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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USPS
Rocket team launches
Tharptown High School in Franklin County is continuing a county tradition of taking honors in national and international competitions for its rocketry team.
Look for this logo to see
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On the hunt
Hunting season is a popular time in our state and there’s lots of camo in our reader photos!
Vets serving co-ops
Veterans who work at our cooperatives find many common values: a dedication to service and the common good, appreciation for hard work, and a healthy work ethic.
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Versatile rice
Rice is one of those staples at mealtime that can be found in many different dishes, from casseroles to soups to desserts.
ON THE COVER
Employees from all three JWEMC companies came together to recreate Norman Rockwell’s famous Thanksgiving 1943 painting, “Freedom from Want.” Story, Page 4.
COVER DESIGN: Michael Cornelison
Board
Trustees
Giving thanks for the Joe Wheeler EMC Family:
Powering our communities with heart
As Thanksgiving draws near, it’s a special time to pause and reflect on the things that truly matter—family, faith, and the simple blessings we often take for granted. Here at Joe Wheeler EMC, we believe in the power of family, not just in our homes, but in the relationships we’ve built with you, our members. Just like you, we are grateful for the ties that bind us together and for the privilege to serve the hardworking folks across North Alabama in Lawrence and Morgan Counties.
On the cover this month employees from all three JWEMC companies came together to recreate Norman Rockwell's famous Thanksgiving 1943 painting, "Freedom from Want." Going around the table starting at the center are: JWEMC Serviceman John Montgomery, JWEMC CSR Tina Terry, FlashFiber IT Director Jacob Smithee, FlashFiber and WBNG Director of Accounting Callie Wimberly, JWEMC Director of Purchasing Benita Owens, FlashFiber Director of Fiber Operations Mark Hall, WBNG Construction Superintendent James Dendy, WBNG Director of Administrative Services Lou Ann Mitchell, WBNG Director of Operations Joe Hutto, WBNG General Manager Patrick Presley, and JWEMC CSR Ragan Hill.
Lighting up homes, warming hearts
For more than 80 years, Joe Wheeler EMC has been more than just a utility provider. We’re a neighbor, a friend, and, for many, a part of the extended family. Whether it’s the electricity that powers your farm, the natural gas keeping your home warm on a chilly morning, or the fiber connecting your family to the wider world, we’re here to keep things running smoothly.
At Joe Wheeler EMC, we’re especially thankful this season for the trust you’ve placed in us. From one generation to the next, we’ve been blessed to grow alongside you, and we don’t take that for granted. You’ve allowed us to serve not only as your energy provider but also as a dependable partner in times of need, and for that, we’re deeply grateful.
A family of services working together
Like any strong family, the Joe Wheeler EMC family of companies—electric, natural gas, and fiber—works together to ensure every part of our community thrives. Each of our services is different, but they all come together to provide what’s needed for our members. Our commitment is to serve you with the same care and dedication we would for our own families. Behind every light switch that works, every warm home, and every internet connection is a team of local men and women who take pride in what they do. From the linemen working through storms to restore power to the natural gas technicians making sure your homes stay safe and warm to the fiber crews connecting rural North Alabama to high-speed internet, every one of them is dedicated to serving you and their neighbors.
Thankful for our community
As we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, we can’t help but feel grateful to be part of such a special community. Rural North Alabama is filled with strong, loyal, and hardworking folks, and we’re proud to be right there with you. We’ve seen how our communities come together during storms, during good times, and tough times, and we’re thankful to be a part of that resilience. From helping our neighbors save on their energy bills to providing quick, reliable service when it’s needed most, our purpose is clear—to serve and support our community. We’re honored that you continue to choose us, JWEMC, WBNG, and FlashFiber, and we pledge to keep earning your trust every day.
As we count our blessings this Thanksgiving, we thank you, our members, for being part of the Joe Wheeler EMC family. We’re proud to serve you and look forward to many more years of powering the homes and lives of the people we love.
Gene Kanikovsky, General Manager and CEO Joe Wheeler EMC, FlashFiber
The holiday season brings joy, family gatherings, and more devices connected to your home network than ever. FlashFiber’s Calix-powered managed Wi-Fi service ensures that you and your guests have a seamless internet experience, no matter how many people or devices are online.
Create a Guest Wi-Fi Network with Ease
Hosting guests over the holidays? FlashFiber’s managed Wi-Fi allows you to set up a separate guest network quickly, keeping your home network secure while giving visitors their own connection. Guests can easily access your network via a QR code—no need to remember or type in complicated passwords. Simply scan the code, and they’re online, giving everyone more time to enjoy the festivities instead of troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues.
Optimize Internet Traffic
With holiday streaming, video chats, and online shopping, bandwidth management is critical. FlashFiber’s managed Wi-Fi optimizes your internet traffic, ensuring the speed you need reaches the devices that matter most. Whether you’re streaming
Enhance Your Holiday Season with FlashFiber’s Managed Wi-Fi
a holiday movie marathon or video calling family members from afar, this system prioritizes your connections to avoid lag and interruptions. You get reliable, high-speed internet exactly where you need it, even when every room in your house is filled with activity.
Parental Protections with ExperienceIQ
During the holidays, when children have extra free time, it’s more important than ever to have internet protections in place. FlashFiber includes ExperienceIQ on all 1 and 2 gig residential services, giving parents control over content and screen time. With easy-to-use parental controls, you can set limits on internet usage, block inappropriate content, and monitor your children’s online activity—keeping them safe while they enjoy their new gadgets.
This holiday season, FlashFiber’s managed Wi-Fi ensures your household stays connected, secure, and stress-free. To find out more, visit jwflash.com, of give us a call at 256-552-2300.
Owned by Joe Wheeler EMC
Understanding the New FCC Broadband Labels:
What FlashFiber Customers Need to Know
In an effort to improve transparency and help consumers make informed decisions about their internet services, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently introduced new broadband labels. These labels, similar to nutrition labels found on food packaging, provide important details about broadband services offered by internet providers. FlashFiber is excited to implement these labels, offering our customers clear and concise information to ensure they receive the best possible service.
What Are FCC Broadband Labels?
The FCC's broadband labels are designed to give consumers a snapshot of essential service information. These labels will display key factors such as internet speeds, pricing, data caps, and latency. This new initiative stems from the FCC's commitment to ensuring that consumers know exactly what they are paying for and what to expect from their broadband provider.
Why Are These Labels Important?
Transparency is key in today’s fast-paced
digital world, and the new labels are all about providing clear, understandable information to consumers. Here’s why they matter:
Easy Comparison: Broadband labels make it easier for customers to compare different internet plans. By seeing all the critical details in a consistent format, customers can quickly assess which plan best fits their needs. Whether you're looking for the fastest speeds or the most affordable option, the label provides all the key facts at a glance.
Avoid Hidden Costs: FlashFiber’s adoption of FCC broadband labels ensures that our customers are fully informed about pricing, including fees or surcharges that might not be immediately apparent otherwise. This transparency allows customers to budget more effectively and avoid unexpected costs.
Clarity on Performance: The labels provide information on speeds and performance metrics such as latency, which is particularly important for activities like online gaming
Broadband Facts
Broadband Facts
or video conferencing. Knowing the quality of service helps customers choose the right plan based on their internet usage habits.
Data Caps and Limits: Understanding data usage limits is critical, especially in households with multiple users. These labels will clearly state any data caps associated with your plan, helping to prevent overage charges and enabling customers to manage their usage.
How FlashFiber Customers Benefit
For FlashFiber customers, these broadband labels align with our commitment to providing high-quality, transparent service. Whether you're a longtime customer or considering switching, the new labels ensure that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for your home or business. For more information on FlashFiber’s services, visit jwemc.coop or call 256-567-4140.
These new labels are just another way that FlashFiber is ensuring we are delivering the super-fast internet our customers deserve.
Owned by Joe Wheeler EMC
Peace of Mind, now included for FREE!
At FlashFiber, we think peace of mind should just be part of the package.
That's why all FlashFiber customers with our most popular family packages have access to worldclass parental controls, ExperienceIQ. FOR FREE!
ExperienceIQ is installed on your FlashFiber Home app at no cost to you on all residential 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps packages.
So, what is ExperiencelQ?
A service that protects your children or grandchildren from harmful or inappropriate content, limits screen time on devices or applications, and displays online usage through our enhanced parental control app.
How is this going to benefit your family?
• Block inappropriate categories like pornography or violence.
• Block applications that you deem inappropriate (e.g. gaming applications like Call of Duty, or social applications like Snapchat.)
• Set time limits for specific applications, like TikTok, to cap screen time.
• Set Safe Search and YouTube Restriction to block harmful or inappropriate content when searching Google, Bing or YouTube. YouTube Restriction also blocks all comments on videos which often include inappropriate language.
• View usage for all devices to better understand HOW the internet is being used in your home.
• Prioritize application groups or specific devices to ensure the best possible experiences for your most important needs.
To learn how to access your FREE ExperienceIQ, click on the QR code below or visit jwflash.com and click on the ExperienceIQ button.
Owned by Joe Wheeler EMC
May your holidays be merry and bright
By Abby Berry
As November kicks off, it’s hard to believe we’ll soon be gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. This festive time of year brings joy and warmth, but as the weather gets cooler and we spend more time indoors, the holidays can also bring increased energy use and a higher risk of electrical and fire hazards.
make sure they’re rated for outdoor use.
