Alabama Living August 2023

Electric

of ALABAMA

Sharing the universe

Observatories provide stunning views of the galaxy

Electric COOPERATIVES of ALABAMA

ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $12 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing office.

POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to:

Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-4014.

ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

AREA President

Karl Rayborn

Editor

Lenore Vickrey

Managing Editor

Allison Law

Creative Director

Mark Stephenson

Art Director

Danny Weston

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Jacob Johnson

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Brooke Echols

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USPS 029-920 • ISSN 1047-0311

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Snapshots

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FUN ON SMITH LAKE

Clear, emerald-green water, easy access and abundant natural beauty have spawned a recent population boom at Lewis Smith Lake that spreads across 21,200 acres of Cullman, Walker and Winston counties.

There aren’t many things in nature as pretty as a sunset. Our readers share some of their favorites.

Miss Amber’s Cafe

Sweetness is on the menu and in the air at Miss Amber’s Cafe in Wedowee, where family is a key ingredient.

Quite the pear

Pears, which are available yearround, can be the basis for so many different dishes, from relish to cobbler, cake and yes, even meatloaf.

Cryptocurrency is a form of money that exists only in the virtual world of the Internet, and the annual amount of electricity required to support cryptocurrency already compares to the amount of electricity used in Finland.

The strange new world of cryptocurrency data mining

Why bitcoin uses more electricity than Finland

By Paul Wesslund

There’s a new industry you may have heard of that uses huge amounts of electricity—as much as all the refrigerators in the United States. And it may be coming to a town near you.

Cryptocurrency has been around less than 15 years, so if you’re not familiar with Bitcoin and other forms of digital currency, what you’re about to read will likely sound strange.

Cryptocurrency is a form of money that exists only in the virtual world of the Internet, and the annual amount of electricity required to support cryptocurrency already compares to the amount of electricity used in Finland. The Department of Energy compares its electricity use to 19 coal-fired power plants and foresees that increasing by at least 40% annually.

A new kind of mining industry

Cryptocurrency has created a new class of companies known as Bitcoin miners. It’s also created controversy. At least one state has restricted Bitcoin mining as a drain on local resources, while others are creating incentives to attract cryptocurrency jobs.

There are several cryptocurrencies, but Bitcoin is the first and largest. An anonymous founder launched it in 2009 as a way to create an online currency that wasn’t part of any government or financial institution. Today, there are some 200,000 Bitcoin transactions a day, and about 420 million users of cryptocurrency worldwide.

Of course, the people exchanging all that currency want a guarantee of security—and that’s what creates the heavy electricity use.

Bitcoin devised a method of ensuring the safety of its virtual money called “proofof-work.” It’s a decentralized way of verifying a transaction by creating a complicated mathematical puzzle for people on the Internet to solve. The reward is a valuable Bitcoin. The idea behind proof-of-work is that with so many experts throwing so much computing power into competing to be the first to solve the puzzle, there’s no room for fraud or security breaches.

Cryptocurrency data centers impact electric utilities

That idea might seem outlandish, but it’s worked well enough that the proof-ofwork market is valued at more than $10 billion and is expected to grow to more than $67 billion in the next three years.

With the popularity of cryptocurrency, the proof-of-work technique calls for tons of electrically-powered computing capacity. Bitcoin miners often try to locate their data centers near a water supply to use as a coolant to keep the computers from overheating. Miners are also flocking to areas where electricity rates are low, and regulation is likely to be less burdensome.

Critics say Bitcoin mining could strain water resources, raise local electric rates and harm the environment with massive energy use.

But Bitcoin defenders cite the economic development benefits to a local economy. They also say data miners try to locate data centers where green energy is available— near hydroelectric dams or solar and wind power sites.

Bitcoin mining could potentially benefit

Photo Source: David McBee

Cryptocurrency has created a new class of companies known as Bitcoin miners. The data centers that support cryptocurrency mining operate 24/7. Photo Source: MoneyBright

electric utilities by making more efficient use of electricity. Data centers use power 24/7, including at night when excess electricity is available. And since the data centers aren’t supplying a life-or-death service, Bitcoin miners might be willing to accept a lower electric rate in return for having their power interrupted during times of peak electricity use.

The controversy over data mining’s use of electricity could be resolved another way. Bitcoin’s biggest competitor, Ethereum, has changed its verification system from proof-of-work to something called “proof-of-stake.” It’s a similar technique that doesn’t require solving a puzzle, which reduces energy use by more than 90%.

Some analysts predict proof-of-stake will eventually replace proof-of-work in the industry, all but eliminating the debate over electricity use. Others see proof-of-work sticking around, citing its greater security advantages as well as the fact that a lot of well-established Bitcoin miners won’t want to abandon a system that’s working for them.

Whether cryptocurrency continues to use enormous electricity use or finds less energy-intensive techniques will determine the future of a very young and very strange data mining industry.

Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 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.

VALIDATION PROCESS OF CRYPOTCURRENCY

Person A wants to send money to Person B.

The transaction is represented online as a “block.”

The block is broadcast to every party in the network.

Those in the network approve the transaction is valid, preventing fraud.

The block is added to the chain, which provides an indelible and transparent record of transactions.

The money moves from Person A to Person B.

Source: “Blockchain and Transactive Energy” report, NRUCFC

EV charging safety tips

By Jennah Denney

Charging is a crucial concern among new electric vehicle (EV) owners, whether plug-in hybrid or full electric. Fear of inconvenience is one of the biggest barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles. You might be concerned that there aren’t enough public charging stations in the area––and even if there are public charging stations nearby, do you really want to rely on them any time you need to refuel?

Level 2 charging units are sold separately from the vehicle. These units must be installed by a licensed electrician because they plug into a 240V outlet and charge much more quickly, typically four to eight hours.

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when charging your EV at home:

• Select charging equipment that is certified to meet safety standards. Plug Level I EV chargers directly into an outlet designed to handle the amperage of the charging device. Never use a multi-plug adapter or extension cord. Charging cables are a tripping hazard, so be aware of the cable’s location. Purchase a Level 2 charging device that is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. This means the device has gone through rigorous testing and certification by a third-party company with extensive knowledge and pedigree in certifying EV technologies.

• Check with your electric co-op and a licensed electrician before modifying your electrical system or installing a charging station. An electrician will need to make sure your home’s wiring complies with local, state and national codes, and may need to obtain a permit before installation.

An EV charging station at home can solve this challenge of inconvenience. But are EV charging systems at home safe? Absolutely—as long as they’re installed correctly.

The first thing EV owners should consider is how they will charge their vehicles. A licensed electrician can evaluate your home’s EV charging situation, as well as:

• The vehicle’s charging capabilities and requirements, which vary depending on the make, model and type

• The potential location of the panel and vehicle, including the distance from the panel to the garage, the degree of difficulty and whether the garage is attached or detached

• The capacity and overall condition of your home electrical system to identify any concerns or additional work.

There are two common types of home charging options. Level 1 charging is a straightforward plug-in of the EV into any standard 120V electrical outlet. This requires no electrical modification, and it normally takes around 14 to 20 hours to fully charge the EV.

Some EV manufacturers and sellers provide inaccurate information on charging, and some will suggest that a standard 120volt outlet is all you need. Unfortunately, this degree of charging may not always match the driver’s daily travel needs.

• Place all charging components out of reach of children when not in use.

• Maintain the components of your charging station according to the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines.

• Cover the EV charging station outlet to prevent water exposure. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure it is safe to charge your EV in wet conditions.

• Most charging stations are equipped with safety devices such as GFCIs, which will identify electrical shorts and stop power to the charger to minimize risks. There is a low risk of electric shock, but safeguards are automatically built into the equipment.

EV chargers are thought to be extremely safe, but we recommend following these fundamental guidelines to reduce potential hazards.

Rember to contact your electric co-op before installation. They can answer any questions you have and provide additional information on EV programs and rates.

Jennah Denney writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 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.

Many potential buyers see charging availability as a barrier to purchasing an EV.

Level 2 charging units are sold separately from the vehicle. These units must be installed by a licensed electrician because they plug into a 240V outlet and can charge much more quickly.

4 KEY FACTORS

That Impact Energy Bills

You pay for the electricity you consume each month, but there are additional factors that impact your energy bills.

1. Fuel Costs

Before electricity can be delivered to your home, it must first be generated at a power plant or from a renewable source. The cost of fuels used to generate electricity fluctuates, which is why you see a power or fuel charge on your monthly bill. This monthly charge covers cost fluctuations without having to continually restructure electricity rates.

2. Service Costs

Your bill includes a monthly service charge, which recovers part of the co-op’s ongoing investments in poles, wire, meters, system maintenance and additional costs necessary to provide electric service.

3. Weather

When temperatures soar or dip, your cooling or heating equipment must run longer and at maximum capacity, which can greatly increase your energy use. Extreme temperatures can also a ect electricity market prices. When the need for electricity increases due to extreme heat or cold, the price of power typically rises.

4. Energy Consumption

YOUHAVE CONTROL

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Did you know ceiling fans can make a room feel 4 degrees cooler? To save energy through ceiling fan use, remember to raise your thermostat a few degrees while fans are turned on. Ceiling fans can help improve comfort year-round. In the summer, operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction. Reverse the direction to clockwise during winter months and set fans on a low speed so warm air can circulate from the ceiling to the lower levels of the room.

Remember, ceiling fans cool people, not spaces. Be sure to turn them off when you leave the room.

Source: Dept. of Energy

This is the amount of electricity you use each month to power your home’s cooling/heating system, appliances, lighting, electronics and more. The amount of electricity you consume is measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. You have control over how much energy you use, which can ultimately help manage your monthly costs.

SPOT THE BIGGEST ENERGY USER

SPOT THE BIGGEST ENERGY USER

SPOT THE BIGGEST ENERGY USER

We use electricity every day, but we rarely think about the appliances and electronics that consume the most energy. Can you spot the biggest energy users?

We use electricity every day, but we rarely think about the appliances and electronics that consume the most energy. Can you spot the biggest energy users?

Review each grouping below, then circle the one that you think consumes the most energy.

We use electricity every day, but we rarely think about the appliances and electronics that consume the most energy. Can you spot the biggest energy users? Review each grouping below, then circle the one that you think consumes the most energy. Check your work in the answer key.

Review each grouping below, then circle the one that you think consumes the most energy. Check your work in the answer key.

Check your work in the answer key.

