February 21, 2014

February 21 - March 6, 2014

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali: 256-468-9425 Deborah: 256-309-9399

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

All Things Soldier Behenna-Beast Or Braveheart?...

Michael Behenna, a soldier convicted of murdering an Al-Qaeda operative and who served 5 years of a 15-year sentence in Leavenworth, has been released on parole...

Page 4

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Garnet’s On The Square: A Gem Of A Store

By Ali Elizabeth Turner March 1st is the opening day for a new store that is bound to be a blessing to the folks of Athens. It is called Garnet’s On The Square. As the above subtitle suggests, it is Continued on pages 15

Nutrition In The Xtreme, And Living The American Dream

Athens and Limestone contribute to Remington Arms Project...

Today’s announcement

by Gov. Robert Bentley that Remington Arms is locating a manufacturing plant in Huntsville was the culmination of...

Page 10

Special Feature Celebrating Black History Month; Walter Jones, United States Air Force, Vietnam... The first recognition of “Black History Month” dates back to 1926, but it was not until the 20th century that their presence in our history books was recognized... Page 11

February 21 - March 6, 2014

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Back in December of 2010, when I first interviewed Josh and Shelley Cagle, the owners of Xtreme Nutrition on Hwy 31 near Domino’s, it was the eve of their grand opening and they were Continued on page 17

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Our new spring flowers have arrived and we’re busting at the seams with inventory!

Come pick your flowers while they are fresh! Cemetery Vase Inserts starting at $25.00 Cemetery Saddles starting at $18.00 Funeral Sprays starting at $35.00

Bushes starting at .79 cents

See us for all your memorial needs! We keep hundreds of vase insert, saddles, sprays and palls in stock for you to chose from. You can also pick out your flowers and we can custom design your arrangement to your liking (please allow plenty of time for us to do your customs).

Wide Mesh Ribbon 21" x 10yd $7.88

Come check us out! We have something for everyone!

Come see the tool side, we now carry everything for welding, including the gases!

14535 US Hwy 72 • Athens • 256-232-6695

HOURS: 9am-5pm Mon-Sat. • CLOSED SUNDAY We’re only a short five miles out 72 West and county taxes are only 6%!

Check us out at facebook.com/jandgvariety Page 2

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February 21 - March 6, 2014

Publisher’s Point

Is It 1933 Again?

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Sales / Editing Deborah Huff

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Delivery

Hunter Williams

Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Lynne Hart Wanda Campbell Janet Hunt Sandy Thompson Deb Kitchenmaster Brian Black Rachel Clark, RN, BSN Melissa Kirby Jackie Warner Will Anderson Holly Hollman

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 Uncommon Sense . . . . . . . . . . 9 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 10 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 16 World According to Will . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . . 19

A little over 80 years ago, an evil man whose first name was Adolph came to power in Germany. He was responsible for the deaths of millions, stole thousands of pieces of art, and gave us insight into things that we should not know about the human body’s response to “medical experiments.”

It is now on record that some students currently attending some of our “finest” universities either don’t recognize his face at all, or think he was an actor.

When he came to power in 1933, there were a few “watchmen on the wall” who sounded the alarm.

Winston Churchill was one of them. There were articles registering grave concern on the part of Jews and Gentiles alike published immediately thereafter. One that appeared on February 25, 1933 in the Literary Digest, (following Hitler’s inaugural parade of triumph,) had the following to say: “The slogan roared by the triumphant Nazi paraders before the Presidential palace on Monday morning, was ‘Down with Judah!’ Following this up, the leading Fascist paper in Berlin announced, with glee, that an exodus of Jews was jamming passport offices. No effort was made by the official organ of the Hitler party to conceal its view that those Jews who got out early would be wise.”

We all know what happened, though there are those who still try to deny it. And, as Al-

Horse Whispering . . . . . . . . 20 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Security Savvy . . . . . . . . . 23

February 21 - March 6, 2014

abamians, we can be proud of the fact that it was our state that first called unanimously for the formation of the State of Israel in 1943. Alabama’s governors have continued to officially proclaim their sup-

port for Israel as recently as April of 2013.

So, why the question, “Is it 1933 again?” In a word, we are seeing a “new anti-Semitism,” largely being accomplished by the rewriting of history and the exploitation of systemic ignorance. Words such as “land for peace,” or “the two state solution,” as well as “Israeli occupiers” pretty much go unchallenged.