Like many households, we also enjoy holiday-scented candles. While festive, candles can create fire hazards and should never be left unattended. One of the best and easiest ways to safeguard your home is to test smoke alarms often. I test mine on the first of each month, so it’s easy to
Tips for a Safe and Efficient Holiday Season
This holiday season, keep energy savings and electrical safety in mind.
SAVE ENERGY
• Use smaller appliances like slow cookers instead of the oven.
• Lower the thermostat when hosting friends and family.
• Decorate with energy-saving LED lights.
PRIORITIZE SAFETY
• Never leave unattended candles burning.
• Ensure all smoke alarms are working.
• When decorating, inspect all light strands and cords for damage.
it a few degrees, especially when you have family or friends stopping by. Good company brings additional warmth to your home.
Your family can also save energy by decorating with LED holiday lights. LEDs are the most energy efficient lighting options available, and they last much longer than traditional bulbs.
As your local electric cooperative, our team at Joe Wheeler EMC cares about your well-being. This month, I’d like to share a few practical tips to help you stay safe and efficient during the holiday season. Safety first.
My family truly enjoys decorating our home for the holidays. Before we deck the halls, I always check electrical cords and light strands to make sure they aren’t frayed or damaged. This gives us peace of mind, knowing our holiday lights are ready to safely brighten our home. I also double check the lights we use outside to
remember. Testing smoke alarms only takes a few seconds and could save lives, so make it a habit.
‘Tis the season for savings.
Spending more time indoors with a few more guests in the home can really impact home energy use. By taking a few small steps to save energy during the holiday season, you can lower your bills.
I like to remind my family members to mind the thermostat. Since heating and cooling makes up the majority of home energy consumption, the thermostat is one of the best places for savings. Lower
There’s no denying one of the best parts of the holiday season is the food––not just the meals but the time we spend together in the kitchen. There are many ways to save in the heart of your home, but one of the best approaches is to cook with smaller countertop appliances, such as air fryers, slow cookers and toaster ovens. These handy appliances consume a fraction of the energy used to heat the oven, creating the perfect recipe for mealtime and energy savings.
I hope you will implement some of these energy-saving and safety tips into your holiday plans. We’re here to help you with safety and savings year-round.
From your friends at Joe Wheeler EMC, we hope your holiday season is merry and bright.
Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
Liam’s ready to go. SUBMITTED by
Lauren Haley Winfield.
Scott Adams and his chocolate lab, Reed. SUBMITTED by Kasem Roden, Fyffe.
Daddy-daughter dove shoot with Ben and Parrish Webster in Beauregard. SUBMITTED by Debbie Knight, Auburn.
Kairo loves wearing his camouflage during hunting season. SUBMITTED by Amanda Salter, Evergreen.
Wild turkey on a frosty morning. SUBMITTED by David Parker, Phenix City.
Aubrey Elkins. SUBMITTED by Emily Elkins, Mount Hope.
Letters to the editor
E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
Liked cover photo
Bird hunters, don't shoot at fiber or electrical lines
During dove season, many hunters will look to the skies for their next target. While it might be tempting to shoot at a dove perched on an electric wire or fiber line, please don’t.
It not only poses a danger in the moment but can also lead to expensive problems down the line. Damaged lines can quickly lead to internet and electric outages for you or your neighbors.
If you plan to hunt this dove season, help your electric cooperative and broadband service maintain reliable service for everyone by being aware of your surroundings. Following these safety guidelines can help avoid an unfortunate accident:
• Do not shoot at or near fiber lines, power lines or insulators with any type of firearm, including pistols, rifles or shotguns. It’s dangerous to anyone nearby and could cause outages.
• Never aim at less than a 45-degree angle when targeting a bird.
• Look out for warning signs or electrical or fiber equipment.
• Keep a safe distance from utility lines when hunting.
• If you can’t avoid power and fiber lines
I think the best cover photo you have ever come up with is on the September issue, the little girl wearing the overalls with the baby chicks. I think our children are not recognized enough. The little girl with the baby chicks is just lovely.
Stanley M. Beasley
Cullman EC
Bank’s program supports small businesses in rural Alabama
A new initiative from investment bank Goldman Sachs is poised to support small businesses in rural Alabama, with goals that include growth and job creation.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt joined representatives of Goldman Sachs recently for the launch of the bank’s “Investment in Rural Communities” initiative in Alabama.
The $100 million initiative provides comprehensive support to small-business owners in rural America to help them grow their businesses through results-oriented training, access to capital and personalized support services. Alabama will benefit from an initial $3 million commitment.
“This program empowers small businesses with additional tools and training to best position them for sustainable success and growth,” Britt says. “As a daughter of rural Alabama, I am especially proud to see this focus on supporting rural small businesses in our great state.”
completely, note the locations of overhead lines and equipment.
• Be especially careful in wooded areas where lines may not be easily visible.
• Do not climb power poles or place tree stands on them. Any energized lines and equipment can pose a risk of shock or electrocution.
• Make sure you do not make contact with any overhead electrical equipment when setting up or taking down a tree stand.
• Never place decoys on power lines or other electrical equipment. Any obstruction on utility equipment can be a serious hazard to linemen or fiber techs making repairs.
Lastly, if you’re a landowner who allows dove hunts on your property, please make sure the people taking part in these activities know where all utility lines are located and make sure they avoid those areas. At some point, there could be legal consequences for the hunters, and possibly the landowners. Making repairs to fiber or electric lines damaged by shotguns is costly, time consuming and unnecessary.
A new documentary short film, “Beyond a War,” explores the story of Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., chancellor of Troy University, and Dr. Lé Công Co’, president of Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Once adversaries during the Vietnam War, the two university leaders have transformed their past conflict into a powerful partnership for their schools. “Beyond a War” chronicles their personal experiences of combat and survival, and their extraordinary work in bridging cultures through education and collaboration.
The short film premiered at Troy University’s Davis Theater in late September and will begin airing on Alabama Public Television on Nov. 7. It is also accessible on Troy’s TrojanVision.
Lineman from Covington EC shows damage done to a fiber line by a hunter’s errant shot.
Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. is interviewed by journalist Todd Stacy at the premiere of the new short film, “Beyond a War.” PHOTO COURTESY TROY UNIVERSITY
Find the hidden dingbat!
There’s an old saying that even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while. But that apparently didn’t apply to last month’s dingbat hunt, as many of our readers were unable to find the hidden acorn. We dropped it on the sweater of our gardening columnist Katie Jackson on Page 30, where it no doubt blended in with the colorful flowers. But a few of you did guess correctly, including our randomly drawn winner, Evelyn Miller of Millry, a member of Clarke-Washington EMC who wins a gift card from Alabama One Credit Union.
This month, we’ve hidden a carving set, so you’ll be ready to carve your Thanksgiving turkey. Good luck, and remember that we won’t hide the dingbat in an ad or on Pages 1-8.
By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop
By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
Take us along!
Sponsored by
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.
Last fall, Liz Gibson and her husband, Stuart, traveled to Budapest, Hungary to begin the Danube River Cruise they’d planned before the pandemic. This photo was taken in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. They are members of Cullman EC.
Robert and
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 December issue.
Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.
Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or unusual landmark in Alabama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose photo is chosen will also win $25.
October’s answer: Guntersville’s “marry me” rock, at the corner of Lurleen Drive and U.S. 431, was the idea of city clerk Betty Jones to be a fun feature for the city’s waterfront. Within two weeks of its installation in July 2024, the rock had its first proposal (she said yes), and in August saw its first wedding. Jones was quoted in the town’s Advertiser-Gleam newspaper as saying, “I never in my wildest imagination thought people would actually get married here,” she said of the rock. “But I am so pleased with the response.” (Photo contributed by Betty Jones) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Ashley Harsanyi-Cox, Joe Wheeler EMC.
Regina Hood of Arley and a member of Cullman EC, traveled with friends to Mt. Airy, North Carolina, the town on which Mayberry of “The Andy Griffith Show” was based.
The Taylor family, members of Southern Pine EC, visited Roswell, New Mexico, a popular tourist destination for fans of UFO folklore.
Shirley Gullion, members of Arab EC, toured the European Alps area and visited the intercontinental Hotel in Vienna, Austria.
Anita Willis of Russellville, a member of Franklin EC, took an eight-day cruise to the British Virgin Islands with three family members from Jacksonville. Florida.
Albert and Bing Woolbright of Tallassee visited the Dead Sea during an Easter trip to Israel. They are members of Central Alabama EC.
Still serving Veterans
find skills translate from military to co-op
careers
By Allison Law
This month, we commemorate Veterans Day – celebrating America’s veterans for their sacrifice, their willingness to serve and their love of country.
There are shared values between those in the military and those who work for cooperatives – a dedication to service, a desire to work for the common good, an appreciation for hard work and a healthy work ethic.
Alabama Living reached out to our rural electric cooperatives and talked to just a few of those who may have completed their military careers, but who continue to embody these principles in their chosen co-op careers.
Justin Bracewell
Journeyman
lineman, Covington EC
Justin Bracewell was actually a bit older than the typical enlistee when he joined the Air Force. After high school, he played baseball in college; he was 26 when he joined in 2012. For ten years, he worked in aircraft maintenance at the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field in Montgomery.
