Local students represent PREC during Washington Youth Tour
August 2024
CEO Jeff Hodges
Co-op Editor
Laura Thornton
ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $12 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing office.
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Harvest time
Gardens and fields all over Alabama are popping with produce.
Rip current dangers
Rip currents are the leading cause of weather-related deaths on the Gulf Coast. Know the risks.
Blackberry treats
Researchers are discovering a cache of ancient treasures in a remote northeastern corner of Alabama that may help reveal the secrets of our state’s ecological richness and help map its future.
The state’s official fruit, the blackberry, can be a delicious treat for pies, cobblers, over ice cream, in jelly and even as a side dish with meats. Finding and protecting our natural resources
ON THE COVER
Local high school students, Tyia Hamilton, Landon Ford and Conleigh Benefield enjoyed a week-long trip to our nation’s capital this summer, as participants in the National Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
PHOTO: Mark Stephenson
P.O. Box 969
Ozark, AL 36361
phone: 334-774-2545 fax: 334-774-2548
Board of Trustees
Lee Peters
President• District 2 334-685-2018
Braxton Green
Vice-President •District 8 334-619-1067
Bill Strickland
Secretary • District 3 334-381-2779
Lee Grantham District 1 334-798-9456
Billy Wayne Danzey District 4
334-726-9836
Lowell Bristow District 5 334-696-4392
Michael Starling District 6 334-726-2320
Ed Jones District 7 334-762-2258
James Miller District 9 334-703-9113
Commitment to Education
By Jeff Hodges, CEO
It’s hard to believe as I write this that summer break is coming to an end and my kids are headed back to school. As I think about how fast the time goes and how fast my kids are growing, I think about the importance of a good education.
At Pea River Cooperative, we understand the importance of education and the role it plays in the lives of our member-owners. That’s why we lend support to our local schools as much as possible. It’s also why we are involved in other programs that afford our local students additional educational opportunities throughout their school years.
One of the programs we sponsor each year is the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Montgomery and Washington, D.C. This program is aimed at high school juniors and affords them the opportunity for a two-night, threeday trip to our state’s capital city to learn more about cooperatives as well as state history and politics. Following the Montgomery tour, students interview for the chance to go to Washington, D.C. in the summer to visit our nation’s capital city where they visit sites of historical interest as well as meet with our state’s congressional delegation. You can see this year’s Washington Youth Tour representatives on the next page of this issue.
The cost of a college or career education is a great concern for high school students and their parents. That’s why we take part in the scholarship program through the Electric Cooperative Foundation of Alabama. This scholarship which we award each spring, helps our members and their families further their educational goals.
Education and training for the local community is a matter of principle for our cooperative. We are committed to enhancing knowledge for our members and future members, with the goal of helping them appreciate the cooperative business model
and make energy-smart choices in their homes. To this end, we participate in a variety of programs, including career days and safety demonstrations.
When we stand in front of these classrooms filled with students, we’re looking not only our future members, but also possibly our future employees. Our goal is to help these kids not only learn how to be safe around electricity and use it efficiently, but also to appreciate the cooperative business model and how we can be a force for good in our community.
We also donate money and time to activities that local young people are involved in. The Dale County Youth Leadership program is a year-long program that high school juniors from local schools participate in to gain leadership skills and to learn about the opportunities available to them in their local communities.
We support local school sports teams, beauty pageants and other youth organizations through sponsorships.
In addition, our employees are parents and grandparents that serve as youth league coaches in a variety of sports.
B.B. King once said, “The beautiful thing about education is that nobody can take it away from you.”
We hope the things our cooperative is doing to help educate the youth in our community will stay with them throughout their lives as they continue to learn and grow into the future leaders of our communities and possibly our cooperative.
We wish everyone a safe and happy school year full of fun and learning. And we appreciate the opportunity we have to try to make a difference in our local schools.
Local students represent Co-op on Washington Youth Tour
A National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA) summer tradition returned with the arrival of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to the nation’s capital June 17-23.
This year’s group included more than 2,000 youth delegates, chaperones and staff, along with nearly four dozen bus drivers who chauffeured them in and around Washington, D.C. Forty-four states were represented this year.
The 2024 event brought all delegates together over the course of one week, compared to being spread out over a two-week period during the past two years to accommodate pandemic concerns.
And for the first time, the action took place in a new venue, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Organizers said the sprawling Youth Tour had outgrown its previous venue, the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Virginia.
Pea River Electric Cooperative was represented on the Washington Youth Tour this year by local students, Conleigh Benefield, Abbeville Christian School; Landon Ford, Barbour County High School and Tyia Hamilton, Barbour County High School. These three joined 54 other students representing other electric co-ops from across the state of Alabama.
Highlights of the Alabama delegation’s tour included tours of the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, Vietnam, Korean and World War II Memorials. The group also visited the Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Museums and George Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon.
The power of smart home technologies
Smart home technologies are transforming how we live, making our homes more comfortable, convenient and energy efficient than ever before.
Smart home technologies are devices that communicate with each other to automate everyday tasks and functions around the home, like heating and cooling, lighting and security. In addition to convenience, smart technologies enable consumers to manage and monitor their energy consumption through device scheduling and control.
With just a tap on your phone or a voice command to your virtual assistant (like Alexa or Siri), you can conveniently control many aspects of your home environment. If you’re new to the smart tech world, there are several cost-effective devices you can try as you explore ways to make your home smarter.
One of the best and most inexpensive places to start is with a smart bulb or plug. Smart LED bulbs allow you to control home lighting remotely through a smartphone app or voice commands. You can set schedules to automatically turn lights off or on, which can help you save energy and boost home security.
Smart plugs are another inexpensive way to give electronics and small appliances the smart home treatment. Smart plugs allow you to set schedules and remotely control power to lamps, small appliances and electronics, minimizing standby energy consumption and maximizing convenience. For example, you can sync the timing of your bedside lamp, alarm, speakers and coffee maker to turn on at the same time each morning.
If Alexa or Siri is already part of your household, you can build on your existing “tech ecosystem” by adding a smart hub,
like Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod. Voice assistants that are synced to smart devices like bulbs and plugs provide additional options for device management and allow family members to interact with the various devices through voice control rather than individual apps.
Home heating and cooling account for a significant portion of energy use, so one of the best investments you can make in smart tech is a smart thermostat. While traditional programmable thermostats can be set to your schedule and preferences, a smart thermostat takes this one step further by learning and adjusting to your routine and building a schedule around it.
Smart security systems are popular options for homeowners looking for advanced security solutions that incorporate cameras, sensors and cloud-based video recordings. As with other smart technologies, smart security systems provide convenient, flexible ways to monitor homes (and businesses), giving you peace of mind even when you’re away.
If you’re considering smart tech for your home, start by defining your goals. Is saving energy your top priority, or are you aiming to improve home security? Smart home technologies provide great convenience––but remember, they are internet-connected devices. That means you’ll need a stable Wi-Fi connection to ensure devices are working properly, and you’ll need strong passwords for your router and individual devices.
Whether you’re looking to automate every aspect of your home or simply want to try a device or two, smart technologies have the power to transform your living space into a home where comfort and convenience reign supreme.
and
Tristan’s first carrot harvest, which he happily picked in the rain! SUBMITTED by Amber Mathewson, Rainsville.
Peanut harvesting in the wiregrass. SUBMITTED by Trish Griggs, Dothan.
Tripp King feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs. SUBMITTED by Marilyn King, Columbiana.
Oliver Weston shows off his monster garden haul. These zucchinis evaded harvesting for about a week,
they made for some yummy zucchini bread. SUBMITTED by Danny Weston, Dixie EC.
Fall cotton harvest. SUBMITTED by June Wood, Holly Pond.
Spotlight | August
Alabama Fiber Network celebrates launch of service
The Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) — a coalition of eight electric co-ops, their subsidiaries and partners dedicated to delivering a world-class, middle-mile broadband backbone across Alabama — celebrated its official launch of service recently with an event in Cullman.
The event featured several guests, including Gov. Kay Ivey, who has made broadband one of her top priorities. The launch marked a step forward in bridging the digital divide across the state.
The network lighting ceremony also announced Sprout Fiber Internet as the network’s first last-mile customer and introduced AFN’s new CEO, Terry Metze Jr., a broadband industry veteran who joined the team earlier this summer. Guests learned more about AFN’s network and the positive impact it will have on the state. According to one analysis, the network will generate 4,112 total jobs with a total economic impact of $657 million.
“This is a monumental day for Alabama. We are proud to officially launch our service and begin connecting communities across the state,” Metze says. “Increasing access throughout Alabama will enhance innovation and create new opportunities for education, health care, economic development and more.” (Information courtesy of Alabama News Center.)
Whereville,
Website showcases recreational opportunities
A new website called seekalabama.com (Seek AL) is great resource where those who have little experience with the outdoors, or who are new to Alabama, can find out what Alabama’s outdoors have to offer, including an interactive map to explore locations for specific activities. A study by Stanford University’s Hoover Institution found that Alabama’s great outdoors was an underutilized asset that could help attract and retain talent in the workforce, as well as convince new businesses that the state would be a great place or build or relocate. The study was part of a report by the Alabama Innovation Commission, established by Gov. Kay Ivey to secure Alabama’s economic future through recruitment of businesses, companies and entrepreneurs.
The website creators were looking for activities to feature that are more than just hunting and fishing, which are already well-known. The site has information on hiking, mountain biking, climbing, trail running and backpacking, among other outdoor activities.
