April 2024 Franklin

Manager Mark Stockton

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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ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

AREA President

Archives expanding

As the Alabama Department of Archives and History approaches its 125th anniversary, it is expanding and enhancing several of its popular Museum of Alabama exhibits to help celebrate this milestone in 2026.

9 Tiny dancers

Little baller inas love to twirl and show off their dance moves. Just take a look at our Snapshots page!

24 Welcome home

Diners at Sierra’s in Arab feel like they’re coming home when they encounter the friendliness and enticing smells inside this popular restaurant.

32

Adding plants with “cyber-lime” foliage can make your landscape pop with color.

For advertising, email: advertising@areapower.com For editorial inquiries, email: contact@alabamaliving.coop NATIONAL

USPS 029-920

Marshall-DeKalb EC lineman Jared Whitaker gives a thumbs up after successfully restoring power after an outage. For more about

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

ONLINE: www.alabamaliving.coop

EMAIL: letters@alabamaliving.coop

MAIL: Al abama Living 340 Technacenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117

Board of Trustees

John Shewbart President

Steve McGuire Vice President

Bobby Hooper

Secretary-Treasurer

Roger Boyd

Donna Hester

Stanley Holland

James McKinney

Jimmy Montgomery

Debbie King Taylor

Headquarters: P.O. Box 10

Russellville, AL 35653

256-332-2730

District Office:

P.O. Box 386

Red Bay, AL 35582

256-356-4413

Summary of trustee nomination and election procedure

The bylaws of the cooperative (which are available to members on request) provide that an annual meeting of the members of the cooperative shall be held on the first Monday in August of each year, at the cooperative’s headquarters and beginning at such hour as the board of trustees shall from year-to-year fix.

The trustees representing District 1, 2, and 3 shall be elected this year to serve a three-year term expiring 2027. They are selected by a nominating committee appointed by the board of trustees, but any thirty (30) or more members of the cooperative, who reside in a particular District, acting together, may make additional nominations in writing over their signatures for a trustee to be elected from their District, listing their nominee(s) not less that fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. Trustees shall be elected by ballot by the members, or if there is no contest, by voice vote.

A list of nominations will be posted in the Franklin Electric Cooperative and printed in Alabama Living magazine.

Cooperatives

Franklin Electric Cooperative

Alabama’s Conecuh Sausage to add facility, 110 employees in Andalusia

By Jerry Underwood, Alabama News Center

Conecuh Sausage, an iconic Alabama maker of hickory-smoked sausages, plans to invest almost $58 million to open a second production facility in the state, creating 110 jobs in Andalusia.

Conecuh Sausage was founded in Evergreen in 1947. The production location in Conecuh County will remain operational as the company expands to meet increasing demand for its products.

“Conecuh Sausage is a landmark homegrown brand, and I am thrilled to see that the company continues to grow and thrive right here in ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “This growth project will allow Conecuh Sausage to extend the reach of its brand and put its distinctive Alabama flavors in even more kitchens.”

Conecuh Sausage is a family-owned business that produces high-quality meats with a patented blend of seasonings. Its sausage products are sold directly through the company’s online store and gift store as well as through grocery stores, national retailers and independent distribution companies.

Conecuh Sausage owners John Crum Sessions, president, and his son, John Henry Sessions, said they are making their longterm vision a reality in their quest to satisfy the demand for Conecuh Sausage products.

“We are eager to join the Andalusia community and add jobs and growth to the local economy while remaining in the state of Alabama,” they said in a statement. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to expand our production facilities and increase distribution to serve our loyal customers.”

Major investment

As part of the project, the company commits to creating at least 110 new jobs in Andalusia and to investing $57.8 million to construct and equip the new facility in Covington County, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Conecuh Sausage’s expansion project positions the company for sustained growth while also generating a significant economic impact in the Andalusia area,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the

Alabama Department of Commerce.

“We’re happy that the company decided to expand its production footprint in south Alabama rather than going to another state,” she said.

After researching multiple locations in the Midwest, Conecuh chose to expand in its home state.

“This is an exciting and important day for the city of Andalusia,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “We have been working for decades to be prepared when a company like Conecuh Sausage was ready to expand here, and we appreciate the Sessions family for their confidence in our community and the investment they are making here.

“I cannot overstate the positive impact this facility and the jobs it will generate will have on our community in the coming years,” Johnson said. “Many people worked very hard to put this project together, and we are appreciative of their efforts.”

Local impact

Other officials also applauded Conecuh Sausage’s investment plans in Andalusia.

“For years I think that many of us have taken pride in being a next-door neighbor to Conecuh County, the home of Conecuh Sausage. And now, we are privileged to welcome Conecuh Sausage and the Sessions family into our county,” Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White said.

“The County Commission commits to doing everything we can to make this a perfect fit as Conecuh Sausage expands into Covington County.”

“Conecuh Sausage has been a part of our menu for more than 75 years,” said Rick Clifton, executive director of the Covington County Economic Development Commission. “We are excited to partner with them in their expansion plans for the future.”

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.

Alabama is blessed with an abundance of lakes, reservoirs and waterways for residents and visitors to enjoy for fishing, boating, birdwatching and many other outdoor activities. However, several pockets exist in the state that are not close or convenient for residents to get to the water.

That lack of access for subsistence fishing, especially in our rural counties, led to the creation of the Alabama State Public Fishing Lakes (PFLs) program in the 1940s and ’50s to serve those people who needed these lakes for recreational opportunities and as a source to provide healthy protein for their families.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division manages 23 PFLs in 20 counties throughout the state in those areas where easy access doesn’t exist to the numerous larger lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

The WFF-operated lakes range in size from 13 to 184 acres for a total of 1,912 surface acres and provide numerous recreational opportunities.

“The State Fishing Lakes Program was created after the Great Depression and World War II to provide places where people could fish and provide food for their families, as well as enjoy the pleasures of sitting on a lake bank enjoying the outdoors with family and friends,” said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “The PFLs have been very popular over the years for fishing, but now we are seeing great interest in expanding the recreational opportunities at these facilities.

“Walking trails, archery parks, birdwatching platforms, paddling opportunities and small meeting facilities are being added through partnerships with cities, counties and local foundations. This has been great and really expands the use of these locations! However, many of the lakes are in need of some love and care after being in service for many decades. We are working to replace water control structures, fishing piers, boat ramps and performing dam maintenance on several lakes over the next three years. We are working with the legislature and the Governor’s Office to help with some of this vitally important work.”

Several of the PFLs were built more than 75 years ago, which means numerous older lakes are overdue for

needed maintenance.

“A lot of these lakes were built in the late ’40s and ’50s and ’60s,” said Matt Marshall, Assistant Chief of the WFF Fisheries Section. “The latest one, Escambia County Lake, was built in the ’80s. The earliest ones were built with wooden drain structures with a 25-year lifespan. So, we’re 70-plus years out. We’ve done what we can, but it’s very expensive. There are 23 different lakes around the state, and it would be beneficial if those lakes are around for another 75 years.”

Marshall said partnerships have been formed with local municipalities to get some additional work done at several lakes.

“We’re partnering with the City of Troy at Pike County Lake on a concession building and a multiroom facility,” he said. “We’ve partnered with Ozark at Dale County Lake and Elba and Coffee County at Coffee County Lake to run those lakes. Hamilton has shown interest in helping operate Marion County Lake, which is currently closed.”

Marion County Lake, Marshall said, needs significant work to be reopened. “There are trees that are 40 to 50 years old on the

dam at Marion County Lake,” he said. “In the 1960s, they raised the lake level by 3 feet and submerged the drain tower. There’s also a sediment pond with corrugated pipe that probably also has a 25-year lifespan. All that needed to be inspected.”

The lakes are managed to provide sustainable, quality fishing for numerous species, including largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker). Catchable-size channel catfish are stocked in each lake during the winter. Many lakes have opportunities to catch crappie, and a few are stocked with hybrid striped bass.

Important for rural communities

Marshall said the PFLs provide crucial recreational opportunities in those rural communities, where it is difficult to travel to one of Alabama’s larger lakes, reservoirs and rivers.

“Many of the counties where the lakes are may not have as many people, but they serve an important purpose,” said Marshall. “If not the only source, the lake is one of the few sources of public water. They are important to the people who use them, and they are not just important for fishing. People come to the lakes to picnic, walk or birdwatch and other things.

“Right now, the anglers, through the license sales and Sport Fish Restoration funds, are the ones that are providing the money for repairing the dams and other work. But the benefit is beyond just those anglers. The lakes are benefiting the entire communities.”

Marshall said the PFLs typically see more than 100,000 anglers annually, not to mention those folks who visit the lakes for other activities. He said the number of walkers at DeKalb County Lake probably triples the number of anglers.

WFF’s Jonathan Brown, who became PFL Program Manager in 2020, said the county lakes are staples in the communities.

“Whenever we have to close a lake for maintenance or transition of lake managers, we get calls from the public, and we are reminded of the importance of these natural resources,” Brown said. “Many of these people rely on the lakes to put consistent food on the table.

Many of these lakes have people who are there fishing every day. A lot of these communities don’t have places to find these natural resources outside of private ponds. These lakes are very vital to these rural communities.”

Numerous lakes have additional outdoor recreational opportunities. The Pike County Lake in Troy, Dale County Lake near Ozark, and the Walker County Lake in Jasper have archery parks at the lakes as well as

walking trails. Walker County Lake also has a birdwatching tower. At Barbour County Lake, the Fisheries Section is working with the Wildlife Section to enhance both the fishing and waterfowl hunting habitat in the future.

“We have birdwatchers at all the lakes,” Marshall said. “We have plenty of shade trees, so people who live or are working nearby will come and have lunch or a picnic. There’s a small campground at DeKalb.