Today, he is still serving part-time in the Air National Guard with the 280th Special Operations Communications Squadron out of Dothan.
In the National Guard, he works in knowledge operations. It’s a bit different than his full-time job, working on a construction crew out of the co-op’s Enterprise district.
He’d never thought about doing linework. “It was one of those things – the co-op has given me a great career, and I enjoy it very much. I’ve come to love the job.”
In both careers, he says an attention to detail is key, as well as time management and being organized. “That’s something I take pride in in my job as a lineman.”
Similar to the military, a highlight of working at the co-op is the camaraderie of his co-workers – bonds built doing dangerous work in often difficult conditions. “We see each other more than we see our families, some of the time.”
He’s worked on five different storms during his 12 years at the co-op. Helping in disaster-stricken areas, where people are in desperate need of electricity, among other things, has an effect on the crews who do storm work.
“Being able to see the families in need of power, and seeing their kids, when we turn the lights on” makes the hard work worth it. “The gratitude, it makes you feel pretty good to be able to help out like that.”
Justin Bracewell, a journeyman lineman at Covington EC, transitioned into the Air National Guard after his Air Force career.
Clay Brock
Database and systems administrator, Baldwin EMC
Growing up, Clay Brock had a best friend whose dad was in the Marine Corps, and the boys would play that they were Marines. But it was the events of 9/11 that had a big impact on him, even though he was just 9 years old when it happened.
He followed the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, even as a boy, and felt destined to join the Marines one day. “Watching the news and seeing the servicemembers over there defending the country was just something that really resonated with me.”
He went to college for two years, then enlisted in the Marines and worked as an aviation communication systems technician. His unit would go to remote locations and set up air traffic control centers; Brock’s specific job was to set up voice networks for the air traffic controllers.
He and his fellow Marines prided themselves in how proficient they were at their jobs. They would travel to units around the country and internationally to find and resolve long-standing issues. “That was a pride point our unit had,” he says, and it’s a value he finds at the co-op in his current job.
After five years, he considered re-enlisting, but decided to separate and return to college. After graduating from the University of South Alabama, he worked in the tech world for a large company, but the corporate environment didn’t suit him. “When I saw that Baldwin had openings for three IT positions, I applied for all three,” he says. The co-op’s great reputation in the community, and the fact that it doesn’t operate for a profit, made it a good fit.
“Every decision that’s made here, it focuses either on safety, benefiting our members or positively impacting our community,” he says. People told him that the co-op stands behind its values, and he’s found that to be true.
The Marines definitely helped prepare him for this part of his career path –learning leadership skills, how to communicate with other departments, and how to work with a diverse team to accomplish a specific task.
Every day in IT is a challenge, he says, which fits well with his military background. “It’s never the same thing over and over. I like finding hard problems and finding creative solutions.”
Josh Thomas
Staking/equipment technician, Tallapoosa River EC
Josh Thomas had an uncle who was a Marine, but the two never really talked about his service. Joining the Marine Corps was a way to challenge himself after high school. “I thought, shoot, if you’re going to challenge yourself, that’s the way to do it.”
A native of Lanett, Thomas told the recruiter he wanted to enter boot camp “as soon as possible,” and didn’t really have a career goal in mind. He ended up working on CH-53E helicopters and was based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. In his six years as a Marine, he deployed to Afghanistan twice; after starting a family, he realized that the deployments were keeping him from seeing his children grow up, and he decided to focus on something else.
He started logging after separating from the military, but wanted something more stable. He went to work for the co-op as a staking technician, who figures out how to bring electricity to a home or business. Staking techs design lines and obtain easements for property owners, figure out where the poles need to go and physically stake the lines. Then he gives the plans to the construction crew for them to build.
Much like in the Marines, the camaraderie and brotherhood among the co-op crews is part of what makes the job worthwhile. And the skills learned in the Marines have stayed with him as well.
“The mindset and the tough skin, you knew ‘no’ wasn’t an option in the Marines, and the same mentality translates to the co-op,” he says. “You’re given a task and expected to complete that task to the best of your ability.”
Clay Brock handles much of the infrastructure, such as the servers and data center, at Baldwin EMC. Brock in 2017 at Camp Pendleton. His unit, Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (MACS-1), camped outside for a couple of weeks conducting a field training exercise.
Josh Thomas started at Tallapoosa River EC in 2021, and was deployed to Afghanistan twice during his Marine Corps career.
Joshua Burnett
Manager of Technology, Coosa Valley EC
Jason McCormick
Right-of-way foreman, Pioneer EC
At 18, Jason McCormick took to heart his mother’s admonishment to “get a job.”
He looked up a recruiter in the phone book, drove to Montgomery and joined the Army.
“The recruiters said, ‘we can have you out of here in three months.’ I said, ‘That works for me.’ It was the best thing I ever did.”
Why? “When you join the military, you learn how to live on your own and make your own decisions. That can be good or bad, but for me it was good.” He was in field artillery and his first duty station was in Hawaii; his Army career would take him all over the world, including Korea and Thailand. His last duty station was at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq for a year as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which he felt was a great experience because of the good people he met. “We would show people magazines from America, and people there couldn’t believe how beautiful (our country is). Especially in Baghdad … you don’t see anything green. Everything is brown.”
After serving in combat and eight years on active duty in field artillery, “I figured I had seen and done enough,” so he started his own landscape business and ran that for 17 years. “I definitely wouldn’t change anything about it, and I enjoyed my eight years in the Army.”
Though his wife is from Birmingham, they decided to move to Greenville, where he grew up, so they could raise their children in a small town, which he says they love. He joined the Pioneer Electric co-op in his hometown, working first as a mapping technician, then an apprentice lineman. He was recently promoted to right-of-way foreman.
About skills learned in the military: “I think just being able to adapt to different situations, and being able to work with different people,” is key, and has been a helpful takeaway from his time in the Army. “Especially in the military, you have people from all walks of life, and everybody gets along.” The camaraderie at the co-op is much the same, he says.
Ashville native Joshua Burnett had always been intrigued with the military lifestyle – several of his family members were in the Army, Air Force and Navy. But none had joined the Marines, which to him seemed like the “toughest branch,” and he liked the idea of a challenge.
At the urging of a great uncle who was a graduate of the Naval Academy, Burnett attended Valley Forge Military College in Pennsylvania for a year, with the idea that it would be a stepping stone for Burnett to apply for a military academy. The military school experience convinced him to go ahead and enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves, to earn money for school and get a taste of military life. He enlisted as an infantryman, and his core unit was the Lima Company 323 near Gunter Annex in Montgomery.
Burnett says that while Reservists aren’t always selected for schools and trainings, he was able to take several leadership courses, which have served him well in his post-military life. He was also meritoriously promoted to corporal, which he’s proud of.
At the end of his six year contract, he and his wife decided that the constant moving around that’s part of the military lifestyle wasn’t for them. He worked as an electrician first, then got into IT, which had always interested him. He worked for a company in Birmingham for 12 years, with the trappings of an urban lifestyle in a corporate environment.
Coming to the co-op was “like a breath of fresh air,” he says. He grew up in rural Alabama and missed that pace of life. Still, spending his formative years in the military has proved valuable.
“Being in the military is a life-changing experience, no matter what you do – going through boot camp, becoming a member of any military branch. Just that act alone teaches you about yourself, about teamwork and collaboration. I think I can attribute a lot of my successes in life to things I learned in the military.”
He started at the co-op as a network systems administrator, and accepted the chief technology officer position just a few months ago. “I certainly think all those life experiences, especially the military, contributed to my ability to kind of just step into a role that needed to be filled,” he says, “and to help in the leadership and the team collaboration that we needed to have here in forming this IT department.”
Above, Jason McCormick was an apprentice lineman before being promoted to right-of-way foreman. Left, McCormick in Baghdad; the little girl had given him the flower he’s holding.
Above, Joshua Burnett, chief technology officer at Coosa Valley EC, says the people and the culture at a co-op is “just so much better.” Left, Burnett was the first in his family to join the Marine Corps Reserves.
Alabama co-ops help after Hurricane Helene
Nineteen Alabama cooperatives sent 161 staffers – a combination of construction crews, service crews, right-of-way crews and safety specialists – to assist co-ops in Georgia and South Carolina as these areas grappled with the ruins from Hurricane Helene’s overpowering winds and rains.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Florida on Sept. 26, then plowed through the South. The storm’s heavy rains and crushing winds left a path of damage that stretched over 500 miles.
Jeff Whatley, safety specialist with the Alabama Rural Electric Association (which publishes Alabama Living), accompanied some of the Alabama crews on this massive mutual aid effort. The damage, he says, was unlike any other storm he’s seen in 25 years of storm work in the cooperative world.
The storm knocked out electric service to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members.
The work to restore power was strenuous and difficult, Whatley says. Average workdays are 16 hours long.
“Wet conditions and tree-laden rightsof-way required poles to have to be climbed instead of using bucket trucks,” he says. “It would take several hours of cutting and clearing right-of-way to get up a single span of wire.” Crews would work days at a time and be able to energize only a handful of members.