The site features trails, locations and more on one map, as well as articles highlighting Alabama’s beautiful outdoors.
bama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose photo is chosen will also win $25.
Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative, if applicable. The winner and answer will be announced in the September issue.
Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.
Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or unusual landmark in Ala-
July’s answer: Holtville’s Jimmy Davis had two of these “castles” built as conversation pieces. Legend has it that he loved to build things with bricks – walkways, walls, or whatever struck his fancy. Asked “why do you build these?” he replied, “I’m so glad you asked. Long after I’m gone, people will forget me, however, they will see these and think – I wonder who built these and why, and then they’ll hopefully hear my name. Then I’ll be remembered.” Davis was the owner of The Boys Store in Slapout. (Photo and information submitted by Jennifer Blackburn) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Christy Sellers of Dixie EC.
Gov. Kay Ivey gave remarks at the Alabama Fiber Network start of service celebration last month in Cullman.
PHOTO BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Alabama’s outdoors,
hiking trails, such as this one at Cheaha State Park.
PHOTO BY ALABAMA EXTENSION
AL
Take us along!
We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving.coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.
Ronnie Baldwin and grandson Reighlon Baldwin enjoyed a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson, NC, while on fall break vacation. They are from Skipperville and members of Pea River EC.
Baldwin EMC members Max and Maggie Tomlin traveled to Glacier Bay in Iceland.
A group of South Alabama EC members from Pike County visited the Neptune statue on Virginia Beach last fall. Those making the trip included Malon and Claire Murphy, Peter Brooks and Ruth Thompson.
saw beautiful snowcapped mountains and trees and even some wildlife,” reports Debbie.
Lynn Ruehl of Gulf Shores, a member of Baldwin EMC, traveled all the way to picturesque Humantay Lake, Peru.
PHOTO BY ALLISON LAW
Registration begins for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, or BOW, is a three-day workshop for women ages 18 and older that offers hands-on instruction in a wide variety of courses. The courses cover such topics as fishing, hunting, shooting sports, nature photography, ATV handling and more, and are taught in a fun and non-threatening learning environment.
The event will be Oct. 4-6, 2024, at the Alabama 4H Center near Columbiana. Registration opens Aug. 1 for new participants and Aug. 8 for returning participants. The cost is $275 and covers meals, lodging, program materials and instruction. All instructional equipment is provided. A valid Alabama hunting or fishing license is required.
BOW is made possible by a cooperative effort between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its foundation. For more information, call 800-245-2740 or visit outdooralabama.com and hover over the “programs” tab.
Find the hidden dingbat!
We must have made it too hard last month, because we did not receive the usual hefty number of entries for our July “Find the Dingbat” contest. And we also had more than the usual number of incorrect answers. The hidden pecan can be found on Page 21 in the bottom photo, perched atop the pocket of one of the volunteers who works at the Foley Model Train Exhibit. Remember, we’ll never hide the dingbat in an advertisement or on Pages 1 through 8. We did hear from Tammy Nabors of Arab EC who wrote us that her grandson, John Walls, “always anxiously awaits the arrival of Alabama Living. His favorite activity is to find the dingbat. His ‘young’ eyes were able to quickly spot the pecan hidden on the shirt.” Congratulations to our randomly selected winner, Katherine Whitley of Red Level.
This month, we’ve hidden a photo of the (unlit) Olympic torch in honor of the Olympics which continue this month in Paris. Go Team USA!
By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop
Sponsored by
Amanda Harper had her photo made at the historic Dupree School House in Ashford, during the 2023 4th Fest. She didn’t have to go far, as her hometown is Ashford, where she is a member of Wiregrass EC.
Dutch oven cooking, done outside on coals, is one of the more popular activities at the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman event.
Debby Boyd of Addison, a member of Cullman EC, and Ramona Calvert enjoyed exploring Alaska with their magazine. “We
Bama loves burgers
By Jennifer Kornegay
Many Alabama towns boast at least one dedicated burger joint, and plenty of other restaurants — even those devoted to other culinary categories like barbecue — feature a hamburger on their menus. Every day, thousands of Alabamians file into these eateries and fill their bellies with burgers, evidence of the state’s affection for the staple sandwich. But out of all the available options — grilled, griddled, thick, thin, layered with fancy toppings or basic lettuce, tomato and American cheese — which burger is the best? That’s a difficult question to answer, so we’re not trying to. Without the resources to sample all the burgers on offer, we can’t come to any kind of scientific conclusion. Plus, it’s not science. What puts a burger at the top of one person’s “love” list might turn another person off. Instead, we’re highlighting a just a handful of the favorite burgers and burger spots based on reader feedback, online reviews and a little taste-testing research.
That these places make good burgers is a given, but most boast more than a well-seasoned, correctly cooked ground beef patty between their buns. They stuff a passion for pleasing peoples’ palates in every bite too. Which ones would you add to our favorites list? Let us know at contact@alabamaliving.coop
Alabama Grill
109 W. Commerce St., Greenville, AL 36037
The tall stack of a burger at Alabama Grill is best tackled with a fork and knife, unless you enjoy savory meat juices mingled with condiments running down your arms in full view of other diners. And there are many other diners. Today, the shotgun space of this downtown restaurant stays packed, the crowds reminiscent of its heyday years ago.
First opened in 1947 by Greek immigrant Mack Liveakos, it thrived for more than a decade before selling and finally sitting empty from 2000 to 2019. That’s when current owners Resa Bates and Allan Bloodworth brought the spot back. A Greenville native, Bates — of the famed Bates Turkey clan — had been teaching for years in Montgomery, but when she saw the empty building in her hometown, she longed to see life it in again. “I’d look in the windows and imagine it full of people,” she says.
She and Bloodworth relied on their personal hospitality experience (both worked for restaurants in Montgomery) and her family’s restaurant know-how to renovate the building and come up with a menu. “We gut-
ted the interior but kept what we could, like the original bar and its stools and the mirrors on the walls,” Bates says. “And we wanted to honor our state and use as many Alabama products as possible.” Local seasonal produce finds its way into multiple selections, and Bates Turkey fills out the classic wedge salad.
Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream from Mobile ends meals on a sweet note. And about those big ole burgers: Fat quarter-pound patties of 80/20, never-frozen ground beef are seasoned simply (salt and pepper only) and crisped on a flattop before sliding into a fluffy brioche bun. Wickles Pickles spice-up every burger, and optional toppings include fried eggs, bacon, different cheeses and more.
“Lots of customers tell us ours is the best burger they’ve ever had,” Bates says. And those customers get creative. “We’ve had people add pineapple and Conecuh sausage. Or a runny fried egg and jalapenos.” Sauteed mushrooms and onions are another popular embellishment. Bates has her own go-to. “We’ve got lots of cheese options, but I do blue cheese.”
Pirate’s Cove
6664 County Road 95, Elberta, AL 36530
On a thin ribbon of sand rising a few feet out of shallow Arnica Bay in Josephine, Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club beckons hungry folks on the coast with its cheeseburger, a meal that might have inspired the classic Jimmy Buffett song, “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” (Some claim the south Alabama-native wrote the song after enjoying the Cove specialty.) Those who answer the burger call snag a picnic table on one of the decks surrounding a small, tin-topped shack and wait for their order. People, dog and boat watching provides a way to pass the time, as a diverse barefoot- and flip-flop-clad cross section of society — everyone from college students, families with kids, grizzled old salts, leather-clad bikers, locals
and tourists — waits too.
After each thick, third-pound beef patty (a mix of ground short rib, brisket and chuck) is cooked to order, blanketed in cheese, lettuce, tomato, a mustardy “special sauce” and grilled onions, wrapped in wax paper and delivered on red plastic tray, diners dive in. Juicy meat and ripe tomatoes result in a messy masterpiece that’s good enough to make the Jimmy Buffett story ring true.
And as the song says, it’s apropos to enjoy your Cove cheeseburger with “french-fried potatoes” and a “cold draft beer.” Or opt for another Pirate’s Cove staple, a bushwacker, an “adult” milkshake of vanilla ice cream blended with coffee liqueur and dark rum.
Back Forty Brewing
Back Forty is best known for its award-winning craft beers; it is a brewery, after all. Founded by Gadsden native Jason Wilson in 2009 and brewing in downtown Gadsden since 2011, it was one of the first brewery businesses in the state. But those in the know visit the taproom and onsite restaurant in search of more than frosty mugs full of suds; the Back Forty cheeseburger rivals the beer.
Its two all-beef patties come dressed with an avalanche of additions: choice of cheese, tangy garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato and sliced red onions. Diners enjoy their
Staggs Grocery 1424 Huntsville Road, Florence, AL 35630
In 1938, Staggs Grocery opened to sell food staples and then coldcut sandwiches to the workers at area textile mills. Today, it’s a diner, one beloved by locals and sought out by visitors savvy enough to ask locals to share their top spots. It looks much as it did at its founding; a long history is obvious in the old metal awning out front and the nofrills interior.
The centerpiece is the flattop griddle, which you can see behind the counter where you order. On its scorching surface, burger magic happens. Five or nine ounces of freshly-ground beef, which has been seasoned with a secret blend,
cook to crisp yet tender perfection. The rest is up to you. Standard condiments, pickles, onions and tomatoes come with it, but you can add bacon and American cheese too. It sounds simple enough, but the end result is so satisfying, Staggs goes through approximately 300 pounds of beef every week. The burger is one of its most-ordered items, but no matter what guests choose, owner Donna Hill is just happy to feed them. “I love my customers like family,” she says. “We have first-time visitors, but a lot of regulars too. I just want to share good food with them, and our burgers are good.”
meal on the covered deck or wide lawn, and on weekends, their munching and chewing often keeps time to the beat of live music.