1. A) Heating and Cooling Unit

B) Clothes Washer

C) Refrigerator 2. A) Refrigerator

B) Water Heater

C) Laptop Computer 3. A) Desktop Computer B) Electric Oven C) TV 4. A) LED Lights B) TV C) Clothes Dryer

Save Energy!

Save Energy!

Save Energy!

Answer Key: 1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C

• Wash clothing in cold water and air-dry when possible.

• Wash clothing in cold water and air-dry when possible.

• Wash clothing in cold water and air-dry when possible.

• Only run full loads in the dishwasher.

• Only run full loads in the dishwasher.

• Only run full loads in the dishwasher.

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Take short showers instead of baths.

• Take short showers instead of baths.

• Unplug electronic devices when not in use.

• Take short showers instead of baths.

• Unplug electronic devices when not in use.

• Unplug electronic devices when not in use.

SUBMITTED by Martha Brown, Fort Payne.

My husband Jordan and son Jace in the garden at the sunset. SUBMITTED by Destin Green, Ariton.

Photo taken from our porch on Smith Lake SUBMITTED by Amanda Seamon, Arab.

Sunset at Guntersville Lake. SUBMITTED by Sherrie McCullough, Grant.

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month. Make sure your photo is clear, in focus and not in shadow.

Alabama Living contributors win national awards

Two contributors to Alabama Living were recognized for their outstanding work during the Cooperative Communicators Association’s (CCA) annual awards ceremony in June.

Dennis Auth won a first place award in illustrations for his artwork, “Alabama A to Z,” for the cover of the January 2023 issue. Auth is best known to readers for his illustrations for “Hardy Jackson’s Alabama.”

Writer Emmett Burnett took two awards, a second place in technical writing for “James Webb telescope: the Alabama connection” which appeared in the April 2022 magazine; and a third place for his personality feature, “Eyes on the sky,” on weatherman James Spann in September 2022.

CCA, an organization of 300 professionals who communicate for cooperatives, is the only communications organization dedicated to serving those associated with member-owned businesses.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program continues to grow

Learning outdoors skills – such as rock climbing, camp cooking, shooting sports (including gun safety), fishing, hunting, canoeing, archery and many more – can seem intimidating, especially for women who didn’t grow up exposed to such activities.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, or BOW, is a three-day workshop designed to acquaint women 18 and older with the outdoors in a fun, non-threatening environment.

This year’s event will be Oct. 6-8, but registration opens on Aug. 1 for first-time participants and Aug. 7 for returning participants. Slots always fill fairly quickly.

For more information, including cost and registration, visit outdooralabama.com and click on “activities,” then scroll down to Becoming an Outdoors-Woman or call 800-245-2740.

Support Alabama eateries during Restaurant Week

Alabama Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-27, is a way for locals and visitors to show their appreciation for the state’s restaurants and their staffs. This culinary event unites Alabama’s diverse range of cuisine during the two-week celebration.

The week is marketed by the Alabama Tourism Department, which also produces the popular “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama” listings. The department encourages patrons to dine out and support their local restaurants and offers some other ideas to show their support: buying gift cards, purchasing merchandise, asking small, family-owned places how they can help, and leaving good reviews online and on social media.

Learn more at alabama.travel.

An instructor shows how to clean a fish during a class at the 2022 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman event.

Fred Owens of Flomaton and his grandson Hunter Wood took the magazine along on their trip to Kansas, including a visit to the Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade. Fred is a member of Southern Pine EC.

Dianne Saloom and Harriet Hyde of Evergreen showed off their copy of Alabama Living while riding the Ring of Kerry near Moll’s Gap, Ireland. They are members of Southern Pine Electric Co-op.

Wanda Waldrip and her son, Kory Boling, from Montgomery traveled to South Dakota and visited the Crazy Horse Memorial last fall. That landmark, along with Mount Rushmore, were on her bucket list, but no longer!  She is a member of Dixie EC.

Guy Vanderman of Deatsville attended the American Tri-Five Association Nationals at Beech Bend Park and Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky, last summer, the site of 2,500 Chevys from 1955, 1956 and 1957.  He’s a member of Central Alabama EC.

Brenda Saltz and Sharon and John Jones, all from Fairhope and members of Baldwin EMC,  enjoyed a trip to Alaska with their magazine.

Tony Sellers of Alberta, a member of Pioneer Electric Cooperative, sent us this photo of himself at the airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he works as the quality manager. He flies back and forth on the weekends and takes his magazine along to read.

Debra Haley Spiller of Haleyville, a member of Tombigbee EC, traveled all the way to Stonehenge, the famed prehistoric monument on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, with her magazine.

Find the hidden dingbat!

From the letters and emails we’ve received, it looks like our younger readers may have had the sharpest eyes when it came to searching for last month’s dingbat. Our sneaky page designer placed the baseball on the fingernail of Maddie Cutts on Page 22. So it was no surprise that some of correct guesses came from young ladies like Amelia Moon, age 11, of Wetumpka, who wrote us: “On her left hand, middle finger, if you look closely the baseball is right in front of your eyes.” You’re right, Amelia! Chad Stewart of Cullman EC wrote us that his daughter, Liana, who loves to paint her nails, found the hidden baseball. “The rest of the family never found it,” he wrote. Zoanna Elmer tells us that she got her whole family involved in the search, which went on for three days until they found it in the online version of the magazine. “My mom’s eyes hurt from looking so hard for that baseball!” she writes. Brenda Smothers of Marshall-DeKalb EC was especially excited to find the baseball with her grandchildren (Elijah, 7, Emery, 5, and Ellisyn, 2) since two of them play ball. “We were excited to see this month was a baseball, how convenient! We love this fun activity each month!”

Thanks also to Marjorie Wynn of Millry, a member of Clarke-Washington EMC for 50 years, who wrote us some poetry:

The baseball dingbat is right on the end of the bat

How about that!

What a hit it could be,

It might just be a home run for me.

Sorry you didn’t win this time, Mrs. Wynn, but congratulations to our randomly drawn winner Keith Toft of Midland City, who wins a gift card from Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union, a division of Alabama One. We love to hear from our readers, so let us know how your search goes this month. We’ve hidden a vinyl record, in honor of National Vinyl Record Day Aug. 12. Put an LP on the turntable (young folks, ask your parents or grandparents what that is) and start hunting!

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.com

Sponsored by

Letters to the editor

Crossword clue check

Montgomery, AL 36124

I always enjoy doing your crossword puzzle each month as well as reading the interesting articles. But one question on the July issue’s puzzle was: “Battleship which sailed into Tokyo for the formal surrender ceremonies at the end of WWll” (13 down).

I immediately tried to fit in “Missouri” but it was one space short. Of course the surrender was signed on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay in 1945, but after reading some of the USS Alabama war history, she was apparently in Tokyo Bay at the time of the surrender? Ok, Alabama for 13 down is technically correct I suppose, but it sent me to the encyclopedia. Yes, I still have a set!

John Shaw, Magnolia Springs

Ed. note: Yes, indeed, the USS Alabama led the fleet of ships into Toyko Harbor for the formal surrender ceremonies, a proud moment for all Alabamians.

Liked Hardy Jackson's ice cream column

What a great story for the Fourth, Hardy. God sure blessed you to write. I believe your best penmanship so far! You took me straight back to the hot summer days in Foley, turning that handle. Thank you.

Tom Byrne, Evergreen P.S. Perfect for an electric co-op magazine, too.

I loved this month’s article. When I was a child my daddy would make me sit on the ice cream crank!  He’d pack it down and put old newspapers on top; then I’d have to sit on it to keep it from popping up out of the ice and water.  (Since you didn’t mention that I figured he was trying to avoid going back to the ice house.)

Keep up the reminiscences. I always enjoy your stories.

Brenda Kerwin, Deatsville

This month’s column brought back a lot of memories from my childhood and early teens. I’m old enough that we had to go to the ice house in Clanton and get a block of ice, then go home, and chip it into chunks for the hand-cranked ice cream machine. Fresh Chilton County peaches in vanilla ice cream. So many memories. Thanks again.

Jimmy Wilson, Falkville

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 September issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124. Do you like finding interesting or unusual

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

July’s answer: This funny looking fellow is an advertising sign for Creekstand Catfish Farm in the Salem community, off U.S. Highway 80 in Lee County. (Photo by Jim Plott) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Jennifer Johnson Dudley of Tallapoosa River EC.

Dr. Jeremy Balin, University of Alabama associate professor of physics and astronomy, readies UA’s observatory telescope in preparation for night viewing.

PHOTO BY EMMETT BURNETT

To infinity and beyond

Observatories share the universe with the rest of us

By Emmett Burnett

All eyes are on the crescent moon during this early summer Tuscaloosa night, weather permitting. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit, but not to worry.

The next evening proves just fine for stargazing from the roof of the University of Alabama’s Gallalee Hall. After all, most celestial objects have existed for billions of years, so what’s one more night?

Tuscaloosa’s observatory is one of several throughout Alabama, with mammoth telescopes focused on galactic phenomena. Each reach for the stars and you can, too. Here are 5 such observatories from across the state, sharing the universe with the rest of us, to infinity and beyond.

The University of Alabama, Gallalee Hall Observatory

“Some find it overwhelming,” says Dr. Jeremy Bailin, associate professor of physics and astronomy, at the University of Alabama. Recalling visitor reactions after seeing space through professional optics, he adds, “We have seen people become emotional and tear up.”

Sam Boos, a UA graduate student in physics and astronomy, who works with Bailin, adds, “Just seeing the moon up close renders so many details, mountain ranges, craters, and terrain. It’s just amazing.”

The university’s Astronomy Group holds monthly “public nights” with free admission and no experience necessary. After a brief discussion about what awaits, visitors ascend to the rooftop and enter the copper domed observatory atop Gallalee Hall. A telescope, about the size of a Civil War cannon, awaits.

“To me, the experience of seeing space up close is humbling, realizing how small we are in the vastness of space,” says Bailin. “I may be a tiny bit of the universe, but I am that tiny part that

gets to look at the other parts of it. Yes, I am humbled, but seeing it – nebulas, planets, the moon and more - in real time gives me a stronger connection to our universe.”

James Wylie Shepherd Observatory, The University of Montevallo

You literally cannot believe what you are seeing – not just through the telescope but the building that houses it. The facility features a state of the art 20-inch telescope, mounted on a hydraulic pier in a robotic 20.5-foot diameter observatory dome.

