others. Family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, church members, co-workers and others. In some cases, these are lifelong relationships, and in others, only brief encounters. =

I am who and what I am today because someone introduced me to the pursuit of fish. Some mentors in my life I have never met in person, but for one reason or another, they inspired me.

I latched onto fishing at an early age, and it’s been a passion ever since. The things I’ve learned, the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the experiences and the memories are parts of the fabric of who I am today, all because someone mentored that passion.

What is it about fishing that can be so powerful? In some cases, it’s the challenge. In others, it’s the interaction with nature. For some anglers, it’s the relationships built or strengthened spending time together on the water, or it’s simply putting food on the table. For most of us that enjoy the outdoors, it’s all of the above and then some.

Every angler I know has been inspired by someone who simply made it possible to wet a line the first time. As our passion for fishing grew, we learned not only on our own but also learned a lot from others who knew more than we did.

Although I may not have recognized it at the time, those people who introduced me to fishing, made a personal investment of their time and expertise to fuel the passion I was developing. I’m forever grateful for that, as well as for the many other aspects of my life in which others invested. They were, and many still are, mentors.

I’m sure my parents’ generation said the same thing when I was younger, but it seems kids and teens today have so much more competition for their attention. Good mentors are critical in helping younger generations become good people and likely becoming good mentors to others in the future.

Fishing is one piece in the puzzle that can provide the next generation with a positive experience. There are many other outlets that will provide positive experiences, build relationships and teach valuable life lessons. Ball sports, church, art, music, water sports are just a few quick ones that come to mind.

I want to say thank you to all of those who are investing in our younger generation in some way or another. Not just with money but more importantly time and inspiration. Providing that personal positive influence is powerful. Because fishing has become such an important part of my life, I want to especially thank those who do a little extra to give the younger ones a chance to experience time on the water.

Looking back more recently at the COVID years, I have heard from a lot of kids and teens who had gotten into fishing during their spare time. Many of them discovered their passion for the outdoors then, when it could have been easy to get drawn into some destructive activities. Someone made that opportunity possible for them. Hats off to those folks

Now that there are junior and high school bass tournaments, a lot of families that might not have been interested before are getting serious about fishing. Families that are getting into it are investing time and money into the activity these days. For many, a tournament day is a family affair with grandparents, aunts,

Johnny Spears learned to fish with a toy rod and reel with his dad, Nicky.

uncles and friends in the stands for the weigh-in.

One element of the junior and high school events is the need for boat captains. These are the people that often have a boat, ride along with the kids and teach them along the way. Being a boat captain is an impressive effort because they do a lot of the work that comes with preparing the boat and tackle without getting to fish during the event. Their goal is to guide the kids toward becoming good anglers, and the lessons they share will inevitably be the foundation for how the next generation approaches the sport. They are most certainly mentors, hopefully teaching the importance of ethics, conservation and hard work on the water.

from

the

This exclusive enclave of new homes is made up of 39 lots on a scenic 14 acres, offering waterfront, water view, and hilltop homes by Slate Barganier Building. Dedicated boat slips available on a first come first served basis! Come home to the beauty and planning you already know in The Village at Lake Martin in this brand new development.

BIG CATCHES

BY GREG VINSON

If you or someone you know has a heart for mentoring, I suggest to first be the catalyst to provide the younger generation the opportunity to fish. Buy a rod and reel; get some crickets, worms or artificial baits; and give a kid or two the chance to see what it’s like to try and to catch a fish. Often, one good experience draws a person to angling. Get pictures and/or video, so you can revisit the experience with them later. Some may be more interested than others, but the ones that are interested could go on to be very good anglers, conservationists …. mentors. Who knows the potential?

When working with motivated young anglers, help them learn to answer the question “why” as they fish instead of just telling them to “throw this bait in this spot.” Challenge them to understand what’s going on in the world beneath the surface of the water. It’s rewarding to put that puzzle together and will help them to become even better instinctive anglers in the future. Maybe they’ll go on to be college or professional anglers or maybe not. They will most definitely become better problem solvers, and that will be valuable later, no matter what they do.

Lake Martin is an incredible lake for getting kids into fishing because there are so many fish in it. Bluegill, catfish, bass, crappie, stripers and more. Give the young ones an opportunity to experience all that Lake Martin has to offer. Take them fishing.

Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

Stay safe in the heat

True Alabama summer weather is now in our midst and for safety’s sake, everyone should be aware of body signs that could very well save your life or that of a loved one.

n Drink plenty of water; however, do not wash all of the electrolytes out from your system. A product that is easily accessible is called “Liquid IV.” It comes in small packages in a variety of flavors that you can add to bottled water –my favorite is lemon-lime. Think about drinking a bottle of Liquid IV or some other electrolyte supplement for every two or three bottles of water you drink on the course.

n Seek out the dark areas. Whether you are riding or walking on the golf course, get in the shade as often as possible. You may even choose to use your umbrella to block direct sunlight. Umbrellas with a silver sheen to them can actually decrease the heat index by as much as 10 percent.

LOVE of the GAME

BY DAVE JENNINGS

Just a couple years ago, I was playing in a golf tournament in early July. It was excessively hot. As much as I hated to, after playing nine holes, I was forced to withdraw from the event due to the heat. It’s no secret: I am not a spring chicken and haven’t been for a long time, but I was getting dizzy and nauseated. My shirt and shorts were soaked all the way through, including my cap. Sometimes you just have to make an early exit. I am glad I did withdraw because I was able to recover from the heat exhaustion symptoms before suffering a heat stroke.

n Though it should go without saying, I’ll say it: Wear sunscreen and sunblock. Just do it.

n Think about purchasing and wearing microfiber sleeves. They are inexpensive and easy to clean. If you dampen them a little, they also help to keep your arms a bit cooler.

n Wear a wide-brimmed hat that gives your head, ears and neck coverage from direct sunlight.

n Wear light-colored shirts and shorts. Lighter colors repel the sun’s rays while darker colors absorb the sun’s rays.

n In Alabama if you are playing golf in the summertime, you are indeed going to sweat. Be certain that you have plenty of golf gloves. Remove your glove after each shot, so that you do not sweat through the glove as quickly. Before your glove becomes soaked with sweat and begins to wear out quickly –exchange gloves often during a round of summer golf. Purchasing a few pair may cost you at first, but it will save you money in the long haul if you have a few to rotate in and out during your round.

n Some folks may not want to hear this, but I’m going to say it anyway. This is not the time to be heavily consuming beer and alcohol. These beverages will dehydrate you. It would also be a good idea to cut back on your coffee intake on golfing days during the summer months for the same reason. Caffeine does the same thing in dehydrating the body. Wait until you get back to the clubhouse and are cajoling about your round to partake of these drinks.

n Be aware of what your body is telling you. If you begin to feel light headed, dizzy or weak, stop and cool off. You could be suffering from heat exhaustion. If you feel dizzy, confused or pass out, you could be suffering from a heat stroke. Hopefully, someone with you will quickly call 911.

n Know the differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Knowing what to look for and what to do could save the life of a playing partner/opponent or a loved one.

Even with extremely high temperatures, you can stay active during summer months, but be smart, get educated on how best to offset the issues of excessive heat and sun. You may want to play a little earlier in the day or limit your round to nine holes. Just be smart. It’s not always easy living in the Deep South, but it beats the daylights out of living someplace where shoveling snow is a daily requirement.

Be safe and play well.

Dave Jennings is the owner of Jennings Golfhelp LLC. Email him at djenn47495@ gmail.com or visit Jenningsgolfhelp.com.

Lake Martin

Kowaliga Marina 334-397-1210

The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

River North Marina 256-397-1500

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700

Real Island Marina 256-397-1200

Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600

Alex City Marine 256-215-FISH

Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's 256-444-8793

SpringHouse 256-215-7080

Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070

Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337

The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill 256-307-1887

Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075

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

Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132

Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256

The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333

Kowaliga Whole Health 334-857-1816

Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717

Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293

Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820

Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 334-857-2443

First Baptist Church Dadeville 256-825-6232

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ALEXANDER CITY

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Carlos

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Jake's

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Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark

The Sure Shot

Shell - 280

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Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office

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Smith Marina on Lake Martin

Nails

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Center

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HACKNEYVILLE

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NEW SITE

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DADEVILLE

Chamber of Commerce

Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery

Root 49 Salon

Ellaby Boutique, LLC

Alabama Power

Siggers

Siggers Barbershop

Fusion Cafe

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At the Beauty Shop

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Payne's Furniture

PNC Bank

Valley Bank

McKelvey Chevrolet

Renfroe's Market

Foshee's Boat Doc

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Parting Shot

Photo by Kenneth Boone

"Find a moment, just a simple moment, to close your eyes and think of the men and women who protect the freedoms you enjoy. It’s a privilege, not a right."

~ Matthew Lillard