Kids and teetotalers can wash bites down with sweet tea or soda, but the perfect pairing is an ice-cold Back Forty beer. It currently makes multiple selections, but two of its oldies but goodies —Naked Pig Pale Ale and Truck Stop Honey Ale — are always on tap and sure bets. And, according to online reviews, the burgers at Back Forty’s brewpub locations in Birmingham and Huntsville are equally delicious.
Bill E’s 9992 Highway 181, Fairhope, AL 36532
On any given day around lunch and dinner time, diners pack the large deck at Bill E’s, many digging into one of eight available burgers under the shade of massive live oaks. Once known as Old 27 Grill, owner Bill E. Stitt recently changed the restaurant’s name to tie it into his other food venture, Bill E’s Bacon, which is made onsite.
The bacon business has gone hog wild; 3,000plus pounds of slow-curing and slow-smoking pork belly continually permeate the area air with their savory porcine perfume before being sold all over Alabama and shipped around the United States, from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles. Yet Stitt still considers Bill E’s a “burger joint.” “We just happen to make our own bacon for the bacon burger,” he says.
The thick-grilled patty crisscrossed with several bacon slices and crowned with caramelized onion is a best-seller, but not Stitt’s pick. “I love the chili cheeseburger,” he says. “It’s got raw onion, a lot of chili, comeback sauce, American cheese and dill pickles. It’s really the dream burger.” For the true bacon lovers, Stitt recommends the Blended Burger, a mix of 85 percent high-quality beef and 15 percent end pieces from Bill E’s bacon. “It’s got a pretty intense smokey bite, but we put a soft fried egg on top to mellow it,” he says. “I mean, what’s better than bacon and eggs?”
Sheila
C’s
Burger Barn
622 Shug Jordan Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36832
The hamburgers at Sheila C’s Burger Barn are shrouded in secrecy. Owner Albert Ledbetter won’t divulge the seasoning blend that makes the meat so mouth-watering. And his wife, the lady behind the burgers and the eatery’s name, is also keeping a mystery. “The ‘C’ stands for her middle name, but she won’t tell folks outside of family what that is either,” Ledbetter laughs.
Sheila first started turning out burgers when she worked for another restaurant in Tallassee. They proved so popular, she stepped out on her own more than two decades ago. She and Albert moved their burger show to Wetumpka for a few years before settling in Auburn in 2015. Ever since, Sheila’s version has taken top marks in the college town, winning the local newspaper’s “Reader’s Choice” award for best burger eight years in a row.
The space is nothing fancy, but nobody cares about that. Students, visitors and residents routinely gobble up
the joint’s “all the way” cheeseburger — a six-ounce patty made fresh daily and smothered in American cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, chopped onions, shredded lettuce and tomato. “I like all the things on there. To me, if you don’t need at least five napkins, you’re not eating a real hamburger,” Ledbetter says. “But you can have it any way you want.” Those feeding a hearty appetite often opt for a double patty, and sometimes, even that’s not enough. One hungry customer ordered a six-patty burger. “It took him about an hour, but he finished it,” Ledbetter says.
While recent back troubles keep Sheila from running the kitchen full time, she’s still around overseeing her operation. “She’s known as the burger lady, so she keeps her eye on things,” Ledbetter says. She and her husband want everyone full and smiling when they leave, and he notes that’s usually the case. “Most people leave ready for a nice long nap,” he says.
PHOTO BY BROOKE ECHOLS
PHOTO BY LENORE VICKREY
Ask any Alabama resident where to find the best burger, and you’ll likely get a different answer from each one. We asked our local cooperative communicators for their best recommendations and here’s some of what we got. Let us know your favorites at contact@alabamaliving.coop!
Campbell’s BBQ
505 Battle St. E. Talladega, AL 35160
“A juicy burger with good seasoning. The bacon is cooked to perfection: crisp, smoky and a perfect complement to the simplicity of the burger and the eatery itself.” – Jeremy Wise, Coosa Valley EC
Midas Burger
221 N. Brindlee Mtn. Pkwy Arab, AL 35016
256-586-3275
midas-burger.com
“Midas Burger not only has great hamburgers that are juicy and perfectly made, they are well known for their flavorful chicken and special chicken sauce.” –Stacey White, general manager, Arab EC
Boaz Café
10830 Al Highway 168 Boaz, AL 35957 (256) 593-1598 facebook.com/boazcafeanddeli
“Boaz Cafe runs a really close race with Grumpy’s. We need to have a cook-off!”
– Kelli Whorton, Marshall DeKalb EC
Grumpy’s
425 South McClesky, Suite 544 Boaz, AL 35957 (256) 593-0599 grumpys.restaurant
“All our linemen vote for this one.” –Kelli Whorton, Marshall-Dekalb EC
Cardinal Drive-In
15240 Court St., Moulton, AL 35650 (256) 974-9065
facebook.com/cardinalofmoulton
“Cardinal hamburgers are great old fashioned style burgers served fast and fresh every time. The classic drive in style makes it easy to stop in and eat a food meal in a hurry.”
– Michael Cornelison, Joe Wheeler EMC
Brindley Mountain BBQ
7472 Al Highway 69 N. Cullman, AL (256) 796-5350 facebook.com/BrindleyMountainBBQ
“There’s nothing fancy about their burgers, but doing all the simple things right is what makes it so good. It has everything you want in a great burger and it’s done just the way I would do it if I were grilling out at home.” – Brian Lacy, Cullman EC
Ketchem’s Restaurant & Catering ketchems.com/ facebook.com/KetchemsRestaurant 115 East Main Street Hartford, AL 36344 334-723-4109
“The burgers at Ketchem’s are just great old fashioned homemade burgers. You definitely do not leave hungry after eating a Ketchem’s burger.” – Jennifer Ward, Wiregrass EC
Ole Gin Steakhouse 5900 County Road 38 Section, AL 35771 (256)228-3493
“Great atmosphere, amazing service and an unforgettable meal!” – Starr Mitchell, Sand Mountain EC
Our Place Diner
2751 S. U.S. Highway 231 Ozark, AL 36360 facebook.com/OurPlaceDinerOzark
“Our Place offers one of the best burgers - freshly made, juicy burgers with quality ingredients – just like your mom would have made at home!”– Laura Thornton, Pea River EC
Greasy Cove General Store & The Greasy Spoon 13956 Gallant Road Gallant, AL 35972 (256) 538-7632 greasycovegeneralstore.com
“A semi-finalist in the 2023 Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Best Beef Contest, this is my all-time favorite hamburger. It’s our go-to for dining out with guests.” – Mark Stephenson, AREA
Paint Rock Forest Research Center: Finding and protecting our natural treasures
Story by Katie Jackson; photos by Sakora Smeby
It’s no secret that Alabama possesses a wealth of natural wonders—stunning landscapes, miles and miles of freshwater streams and rivers and an astounding degree of biodiversity just to name a few. But now researchers are discovering a cache of ancient treasures in a remote northeastern corner of the state that may help reveal the secrets of Alabama’s ecological richness and help map its future.
These scientists are members of a multi-disciplinary research team working at the Paint Rock Forest Research Center (paintrock.org), a nonprofit established in 2018 in Jackson County’s Sharp-Bingham Mountain Preserve, a 4,500acre property owned and protected by The Nature Conservancy.
It is, says PRFRC director and co-founder Bill Finch, an ideal location for the center’s threefold mission to:
• Explore how forests and other ecosystems work in the face of climate change and human use;
Located at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains on the heavily forested Cumberland Plateau, the Paint Rock River Valley is formed by steep slopes honeycombed with caves, sinks and underground springs that drop some 1,000 feet down to the Paint Rock River, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southeast. This gorgeously demanding landscape is also one of the most biologically diverse places in the Appalachians, home to an amazing number of plant and animal species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth and many of which have yet to be identified or even discovered.
a naturalist, conservationist and writer whose 30-plus-year career has focused on recognizing and protecting Alabama’s many natural treasures.
• Train and encourage a new and diverse generation of scientists;
• Develop a new conservation model that integrates human needs with the needs of healthy, resilient landscapes.
These biological treasures have long been cached in the valley, a climate refugium where they were protected from climate upheavals— including the impacts of the Last Ice Age—and other natural and human-caused disturbances for eons. The valley’s remoteness and its challenging, often inaccessible terrain also limited human activity there, leaving large populations of relict plant and animal species and their ecosystems relatively undisturbed and intact.
Because of this, the Paint Rock River Valley is teeming with untold numbers of terrestrial, aquatic and cave-dwelling organisms. This extraordinary biological diversity coupled with the area’s complex geology and hydrology, “make it a one-of-a-kind labora-
The PRFRC 10-acre campus provides more than 7,000 square feet of residential, lecture and research space, an area Finch hopes to double in size in the coming year.
Bill Finch, director and cofounder of the Paint Rock Forest Research Center, is
Franklin County hosts Watermelon Festival
Aug.16-17
By Jenna Parnell
In the heart of Franklin County, Alabama, lies a summer tradition that has ripened over four decades: the Franklin County Watermelon Festival. What began in 1982 as a political gathering for local politicians soon blossomed into an annual celebration of community, agriculture, and, of course, the beloved watermelon.