“The amount of physical plant damage was catastrophic. Tens of thousands of poles were broken. Wire was on the ground everywhere you looked. There would be miles of continuous damage on every road you drove down. The landscape is completely changed due to extensive tree damage,” Whatley says.
As of Oct. 15, more than 17,000 co-op members were still without power in Georgia and the Carolinas.
As this issue was going to print, several Alabama crews were continuing to work in Georgia. The crews are constantly being rotated out with fresh employees, Whatley says.
Meanwhile, the damage the crews are seeing is heartbreaking, Whatley says. But everywhere they travel, they see appreciation, from handwritten signs to snack bags left on a truck seat.
“It’s a rewarding feeling for the linemen to know they are there to make a difference,” Whatley says.
Veterans to be honored at North Alabama Patriot Trail
The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association will honor veterans on Nov. 7 at the inaugural North Alabama Patriot Trail in Honor of Veterans Celebration at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archive in Athens.
Keynote speakers will be Maj. Gen. Janet Cobb, executive director of the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin.
The program, which will be from 8 to 10 a.m., will include a self-serve light breakfast, patriotic music, a video presentation and special recognitions. The museum is located at 114 West Pryor St., in Athens. For more information, contact Karen Beasley at AMLA, (800) 648-5381 or karen@ northalabama.org.
The North Alabama Patriot Trail offers a self-guided tour of 79 patriotic stops in the 16 northernmost counties of Alabama, including memorial parks, museums, memorials, markers, archives, noteworthy locations, festivals, special events and parades in Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties. More info: northalabama. org/places-to-visit/trails/patriot-trail/
This sweet card reads, “Dear Mr. line man, thank you for fixing the power lines. And sorry that you had to leave your family.”
Baldwin EMC sent right-of-way crews to Altamaha EMC in Georgia to help clear downed trees.
Eyes on the skies (and the prize)
Tharptown
High School rocketry team continues Franklin County’s success
By Allison Law
The state of Alabama is used to winning championships. So is Franklin County, population 30,000, a rural county nestled in northwest Alabama on the edge of the Bankhead National Forest.
But Franklin’s champs aren’t on the field. They’re aiming a little higher.
820 feet, to be exact.
These champs are on rocketry teams.
Russellville High School took the world’s attention in 2015 when the school’s engineering team –made up of seven high schoolers and middle schoolers – won the national Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). A couple months later, the same team won first place at the International Rocketry Challenge at
the 2015 Paris Air Show, defeating two teams from the U.K. and France.
The school – which now has multiple rocketry teams – continues to place in the top 25 at the American Rocketry Challenge (formerly TARC) national finals.
Now, Tharptown High School – just seven miles east of Russellville High – is joining its fellow Franklin County school in the rocketry ranks. THS’ rocketry team won the national finals in May 2024, earning a trip to London in July to compete in the International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The team representing the U.K. narrowly surpassed the Tharptown team in the closest-ever scoring for this international competition.
The team was understandably disappointed to come in second place, but not for long.
“I was upset,” says Kylee Beard, team captain and motor builder. “But we got over it. We have one more year.”
The team lost only one member, Jessie Mitchell, to graduation in 2024, meaning the remaining seven members have all had experience at the international level. Some have been on the team for multiple years.
Tharptown has sent a team to the national finals six times since the program started in 2018. THS has now placed in the top 10 four times, including a second-place finish in 2023.
They’re determined, says Areanna Orozco, a math teacher at THS and team sponsor. “They are hoping that we can get back and they can kind of repeat (their earlier success). They went from second to first in nationals (in 2023), and they are hoping to go to internationals and go from second to first this year.”
Design, build, launch
The American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) is an annual model rocket competition for students in grades 6-12, designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Teams generally meet early in the school year to start planning and designing their rockets and must make official qualifying flights by early April. The top 100 qualifying teams compete at the
Adrionna Ashley looks on as Shyla Martinez explains the design of the nose cone of one of the rockets.
Photos by Freedom Light Productions
See more online at alabamaliving.coop
national finals in Virginia in May, vying for a share of $100,000 in prizes and the title of national champion. This year, Tharptown’s team won $20,000 for their first-place finish. The national winner is the only American team to compete in the international challenge.
ARC challenges students to design, build and launch rockets that can safely carry one, two, or three raw hen eggs (depending on the year’s challenge) and consistently come very close to a specified flight altitude and duration. This year, the teams’ rockets had to carry one large egg to an altitude of 820 feet, remain airborne for between 43 and 46 seconds, and return to the ground safely. Each rocket carries an altimeter.
Besides the obvious knowledge teams need to be successful –engineering and aerodynamics among them – problem solving and teamwork are crucial. “We decide as a team how to work it out,” Kylee says.
About her teammates, “They’re like a second family,” says Angie Chavez, who works with the parachutes that allow the rockets to safely return to earth.
Andrew Heath, the team’s mentor, agrees. “Teams that make it this far, they’re like their own little family. But there’s no drama, (even) for this age group.”
Heath knows all about the rocketry challenges. He was a senior and the captain of the Russellville City Schools Engineering Team that won TARC and then placed first in the International Rocketry Challenge in 2015. After graduation, he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering and started mentoring school rocketry teams. He’s also judged at the international competition several times.
“Being the mentor has been my favorite part,” Heath says. “I trust their decisions; they’ll go with one, and just try it.”
Heath was especially proud of the Tharptown team’s maturity
and sportsmanship at the international competition in London. “They were disappointed, but they went out of their way to talk to the other teams,” he says. He accompanied the team on the trip.
“One of the things they did, and I talked to them about this, was being an ambassador for Tharptown High School, for their state and their country,” Heath says.
‘Just try it out’
Most of the team members got involved with the rocketry team either because a family member encouraged them, or their friends did. Isabella Hall, who manages the flight sheets, got support for her participation from her dad, who worked on rockets. Hall is the only junior on the team, and like several others on the team, she wants to study engineering after graduation.
Angel Garcia, who works with launch setup and retrieval, has family members who did rocketry (his older brother was on the team) and would like to study mechanical or aerospace engineering. Like most of the team, his favorite part of the process is the launch – seeing months of hard work come to fruition. But they don’t take things too seriously. “When it fails, (we can) laugh about it,” he says.
Shyla Martinez, the payload specialist, joined the team as a sophomore, and says it’s one of the best decisions she made for herself. She feels good about this year’s competition; “we certainly know what we’re doing. I feel very good.”
Experience with rockets, or even a background in science and/ or engineering, is not required for the rocketry team, and Shyla encourages others to go out for it. “It’s fun – you can get into this without any knowledge (or previous experience).”
Adrionna Ashley, a senior and a team helper, agrees. “Just try it out – there’s lots of opportunities,” she says.
Isabella Hall, left, talks about the process of designing and building the rockets the team used as they prepared for the national and international competitions. Angel Garcia, second from left, Frank Gutierrez, Kylee Beard and Angie Chavez listen in.
Alabama to spend $200 million on state park upgrades
By John N. Felsher
Many of the 22 Alabama state parks from the mountains to the Gulf of Mexico will or have already received major facelifts over the next few years.
“We plan to spend about $200 million over the next three to four years,” says Matthew Capps, who recently took over as director of the Alabama State Parks. “Every project is significant because most of our parks were built in the 1930s and 40s and have aging infrastructure.”
The money comes from multiple state and federal sources. In 2022, Alabama voters approved a bond issue, providing $80 million to significantly improve park facilities around the state. State parks receive very little tax money, and mainly operate on user fees.
The oldest park in the state, Cheaha Resort State Park east of Talladega, dates to 1933 and is on tap to get a new $25 million lodge. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of its facilities in the 1930s. The lodge and restaurant sit atop Mount Cheaha and offer breathtaking views.
“One of the most popular attractions at Cheaha is watching the sunsets over the rolling hills of the Talladega National Forest,” Capps says. “We’re using massive timber with exposed beams to build the new facility. All the wood will come from Alabama.”
The state plans to award the contract to build the new lodge before the end of 2024. It should open in late 2025 and give better views to guests in each lodge room. In addition, Cheaha and many other parks will sig-
One of the lakeside cottages at Lakepoint State Park, overlooking Lake Eufaula. All cottages and cabins at the park are being, or have been, refreshed.
PHOTO COURTESY ALABAMA STATE PARKS Oak
nificantly upgrade campgrounds, freshwater and sewerage systems and electrical systems to accommodate larger recreational vehicles.
“We’re cleaning out our old lodge and hotel and starting on our new one,” says Larrmy Warren, the Alabama State Parks Central district superintendent in Pelham. “The new one is going to be right across the street from where the hotel is now on the bluff side of the mountain and somewhat attached to where the restaurant was.”
Oak Mountain State Park just south of Birmingham actually predates Cheaha. It started as a 940-acre park in 1927. The CCC and Works Progress Administration built many of the facilities in the 1930s. It didn’t officially become a state park until 1943. Today, the largest state park in Alabama spreads across 11,861 acres.
Wi-Fi expansion, replacing structures
At Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, the state will renovate part of the campground and build five new lakeside cottages. Plus, the state will add or expand Wi-Fi systems to this park and others.
“All of these improvements will help the people who visit our parks, especially the Wi-Fi,” Warren says. “In today’s world, WiFi is one of the essential things that everybody needs to stay in touch. We’re happy to be able to offer these renovations to get Wi-Fi access to them.”
