Issue

April 19th - May 2nd, 2019

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Tina's Tales

Special Feature

Getting Down To The NittyGritty...

I realize more and more how maintaining my life both in Christ and in recovery hinges on my ability to utilize fundamentals...

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Alabama Mobile Neutrals Open Their Offices In Huntsville With Live Online Or On-Site Training

By Adelita Moran A new legal entity is scheduled to open their doors to the public on October 15, 2019 in Huntsville, Alabama. They’re called Alabama Mobile Neutrals, and you can come to them, or they Continued on page 15

All Stitched Together: Love What You Do!

Youth Commissioners Participate In First Responders Program...

Today the Athens Mayor's Youth Commission participated in its first responders program...

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By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Cooking With Anna Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself!...

This past week has been rough. I have battled selfdoubt, poor body image, and been so hard on myself.

I was doing...

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April 19 - May 2, 2019

O. P. Friedman, of Alabama Mobile Neutrals

Brandi Harris (R) and Donna Pressnell (L) loving what they do at All Stitched Together

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Nestled just off Highway 72 and Mooresville Road in East Limestone, there is a thriving family business built on values many find missing in today’s culture. Before the Industrial Revolution, businesses were focused around family life. Family homes were typically attached to or located near the family business. Children Continued on page 17

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April 19 - May 2, 2019

Publisher’s Point

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Notre Dame And The “Eloquent Silence”

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Anna Hamilton Sandra Thompson Rosemary Dewar Jackie Warner Roy Williams Deb Kitchenmaster Holly Hollman Nick Thomas Wanda Campbell Tina Cook Tim Lambert Adelita Moran

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Tina's Tales . . . . . . . . . . 5

It was nearly 12 years ago to the day that I got to see Notre Dame Cathedral, albeit from a distance. I was re-patriating (a fancy word for coming home for good after having lived in Iraq for three years) and touring Europe with a friend before returning to the states and beginning my next adventure as a writer. I told myself that the “next time I saw Paris” I would visit the cathedral and take my time doing so as we did when we saw the Duomo in Florence. I was confident that I would get my chance, and content for the time being to take in the view from a hill a few blocks away. Clearly that trip to the old cathedral is never going to happen.

I am not Catholic, and the news clips of what at the time looked like it was going to be the last of Our Lady made me feel sad and helpless. Forgive my knee-jerk cynicism, but my first thought was that soon we would hear someone take responsibility for the blaze, and that it would be deter-

mined to have been arson. So far, that has not been the case; for now it is being called an accident possibly related to the renovation project that was underway before the fire broke out. With all my heart, I hope that is in fact and indeed the case.

Parisians are feeling somewhat like we did on 9/11, not that 3,000 lives were lost to jihad, but that an iconic site was being destroyed, and life was utterly disrupted. They are also encouraged that the global outpouring of support for them has been like a tsunami. As of Wednesday, money has been raised for the restoration project to the tune of over one billion dollars, with massive donations coming in from Apple, L’Oreal, and a multitude of private donors. It is estimated that it will take at least 20 years to “repair” the irreparable, and several more billion dollars to do so.

Most importantly, no lives were lost, which in itself is miraculous given the more

than 500 firefighters that fought the blaze, and no tourists were harmed during Holy Week, one of the busiest tourist weeks there is. Everyone expected the artwork to have been a total loss; and amazingly, that has not been the case.

But what is the case is what Gatestone Institute’s Raymond Ibrahim calls “an eloquent silence.” In France alone, over 2,000 churches have been vandalized or desecrated since 2017; and the politically correct noose is so tight around the effort to expose who has been responsible that officials can only squeak out that those deeds were perpetrated by “militant secularists.” The perpetrators have cut off the heads of statues, broken gravestones, graffitied church doors, smeared human excrement on walls, set arson fires, and more. That is just in France, and that is in the last two years. And ISIS claims that the Notre Dame fire is Allah’s judgment and warns that the two remaining towers are

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets' Museum . . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . . 11

next. No shock there.

What in the world is a “militant secularist”? Does the term make any sense on any level?

Ironically, when the identity of the desecrators gets leaked and they are identified as Islamists, the next step is dump the “militant secularist” wording and replace it with the perpetrator(s) “suffering with mental health issues.”

Now I think we can agree that whether desecration of a church happens elsewhere or here in the states, it is evil, whether you “do it for God” or you are just an agnostic arson.

Happily, there is a solution for that evil, er, sin, and that solution was worked out on a certain cross on a hill outside of Jerusalem during the original Holy Week of 2,000 years ago.

It culminated in the Resurrection, and that is what makes sense when nothing else does.

A miraculously few masterpieces may have been lost in the Notre Dame fire, but you are an eternal masterpiece, and Someone is waiting for you to receive the full “funding” for your painstaking and personal restoration project.

All you have to do is click the “Open” button, and you can get started. Happy Easter, Joyeuses Pâques, Feliz Pascua, and Khag paskha sameakh!

He is risen indeed!

Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

The Millennial Mind . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health & Fitness . . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . . 22

April 19 - May 2, 2019

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All Things Soldier

The Last Of The Dolittles Has Departed

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

WWII history is loaded with true tales of fantastic bravery, and among the most famous is what is known as Dolittle’s Raid. In 1942, after the early and morale crushing days subsequent to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the most daring ops in aviation history was planned and carried out by some plucky pilots known as Dolittle’s Raiders.

This was before the formation of the United States Air Force, and it was 80 members of the Army Air Force, taking off in 16 planes from the deck of the USS Hornet that comprised the Raiders.

While they did not win a huge tactical battle, seldom has there been a more powerful psychological warfare victory.

passed at the age of 103. To say that his influence upon what became the USAF was immense is an understatement, and even up until the age of 100, he was still making appearances and boosting morale. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and the memorial service in his honor was held in Texas at Joint Base San

Antonio-Randolph. It happened to be the 77th anniversary of the raid, and the USAF chose to send Dick Cole off in grand style.

It was live streamed on AirForceTimes.com, and there was a fly-by as well as the missing man formation.

When Lt. Col. Cole retired, his

Lt. Col. Dick Cole of Doolittle's Raiders

Lt. Col. Richard Cole was the co-pilot in the seat next to Jimmy Dolittle, and they were the lead plane in the raid. And Dick Cole, the very last of the Raiders, just

list of decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2014, Cole and three other Raiders were invited to the White House and were presented the Congressional Gold Medal by President Obama.

Like so many of the Greatest Generation, Jimmy Dolittle, Dick Cole, and the rest of the Raiders said they never felt like heroes. “We were just doing our job, part of the big picture, and happy that what we did was helpful,” Cole said. The actual raid was like something you would see in a movie.

To be chosen for the raid was a high honor, and they couldn’t talk about the raid

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or their training to anyone, even their fellows on the base. When they took off, their planes were stripped down to the minimum in order to get maximum fuel mileage. They were supposed to be able to re-fuel in China, but couldn’t, and had to fly their planes until they ran out of fuel, and then bailed. Some died, some were captured by the Japanese, but the Dolittles proved to the Japanese that they were vulnerable, and more importantly, they strengthened the will of the American people to fight until the victory came.

Rest in peace, Lt. Col. Cole, and accept our thanks 77 years later for a job well done, and a legacy for the generations.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Tina's Tales

Getting Down To The Nitty-Gritty

by Tina Cook Director, Athens-Limestone County Family Resource Center I realize more and more how maintaining my life both in Christ and in recovery hinges on my ability to utilize fundamentals. My past mistakes and failures have actually become beneficial as being some of my greatest learning tools today.