Named the Watermelon Capital of Alabama in 2013, Franklin County wears this title proudly as it prepares to host its 43rd annual Watermelon Festival on August 16 and 17. This event has become a cornerstone of local pride and a magnet for tourists both near and far.
The festival offers something for everyone. Food and drink vendors line up by the dozens, offering special watermelon-flavored treats. Merchandise from local booths can be found around every corner, while entertainment stages hum with music and performances throughout the weekend.
Competitions abound, from “best dressed” and “most unusual” watermelon contests to the serious business of determining the “best tasting” and largest weight awards judged for both local growers and those from afar.
For those with a more competitive edge, the seed-spitting contest is a must-see attraction, where participants of all ages compete for distance in spitting watermelon seeds. “People practice all year for this,” laughs Cassie Medley, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a serious competition wrapped in fun.”
Community involvement runs deep at the festival. Many vendors dedicate their profits to local scholarships, school clubs, and sports teams, showing the festival’s role not only as a celebration but also as a vital contributor to the community’s well-being.
“I hope they want to come back!” Medley exclaims when asked what she hopes visitors take away from the festival experience. “I hope they can truly see the hospitality of the amazing people we have here in Franklin County. It’s always heartwarming to see families come together year after year, catching up over this special event and witnessing how much our festival has grown.”
For more information, see the event’s Facebook page: facebook.com/franklincountywatermelonfestival or on Instagram at fc_watermelon_festival.
2023 Watermelon Queen Silvie Miller.
tory for understanding how species and ecosystems assemble and survive,” Finch says. And he and his collaborators are trying to do just that, starting with deepening their understanding of its trees, one tree at a time.
Understanding our forests
Since 2019, PRFRC researchers have been painstakingly identifying, tagging and mapping every single woody shrub or tree with a stem diameter of 1 centimeter or more (about a pencil’s width in size) on a 150-acre study site. These trees will be continuously monitored over the next 50 years to gauge their growth rates, sur vivability, ability to capture carbon and to monitor how they respond to changes in climate and carbon dioxide.
The study is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s ForestGEO program, a global network of 78 research sites in 29 countries focused on deepening our understanding of the world’s tropical, temperate and boreal forests. Patterned on a groundbreaking long-term tropical forest dynamics study begun in Panama in 1980, these projects are studying how forests function, how species survive and how climate change is impacting them.
Results from these studies can be used by policymakers and planners to develop future conservation strategies that will help protect the Earth’s forests, which are essential to the health and wellbeing of all life on Earth. That’s because forests provide crucial ecosystem services such as capturing carbon, cleaning our air and water and stabilizing and enriching our soils. They also provide habitat for two-thirds of the Earth’s terrestrial plant and animal species and provide humankind with renewable products, recreational opportunities and other benefits. And, especially crucial today, they are key to the planet’s climate resilience.
Finch, a long-time conservationist and natural historian with a deep knowledge of and passion for the Southeast’s natural treasures, was well-versed in the importance of forests when, in 2008, he helped ForestGEO leaders scout for a new research site in the
temperate South. After considering locations in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and other southeastern states, they soon realized that none were as perfect for the study as Alabama’s Paint Rock River Valley. It would, however, be another 10 years before that research began thanks to the dedication and leadership of Finch and his wife, award-winning conservation photographer Beth Maynor Finch.
Working in partnership with Alabama A&M University and with the encouragement and support of several preeminent U.S. biologists (including the late E.O. Wilson, a celebrated Harvard biologist, naturalist and Alabama native), the Finches established the PRFRC in 2018 and, by 2019, the long-term forest dynamics study was underway.
Now, five years into the study, its research team has censused about 80 acres of the study site, cataloguing more than 50,000 individual stems (they expect to have 100,000 before they are through). In the process, they have identified some 100 different woody plants including maples, hickories, buckeyes, dogwoods, azaleas, buckeyes, oaks and elms, at least 10 of which represent previously unknown species.
“It appears we’ll be helping to redefine the sugar maple group, and it’s very likely we’ll all need to learn the new name of a very large and prominent Cumberland oak,” Finch says. And those are likely just the first of many discoveries yet to be made.
“The truth is, we don’t know precisely how many species we actually have here because so many of the trees defy any current species definition,” he continued, noting they are working with various educational and research institutions here in Alabama (Samford University and the University of West Alabama among them) and across the country to help identify these new-found treasures.
The PRFRC is taking conservation to new heights in its effort to restore one of the Southeast’s most endangered forest types, the shortleaf pine savanna. At right, seeds collected from these shortleaf pines can help regrow not just forests but may grow a new commercial enterprise for the Paint Rock Valley.
“We simply had no idea we’d encounter so many surprises in one place,” Finch says. And many more will no doubt be found as they study the valley’s caves, sinks, springs, river and other habitats.
In addition to these studies, and for the first time in a century, the center’s staff is also collecting seed from shortleaf pines and native wildflowers and grasses. These can be used to help restore shortleaf pine savannas, one of the Southern Cumberland Plateau’s most endangered ecosystems, and possibly to create a new restoration-based industry for the area.
“We want to be a comprehensive research center,” Finch says, including the “new and diverse generation of scientists” that are part of their overall mission. To accomplish this, the center often hosts students and youth from all backgrounds and from across the globe. A research intern program has also been established allowing aspiring scientists to live and work at the center for months at a time.
To support its interns, scientists, volunteers and the many students, film crews, artists and others who frequently visit the center, the Finches established a 10-acre campus just downhill from the forest research site that provides some 7,000 square feet of residential, lecture and research space, which they hope to soon expand.
The importance of partnerships
how mutually beneficial these collaborations can be.
Because the center is within the TNC preserve, it will be protected in perpetuity, assuring that the long-term forest study can continue for 50 years unaffected by outside pressures and changes, such as logging and development. In turn, the center’s work can help TNC develop its conservation work and support TNC’s “Resilient and Connected Landscapes” initiative, an approach that seeks to balance the needs of nature and people to create a climate-resilient planet.
“We’re very focused at the TNC on projects that combine thoughtful human use and enjoyment of the landscape with critical conservation goals,” Reid says. Because of the Paint Rock River Valley’s proximity to one of the fastest growing areas of the state and region— Huntsville/Madison County on through Atlanta and Chattanooga—it offers an exceptional opportunity to develop plans that find that balance and create a model for other conservation efforts.
“In the heart of this rapidly developing area, you still have this emerald jewel that is Jackson County,” he says. “It could, and ought to, be the playground of all these places. If we do our job right by protecting these areas while still providing people access to see and use them, then Jackson County will have something for everyone.”
A lot has been accomplished at the center in a short period of time, an achievement Finch credits to its network of partnerships, both local and worldwide.
Partnerships are important to any conservation effort, says TNC State Director Mitch Reid. It is through such collaborations that TNC, which works across the globe to help conserve the land and water, has protected more than 30,000 acres in Jackson County and supported over 40 river projects in the area. Their partnership with the Paint Rock Forest Research Center is a prime example of
According to Finch, the PRFRC’s partnerships with TNC, Alabama A&M University and many other universities, organizations and people across the state, nation and world are key to its success.
“We’ve gotten it done because of our partners,” he says. “We’re getting it done because our board members roll up their sleeves whenever we get stuck in the mud, and because of the growing support of our local communities and legislative delegation.”
Through the priceless support of current and future partners and the hard work of its dedicated staff and volunteers, the Paint Rock Forest Research Center will uncover more of Alabama’s natural treasures and help keep them safe for generations to come.
Below: Back in June, filmmakers from Connecticut-based Coneflower Studios spent almost a week at the center documenting the fireflies of the Paint Rock Valley for an upcoming PBS special, “Bugs that Rule the World.” Below right: Cataloging every tree on the center’s 150-acre forest dynamics research site is slow, meticulous, demanding work, but that hasn’t daunted the dedicated students who are conducting the census and training to become the next generation of scientists.
Researchers recently began a bird banding project to help identify and better understand the habits and needs of birds like this yellowthroated warbler.
Rip currents:
The underrated beach danger
Picture a warm, sunny day at the beach. You and your loved ones are relaxing on the white sands of Alabama’s beaches, with waves splashing on the shore, tempting potential swimmers to enter its waters. However, those same waters pose a danger unknown to many beachgoers. That risk is an innocent-looking break in the waves called a rip current, which is the leading cause of weather-related deaths along the northern Gulf Coast.
A rip current is a channel of water that flows away from the shore. They often form near jetties, inlets, piers, and sandbars. Despite being able to occur in any weather condition, even on calm, sunny days, at any time of the year, rip currents are most likely to form within a couple of hours of low tide, as well as with a strong, persistent onshore wind or energy transmitted from nearby low-pressure systems, such as a hurricane.
The fast-moving nature of rip currents makes them dangerous. They travel at eight feet per second, faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jessica Chace of the National Weather Service office in Mobile compares a rip current to a treadmill. “If you stand on a treadmill at the gym, you will quickly be pulled away towards the end of the machine,” she says. “A rip current acts similarly; it can quickly pull you away from the beach and into the ocean.”
fighting it and drowning.
Unlike an undertow or rip tide, often used interchangeably but incorrectly, a rip current will not pull a swimmer underwater.
Visitors from inland to Alabama’s beaches get in the most trouble with rip currents as they receive less regular exposure and safety training with them than those living on the coast.