It is easy to make a case for the validity of the existence of the State of Israel, and Melissa Kirby in her article on page 9 has done an excellent job of “teasing” the pre-

miere of a fine documentary on the topic entitled Israel Indivisible. It will be shown to the public for the first time at 7pm on February 24th in Nashville at the Gaylord.

It

was

Laurie

Cardoza-

Moore, one of the founders of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, who helped produce the film, and made the following statement to the group of us assembled at the private showing: “It is 1933 again, and what are we going to do?

Are we going to stand with Israel?” For her part, Mrs. Moore has drawn a line in the sand that took her this week to the United Nations as well to the studio of Fox’s Sean Hannity to tape a program on the impact of Christians in the media. It will be shown at 9 pm, February 21st. Laurie will then return to Nashville for the National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention

this weekend.

If it is indeed “1933 again,” and if we have a President who, contrary to the promise of his predecessor, George W. Bush, is demanding that Israel return the Golan Heights to her enemies who attacked her in the Six Day War, we need to sound the alarm. If former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke and Iran’s Press TV together are praising the Presbyterian Church of America for denouncing Israel, (as they did on February 16th, 2014,) we need to sound the alarm.

And oh, just in case you’re not particularly motivated to stand with Israel, know this: as we speak, Israel’s arch-enemy, Iran, has warships parked off the East Coast of the United States, ostensibly for “training purposes.” A more honest assessment was given by the Ayatollah Khamenei when he said the reason for the ships heading to our coastal maritime borders was because of America’s “controlling and meddlesome attitude.” Newsflash: to the Ayatollah, Israel is the lesser Satan, (whom Iran has vowed to drive into the sea), and we are the Great Satan. We need to courageously join in sounding the alarm in 2014, or there might not be anyone left to do it.

Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

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All Things Soldier

Behenna-Beast Or Braveheart?

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Michael Behenna, a soldier convicted of murdering an Al-Qaeda operative and who served 5 years of a 15-year sentence in Leavenworth, has been released on parole. Recently his parents, Scott and Vicki Behenna, said the following:

“With tears of joy in our eyes we are happy to tell all of you that Michael is coming home! … It has been, to say the least, quite a ride,” the parents said. They said further:

“Michael signed up for the Army in order to serve his country and honor the innocent people killed on 9/11. As a lieutenant he led his men in the ‘Mad Dog’ 5th Platoon into combat in Iraq and with them bravely faced a determined and ruthless insurgency. Then his story took a bizarre turn when he was charged and later convicted of killing a known Al-Qaeda cell leader who was directly involved in an IED attack that killed two of his soldiers, Steven

Christofferson and Adam Kohlhaas.”

Michael was holding an Al-Qaeda operative named Mansur at gunpoint in a tunnel, and questioning him through an interpreter. Allegedly Mansur threw concrete at Behenna while his head was turned slightly to hear the interpreter and Michael shot him. Later Behenna was charged with murder and convicted.

What is so disturbing about this case is that according to a forensics expert named Dr. Herbert MacDonell (who investigated the assassinations of JFK and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an expert witness in the OJ Simpson trial, and who has more than 50 years of investigative experience), the shots fired at Mansur were consistent with someone firing in self defense, and not cold blooded murder.

But Dr. McDonnell was not allowed to testify on Michael’s behalf. Dr. MacDonell said:

“I am sure that had I testified I would have wanted to give my reenactment so the jury could have had the option of considering how well the defendant’s story fit the physical facts,” MacDonell said. “This, of course, would not have been helpful to the prosecution case.

However, I feel that it is quite important as possible exculpatory evidence.”

Exculpatory evidence is that which favors the defendant

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and is used to prove innocence. For the life of me I do not know why Dr. MacDonell was not allowed to testify. Later, even the prosecution let slip that they believed Dr. MacDonell’s reenactment to be true! No one knew this until after the young soldier was con-

victed.

His parents expressed their dismay on their website and kept the pressure up. Their frustration was put to good use in the following statement: “As most of you know the prosecutors sent Dr. MacDonell home rather than have him provide testimony that would have corroborated what Michael said happened in that Iraqi culvert.

We will never know why the prosecutors wantonly withheld this evidence, or why the military chose to release a known terrorist whom Army Intelligence knew participated in the killing of Michael’s soldiers (and for whom the Army had issued a kill/capture order on), or why Michael’s platoon was designated as the unit to return the very man respon-

sible for the IED attack on Michael’s soldiers back to his home.”