As I have progressed in my recovery and matured in my relationship with God, I have come to really appreciate the basics. For example, when I go through a growth spurt and change is upon me or when fear, worry, doubt, and temptation come my way, I have specific scriptures that I meditate on such as: John 16:33, Ephesians 6:10-20, or Psalm 139, to name a few. I also have essential techniques that help me focus on keeping my mind and spirit uplifted, like putting on my earbuds to listen to a meditation or contemporary Christian music and supportive people that I can reach out to for added encouragement, such as my sponsor, my spiritual mentors, a 12-Step meeting, or someone/anyone who is in need. These nitty-gritties make up the foundation that support the rest of my life.

I find that each of the maturity levels are essentially the same in that regard. Each phase has certain criteria that must be established and followed in my life. It is not enough to sim-

April 19 - May 2, 2019

ply know what needs to be done and how to do it. I must also practice fleshing it out each day. On those occasions when I am having difficulty doing that, I can reflect on similar struggles in the past that I have overcome or take a step back to a safe place while I regain my balance. Then I can begin moving forward again. Ideally, we all go through life with a support system.

This is a core group of people who have a vested interest in our lives. It is a give-give, win-win relationship that aids all involved toward greater maturity. An example of

the speed we need to in order to fully take in the scenery of the trip.

We may have to revisit certain areas because we traveled too quickly when we passed through them before, or perhaps our vision was obscured for some reason. Ultimately for me, once I finally grasped that it was my own life I was walk-

this is a 12-Step sponsor and sponsee; most sponsors will assure you that they learn more from the experience than the sponsee does. These intimate connections are lifelines that keep us

ing through each day, I began to do things differently in order to move toward my full potential and purpose.

I had to slow down and truly embrace what I was experiencing along the way so I could utilize it in the continuation of my voyage toward becoming.

afloat when times are trying; they also help propel us even further in times of growth.

Life is a journey toward a destination.

The adventure is along the way. We travel at

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Calendar of Events We're Looking For a Few Good Yards for the Month of May!!

If you know of a gardener whose yard is exceptional (no professional maintained yards, please) and would like to have them recognized, the Limestone County Master Gardeners would like to know, check out the website link https://mastergardenerslimestonecountyalabama.org/ and/or provide the information and a picture to tlt_brown@charter.net.

Ladies’ Conference Apr 27

New Oakland Independent Baptist Church. 20959 Old Elkmont Road, Athens, AL 35614. 8-9am Breakfast 9-12:00 Conference. Featuring: Betty Dean Newman Ph.D., Singers: One Voice. Free. For more information call Deborah Hargrove 256-497-6100.

Annual Athens PD Motorcycle Ride Apr 27

4th Annual Cornhole for a Cure Apr 20

With County for a Cure at the Limestone County Sheriff's Arena.

AL-99 on the right past the Elm Street intersection. Opening at 11:00AM, competition from 12:00PM-5:00PM. 2-person teams: $50.00, prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd. If you wish to join let us know, Michelle Williamson at 256-233-6400 or Tammy Waddell at 256-232-0111.

With Behind the Badge-APD. Starting at 7:30AM with breakfast served at the Athens Police Department, 951 East Hobbs Street in Athens. Kickstands up at 9:00AM. The ride will wind through scenic Limestone County and finish at The Red Caboose (18848 Upper Fort Hampton Road in Elkmont). $30.00 for each rider and one passengers online or day of.

Tax Freedom Day Apr 28

Spring Plant Sale Apr 20

With Limestone County Master Gardeners at the Athens Middle School Greenhouse (100 U.S. Highway 31N in Athens) from 8:00AM-2:00PM.

2019 Helicopter Egg Drop Apr 20

Athens New Life. 16768 U.S. Highway 72 in Athens. 11AM-2PM with over 10,000 candy-filled eggs dropped. Bounce house, free games, free food and face painting. Free Tickets at Eventbrite.

Easter Egg Hunt 2019 Apr 20

With Oak Grove Thach Volunteer Fire Department. 27712 McKee Road from 10:00AM-2:00PM for pictures with the Easter Bunny, play in the Dalmatian bounce house, hunt eggs, enjoy hot dogs and cotton candy. LifeSouth Blood Drive from 9:00AM-3:00PM.

Arbor Day Festival Apr 20

Valley Event Center. 22335 US Hwy 72 A, Athens, AL. 1pm, speakers start at 2pm. Sponsored by The Limestone County Republican Party. Everyone is invited, bring the whole family.

Local organizations who are concerned by government debt will have tables. Chicken stew and finger foods. For more info call 256-729-8868. www.limestonegop.org

Grief Support Group May 2

Hosted by Amedisys Hospice at Traditions Senior Living of Athens. 22171 Traditions Way, Athens. 11am to noon. Free & open to the community. First Thurs. of every month with the next one being the 2nd of May. Questions call the Amedisys Hospice at 256-760-7877.

Footlights Community Theater will be performing The Wizard of Oz May 2nd through 4th and May 9th through 11th at Athens Middle School auditorium. Tickets and information may be found at www.footlightstheater.com.

Founder's Hall Lawn of Athens State University. 300 North Beaty Street in Athens. 1:00PM-5:00PM with blow-ups, tree tours, arts and crafts, facepainting and pizza hosted by SGA. Free and open to the public.

Athens Post Office Re-Dedication Apr 24

In honor of Judge James E. Horton Jr. at the post office. 1110 West Market Street in Athens. Starting at 1:00PM with a ceremony including United States Postal Service Officials, local dignitaries, and members of the Horton family.

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The Wizard of Oz May 2-4 and 9-11

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Spaghetti Meal at the Vietnam Veterans of America Building 3rd Monday Monthly

17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m. Cost is $8. Eat in or carry-out. Profits fund scholarships for local students. Please call ahead for group carry-outs or more info 256-431-3213.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Special Feature

Youth Commissioners Participate In First Responders Program

by Holly Hollman - City of Athens Communications Specialist Today the Athens Mayor's Youth Commission participated in its first responders program. The program, held at Leak City, a training facility in Athens, included lessons on Air Evac, distracted driving and fire response.

For today's program, students sat in the Air Evac helicopter cockpit and talked to the Air Evac team about responding to emergencies. They also

wore beer goggles that distorted their vision while they tried to maneuver a golf cart through a course set up by the Athens Police Department. Chief Floyd Johnson talked to students about tragic accidents he has responded to involving teenagers and drunk driving. Athens Fire and Rescue allowed each student to operate the deluge gun on top of the fire truck so they could experience mov-

ing it as needed for fire suppression.

The Youth Commission involves students comprised of 10-12 graders from Athens High School, Athens Bible School, Lindsay Lane Christian Academy and home school in Athens. The purpose of Youth Commission is to teach students about the role of local government and their role as citizens.

The students partici-

Esmeralda Nava operates the deluge gun on Athens Fire and Rescue's truck

James Clem tries to get used to the beer goggles as Athens Police Officer Johnny Campbell explains how he will drive through the course pate in a different program each month to learn about city services, tourist attractions, community outreach opportunities and careers.

David Fontanez explores the Air Evac cockpit

April 19 - May 2, 2019

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Page 7

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Blazes That Build

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Mayor Ronnie came bounding in, jubilant about just having received the news that his friend Steve Smith was cancer free. In this season of miracles, this is indeed a miracle, as cancer was once found throughout Steve’s body, and now the PET scan could find none.