“Many vacationers come from areas of the country that do not have a beach environment or hazards to worry about,” says Brett Lesinger, Beach Safety Chief of the Orange Beach Fire Department. From 2002 to 2023, coastal counties served by the National Weather Service offices in Mobile and Tallahassee, Florida, saw 213 fatalities from rip currents, which is more than deaths in those regions from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and lightning combined. Many of the rescues and drownings along the coast typically occur with those on vacation from interior areas of the U.S.
If going to the Alabama coast, there are steps one can take to avoid becoming a rip current statistic. To identify a rip current, look for an area of flat, dark water with no waves around where waves are breaking. Also, look for debris in the water, such as seaweed or foam, moving away from the beach. The best view of a rip current is from an elevated surface such as a pier or dune line.
Those caught in a rip current often panic due to underestimating their swimming ability and, after being pulled into deeper water, have to be rescued or, in a worst-case scenario, become tired
Before getting in the water, check the daily rip current forecast. The National Weather Service Office in Mobile posts daily rip current conditions on its social media and web pages based on
Story by Aaron Tanner; Photos by Brent Williams
Elevated surfaces provide great views of rip currents.
Rip currents can carry their victims far from shore and often require the aid of first responders for help.
computer models, tidal, wave, and wind conditions. Additionally, visitors to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach can receive updated surf condition texts on their smartphones from the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency.
Another tool to mitigate getting caught in a rip current is to pay attention to the flag system at the beach, which has five different color levels. Green flags mean a low risk of rip currents but exercise caution. A moderate risk of rip currents warrants a yellow flag, while a single red flag warns of a high risk of rip currents and even the strongest of swimmers might think twice about entering the rough surf that day.
Do not enter the water when double red flags are flying; it is closed to the public, and illegally entering it can result in fines or arrest. Dauphin Island uses all five flag color levels. However, even on low-risk days, at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the minimum the flags fly is yellow instead of green due to uncontrollable factors in the water. “Green by most accounts implies ‘Go,’ which is not true of all swimmers,” says Lesinger. “We want people to understand there is risk involved with swimming in the open water.”
Always know your swimming ability before entering the water, and preferably swim near a lifeguard and never alone. As Lesinger warns those entering the water, “The Gulf of Mexico is not a pool; the depth is unknown, and you cannot grab onto a wall if you get tired.” While Dauphin Island, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores have lifeguards on duty during the busy spring and summer months, ready to rescue distressed swimmers at a moment’s notice, visitors to Fort Morgan should especially exercise caution as there are no lifeguards or flags at its beach.
If caught in a rip current, do not panic. Swim at an angle parallel to the shore instead of towards the beach to escape the rip current. If it is not possible to get out of the rip current, do not fight it; instead, float on your back and yell for help. Do not enter the water if you witness someone caught in a rip current. Instead, call 911 or get a lifeguard’s attention. If no lifeguard is present, calmly give instructions and throw something that floats to the victim until help arrives.
Unrelated to rip currents, purple flags mean dangerous marine life is present.
Alabama’s beaches are an excellent destination for making memories. Despite their risks, they are still ideal places to soak up the sun and dip a toe in the water. With proper education and awareness about rip currents, one can avoid those beach memories from becoming tragic.
For tools about Rip Current Safety
Beach forecasts from the National Weather Service Office in Mobile: weather.gov/beach/mob
NWS Gulf Coast Rip Current Awareness Site: weather.gov/tae/ripcurrentawareness
To receive surf conditions on your smartphone text ALBEACHES to 888777
Lifeguards and first responders have specialized training to rescue swimmers caught in a rip current along Alabama’s Gulf coast.
Rip currents can carry swimmers into deeper waters, where rescue is often needed by trained lifeguards or first responders.
Supplemental Security Income provides payments to children with disabilities
Did you know that Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides cash payments to chil-
with disabilities whose families have limited income and
A child must meet all of the following disability requirements to be considered medically eligible for SSI:
The child, if not blind, generally must not be working or earning more than $1,550 a month in 2024.
If the child is blind, they must not be working or earning more than $2,590 in 2024. The earning amounts usually change every year to keep up th inflation.
Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
The child must have a medical condition(s), that result in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit the child’s activities.
The child’s condition(s) must be expected to last for at least a year or result in death.
Some teens may have part-time jobs or be involved in work programs, which may affect their eligibility for SSI. In addition, if an unmarried child under age 18 is living at home with one or both parents, we will consider some of the parents’ income as the child’s income. We make allowances for the parents and their other children living in the home when we consider the parents’ income. You can learn more about children’s benefits in our publication, Benefits for Children with Disabilities at ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf.
We also help children – and adults –through our Compassionate Allowances program. Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify conditions that, by definition, meet our standard for disability benefits. You can read the list of conditions at ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm. Compassionate Allowances can help reduce the time it takes for us to make a disability determination for applicants with the most serious disabilities. Thousands of children receive benefits because they have a condition on this list, but children with conditions not on this list can still qualify for SSI.
If you are or know a parent, guardian, caregiver, or representative of a child who may be eligible for SSI, visit our Disability Benefits webpage - Apply for a Child (Under Age 18) at ssa.gov/ssi to learn more.
Alabama food crossword
by Myles Mellor
AUGUST
Through Aug. 11
Guntersville Guntersville Museum’s exhibition, “Backstage Hollywood: The Photographs of Bob Willoughby.” Venture backstage into the golden age of Hollywood; widely recognized as a pioneer of photography in the 20th century, Willoughby was the first outside photographer invited by studios to take photos on film sets. Exhibition features photos from the sets of 17 iconic films. Free. GuntersvilleMuseum.org
2-4
Greensboro Alabama Audubon’s 4th annual Black Belt Birding Festival. Highlighting the birds, history and heritage of Alabama’s Black Belt region, the festival offers a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of many species of birds in a natural environment. Event features several guided walks, drives and talks with differing costs. Proceeds support Alabama Audubon’s Black Belt Initiative. Alaudubon.org or email tim@alaudubon.org
2-3
Athens Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days, Limestone County Sheriff’s Arena, 18032 Buck Island Road/Alabama Highway 99. The event combines antique farm equipment and old-fashioned concessions with live music and family-friendly fun and games, taking visitors back to “the good ol’ days.” Event is considered one of the best antique engine shows in Alabama; also included are a flea market, craft vendors and contests. A tractor parade begins at 10 a.m. Friday. $5 per person and free for children 12 and under. Search for the Piney Chapel Antique Engine Tractor Association page on Facebook.
3
Orrville True Crime Wagon Tour of Old Cahawba, 10 to 11 a.m. Cahawba grew from a frontier capital into a prosperous center of wealth and culture in the early 1800s. Despite its short-lived grasp on prosperity, civilization and refinement, Cahawba was in reality a frontiertown that never lost its frontier mentality. Its corruption will be revealed on this one-hour guided wagon tour. $10 adults, $8 children. Ahc.alabama.gov
9-10 Frisco City 4th annual Monroe County Rodeo, Frisco City Park. The NCPRA sanctioned rodeo will offer traditional rodeo competition and fun for the whole family; gates open nightly at 6 p.m., with rodeo action at 7 p.m. Tickets available at the gate. MonroeCountyAl.com
16-18
Montgomery 2024
Buckmasters Expo, Renaissance Convention Center. More than 300 vendor booths will offer a full range of hunting products, and the expo will feature entertainment from outdoor celebrities and the Top Bow indoor archery tournament. The Bulls and Buckmasters professional bull riding show on Friday and Saturday nights guarantees excitement, along with pig racing, free riverboat rides, live music, food trucks and children’s activities. Entry is one can of food or a $1 donation to benefit the Friendship Mission and Salvation Army. 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Search for the event on Facebook.
24
Fyffe UFO Day. Hot-air balloon rides showcase this unique family outing. Arts and crafts, children’s games, food vendors, antique tractors, live entertainment, street dance and much more make this event fun for the whole family. Gates open at 9 a.m. and music starts at 10 a.m. 256-623-2222.
24-25
Tensaw annual re-enactment of the Battle of Fort Mims, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1800s crafts and living history, daily re-enactments on site and concessions available. Sponsored by Fort Mims Restoration Association. Visit Fortmims.org and “like” the Fort Mims Facebook page.
24-25
Eutaw 49th Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, on the Thomas Gilmore Courthouse Square. This community festival was organized to pay tribute to those recognized as bearers of the folkway, traditions and culture of West Alabama. Featuring blues and gospel music, handmade crafts, kids’ tent with hands-on workshops, face painting and games. Free.
31 Mentone Follow Your Art, known as Mentone’s “sweetest little art festival.” Features a judged art market, emerging artists from area colleges, and a sidewalk chalk art contest. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presented by MERF: Mentone Educational Resources Foundation, an educational non-profit, at 4561 Alabama Highway 117. Hosted by the Little River Arts Council. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
Around Alabama
31 Arab SugarFest, Arab City Park. With 150 craft vendors, 20+ food trucks, a 5K race, fireworks show and fun for the whole family, there is something for everyone. Free. TheSugarFest.com
SEPTEMBER
1-2
Cullman 28th annual Sweet Tater Festival, Smith Lake Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday (Labor Day). Live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and of course sweet potatoes. Car show on Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5 per person, and armband allows for entry both days. Search for Smith Lake Park or Cullman County Parks on Facebook.