In Iraq there was a stretch of road between my camp and the large adjoining camp that had a mosque and minaret right next to the wall. I drove it several times a week. Our soldiers who were on Entry Checkpoint were told that if they took fire from the mosque, they were not allowed to return fire because it was a mosque! Crazy things do happen in a combat zone and, sometimes, true justice seems nowhere to be found.

While it’s true Michael is safely back with his family, his conviction has not to date been overturned.

This means he cannot vote, own a firearm, run for office, and is automatically ineligible for all manner of jobs. But, he has parents that have fought hard and will keep after it. It is their statement of hope with which I wish to close:

“Life is often not fair, and as we have seen, justice is sometimes hard to come by.

For the innocent man who is sent to prison, life can seem especially cruel. To survive that requires strength that comes from deep inside. It also requires the love and support from family and close friends. Michael always knew he could count on his family and friends to be there for him. What has rocked his world is how thousands of people he has never met could will him through his struggle.”

May Michael’s world continue to be rocked.

February 21 - March 6, 2014

February 21 - March 6, 2014

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Calendar of Events The Flashbacks at Yesterdays Event Center Feb 22nd

15631 Brownsferry Rd, Athens, AL 35611 Come enjoy the live music featuring your favorites from 70’s and 80’s with a little Motown and Disco included, Doors open 6PM, Available Dinner 6-7PM, Showtime 7PM, show tickets $15, available dinner $9.95, Reservations required through the website www.yesterdaysevents.com

Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge Feb 22nd

10:00am to 3:00pm at Athens High School Gymnasium on US31 in Athens, AL. Fee For more information: 256-232-5017

24th Annual Gospel Fest Feb 28th

6:00pm in the Grand Foyer of at Calhoun Community College Campus Huntsville 102 Wynn Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35805. Come enjoy the music of a variety of local talent at this annual gospel fest. Sponsored by the Calhoun Community College Black Student Alliance. This event is free and open to the public. For more information about these events, contact Pamela Little at 256-306-2634 or the Calhoun Office of Publice Relations at 256-306-2560 or visit www.calhoun.edu.

Athens Home and Garden Show Mar 1st and 2nd

Athens Home and Garden Show presented by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce at the Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street in Athens, AL. If you are looking for a unique item for your home or garden or maybe garden tips this event is for you. Activities for the kids to make and take too. For more info: 256-232-2600

Mardi Gras Parade Mar 4th

Athens State University and professor Gail Bergeron and students from her Special Workshop in Sculpture class will hold a Mardi Gras parade in Athens at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. This 3rd annual parade will kick-off from in front of Athens State’s Center for Lifelong Learning located at 121 S. Marion Street on the Limestone County Courthouse Square. The parade route will travel Marion Street back and forth between Washington and Market Streets in Athens - just one block.

Polk Sallet Follies Mar 6th - 8th

This annual dinner show is a wonderful night of entertainment and delicious food. Ticket price and sale date to be announced. For more information 256-233-6412

16th Annual UCP “An Irish Evening” Mar 7th

the Tennessee Valley for a night of Irish-inspired fun. Irish and international food and beverages will be sampled from local vendors.

Celtic Entertainment including music by Bourbon and Shamrocks as well as Irish Step dancers will set your Irish Eyes to shining.

Silent auction items will tempt you too. All proceeds directly benefit UCP client services. Tickets are $25.00 per person include food and beverages (one child 12 and under is free with each paid adult ticket).

Buy your “An Irish Evening” Tickets Here

Ardmore Shamrock Shuffle Race Mar 15th

Registration at Active.com Ardmore Shamrock Shuffle is a chiptimed 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk located in Ardmore, Alabama benefitting Ardmore area charities. The event is an annual event celebrating the good times and fun of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday with Irish music and food and with a variety of vendors. The race kicks off the day wth a crowd of runners/ walkers dressed in their best St. Paddy’s Day garb hitting the streets of Ardmore. The 1 mile Fun Run /Walk follows with walkers and runners of every age heading to that Pot O’ Gold. It is a fun filled day for family and friends to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Good times, good friends and the luck of the Irish all in the same place!!!!

Rocket Run Ten Miler Mar 15th

Rocket Run Ten Miler in Mooresville, AL This Huntsville Track Club Members Race (Membership Information Here) runs a ten mile route through Alabama’s oldest city.

Athens Historic Walking Tours Apr 5th and 12th

Come join local guides as they stroll through one of five historic districts of Alabama’s second oldest city. Check-in is at 9:45am at the Athens-Limestone Visitors Cente 100 North Beaty Street and tours depart at 10:00am. Free For more information: 256-232-5411 or info@VisitAthensAL.com Join the conversation on Facebook too.