The news could not have come at a better time, as our city just launched its annual battle against cancer in the form of Relay for Life events, and this blaze that had threatened to consume Steve’s very life, served to build health and strength for both Steve and all who love him.

Another “blaze” that hit us last fall was the sudden passing of Ben Wiley, who had served as

the Director of Parks and Recreation for 28 years.

The mayor was pleased to make the announcement that Bert Bradford had been appointed to take Ben’s place, having been found after an intensive search. Mayor Ronnie and Human Resources Director Marsha Sloss headed up the process, and the Athens City Council voted unanimously to promote him. He previously had worked in the Building Department, and prior to that had been in the landscape business. His background in building as well as landscaping makes him the perfect fit for supervising over the parks and cemeteries, as well being on hand for the building of the new 70,000 square foot Rec Center, as well as the

Bert Bradford, newly appointed Director of City of Athens Departmet of Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries

It had been 49 years since Mayor Ronnie returned home from Viet-

renovation of the Pilgrim’s Pride site.

As far as sports are concerned, Bert holds a degree in exercise science from Auburn and has

played basketball all his life, mostly as a point guard. We did have to take a moment to acknowledge Auburn’s heartbreaking loss in the Final Four, and Bert chose to focus on how well they did, as well as the historical significance of the Tigers’ accomplishments during the entire season. That attitude will serve him well in his new position.

He has twin daughters who have been in sports for the last seven years, so “Parks and Rec” is already a part of his fam-

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ily. As of Opening Day, there are 330 girls signed up to play softball, and 450 boys ready for baseball. Bert hopes to bring new programs to the new building, which is scheduled to be finished by the summer of 2020.

As we spoke, Bert told Mayor Ronnie and me that there are “fantastic people” working in his department, and made it clear he is looking forward to his new position.

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nam, another “blaze” that he chose to allow to build strength in his life, rather than burn him; and then we moved on to the topic of an actual blaze, that of Notre Dame. At that point several hundred million dollars had been raised to restore the cathedral, and we marveled at how something that was burning an icon was bringing people together. Then it was time to pray, and we did, for Athens as well as Paris, and then Ronnie had to roll.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Slinkard On Success

Common Sense Should Be A Super Power

by D. A. Slinkard

D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store Common sense is not very common, and I do believe having it should be considered a super power. Too often, people end up making mistakes in their life that are dumb mistakes. For the outsider, it is like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion.

There was a movie with the famous line, “I see dead people...they're all around...they don't even know their dead.”

I would say the new famous line should be, “I see stupid people... they're all around...they don't even know their stupid.”

Yes! That is the society we live in today! With each passing article, I continue to be surprised at the amount of stupidity that encompasses our society as we seem to “level up” to the next level. When I was growing up, my parents did an exceptional job teaching me right from wrong, what to say and what not to say, and how to respect authority. They were not perfect in their parenting skills, but compared to the parenting of today, they were ahead of the curve.

if I would have gotten in trouble at school, an inschool suspension would have been the least of my worries, and probably would have seemed like paradise compared to the whooping I would get at home. I grew up during an age in which my parents believed the authority figure; whereas today, many parents trust their kids as opposed to trusting the authority.

We live in the information age and are able to see video clips of things happening in real time, with the likes of “live streaming” through social media. The problem comes in that these videos typically only show one side, which just happens to be the side that fails to show what led up to the event. We need to learn how to use rootcause analysis. One of the flaws in our society

is that we often have a hard time realizing our failures and accepting responsibility for our own actions.

Speaking realistically, we need to learn how to own up to our mistakes and our actions. Instead, we have become a society that wants to blame our problems/mistakes/ shortcomings/bad attitudes/downfalls on the other person, and this is simply a bad practice. If “A” would not have happened, “B” would not have occurred resulting in the outcome of “C”; but instead, we like to place blame in our society and point fingers.

When you point fingers, just know you have three pointing right back at you.

I am a firm believer that the problems we face in our society would dissipate if we would just use

the Bible as our final authority. Take for instance 1 Timothy 2:1-3 in my King James Bible reads, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” This is straight from God's Word telling us that we should pray for our leaders and all that are in authority.

What would our society look like if we took the time to do this? We have become people that like to complain about authority as the spoiled children have now become adults and are quick to say, “That isn't fair.” It amazes me that the ones

demanding respect are the very people showing the least amount of it. If you want to change your stars, you need to change your way of thinking. We are a society in which everyone thinks they are owed something for nothing. Our ideology has morphed into something that is incomprehensible. If our children fail, we have parents that want to blame others instead of just saying, “Yes, this one is on me or this one is on my child.” We live in a society that likes to throw rocks while also living in glass houses. It really is time we try to do what is good and acceptable in the sight of God. Maybe once we humble ourselves, we will begin to see a little less stupidity. Remember, Forrest Gump said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

I cannot tell you how thankful I am for my parents, especially when I look at the nonsense going on today in our own community. Who would have thought the shenanigans would have made it to Athens, Alabama?

When I was growing up,

April 19 - May 2, 2019

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

A Memorial Day Welcome Home To Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar David Gross

by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

Hard to believe the year has gone by and it is time once again to honor our fallen at our annual Memorial Day laying of the wreath ceremony. This year we will have a very special addition to our program, we will finally welcome home Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar Gross.

It was a day the U.S. will never forget. At 7:55 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a Japanese force of 183 airplanes attacked U.S. military and naval facilities on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands without warning.

For 30 minutes, dive

bombers, level bombers, and torpedo planes struck airfields and naval vessels.

After a 15-minute lull, a second wave of 170 planes launched another attack at 8:40 a.m. that lasted an hour.

Casualties to U.S. service personnel included 2,343 killed, 960 missing, and 1,272 wounded; Japanese aircraft destroyed 151 U.S. planes on the ground and sank or damaged all eight U.S. battleships at anchor in Pearl Harbor.

At a cost of only 28 airplanes shot down, the Japanese had dealt the United States a staggering blow.

In the first ten minutes of the battle, eight torpedoes hit the Oklahoma, and she began to capsize. A ninth torpedo would hit her as she sunk in the mud.

Although the crew of

the USS Oklahoma did everything they could to fight back, 429 lives were lost.

Fourteen Marines, and 415 sailors would give their lives; 32 men were cut out through the hull while the others were beneath the waterline.

Banging could be heard for over 3 days and then there was silence. One of these sailors was Limestone County’s first casualty, Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar David Gross.

After 77 long years of not knowing exactly what happened to him, through the miracle of DNA, Seaman Gross is finally coming home. We would like to thank Stephen Gross and his entire family

for sharing their story.

Seaman Gross’s remains will be flown into Huntsville Airport and will be escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders to Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in Athens.

Immediately following our Memorial Day Program, a flag line will be formed on the sidewalk in front of the museum for a drive by with his remains.

He will then be taken to Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Athens.

A horse drawn caisson will take him from the church for his final resting place at Ev-

USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor Page 10

Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar David Gross

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ans Cemetery in West Limestone. The public is invited to attend.

Bob Borden and I have also gotten started on the slide show for the Memorial Day Program. If you live in Limestone County and have had a beloved veteran pass away between May 27, 2018 and May 27, 2019, please contact me, Sandy, at the museum (256-7717578) to ensure we give them the proper honor they deserve.