7
Montevallo Tinglewood Festival, Orr Park. The town is often recognized for the carvings of Tim Tingle in Orr Park; each year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy the carvings. This festival celebrates wood carving and other wood working crafts. See a chainsaw carving exhibition, artist booths, demonstrations and more; try your hand at a whittling contest. Classic car show, tractor show, food trucks, live music and children’s activities. TinglewoodFestival.com
21
Hartselle Hartselle Depot Days, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Family fun and entertainment fills the historic depot and downtown area. Event is a tribute to the railroad industry and its contribution to the area. Activities include a car, truck and motorcycle show, music performances, food and craft vendors, and art show, tractor and engine show and games for children. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving. coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations. Alabama Living on FB instagram.com/alabamaliving
Crossword answers for Page 28
A variety of outdoors vendors will be on hand for the 2024 Buckmasters Expo. PHOTO COURTESY BUCKMASTERS
A new SEC, post-Saban, post PAC 12
By Brad Bradford
Most armchair quarterbacks proclaimed a few years ago that the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) would change college football forever. It did. But along comes 2024 and that same quarterback says, “Hold my beer.”
1. Nick Saban has hung up his straw hat.
2. Texas and Oklahoma have joined the SEC.
3. The playoffs have expanded from 4 teams to 12.
4. The PAC 12 no longer exists. Conferences aren’t bound by geography anymore.
In January 2007, Mal Moore lured Nick Saban from the Miami Dolphins and Alabama football returned to its glory days as the standard. Six national championships during his 17-year tenure will never be replicated. Enter Kalen DeBoer from Washington. His resume is impeccable. DeBoer has won everywhere he has been with lesser resources. He has proven so far that he can recruit at an elite level, even though he has never been in cutthroat SEC land. DeBoer has checked all the right boxes so far. Now, can he just win up to Bama standards?
SEC expansion through the years has come in pairs: South Carolina and Arkansas in 1991, Texas A&M and Missouri in 2012 and now, Texas and Oklahoma this year. Compare the additions and this is the first time that both schools enter the league near the top in terms of tradition, facilities and fan followings. Both new teams begin 2024 in the top 15.
This is the first year that the SEC won’t have EastWest divisions and the conference championship game will be between the teams with the best SEC conference record. It’s very likely that the game will be a repeat of a regular season game since Georgia, Texas and Alabama all play each other. Ole Miss or Missouri could slip in because of their easier schedule.
games, including the Iron Bowl on a fluke touchdown pass. Freeze brought in D.J. Durkin as the defensive coordinator from Texas A&M to shore up the defense. Coach Freeze earned his keep as an innovative play-caller and will take back over those duties.
The major question: Can he develop returning quarterback Payton Thorne from being the 11th rated QB in the SEC last year to playing winning football?
The Tigers should start out 4-0 at home before Oklahoma comes to town. Later wins against Vandy and Louisiana Monroe would make them bowl eligible. They will be big underdogs to Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama. Toss-up games will be against Missouri, Kentucky and Texas A&M. Prediction: 7-5.
Alabama recap and prediction
Last year, the Tide lost by 10 to Texas at home and Bama fans went into panic mode. The next week, Saban benched Jalen Milroe and barely beat South Florida on the road. Bama reinserted Milroe and went all the way to the playoff semifinals undefeated, including a win over Georgia in the SEC championship game, before losing to Michigan. The major question: Can DeBoer handle the rigors of the SEC and develop Milroe like he did Michael Penix at Washington? Saban left DeBoer a bunch of five-star players and a winning culture. Alabama should be favored in every game except Georgia on September 28, but it’s at home after an open date. Three tough road games are Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma, the week before the Iron Bowl. The Tide catches Missouri and Auburn at home. Prediction: 11-1.
It appears the entire nation complained about the Final Four football playoff and secretly called it the “SEC invitational.” Like Granny used to say: “Be careful what you ask for.” The new 12team format gives the four highest ranked conference champions a first-round bye. Teams seeded 5 through 8 will host the teams ranked 9 through 12 to see who advances to the semifinals. Most football junkies think that the SEC will have either 3 or 4 teams in the playoffs. The loser of the SEC championship game will almost be guaranteed to be ranked 5th through 8th and will host the first round. The champion will get a bye.
Auburn recap and prediction
It’s hard to believe that the Tigers haven’t had a winning season since 2020 and that was a 6-5 record. Hugh Freeze was hired to clean up the “Harsin Mess.” Last year, Auburn lost some close
Most likely SEC teams (in order) to make the playoffs: 1. Georgia 2. Texas 3. Alabama 4. Ole Miss 5. Missouri 6. LSU. Conference champions most likely to get top four seeds: 1. Georgia (SEC) 2. Ohio State (Big 10) 3. Florida State (ACC) 4. Oklahoma State (Big 12).
Even though the playoffs will consist of 12 teams, the final four semifinals will look familiar: Georgia vs. Texas and Ohio State vs. Alabama. After missing last year’s playoff, Georgia will get revenge and beat the Buckeyes 34-17.
Never forget the SEC saying: “It just means more.”
Brad Bradford is a former football staff member at Alabama and Louisville. His wife, Susan Moseley Bradford, is a former Auburn cheerleader. His blogs can be found at hairinabiscuit. com. Brad is also an author and motivational speaker. Contact him at coachbradbradford@gmail.com.
New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has the credentials to follow in Nick Saban’s footsteps. But can he win up to Bama standards?
PHOTO BY ALABAMA ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Cultivating wellness: The therapeutic benefits of gardens and nature
Wellness thrives in the out-ofdoors.
Anyone who loves to garden, work in the yard or spend time in nature no doubt already understands how beneficial working and playing outside can be for the body, mind and soul. Those benefits are backed up by lots of science, too.
Gardening and other outdoor activities help burn calories, strengthen muscles and bones, improve balance and flexibility and can reduce inflammation in our bodies. All that sunshine we absorb can boost Vitamin D levels, and just breathing in fresh air can help clean our lungs, lower our heart rates and improve our digestion. And if the garden happens to yield nutritious and delicious fruits and vegetables, that’s icing on the proverbial cake.
Mentally and emotionally, gardens and nature provide a much-needed balance in our all-too busy lives, which can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Digging in the dirt can also improve our moods, a benefit that recent studies indicate may be caused, at least in part, beneficial soil bacteria that elevate serotonin levels in our bodies.
In addition, gardening or exploring nature keeps our minds active and stimulated, which can help protect against cognitive declines, including dementia. It also encourages mindfulness, creativity, self-expression, spiritual connections and can increase our confidence and self-esteem.
These activities can also provide social connections and build relationships across cultures, which in turn can reduce loneliness and increase understanding and cohesiveness in our communities.
Of course, none of this is really new news. Humankind has recognized the healing, transformative powers of gardens and nature for thousands of years. During the 1800s western medical doctors began to see the value of gardens for mental and physical recovery and began using it to treat a variety of conditions. Today, more and more healthcare and treatment centers have installed gardens and natural spaces to help patients, their family members, staff and visitors cope with and recover from an array of physical, emotional, mental and social injuries and conditions.
According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association (ahta.org) therapeutic gardens fall into five main categories:
• Healing gardens that focus on physical, mental and emotional recovery;
• Enabling gardens that provide quiet, stress-reducing environments for people working through difficult life events;
• Meditative gardens that are designed to rejuvenate and restore emotional and psychological balance;
• Rehabilitative gardens that focus on the intersection of human healing and healing the environment;
• Restorative gardens, which help reduce stress and restore calmness after traumatic events.
Yep, there’s a therapeutic garden option for almost any situation—take, for exam-
ple, the 20 million Americans who took up gardening in 2020 as a way to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting one can be easy, too, though experts suggest starting out with a clear plan, and that begins with knowing what you’re seeking in the garden. Do you want the space to nurture your body, mind or soul? Is it to be a place of quiet meditation or a place for lively social interaction?
Once you have a vision, it’s time to pick your plants, which are at the heart of any therapeutic garden. Consider plants that engage some, if not all, of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste) and ones that will attract butterflies, birds and other wildlife into the space. Add a water feature, natural stones, seashells, driftwood and other nature-focused or serenity-inducing touches to create the vibe you want.
More detailed guidelines and ideas on creating a therapeutic garden can be found through the National Garden Bureau (ngb. org), KidsGardening (kidsgardening.org) and through other online resources. And if all that is more than you want to take on, just go where wellness thrives: Outside.
AUGUST TIPS
Clean and prepare garden beds for fall crops.
Keep harvesting summer crops.
Plant leafy greens, cabbage, beets, collards and other fall vegetables.
Plant seeds for annual and perennial flowers.
Repot houseplants.
Keep pets and yourself cool during these dog days of summer, which ends on Aug. 11.
Blackberries state fruit of Alabama
Blackberry Pepper Jelly
1 pound fresh jalapenos
2 cups fresh black berries
5 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup white or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 ounces liquid fruit pectin
Dice the jalapenos and squeeze the liquid out (paper towel works well for this and kitchen gloves are helpful). Put the diced jalapenos, sugar, blackberries, salt, vinegar and lime juice in a large heavy-duty saucepan. (Make sure there is plenty of extra space because the mixture will boil and rise significantly). Bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat but maintain a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove boiler from the heating element and add the liquid pectin, stir in and return to heat. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and time for one minute. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes, then give a good stir (to evenly distribute the pepper and blackberry pieces.) Pour into jelly jars, fill to 1/4-inch of the top. Wipe the tops clean and secure the lids and rims. Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
WCook’s tip: Pepper Jelly is delicious served with a block of cream cheese and eaten with crackers. Makes a great appetizer for ball games, holidays and any family or business gatherings. Make sure that you wash and sterilize the jars and lids before use.