“People will come out and shoot high school and engagement photos. We’ve had weddings at some of our lakes. The true benefits exceed just the anglers. It’s a good public resource for everybody.”

Brown said that six PFLs are currently closed for a variety of reasons, from renovations that include dam work, draining and restocking to a lack of a lake manager, who is a private contractor. However, WFF is trying a new strategy by opening select PFLs without lake managers.

“We just opened Monroe County Public Fishing Lake without a manager on-site,” Brown said. “At the Washington and Fayette PFLs, we adopted the same method as Monroe. We might continue that in the future. All the anglers who want to use those lakes can go to the probate office in the county or a license vendor or www. outdooralabama.com and purchase a daily or annual permit for those lakes. They will still have the same hours of operation.”

Visit outdooralabama.com/where-fish-alabama/alabamapublic-fishing-lakes-pfls for more information and an interactive map of the locations of the lakes. Go to outdooralabama. com/public-fishing-lakes/pfl-rules-and-regulations for lake regulations.

The Alabama Public Fishing Lakes hold events like this Cast for Kids day at Walker County Lake.

Madison County Lake offers fishing for rainbow trout during the winter months.

LINEWORKER SAFETY GEAR WORD SEARCH

Lineworkers use a variety of gear to stay safe while working near power lines and other electrical equipment. Read about their safety gear below, then find and circle the blue words in the puzzle.

• Safety goggles keep debris out of a lineworker’s eyes while they work.

• Rubber gloves are insulated and protect lineworkers from electric shock.

• Steel toe boots provide extra protection when lineworkers lift heavy objects.

• Hard hats protect lineworkers from potential head injuries.

• Lineworkers wear a safety harness to prevent falls while climbing poles or working in a bucket.

• Lineworkers use a hot stick, an insulated tool made from fiberglass, when working on energized lines.

Tiny Dancer

 Dance with My Divine ballet studio in Monroeville. SUBMITTED by Terri Norris, Monroeville, Southern Pine EC.

 This is our granddaughter (Becky Youngblood) during her first ballet recital.

SUBMITTED by Pam Johnson, Foley, Baldwin EMC.

 My granddaughter, Madelyn, playing in her recital tutu. SUBMITTED by Debby Watkins, Boaz.

 Little sister Charlee showing off her moves at big sister’s birthday party! SUBMITTED by Christin Beard, Eva, Joe Wheeler EMC.

 Claira Hall was ready for her dance recital. Dancing to “Who took the cookie from the cookie jar.” SUBMITTED by Sherree Borden, Moulton, Joe Wheeler EMC.

 Stella Kelley at her first dance recital. SUBMITTED by Debbie Headley, Troy.

 Kelsey Veca as she begins her dancing career. SUBMITTED by Dees Veca, Kenner, Louisiana, Baldwin EMC.

 Anna’s first dance recital.

SUBMITTED by Kelli Truitt, Smiths.

 Molly Kate Asher passes time while waiting for her future aunt to try on wedding dresses. SUBMITTED by Dale Boyd.

 Blakeley Walker posing in her recital outfit. SUBMITTED by Hazel Cotton, Foley.

Online: alabamaliving.coop | Mail: Attn: Snapshots, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124

RULES: Photos submitted for publication may also be published on our website at alabamaliving.coop and on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to have photos returned.

Ala., Tenn. co-ops to send volunteers to Guatemala

Volunteers from three of Alabama’s rural electric co-ops will go to Guatemala from April 8-26 to participate in a project to bring electricity to more than 40 households in the community of Las Penas, located in the department of Jalapa. The project is coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International.

Crews from Covington EC, Central Alabama EC and Coosa Valley EC will be joined by volunteers from Middle Tennessee Electric, a cooperative headquartered in Murfreesboro. The linemen will build primary line and secondary line, install transformers and do the service drops for the homes. They will also do the basic internal house wiring for the homes.

The local community will provide poles and some labor, and the linemen from the U.S. will provide skilled labor and materials for construction.

Since 1962, NRECA International has empowered more than 160 million people worldwide to improve their quality of life by providing them access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

Liked ‘Cup o’ Joe’ snowstorm column

I just read your article (“Once upon a time, in a snowstorm,” January 2024). Funny, it’s snowing and icy in Alabama now. I live in Dothan. It’s just cold here, no snow.

My husband is working today, and traveling through Brundidge, he passed an SUV with snow still on the top probably coming from north Alabama, but still a sight to see.

Stay warm. I enjoyed your article.

Tammy McDuffie, Dothan

Thank you so much for this story. It put a smile on my face and made me laugh! As I sit here with ice all around, dreading unfreezing the rabbits, ducks and chicken waterers for the 3rd time today.

I look forward to the next one!

Gypsy Brokenwings, Scottsboro

Whereville, AL

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 May issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

March’s answer: This sculpture is in the courtyard of the German POW camp in Aliceville, which has exhibits that chronicle the camp that existed from 1942 to 1945. The annual Camp Aliceville World War II re-enactment commemorates the arrival of the first POWs 80 years ago and celebrates Aliceville’s major contribution to the war effort; re-enactors portraying POWs, American MPs and Alabama State Troopers present a re-creation of the camp. For more info, visit alicevillemuseum.org, and see related story, Page 20. (Photo by Jim Plott) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is David Younce of Baldwin EMC.

T-Ball memories

Just finished reading your article on T-Ball (“Cup o’ Joe,” April 2024). Brought back a lot of memories. I coached the fun league several years. Have two sons, the oldest, now 58 and the younger, 53. The elder could have cared less about sports. Made one trip to the diamond and quickly learned he had rather be elsewhere. On the other hand, his brother loved it all. The best story I want to share with you follows:

One of the other dads always coached first base during practice. Always emphasized to his son, “Hit the ball and run to me.” Came game time on opening day, he was coaching third base. Guess where his son ran when he hit the ball.

Enjoy your stories every month.

Joe Harris, Sylacauga

A coffee grower in the area of Las Penas, Guatemala, talks to a survey team from the U.S., which visited the country last fall to scout a project to bring electricity to more than 40 rural homes.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL KELLEY

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. Make sure your photo is clear, in focus and not in shadow.

Find the hidden dingbat!

Nearly 800 of you went Easter egg hunting last month and correctly found the hidden dingbat egg on Page 14, atop the shelf in North Alabama EC Manager Gena Hall’s office. We made it a little bit easier, as some of you wrote us, but that was our little Easter present to you! Some readers said the hunt reminded them of childhood Easter egg hunts, including Lillie Noble of York, who recalled that her mother used Kool-Aid to dye the eggs. “I miss those days,” she wrote. Lin Whittington of Dixie EC said it was the first time entering the contest which they enjoy searching for in each issue, adding, “Thanks for not making me crazy this month.” Ryan Russell wrote that “Normally the first thing I would do is go straight to the recipes. Recently I learned about the dingbat hunt.

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living

PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

and took the shot for us after we explained what we were trying to do,” they wrote us. They are members of Baldwin EMC.

It reminds me of being a kid and looking through Highlights magazine. I love it and now have a new thing to look forward to each month.” He added that “Gena Hall better make sure she ties up her shelving behind her desk. That egg on the top right could very easily roll right off!” We especially like to hear from our younger readers who hunt the dingbat with their grandparents, like Brooklyn Crouch, 12, and Lily Rodgers, 11, of Satsuma. Keep reading, girls! And Tim Callahan, here’s your mention. Thanks for finding the egg and for reading Alabama Living!

Congratulations to Vanessa Hallmark of Town Creek for being chosen as our randomly selected winner this month. She wins a $25 gift card from Alabama One Credit Union. This month, get out your golf clubs and start “swinging” for the hidden golf ball! Good luck!

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.com

Sponsored by

Meredith Ann Calvert, Cade Smith, and Ricky and Anna Calvert, all of Cullman EC, enjoyed a trip to Denali National Park, Alaska.

Barbara Green and Dawn Young took their magazine along on a Viking River Cruise on the Danube to see the Christmas markets, traveling from Budapest to Prague. They are members of Tallapoosa River EC.

Diann & Mike Weeks of Auburn and Orange Beach, members of Baldwin EMC, took some good reading material with them to Egypt, where they visited the Pyramids of Giza, built 1,000 years before the birth of Moses.

Michael Mann of Auburn, a member of Tallapoosa River EC, took his copy along while visiting family in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, which claims to be the home of the first ice cream sundae.

Wanda Huff of Crane Hill took her magazine to visit family in Idstein, Germany. Her son, Kevin, who is stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany as Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the 102d Signal Battalion, sent us the photo. His parents, members of Cullman EC, have lived in the Cullman area for more than 50 years.

Jean and Ray Lorentz of Foley took a 10-day Caribbean cruise and one of the ports of calls was  Tortola, British Virgin Islands.   “We were standing on an Island in the middle of the Port Entrance road wondering how to get our photo taken together, when another tourist crossed over

Restoring your power:

Perspectives from two linemen

When your electricity goes off, the first question most of us ask our electric cooperative is: “When will my lights come back on?” That’s something our linemen get asked quite often, so in recognition of Lineman Appreciation Week this month (April 15-19) we wanted to share with our readers the perspectives of two of our Alabama co-op linemen, in two different parts of the state. While they live hundreds of miles apart, these two linemen share very similar experiences, and both are dedicated to restoring your power quickly and safely.

By Jarred Whitaker, Marshall-DeKalb EC

Ilove to help people. That’s just what I do. It is all about seeing the expression on the face of someone who has been in the dark for several hours or days, when we can restore their power. I feel like I have done my job. Sometimes, you can’t see them, and you only hear cheers of happiness when you flip the switch. What job could top that?

Sometimes it takes longer than you expect, and our members get frustrated and voice their concerns. They just don’t understand the process of what it takes to get the power back on. So let me take you through the process of what we do at Marshall-DeKalb EC during power outages, and hopefully, I can shed some light.