You can also email me at sndy6732@gmail. com.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

PlayAction Sports

Spring Season Finish Line In Sight

by Tim Lambert

Tune in for the PlayAction Sports Update, three times each weekday on 1080 AM WKAC. Visit us online at www.pasnetwork.net! email: playactionsports@hotmail.com

Local schools had a lot of rescheduling to do after last month’s early-season rains, but after everything was said and done, games have gotten back on track and postseason play is now upon us. Tennis sectionals were played early this week and the first round of baseball playoffs start this weekend.

Congratulations are in order for local athletes who recently signed scholarships: Ardmore's Anthony Taylor will play football at Point University (GA), James Clemens’s Garrett Hicks and Jaylin Ware are moving on—Garrett will go to Alabama A&M to play basketball while Jaylin is going to Kentucky Wesleyan for football; West Limestone’s Addison Allen inked a football scholarship with Huntingdon.

School highlights since last month: Ardmore — Baseball victories came over Priceville, Lindsay Lane, Madison County, East Limestone, and Brooks.

The Lady Tigers recorded softball wins against Stewart’s Creek (TN), South Doyle (TN), Steeleville (IL), Independence (TN), Wilson Central (TN), East Limestone, Madison County, and Richland (TN). The boys’ soccer team won over Clements, Elkmont and Mae Jemison; both teams beat West Limestone.

Athens Bible — The baseball team defeated Elkmont, Tanner, Lindsay Lane, Clements, St. Ber-

nard and Falkville. The Lady Trojans notched softball wins against Woodville and Tanner.

The girls’ tennis team also beat Lindsay Lane.

The Lady Trojans’ soccer team got a win against West Limestone.

Athens High — The Golden Eagles turned back Wright City (OK) on the baseball fields, along with Lawrence County, Huntsville, Westminster, Columbia, West Limestone, Muscle Shoals, and Brewer. The Athens softball team has beaten Lauderdale County, Hartselle, Columbia, and Madison County. On the tennis courts, the Golden Eagles got by Columbia;

James Clemens boys’ basketball coach Danny Petty announced his retirement after heading up varsity programs for almost 50 years. Petty has posted 776 wins and three state championships over that time. Before leading the Jets for the last five years, he coached at Bob Jones, Madison Academy, and J.O. Johnson.

Athens High named April Marsh as their new volleyball coach. Marsh comes from Bob Jones where she spent the last nine years, winning the 2013 6A state title. Her teams were also state runners-up the last three years. Marsh was also named Coach of the Year in 2011 (6A) and 2017 (7A).

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Ardmore's Hogan Whitt winds up against East Limestone (Photo credit: Dean Baucom) www.athensnowal.com

the girls topped Lee. The Athens girls’ soccer team won against Elkmont; the boys defeated Muscle Shoals.

Clements — Softball results yielded wins over Westminster and West Limestone. The Lady Colts’ soccer team emerged victorious against Ardmore and Fairview.

East Limestone — Indian soccer teams won the Limestone County soccer tournament. The boys also defeated Lee; both teams have wins against West Limestone and Elkmont. The baseball team topped Valley View (AR), Putnam City North (OK), Madison Academy, Madison County, and Lauderdale County. Softball wins came against Marshall County (TN), Villa Grove (IL), Huntland (TN), Bloomington Central Catholic (IL), West Morgan, Brewer, Athens, Belgreen, Boaz, and Brownsville (KY).

Elkmont — The Red Devils’ baseball team beat Brewer, Hatton and Lindsay Lane. The softball teams defeated Mother Macaulay (IL), Riverdale (TN), West Morgan, West Limestone, Belgreen, and Brooks. Soccer victories came against West Limestone and Ardmore.

James Clemens — The baseball team posted wins over Albertville, Etowah, Opelika, Hartselle, and Huntsville. On the soccer fields, the Jets beat Madison Academy, Scottsboro, and St. John Paul II; the girls beat Sparkman. Both teams turned back Austin. Softball victories included Lawrence County and Florence. The Lady Jets have a tennis win against Grissom; the boys got past Florence.

Lindsay Lane — Lions baseball topped Clements, Mae Jemison, Ider, St. Bernard, and Asbury.

On the softball field, the Lady Lions defeated RA. Hubbard.

Tanner — Softball victories came against St. John Paul II, Columbia, Lee, Randolph, and Woodville. The boys’ soccer team defeated Elkmont, Mars Hill, and Ardmore; both teams got wins over ABS and Clements.

West Limestone — The Lady Wildcats turned back Huntland (TN) on the softball fields. The baseball team came out on the winning end against Elkmont, East Lawrence, and East Limestone. The boys’ soccer team beat Elkmont and ABS while the Lady Wildcats topped Tanner; both teams bested Mae Jemison.

Page 11

Clean and Green

Beautification Awards – Seeking Your Nominations

by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

The Athens-Limestone Beautification Board, which falls under the KALB organization umbrella, annually recognizes businesses, churches, and public buildings where caretakers go the extra mile to create beautiful landscaping.

Green space and attractive landscaping are so important to the appearance of our community, and the Beautification Board believes that the people who work so hard to provide that beauty should be rewarded.

Appealing green spaces and attractive landscaping add a positive image to a neighborhood, increase property values, and attract other businesses. Most of us have memories of a city or other place we’ve

visited that made an impression because of the added beauty of green space, flowers, gardens, or tree-lined streets.

Recognizing well-landscaped properties here in Athens and Limestone County is the Beautification Board’s way of saying “thank you” to those who add a beautiful touch to our community.

dards for evaluation.

Judging criteria will include the following: • Overall design • Construction (walls, walks, and pavement) • Planting (condition of plants, color, texture) • Maintenance (prop-

Guided Nature Walk Saturday, April 27, 2019

Marbut Bend Walking Trail Meet at Trailhead at 8:00 a.m.

• Wear comfortable shoes • Bring binoculars, if you have them • Use insect spray and/or sunscreen as needed

Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO Saturday, April 27, 2019

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friendship Church • 16479 Lucas Ferry Rd., Athens • FREE Admission ($1 suggested donation) • FREE Hot Dogs, Pepsi, and Popcorn • FREE Crafts and Activities • Hands-On Science Experiments with The Science Guys • Exhibitors and Vendors • Free Gift upon Admission (while they last) • Raptors and Reptiles • FREE Door Prize Ticket • And MORE!

We invite you to be part of the process, keeping a lookout for particularly well-manicured and colorful landscaping throughout the City of Athens and Limestone County, and nominating those you believe worthy of recognition.

er trimming, edging, and pruning, lack of weeds, neat)

Judging Criteria All properties nominated will be judged using a set of stan-

• Litter control (no visible litter, trash containers available and in good condition) How To Nominate Please help the Beautification Board to honor the best.

Nominations can be made by businesses, churches, and government offices themselves or by any member of the

community. You can call in your nominations to 256-233-8000 or send an email to KALBCares@gmail. com. You may also nominate online at our website www.KALBCares.com. Click the Beautification tab and follow the links.

Let’s work together to honor those who strive to improve our Limestone County communities.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com Page 12

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April 19 - May 2, 2019

Cooking with Anna

Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself!

by Anna Hamilton

This past week has been rough. I have battled self-doubt, poor body image, and been so hard on myself. I was doing everything right -- eating healthy foods, remaining active, and keeping up with my food journal -- but I felt like I was going backwards and not forwards towards my goal.