“But I don’t see anything,” a visitor says, squinting through the scope’s eyepiece. “Give it a few seconds for your eyes to adjust,” Jecca Shumate, Environmental Education Program director, says. A few seconds later, often followed by gasps, the magic happens.

“I love watching people’s reactions when first seeing a planet,” Shumate continues. “Viewed with the naked eye, people see Jupiter, Saturn, and the others as tiny points in a black sky. But then they see it through our telescope.” The ‘Oh, wow factor’ kicks in.

Visitors observe Jupiter’s distinct features with its red spot, a continuously churning hurricane larger than Earth. They count the rings of Saturn, each band made of debris from ice, rocks, asteroids, in place since recorded time. “Some can’t believe what they are looking at,” Shumate notes. “They express shock and disbelief.”

Montevallo’s site, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, welcomes the public through its educational programs. Observatory visits include day programs for sun gazing.

Photo of the moon, as taken at the University of Alabama’s Gallalee Hall Observatory.

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Do not try this at home. Montevallo has a portable telescope specifically designed to view the sun. You do not.

Incidentally, for those interested, a 20-inch telescope, similar to Montevallo’s, can be yours for about $40,000. Computerized mounting platform, and specially designed astronomy building with robotic controlled roof, sold separately.

The UNA Planetarium and Observatory

In 1964, at what was then Florence State College, two-stage construction began for an observatory and planetarium. The goal was to serve the college and the public, with access to both facilities. Fifty-nine years later, the University of North Alabama’s Planetarium and Observatory still meets those needs with a sense of wonder.

“Everybody, of course, wants to see the planets and the moon,” says UNA’s Planetarium and Observatory Director Mel Blake. “But there are also star clusters. They look really nice.”

“The ring nebula is impressive,” he adds. “It looks like a smoke ring. Actually it’s an old star, about 10 billion years old, that ejected gas into space as it died. The same thing will happen to our sun, in about 4 ½ to 5 billion years.” At that point, life on earth will cease to exist.

But on a happier note, the UNA Planetarium and Observatory offers weekly public nights, incorporating discussions of what is currently up in the night sky with observing what was just discussed.

In addition to universities, clubs and astronomy-based groups share public viewings, such as these two:

The Von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS)

Like Bailin, Michael Buford, president of VBAS near Huntsville, offers similar views about searching the cosmos. “This may sound silly, but I ground myself by looking at space,” he says, from VBAS’ earth base in Monte Sano State Park. “From the first time I looked through a telescope and saw that planets are more than dots in the sky, I was hooked. There is nothing like it.”

VBAS shares its facilities through scheduled viewings. The moon is a popular favorite, but other contenders include Jupiter, Saturn, star clusters, and more. First time viewers are often amazed and one young visitor was skeptical.

“Viewed up close, Saturn’s rings are clearly visible,” says Buford. “That often surprises people. We once had an 8-year-old boy look through our telescope. He jumped back and didn’t believe what he saw.” The youngster shouted, “That’s a sticker! You put a sticker with a picture of Saturn on your lenses!”

VBAS public events include planetarium lectures followed by telescope viewing.

In addition, the space place is a legacy of Alabama’s space program. One of the group’s charter members was legendary Dr. Wernher von Braun, missile technology expert who in the 1950s put the Rocket in Rocket City, also known as Huntsville.

The Auburn Astronomical Society

There is no party like a star party, and the Auburn Astronomical Society rocks it like a meteor.

The Auburn group gathers in scheduled, often remote locations, for unencumbered stargazing. It recently received permission to observe nighttime skies from Heaven Hill on Russell Lands at Lake Martin.

“A constant problem with viewing space is light pollution,” notes the Auburn group’s president, Allen Screws. The more lights around, from cityscapes, residential homes, and business areas, the less visibility one has for stargazing. “But Heaven Hill does not have those issues,” Screws notes, “It makes for great viewing.”

The Auburn astronomy hobbyists happily share the experience with others. Though core dues-paying members are about 20, star parties and other events have gathered 100 or more people.

From major universities to societies and clubs, statewide space enthusiasts scan the skies. We are invited to join them for a glimpse into infinity, billions of years in the making, and ready to behold, under Alabama skies.

For more information, contact:

• The University of Alabama Public Nights - astronomy. ua.edu/public-events/

• The James Wylie Shepard Observatory, University of Montevallo - montevallo.edu/campus-life/around-campus/observatory/

• The UNA Planetarium and Observatory - una.edu/planetarium/index.html

• The Von Braun Astronomical Society - vbas.org

• The Auburn Astronomical Society - auburnastro.org

• ht tps://astronomy. ua.edu/public-events/ Tuscaloosa

The Horsehead Nebula, part of the constellation Orion and a portion of which resembles a horse’s head.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VON BRAUN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, MICHAEL BUFORD

The University of North Alabama Planetarium and Observatory.

Small-town weekly newspapers a steady force in a digital world

By Emmett Burnett

February 26, 2023 was a turning point in Alabama journalism. Three of the states’ largest newspapers ceased to produce a printed version. Citing a plunging readership base, The Mobile Press-Register, Birmingham News, and Huntsville Times are no longer in ink.

But while the mighty have fallen, Alabama’s weekly newspapers still gather stories, roll the presses, and carry on, page by page on real, non-electronic paper.

“Now it is important to remember those three big newspapers did not go out of business,” says Alabama Press Association Executive Director Felicia Mason. “They just moved over to the internet. We still have strong daily newspapers such as the Montgomery Advertiser, the Dothan Eagle, Tuscaloosa News, and more.”

But, she adds, “Alabama has 109 print newspapers. Of that number, 82 are weekly. Their strength is local news content.” Mason also noted in a recent editorial that according to research firm Coda Ventures, 81 percent of Alabama’s adults rely on newspapers for local news and advertising.

The Elba Clipper, Coffee County’s go-to news source since 1897, is one such example. Owner-publisher Ferrin Cox describes the resiliency of his 126-year-old publication in a phrase shared by many in the weekly news business: “We print what they don’t.”

He speaks from experience. At age 85, Cox has owned The Clipper for 52 years.

“We cover the local beauty pageants, high school football games, civic clubs, churches, and news of Elba, and Coffee County,” he says. “We are there, at every Elba City Council Meeting.”

You won’t see the big news outlets at small town / city hall meetings unless the building is on fire.

Cox recalls the early days, when cut and paste did not involve a computer. One literally cut news type with a scalpel and “pasted it” on a copy board, until it was “camera ready.”

“Of course there were no digital cameras back then,” he recalls. “We had a darkroom for developing film. The darkroom was basically a little chemical plant that left you smelling like one.”

New-hire journalists learn the weekly newspaper business on the fly. There are no specialists. Everybody - which can be over a dozen or less than 6specializes in everything.

“Our staff is crosstrained,” notes The Clay Times-Journal Editor-Publisher David Proctor. “Each person wears many hats. That’s how we survive.”

The roots of The Clay Times-Journal, based in Linville, date back to the 1800s. Charles Lester Proctor owned the paper until his death in 1992. His son David, who worked at his dad’s business for years, became editor -publisher.

“The key to success in this business is know your market,” he

explains. “Clay County is largely rural and farming communities. We cater to it.” But there is more.

David Proctor strongly advocates “boots on the ground” type journalism. “At the Times-Journal, we believe if you are interested in your county, you are interested in what is going on in it. We have a warm body at every meeting - city council, school board, county commission, water and sewer board - everything.”

He acknowledges, “With a small staff it is not always easy to be at every municipal / city meeting, but we must be. They are spending our money. We need to be there and report it.”

Proctor does not speculate in detail why larger papers or online sites do not cover small towns, but suspects it is because of staffing. “I think perhaps they do not have enough people to cover small areas like ours,” he says, “But we do.”

Willie Gray, owner and publisher of The Call News in Citronelle with his wife, Rhonda, holds a framed Sept. 14, 1939 edition of the newspaper, which was founded in 1897.

“We are a different animal. We do the back stories. We delve into the council meetings, the who, what, when, where, and why – not 5 minutes on TV and then it’s gone.”

With last February’s print closure of “The Big Three,” John Few, editor of The Madison Record and Madison County Record, found himself no longer in the shadow of The Huntsville Times. Actually, he never was.

“We are a different animal,” Few says, explaining that comparing big daily papers and online sites to weekly paper counterparts is like equating apples to oranges. “We do the back stories. We delve into the council meetings, the who, what, when, where, and why – not 5 minutes on TV and then it’s gone,” he says.

He adamantly believes small newspapers give local people a voice, a place to be, and a sense of community: “When somebody walks in our office, holding a prize giant turnip, we run a picture of it.”

Few also notes there is no better training for young journalists than a weekly newspaper, the smaller the better. “You not only learn every aspect of the news business, you do it.”

Just down the road from Madison, about 300 miles south, is The Call News, based in Citronelle since 1897. Its sister paper, The Washington County News, is 5 years older. Both are owned and published by Willie and Rhonda Gray.

With the Mobile Press-Register no longer a print product, The Call News is Mobile County’s only broadsheet (traditional newspaper page size) news publication. “We never considered the Press-Register as competitors,” says Gray. “They play their game and we do our thing.”

Whatever ‘thing’ The Call News does, it does it well. Dozens of Alabama Press Association awards, ranging from Best News Story, Best Sports Coverage, Best Human Interest Column, and other editorial and advertising awards, adorn the walls.

The Call News believes a personal approach is the key to success in weekly newspapers. “In small papers covering small towns,

there’s a good chance you know the people in the story,” adds Rhonda Gray. “Our readers know us, too. We attend church together, our children are on the same Little League teams; in many cases, we are neighbors.”

She continues, “We do not do sensational journalism, but instead, print the facts from the source. Politicians and government officials are held accountable but we are not out to sink them.”

The Grays believe print journalism will always have a place. “Print is more legitimate,” says Gray. “Anybody can produce something online and change the story in minutes. But once your byline is written in ink on paper, it is there forever.” Knowing your byline is eternally stamped on paper motivates writers to strive for accuracy.

The co-publishers also note that a printed news story is often a keepsake. “Nobody has clippings from an Al.com screen shot,” says Gray. “But Call News’ clippings are on businesses’ walls, and in wedding albums, and scrapbooks, all over the place.”

Though weekly papers are holding steady, there are challenges. All interviewed agreed that the internet is now and will continue to change print journalism. Most weekly papers have online companion sites supplementing print versions.