Athens Cruise-In Apr 5th

Shine the chrome, polish the paint or grab the family for some fun on the Square in downtown Athens, AL as the antique cars roll in and park. Enjoy a meal or do a little shopping too. Free For more information: Tschuman@comrep.com Join the conversation on Facebook too.

Heal and Crank Duathalon Apr 12th

Heal and Crank Duathalon in Mooresville, AL Registration at Active.com. This race is a beginner-friendly event as well as a good Sprint for the veterans. It consists of a 3 mi. run, a 13.5 mi. bike and a 3 mi. run.

6:00pm - 10:00pm at the Depot Roundhouse 320 Church Street, Huntsville, AL 35801 Join United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and

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February 21 - March 6, 2014

7950 Hwy 72 Suite A Madison, AL

Visit smart.athens.edu to get started.

February 21 - March 6, 2014

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Page 7

break away day

ladies...

FOR A

with

GWEN SMITH

First Baptist Church of Athens Gwen Smith is a speaker, author, concert artist, songwriter and worship leader who inspires women toward the heart of God through stories, songs, and Scripture.

Her fun, enthusiastic, and relatable communication style puts audiences at ease and bridges generational, denominational, and racial divides.

March 15, 2014 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

201 East Hobbs Tickets $25 (lunch provided) For more information please contact 256-431-4962 or 256-232-0602.

Page 8

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February 21 - March 6, 2014

Uncommon Sense Law And Politics: The Gen Y Perspective waywwords.com

|

uncommonsenselaw.blogspot.com

|

beyondmymountaintop.blogspot.com

Israel Indivisible

by Melissa Kirby Proclaiming Justice to The Nations, an international Judeo-Christian foundation, has recently completed a documentary entitled “Israel Indivisible,” making an excellent historical, Biblical, and legal case for the presence of a Jewish state. I was privileged to be one of the few to watch it last weekend in preparation for the NRB’s International Christian Media Convention coming up at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN on February 24th, 2014.

other people group that has been forcibly assimilated, they didn’t just disappear into those other cultures. In an absolutely miraculous fashion, they retained their bloodlines, their names, and their connection with a land they weren’t even supposed to belong to.

The land itself seemed to be

lost without them. Farmers and itinerant herdsmen moved in, but in very small numbers. There was very little vegetation, and no real economy. The Jews who had survived the holocaust of the Romans lingered on as well. According to “Israel Indivisible,” when the Jewish people began returning to their homeland

Even the non-Jewish inhabitants of the land got a much better deal after Israel became a sovereign nation once again. Real estate values certainly went up. And

let us compare living in a country with a king (think Jordan and Syria) versus a constitutional republic. I don’t mean to say democracy is perfect, not by a long shot, but you try living under a genocidal monarchy for a few years and let me know how it compares. I’ll be here, utilizing that whole freedom of the press thing.

When the nation of Israel was formed, a good half of the land mass was broken off for the “Palestinian” people. Modern Jordan was originally part of the country of Israel. But the Arab nations wanted more.

They wanted all of it; to the point that they’ll relentlessly lob rockets with the outspoken intention of driving every Jew into the sea.

If we’re going to be honest about it, there is no such thing as Palestinians. The land belonging to the current state of Israel has been conquered and re-conquered many times - wash, rinse, repeat. But the only sovereign nation to ever sit on that piece of land is a Jewish state named Israel.

After fifteen hundred years of solid presence in the land, the Bar-Kochba revolt provoked the Roman Empire into slaughtering most of the Jewish people, and enslaving and driving the rest from their homes.

If we, as a nation, as Christians, do not stand behind Israel - if we don’t stop the rockets being fired out of Gaza - if we don’t bless them, God has stated quite clearly that he will not bless us.

“First the Saturday people,” an old Islamic taunt puts it, “then the Sunday people.”

As part of their giant plan to obliterate Jews from the face of the earth, they renamed their country “Philistia,” or “Palestine,” after the Greek-Canaanite people who had wandered over the land with their sheep a millennium before.

It’s not about the freedom to speak up anymore. It’s about the freedom to live, and the freedom to stop, God forbid, yet another Holocaust on a nation that has endured far more than its share.

During the eighteen hundred years that followed, anti-Semitism followed the Jewish people into Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

But unlike every

February 21 - March 6, 2014

as persecution in Germany increased in the last century, about 300,000 people occupied the entire country.

10,000 or so were Jews.