The Outage Begins

6 p.m.: The lineman on call receives the first report of an outage. Every week, MDEC has three men on standby 24/7. On weeknights, weekends, and holidays, someone is always there. During normal working hours, calls are received through the office, but after hours, calls are received through our answering service. When you report an outage, they relay to the lineman your location number, address, and any other important information you tell them. From here, our linemen leave as quickly as they can. The MDEC system covers Geraldine to Douglas, Guntersville to Boaz, and Dawson to Nixon Chapel. Travel time does factor into response time, and often, a lineman may be on another call when your lights go out. But know that someone is trying to respond ASAP when your lights are out.

Arrival and inspection

7 p.m.: We spend a lot of training in visual inspection. From the time the first call is placed until “arrival,” more outages may have been reported, especially if the whole line is out. If emergency crews are present or a customer has seen something helpful to us, that will help the situation normally. But if you see us drive by your house several times, I promise we are not joyriding but checking for multiple things. The first time may be to see if you’re the only one who is out or if the line is out. You would be surprised at how often a whole line, road, or neighborhood is out,

but only one customer has called. So we drive to the source to see if the “device” is open or closed. If it’s open, then we must determine what caused the outage. Sometimes this is the most time-consuming step. But we cannot, and I stress, cannot energize a line until we are 100% sure the public is safe. If it is dark outside or if it’s stormy, this just adds time. When you see us drive by, we are looking for what caused the outage. Examples can be downed trees, tree limbs, and lightning; most common in our area are squirrels and/or car wrecks. Also, MDEC is an electric cooperative. We are trying to move more lines closer to the road, but we have a lot of lines that go across pastures, across fields, and through the woods. So, terrain matters. We often must set out on foot to walk our lines to inspect inaccessible areas.

Outage case located

8 p.m.: Safety comes first! Sometimes outages are easy. A squirrel may have blown the fuse on a transformer, affecting only one customer. Those outages are easy and can be fixed quickly. But what happens if a tree falls across the main line, tearing down the line? At MDEC and all electric companies, we have safety steps that must be followed. These steps are vital to us. Although I love our members and want your lights back on ASAP, I’ve got a wife and two sons at home who depend on me and expect me to return home safely. The same goes for my co-workers. Our safety procedures allow us to work safely in a dangerous job and protect the public. We’re all in this together! So, we

Jarred’s wife, Terra, and sons, Weston and Lucas, stand proudly with their lineman. PHOTOS BY KELLI WHORTON

find the source and check for the cause. The switch or device is open, the tree is on the line, or the line is down, so we ground both sides of where we’re working to protect from back feed and the unknowns. Then, we hold a job briefing or tailgate discussion with all workers present so everyone knows what to do, what has been done, knows when to do it, and answer any questions or concerns.

Work begins

8:30 p.m.: All safety procedures are in place, and work begins. If a tree is down, we would remove the tree. Those who use chainsaws know this is dangerous, especially if the tree is on the line and is under pressure. If the wire is completely broken, then we will put the line back up. If the line is a three-phase, we may have a broken cross-arm. No matter the case or what has been broken, the repairs will be made. Earlier, we talked about lines in rural areas or through the woods. These lines may not be accessible with trucks. If so, the lineman must climb the pole to make repairs. This, too, can add time. Repairs have been made, grounds are removed, and now we are ready to re-energize the line.

9:30 p.m.: When you see us drive by this time, it’s good news. We’re heading back to the source to close the switch or device. Once everyone is in the clear, we re-energize the line, and your lights are back on.

Power restored

10 p.m.: Please keep in mind this is only one scenario. Not every outage is the same. A broken pole or car wreck will take more time. We are improving daily. Technology is so advanced, and we constantly try to stay on top. From our metering system to our new mapping system, time frames are much shorter than they used to be. We, as linemen, just ask you to be patient and understand there is a method to what we do to keep everyone safe. Those of us who are on call have missed birthdays, family gatherings, Thanksgiving dinners, and even Christmas mornings to keep the lights on. But that’s what we do. We’re a part of this community. We’re neighbors, friends, we’re family. We take great pride in keeping the electricity on. For doing whatever it takes, however long it takes, no matter when, 24 hours a day- 7 days a week- 365 days a year, you can always count on MDEC!

Restoring your power: Focusing on safety and problem-solving

By Jeff Malone, Baldwin EMC

Like my fellow linemen, I like to help people and love being a lineman. It truly is a great feeling to be able to restore comfort, convenience and security as you restore power.

Jarred’s step-by-step account helps you see what we see. I am going to try to help you understand what we are thinking and feeling as we restore power.

The Outage Begins: Focus on solving the problem

These days, a 6 p.m. outage doesn’t cause me too much stress. I’ve been a lineman for… well, let’s see… I started when I was 20, and I’m 53 now. So, 33 years. Back when my children were younger and I had more family commitments, it was tougher on us. It’s tough on guys with young families now. Because a 6 p.m. call could come in the middle of an important dinner or in the middle of your kid’s big game. And in 33 years, I’ve missed quite a few. That’s our job, though. We can’t focus on what we are leaving when we get that call. We must focus on safety and solving the problem. We learn a lot from the outage details provided on that call. We are thinking about the number of meters affected by the outage, the vicinity of the outage and cross-referencing the additional information shared. Even before we arrive, we are imagining our system, the circuits in the area and establishing possible causes and a plan. We are preparing both physically and mentally for what we are going to encounter. Unfortunately, the cause is sometimes worse than the outage. Car accidents, house fires and man-made outages are the worst possible scenarios.

Arrival and inspection

zone to protect us, our equipment and the public from danger.

Outage case located: Safety at the forefront

When we arrive, there are a lot of things running through our heads as we are doing our visual inspection. Depending on

the amount of damage or the location of the outage, we are determining if additional crews are needed to help restore power safely and efficiently. We don’t want the outage to linger, but we also don’t want to pull more crews away from their families and plans if we can get the job done. We are also determining if we can isolate the outage and do some switching, which is ultimately just redirecting the power around the outage to get some meters restored before the damage is repaired. Once the damage is located, we are thinking about every safety measure needed to protect us and you. No two outages are the same, so we must think clearly through every step. We are also thinking about what hazards exist besides what caused the power outage. These days, traffic is a major concern, and distracted driving is never far from our thoughts. We are thinking about how to set up our work

Once the outage is located and before repairs begin, we will perform a tailgate discussion to identify hazards, ensure everyone is on the same page, and ensure that each part of our plan is clear. Once it is established who is doing what, we put on our PPE (personal protective equipment), test for voltage and apply personal grounds. We also apply insulating materials as another measure of safety. Years ago, linemen would disconnect power before they started to make repairs, and in some cases, that is still required; however, a lot of times we work on energized lines to prevent further inconvenience to additional members. This is just one of the reasons our job is classified as one of the most dangerous. We are really thinking about how we can have the least amount of inconvenience for you as we make necessary repairs while keeping safety at the forefront of our minds.

Work begins

It is finally time to start working to repair the outage. We have the necessary training, tools and team members. Years of specialized training and an uncompromising commitment to communication are paramount as we start making repairs. We had a speaker tell us one time that we must “be where our feet are,” and that is so true. You can’t daydream when you’re literally handling 7,200 volts of electricity. Every step must be calculated until every repair is made. Even the act of bringing power back on after the repairs are made requires communication. We realize there are no short cuts, no apologies and no excuses because electricity doesn’t give you a second chance to get it right. That’s always on our mind during this phase.

Jeff Malone (second from right) is pictured with his wife Emily and their sons Will (far left) and Jay. PHOTO COURTESY MALONE FAMILY

Power restored: Thankful on many fronts

Now, gratitude is what we are feeling. Even after 33 years, getting power restored still feels great! We are thankful that the power is back on for you, and we are thankful we are on our way home. If this had been a middle-ofthe-night outage, we would be thankful for the few hours of sleep we would get before we report to work the next morning. We are thankful for the job worked safely and being able to return to the people who love and care about us. We are thankful for the way we have learned to quietly enter our homes after a late-night return and not even disturb those who are sleeping. We are thankful for the calling on our lives, the ability to be linemen and the company we work for that provides power to our communities. Lastly, we are thankful for you. We are thankful for your patience and how you, as a member, make this job so personal.

PHOTO BY TAD DENSON

Archives and History expanding to reach new generations

By Carrie Banks

Alabama has a vibrant, multilayered history, and the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) has been the caretaker of our individual and collective stories since its inception in 1901 as the first state-funded historical and archival agency in the country.

As the ADAH approaches its 125th anniversary, it is expanding and enhancing several of its popular Museum of Alabama exhibits to help celebrate this milestone in 2026.

ADAH Director Steve Murray says the projects will help the museum speak to new generations.

“These upcoming improvements will build on the foundation we began more than a decade ago that expanded our K-12 services and our capacity to serve the public in the digital sphere,” he says. “They will be a significant springboard to enhanced engagement with audiences and an ongoing demonstration of the relevance of our history.”

dren can talk in a telephone booth, try on vintage clothes, type on a typewriter, cook over a stove, or attend or teach school. Over the next two years, Grandma’s Attic will become a new, reimagined Children’s Gallery intentionally designed for the youngest visitors, ages 2 to 10.

The new Children’s Gallery will feature flexible learning stations that include the most popular activities from Grandma’s Attic as well as age-appropriate Alabama history topics. Because of its focus on engaging history and civics concepts through play, this new gallery will also function as a learning lab that equips families and educators with ideas, methods, and content to share as their young students continue to learn while having fun.

Alabama Voices expands

Since 2014, the ADAH’s centerpiece exhibition, Alabama Voices, has told the story of Alabama from 1700 to the current day to thousands of schoolchildren, Alabamians, and visitors from around the globe. To enhance this award-winning exhibit for a new generation, outdated audiovisual equipment, lighting, and scenic elements will be replaced and additional interactive stations as well as digital labels will be installed to accommodate the evolving learning styles of visitors in the digital age.