At Chewacla State Park in Auburn, a new meeting facility, new bath house, day-use restroom and playground upgrades are among the projects set to begin in the 2025 fiscal year.
In northern Alabama, Joe Wheeler, Monte Sano near Huntsville and Lake Lurleen state parks northwest of Tuscaloosa will receive significant improvements. At Joe Wheeler on Lake Wheeler near Rogersville, the state had already begun replacing old structures around the lodge. The lodge dates to 1974. In addition, the state completed a new beach pavilion to replace one destroyed by a tornado in 2019 and upgraded the campground.
“At Monte Sano, we’re upgrading cabins built in the 1930s and adding some new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant features,” says Chad Davis, the Northwest District superintendent in Rogersville. “At Lake Lurleen, we’re renovating the campground, which is older than the one at Joe Wheeler.”
During the past two years, the state made road repairs at Joe Wheeler, Lake Guntersville and DeSoto SPs using rubber from recycled automobile tires. When people buy new tires, they pay a “disposal fee.” Some of that money goes to repurpose old tires, such as making roads from rubberized asphalt.
“We’re very proud to partner with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management on using recycled tires to resurface our park roads,” Capps says. “Rubber pellets make roads safer because tires grip better on rubber than asphalt. From these three projects, we saved 20,000 tires from going into landfills last year. That’s a huge win for us and Alabama.”
Water, sewer, electricity improvements
In southern Alabama, the state began renovating rooms in the Lakepoint Resort State Park lodge on Lake Eufaula. Like other parks, Lakepoint will also upgrade its water, sewerage and power systems. Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort will expand and upgrade its campground, add cabins and a store.
“Nobody sees the upgrades to the water and sewerage systems, but without the water flowing and the sewage moving to where belongs, we’ll hear about it,” says Odell Banks, the Southeast District Supervisor in the town of Eufaula. “Upgrades to the water and power will definitely help our guests.”
Each year, about five to six million people visit Alabama state parks. About half of them come from another state. Gulf State Park on the coast between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach traditionally attracts the most visitors of any Alabama park, especially during the winter.
“At Gulf State Park, we closed the old golf course and will repurpose it into a new executive-style campground,” Capps says. “We’ll build more than 100 ADA-accessible RV campsites with the capacity to support huge recreational vehicles. We should complete the project in late 2025.”
In 2022, Hurricane Sally destroyed 20 lakeside cabins at the park. It also mangled the public fishing pier over the Gulf. The repaired 1,540-foot-long pier reopened in September.
“Our cabins on Lake Shelby had to be demolished and rebuilt,” says Chandra Wright, a park spokesperson. “Four cabins in wooded areas survived the storm but needed renovations.”
The renovations will allow more visitors to enjoy the beauty and biodiversity in the park, Wright says. “We have nine different ecosystems and both fresh and saltwater fishing.”
These renovations and many more will help park visitors as well as communities surrounding them with major economic impacts. Also, Alabama residents can now make online reservations 13 months in advance. Non-residents can only make reservations 12 months in advance.
For more information on Alabama state parks, call 1-800-ALAPARK (252-7275) or visit alapark.com.
The new event pavilion at Chewacla State Park in Auburn will have modern amenities that will allow for meetings and special events.
The day use beach pavilion at Joe Wheeler State Park has been renovated, after damage from a tornado in 2019. PHOTOS COURTESY ALABAMA STATE PARKS
‘Edimental’ plants provide a feast for the eyes and the table
Can a single landscape provide a feast for our eyes and for our tables? Yes, it can, if you go “edimental.”
Edimental is the term for garden plants that are both edible and ornamental, plants that look and taste great and are elemental to the increasingly popular gardening practice of “foodscaping.” Also known as edible landscaping, foodscaping mingles edible and ornamental plants together in the same space to create a landscape that is as beautiful as it is functional.
This may seem like a radical idea, especially here in the U.S. where the convention is to use ornamentals in the front yard and relegate food-producing plants to the back, never the twain shall meet. To some degree, that’s an understandable convention. After all, ornamental plants are primarily cultivated for their aesthetic qualities such as foliage, flowers, bark, berries, shapes and fragrances that make them eye candy for the landscape. Food plants, on the other hand, are cultivated to provide bounteous yields of nutritious, delicious produce, but not so much for their looks.
Granted, the two types of plants can have very different cultivation needs and life spans, which is another reason they are often planted apart from one another. But they can also be great partners in the landscape, especially if they have edimental qualities.
And there are lots to choose from. For example, many culinary and medicinal herbs,
flowers, vegetables, grains and fruit- and nut-bearing plants are also gorgeous ornamentals. Leafy greens, cabbages, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, artichokes, onions, strawberries and other edible crops look great in borders, ornamental beds and pots. And lots of traditional ornamental plants such as pansies, daylilies, hostas, ferns, roses, lilacs, camellias and hawthorns have edible parts (flowers, leaves, roots, berries and stems).
Combining these plants in a foodscape allows us to grow our own healthful food and possibly lower our grocery bill while also reducing our carbon footprints. That’s because foodscapes tend to be more drought and pest-tolerant and require less inputs of water, fertilizer and pesticides, thus saving money, time and the environment.
In addition, foodscaping is a form of permaculture, a holistic nature-based approach to gardening and farming that helps protect and support the environment and biodiversity. And it can be done anywhere, from apartment patios to large yards to public parks.
The really good news is that you can go “edimental” without ripping out the whole yard. Just add vegetables and herbs to existing areas of the ornamental landscape, such in borders, flower beds and containers. Or start small by replacing a section of lawn with a new in-ground or raised bed filled with edimentals and gradually replacing unwanted ornamental perennials with edimental species.
Whether you want to ease into foodscaping or turn your whole yard into a food forest, it’s a good idea to have a plan. Start by making a list of the plants you
want to grow, including which plants will produce foods you like to eat and which ones can provide the ornamental qualities, including things like color and size, you need and want.
Next, assess the site’s growing conditions (sunny or shady, dry or wet, etc.) and soil quality, which will help determine what plants will grow best there and give you a chance to amend and improve the soil before planting. Take a hard look at what’s already growing there, too. You may need to eliminate existing turfgrasses, invasive species or unwanted ornamentals, which could take some time and effort, or there may be plants there you want to keep. Also consider if the location is convenient to access and manage — close enough to a water supply or the kitchen, for example. To learn more about establishing a foodscape and using edimentals, check out Brie Arthur, a North Carolina-based foodscaping expert and author whose YouTube channel (@BrieThePlantLady) is full of information. Another go-to resource is Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too! by Rosalind Creasy, one of the founding leaders of the foodscaping movement.
NOVEMBER TIPS
Plant trees, shrubs, roses and spring bulbs.
Plant peas, kale, and leafy greens.
Harvest fall crops such as pumpkins, winter squash, kale, cabbage and beets.
Sow basil, parsley, dill and cilantro in pots for an indoor winter herb garden.
Mulch around newly planted shrubs and trees.
Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama.
Combining edible and ornamental plants in a landscape, such as marigolds and tomatoes, is a practice called “foodscaping,” which is becoming popular among home gardeners.
Will remarrying affect my Social Security benefits?
Are you getting remarried? If so, we can help you with Social Security-related questions regarding your remarriage.
You may be wondering how your new marriage affects your Social Security benefits now or in the future. Remarrying may affect your benefits if you receive (or expect to receive) any of the following:
1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments – Your SSI eligibility and payment amount may change (or stop) due to your new spouse’s income and resources.
2. Surviving spouse or divorced surviving spouse benefits –
• If you remarry before age 50 – You
Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
won’t be eligible for survivors or disability benefits as a surviving spouse unless your later marriage ends by divorce or annulment.
• If you remarry between the ages of 50 and 59 – You may be able to get benefits as a disabled surviving spouse (or disabled surviving divorced spouse) if you were disabled and unable to work when you remarried and your remarriage occurred after age 50. If you remarry before you reach age 60 and that marriage ends, you may be able to get benefits on your previous deceased spouse’s record.
• If you remarry after age 60 – You may be eligible for survivors benefits on your deceased spouse’s record or benefits on your new spouse’s record.
November crossword
3. Divorced spouse’s benefits – Generally, if you remarry, benefits paid to you on your former spouse’s record stop. You should report your new marriage to us to avoid being overpaid.
4. Children’s benefits (under age 18 or full-time student ages 18 or 19) – Under certain circumstances, we may be able to make payments to stepchildren of a worker who receives retirement or disability benefits.