I encourage you to make the trip to Nashville to see this documentary. It will be shown at 7pm in the Governor’s Ballroom at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

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Page 9

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Athens and Limestone contribute to Remington Arms Project

by Holly Hollman, Grant Coordinator/Communications Specialist, City of Athens

Today’s announcement

by Gov. Robert Bentley that Remington Arms is locating a manufacturing plant in Huntsville was the culmination of a regional effort to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the area.

The City of Athens, Limestone County Commission and Limestone Economic Development Association are contributing a total of $1 million to the incentive package.

“This regional effort will provide our citizens in Athens and Limestone County with the opportunity to obtain good paying jobs, which is the reason we supported this effort,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “This is a nearly 200-year-old company bringing more than 2,000 jobs to our area, and when companies like this are looking at other locations, we have to work together on a regional scale to be competitive.”

Limestone County Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee said entities in Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties created an attractive in-

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centive package for Remington Arms.

“I’m proud the project will be in North Alabama,” Menefee said. “It will greatly benefit Limestone County with the creation of new jobs. I also appreciate the efforts made by the governmental entities involved to make this project possible.”

Tom Hill, president of the Limestone County Economic Development Association, said the tricounty area of Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties is attractive to industries because of the skilled workforce, transportation opportunities and quality of life. He said multi-million dollar investments such as this benefit not only the immediate area, but the surrounding areas as well.

“Just as companies in Limestone County such as Steelcase and Carpenter Technology’s Athens operations benefit Morgan and Madi-

Gov. Bentley, Limestone County Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee, Remington Arms CEO George Kollitides and Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks

son counties, the Remington Arms expansion in Huntsville will benefit Limestone and Morgan counties,” Hill said. “In addition to the job opportunities it will provide, it also indicates to other industrial prospects that we are a growing area worth investing in.”

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February 21 - March 6, 2014

Special Feature

Celebrating Black History Month - Walter Jones, United States Air Force, Vietnam

by Sandy Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum The first recognition of “Black History Month” dates back to 1926, but it was not until the 20th century that their presence in our history books was recognized. The credit for this movement belongs to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Woodson, born to two former slaves, spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines; he enrolled in high school at the age of twenty and went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

He wanted to recognize the contributions of black people in American history, so in February 1926 he launched “Negro History Week,” he chose February because it was the birth month of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two men who had a great impact on the black American population. Getting the U.S. military on board took a little bit longer.

Although black Americans have had actively participated in every major U.S. conflict, it wasn’t until an executive order

by President Harry S. Truman in 1948, that the U.S. military became integrated. Two of the most notable groups who paved the way were the Buffalo Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen. After the Civil War, Congress authorized the formation of six black regiments, two of these were the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries, which were stationed in the Great Plains and were responsible for building forts and maintaining order. They were called Buffalo Soldiers by the Cheyenne Indians, not

an Air Freight Specialist. In 1965, he was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to Tan Son Nhut.

As the headquarters for the South Vietnamese Air Force, Tan Son Nhut was one of the busiest military airbases in the world, and it was from here that the last Airman left South Vietnam in March, 1973.

One of Walters’s most memorable duties was being assigned to a team which was responsible for staging and loading soldiers remains for the trip back to the United States, Walter remembers it as “very emotional duty.”

After leaving the military, Walter spent thirteen years as a police officer in San Bernardino, CA. He ended up living there for 38 years before returning to Athens. Walter was encouraged to join the Alabama Veterans’ Board by friend and fellow Veteran Raymond Phelps. He feels like more should be done to help the Veterans of Limestone County and hopes to do this through involvement with the museum.

only for the color of their skin but also for their abilities in battle. Although still resisting integration, in 1941, the first all-black military aviation program was formed at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

By 1943 the first of “The Tuskegee Airmen” were sent to North Africa to join the Allied Forces where they fought along with the all-white 79th Fighter Group. Their success in these missions paved the

February 21 - March 6, 2014

way for integration into the Army Air Forces, which later became the U.S. Air Force.

Walter Jordon Jones was born on April 1st, 1942 in Athens, AL and grew up over on Big Creek in West Limestone. He was summoned by the draft in 1964 and chose to join the U.S. Air Force. His first assignment took him to Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina where he was assigned as

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Clean and Green

KALB & TVA Offering Cash Prizes During River Cleanup

by Lynne Hart

Limestone County is a beautiful place. We are blessed with rolling hills, farmland, and beautiful waterways that afford us all sorts of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you prefer walking in the woods, sitting by the river, hunting, fishing, trail riding, or water sports, it is all available right here.

sible for the river. More than 90% of the trash in and around the Elk River begins as carelessly

clean up the Elk River Canoe and Kayak Trail and surrounding land areas. KALB and

eligible to win. Students under 18 MUST have an adult group leader accompany them the day

First Place: $250 Second Place: $150 Third Place: $100 Individual Prize The volunteer or individual who most closely guesses the total pounds of trash removed will receive $50 thanks to an anonymous donor who cares greatly about our environment.