Cook of the Month: Beverly N. Davis, Central Alabama EC
hen Beverly Davis makes her Blackberry Pepper Jelly, she recommends serving it with a block of cream cheese. “You definitely need the cream cheese,” she says, because the hot spicy nature of the jalapeno needs something to calm it down. She also likes to serve it with Sociables crackers: “Those are real good.” When we made the jelly for our taste-testing here at the office, our cook Brooke Echols made two versions, one with jalapenos with seeds intact, and another version with the seeds scooped out (less spicy). Davis says she perfected her recipe about two years ago, and says you can use any kind of fruit to make it. “You can also cook with it, put it over meats and even vegetables,” says the retired postmaster. At a recent get-together of classmates from Autauga County High School Class of 1972, she adds, “One of the guys ate a half a block of the cream cheese” topped with her prize-winning jelly. “Guys really like it!”
Photos and styling by Brooke Echols
Blackberries are in season and it is time to make them a part of every meal!
We love making this easy and delicious Blackberry Chutney every summer. One of the tastiest ways we can think of serving it is with a delicious filet sourced right here from an Alabama cattle rancher. While this recipe is a fantastic way to use those summer blueberries, you will want to store this chutney in a jar and keep it in the fridge to use it in a dozen more ways. Two recipes in one is my kind of heaven! For more great recipes, visit thebutteredhome.com
Brooke Burks
Pan-Seared Filet with Blackberry Chutney
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup sliced onions
1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
11/2 cup fresh blackberries, washed and dried
3 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons pepper
11/2 pounds beef filet mignon
In a medium saucepan, saute 1 tablespoon butter with sliced onions and red bell peppers, just until soft. Add red wine vinegar, brown sugar and blackberries. Simmer on low heat until the liquid has reduced by half, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cool. We like to keep it as is, but feel free to blend until smooth and even strain to remove any seeds if you prefer. Mix 2 and one-half tablespoons salt and 2 and one-half tablespoons pepper and place in a platter or large plate. Prepare your filet by rolling just the edges of the filet in the salt and pepper mixture to coat evenly. Set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the prepared filets and sear in the hot pan for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the last tablespoon of butter, turn the filets and sear for the same amount of time for medium rare or longer, according to what level of doneness you prefer. Allow the meat to rest for about 3 minutes and serve with the blackberry chutney on top or on the side. Enjoy!
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup half-n-half
3 egg yolks
¾ cup fresh lemon zest
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 cup crushed blackberries
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Pour all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. Pour ice cream base into ice cream maker for 15 minutes or until frozen. Top with white chocolate shavings, fresh berries and whipped cream.
Robin Bacon Baldwin EMC
Blackberry
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons bak ing powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup boiling water
Blackberry Filling:
4 cups fresh black berries, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved with 1/4 cup cold water
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 10-inch cast iron skillet and 9x9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. For topping: mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Add enough boiling water until the mixture is moist. In skillet or pan, combine water and cornstarch until blended. Add sugar, blackberries and lemon juice and zest. Mix together and bring to a boil, stirring. Drop small spoonfulls of dough on top of blueberry mixture. Sprinkle turbinado sugar on top. Bake in preheated oven until the topping is golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Nancy
Sizemore
Baldwin EMC
Photo by The Buttered Home
Blackberry Lemon Jazz Ice Cream
Shortcake Cobbler
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Soups/Stews/Chili
Submit by: October 4
1 cup uncooked oats, quick cooking or regular (not instant)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup nuts (walnut, pecan or hazel nut), chopped
1/2 cup butter
3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
3/4 cup sugar Cooking spray
Mix oats, flour and brown sugar. Add nuts. Cut in butter until crumbly. Spray an 8-inch square pan. Place half of crumb mixture on bottom. Mix berries and white sugar and pour over crumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Sharon Pitt
Joe Wheeler EMC
Blackberry
Jam Cake
1 box spice cake mix
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
3 large eggs
1 cup seedless blackberry jam
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 container caramel frosting
Email us: recipes@alabamaliving.coop
Visit our website: alabamaliving.coop
USPS mail: Attn: Recipes P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
Editor's note: we added a simple powdered sugar glize for a sweet topping.
Mix well for 2 minutes; add nuts and cherries last. Bake at 350 degrees for 24-28 minutes in a 2x8-inch round cake pan (greased and floured). Cool on rack 15 minutes. Frost cake with caramel frosting. Cook’s note: use your own recipe for caramel frosting or order Caramel Icing from The Caramel Factory in Batesville, Mississippi.
Jane Ahern Smith
Joe Wheeler EMC
Fresh Blackberry Fried Pies
1 quart fresh blackberries
Sugar Oil, for frying
1 15-ounce package refrigerator pie crusts
Wash and dry blackberries. Use both pastry sheets in a 15-ounce package of refrigerator pie crusts. From both pastry sheets, cut 6-inch circles. In the center of each circle, place whole berries. Leave empty space from edges of crust. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over the berries. Take one side of crust and fold over berries to opposite side, to form half circles. Crinkle edges with fork. With fork, make a few holes on one side of pies. Pour 1-inch of oil in a cast iron skillet. Heat on medium temperature. Lay pies in oil, brown one side, then turn pies to brown on the other side. It’s better if some of the juice leaks out, making a candy like crust on the pies. Take pies out of oil and place on paper towels to drain. Cool slightly and enjoy while still warm.
Barbara Woodard
Joe Wheeler EMC
Berry Crisp
Fresh Blackberry Fried Pies
Heat pump technology, efficiency continue to improve over time
Q:My heating system is 10-plus years old, and I want to switch to a heat pump. Can you help me choose the best option for my home?
A:Heat pumps have been around for decades, and in that time, the technology has come a long way. In my opinion, they could use a rebrand.
The name heat pump does not highlight the benefit of air conditioning that comes with the technology. Heat pumps are highly efficient because they don’t use energy to create heat. Instead, they use energy to move heat—into the home in the winter and out of it in the summer. They typically produce about three times more energy than they use.
The most common types of heat pumps are air source and ground source. Air source heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air, even if it isn’t particularly warm outside. Ground source, or geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between your home and the ground. With a lower upfront price tag, air source heat pumps are more common.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% com-
pared to an electric furnace. They come in a variety of styles and configurations to fit different homes. Air source heat pump technology has been popular in warmer climates for decades. There are now cold climate versions available, too.
Here’s an explanation of how each type operates:
Ducted air source heat pumps are ideal for homes with existing ductwork or homes where ductwork can be feasibly added. Replacing an aging central air conditioning system with a heat pump can significantly reduce heating costs.
Ductless heat pumps, or mini-split heat pumps, also draw heat from the outside air. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork.
There are many configurations to suit different home layouts. New options on the market allow for coupling with gas or propane backup heat, which might be a good fit for your home. Ductless heat pumps can be a great option for homes with wood stoves. This can help home air quality, heat the home without gathering wood and provide air conditioning in warmer months.
Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground to your home. They are even more efficient than air source heat pumps, reducing energy use by 70% to 80%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They can also heat water for use in the home, which saves on water heating costs.
From a user experience perspective, heat pumps are a little different because the heat from the register doesn’t feel quite as warm as oil, electric, natural gas or propane heat. That can take a little getting used to, but the efficiency gains and energy savings make the investment worthwhile. Before buying a heat pump, compare equipment ratings. The higher the rating, the more efficient the equipment. If it is time to replace your heating system, I recommend making the switch to a heat pump to conserve energy and potentially save on your electric bills.
Understanding the Backup Heat Feature
Most heat pump systems are installed with a backup or auxiliary heat for cold weather. This auxiliary heat can be electric coils, gas, propane or oil, which is usually more expensive to operate. This helps keep your home warm on cold days, but you don’t want to use it if you don’t need it.
For some heat pumps, turning up the thermostat too quickly or too high can trigger the backup heat. Typically, your thermostat will display emergency or auxiliary heat when using this feature. Speak to your HVAC technician to ensure your thermostat is set to maximize efficiency.
Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.
Ductless heat pumps have increased in popularity significantly over the past 10 years. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork.
Air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% compared to an electric furnace, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground to your home and can reduce home energy use by 70% to 80%.
PHOTOS COURTESY BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame inducts inaugural class
Nearly 40 years in the making, the Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class of honorees on June 8 during the National Wild Turkey Federation-sanctioned 2024 World Turkey Calling Championships held in Mobile.
In 1986, the city leaders in Linden established the Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame – in theory. The idea languished until 2021 when Doug Max of Uriah became interested in reviving it.
“For some reason, the idea never really went forward,” Max says. “I knew about the HOF because they put on a calling contest in 1993 and I was in it. A couple years later, the contest folded so the organization just sat dormant. It takes time to work through all the legal procedures, but the people of Linden did everything to help us reconstitute this organization.”
In 2024, Linden appointed a nine-person committee with Max as the first chairman of the Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame Committee. Each board member could nominate three to five people. For the inaugural class, the committee selected Lynn Dent Boykin, Tom Kelly, Ben Rodgers Lee, Billy Macoy, Eddie Salter and Fred T. Stimpson.
“Alabama has such a rich turkey hunting tradition,” Max says. “The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize people who had significantly contributed to the sport of turkey hunting in Alabama, where modern turkey hunting began. In reviving this organization, we wanted to give recognition to certain people, recognition that, in my opinion, was long erdue.”