“Our newspapers are doing a great job expanding platforms to reach a wider slice of their communities,” Felicia Mason adds. “We have a solid base of older people who like print and ink. But on the other side, young people are raised on iPads.” But she notes that younger readers live in a digital world and for many, that’s how they want news delivered.

“All of our newspapers are developing different news platforms, websites, social media, and electronic editions, to reach younger people,” she notes. “However, print will be around for a while. It is still viable in our communities throughout the state.”

The Clay Times-Journal’s David Proctor perhaps spoke for all: “Regardless of the platform, there will always be a need for journalism. Someone has to attend the meetings, conduct interviews, and collect data, in a fair and truthful way.

“Print or digital, we work to uphold the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. If you don’t have that, you have nothing.”

Rhonda and Willie Gray, owners and publishers of The Call News in Citronelle, in front of the newspaper’s offices where a decorative mural celebrates the city’s heritage. PHOTOS BY EMMETT BURNETT

David Proctor, editorpublisher of the Clay Times-Journal

Rural newspaper network focus: Local folks

By Emmett Burnett

From Huntsville to Orange Beach, Alabama’s newspapers run statewide with room for more. But starting a newspaper requires significant funding, expertise, and training, not often available in rural areas. You need help and you need money.

The PACERS Rural Community Newspaper Network supplies both.

For years, the non-profit organization has advocated for small communities and schools. More recently, they discovered the benefit of small newspapers in tiny towns.

“Rural areas do not have a record or written history, “ says PACERS Founder and Executive Director Jack Shelton. “Such areas are seldom covered by big media. Small communities are the perfect spot for a local newspaper, because the people need a voice.” Thus, PACERS set the pace.

“We got the idea when helping  schools produce student newspapers,” Shelton recalls. “That is how community newspapers got in our DNA. There is a need for connecting and communication in small areas. We wanted to establish self-sustaining, quality newspapers, produced by people who live in the communities they report on.”

PACERS researched Alabama for good location candidates. Four were selected: Camp Hill in Tallapoosa County; Beatrice and Packers Bend in Monroe County; and Pintlala in Montgomery County. “I visited all four areas and asked residents would they like to publish papers as part of a network,” Shelton says. “The response was similar in every place – ‘This is the best thing we can do for our communities.’”

Gary Burton, publisher of the PACERS network’s Pintlala Ledger, agrees. “This is so gratifying for us, knowing our paper was well received, not just here in Pintlala, but other places too.”

He continues, “Our goal is to help the community to get to know each other. Even though we are a small area, many here live two or three acres off the road. It is hard to visit. We just know each other superficially. I hope our paper takes that to another level.”

The Ledger does not delve into politics but focuses on local people, businesses and events.

Gary’s wife, Jerrie, is the paper’s designer. Like the others, she learned the business by doing it. “My previous experience was producing church bulletins,” she recalls. Today Jerrie is the layout person, and as husband Gary says, “the brains behind this business.”

She laughs, describing small town newsprint production, “You never know what will happen until it goes to the printer.”

The network of four papers was chosen to see if and how long it would take for each to go from startup to self-sustaining. “We wanted to know the time it takes until we are no longer needed,” says Shelton. “All four are good, professional newspapers that started out being run by journalism rookies.”

The four initially received funding from PACERS’s accounts, and other money was donated by individuals, including two who gave a total of $30,000. A grant from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama covers costs not met by the papers.

In addition to the Pintlala Ledger, the network includes The Camp Hill Chronicle, The Packers Bend Times and The Beatrice Legacy

Based on key learnings from the four-paper network, PACERS hopes to launch two or three new papers in 2024.

Jerrie and Gary Burton hold a copy of The Pintlala Ledger, one of four rural community newspapers supported by the PACERS Rural Community Newspaper Network.

Smith Lake

For many, a lakeside vacation home becomes a permanent residence

By John N. Felsher

What many people consider “the most beautiful lake in Alabama,” Lewis Smith Lake spreads its tentacles through mountain valleys like a giant octopus.

The hydroelectric power lake dates to 1961 with a dam on Sipsey Fork and spreads across 21,200 acres of Cullman, Walker and Winston counties. The extremely clear emerald-green water averages 65 feet deep, but plunges to nearly 300 feet deep. Multiple river-like fingers create about 600 shoreline miles. Those long fingers create ideal places for fishing, wakeboarding, kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding because high banks block the wind from almost any direction.

“The major draw to Smith Lake is water cleanliness,” says Jeff Tolbert, the president of Trident Marinas in Crane Hill. “It’s common to see 15 feet down. To experience the lake, people need to see it by water so they can appreciate what a great lake it is. Some bluffs are quite beautiful.”

From Cullman, about 10 miles east of Smith Lake, motorists can reach Huntsville to the north or Birmingham to the south in about an hour. People can reach Memphis in about 3.5 hours, Atlanta in

three hours and Nashville in 2.5 hours. Interstate 65 runs north and south through Cullman. Interstate 22 connects Memphis to Birmingham.

“Smith Lake is a remarkable tourism opportunity for Cullman and Alabama,” says Dale Greer, the Cullman Economic Development Agency director who moved to the area from Birmingham. “I remember seeing small cottages and mobile houses on the lake when I was a child. Now, people live in multi-million-dollar homes.”

Easy access, an excellent quality of life, plus abundant natural beauty helped spawn a recent population boom. Some have moved to the lake area from as far away as California. Many who bought weekend lake homes eventually moved to the area permanently.

“It’s amazing how many great people joined our community in recent years,” says Peggy Smith with Cullman County Tourism Bureau. “Many people have been coming for years to spend recreation time on the lake. Now, they are retiring here looking for a place with fewer people and more relaxation.”

Boaters launch at Smith Lake Park, about seven miles off I-65 in Cullman. Launches near the dam, at Lick Creek, and several other places provide access to the sprawling lake. Smith Lake Park offers lodging in cabins as well as primitive and recreational vehicle camping.

“We expanded the boat ramps at Smith Lake Park so we’re now attracting major fishing tournaments,” Greer reports. “Smith Lake is a great spotted bass fishery. It also holds a lot of striped bass, crappie, bream and catfish.”

PHOTO BY MELISSA GAINES

At one time, the lake held the world record for spotted bass, also called Alabama bass. That 8-pound, 15-ounce fish remains the state record. Some striped bass exceed 40 pounds.

“Smith Lake is best known for its excellent Alabama bass and striped bass fisheries,” says Chris McKee, the Alabama Division Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district fisheries supervisor. “Catches of smallmouth bass have been reported recently.”

People can participate in multiple boating events each year. During Wake the World Alabama, held June 9 this year, about 70 wakeboarders and others volunteered their boats, fuel and time to give abused or neglected children a day on the water that most would never otherwise experience.

Every August, approximately 250 to 300 boaters make a “poker run” as part of the Poor Man Poker Run, set for Aug. 5.  Boaters visit participating locations around the lake to pick up cards trying to get the winning hand. Afterward, participants hold a live auction that raises money for local first responders and provide them with vital equipment they need.

In October, many lakefront property owners decorate their docks for Spook the Lake. About 300 to 500 children Trick or Treat by boat. Afterwards, everyone gathers for a party at Trident Marina.

“Water recreational activity is huge at Smith Lake, whether it’s fishing, swimming, wakeboarding, skiing or just boating,” Tolbert says. “Every Saturday night, we bring in bands for live entertainment. We can deliver a pontoon boat to the lake house for people to use during their stay. At some events, we’ll have 750 to 1,000 people at the marina.”

Many restaurants, such as The Grille at Trident Marina or

For more info on locations and events:

Visitor info

visitcullman.org

lewissmithlake.com

northalabama.org

cullmancountyparks.com

Boating, water-based events/parks

Tridentmarinas.com

waketheworld.org/alabama

wildwatercullman.com

Brothers on the Lake, offer onthe-water dining.

People dock their boats, walk into the restaurant in their swimsuits and order lunch or refreshments. Trident Marina also rents boats and personal watercraft and offers dry storage and servicing for boats.

In downtown Cullman, visit Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. Owned by Keith and Amy Richards, the café offers a taste of Greek cuisine with a southern flair.

“Amy and I visited Greece and fell in love with the food and culture,” Keith recalls. “I wanted to bring the culture and hospitality that we received in Greece to Cullman.”

Also in town, WildWater water park features a 22,000-squarefoot wave pool and many thrill rides, among other attractions.

“People come from five states away to enjoy a day at the water park,” Peggy Smith says. “Every May, the Strawberry Festival is a huge event. Alabama recognized it as the state Strawberry Festival. We also have a strong German community in the area, so we have a wonderful Oktoberfest each fall.”

People might also visit the Clarkson Covered Bridge on the National Register of Historic Places. Modern motor enthusiasts can enjoy Stony Lonesome off Highway Vehicle Park in Bremen. It offers more than 1,400 acres with trails for all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, horseback riding and other adventures.

Hurricane Creek Park in Vinemont offers hiking and rock climbing by scenic canyons. At Whitlock’s General Store and Café, visitors can buy gas, fishing tackle and food on the way to the lake.

Each year, more than 50,000 people attend Rock the South, one of the largest concerts in Alabama. Not just entertainment, Rock the South raises money for multiple causes and projects in the Cullman area.

Rentals

smithlakerentals.com

Restaurants, events, other brotherscullman.com

cullmanstrawberryfest.com

cullmanoktoberfestival.com

stonylonesomeohv.us

whitlockstoreandcafe.com

rockthesouth.com

lakewide.org/category/events/poor-man-poker-run/

Riding an inflatable is a popular activity on the waters of Smith Lake.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CULLMAN COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU

At Wedowee café, it’s all about family

Story

by Jennifer Kornegay

You’ll find some real sweet stuff at Miss Amber’s Cafe in downtown Wedowee: rich peanut butter cake, strawberrylemon cupcakes, cinnamon-laced monkey bites and tart key lime pie. There’s even a saccharine note in the chicken salad.

But the sweetness isn’t confined to the food. It’s also floating in the air as Amber Conger, the restaurant’s namesake and owner, sprinkles “Hi, Suga!” and drizzles “Sure, Honey!” into her interactions with every diner through the door. Plus, as Amber explains, the little eatery’s got a pretty sweet origin story too.