To learn more about how your new marriage will affect your Social Security benefits now or in the future, read our blog post Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits at blog.ssa.gov/will-remarrying-affect-my-social-security-benefits
Please share this with family and friends – and post it on social media.
by Myles Mellor
Around Alabama
NOVEMBER
6-9
Wetumpka Frontier Days, Fort Toulouse - Fort Jackson Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Frontier Days illustrates how people from 18th and early 19th centuries worked and lived. This snapshot of frontier life in Alabama includes Creek Indians, French soldiers and their families, British traders who lived among the Creeks and American soldiers who fought in Andrew Jackson’s army during the Creek War. Adults $15; students $10. Forttoulousejackson.org
9 Foley Burgers, Brats and Beer Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Heritage Park. Variety of gourmet burgers and bratwursts, complemented by an extensive selection of beer, wine, mixed drinks and more. Live music, arts and crafts vendors and family-friendly activities. BeachLifeEvents.com
9 Auburn/Opelika Live on the Plains music festival at Sistrunk Farms, 15920 U.S. 80. Featuring performances by Tyler Childers, Mountain Grass Unit, Braxton Keith, Bayker Blakenship and Hudson Westbrook plus food and drink vendors. Tickets start at $99.99. LiveOnThePlains.com
9 Clanton Peach Orchard Christmas Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This indoor event will feature vendors selling items for the upcoming holiday season, including jewelry and all styles of decorative arts. Jefferson State Community College, 1950 Lay Dam Road. Sponsored by the Chilton County Arts Council. ChiltonCountyArtsCouncil.com
9 Wetumpka Downtown Wetumpka holiday open house, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get a head start on holiday shopping with area businesses. The Holiday Cookie Hop will offer sweet treats and holiday cheer for shoppers. A $50 ticket includes a photo with Santa, a custom holiday cookie tin and delicious cookies. Proceeds support the non-profit Main Street Wetumpka organization. Search for the event’s Facebook page.
9-10 Fort Payne DeSoto State Park’s 9th annual Creative Spirit Market, hosted by the park and the Little River Arts Council. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. This openair showcase features artist demonstrations, locally and regionally created fine and folk art, hand-crafted goods and acoustic music. Vendors including painters, potters, quilters, weavers, fabric spinners, culinary artists and craftsmen will have their products for purchase. LittleRiverArtsCouncil.org
16
Collinsville Collinsville Turkey Trot, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the downtown area. An antique car and tractor show, turkey shoot, cake walk, live music, arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, silent auction and historic “turkey toss” make this event fun for all ages. Hosted by the Collinsville Historic Association. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
16 Montgomery Taco and Margarita Food Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Garrett Coliseum. General admission tickets are $15; VIP tickets are $50. Kids 5 and under free with paid adult. In addition to food trucks, there will be streaming football games during the event. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
16
Deatsville 2nd annual Holiday Market, 11009 Holtville Road. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors, food trucks, fun activities for children and more. Get into the holiday spirit and support local businesses. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
22-23
Cullman Vinemont Band Booster Winter Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 22 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23, Cullman Church of Christ, 4345 Alabama Hwy 157. More than 80 local vendors will be on site; come and shop for local honey, handmade crafts, specialty or personalized items while you get a chair massage and have a loaded tea. Craft show benefits the Vinemont High School Marching Eagle Band. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
29
Decatur GoFAR Forest of Lights, 5 p.m. This unique experience includes lights through the forest and a chance to visit and feed farm animals along the way. Campfires and a Christmas movie, paintball range, ziplines, climbing wall and limo cart tours are available. Christmas goodies at the treat shop. Admission is $10 per person; children 3 and under free. Gofarusapark.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.
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The Salty Cod brings a taste of Britain to north Alabama
By Aaron Tanner
Europe is known for its innovative culinary dishes. But you don’t need to buy an expensive plane ticket to hop across the pond for great meal. Look no further than downtown Athens (Alabama, that is). Located in a historic building
once occupied by a funeral parlor and an optometrist’s office, The Salty Cod is a dining concept that includes a British-themed pub, a dessert and coffee cafe and a butcher shop. Walking out of Athens and into England begins with an
Owner Shane Brown, left, and chef Barry O’Connor flank executive chef and general manager Kristen Caroselli. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SALTY COD
Executive chef and general manager Kristen Caroselli cuts a tomahawk steak for The Salty Cod’s on-site butcher shop.
authentic British telephone booth outside the pub’s front door, where photo opportunities abound. Inside, two bars feature British, European and domestic ales, beers, ciders, spirits and wines as well as a cocktail menu; soccer (or American football) and rugby matches are on the telly.
The Salty Cod’s best-seller, fish and chips, is served in a similar cooking and serving method to how it is served in Britain, down to the old newspapers.
There is a replica of a confessional snug that female patrons once used for drinking, when it was not proper for a woman to be seen in a pub. It’s now used for private groups, while a second British telephone booth sits on the back patio.
The intimate dining area called the Paddington Room separates dining patrons from those excitedly cheering on sports teams. Televisions are not the only place in the pub where one can catch the action. At The Salty Cod’s open kitchen, customers can watch and interact with trained chefs who cook the meals while getting close to the food’s fresh ingredients.
“The customers can see what goes into preparing each dish,” executive chef and general manager Kristen Caroselli says.
The menu at the Salty Cod is a mix of British, Irish, and Mediterranean fare, which Caroselli says “brings some European culture to downtown Athens.” One popular item is the bangers and mash, Cumberland sausages ground in-house at the Poppy and Parliament in nearby Huntsville, served with mashed potatoes and topped with a gravy made with onion, thyme, and Guinness Beer.
Another popular dish is the spuds and beef, potatoes, and corned beef smashed into a giant patty, fried and topped with buffalo mozzarella and a tomato chorizo sauce. There are also seasonal menu items that use fresh and local ingredients depending on the time of year as well as steaks, chicken, and seafood from the butcher shop available as entrees.
The pub’s best seller is British fish and chips, which uses fresh Atlantic cod. Just like in London, the fish is battered, cut inhouse, cooked in an authentic fryer from Great Britain, and served on old newspapers with hot and crispy chips, which Americans call fries, all cooked in beef fat
The Salty Cod
309 W. Market Street, Athens, Ala. 35611 thesaltycodal.com 256-206-8222
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday–Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Kitchen closes one hour before posted time.
for a savory taste.
Each order of fish and chips comes with a side of tartar sauce and a choice of curry sauce or mushy peas, all made inhouse. Instead of beer battering the fish, the kitchen uses tempura batter that is light and fluffy and, as Caroselli adds, “has a nice crunch without oversaturating the delicate flavor of the cod.”
After dinner, enjoy a gelato, pastry, or cake imported from Italy either at the pub or next door at the dessert shop. Even the coffee is imported from Italy and pairs well with a slice of tiramisu or a limoncello cake stuffed with lemon curd. Each gelato is made with all-natural ingredients without dyes for a healthier option, while splurging on sweet treats from across the Atlantic.
The Salty Cod is the second concept restaurant opened by owners Shane Brown of England and Chef Barry O’Connor of Ireland. After opening their first location, The Poppy and Parliament in Huntsville, the two saw a need for a fine dining establishment in Athens and hoped to replicate their original success by opening another British Pub in the small but rapidly growing north Alabama town.
During a chance encounter, O’Connor met Caroselli at a high-end steakhouse in Tuscaloosa and was impressed with her experience working at the USDA and credentials from a top culinary school. Caroselli joined as the executive chef and general manager of the Poppy and Parliament in 2020. In September 2023, Brown, O’Connor and Caroselli opened the Salty Cod and Caroselli now oversees both pubs.
Once found only in larger cities such as Huntsville and Birmingham, downtown Athens now has a vibrant dining culture, thanks to The Salty Cod and the opening of several other restaurants. “Athens has not always been a food-centric place, but the food scene has really grown here,” Caroselli says. Locals and those traveling down Interstate 65 frequent the Salty Cod as well as those shopping or attending live events downtown who need a cold drink and shade in hot weather, a family meal, date night, girlfriend’s dinner or a to-go order.
Several special menu options are available for those hosting a private or large party. Dry-aged meats can be purchased individually or in family and party packs at the butcher shop, which also offers cooking classes for those eager to prepare personal meals at home. Future plans include expanding the number of party packages and cooking classes offered while increasing the rental space available for events.
Even with her New York roots, Caroselli enjoys the Southern small-town atmosphere that Athens offers. She loves interacting with customers who have supported her since day one and helped get the word out about the pub. “They are our biggest cheerleaders,” she says. The staff at The Salty Cod makes a concerted effort to ensure patrons have a great time and receive quality service no matter when they come.
“As a team, we are so focused on the customer and making sure the customer experience is great no matter who is serving them,” Caroselli says.
Owner Shane Brown added an authentic British telephone booth to enhance The Salty Cod’s European décor.
Photo by Brooke Echols
COOK OF THE MONTH
Sylvia B. Clark, Baldwin EMC
About six years ago, Sylvia Clark’s son-in-law introduced her to a jambalaya recipe that was a favorite at the firehouse where he works as a firefighter. “It’s a firehouse recipe from a big bunch of men and you know they like their food hot,” she says. “I had to tone it down.” So instead of the hot version of Ro-tel tomatoes, Sylvia uses the mild version. And rather than the hot Conecuh sausage, she uses the regular type. “My mother always said you have to adjust your recipes to your family’s needs,” she says, and that’s what she did with her prize-winning recipe for jambalaya that took Cook of the Month honors for November. The retired school counselor from Abbeville loves to cook for her family. Back when she was working, she didn’t have a lot of time to cook big meals, but now that she’s retired to Bay Minette, cooking gives her a lot of joy. For this recipe, she uses a rotisserie chicken, Conecuh sausage and for the seasoning, “a little bit of chili powder and a little bit of smoked paprika, plus salt and pepper. And if I can get some Gulf shrimp, I add a half-pound of that to it, and that makes it really good.” - Lenore Vickrey
Jambalaya
1 can beef broth
We love comfort food recipes this time of year. Truthfully though, there is so much going on, some nights it is hard to have the time to take a moment and sit down to a nice full supper. Our recipe for this Cowboy Rice Casserole is an easy and filling way to do just that! Several of the ingredients we prepare ahead of time and in true casserole fashion, we pop it together and have a nice sit-down meal. It’s a little spicy with a whole lot of filling goodness, perfect for a special occasion or even a Tuesday night. For more recipes like this, visit thebutteredhome.com.