Do you ever have weeks, days, months that you feel that way? I felt like the world was against me, trying to trip me up whenever it had a chance. Once you begin to feel bad about yourself, you start down a dangerous path. Nothing seems to go your way. Nothing seems to be right. Everyone seems to be placed on your path to trip you up.

I am very blessed with a wonderful support system at home and with my friends at work. When I was being so hard on myself, they reminded me of how far I have come. My husband would hug me tight and remark how much further he could put his arms around my waist. They were truly cheerleaders that kept me going.

Sunday morning I woke up with a renewed spirit. I had new energy and a new pair of eyes to see myself. Once you start seeing positive things within yourself and rewarding your victories, you will begin to feel better. We are too hard on ourselves! If you are like me, and I’m sure most of you are, the person you have the hardest time forgiving is yourself. We must learn to give ourselves the grace we bestow on others.

You are worth the time! You are worth the effort! You are enough!

This week’s recipe is a comfort food classic, re-worked to make you feel good about eating two bowls. Chicken noodle soup is a hug in a bowl. It can make you feel better even on your hardest day. Sit down and enjoy this hearty bowl of chicken soup; let it feed your soul.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Recipe #8 - No-Noodle Chicken Soup What You Need:

4 oz. butter 2 celery stalks, chopped 6 oz. sliced mushrooms 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp. dried minced onion 2 tsp. parsley 8 cups chicken broth 1 medium sized carrot, sliced 2 shredded rotisserie chickens 2 cups cabbage sliced into strips Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Melt butter in a large pot. Slice the celery stalks and mushrooms into pieces. Add dried onion, celery, mushrooms, and garlic into the pot and cook for three to four minutes.

Add broth, carrot, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add cooked chicken and cabbage. Simmer for an additional 8-12 minutes until the cabbage “noodles” are tender.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

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Page 13

The Millennial Mind

Easy Enemies

by Rosemary Dewar Standing up for a noble and respectable issue should not be difficult, and you do not need an enemy in order to justify it. When an adversary is invented to persuade an audience, there are now two problems to solve: the strawman and the original obstacle. The more a willful misrepresentation is built up, the greater the difficulty in undoing the damage of the division it created. You end up discovering that the enemy is now yourself.

their ignorance, and manufacture a crisis in order to push an idea in the hopes of convincing or tricking the audience into begging for social regulation.

Furthermore, projecting malice where there is none is an added hindrance. In order to reduce someone’s readiness to defend themselves, he or she must be put into a position to now fight a perceived internal threat.

Too often, individuals are still not taking responsibility for their “little contributions” to misperceptions of reality. The two most powerful statements an individual can assert honestly are, “I do not know,” and “I was wrong.” Neither one of these statements makes you inferior to the audience. Admitting that you may have a missing piece of understanding only strengthens an argument.

Instead, we witness our culture making up information in order to mask

In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker is training on the planet Dagobah. While resting, Luke feels drawn to a particular place in the woods. He asks his trainer, Yoda, what is in those woods. Yoda tells him that only what he takes with him is in those woods, and that his weapons are useless there.

Luke comes face to face with a visual manifestation of his nemesis and slays it, only to find

minent,” and “the time is now” are simply aiming to assert their brand of control.

The Judeo-Christian worldview asserts that you are not to have anxiety concerning anything.

In addition, you are urged to be critical of anything you question, and hold it up to the knowledge you have of God. You are in control of what you choose to perceive, and you are in control of how you choose to act on it. Ignorance is possible when someone else has concealed something from you, or you have neglected your due diligence to assess a situation properly.

Famed 20th century American author, Ernest Hemingway his own face in it. Woods are usually a literary symbol of the unknown. In this case, it is Luke’s unknown pieces of his character.

Everyone has that piece of wickedness within, but whether you are willing to control it will determine the virtue of your actions.

You can become your worst enemy by becoming your own greatest flatterer.

Groups and communities do not have as much power over you as they make you think they do. Sure, regimes, policies, secret societies, clubs, hierarchies do exist; however, they are not in total control of you.

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A system may attempt to be standardized enough to manage many, but the individual is so singular that a system will fail to do so.

In the United States, that is called freedom. You do not fit the mold, and that singularity is essential for others to participate in that freedom as well. As much as there is an urgency to override societal ills, it always takes a commitment to take the same amount of time undoing the consequences as it did to create the consequences in the first place. Those that claim there is “no time to waste,” that “doom is im-

Author Ernest Hemingway said that, “No weapon has ever settled a moral problem. It can impose a solution, but it cannot guarantee it to be a just one.”

Social ills are people issues, and not systematic structures. Money is not the problem, technology is not the problem, education is not the problem, health is not the problem, but how an individual addresses those obstacles can become their problem. There is not a political policy in the universe that can solve every societal discrepancy.

Either you learn to master yourself, or you will be mastered by the worst part of yourself.

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Cover Story

Alabama Mobile Neutrals Open Their Offices In Huntsville With Live Online Or On-Site Training

by Adelita Moran, Legal and Technology Reporter, Huntsville Legal News continued from page 1

to you. Having partnered with the Institute of Higher Global Studies, or “The Collective” as they’re re called in the legal community in Huntsville and Birmingham, we learned of the new partnership from a slight hint given in a news release published by a reporting agency in Dubai, UAE regarding IHGS’ Live Video Online Mediation Training Software Suite. They’re wrapping up beta testing shortly, working out any slight glitches, and the course is slated for release late this summer.

Mediators spanning across the state from Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery as well as lawyers and other legal professionals, are adding access to their growing list of over 300+ “neutrals,” or those who are trained in arbitration. This stems from a collaborative desire to come together, foster a sense of unity, build more peaceful relations, and solve problems through conflict resolution for several communities.

Legal Alabama Mobile Neutrals, in partnership with IHGS plans to open a new office every year within diverse Alabama communities. The goal is to saturate neighborhoods with information on the mediation process, that all may have equal access to their low cost mediation services. “Doc” O. Pope Friedman seeks to not only expand legal aid through mediation and other legal services; she also desires to continue on and increase her role as a legal philanthropist toward the betterment of Alabama.

“I’m proud of Alabama. Despite being known for its past of slavery, we know how to come together no matter our skin color, and resolve our

April 19 - May 2, 2019

well as ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) Technology; and the Women in Law Committee, among others.

In addition to studying other courses while on campus at Harvard, O. Pope Friedman has completed the course work in the series for Harvard’s Program on Negotiation via DAU’s (Defense Acquisition University) Harvard Executive Business

success toward settlement whenever possible.”

Education Suite, as well as other Harvard courses.

She is dedicated to helping others and has the goal of opening an expansive legal mediation clinic as well as a mobile service for those who cannot travel. O. Pope Friedman has a passion for educating the public so that they may know what situations may require a lawyer, and which circumstances may not – all while leaving clients the free-will to choose.

diation professionals, discounts for in-person classes, and access to the abovementioned, soon-to-be-released IHGS Live Online Video Mediation Training course. Simply by joining the Alabama Mobile Neutrals’ on-call list, you will also be provided with guidance on case management and access to a top legal fraternity, not to mention many other benefits and features.

Additionally, mediation professionals who join the group receive PR and marketing from a highly-recognized and proven Huntsville marketing guru. Services offered include regular training and continued education opportunities, facilitating networking with other me-

O. P. Friedman with fellow law students inside the 10th Judicial Circuit Court - Jefferson County - Birmingham, Alabama

own problems,” said O. Pope Friedman. “Conflict/ dispute resolution is the key to better race relations and effective problem solving – across the board,” she added.