“This spot was a coffee shop for 13 years, and then, in December 2016, it kinda landed in my lap,” Amber says. She spent a decade working at another local restaurant and then a few years running a barbecue joint out of the town’s Exxon station when the owner said he was going to close. “I got that news just a few days before I got a call from the lady who had the coffee shop. Her husband had died, and she was ready to pursue something different, so she asked if I wanted to take over the space. I believe the Lord did that,” Amber says.

She said yes and reopened the space as Miss Amber’s Café in January 2017. From day one, family has combined with Amber’s sweet, friendly ways to form the foundation for the café’s success. Her son, daughter and her best friend of 20 years (who’s basically family) run Miss Amber’s with her. It’s just the four of them comprising a team that Amber calls “a blessing.”

A couple of years after opening, Amber’s daughter Brittany

15 Main Street South

Wedowee, AL

256-357-4238

facebook.com/missamberscafewedoweeal

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Olvey, nicknamed Toot, pushed her mom to expand the café’s original menu. Today, the café serves a wide range of American and specifically Southern classics. There are beefy burgers, like the Big Green Machine layered with provolone, bacon and a fried green tomato. There’s a long list of sandwiches, including a hot fried bologna and cheese and a fried chicken sandwich. The hot dogs, like the Hot Diggity bacon-wrapped weenie with pimento cheese and jalapenos, are always hits. And a weekly special on Thursdays, the Trio Sampler plate, includes Miss Amber’s chicken salad, with its finely shredded meat, a hint of mayo, some sweet pickle relish and another sweet, but secret, ingredient, alongside tangy pasta salad and a giggly square of the fruity-yet-salty strawberry-pretzel salad.

Then, Toot took things farther, with the addition of Toot’s Sweets at Miss Amber’s, her line of fresh-made desserts and treats, including all the aforementioned sweets, plus her most popular delight, red velvet cake, that are always available at the café.

Miss Amber’s also offers meals to-go, a move made during the pandemic and restaurant shutdowns. “When COVID hit, we came up with the idea to do hot meals for pick up at dinnertime,” Amber says. “We would not have survived without that, but it just took off, so we kept at it.”

She examined sales figures, found the best-selling selections and turned them into freezer meals that anyone can grab to take home. “We’ve got breakfast casserole, meatloaf, buffalo chicken over fire-roasted potatoes and more,” Amber says. In all, there are about 20 different dishes that rotate throughout the week. Last year, Amber estimates she sold more than 2,500 meals in her tiny town.

In every bite, family again plays a key role, with multiple family recipes appearing in the freezer cases and on the menu, including Maw Maw’s dressing and a macaroni casserole Amber vividly remembers her mother making and taking to every family function.

A family function is a good description of lunchtime at Miss

and photos

The Miss Amber’s Cafe team (from left): Rae Orgeron, owner Amber Conger, her daughter Brittany Olvey and her son Levi Allums.

Miss Amber’s Café & Toot’s Sweets

Amber Conger holds a plate of the Trio Sampler as she welcomes guests to the dining area.

Amber’s, where regulars, including residents and weekend visitors to Lake Wedowee, are rewarded for their loyalty by being treated like aunts, cousins and brothers. “I know them by name, know what they want to drink,” Amber says. “I love seeing them and chatting and babying the kids that come in.”

And while diners choose from what’s offered, family gets what it wants, so when folks begged Amber to continue a breakfast bar that she’d tried out on a few Saturdays, she obliged. “They loved it,” she says. The bar is built around Maw Maw’s cathead biscuits, and the line begins forming well before 9 a.m. when Miss Amber’s opens for the morning meal.

The big biscuits are another of the café’s signature items, and many a morning, Amber turns up her kitchen radio and rolls out eight or nine dozen, each of which gets a little love pat before going in the oven. “Sometimes, you can still see indentions of my fingers on the top,” she says. “I get in a groove and really enjoy making them.”

Amber does not enjoy paperwork, so Toot steps in to handle the business side of the business. “I’m the drill sergeant in the back,” Toot says with a laugh.

The sweet spirit at Miss Amber’s is also evident in her cheery, colorful décor dominated by messages proclaiming peace and kindness and art created by locals that enliven the 130-year-old building. Three wooden planks emblazoned with college football teams hang high and point to Amber’s allegiance, but also, her desire to satisfy her customers.

“I’m originally from Georgia, and I’m a huge Georgia fan, but I put Auburn and Alabama on the wall, too, for my regulars,” she says. “At the end of the day, it’s all about them. That’s why I’m here. I just want to feed my community and work alongside my kids.”

The trio sampler is a big hit at Miss Amber’s featuring her chicken salad, the strawberrypretzel salad and tri-color pasta salad.

Fraudsters never go on vacation

Fraudsters will never take a break. While you are out enjoying fun and sun this summer, they are working hard to find new ways to scam you. Seniors and younger people are particularly vulnerable to scammers who claim to represent Social Security.

To protect you and your loved ones, you can:

Visit our Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams webpage at ssa.gov/scam for information on what tactics scammers use and how to report them.

Check out the Federal Trade Commission’s page at consumer. ftc.gov/scams for additional scam-related information.

Here are some tips to follow when you identify a potential scammer:

• Hang up right away or ignore the message.

• Never give personal information or money.

• Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report/

If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov or Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices.

We will never do the following:

• Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay us money immediately.

• Promise a benefit increase in exchange for money.

• Ask you to send us gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, internet currency, cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail.

There are no vacations for fraudsters, so you need to stay informed of the latest Social Security-related scams. For more information, please visit our blog at blog.ssa.gov. Please share these useful resources with your loved ones.

by Myles Mellor

AUGUST

3-6 Northeast Alabama the World’s Longest Yard Sale. More than 650 miles of yard sales and unique treasure finds await travelers along the Lookout Mountain Parkway from Gadsden to Chattanooga, Tenn. VisitLookoutMountain.com

18-20

Montgomery

Around Alabama

SEPTEMBER

4-5

Athens 31st annual Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days, Limestone County Sheriff’s Arena. This celebration of rural American farming heritage combines antique farm equipment and concessions with live music, family-friendly fun and games that take guests back to “the good ol’ days.” Flea market, handmade craft vendors, threshing exhibits, tractor slow races, a skillet throw contest for ladies and pedal pull for kids. Tractor ride and fish fry on Friday. Search the Piney Chapel Antique Engine Tractor Association’s page on Facebook or go to VisitAthensAL.com

2023 Buckmasters Expo, Montgomery Convention Center, 201 Tallapoosa St. 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Shop more than 300 vendor booths; watch professional bull riding events on Friday and Saturday nights. See the high-flying Dock Dogs, enjoy free riverboat rides, and watch the 4H and collegiate top bow archery competition. Several guest appearances over the weekend. Admission is one can of food per person per day or $1. Buckmasters.com/ resources/expo

26-27

30

Titus Bluegrass Festival, Titus Community Center at 5859 Titus Road. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Performances by McMeans Brothers + She’s My Sister, Fire Town and Allen Tolbert and Friends. Admission $10, children 12 and under free. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy music, concessions, arts and crafts.

30

18-19

Russellville Franklin County Watermelon Festival. 5:45 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Watermelon cutting and contests and fun for the whole family. Music acts on the main stage are Tremayne and Velcro Pygmies on Friday and REWIND, Austin Bohannon and Colt Ford on Saturday. Franklincountychamber.org

Tensaw annual Fort Mims re-enactment and living history event, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Re-enactors from across the Southeast will portray early settlers and Redstick Creek Indians in 1813 period correct attire. Vendors will have early 1800s items for sale and demonstrations, including knife making, flint napping and more. Sunday begins with a pioneer church and hymn singing at 10 a.m., followed by the Burnt Corn re-enactment at 11 a.m. Book a boat tour through Blakeley Historic Park to see historic sites. Search Fort Mims on Facebook or call 251-533-9024.

Decatur North Alabama Trails and Recreation’s second NATR festival at Point Mallard Park, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regional outdoor recreation outfitters and vendors as well as organizations that can offer education on enjoying the area’s resources. $5 adults, with children under 12 free. Biking, canoeing, climbing and hiking around the park will be offered by sponsors; food trucks will have concessions. Natrails.org/natrfest

30 Eva Frontier Days Tractor Show, organized by the North Alabama Antique Tractor Club, 4152 Eva Road. More than 100 tractors on display, 50/50 raffle, pedal car race, slow tractor race, parade and more. Vintage car show directly across the street. Search for the North Alabama Antique Tractor Club on Facebook.

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations. Alabama Living on FBAlabama Living on Twitter @Alabama_Living instagram.com/alabamaliving

Co-ops respond to June’s severe storms

Multiple rounds of severe storms hammered the southern portion of Alabama in mid-June, part of a larger system that produced tornadoes, wind damage and flooding across the southern part of the U.S. and lasted for more than a week.

This series of weather events caused damage across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Approximately 33,000 co-op members in Alabama were without power at the peak of the first wave of storms.

The damage to several Alabama co-ops was extensive, with six requesting mutual aid to help with power restoration. Ten cooperatives and one municipality from Alabama sent mutual aid crews, totaling 75 linemen: Marshall-DeKalb EC, Central Alabama EC, Joe Wheeler EMC, Troy Utilities, Tallapoosa River EC, Baldwin EMC, Tombigbee EC, Arab EC, North Alabama EC, Coosa Valley EC and Sand Mountain EC.

In addition, cooperatives in Georgia and Kentucky offered to send mutual aid. Alabama was able to return the favor by sending 25 linemen from five cooperatives to assist Kentucky after another system of storms moved through that state the last week of June.

A crew from Pioneer EC works to restore power after numerous storms moved through south Alabama in June.

Can Georgia win the trifecta?

College football fans are about to get what they have been dreaming about: a 12-team playoff. However, it doesn’t start until next fall, 2024.

Is it part of the “everybody gets a trophy” mentality or the fact that the SEC Invitational, better known as the four-team CFP playoff, leaves out some northern and western teams that get their feelings hurt? Starting next year, be careful what you ask for. On average, there will be at least three or four SEC teams in the playoffs. Also, next year Texas and Oklahoma will get a rude awakening when they join the SEC. They will quickly understand what weekly “football cannibalism” means.