Cowboy Rice Casserole
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 small poblano pepper, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 can chicken broth (do not add to initial mixture)
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can French onion soup
1 stick butter, melted
2 cups raw rice
1 onion, diced
1 heaping tablespoon garlic, minced
1 pack sausage, cut in bite-sized pieces
3 cooked, shredded chicken breasts
Seasoning to taste (your choice)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Dump everything (except chicken broth) in pan and mix well. Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 11/2 hours. Taste after this initial cooking and see if rice is still crunchy; cook more if it is until tender. May need to add chicken stock. Don’t let it dry out. If rice is a little dry when you take it out of the oven, just stir in some of the chicken broth.
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 pound ground beef
4 cups beef broth
1/2 pound beef chorizo
11/2 cups rice, uncooked
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sauté peppers and onions in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for one minute, being careful not to burn. Add ground beef and chorizo and brown well. Drain. In a large casserole dish, add peppers, onions and beef and chorizo mixture to dish. Add broth, beans, corn, rice , tomatoes and chili powder. Mix well. Cover with aluminum foil tightly and cook for 1.5 hours until rice is done. Remove foil and top with cheese. Return to oven to melt. Enjoy!
Photo by The Buttered Home
Brooke Burks
Sylvia and granddaughter Charlotte, age 4, preparing salad to go with the jambalaya.
Porcupine Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce
2 pounds lean ground beef
2/3 cup long grain white rice
1 small onion, diced small
2 eggs, large
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash original seasoning
2 (10 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups milk or cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the beef, rice, onions, eggs and seasonings. Form into meatballs about one and a half to two inches in diameter. Place the meatballs in a casserole dish. It works best to use a dish that will keep the meatballs closely packed in, so they will be covered more fully in the cream sauce. Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and milk until well combined. Pour this mixture over the meatballs, spooning a bit of the sauce over the meatballs to make sure they’re covered. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for one hour to an hour and a half, or until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees. Cook’s note: This recipe freezes well. Freeze the uncooked meatballs on a cookie sheet and then place them in a zip-lock freezer bag. You can keep them in the freezer for about 3 months, and bake them right from frozen, following the same directions, except extend the baking time for an extra 30 minutes.
Gwen Windham Baldwin EMC
Tucker’s Venison Fried Rice
1 pound venison backstrap
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Small bunch green onion
1 cup frozen mixed veggies
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 eggs
2 cups minute rice, cooked
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Using your vegetable oil, sear venison until medium to well done, depending on preference. Cut into strips and set
aside. Add diced onion to remaining oil, add more if needed. Sauté until half done and add frozen veggies and garlic, cook until done. Scrape to the side of the pan and scramble the eggs. Mix in sesame oil, cooked and cooled rice and venison. Fry until hot all the way through and serve.
Cook’s notes: Using cooled rice helps it fry better and it absorbs the soy sauce. I always cook my venison medium rare; this stops it from overcooking after it’s mixed with the rice and fried again. Makes excellent leftovers.
Janie Tucker Clarke-Washington EMC
Baked Rice
1 stick oleo or butter
1 cup long grain rice
1 cup onions, chopped
2 cans beef consommé
1 small can mushrooms (if desired)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in iron skillet and add rice. Stir rice often and cook until golden brown. Add other ingredients to a casserole dish. Add rice. Onions can be sliced on top. Put in oven and cook for 1 hour.
Annie Jo Crowley Covington EC
Stovetop Coconut Rice
Pudding with Caramel Sauce
Pudding:
1 can coconut milk (not coconut milk in the dair y section)
Whole milk, enough to make 4 cups when combined with the coconut milk
½ cup uncooked medium or short grain rice (do not substitute long grain rice)
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
½ cup golden raisins (optional)
2 egg yolks
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
In large saucepan, stir together milks, coconut and rice. Slowly bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover and simmer on low about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid
is absorbed. Remove from heat. In small mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, vanilla and brown sugar. While stirring yolks, pour in a small amount of hot pudding mixture to temper the egg, then slowly stir yolk mixture to hot pudding. This will slightly thicken the rice mixture. Mix in raisins, if using. Cover and let set about 10 minutes. May be served hot, warm, or cold. Serve with caramel sauce.
Caramel sauce:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup half and half
Pinch salt
1 tablespoon sorghum (optional)
1 tablespoon vanilla
In medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except vanilla. Bring to a low boil, stirring well. Cover and cook 1 minute. Remove lid and cook 4 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Stir well and let cool until desired temperature to serve.
Cook’s note: To refrigerate pudding, let cool at room temperature and press plastic wrap over surface of pudding to prevent a 'skin' from forming. Refrigerate caramel sauce and reheat in microwave as needed.
Kathy Skinner
Tallapoosa River EC
Stovetop Coconut Rice Pudding with Caramel Sauce
Best smart home tech on a budget
A:Q:How can smart home technology help me lower my power bill?
Smart technology can make it easier to save energy by simplifying or automating tasks. It can also optimize energy use to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
When upgrading to smart technology at home, consider the purchase cost as well as long-term savings. For example, you may pay a little more for a product with the latest technology, but it could result in significant savings each year and over the lifetime of the appliance.
Here are some smart devices that will take the work out of saving energy.
Smart thermostats save energy by automatically adjusting your heating or cooling system. For example, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
You can program a smart thermostat to change the temperature when you are asleep or away, or use a smartphone app to adjust your thermostat settings. Some models use artificial intelligence to maximize efficiency by learning your patterns and preferences. Prices range from $80 to $250, depending on features. Smart thermostats do not work with all heating and cooling systems, so check compatibility before you buy.
Your water heater can also be controlled for energy savings. Installing a timer on your electric water heater can save 5% to 12% of the energy it uses by turning it off at night and when you don’t need to use hot water, according to the DOE.
If you are already planning to replace your electric storage water heater with a heat pump water heater, consider a mod-
el equipped with smart technology features, including Wi-Fi capabilities for controlling it remotely or during peak demand times, viewing the amount of hot water available and tracking energy use. There are a variety of modes, including vacation, efficiency and high demand, which produces more hot water. Some models can notify you or shut off if a leak is detected. Depending on the manufacturer and size of the unit, a smart heat pump water heater may only cost a few hundred dollars more than a standard heat pump water heater.
Smart lighting gives you the power to control lights in your home remotely or set a lighting schedule that fits your lifestyle. This can be beneficial for energy savings and provide home security benefits. If you or other members of your household are notorious for leaving lights on, smart lighting can help. Numerous features are available, including dimmable bulbs and color-changing effects.
Smart light switches are another budget-friendly way to control lighting. They’re priced from about $10 to $50. Smart switches with dimmable options are available and can also control ceiling fans. Some have occupancy sensors that turn lights off when no movement is detected in a room.
A smart plug fits into any outlet to control whatever is plugged into it. Set them to automatically turn off and on or control them using a smartphone app. Prices range from $8 to $25.
A wide variety of smart shades, curtains and blinds are available, including styles with integrated controls. You can also add smart controls to your existing blinds or curtains. Both options allow you to adjust the tilt of blinds and open or close curtains. Set a schedule, control them remotely or use a voice command paired with a voice assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home. This allows you to reduce cooling needs in the summer and heating needs in the winter. Smart controls start at around $70. To save the most energy, prioritize windows with the most incoming light.
Upgrading to smart home technologies can make it easy to use less energy at home. Choose options that make the most sense for your lifestyle to optimize savings.
Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.
Smart heat pump water heaters are equipped with automation features that help you use less energy.
The Old Duck Hunter and his magic
“My wife don’t like me to hunt alone at my age and I could use a good pair of eyes in the blind anyway if you wanna hunt with me today,” the Old Duck Hunter said to me. I accepted the offer.
Almost as if by feel, he maneuvered the battered boat powered by an antiquated whining outboard through dark winding cypress-lined channels, remembering the twists and snags after more than 70 years running this river backwater. Ahead, something lifted from the water with whistling squeals.
“Wood ducks roost over yonder,” he acknowledged, nodding his head in the direction of the unseen sounds. “Probably what you heard. They always get up early in the mornin’.”
A good pair of eyes? He didn’t need eyes. He “feels” ducks.
Through the pallid moonlight, several dark shapes sputtered across the water to escape the approaching boat. They kicked up spray with their feet running for safety.
“Coots. They’s plenty around here,” the Old Duck Hunter commented. “Always flock up around this bend. Don’t nobody really fools with ’em much.”
As a twinge of scarlet colored the east, the Old Duck Hunter nimbly docked his boat under the floating blind. We climbed into a blockhouse surrounded by decoys. From across the swampy lake in this river backwater, a stout breeze nipped our faces, causing a shiver as we waited for the sun to show itself.