O. Pope Friedman, current director of IHGS, is earning a legal degree at present and has delved into the self-study of law since 2002. After a very intense negotiation process, she won the opportunity to do business with Legal Alabama Mobile Neutrals.

This was done primarily over the phone, while O. Pope Friedman drove through a fierce snow storm to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to judge her fellow law student peers in the American Bar Association’s 2019 Mediation Representation in Mediation competition. This was held during their Mediation Spring Conference. Despite having been caught in last week’s fierce six-state blizzard, O.P. successfully fought to get to the competition because she knows the importance of the ratio of law students to group and judges to students when competing. This is important to O. Pope Friedman – keep-

ing one’s word. In February, O.P. was asked by a local “super lawyer” to help judge a competition at Samford University, a highly respected and prominent law school in Birmingham. This contest utilized the very same ABA competition model as the national one in Minnesota.

O. Pope Friedman is also a student associate member of the bar; is listed in the Speaker and Writer Database for Diversity and Inclusion; is a member of their Legal Education, Legislation & Lobbying, and Mediation Committee; as

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“Mediation is definitely the way of the future, a trend that’s just now going main stream,” O. Pope Friedman said. “Litigation, being so expensive and highly stressful for all parties involved, makes mediation the viable and affordable solution for all – as it allows parties in dispute from all walks of life, to work together to resolve their differences, with the neutral (or mediator) facilitating such

Mediation services include real estate, business disputes (including partners), commercial, health care, insurance, construction, environmental, professional liability, divorce, and family custody, as well as church conflicts. Want to know if our services are right for you? Don’t see the service you need? Simply call and ask them at 256-333-0048, or visit them at www.MediationPlanet.com and book a consultation.

Page 15

Health and Fitness

Don’t Get Salty

by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist

Most of us do not realize how much salt we take in each day without even picking up a salt shaker. In our society, it is especially easy to overdo this due to so many highly-processed, pre-packaged foods and how much we eat from drive-throughs and restaurants. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes roughly 3,500 milligrams of sodium every day; however, it is recommended to keep your sodium intake between 1,500

and 2,300 milligrams a day.

This will keep you at lower risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. There are a few ways you can manage your sodium intake -- from what type of salt you use to how you use it -- because despite all of this, sodium is actually necessary for your body to function at its best.

So let’s break it down.

The correct amount of sodium helps maintain the balance of fluids in your body and is also a huge factor in muscle function.

Sodium makes sweat pos-

sible, which is what allows your body to cool down avoiding dehydration and heat stroke. If you do not consume enough salt you can have muscle spasms, irregular heart rhythms, and general weakness. So let’s just say that moderation is key when it comes to this salt intake issue.

By cooking at home the majority of the time, you can achieve sodium moderation best. When you use all natural, fresh whole foods in your cooking, truly cooking from “scratch”, you have total control over

what goes in your body. We all like how salt flavors our food, but we want to make the best choice in the quality of salt we use so we get the most benefit possible.

There are many different salts that have high mineral content and a reduced sodium content, but when taking availability and cost into consideration, I recommend pink sea salt. By using pink sea salt instead of the many other varieties available, especially traditional table salt, you will greatly decrease the sodium you get while still achiev-

ing the flavor you crave.

Pink sea salt is extremely rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains trace amounts of copper, iodine, zinc and selenium. In addition to the sodium, these minerals all benefit our bodies. Pink sea salt can be found at most grocery stores now and comes in a variety of forms from large blocks you grate yourself to smaller coarse grains to fine granules. All shapes and sizes have the same benefits; it is just your preference as to what form you like best.

Another way to cut back on salt and not sacrifice flavor is to use more fresh herbs and spices. Herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, black pepper, and oregano have great antioxidants, an added bonus. It is best to avoid prepackaged seasoning mixes as they tend to have added sodium and preservatives. Get creative and really enjoy the simplicity of using herbs and all natural, whole foods when you cook. Try new combinations and think outside the box. Healthy food does not have to be bland or boring!

For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423-805-0870.

256-434-7532 423-805-0870 www.getprimednow.com Page 16

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April 19 - May 2, 2019

Cover Story

All Stitched Together: Love What You Do!

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

flowed in and out of business seamlessly, and customers were treated like extended family. Being at All Stitched Together is almost like stepping back in time. Owner Brandi Harris, with the support of her husband, Joseph, is weaving old-fashioned values back into the fabric of American life with a full service crafting storefront located on the property where the family lives in a sunny, inviting building constructed by the couple themselves. All Stitched Together is teaching the lost art of sewing, teaching entrepreneurial skills, and by extension, building and strengthening the community.

Brandi knows what it’s like to be a single mom, and that is some of the passion that drives her. All Stitched Together started out as a hobby, with Brandi sewing outfits and other items for her infant daughter in 2006. Soon moms at daycare asked her to sew things for them. Word of mouth spread, and a business was born. In 2012, the hobby grew so much that Brandi decided to make it official and launched All Stitched Together. Today, All Stitched Together has nearly 12,000 Facebook followers.

When I asked her where she got the idea for All Stitched Together, Brandi replied, “All great business ideas start at the kitchen table, and that is exactly where my business started. The kitchen is the heart of the home, where we meet to discuss our day, where we talk about our dreams as a family, and where we make decisions about our future. I want All Stitched Together to be that place for every customer who walks through the door. We have kitchen tables in our classroom at All Stitched Together for that very reason.”

April 19 - May 2, 2019

All Stitched Together: a place to do what you love

All Stitched Together is an authorized Siser Heat Transfer Vinyl, and Starcraft Distributor with over 600 choices of Heat Transfer and Adhesive Vinyl in stock. There are classes to help newcomers learn how to create T-shirts and vinyl projects using Cricut and Cameo Crafting Machines. Sewing classes are held regularly for both adults and children. Just like any business in town, All Stitched Together has set store hours and a Facebook page.

I asked Brandi, “Why do you do this, and why should I come to you?” She replied, “I love helping people.” She is all about helping women grow.

She said her favorite part of All Stitched Together is helping people learn they can not only be successful, but they can love crafting. All Stitched Together’s business motto is, “Love What You Do,” and her love for people shows in every aspect of her business. The way Brandi describes it, “We are welcoming, answer any questions you have, do not compete with our customer’s businesses, and do everything we can to help those around us succeed.”

When you walk into the business, you will be greeted warmly by friendly faces, including Ms. Donna Pressnell,

Brandi also teaches others how to be successful in their own crafting businesses; she does this while she homeschools her three children and Joseph works towards an engineering degree. Women in our area have expressed how All Stitched Together has helped provide the tools they need to grow their businesses. Brandi has worked with local shops such as Garner’s Custom Designs, LB Clothing & Things, Rusty Rose Boutique, and The Last Word Vinyl Creations. While I was at their East Limestone location doing this interview, people came and went, were greeted

like family, and the children were adorable. Brandi chuckled a little as she told me that the customer’s children often cry when their moms say it’s time to leave. Children have their own play area while their parents shop and often play with her children while visiting.

Brandi and Joseph have a great love for old machinery and bringing sewing machines from the 30s-70s back to life.

All Stitched Together provides sewing machine maintenance and repair for all types of machines. They also provide custom print services for businesses and charities, including banners, signs, custom vehicle decals, and more.