We are just now seeing the overall effect that NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the Transfer Portal has had on college football. It has become the “Wild, Wild, West.” Recruits want to know about financial opportunities more than the graduation rate of the business school. Current players basically have no restrictions on moving from team to team by transferring or as a graduate transfer. Coaches still have to play by the numbers of 85 overall scholarships. It is impossible to plan for next year. What do you do if all your running backs up and leave for better opportunities? It becomes “let us match that offer,” just like in business. Don’t ask a coach if he would rather invest $3 million in better facilities or put that money in the NIL pool. We all know

Some marriages seem to be made in heaven. Others are bound to fail from the beginning. When Nick Saban took over at Alabama in 2007, he was given the keys to the program without interference, much like Paul Bryant when “Mama called” in 1958.

When Bryan Harsin was hired at Auburn before the 2021 season, the marriage appeared to be doomed from the start. His tenure lasted less than 2 years. Harsin never did mesh with the Auburn family and his recruiting efforts left much to be de-

ALABAMA: the Tide finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 record which is subpar for Nick Saban. Losses

on the last snap on the road against Tennessee and LSU are still stinging in Tuscaloosa. Is the “Dynasty” coming to a close? Is Saban, at 71 years of age, getting too old? Nick refuses to sit still after a 2-loss season. He has always leaned on his defensive coordinator for advice. He “gave” D.C. Pete Golding to Ole Miss and brought in his confidante, Kevin Steele, for the third time. Look for the defense to be more physical and aggressive.

Many Tide fans felt as though Heisman quarterback and overall first pick in the draft, Bryce Young, was handcuffed somewhat by offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. So, Saban “gave” him back to his NFL friend, Bill Belichick. Enter Tommy Rees, the young coordinator from Notre Dame. He has his work cut out for him since there is a quarterback battle for the first time in years.

AUBURN: It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, the Tigers were playing Florida State for the national championship. They are coming off of back-to-back 7-loss seasons. Auburn fans are some of the most loyal in the land. The best example is the recent news that EVERY season ticket has been sold for the 2023 campaign. New coach Hugh Freeze understands the cut-throat grind in the SEC. Freeze also knows the importance of recruiting. Auburn signed the 18th ranked class and the #8 ranked transfer class. That’s a good start.

Coach Freeze recently took Auburn transfer Malik Willis at Liberty and developed him into a top quarterback who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. His other claim to fame was that he beat Alabama in back-to-back seasons when he was head coach at Ole Miss. The problem at Auburn right now is that the cupboard is pretty bare.

SEC West Prediction: 1. Alabama 2. LSU 3. Ole Miss 4. Texas A&M 5. Arkansas 6. Auburn 7. Mississippi State. It comes down to a coin flip between the Tide and LSU. The edge goes to Bama since the November 4 showdown is in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers have the best returning quarterback. Alabama has Saban who rarely loses at home.

SEC East Prediction: 1. Georgia 2. South Carolina 3. Tennessee 4. Kentucky 5. Florida 6. Missouri 7. Vandy. Picking Georgia was easy. Choosing South Carolina as the runner-up was because Tennessee has to play at Bama in a crossover game. South Carolina has Spencer Rattler coming back at quarterback.

Can Georgia make it 3 in a row?

In 1966, Alabama had one of its best teams ever. The Tide won the Natty in 1964 and 1965. Back then, the champion was determined by a (political) poll. Notre Dame played for a tie and was voted the champion, in spite of the Tide being undefeated. In 2023, it is settled on the field and the Dogs are clicking on all cylinders. Because of their schedule and Kirby Smart’s recruiting skills, it’s going to be hard to knock them off the pedestal. The National Champions: GEORGIA beats Michigan, 34-17. That’s a trifecta.

Brad Bradford is a former football staff member at Alabama and Louisville. His wife, Susan Moseley Bradford, is a former Auburn cheerleader. His blogs can be found at hairinabiscuit.com. Brad is also an author and motivational speaker. Contact him at coachbradbradford@gmail.com

Cover crops: Sowing winter blankets for our gardens

It’s still mighty hot here in Alabama but that doesn’t mean you can’t start picking out a nice winter layer for your garden.

I know, it’s hard to think about adding layers when you’re still shedding as many as you can, but fall will be here in no time with winter fast on its heels, which is why it’s smart to start searching now for your garden’s best winter “garb.” And an exceptional choice is a lush green blanket of soil-building cover crops.

Cover crops are annual living mulches typically planted in the offseason when garden beds are fallow, though they can also be planted between rows or in fallow beds during the growing season. Either way, these “green manure” crops offer an array of benefits to garden soils.

As they grow, cover crops can help hold bare soil in place, reduce nutrient runoff, add nutrients to the soil, crowd or shade out weeds, conserve soil moisture, break up compacted soils and improve water filtration. They also make garden areas look more attractive and, depending on the cover crop used, can provide food and habitat for pollinators and other beneficial animals and soil organisms. After their demise, cover crops continue to benefit the soil by forming a natural winter/early spring mulch and, as they decompose and are incorporated into the soil, they help increase soil organic matter and return some of their own nutrients to the Earth.

All this happens with very little work on your part — once established, most cover crops require no additional fertilizer and little irrigation. You do, however, need to be discriminating in your choice of cover crop species and there are many to choose among (see a partial list in the sidebar). To make the choice easier, start with a soil test, which will help determine what additional nutrients are needed for next year’s crops, then find a single species or a mixture of two cover crop species that will meet those needs while boosting soil quality.

One caveat: Some cover crop species can be incompatible with future cropping

Cover crop options for the home garden

Cover crop species are usually divided into three categories, each of which provides different benefits or can be mixed and matched to combine benefits. Below are a few examples of species that work well in the Southeast.

• Grains and Grasses – annual grasses (rye and Sudan), winter rye, oats and wheat

• Legumes – clovers, vetch, cowpea, winter pea, lupin and soybeans

• Broadleaves and Brassicas –mustard, turnip, radish, kale, canola and buckwheat

plans! For example, planting a legume cover crop in an area where you plan to grow a legume vegetable crop can increase certain diseases and reduce beneficial soil bacteria that help fix nitrogen in the soil.

When it comes to choosing a cover crop species, keep in mind that each species has its own distinctive planting, maintenance and termination needs and cycle. For instance, cool-season species, which are used as winter cover crops, are typically planted in the fall or early winter while warm-season species, which are used as spring and summer cover crops, are usually planted in late winter and early spring. Some species die off naturally, others may need to be manually cut down at the end of the season.

In other words, it pays to research the options before settling on your cover crop choices. So, take some time this month — somewhere cool so you can think about winter more easily — and peruse the options before buying seed. When you’re ready to buy, seed is available through most mail order catalogues and through neighborhood garden and farm centers, the staff of which are likely to be well-versed in which crops work best in your area.

And now is also a great time to learn more about cover crops in general, including how to prepare garden beds for cover crop seeding, incorporate cover crop resi-

due into garden soil and rotate cover crop choices each year. Help is available through county or regional Alabama Cooperative Extension and Master Gardener experts, local seed and garden outlets and online. Here are a few websites that may be useful, too:

• Sare.org, then click on “building soils for better crops” and scroll to chapter 10

• Southerncovercrops.org, then click on either row crops, vegetable or grazing and click on Alabama

• Blog.southernexposure.com, then type “cover crops” in the search field

• BigBlogofGardening.com, then type “cover crops” in the search field

AUGUST TIPS

 Begin planting fall vegetables such as beets, broccoli, onions and carrots.

 Sow seed for fall leafy greens and lettuces.

 Start thinking about frost protection options for the fall garden, such as row and plant covers or additional mulches.

 Propagate many shrubs through layering.

 Harvest fruit and vegetable crops frequently.

 Prune most evergreen hedges one last time.

 Order fall-planted blubs and seeds.

Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.

A legume, such as clover, makes for a good cover crop in the Southeast.

Food styling and photos: Brooke Echols

Quinoa Stuffed Pears

Cook of the Month: Peggy Key,

North Alabama EC

One of our long-time contributors to the recipe pages, Peggy Key of Grant, Alabama, says she’s been making her winning recipe for Fresh Pear Cobbler for more than 20 years. The original recipe came from a newspaper, but it’s so old that by now it’s yellowed with age. Picking her own pears was easy years ago when her family had pear trees, but now she, like many of us, is able to get Bosc pears year-round in the grocery store. The cobbler makes its own crust as it spreads out while baking, and is especially tasty with ice cream on top. Peggy says the recipe can also be easily adapted for diabetics or anyone who needs to watch their sugar intake, by simply substituting a sugar substitute for the brown sugar in the pear mixture and in the batter.

Fresh Pear Cobbler

6 cups (about 2 pounds) Bosc pears, peeled and sliced

2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons lemon juice

¾ cup apple juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon butter or margarine

Batter:

½ cup plain flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon bak ing powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1 egg, slightly beaten

In a medium bowl, combine pears, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, apple juice, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Toss lightly; pour into an 8x8-inch baking dish. Dot top with 2 tablespoons butter. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine all batter ingredients; beat with wooden spoon until smooth. Drop, in nine portions, over filling, spacing evenly. Batter will spread during baking. Bake 35 minutes or until fruit is tender and crust is golden. Serve warm, with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 9 servings.

Ilove to cook. I love to cook with seasonal fruits and vegetables and turn them into glorious creations. This recipe is one like I like to specialize in. It’s a recipe that shows you how you can take simple things and create a scratch-made masterpiece. For this one, I like to use my pie crust recipe, which can be found at thebutteredhome.com. However, you can also simply use a store-bought crust. And to really kick things up, try making it with pre-packaged puff pastry. The method is the same for all three. Using pears is perfect for a tart, as the fruit can really stand up to the cooking process and time, and keeps more of its composition than do apples or other similar fruit. We hope you try this fancy pants recipe and love it as much as we do! Find more recipes at thebutteredhome.com.

Homemade Pear Tart

2 peeled and sliced Bosc pears (or any other variety; Bosc is most commonly found in any region, all year long)

1-3 tablespoons sugar, divided

2 tablespoons orange marmalade

2 tablespoons honey

Wash and peel pears. Slice ¼-inch thick and set aside. Prepare pie crust and place on base of spring form pan. Drop base in the sides and secure. Use fingers to form a pretty edge that stands up about ½-inch.

Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar and flour and sprinkle over crust. Place pears on tart in whatever pattern your heart desires. Place in a preheated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes.

In a small boiler, heat marmalade, honey and last 2 tablespoons of sugar just until combined and loose. After 40 minutes of bake time, drizzle the marmalade honey mix on top and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the tart is brown and pulls away slightly from the sides of the pan.

Cool in pan for 15-20 minutes. Remove springform sides, cut and enjoy!