New Children’s Gallery

For many years, one of the most popular areas of the ADAH has been Grandma’s Attic, an interactive play space where chil-

Redesigned gallery will explore The First Peoples of Alabama

In 2011, The First Alabamians gallery opened and was immediately popular for school field trips and the public. However, because many of the artifacts displayed were taken from Native American burial sites during the early 20th century, the ADAH closed The First Alabamians in 2022 out of respect for its tribal partners. The ADAH is now actively working with tribal representatives and scholars to envision a new presentation of the complex, multi-layered story of our state’s first peoples through interactive programs, artifacts, reproductions, and graphics not based on funerary items.

Permanent gallery shares military stories

Guided by an advisory group of veterans, active-duty service members and scholars, a new gallery will share the experiences of

The award-winning Alabama Voices exhibit will be enhanced with new audiovisual equipment, lighting, and scenic elements, along with interactive stations and digital labels to accommodate the evolving learning styles of visitors in the digital age. PHOTOS COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY

A new permanent gallery will share the experiences of Alabamians in military service.

Alabamians in military service and explore the effects of service on lives and communities during times of war and peace. This new interpretation will be designed to honor military history and expand the visitor’s understanding of the courage and cost that comes with answering the call of duty.

Our stories live here

The ADAH is dedicated to collecting and preserving the state’s historical materials to share thoughtful versions of Alabama’s stories so visitors will understand that Alabama’s history is for everyone. In addition to preserving history and developing educational programming, the ADAH operates a dynamic and recently redesigned website (archives.alabama.gov) that serves as a resource for local governments, libraries, educators, and the public.

Announcements for upcoming public programs and new exhibitions are regularly added to the site’s homepage, where visitors will also find a link to the online museum store featuring Alabama books, artists, and handmade products. The site also features access to the ADAH’s extensive digital collections (photos, maps, films, manuscripts), electronic records collections, and multiple databases. Additional resources are available to in-person visitors.

“We are ever mindful that the work performed at the ADAH today rests on the foundations laid by our founders and the frameworks built by succeeding generations of committed board members and staff,” Murray says. “We are merely the current generation of stewards with the awesome responsibility of caring for the public’s resources on their behalf.”

Located across the street from Alabama’s State Capitol in downtown Montgomery, the ADAH, including the Museum of Alabama, is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with guided tours available for groups of 15 or more. The Archives Research Room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission and cost for group tours are always free.

ADAH by the numbers in fiscal year 2023:

• Total archival holdings: 72,403 cubic feet

• Total museum artifact collection: More than 400,000 objects

• Museum visitors in FY23: 30,191

• K-12 visitors: 19,209

• 99% of teachers surveyed rated their Museum of Alabama field trip experience as “excellent”

• 915,612 digitized items are available at digital.archives.alabama.gov

• 47 public programs were presented in FY23, totaling 51.5 hours and are available on YouTube

The Department of Archives and History is located across from the State Capitol in downtown Montgomery.

More than 19,000 schoolchildren in grades K-12 visited the Archives in 2023.

Event commemorates Pickens County’s POWs

Event commemorates Pickens County’s POWs

By Jim Plott

Listen.

That’s the sound of German soldiers marching in cadence.

But they are not heading off to battle. For these soldiers the war is over.

These weary, haggard, but still proud Germans are marching toward their new home for the duration of World War II – on U.S. soil.

Camp Aliceville in Pickens County stood as one of the largest prison camps in the U.S. during the war. At its height it housed 6,150 German prisoners, most of whom were part of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps.

While history might not replay itself, it can try to mirror it – although on a smaller scale. On May 3-4, the town of Aliceville, the camp’s location, will try to relive those wartime days on the home front.

ment includes that day in early June 1943 when the town’s people turned out in curious masses to witness the first 500 German POWs being unloaded from Pullman train cars and marched more than a mile to the camp that for many was their home for the remainder of the war.

The event will start Friday with a screening of a World War II movie and other features at the Aliceville Entertainment Complex. The old movie theater was donated to Aliceville Museum. The museum is home to what many say is the biggest display of German POW artifacts in the United States.

On Saturday re-enactments will be conducted. One re-enact-

That day re-enactors will portray POW camp life and stage one of the few escape attempts from the now dismantled 800-acre prison camp that once was filled with more than 400 structures. Re-enactors will also stage a mock skirmish from the battle at El Alamein in North Africa where German forces surrendered to the British.

The event will be capped off with a USO Big Band Swing Dance and Dinner at Aliceville City Hall from 6 to 10 p.m. The Drew White Orchestra of Florence will be playing popular songs of the Big Band and WWII era. There is an admission.

“It’s a big day for Aliceville and the Aliceville Museum,” said John Gillum, executive director of the Aliceville Museum. “The first year that we did it, the museum experienced its biggest day in history in terms of visitors.”

Brien McWilliams, spearheading the re-enactment, emphasizes the importance of Aliceville and the war period in history.

This will be the third re-enactment of the Aliceville POW Camp.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICEVILLE MUSEUM

The actual march from the Aliceville Train Depot to the POW camp occurred on June 2, 1943.

PHOTO COURTESY ALICEVILLE MUSEUM

This chimney from the non-commissioned officer’s club is the only vestige of Camp Aliceville, which had 400 buildings. PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT

“History, good and bad, needs to be remembered,” said McWilliams, who participates in numerous re-enactments including WWII-era battle scenes at the U.S.S. Alabama in Mobile and the Creek Indian attack at Fort Mims in Baldwin County. “I consider those Americans who were involved in World War II as our greatest generation and that history needs be kept alive.”

Why were they here?

In 1943, Allied forces defeated German and Italian armies in North Africa and captured 275,000 enemy soldiers. The U.S. military decided to move them to the United States, and the Army Corps of Engineers worked quickly to establish camps in nearly every state. By 1945, the nation was host to more than 500 camps with some 425,000 POWs.

Two sites in Alabama were chosen – near the town of Aliceville, and one near Opelika. Camp Aliceville became Alabama’s largest POW camp, with a capacity for 6,000 prisoners. Another smaller camp was constructed near Fort McClellan, and a fourth in what was then Fort Rucker.

When the first Germans rolled in to Aliceville, P.M. “Pep” Johnston, now 93, had a front-row seat to the actual event. Johnston, then 12, and his family, like basically the entire population of Aliceville, disregarded appeals to stay home the day the Germans arrived.

“Most of us didn’t know what to expect since there had been so many rumors going around about who was to be housed in the camp,” Johnston recalls.

Johnston recalls people lining the main route from the depot to the camp while others took seats on porches, rooftops, on car hoods and the back of pickup trucks.

“(The Germans) had on the same dirty and soiled uniforms as we found out later from when they were captured in North Africa,” Johnston says. “They got off and formed platoons and marched toward the camp. Obviously, I did not know much about the military at the time, but I could tell they were well disciplined despite their condition.”

Johnston later got a closer glimpse of the POWs when several of them were employed at his father’s sawmill. One even did a drawing of the younger Johnston.

POW pampering

The camp was a comfortable home away from home for the German POWs. They settled into the camp and over time formed art and pottery classes, held theater and puppet productions and even formed several bands that performed at American officer functions. They also played sports and produced a camp newspaper from a printing press they bought in Jasper.

“There was a lot for them to do because you wanted them to stay busy rather than cause trouble. They could pretty much organize what they wanted to do within reason,” Gillum says. “In terms of quantity they ate better than most of the people in Aliceville, which was still coming out of the Great Depression. The thought was if we treat them good, the Germans would treat our guys being held in their prisons good. We now know that didn’t happen.”

The Germans also were served what no one in Aliceville could get – beer. That’s because Pickens County was a dry county so no

alcohol could be sold, Gillum says.

After the war, the camp was dismantled, and the POWs were repatriated to their devastated homelands. In the decades after the war, a number of POWs returned to Alabama to reconnect with their past.

In the 1980s Sue Stabler, a longtime resident, issued a call to build a museum to commemorate Camp Aliceville. Residents and others began donating camp-related items, and over time even some former POWs began making contributions. The donation of the former Coca-Cola bottling plant building helped the museum grow.

Also in the 1980s and 1990s, the museum hosted several camp reunions involving camp guards and POWs, many of whom had formed close friendships. That ended when many Americans and Germans died or could no longer travel because of health.

Yet, Gillum said it is not uncommon for the children or grandchildren of the POWs to visit the museum.

“About 10 percent of our visitors every year come from Germany and a lot of times when they come, they bring items to donate that belonged to relatives who were POWs at the camp,” Gillum said. “Items from the camp keep showing up here whether they are from the Germans or relatives of Americans who were guards here. So, the museum keeps growing.”

Some information in this article is from the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

2024 Aliceville Prisoner of War Camp Reenactment Schedule of Events

Friday, May 3

All day: Camp set up at POW compound (Memorial Parkway at Broad Street Intersection)

6 to 8 p.m.: WWII period movie, “The More the Merrier” (comedy, 1943) with cartoon, World War II newsreel at the Aliceville Entertainment Complex, 210 Broad Street NE. Free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., movie starts at 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 4

• 10 a.m.: Re-enactors prepare for Battle of El Alamein (POW Compound)

• 10:30 a.m.: Allied vs. Axis Skirmish (Battle at El Alamein and German Surrender)

• 11 a.m.: Re-enactors transported to railroad crossing area on 3rd Avenue

• 11:30 a.m.: Re-enactors commence POW march on 3rd Avenue to Memorial Parkway to Broad Street stage area

• 12 p.m.: Official welcome of spectators, guests, and re-enactors to Aliceville by dignitaries at Broad Street and 2nd Avenue

• 1 p.m.: Pr isoners roll call and mail call at POW compound

• 1:30 p.m.: Funeral for Rommel by German POW re-enactors

• 2:30 p.m.: POW re-enactor escape attempt

• 3:30 p.m.: War ends; parole of German POW re-enactors and discharge of American Army re-enactors at POW compound gate

• 4:30 p.m.: Re-enactment event concludes

• 6 to 10 p.m.: USO Big Band Swing dinner dance at Aliceville City Hall Auditorium, 419 Memorial Parkway

Visit Camp Aliceville WWII POW Camp Reenactors Group or Aliceville Museum on Facebook.