“ They call this the Pothole Blind,” he said. “It don’t look much like a pothole now. It’s huge compared to years ago when it weren’t nothin’ but a wide spot between trees in the swamp. Now, it’s a major creek channel. I kilt my first duck here as a boy with a borried old side-by-side shotgun more than 70 years ago. See ’em stumps? They was green and alive back then.”
The Old Duck Hunter built this blind, a shooting platform
floating on pontoons, nearly 50 years earlier and hunted in it every winter since then. Chicken wire walls raised to the height of a man’s eyes held pine and cypress branches covered in Spanish moss and other plant material for camouflage. A plywood roof partially covered the backside, providing some shelter from the elements. Four hunters could stand, giving each one ample room to shoot. Two benches offered comfort. A small heater kept the biting chill at bay.
“My daddy used to hunt this spot,” the Old Duck Hunter said. “He used to take me when I was just a child. I played in the bottom of the old blind he built whilse he shot ducks with my uncle. They rowed a wooden rowboat out chere.”
As the rising sun kissed the horizon, it backlit woody skeletons of gnarled old cypress trees shrouded in fog. Wood ducks whistled down the tree line. They weren’t interested in our decoys. A small flight of ducks, perhaps teal, rocketed down the swampy lake well out of range.
Beneath a rumpled, faded camouflaged hat, two slate gray eyes, now hidden behind thick bifocals, scanned the fog of today and penetrated the fog of time. What were they seeing? Were they reaching across the decades to long ago hunts and other misty mornings? Even mediocre hunts tend to morph into great adventures after seven decades.
“Here come two. Keep down,” he barked.
Where? I couldn’t see them. So much for my good pair of eyes!
Two ducks whizzed past the blind well out of range until the Old Duck Hunter pulled out a battered wooden mallard call and began playing a tune only a duck can comprehend. Two dots over the trees made a wide sweeping arc and headed directly for us.
“Keep still. They’s comin’ this a way,” he ordered.
As the ducks flared over the decoys, we shot. I missed three times. Next to me, the Old Duck Hunter’s ancient double barrel belched once, bringing down a drake mallard, the first of six ducks it claimed this morning. We would have ducks to eat tonight.
A good pair of eyes indeed. I didn’t even see the ducks until they flashed in front of the blind.
Sometimes, the old magic still beats a good pair of eyes.
Mo 30 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON 5:09 - 6:39 5:33 - 7:03 N
Tu 31 NA 12:42 - 2:42 6:45 - 8:15 7:09 - 8:39
The Moon Clock and resulting Moon Times were developed 40 years ago by Doug Hannon, one of America’s most trusted wildlife experts and a tireless inventor. The Moon Clock is produced by DataSport, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, a company specializing in wildlife activity time prediction. To order the 2023 Moon Clock, go to www.moontimes.com.
As TVA plans for the future, make your voice heard!
Icould share statistics about the rapid growth that’s happening in the Tennessee Valley region, but the reality is, you’ve likely already seen and experienced it yourself. Maybe you’ve gotten caught up in a little more traffic during your commute, drive to an event, or road trip to visit family and friends. You may have noticed more and more construction projects popping up. Or perhaps, you’ve read about companies announcing plans to move or expand in Alabama. As this growth happens, TVA is planning for the future and now is the time to make your voice heard!
TVA is working with the public and stakeholders on the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will guide the direction of future power generation in our region. We want your feedback! Public open houses and comments are going on through Nov. 26. You can read the draft plan and share comments on our website –tva.com/IRP – and join the public meeting in Huntsville on Nov. 12. There is also a virtual webinar on Nov. 22. In the meantime, check out the answers to these common questions.
What is the Integrated Resource Plan?
The Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP, is a comprehensive study that evaluates the region’s future power needs, the resource options available for meeting that demand and the potential economic, environmental and operating impacts of these options. It serves as a compass, providing strategic direction for how TVA can continue to provide affordable, reliable, resilient and increasingly cleaner power for decades to come.
Why is it important?
The planning direction established by the IRP will guide what power-generation resources and approximately how much of these resources will be needed to power homes and businesses across the Tennessee Valley region between now and 2050.
Where can I find more information about the IRP?
TVA encourages you to review materials on tva.com/IRP and take advantage of opportunities such as webinars, where updates are provided, and people have a chance to ask questions about the process.
Will my input have an impact?
TVA and the IRP Working Group are incorporating considerations from public input. The IRP Working Group is composed of individuals from local power companies, customers directly served by TVA, customer associations, academia and research, state governments, environmental non-government organizations, community stakeholders, and other special interest groups. The members represent broad perspectives of people who live and work in the Tennessee Valley. Your comments help ensure TVA is considering what is important to the public, and they have the potential to prompt additional analysis.
TVA looks forward to your feedback to help shape the region’s future energy system!
Kevin Chandler is the South Region Customer Relations Director for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
How To Place an Ad in Marketplace
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The ‘little woods,’ a place of magic
Ididn’t grow up in the country, but, thank the Lord, we had woods near my house. Looking back on my childhood has led me to believe that children should always have woods to play in. It’s a time of exploration and discovery. A time to experience and appreciate nature. A time for young imaginations to flourish and develop.
Fortunately, our neighborhood had a couple of options for us to choose from. About a quarter mile away were “the big woods,” hundreds of forested acres with a large creek and huge limestone rocks to crawl on. However, many times we opted for the “little woods,” a wooded lot in our subdivision. It more than served the purpose for a bunch of kids caught up in building forts, hideouts and blazing trails.
What a place. It was as if God had made it just for us. The lot was at least two acres square and thickly wooded with pines and hardwoods. The privet hedge, blackberry bushes, and honeysuckle underneath the trees had paths hacked through it that ran from the road to halfway up a big hill that eventually gave way to someone’s backyard. There were large stumps with small cubbyholes that made great hiding places, and a little wet weather creek that snaked through the property. We caught minnows and crawdads there. For a bunch of neighborhood kids, it was a mystical, magical place.
The little woods became our second home. We played army for hours in the trees, protecting America’s freedom with our Daisy BB guns. A couple of us covered a deep indention in the ground with logs, sticks, and leaves, making it look like a natural part of the forest floor. It was the greatest hiding place of all time. With proper timing during a game of chase, we could
crawl underneath it and virtually vanish from our pursuer. After Christmas, we would drag every discarded tree in the neighborhood to the woods where they would be fashioned into fortresses, exclusive clubhouses with no girls allowed.
One spring afternoon, several of us headed down to the empty lot, armed with our BB guns. And to our shock, we discovered an enemy that was even greater than those we fought in our imaginations.
In the middle of our lush green Eden was a bulldozer clearing a space for a house. For a few moments, everyone just stared silently as the reality hit us: Our paradise, the place we loved, was about to be claimed by the suburbs.
For several weeks we would walk by and watch the construction workers pour concrete and set rows of block. Soon after, walls and a roof went up. Finally, the dozer returned and ripped the underbrush and smaller trees from the ground. In just a half day, our refuge, our sacred refuge, became another house on another lot. Except to all the kids on Hickory Circle. We grieved the loss of that vacant lot as if we had lost a close friend, because we had. Along with a big part of our childhood.
To this day, I still like to walk in the woods. They’re a quiet, peaceful, healing place. Luckily, there are tree-covered walking trails and a primitive disc golf course near my house that I will hike with my dogs in tow. Every time we head out, I’m flooded with memories of playing in the woods as a boy. I can thank the old vacant lot for that.
And every now and again I’ll take a drive through my old neighborhood. I check out the house I grew up in, then slowly cruise around the circle to see other places I remember. Some have changed, others remain reassuringly the same.
However, there’s one place where I briefly stop. It’s a familiar spot on the last curve of the street, where a little house sits on an oversized lot. It’s my way of paying homage to a place that was the center of my young world so many years ago.
Illustration by Dennis Auth
*Application and membership with Alabama ONE Credit Union is required. Applicant must apply online or in person on Wednesday November 20, 2024 OR November 27, 2024 from 7 AM CST and ends at 12:00PM CST to receive special offers off their qualified loan rate OR Annual Percentage Yield (APY) increase on 6-month CD. Loan Sale – Special loan discount rate varies according to application time stamp and credit score. This offer is not valid on loans currently held at Alabama ONE Credit Union, unless an additional $5,000 is added to the loan amount and the collateral must have the value to add and qualify for the discounted rate. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. Business loan for auto/recreational loan discounts up to maximum loan amount of $249,999.99. Loan must be funded by December 13, 2024. Rate is subject to underwriting guidelines. Lowest rate with APR discount offered is 5.24% APR for 48 months. Certain limitations apply. Payment example: The monthly payment on a $10,000 auto or recreational vehicle loan at 5.24% APR for 48-months is $231.87. Can not be combined with rate reduction with automatic payment. Finance charges begin accruing as of the loan disbursement date. Certain limitations apply. See an Alabama ONE employee for further important details, including rates, term and other eligibility criteria. Deposit Sale - Must be funds from another institution, not funds already at Alabama ONE. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) will go according to time stamp on application. APY will vary according to time stamp and APY is shown with the increase. Dividends will start to accrue on the date the CD is funded. Funds will need to be deposited into the account by end of business day on 12/13/2024. Jumbo CD pricing is excluded.