Brooke Burks

Photo by The Buttered Home

Holiday Cookie Contest

Share your cookie recipes for a chance to win a cash prize in our 3rd Annual Holiday Cookie Contest! Send us everything from your new and creative recipes to old-fashioned favorites and everything in between. Submit online at alabamaliving.com or email recipes@alabamaliving.com. Each entry must include your name, address and phone number as well as the name of your electric cooperative. Entries may also be mailed to Alabama Living Cookie Contest, PO Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124. Entry deadline is September 1, 2023.

Quinoa Stuffed Pears

2/3 cups quinoa

½ teaspoon salt

1¼ cups water

¼ cup Spanish chorizo, chopped

½ cup goat cheese

¼ cup almonds, chopped

¼ cup scallions, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

4 Anjou pears, halved lengthwise

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 cups baby Arugula lettuce

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

In a small saucepan, add quinoa, water and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Heat a small skillet and add chorizo. Sauté 5 minutes while stirring. Mix together quinoa, chorizo, goat cheese, almonds, scallions and mint. Coat pears with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place on hot grill, flat side down, for 3 - 5 minutes until grill marks are achieved. Turn pears over and stuff with quinoa mixture. Grill them 12-15 minutes until pears are fork-tender. Serve on a bed of baby arugula. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Kirk Vantrease

Cullman EC

Pear Relish

1 peck pears (15 pounds)

5 green sweet peppers

5 red sweet peppers

3 hot peppers

5 large onions

5 cups vinegar

5 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Peel and core pears, grind and drain off most of juice. Prepare peppers and onion, grind but do not drain. Dissolve sugar and salt in vinegar and bring to a boil. Add other ingredients, bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Pour into hot jars and seal.

Sue Robbins

Coosa Valley EC

Pear Honey

1 can crushed pineapple

5-6 cups sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

¼-½ teaspoon allspice, to your preference

6 cups cooked pears, mashed

Place pears and crushed pineapple in a food processor and pulse until well blended. Pour in heavy pan and add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often to prevent burning. Turn heat down and slowly boil until the mixture thickens and color changes to look a little like the color of honey. Stir often. After it thickens, pour into sterilized jars and seal. Enjoy on toast, bagel or biscuit. Even delicious over pancakes.

Rose Ann Smith

Clarke-Washington EC

½ onion, chopped

1 pear, chopped

2 pounds ground venison or beef

½ cup real bacon bits or 4 slices cooked bacon

1 teaspoon Allspice

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cloves

½ teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon salt

Chop onion and pear. In a large bowl, mix together venison, onion, pear, bacon bits and seasonings. It's best to mix with hands, but only until all ingredients are incorporated together. Form into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Eliza Trawick Central Alabama EC

Venison and Pear Meatloaf

Venison and Pear Meatloaf

Teach your children well

Q:I’m making an effort to reduce my energy use, and I want my kids to start energy-saving habits as well. How can I encourage them to use less electricity at home?

A:When I was a kid, I dreamed of one day having a home where I could pay my own electric bill. Said no one ever. While it’s not the most fun way to spend money, people typically want to live in a home with electricity. Educating kids on energy use and costs can help engage them in your family’s goal to use less electricity. They can be electric conservation champions if you ask them to help. Here are some ways you can teach kids to use less electricity.

Show them how to read the electric bill. Focus on what you can control: kilowatt-hour use. If they are old enough, teach them how to do the math. You can calculate kWh use by multiplying wattage by hours used and dividing by 1,000. Multiply this by the kWh rate found on your electric bill to estimate how much you spend on power for each household appliance.

For example, if you have a space heater that uses 1,500 watts and is on for four hours a day for a month, it uses 180 kWh. With an average kWh rate of 13.7 cents in the United States, the space heater costs about $25 a month to operate. That same space heater costs about $74 a month if it is on for 12 hours per day. Your kWh rate may be lower or higher depending on where you live. In Alabama, the average residential rate is 13 cents kWh.

For household appliance wattage, look for the amount stamped on the bottom, back or nameplate. If the nameplate does not in-

clude wattage, figure it out by multiplying the voltage by the amperage.

To teach children the impact of saving energy, have them help you conserve with the household’s biggest energy-consuming appliances: heating and cooling. Teach kids to dress appropriately for the seasons, even when they are indoors, which allows you to set the thermostat to balance comfort and savings.

You can also leave the house during the hottest times of the day to go for a swim or play outside. Before you go, nudge up the thermostat a few degrees to avoid wasted energy cooling an empty house. Turn off fans when you leave a room.

The second-highest use of electricity is typically the electric water heater. Use a shower timer so bigger kids can monitor how long they are in the shower. Teach them to wash their clothes with cold water. If you have a gas water heater, look at the gas bill to find opportunities to save.

Other ways to save include turning off the lights when you leave the room. The more we switch to LED lighting, the less savings associated. Yet even little changes can add up throughout the year. If your child needs a nightlight to sleep with, make sure it’s an LED bulb.

Powering down gaming stations and computers is another way to save. In the kitchen, keep the refrigerator door shut. Teach kids to take a quick peek and shut the door while they think about their snack options.

After teaching your kids about electric bills and showing them how to save electricity, make a game out of your family’s energy conservation efforts. Challenge the family to use less energy than last month or the same month last year. Use the savings to reward them with a treat or let the winner pick the game night activity or film for family movie night.

You can also teach children where the electricity for their home comes from. Check out your electric co-op’s website or give them a call to find out what energy sources power your home.

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

In the kitchen, keep the refrigerator door shut. Teach kids to take a quick peek and shut the door while they think about their snack options.

PHOTO COURTESY MIKE TEEGARDEN, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES

Jackson Lake provides setting for movie, fun and fishing

Cut off from the main flow long ago when the Alabama River changed course, Jackson Lake now flows around an island like a rubber tire surrounding a wheel hub. Boaters could circle the island and return to the original launching spot if not for a causeway that connects Jackson Island to the mainland near Wetumpka in Elmore County.

“I’ve fished Jackson Lake since I was a kid,” recalls Cary Cox, executive director for the Elmore County Economic Development Authority. “On the island, people can see an old Indian mound. What Jackson Island is mostly known for today is the place where they filmed the 2003 movie ‘Big Fish.’ The fictional town of Spectre, built as a movie set, is still there.” (One of the town’s houses burned after a lightning strike in July, but the rest of the structures were unharmed.)

Besides attracting the attention of Hollywood, crappie, catfish and bass anglers also love the lake. The old oxbow still connects to the Alabama River through two narrow channels, rising and falling with water levels. The river periodically replenishes the fish populations whenever it rises. Water fluctuations also fill the lake with plentiful shad, providing good forage for bass, crappie and other fish.

Jackson Lake averages 20 feet deep at normal river levels. Some holes drop to about 28 feet deep. Two small creeks flow into the lake. Abundant old cypress trees, mostly on one side of the lake, stand in water one to six feet deep, depending upon the river level.

More known for crappie numbers, the lake produces many fish in the 9- to 12-inch range all year long. Anglers might catch some in the 1- to 2.5-pound range, possibly a few bigger ones.

“In the summer, crappie usually stay right on the bottom,” says Steve Brown, a professional crappie angler from Millbrook. “The lake has a lot of structure and crappie love structure. They feel comfortable around it. On bright, sunny days, fish get on the shady side of that cover where it’s a little cooler. Since the oxbow still connects to the Alabama River, some current flows through the lake, so the water doesn’t get stagnated.”

Many crappie anglers dangle live minnows from bobbers

dropped next to standing tree trunks. Others troll live bait, jigs or crankbaits through deeper channels or work multiple baits simultaneously on spider rigs. Some people fish with a long single pole.

With the single-pole technique, anglers can accurately and subtly drop jigs, flies, live bait or other enticements next to flooded tree trunks and stumps. Let light lures sink naturally. If nothing hits, jig it up and down a few times. During hot summers, lethargic crappie like more subtle movements. Sometimes, just slight boat movements create enough action to provoke a strike.

Probe every possible hiding place in the trees, knees and other cover where lunkers lurk, particularly those in the shade. In the summer, fish usually prefer the cooler shady spots, but could lurk anywhere around cover. Work a bait completely around any cover whenever possible.

Crappie probably receive the most attention, but bass anglers also make good catches in the lake. Those old trees and stumps make great places to look for feeding crappie and bass. Bass hit a variety of natural and artificial temptations. Catfishermen can find great channel cat action in the lake and might catch some blues or flatheads. For whiskered giants, head to the nearby Alabama River channel.

Many anglers use high-tech sonar units to find fish. With such gear, sportsmen can see and track individual fish holding in structure and target that particular whopper. Anglers can even see the movement of their baits on the screen and how fish react to them.

Jackson Island remains in private hands. However, people can cross the causeway to visit the island for a small fee. Anglers can launch boats on the island or fish from the bank. The shorelines provide outstanding bank fishing opportunities for bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

Also, people can picnic or camp on the island if they wish. The protected waters of the lake provide an ideal place to paddle a canoe or kayak to fish or observe nature. After the movie production ended, the film crew abandoned Spectre, so movie fans can visit the island to see the old movie set.

While in the area, history buffs might want to tour Fort Toulouse-Jackson National Historic Park in Wetumpka. The French built the original fort in 1717. A replica fort now stands there.

For more information about visiting Elmore County, see elmoreeda.com

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

John Harrison, a professional crappie angler, shows off a crappie he caught while fishing Jackson Lake off the Alabama River near Wetumpka.

PHOTO BY JOHN N. FELSHER

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The China Syndrome

“

The China Syndrome” was a 1979 hit movie starring Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Jack Lemmon and Wilford Brimley. The storyline follows two reporters who discover safety discrepancies in a fictitious California nuclear electric generation plant. A greedy and corrupt utility ignores and covers up safety issues. The operator who attempts to publicize the cover up is murdered, and the end of the movie leaves an audience wondering what happened to the reactor.

The term, “China Syndrome,” was an idea associated with a nuclear plant meltdown where the reactor core burns not only through the reactor containment vessel, but also all the way to China. I’m not sure what would happen once, or if, it got to China (would it turn and burn its way back?) but it made a cool name for a hit movie.