A senior Pep Johnston and as a youth in a drawing done by a German POW.

PHOTOS BY JIM PLOTT

Sierra’s:

More than a Mexican restaurant in Arab

By Lenore Vickrey

Visitors to Sierra’s Mexicanismo Restaurant in Arab always feel welcome when they come through the front door. That’s because they are greeted by a colorful chalkboard featuring a festive fellow in a Mexican sombrero brandishing a taco atop the sign that says, “Welcome Home.” It immediately sets the tone for the family-owned and operated restaurant that’s been a popular mainstay in this northeast Alabama town since 1999.

“This coming July it will be 25 years!” proudly proclaims owner and founder Alex Sierra.

Sierra always had a dream to open his own steakhouse. A native of Mexico, he emigrated to the United States with his family in the 1970s as a 7-year-old and grew up around the restaurant business in the Atlanta area, learning from his cousins who ran the El Toro chain there for more than 30 years.

“When I was a child I would visit my grandmother and we visited my cousin’s restaurant and my uncles worked there,” he recalls. He worked in those restaurants as a teenager, then later worked for Frontera, now part of the powerhouse Norsan group, learning all aspects of the business. In 1998, some of his co-workers invited him to join them in opening four Buena Vista restaurants in some smaller north Alabama cities, including Arab.

“Arab was the last one that opened,” he says. After the partnership split, Alex Sierra, tired of driving from location to location, decided to put down roots in Arab and kept the local restaurant for himself. “I changed the name to Sierra’s,” he says. “It was the best decision ever. Same location, different name.”

Since that day in July 1999, Sierra’s

Sierra’s Mexicanismo

1092 N. Brindlee Mountain Parkway Arab, AL 35016 256-93-8226

Look for their page on Facebook and follow on Instagram Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., daily

Arab l

has grown beyond just being a Mexican restaurant. “There was no steakhouse around here,” he says, so he started offering “American steaks with a Mexican flair. That’s with peppers and onions and on a sizzling plate.” He’s also added pork chops and “colossal” shrimp to diversify the menu.

“We’re the only Mexican restaurant in the area, as far as I know, selling prime cut meat,” Sierra says. “We’ve been doing that for nine years. I want to serve the best money can buy. It’s all about the quality of the meat.”

Sierra’s ribeye (the menu also includes a bone-in option) comes out hot and juicy on a heated platter, and ranks at the top of the current four favorite entrees, along with the pork chops, hamburger steak (made with fresh ground “never frozen”

chuck, and ends of the ribeye) and his original creation, Lola’s Chicken, a chicken breast topped with fire-roasted pimento, bacon and Sierra’s creamy cheese sauce, served with rice. “It’s a hit!” he exclaims.

The latter dish is named for Sierra’s daughter, Lola, 15. When not playing soccer, she helps out as hostess/cashier and runner, and his son, Kaden, 20, is the manager. Their mother, Crystal, is an integral part of the operation as well, responsible for human resources, bookkeeping, scheduling caterings and overseeing daily operations.

Coming on fast in the popularity department is the beef tenderloin, Sierra says, accompanied by fresh-cut fries. The Mexican Mash, a side dish of Yukon potatoes, boiled, mashed and combined with “a lot of butter,” Land o’ Lakes sour cream,

Sierra’s Mexicanismo in Arab serves up specialties including Mexican Mash, fresh green beans, sizzling ribeye steak and Lola’s Chicken, as shown by owner Alex Sierra, his son and manager Kaden, and wife, Crystal.

PHOTO BY LENORE VICKREY

thick-cut bacon bits and topped with green onions, is another original creation. “That truly is my recipe,” he says. “It’s better than the monster mash!”

Of course, Sierra’s has no shortage of traditional Mexican fare from fajitas and burritos to quesadillas, tacos and nachos, enchiladas and salads, and any combination of the above. Salads are served on an ice-cold plate, freshly made with homemade ranch dressing. Most vegetables are fresh, organic and when in season, locally sourced, such as tomatoes from the nearby Chandler Mountain area.

The restaurant offers desserts, but often guests are too full of their chips, salsa and entrée to eat any, he says. But in case they do, there are sweet sopapillas topped with co ndensed milk and milk chocolate.

Why the “Welcome Home” greeting at the store’s entrance? Sierra says it hearkens back to his early days trying to get the restaurant off the ground and he was working long hours by himself. “Between 1 and 5 p.m., I would be all by myself. In the front of the house, I was a one-man show. When customers would come in, I’d take their order, bring chips and salsa to their table, and cook their meal. If I’m in the back and another customer comes in, I’d ask them, ‘Will you welcome them home? Tell them Alex is in the back.’” That way he became friends with his guests and it paid off. Customers still feel like they are

coming home when they visit.

During the 2020 pandemic, like many restaurants, Sierra’s came close to shutting down for good. “We were within days of saying ‘adios,’” he recalls. They closed for the first two months but continued to pay their employees. They offered curbside meals for pickup and “We are so grateful for the people who came and bought food,” he says. Some would leave a $100 tip to be divided among the staff. “Oh, my God, the kindness of a wonderful community…”

Many of his employees have been with him for several years, including the chef for 23 years and his brother, 22 years. “When you treat your people right, they stay,” Sierra says.

Sierra’s values its role in the community, offering scholarships to high school seniors who need help. And student employees who make straight As on their report cards can earn $1 more per hour. “We keep track and try to help kids who need it,” he says. “A lot of the kids who used to work here come back and work at Christmas or in the summer. We want these kids to succeed.”

Alex Sierra has worked in bigger cities but says Arab is now his home and he loves it there. “In my entire life, I’ve had four jobs. This is my last job” he says. “There’s no place like Alabama, and nothing like a small town to raise a family.”

Like the sign says, it’s a true welcome home.

Arab Electric Cooperative Manager Stacey White chats with Alex Sierra about some of the restaurant’s specialties.

PHOTOS BY LENORE VICKREY

A Welcome Home sign greets patrons as they enter the restaurant.

Sierra’s, located on N. Brindlee Parkway in Arab, celebrates 25 years in business this year.

Colossal Shrimp is a popular dish.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIERRA’S

Lola’s Chicken, chicken breast topped with fire-roasted pimento, bacon and cheese sauce, is named for Sierra’s daughter.

Plan for your future during Financial Literacy Month

We celebrate Financial Literacy Month (FLM) every April to promote financial education and well-being in the United States. FLM also serves as a reminder that Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. Our online tools are ere to help you understand your potential Social Security benefits

and how they fit into your financial future.

You should periodically review your Social Security Statement (Statement) using your personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Your Statement is an easy-to-read summary of the estimated benefits you and your family could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits.

If you’re planning to retire, you can visit our Plan for Retirement webpage: ssa. gov/prepare/plan-retirement. Here you can compare how different future earnings

and retirement benefit startdates might affect your future benefit amount.

Please tell your friends and family about the steps they can take to improve their financial knowledge by exploring their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at ssa.gov/myaccount 

April crossword

Across

1 “When a Man Loves a Woman” singer, Leighton born Percy ____

4 “ Boulder to Birmingham” singer- Emmylou _____

9 “Mountain Music” band

10 “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” singer, Marvin

12 ‘’Midnight at the ___’’ song

14 Tuskegee born singer who sang “Three Times a Lady”

1 7 “I Want My ___”

18 ___ Hawkins, jazz great who is a charter member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

23 Vane direction, abbr.

24 Heart song from 1985

25 Tuskegee band who sang “Lady (You Bring Me Up)”

2 7 Scott Joplin, “the king of ____time”

29 Barrel

31 B irmingham-born jazz composer who led the Arkestra, 2 words

34 Morsel a horse’ll eat

35 Wonder’s “years of bad luck”

36 “Sweet Home Alabama” band, ____ Skynyrd

Down

1 She’s known as the “First Lady of Southern Soul”, Candi _____

2 Swing, for one

3 Blue ____ music

5 Oscar-winning director Lee

6 Music beat

7 Therefore

8 Admonishment to a puppy

11 Bessemer born singer with the O’Jays who sang “Love Train”Eddie _____

13 Play a guitar

14 Regret

15 Computer people

16 Oboe or clarinet, as instruments

19 “____ on Heaven’s Door,” song by Bob Dylan

20 Recent prefix

21 “____ a real nowhere man ...” The Beatles

22 Orchestral works

24 Renowned country singer who sang at the Outlaw Festival in Gulf Shores last year, Willie

26 Like much folk music, abbr.

28 Statehouse V.I.P.

30 Country lass

32 Negative alternative

33 _ work

by Myles Mellor

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

PHOTO BY JOHN FELSHER

APRIL

5-7 Eufaula Spring Pilgrimage, organized by the Eufaula Heritage Association. Candlelight home tours, tablescapes viewing, “lunch on the porch,” antique show, special guest speakers, Fairview Cemetery tour, arts and crafts show, live music and tours of several historical structures and homes. For a complete schedule and ticket package info, visit EufaulaPilgrimage.com

6 Ozark Crawdad and Music Festival. This free family-friendly event showcases local and regional music as well as the favorite Southern crawdad. Bring lawn chairs to downtown for food, music and activities for kids of all ages. 334-774-2618.