If you are looking for a place to be creative and build community, look no further—All Stitched Together is just what you need. Located at 25304 Maple Wood Drive Athens, AL, and inside Garnet’s Collection of Shoppes at 116 N Jefferson Street, they are sure to have what you need to get started crafting today! They will be ready with full hearts to help you find exactly what you need. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook at www. facebook.com/allstitchedtogether and on their website at www.allstitchedtogether.com where you can sign up for classes or shop online.

Ashton Butler, and Kaitlen Carroll. Brandi told me that Ms. Donna helped her with All Stitched Together when she relocated to this area in 2013, and was able to rejoin her when she retired in November. Brandi said she has been blessed not only by a loving, supportive husband, but amazing friends that make All Stitched Together what it is today.

As a business owner who has successfully turned her creative gifts into a full-time income,

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Page 17

Learning As A Lifestyle

Summer Camps 2019

by Wanda Campbell Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 We are excited to offer Summer Camps again this year at the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning. Complete information is available on our website – www.athens. edu/CLL or by phone at 256-233-8260 to register. Here are just a few of the camps that we will be offering this year.

SPORTS CAMPS, for ages 8-13, will include Archery Camp-Level 1 and Level II, both at the Carter Gym on the Athens State campus.

Archery Camps are during the first two weeks of June from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and snacks will be provided daily.

Archery Camp-Level 2 will experience advanced emphasis in the areas of form, shooting, and aiming techniques.

Soccer Camp and Golf Camps will also be of-

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fered.

CREATIVE ARTS CAMPS will include activities for writers, dancers, photographers, artists, and crafters. Some of the camps that will be offered include: Words Alive – Writing and Illustrating Short Stories for budding authors, ages 9 and up; Art Explorers – one session for ages 8-12, one session for ages 5-7; Hip Hop Camp a dance camp for ages 8 and up; and Photography for Kids! We will also be offering Pottery and 3D Art camps for kids!

SCIENCE and STEM CAMPS have always been very popular at the Center for Lifelong Learning. This summer will include Dr. Seuss Stem Camp, for

T t L

L t f t y b y h t h e

ages 8-12, which features books by Dr. Seuss used to create STEM projects; Great Brick Adventure, for ages 8-12, for the Lego lover at your house; Stop

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Motion Animation, for ages 8-12, features movie making software and imagination; CSI for Kids, for ages 9 and up, features the latest in forensic science; and Slime Academy, for ages 7-12, will feature all that oozes and foams for fun.

Each of these camps will take place at Athens State University’s Center for Lifelong Learning, on the Courthouse Square in Athens.

Let’s Have a Food Fite! Cooking Camp, for ages 8-14 (Athens State Sandridge Hall Cafeteria); and How Sweet It Is! Junior Baking Camp, for ages 8-12 (Athens State Sandridge Hall Cafeteria).

New this year is a camp to improve typing skills among pre-teens and teens; the Keyboarding Kamp for ages 1215, will be held in Waters Hall on the Athens State University Campus.

SKILLS FOR LIFE CAMPS will include two sessions of the very popular Super Sitter Camp for ages 10-17. We will also be offering Hands Up! American Sign Language, for ages 8-12, (Center for Lifelong Learning);

Please join us this summer for more fun with friends and lifelong learning! To learn more or to register, please visit http://athens.edu/ CLL or call us at (256) 233-8260. You may also visit us at 121 South Marion Street, Athens, Alabama. Hope to see you soon!

April 19 - May 2, 2019

The View From The Bridge

Intentional Leadership To Shatter The Glass Ceiling

by Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters There is Leadership and then there is Intentional Leadership.

Leaders, strap on your toolbelts; it is not just for setting around in the toolbox. To assist your team in navigating beyond the glass ceiling, you must be a leader who has learned to use your tools appropriately. A hammer doesn’t work for every situation.

Intentional Leadership requires the following: 1.

Know your people - Understand who is on your team. Seek to understand what they want and need. You will use the wrong tools if you don’t first understand what is required for who

you have on your team.

2. Be a trailblazer - Learn how to remove the barriers for your employees. Get up and out of the office chair.

Using the right tool works wonders on entry points. Determine if the door is locked or just stuck?

3. D e l e g a t e responsibilities - Stop hogging opportunities for yourself; teach your team. There is no growth if nothing is planted.

4.

Influence - It’s about influence not your position.

Positional leadership may get you temporary action with your employees, but influence will last long

after they leave your team -- a lifetime.

5. Presence and feedback - Check in with your team and let them know you are there, and provide authentic feedback.

6.

Continuously check yourself - Conduct

a personal inventory often.

Sharpen your saw so that when your employees need you to use them, your tools will be ready.

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional

Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@gmail. com Check out upcoming events: http:// thebridge-us.yolasite. com/

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC April 19 - May 2, 2019

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Page 19

Horse Whispering

Letting Go

by Deb Kitchenmaster What triggers horses to let go of their winter coats? If you said ‘the length of day,’ you stated the biggest influencing factor. Yes. The biggest factor is LIGHT. Less light triggers fuzzy winter coats. More daylight tells your horse to LET GO of its winter coat for something more comfortable.

As we are enjoying more daylight, our horses are enjoying ‘letting go’ of what no longer serves them -winter coats. The horse’s pituitary gland recognizes this change in daylight hours and produces hormones that cause a horse to shed its winter coat.

Vigorous grooming can remove all the ‘let go’ hair on your horse’s body. A shedding blade is used by many groomers, using the jagged edge of the blade to collect large amounts of hair. When the hair is thrown out on the manure pile, our feathered friends will come and gather what they need to make their nests this spring.

Some groomers prefer using a curry comb. This tool is useful in removing dirt, old hair, and debris from your horse. To be most effective, it should be used in a circular motion. Remember to be gentle when you are grooming under areas of the face and below the knees and hocks, as these areas have little muscle and are sensitive areas.

I have and use on our horses a shedding blade and a curry comb this time of the year; but let me tell you about a ‘new’ tool I got a few weeks ago. It’s called StripHair Gentle Groomer. There is no metal in this grooming tool. It has effective cleaning diamonds. When used

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Grooming is a great opportunity to bond with your horse. You’re not requiring your horse to perform any work; you simply are letting your horse relax as you spend this time with your horse, benefiting both you and your horse’s relationship. And as you groom your horse, you may want to ask yourself if there is anything or any at a 45 degree angle, it will remove loose hair and add shine. Large diamonds remove dried mud and sweat, as well as lather shampoo.

Small diamonds and tapered ends comfortably groom the face and legs. This tool has orange and olive oils in the material which increase durability, performance, and benefit. Anti-microbial agents and nonporous structure provide lasting sanitation. Contact information would be STRIPHAIR.COM or Betty’s Best, PO. Box 507, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, phone (805)500-8298.

The day my StripHair Gentle Groomer came in the mail, I headed to the barn. I groomed horses outside and inside the barn. Each horse’s body language yelled, “Yes! This is wonderful.” The stallion closed his eyes and gently stood the entire grooming. Usually, he likes to mess around in a playful sort of way. The horses and I are enjoying our new grooming tool. My grooming bucket has five items in it at this time: 1. StripHair Gentle Groomer, 2. Cordless clipper for bridle paths, 3. Coconut

oil, 4. Hoof pick, 5. Scissors What are some of the benefits of grooming a horse rather than it shedding its winter coat? Grooming gets your hands on your horse.