The world now faces a different “China Syndrome”: in more ways than one. Everyone -- except maybe the environmentalists who throw tomato soup on Van Gogh paintings and interrupt Wimbledon by scattering orange glitter and jigsaw puzzle pieces on the courts to protest fossil fuels, or the Biden Administration that keeps throwing billions of dollars of bribes to build renewable energy projects -- knows the movement to fight climate change by eliminating fossil fuel use faces a very long, difficult, and expensive path. (Apologies to William Faulkner for the sentence length).

Regardless of the hype, in totality, renewable energy is more expensive and much less reliable than fossil fuel-fired energy. Without a major breakthrough in technology, renewables will not take fossil fuels’ place as the reliable, affordable energy for decades and decades, if ever.

Exhibit 1: China and its breakneck construction of coal-fired electric generation. In 2021, China started 40,000 megawatts (MWs) of coal generation. In 2022, it started another 86,000 MWs and currently has another 60,000 MWs permitted and expected to begin in 2023, with the real potential that even more will be permitted and started this year. That comes to approximately two new coal plants added each week for the last two years. Of course, none of the plants have environmental controls. The plants emit not only carbon dioxide (CO2), but also sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides – the latter two are almost entirely scrubbed from U.S. coal plants.

In mid-2022, China reported operating 1,074,000 MWs of coalfired generation, with more coming each week. By comparison, the U.S. has 194,000 MWs of coal-fired generation, approximately 18% of a China fleet that continues to grow, quickly.

China is adding huge amounts of renewable generation with solar and wind, as well. That is what countries that are not fully

electrified and are looking at maintaining or building an economy do. However, the fact that China is adding so much coal-fired generation demonstrates it knows what the tomato soup and confetti throwers ignore – coal provides cheaper and more reliable electricity than renewables. If it didn’t, why would China build so much coal generation?

Exhibit 2: All the helicopter money the Biden Administration is giving away to close fossil-fuel generation and build renewables under the Inflation Reduction Act. If renewable generation were truly cheaper than fossil fuel generation, renewable subsidies would not be necessary. Renewables would be cost-competitive on their own. There is always the argument that the variable dispatch costs of subsidized renewables are cheaper than fossil fuel-generation, which is true at times, but where does the electricity come from at night or when the wind stops? Real problems.

And, subsidies do not mean cheaper, they only mean that the subsidies come from someone or somewhere else. For instance, tax dollars could be deployed to solve other problems facing the U.S. like affordable housing, healthcare, or food, but instead subsidize inefficient renewables.

Exhibit 3: The rolling blackouts in areas over the past three years and the projected summer capacity deficiencies in the twothirds of the country that have largely made aggressive moves to cease fossil fuel generation and transition to renewables. Increasing volumes of reliable fossil fuel generation are being forced to close each year, thanks to subsidized renewable generation. With those closures, the electric grid becomes more and more unstable.

Exhibit 4: The entire U.S. coal fleet emits only 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. China’s CO2 emissions will grow that much in about a two-year period. U.S. emissions are not exactly the boogeyman deserving of tennis tournament interruptions and certainly not billions of dollars of subsidies to resolve.

Dozens of studies on the internet show how China can reduce its fossil fuel emissions over the next seven years and meet its pledge of peak carbon emissions by 2030. However, coal plants are built to run for 40 to 50 years. Nothing in any of China’s actions indicates a plan to do anything but continue to build and run coal plants into the future, because they are cheaper and more reliable than renewables.

That is our current “China Syndrome.” We have taken the John Kerry fall and will sacrifice our cheap, reliable energy to chase an unachievable goal. China will benefit from cheap and reliable energy and take our jobs. Unlike the 1979 movie, we know how this one ends.

I hope you have a good month.

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

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Making megawatts count in extreme heat

We’ve had some sweltering days in Alabama this summer, and there will be more before the arrival of fall and cooler temperatures. Teams from North Alabama local power companies and TVA are working in the extreme heat to keep our air conditioners and fans blowing, our food and beverages cold and our TVs entertaining us as we seek reprieve indoors.

We are fortunate to have the dedicated men and women who work through these challenging conditions for our comfort and convenience. Their work started even before the heat and humidity set in, during the spring outages when they identified and resolved potential reliability risks and ensured equipment was ready for the summer.

As we do ahead of each peak season, TVA used our extensive seasonal readiness program that includes reviews and actions to ensure generation assets are prepared to meet weather conditions they are designed to meet. This includes completing corrective and preventative maintenance on key equipment, such as coolers and heat exchangers; ensuring the readiness of heat removal equipment; analyzing and addressing marine growth on key components; and making sure our employees are prepared to work safely in

the summer heat.

This past spring, projects – both big and small – were added to outage schedules across the fleet, such as Gallatin Unit 2 Boiler tubes, Cumberland exciter replacement, and a Kingston generator re-wedge. At Lagoon Creek CT, TVA added a unit purge valve replacement and fuel gas heater rebuilds. At Melton Hill hydro, team members replaced a ring header.

Working with TVA Supply Chain, the Operations team ordered several high impact replacement parts identified by the generation sites to reduce unit down time if an issue arises. This is particularly important for large components and other items that have long lead times.

To help maintain reliability during times of peak energy usage, local power companies and TVA also work with businesses in the region to reduce their energy usage when notified by TVA. These businesses receive special discounts for participating in demand response programs and agree to temporarily reduce their power usage when demand or costs are especially high.

Ray Knotts, senior manager of Energy Services & Programs, says TVA has offered demand response programs to customers for many years, but with rising energy demand demonstrated by Winter Storm Elliott, TVA is growing the programs and offering a “summer special” to beat the heat.

“When the heat soars, so does demand and market prices for electricity,” Knotts says. “TVA can offer a good deal to Valley

companies to operate like a virtual power plant. In essence, TVA can ‘borrow’ megawatts from our demand response program participants – this means lower rates, a more resilient power grid, and lower bills for those participants.”

Working to find 800 to 900 additional megawatts to help during extreme power demand swings caused by weather, TVA was successful in recruiting customers to participate in the summer special offer. Companies can still see if demand response programs are right for them by reaching out to their local power company or visiting the TVA EnergyRight website.

Participants who sign up for the demand response programs sign a contract that includes a plan for how the customer would reduce power, if needed, and how low they’d be willing to reduce power usage. These plans may include shutting down production lines for up to four hours or reducing heating and air-conditioning in their facilities to dramatically (and temporarily) reduce their draw of power. Participants then receive a discount for their participation in the demand response programs.

TVA has also increased incentives for businesses and industries to help them offset the costs of energy-efficient upgrades to their facilities. Incentives are available for technologies, such as HVAC systems and LED lighting, and are customized to suit unique facility needs. For more information on these programs, as well as those available to homeowners, visit EnergyRight.com.

Kevin Chandler is general manager, Alabama District Customer Service, for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

TVA employees ensure equipment is ready to meet demand during peek hours of energy usage.

How To Place a Line Ad in Marketplace

Closing Deadlines (in our office):

October 2023 Issue by August 23

November 2023 Issue by September 23

December 2022 Issue by October 25

Ads are $1.75 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis; Telephone numbers, email addresses and websites are considered 1 word each. Ads will not be taken over the phone. You may email your ad to hdutton@areapower.com; or call (800)410-2737 ask for Heather for pricing.; We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards. Mail ad submission along with a check or money order made payable to ALABAMA LIVING, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 – Attn: Classifieds.

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August, a time for revivals and reunions

Editor’s note: After 10 years, Hardy Jackson is retiring his monthly column for Alabama Living. His first column appeared in the magazine in February 2014 and ran every other month. In 2017 his columns began appearing monthly, and were accompanied by custom illustrations by artist Dennis Auth. In the years following, Hardy amassed a loyal following of fans, many of whom were so touched by his columns that they wrote letters to us. Hardy has won several awards for his work, including a national first place award from the Statewide Editors Association for his November 2020 column, “Appreciating Veterans and anchovies.” We will miss Hardy’s humor and nostalgic take on life in Alabama and the South, but his columns are still available on our website at alabamaliving.coop. Next month, we will introduce a new columnist, so as they say, stay tuned!

Years ago, when agriculture dominated Alabama, August meant revivals.

Crops were laid by and the first cotton boll was yet to open, so it was a dandy time to get folks to church, entertain them with music and preaching, shake them out of their summer spiritual lethargy, and maybe even save a few souls.

A visiting evangelist would come town to bring the Word in a series of nightly messages. There would be “special music” and professions of faith that would soften the hardest heart. A week of this would culminate with a wing-ding of a sermon on Sunday, followed by dinner on the grounds. Bring a friend and a covered dish.

When I was a boy, rural churches loaded up members and drove to town for the festivities -- a trek that normally was only made on Saturday. But it was OK to take time to make the journey because, well, it was done in the name of the Lord.

Not to downplay the spiritual side of revivals, but there was also a reunion as-

pect to the gatherings – especially for the children. Friends they had not seen since school let out came with their parents. Often segregated from the adults who went to “Big Church,” kids were among their own, and as I recall there was more playing than praying where we gathered.

Most folks I knew were either Methodists or Baptists. They mingled freely.

Children were especially ecumenical. We attended each other’s Vacation Bible Schools, where we learned which denomination had the best cookies and Kool-Aid.

Theological differences eluded us – Baptist dunked, Methodists sprinkled – that was pretty much it.

And we attended each other’s revivals, because it was a great place to meet girls.

Rural families who came to town to be “revived” often brought a daughter you had not seen since school shut down three months earlier. Time had worked a miracle and the skinny, knob-kneed, girl that no one would give a second glance had blossomed into a sun-kissed beauty.

By the last night some lucky lad was holding her hand under the hymnal as they sang “Have Thine Own Way.”

There were also moments of high dra-

ma, which usually came at the end of the evening when the evangelist issued the “altar call.”

While the congregation sang “Softly and Tenderly,” sinners came forward, confessed their sins, and prayed for forgiveness.

Only sometimes they didn’t.

I remember well such a time.

Over and over the congregation sang “calling o’ sinner come home” but the sinners just sat there. The evangelist looked worried. If no one got saved, his reputation could suffer.

My fear was that we would be stuck there all night.

I was on the verge of going down myself and confessing that I was the one that put the dead snake in Mrs. Poole’s flower box –almost gave her a heart attack, she told her neighbors – when the spirit moved someone else and I was safe.

Then we sang a closing hymn, the relieved evangelist pronounced the benediction, and we went our separate ways. After all, September and football season was right around the corner.

This article was originally published in August 2014.

Harvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com

Illustration by Dennis Auth

Best wishes to Alabama school students as they begin a new year!