6 Prattville Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival, Cooters Pond Park. Art, music, vendors and children’s activities. (Location change due to construction at Pratt Park and Stanley Jensen Stadium.) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the event’s page on Facebook.

6-7 Montgomery Beyond the Horizon Air and Space Show at Maxwell Air Force Base, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, a STEM expo, flying demonstrations, warbirds and static aircraft, and activities for children. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Free admission and parking. Maxwell.af.mil/Beyond-The-Horizon

12-14 Auburn AU Landscape and Nursery Association annual plant sale, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday and ending at 4 p.m. Sunday. See the event’s Facebook page for more information.

13 Montgomery Flimp Festival, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This celebration of imagination, humor and creativity is appropriate for all ages. Features art-making activities, outdoor games, a photo booth, music, resources for families and food vendors. Free. Mmfa.org

13 LaFayette LaFayette Day for Valley Haven School, on the square. Food and craft vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities and car show. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time. 334-756-2868 or email valleyhaven@ valleyhavenschool.org

13-14 Fort Deposit 52nd annual Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. More than 100 exhibitors and $2,500 in awards. Food, live music, storytellers, activities for children (including a petting zoo), ceramics and more. CalicoFort.com

13-14 Loxley 35th annual Baldwin County Strawberry Festival, Loxley Municipal Park. Features a carnival, car show, a 5K run, music, crafts and the beloved strawberry shortcakes. Proceeds benefit the Loxley Elementary School and the ARC Baldwin County, Inc. BaldwinCountyStrawberryFestival.org

19-20 Gardendale Magnolia Festival, Gardendale Civic Center Complex. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. More than 160 vendors, two stages of live entertainment, a pooch parade, a midway-style carnival, car show, free kids’ zone, petting zoo with pony rides and more. Free admission and parking; fees for carnival and some activities. MagnoliaFestival.org

20 Fort Payne Third Saturday Sunset Cruise-In, 5 to 9 p.m. in the Main Street District. Family fun activities and food, live music, motorcycles, antique car show and more. VisitLookoutMountain.com

20 Montevallo Montevallo Arts Fest in Orr Park. Family-friendly event with artists selling everything from fine arts to artisan works and crafts. Art demonstrations throughout the day, with a children’s art section. Food vendors and live music. See the event’s page on Facebook.

20 Fairhope Earth Day Mobile Bay, Fairhope Pier Park, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Environmental exhibits that are interactive and educational, local vendors of green and earthfriendly solutions and organic food and live music. Free. EarthDayMobileBay.org

20-21 Enterprise Piney Woods Arts Festival, a juried arts and crafts show, Enterprise State Community College. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday. More

Around Alabama

than 50 vendors, including jewelry makers, food trucks, dancers, poets, live music and a children’s fun center. Free, but donations accepted. Sponsored by the Coffee County Arts Alliance and Visit Enterprise. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

20-21 Cullman

40th annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair, on the campus of St. Bernard’s Abbey and Preparatory School. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 150 booths with artists demonstrating and exhibiting their handcrafted work. Prize giveaways, including a new car. Admission donation $10; children 5 and under free. BloominFestival.com

20-21 Guntersville Art on the Lake, Guntersville Recreational Center. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Fine artists and craftsmen from across the Southeast, food vendors, outdoor games and rides, bake shop and fun for the whole family. Artonthelake-guntersville.com

27 Albertville Brewfest, downtown at the farmer’s market, 4-8 p.m. More than 100 different beers, ciders and meads from more than 30 different Alabama breweries will be available, as well as music, games, food trucks and vendors. See the event’s Facebook page for ticket info.

27 Coffeeville Coffeeville One

Community event, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community center (high school) on Highway 69. Dunk tank, bingo, vendors, bouncy houses, bake sale and more. Proceeds to benefit repairs at the community center. 334-357-3593.

27 Fort Mitchell Pioneer Day and Quilt Show, 561 Alabama Highway 165, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. All quilters and quilt owners are invited to enter their quilts. Information and forms available at galaquiltguild.com/quilt-show/

MAY

4-5 Guntersville United Cherokee

Ani Yun Wiya National Pow Wow, 9 a.m. Saturday, 221 Pleasant Hill Road. Native American dancing and crafts and demonstrations of Indian culture, including archery, tomahawk throwing, flint knapping and more. Food and drinks will be available. ucanonline@aol.com

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

The Eufaula Spring Pilgrimage is a showcase of the town’s beautiful historical homes.

AEDs

can turn bystanders into lifesavers

By Allison Law

Quick action and repeated training can help someone in medical distress. And with a little help from technology, they can save a life.

That’s not just anecdotal. At Southern Pine EC, an automated external defibrillator (AED) and a quick-thinking crew helped save a young man’s life on a job site.

Devin Collins was a 19-year-old groundman at the co-op. He was part of a construction crew working on a job site, and when a power line fell on his truck, the current disrupted his heart’s rhythm.

Two co-workers grabbed an AED, made by the ZOLL company and bought from Birmingham-based GoRescue, and immediately began CPR. Another co-worker made the call for emergency responders and met them at the street to lead them back to the accident site.

AEDs are used to help those experiencing cardiac arrythmias – which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

For Collins, it was a lifesaver, and his doctor cleared him to return to work in a week.

“God had his hand on everybody that day,” says Vince Johnson, general manager of Southern Pine.

After Collins recovered and the staff talked about the incident, Johnson worked with safety manager Danny Taylor to come up with a plan to ask the board of trustees to purchase an AED for every co-op vehicle – even the forklift – as well as for multiple AEDs in the office. “That gives our employees, whether they’re helping the general public, or helping each other, a better opportunity to have one of those available, no matter where they are or what they’re doing.”

The Southern Pine board of trustees was 100% in favor of pro-

viding the AEDs wherever they were needed at the co-op. Johnson says some people may be concerned about the cost of the machines, which can be more than $2,000 each. But as Johnson says, how much is a life worth? “It’s worth every penny and then some to make sure our people are protected.”

AEDs increase the chance of survival following sudden cardiac arrest by 40%, says Jeff Whatley, statewide safety specialist for the Alabama Rural Electric Association, which publishes Alabama Living. “Combine this with effective CPR and the survival rate rises to 70%.

“Trained employees are now able to activate the cardiac chain of survival almost immediately,” Whatley says. The Southern Pine Electric co-op requires annual training for all office and outside employees, and in fact just had training the month before Collins’ accident.

Johnson says that if employees are out in the community in a co-op vehicle, and something like sudden cardiac arrest happens, having an AED on the vehicle (which is clearly marked) gives the bystander the opportunity to take the AED and use it. “You never know when you’re going to need it,” Johnson says.

Collins, who is back at work, had a unique opportunity to “pay it forward” after the accident. The ZOLL company has a program called Heroes for Life, in which survivors can donate a ZOLL AED to the charity or non-profit of their choice.

Collins chose the T.R. Miller High School’s athletic department; he had recently graduated from the school and played sports there. Because of the expense, many schools don’t have multiple AEDs available.

The donation was made in a ceremony at the school last fall. “This is a way to celebrate our survivors and allow them to pay it forward to help (a) sudden cardiac arrest victim,” according to a news release from the company.

Southern Pine EC employees with Devin Collins, center in blue vest, who was on a job site when a power line made contact with his truck. Quick-thinking employees used an automated external defibrillator (AED) on Collins to help his heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

In 2024, gardens are trending green

Looking for fresh ideas to use in this year’s garden? The options are abundant and diverse, but one thing’s for sure — you won’t go wrong if you go green.

That’s because a green theme twines through the many ideas to be found on 2024’s list of new gardening trends. Take, for example, the Garden Media Group’s annual 2024 Garden Trends Report, which not only declared “cyber lime,” a knockyour-socks-off shade of neon green, the year’s hottest color choice but also dubbed 2024 the year of “Eco-Optimism.”

According to the report, cyber lime mirrors the bright green of spring growth found in nature but also has a thoroughly modern techno edginess. Adding plants with cyber lime foliage and blooms — ‘Limelight’ hydrangea, ‘Electra’ huechera, ‘Green Envy’ coneflower and ‘Lemon Lime’ hosta for example — can make the landscape pop. It also mixes well with bold electric blues, hot pinks, bright oranges and purples but also works with more muted colors.

The color can spruce up other elements of outdoor spaces such as in outdoor cushions and planters, and indoors by using houseplants with neon foliage.

Eco-optimism, a sense of hopefulness that sustainable, eco-friendly practices are leading to positive environmental and social changes, is also a way our gardens are going “green” this year.

An interest in environmentally conscious gardening, which can help lower our carbon footprints and support biodiversity, is escalating. That trend can be seen in the number of people opting to replace turfgrass lawns with native plants, create wildlife- and pollinator-friendly habitats in

own trends based on our personal tastes and gardening values. Even if they aren’t in vogue now, we can garden green and still use tried-and-true themes, from ever-wonderful culinary and medicinal gardens to traditional/international English, Asian and Mediterranean gardens to whimsical fairy, gnome and folk-art inspired gardens.

their yards and plant more fruits, vegetables and “edimentals” (plants that are both ornamental and edible) for their families.

While people of all ages are embracing greener ideas, this trend is being rocket-fueled by younger generations, especially the 12- to 27-year-old Gen Zers who keenly experience eco-anxiety (the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm) but also fervently believe they can find solutions and slow, if not stop, environmental threats.

There is also a greenness to another 2024 theme, “hort-futurism,” which connects nature and technology to create more sustainable practices. It also provides opportunities to connect the current craze for all things sci-fi to our gardens, including using otherworldly garden lighting and unearthly looking plants. Houseplants, hanging baskets and bug-themed art and fashion are also “in” this year, which means we can bring nature home.

Of course, not all 2024 trends are green. A growing fascination with Victorian, Goth and graveyard themes is driving a demand for black, blood red and deep purple plants that lend a deliciously dark aesthetic to garden spaces.