What better way to assess your horse’s health. Touching the horse tells you if the

horse is sensitive in a particular area. You will notice scratches or swelling. A good grooming session will let you pick up on any of these things prior to it possibly becoming an issue. Grooming increases blood flow to the skin’s surface and massages large muscle groups. Hoof picking keeps the feet clean and helps prevent common hoof issues such as thrush, a bacterial disease of the

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sole. Horses out in the wild are not groomed, but they have each other; and mutual grooming takes the place of brushes and combs.

area in your life that would benefit by your ‘letting go.’

If letting go seems to be more of a challenge than you can handle as well as with your horse, take a deep breath, ask Jesus for help, and breathe in courage. If you are a reader (which I’m thinking you are because you are reading this), may I suggest a book by author Joseph Prince entitled LIVE THE LET-GO LIFE, where he talks about how to break free from stress, worry and anxiety?

Grooming is good exercise for you. As you are moving your grooming tool across Your NEIGHbor, your horse’s top line, you Deb Kitchenmaster will be working your shoulCorral Connections ders and triceps. How’s that 256-426-7947 for an exercise workout?

Save yourself a gym mem- Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner bership -- groom a horse. horsinaround188@gmail.com

April 19 - May 2, 2019

Mental Health Minute

Is Anger Harming Your Health?

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

- Mark Twain In my last article, we explored the nature of anger as a “secondhand” emotion, often used to express feelings of pain. Today, I will be exploring the ways that anger may be affecting your physical health… and it’s not in a good way. Have you known people who seem habitually angry? As I acknowledged previously, sometimes anger can be good for you, if it’s addressed quickly and expressed in an appropriate manner. In fact, for some people anger can help them to think more rationally. Most of us can understand that holding anger in,

April 19 - May 2, 2019

turning anger inward, or exploding in anger can have a negative and possibly prolonged effect on our bodies.

Let’s take a look at a few ways that anger may be doing harm to your physical health and overall well-being.

If you’re mad all the time, you just may discover that you also seem to be sick more often. Anger weakens your immune system.

In a recent Harvard study, scientists discovered that healthy people who simply recalled an angry experience from their past caused a 6-hour dip in levels of antibody immunoglobulin A, which is the cell’s first line of defense against infection. Anger could be hurting your lung capacity. In another Harvard study, a large group of men were asked to measure their

anger levels, and then changes in their lung functions were assessed. Men with the highest hostility ratings showed significantly worse lung capacity, which in turn lead to more respiratory problems. The researchers believed that the chain of events, increased anger, led to a surge in stress hormones, which created inflammation in the lungs’ airways.

Outbursts of anger put your heart at risk. Dr. Chris Aiken, a clinical psychiatry instructor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, reported that in the two hours after an anger outburst, the chance of having a heart attack doubles!

He also discovered that those people who tend to be anger prone have twice the risk of coronary diseases as their calmer peers. Anger ex-

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plosions increase your risk for stroke and decrease brain function. Following an anger outburst, your brain may react in potentially lethal ways. One study reported a three times higher risk of stroke from a blood clot to the brain or a brain bleed in the two hours after a rage explosion. Another negative effect of anger on the brain is the increased cortisol levels which creates a loss of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. This is the area of the brain associated with executive function and appropriate social behavior.

ly fought. And those who fought frequently with friends were at an even greater risk. Fighting friends were 2.6 times more likely to die prematurely than those who got along with their pals. Worst of all were persistent fights with neighbors! These types of argumentative relationships created a risk of three times the likelihood of dying prematurely. Bottom line: Your body will thank you if you can learn to decrease your anger and calm down. My next article will address ways to do just that.

Is it true that happy people live longer? Anger can shorten your life.

A longitudinal study of couples found that those who fought frequently were more than twice as likely to die at a young age as did those couples who rare-

Lisa Philippart is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who divides her time between her own private practice in Huntsville and providing personal counseling services at Athens State University.

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The Alternative Approach

What Ever Happened To Common Sense?

by Roy Williams As most of you know, I am a believer in God and His son Jesus Christ; and even though I live my life around those core beliefs, I do not try to force other people to believe the same things. I am passionate about how that knowledge has made my life more complete and fulfilling, and I share that information with those who wish to listen.

In Proverbs, we learn a lot about common sense.

Proverbs Chapter 1 gives us a little insight from King Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever lived. Verse 2 says that Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings with deep meanings. You will learn what is right and honest and fair. From these, an ordinary person can learn to be smart, and young people can gain knowledge and good sense. If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge.

Which brings me to my first subject today. America was founded on a strong belief in God and the principles taught in the Holy Bible. To make

sure I am telling you the truth, listen carefully to the very first paragraph from the Declaration of Independence.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” That simply means that God gives us rights that surpass anything man can impose.

When they used the words, “created equal,” the word created implies that we did not evolve. We were created in the image of our Creator. Call our Creator what you wish.

To me His name is God. Then it goes on with the same theme by saying, “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Once again, the writers refer to our Creator using a capital C, meaning God. They also used a capitol R when talking about our Rights.

Why, because we are born with specific Rights given by the Creator.

Now, that brings us to political correctness, which ignores common sense.

Our politicians, in an at-

tempt to gain power, are willing to ignore moral values and common sense taught in the Holy Bible.

They want us to believe that their ways are more important than God’s ways. For many years, they have been trying to remove God from everything pertaining to government. No more prayer in schools. Can’t refer to God at sports events or government sponsored programs. They are even taking the Ten Commandments away from courthouses in many states and, heaven forbid, having a cross at a military cemetery.

In many states, at court hearings, you are no longer allowed to lay your hand on the Bible and say, “So help me God.” Let’s remember that our laws are derived from God’s word. It began with the Ten Commandants.

So, if our rights are given by man instead of God, it simply becomes your idea of right and wrong against my idea of right and wrong. What makes your idea better than mine -- education, race, personality or who your parents were? So, I always ask, “Without God, what makes your opinion better than mine? In order for society to survive, we must acknowledge that political correctness is nothing but one man’s opinion over another man’s. That is how wars begin.

When we acknowledge that our rights are given to us by our Creator and that they are unalienable

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(more powerful than any man’s), then all of us have solid ground to stand on.

We have freedoms, rights, and moral values that no man should be able to take from us.

In Verse 6, Solomon says, “All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding.” It should be worrisome to those of us who love freedom, when our politicians continue to move away from God. Let’s not forget that part about, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The first and, I would argue, the most important is life.

For any society to survive and thrive, it must have a huge respect for life. It is time for our society to acknowledge that life begins at conception. The second the sperm and egg combine, life begins.

As a nation founded on the belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we simply cannot continue to kill millions of babies and expect God to bless us. Or, for those who proclaim to be atheists, let me say it another way. If you chose to destroy your own seed, eventually you will have crop failure.

If you are looking at anything that has the ability to move using its own internal power, you automatically recognize that it is alive. Even seeds have internal power, life, that allows it to grow. We must teach our children to respect life, or we will become a selfish, angry, and violent society.

Socialism is just a continuation of the idea that man and his ideas can solve all problems, if we just give them enough money and time. Those running on that platform ignore the fact that in every country where socialism has been tried, it has either driven the country into bankruptcy or caused so much inflation that the basic population cannot afford to eat, much less live a decent lifestyle.

Just as nutrition is the life of the body, God’s word is the life of the soul.

Support your health with proper nutrition from Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen, and read your Bible every day to nourish your soul.

Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

April 19 - May 2, 2019

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