Lynn Dent Boykin
Lynn Dent Boykin of Mobile served on the NWTF Board of Directors for 10 years. She became the first woman elected president and chairperson of the NWTF board as well as the first woman to preside over any conservation organization. Among her many honors, she was awarded the NWTF C.B. McLeod Distinguished Service Award and the 1996 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservationist of the Year award for her work in promoting Alabama’s outdoor heritage.
Tom Kelly
“Col. Tom Kelly is the premier turkey hunting author,” Max says. “Every turkey hunting writer wishes he or she could be Tom Kelly. Tom was also a great turkey hunter and a great conservationist.”
He wrote more than 20 books about turkey hunting. Many people consider his most famous work, The Tenth Legion, a “must-read” for any turkey hunter. Kelly lived in Spanish Fort, but now calls Virginia home.
Ben Rodgers Lee
A consummate sportsman, Ben Rodgers Lee of Coffeeville introduced countless people to the sport through numerous videos, seminars and media appearances. Many people proclaimed Lee “The Father of Modern Day Turkey Hunting.” Lee won five world champion turkey calling titles, two national championships, three Southeastern United States championships and two Alabama state titles.
Billy Macoy
Born in 1949, Billy Macoy of Lineville started turkey hunting at nine years old. He guided all over the country for stars like Roy Rogers and Davey Allison. He won a national turkey calling championship and two Alabama state titles. He also won the 1985 Grand National Owl Hooting Championship and the 1989 NWTF Grand National Calling Championship, among his many accolades.
Eddie Salter
A well-known sporting personality, Eddie “the Turkey Man” Salter began competing in calling contests and won many events. Some of his titles include seven Southeastern Open Turkey Calling Championships, six Alabama State Championships and two World Open Championships.
Salter was named one of the Top 10 Sportsmen in the United States in 1986 and 1989. In February 2024, the NWTF honored Salter by inducting him into the National Wild Turkey Federation Turkey Callers Hall of Fame.
Fred T. Stimpson
Born in southern Marengo County in 1889, Fred T. Stimpson led the Alabama effort to trap turkeys and relocate them to areas with good habitat, but few or no turkeys to repopulate the state. Turkeys now occupy every Alabama county.
Many relocated turkeys came from what’s now called the Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area, a 5,400-acre tract in Clarke County. In January 1940, Stimpson helped organize the first World Championship Turkey Calling Contest in Mobile, which he won.
Getting to know people and talking about their interests is one of the most enjoyable things in a job and in life itself. Through the years, I have gotten to know one of our employees very well and have enjoyed numerous talks about rural Alabama, farm life, and, our common passion, bird hunting.
John Dean, senior video and multimedia coordinator, has been with PowerSouth almost three decades, and we have shared a number of stories. He grew up in south Alabama and has been an observer of human traits and behavior for years. This month, I offer two of John’s stories. They say a lot about a rural lifestyle and a slower and less stressful life than we currently live. I hope you enjoy them.
June
I hate June. It’s the longest month of the year. I know it only has 30 days, but it seems to last forever.
Plans for next bird season are as far away as memories of the last. Here in south Alabama the heat has arrived, just in time to meet the humidity. Both hang around the upper 90s. Diamondbacks, cottonmouths, copperheads and timber rattlers - everyone seems to have a story about a snake they’ve just seen, making training in the field not much of an option, even in the mornings. So many places that could provide a quick swim for the dogs also have a pair of eyes at the water’s surface, watching. So the dogs just wait. They can’t tell stories about past seasons. They can’t join in conversations about plans for the coming year. They can’t read upland hunting magazines or watch hunting shows. Delmar Smith, Bill Tarrant and Gene Hill mean nothing to them. And so, they just wait. I’m pretty sure they hate June, too.
Peanut Rows
When I was young I heard my parents and grandparents mark time by observing changes around them. I didn’t really understand why they did that. We had calendars. We all knew what month and season it was. Why did they seem so excited when they noticed something that happens every year? As I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to understand. I catch myself doing the same thing now, pointing out the little signs that are evidence that things are about to change.
Always, my favorite example has been peanut rows. I would be riding up County Road 57, standing on the seat of Papa’s white
1964 Chevy step-side pickup, slightly behind his shoulder for safety, of course, and he would point out the window and say, “Look, the peanut rows are filling up.” Or, while riding with my family, dad driving, mom would point out to my sister and me how the peanut rows were starting to close in. We didn’t understand the excitement in her voice. Mom not only grew up on a farm, but she had worked at the Soil Conservation Office helping farmers with their peanut allotments, so she noticed agricultural things that most ladies might not have.
For those of us who live along the Gulf Coast, the dog days of summer are oppressive. The dogs want to play, and we want to play with them. But between the heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and snakes, there’s very little incentive to go outside. The summers are long. Pop-up thunderstorms are common. And have I mentioned the humidity? So often, we will head out with the dogs, a handful of retrieving dummies and a fair amount of enthusiasm. Within a few minutes, we’re headed back inside with tongues dragging, the dogs’ and mine.
The other day I noticed the peanut rows were getting closer together. You know that time of year when the weather first turns cool, how young dogs have a little extra spring in their legs, a little longer gait, and their ears sit higher on their head? That’s how I get when I see the peanut rows starting to fill up. It is visual evidence that, soon, things will change.
There will be the smell of freshly dug green peanuts in the air, a smell that only lasts for a few weeks and you have to experience it to appreciate it. College football will start soon, along with dove shoots, pumpkin pie, slightly cooler weather, boiled peanuts, the sound of the high school band practicing in the distance, the race at Talladega, and the walk from my truck into work without breaking a sweat. Bucks will run around sporting their newest set of antlers. In the late afternoon, you might faintly hear a quail calling in the distance.
Those are the instruments that play the prelude to autumn. Unless you are one of those nutty beach people who like to sit in the white sand, eyes squinted from the glare of the sun while being baked in hot, salty air, the season after August is the happiest time of year.
So plan your fall well. But, you better hurry; the peanut rows are filling up.
I hope you have a good month.
Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.
How To Place a Line Ad in Marketplace
Closing Deadlines (in our office): October 2024 Issue by August 25 November 2024 Issue by September 25 December 2024 Issue by October 25
Ads are $1.75 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis; Telephone numbers, email addresses and websites are considered 1 word each. Ads will not be taken over the phone. You may email your ad to hdutton@areapower.com; or call (800)410-2737 ask for Heather for pricing.; We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards. Mail ad submission along with a check or money order made payable to ALABAMA LIVING, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 – Attn: Classifieds.
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Fool at the pool
Ihave done a lot of embarrassing things in my life. I’ve walked into a sliding glass door because I didn’t see it. Once, I fell off a bridge into a creek because I wasn’t looking where I was going. I’ve even run over a street sign because I didn’t pay attention. But what I’m about to tell you wasn’t my fault. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A few years ago, our church had a picnic at a beautiful summer camp. There were big pavilions with tables where little ladies put out their wonderful, cholesterol-raising casseroles. There were lush fields, a fishing lake, and most important to me, a swimming pool with a diving board.
The kid inside me was attracted to it like a weatherman to a tornado. The board was a springy one that provided prodigious heights when people tried cannon balls or flips. I happily discovered that flying in the air before I hit the water was as much fun in my thirties as it was in my teens.
“Why not take it to the next level?,” I thought. “Why not see if thirtysomething Joe can do a dive that teenage Joe could do?” I was thinking of the One And A Half - flipping forward one and a half times with a smooth headfirst entry into the water. I have no idea why I believed I could perform a dive I hadn’t tried in years. Forget common sense. Ego ruled.
I began by making several basic dives to test the board. It was working perfectly. I’m sure most people thought I looked like Shamu at Sea World. But in my mind, I was almost good enough for the summer Olympics. Luckily, my wife had our video camera. I was so sure I could pull this off that I wanted it recorded for my grandchildren to see.
It was time. Focusing intently, I ran down the diving board,
sprang high, tucked in a tight ball, and begin to rotate.
In a second it was over. I definitely went in the water head first, which, in my mind, meant complete success. Naturally, I expected applause and cheers. However, when I surfaced, all I heard was silence, except for about a dozen people who were laughing uncontrollably. One of them was my wife, video camera in hand.
I turned in the water and looked back at the people who were in line behind me. They were staring blankly where the diving board used to be. One kid pointed at me and yelled, ”That guy broke it.” Then I watched in horror as the last of the board disappeared under the water like the Titanic.
I was stunned. Yes, I’d put on a few pounds since my high school days, but diving boards were made for people of all sizes. And there were all kinds of people jumping that day. Nevertheless, the facts don’t lie: When I began my dive, the board was attached, and after my dive, it was under ten feet of water.
The lifeguard immediately began salvage operations while I got out of the pool and shamefully walked toward my group. Every pair of eyes was fixed on me. And all of my so-called church friends greeted me with comments like, “That should be on ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos,’” or “man, you should check out Weight Watchers.” I thought they were quite un-Christian. But considering the circumstances, Jesus might’ve had a few zingers, too.
Of course, my wife forced me to watch the replay. Right after I hit the end of the board, it broke loose, slid in the water, and sank. It was bad enough to view, but hearing my wife and friends laughing on the video made it even more humiliating.
Later, the lifeguard told me the bolts holding the diving board to the platform were corroded and just broke off. Unfortunately, I happened to be the very large straw that broke the camel’s back. If there had only been one more person in front of me, he might’ve been the guy who was disgraced. But no, it was me.
I never went back and swam at that pool. Bad karma is bad karma. And as you may have guessed, my wife has already made sure that every one of our grandkids have seen it.