Yep, there are lots of trends to consider this year, but never forget: we can set our

Need help figuring out your style? Explore the many online articles about 2024’s gardening trends, listen to gardening podcasts (one of my favorites is Cultivating Place atcultivatingplace.com ). Or check out the many gorgeous and informative books about gardening design and trends including Cultivating Garden Style: Inspired Ideas and Practical Advice to Unleash Your Garden Personality by Rochelle Greaye.

Also, get out and look at gardens. Inspiration and ideas abound in public gardens and through annual tours featuring private gardens, many of which are held in the spring. And don’t forget to tap into such free and expert resources as local Extension agents, Master Gardeners, garden club members and local nursery operators.

Armed with all this knowledge, you can soon have a garden that makes your friends and neighbors green with envy.

APRIL TIPS

 This is National Gardening Month so celebrate all month long and go especially green on Earth Day, April 22.

 Prune spr ing-flowering shrubs after they have flowered.

 Plant peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and sweet potatoes.

 Sow seed for squash, cucumbers, corn, beans and melons.

 Plant summer annuals and bulbs.

 Begin fertilizing houseplants.

 Keep bird feeders and birdbaths full for spring migrators and nesters.

 Turn compost piles or start new ones.

The vibrant green of this year’s “it” color, cyber lime, can be found in a wide range of plants. For example, this ‘Limelight’ hyrdangea is just one of several hydrangea varieties that produce gorgeous lime green blooms.

Mushrooms

Cook of the Month:

Like many residents of our Alabama coast, Candy Broyles and her husband retired to Gulf Shores after he had worked 36 years for Mississippi State University. She got the winning recipe for “Snowbird Camper Mushrooms” a few years ago when she went to a birthday party for a Sunday school friend, Jimmy Warren, at a campground in Gulf Shores. “A snowbird lady had made these wonderful mushrooms, and she showed me how to make them,” she says. “I had never had anything like this and wanted to share with other ‘Alabamians.’ I hope everyone enjoys them, too!” You can’t beat this recipe for ease of preparation: Just mix the ingredients together in your slow cooker and five hours later, you’ll have a delicious buttery treat!

Snowbird Camper Mushrooms

10 containers fresh mushrooms, washed thoroughly

5 pack ages Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix 10 sticks butter

Cook in crockpot on low for around 5 hours.

Candy Broyles Baldwin EMC

Stuffed Mushrooms

12 whole large fresh mushrooms

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 8- ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel and break off stems. Chops stems extremely fine, discarding the tough end of the stems and reserve mushroom cap. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chopped mushroom stems; cook until any moisture has evaporated, taking care not to burn garlic. Set aside to cool. Stir in softened cream cheese, parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne. The mixture will be thick. Use a teaspoon to fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing. Arrange on sprayed cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes on 350.

Laurie Myer

Southern Pine EC

Mushrooms and Cream

1 pound fresh mushrooms

1/3 cup soft butter

1 tablespoon parsley, minced

1 tablespoon dried minced onion

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

Pinch cayenne

Pinch nutmeg

1½ tablespoons flour

1 cup heavy cream (or less to make it less soupy)

Clean mushrooms and cut off stems. Cream together the butter, parsley, onion, Dijon mustard, salt, cayenne, nutmeg and flour. Place mushrooms in a 1-quart casserole dish. Dot with the butter mixture and pour over the heavy cream. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, uncovered. Stir once or twice during baking.

Laurie Myer

Southern Pine EC

Mushroom ‘Crabcakes’

1 pound mushrooms, diced or shredded

½ red onion, finely diced

1 bell pepper, finely diced

1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon sriracha or hot sauce (optional)

Cook mushrooms and 2 tablespoons water in skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Drain well, squeezing as much excess liquid as possible from mushrooms. Mix together onion, bell pepper, Old Bay seasoning, mayo, mustard, panko, egg and sriracha or hot sauce (if using). Add the well-drained mushrooms. Form into patties in your desired size. Chill mushroom patties for at least 30 minutes.

Cook using one of the following methods:

Air fry: Spray basket with cooking spray. Cook at 400 degrees 8-12 minutes.

Stove: Pan fry in heated olive oil on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side until brown.

Oven: Bake at 425 degrees on parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-15 minutes.

Cook’s note: These are so rich and tasty, with a texture very similar to crab! Alabama has an abundance of mushroom varieties, but for those who don’t have the time to forage, there are plenty of local growers including our favorite “Mushroom Man Tan” in Fairhope (@mushroommantan). This recipe works great with Lion’s Manes, Hen of the Woods, or even the kind commonly found in your local grocery store.

Linda Lavelle

Baldwin EMC

Mushroom Brunch

eggs, beaten

9 slices bread, crusts removed, cut into ½-inch squares

6 tablespoons butter, reserving 2 tablespoons

3 cups milk or unflavored plant milk of choice

5 green onions

1 cup baby spinach

½ cup bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 pound fresh mushrooms (shitake, portobello or button), chopped

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

Saute garlic and mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter. Cook until soft and just golden brown. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and stir to incorporate. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to coat. Pour egg mixture into a buttered casserole dish and refrigerate, covered, for 8 hours or overnight. Bake the mixture in a preheated 300 degree oven for 1 hour, uncovered. Serve immediately.

Cook’s tips: This recipe is great with day-old croissants or brioche. If you use wheat bread, be sure it is somewhat fluffy to absorb the egg. If it is too dense, the consistency does not come out right. Do not wash the mushrooms, as they soak up water like little sponges. Instead, rub them with a paper towel if they need to be cleaned or use a soft veggie brush.

Heather Hyatt Cullman EC

Mushrooms have become one of my favorite vegetables. They pair so well with all kinds of protein and also serve as a healthy substitute for some higher carb options. You can use them in place of pizza crust, as they hold their shape well and can stand up to almost any topping. We combine a smaller mushroom here with a crab filling for a fancy little appetizer that folks will never know it’s really good for them! For more recipes, visit thebutteredhome.com

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

24 fresh white mushrooms, stems removed

½ cup hear ts of palm, chopped

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

August theme: Blackberries

Submit by: May 3

September theme: Corn

Submit by: June 7

Email us: recipes@alabamaliving.coop

Visit our website: alabamaliving.coop

USPS mail: Attn: Recipes P.O. Box 244014

Montgomery, AL 36124

Recipes can be developed by you or family members. Adapt a recipe from another source by changing as little as the amount of one ingredient. Chosen cooks may win “Cook of the Month” only once per calendar year. Submissions must include a name, phone number, mailing address and coop name. Alabama Living reserves the right to reprint recipes in our other publications.

3 tablespoons Greek yogurt, unsweetened

2 tablespoons chives, chopped

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1 tablespoon lemon juice

¾ teaspoon Creole seasoning

1 garlic clove, minced

8 ounces crabmeat, canned or fresh, drained and picked over

2 teaspoons olive oil

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Clean mushrooms with a cloth and gently remove stems. Place mushroom caps on a baking sheet fitted with parchment or sprayed with a light layer of cooking spray. Roast mushrooms about 15 minutes, turning half way during cooking time.

Chop hearts of palm and combine with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chives, lemon juice, Creole seasoning and garlic in a medium bowl; mix until well blended. Add crab; stir to combine.

Turn oven to medium broil. Stuff each mushroom cap with 1 tablespoon of the crab mixture.

Combine oil, Parmesan, cheddar cheese and salt in a small bowl; sprinkle evenly over the mushrooms. Broil until the crab mixture is warmed through and the breadcrumbs are browned and the cheese is melted. Cool and serve.

Brooke Burks

PHOTO BY THE BUTTERED HOME

Celebrate Earth Day: Why taking steps to conserve matters

Earth Day is April 22, a time when we celebrate this beautiful planet we are lucky to call home. During this day of appreciation, I encourage you to take action at home by making changes to conserve energy. If we all contribute, even small adjustments and changes to how much energy we use can have positive impacts.

Electricity is essential to our daily lives. It gives us opportunities to learn, keeps us safe and comfortable and provides entertainment. The downside is that every source of energy generation has consequences. Fossil fuels emit carbon. Hydropower dams limit the passage of migrating fish. Even solar panels can’t be made without mining minerals. Using less electricity is a way to mitigate the impact of producing the electricity that powers our lives.

Before diving into ways to use less energy, it’s important to know the difference between conservation and energy efficiency. Energy efficiency refers to equipment that uses less energy to do the same job. For example, ENERGY STAR®-certified refrigerators keep your food just as fresh as standard models but use about 9% less energy to do it, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Conservation is using less energy by changing behavior and practices. For example, adjusting your thermostat to be closer to the temperature outside or turning off the lights or a ceiling fan when you leave the room conserves energy.

Conservation has the best return on investment. It’s often free and can save a little or a lot—depending on what you are changing and how drastic of a change you make.

Let’s start with what’s typically the biggest energy user in

the average household: heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Save energy while you sleep by programming your thermostat to be a few degrees closer to the outside temperature at night. In colder climates, add an extra blanket or comforter to your bed to keep you warm.

Typically, the second biggest energy user is the water heater. Replacing an electric storage water heater with a heat pump/hybrid water heater is a great example of an energy efficient project. Adjusting the temperature setting to the recommended 120 degrees and using less hot water in your home conserves energy. Wash clothes in cold water. When washing dishes, don’t let the hot water run longer than necessary.

Earth Day also lends itself to thinking of ways we can connect with each other and limit our screen time. Look for electricity-free opportunities with your family or community. I like to unplug and get outside with friends and family. Going for a hike, a walk or even just spending time in your yard or local park is a great way to reconnect with others and nature. Before you head out, adjust that thermostat and turn off everything possible. Unplug chargers from outlets and turn off all electronics and lights.

I am grateful for this planet we call home. It offers so much to sustain us. Any small changes we can make to benefit the planet can add up if we all pitch in.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home, and she writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing nearly 900 electric co-ops.

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RFisherman turns passion for hobby into a business

ather than buy lures, Ryan Gunn, an enthusiastic young fisherman growing up in Thomasville, preferred to make his own.

“I got into tying flies when I was a teenager,” he recalls. “When I was growing up, we were members of a golf course. A golf course pond was right behind our house. I would go to the pond and terrorize the fish with my flies.”

Young Ryan grew up and married a girl named Janet. Life took over and he stopped making lures for a long time, but the passion still burned within him. Then one day about two years ago, “I saw a photo of a crappie with a jig in its mouth and I thought, ‘I could make one better than that,’” Ryan remembers.

“I ordered another fly-tying vice and materials and made a few jigs. I sent some to a well-known sportsman. Not long afterward, he sent me some pictures with a bunch of crappie he caught on one of my jigs. He named the jig Fish Master Blue. I’ve been making them ever since.”

Common enticements for crappie and other species, a jig consists of a weighted hook and adornments to make it look like a minnow or other prey for hungry fish. Most come with feathers, fur or other materials. On a bare hook, anglers can add soft-plastic trailers.

Now 51 years old, the lure maker and Janet live in Flomaton. Ryan works as a nurse, but his passion remains making jigs and catching fish with them. He calls his company Team Fishmaster Custom Jigs.

“People call me the ‘Fishmaster,’” Ryan says. “It’s the best feeling in the world to catch a fish with a lure I made myself. I currently make jigs specifically for crappie, but I can make any style of jig to catch almost any fish. I also tie deer-hair flies that can catch anything.”

To make a jig, Ryan first powder-coats the lead heads to give them a tough baked-on finish. Then, he adds an ultraviolet

coating to make them more visible to fish. He makes plain jigs and weedless ones equipped with a monofilament weed guard.

“After I get the head baked, I decide on the materials,” Ryan says. “I use either marabou, which is a soft type of feather that undulates well in the water, synthetic fibers or chicken hackle.”

He makes every jig essentially the same way. To add the materials that make the jig look like something a fish would eat, he puts the head in a vice. Then, he starts wrapping thread around the hook shank. Only the tail material differentiates the various models.

“I wrap thread around the hook shank,” Ryan explains. “Once I have it the way I like it, I’ll apply chenille, which is a kind of yarn that comes in every color of the rainbow. I wrap that from the tail up to the head, tie it off and cut the thread. Then, the jig is ready to fish. It takes me less than five minutes to make a jig.”

Because he makes each lure by hand, no two jigs look exactly alike. Even when he uses identical materials, each jig looks slightly different. He sells them to local bait shops and individuals.

“I do this absolutely for the fun of it,” he says. “It’s a very addicting hobby, but it’s a great hobby! If someone has a creative talent, there’s no end to the designs that person can make. Because I’m a fisherman myself, I gain tremendous joy by looking at the different colors, different materials and figuring out what looks good and what I think will work on the fish.”

Currently, he only makes jigs for tempting crappie and some smaller ones to entice small-mouthed bluegills and other bream species. However, he can make bigger lures for largemouth bass. He even used some of his jigs in salt water and caught fish, so he might expand his product line for coastal fishing with bigger hooks.

“I’ve had good success and learned from watching the jigs in the water,” Ryan says. “Fishing is a great hobby and a great sport. I encourage everybody to go fishing, especially if they have children. Take them fishing. It doesn’t matter if they catch anything or what they catch. It’s just about spending quality time together and enjoying the outdoors.”

For more information, look up Team Fishmaster Custom Jigs on Facebook.

John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer who lives in Semmes, Ala. He also hosts an outdoors tips show for WAVH FM Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile, Ala. Contact him at j. felsher@hotmail.com or through Facebook.

Ryan Gunn dips a plain lead jighead into powder paint. The paint contains an ultraviolet brightener that makes the finish shine. He bakes in the powder paint to make the finish nearly indestructible.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN GUNN

To make a jig, Ryan Gunn first applies powder paint. The paint contains an ultraviolet brightener that makes the finish shine. He bakes in the powder paint to make the finish nearly indestructible. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN GUNN

The

As spring temperatures arrive, enjoy opportunities for outdoor recreation

Looking for a new jogging trail or a place to enjoy a lovely, handholding stroll for two? Would you like a chance to camp and check out the wildlife? Do you like to hike, bike, kayak, or fish? If you have an interest in these outdoor recreational activities, there’s a good chance you’ll find a way to experience them at TVA’s many trails and reservations in Alabama.

In Muscle Shoals, the easy and accessible Waterfall Walk provides breathtaking views of historic Wilson Dam, the Tennessee River, and a series of waterfalls. There are a variety of birds playing in the tailwaters below Wilson Dam, and the limestone bluffs are magnificent.

At the Marbut Bend Trail in Elkmont, this easy, flat, and accessible 1.1-mile walk will take you across boardwalks through a wetland and a pond created by a beaver dam. The combination of wetland and field draws a lively mix of wildlife, including migratory shore birds, wood ducks, deer, raccoons, and beavers. You could even throw out a blanket on the farmland and enjoy a picnic.

At the Honeycomb Trail in Guntersville, five bluff overlooks await you and there are lots of chances to explore the lake’s edge and watch for bald eagles and ospreys. There will also be ample opportunities to dip your toes in one of the many spring-fed creeks this trail encounters.

Before all the green foliage fully returns, it might be easier to spot wildlife. TVA photographer Hill Henry says the absence of leaves offers an unobstructed view of nests and tree-dwelling creatures. On a drive near Guntersville Reservoir, for example, Henry noticed a large shape in the bare trees. He pulled over for a closer look and saw a large nest, so he grabbed his camera and zoomed in.

What did the nest hold? A mother eagle feeding her chicks. Henry is part of a vibrant community of birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts who travel throughout Alabama and the Tennessee Valley region for these encounters. It’s big business, too. Nationally, wildlife-watching contributes about $250 billion to the economy.

Many TVA reservoirs are recognized as world-class fishing destinations and now is a good time to drop a line. The Guntersville reservoir is among the top-rated spots for bass anglers and is open for business year-round. TVA-managed dams and reservoirs support ecotourism and recreational activities that contribute about $12 billion to the region’s economy each year. For safety purposes, boaters and kayakers should keep a close eye on TVA’s lake levels and release calendars before heading out on reservoirs and tailwaters.

Whether you’re looking for an easy stroll, new finishing spot, planning your first mountain bike ride or craving a challenging climb, we’ve got you covered. The opportunities for recreation are just another part of what makes the Tennessee Valley region a fantastic place to live, work and play.

The Marbut Bend Trail in Elkmont, Alabama offers scenic views of nature and wildlife.

Closing Deadlines (in

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A swing in the woods

When I was growing up, I loved swings. Who didn’t? Kids and swings go together like Clearasil and pimples.

For me, it began on the playground, where I would swing so high that the legs on the metal frame would pull out of the ground. That gave me a kiddie rush that was almost equal to eating a dozen Pixy Stix.

Backyard tire swings were even better. For so many of us who grew up in the south, a tire swing was a big part of our childhood.

We had one. My dad found an old tire, and married it with a length of heavy rope. After looping it over a limb on a perfectly located hickory tree, he tied the ends securely. Soon my sister and I were gliding high - up and back, up and back. So simple. So perfect. With a little effort I could almost touch my feet to the eaves of our house.

And what a bonus it was if there was a swing in the woods. Back then, the woods were magnets for 12-yearolds. Not so much today. Nowadays, all those trees would affect their phone service. But I digress.

My friend Steve had one near his house. It was well worth the 15-minute bike ride to go visit him because we headed to The Swing.

If there was a Heisman Trophy for swings, this one would’ve earned a trip to New York City. To get there, you walked through a path flanked by pine, oak, sweet gum and blackberry briars, until you came to a clearing. Then it stood before you in all its glory. A large pine grew out of a steep incline, and someone with no fear of heights attached a cable to its highest limb. A bicycle tire rim bolted to the opposite

end of the cable served as a handle.

It was huge, scary and magnificent.

Once you gathered your courage, you ran until your feet left the ground, and the swing catapulted you in a semicircle around the tree. You felt like the stone in David’s slingshot as you flew over a sea of privet hedge at the bottom of the cliff. There weren’t enough Pixy Stix in the world to give you this kind of high.

Kids from all over knew about The Swing, but not everyone tried it. It looked dangerous - and it was. Because of the angle of the tree and the slope, you could easily attain heights of 20 feet on your ride, over 30 if you took off fast enough. And you had to deal with centrifugal force when sticking the landing. As a result, some boys wouldn’t take the risk. Being called a chicken was a small price to pay to avoid a trip to the hospital.

I couldn’t resist the lure of The Swing, so I used it regularly. But I always began my takeoff well below the highest starting point. As a result, I didn’t fly as high as I could, but 20 feet was just fine.

Not Steve. He always headed to the top. As a result, he went higher and faster than anyone else. In addition, he added twists and turns that made it look like a gymnastic routine. Steve was sailing through the air like an Olympian, while I was happy if I landed without getting strawberries on my knees and elbows.

Recently I reached out to Steve and asked him if he remembered The Swing. After all, it’s been a while since we played in the woods together. He did. In fact, a few years ago, he went back to its original location, and sadly found an apartment complex where it once stood.

I knew that already. Like Steve, I had also gone back to find The Swing. I may not have become a college gymnast like Steve did, but it was a wonderful part of our childhoods.

Along with Pixy Stix.

Joe Hobby is a standup comedian, a syndicated columnist, and a long-time writer for Jay Leno. He’s a member of Cullman Electric Cooperative and is very happy now that he can use Sprout from his little place on Smith Lake. Contact him at jhobby2000@aol.com.

Illustration by Dennis Auth