Volunteers may guess free.

If you can’t volunteer but want to be involved, you can add your guesses for $1 each. All proceeds will be used to provide supplies for future cleanups. You can enter your guess at the KALB office or at the KALB booth at the Home & Garden Show!

Most Americans live within a mile of a river or stream; however, many people don’t understand how important rivers are to the quality of life in a community.

A healthy river provides clean drinking water, thriving fish and wildlife habitats, natural protection from flooding, and lots of recreational opportunities.

People who don’t feel a connection between their river and community are less likely to care for it, which leads to dumping, littering, pollution and overall neglect. It is not just fisherman, hunters, and boaters who are respon-

handled trash on land.

Wind, rain, and animals help carry litter through ditches and streams to our beautiful Elk River.

TVA will lead this initiative beginning at 8 a.m. Trash bags, gloves, bottled water, and lunch will be provided.

You Can Give Back

This is a great opportunity for students to receive community service hours, and it offers wonderful environmental education that can be tied to classroom activities.

On March 8th, 2014, volunteers will unite to

Group Prizes Thanks to TVA, we are offering groups the opportunity to win cash prizes! Any group that completes a registration form and works at the river cleanup will be

Page 12

groups that remove the most pounds of trash from the river and surrounding land areas will receive the following:

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of the cleanup, and each must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. Volunteers 8 yrs or younger must have a parent or guardian with them in addition to the adult leader. The

Contact us for more information! This is our river, our water source, our gift. Please help take care of it.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com February 21 - March 6, 2014

Cooking with Shelley

Chili and Cheese, and Even Sour Cream

by Shelley Underhill

The only thing better than a good bowl of homemade chili is a bowl of homemade chili topped with cheese and sour cream. You can find lots of chili and toppings at the famous Chili Challenge hosted by Hospice on Saturday February 22nd. Hope to see you there.

You can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com Enjoy!

What you will need: 2 lb ground beef 1 pack Taco seasoning 1 Pack Chili seasoning 2 cans pinto beans drained and rinsed 2 cans chicken broth 14 oz 2 cans tomato sauce 14 oz 1 can stewed tomatoes 14 oz 4 cups of hot water 1/2 cup of cornstarch ~ dissolved Fry ground beef and drain well. Chop ground beef into a pulverized state. In a medium sized pot, combine all of the ingredients except the cornstarch. Bring mixture to a boil, let simmer for 25 minutes. Use caution when adding the cornstarch to the chili. Add cornstarch until desired thickness is acheived. Top with cheese, sour cream, or other desired toppings.

February 21 - March 6, 2014

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Learning As A Lifestyle

What’s Cooking?

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262

Over the past three years, the Center for Lifelong Learning has offered several cooking classes.

Mostly we have offered cake-decorating classes.

This year we are trying something different: a cooking demonstration class.

We are calling it Class, a Glass, and Dinner. We have invited two local chefs to show us how they prepare a special meal.

The event will include your menu items and the instruction. Bring your beau, your best friend or plan a night out with all your friends. This is a great opportunity to dine in style and enjoy a great class.

Just in time for Mardi Gras, the first dinner will feature Chef Randy Missildine from LuVici’s. Randy’s specialty is cooking New Orleans style.

His menu will feature Shrimp & Okra Gumbo, Crawfish Etou-

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fee, and Crème Brule.

Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Center for Lifelong Learning. Fee is $25/ person.

fit a special theme or party by using the basics of cake decorating and adding fondant.

Supplies are included in the price and students will take home their project.

Class is scheduled Saturday, March 15, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

The fee is $45/person.

The second chef is Tammy Wilkerson, a native of New Orleans. Tammy has been teaching our cake decorating classes for three years. She is the owner of Arabella’s Cakes and Catering – A Taste of New Orleans.

As a continuation of our New Orleans theme and in preparation for our trip to New Orleans, we will be serving Red Beans and Rice for our second dinner.

The menu will also feature Bread Pudding and Praline Sauce. Her class is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. Mark your calendar today!

Why the New Orleans theme you ask? We are planning a trip to New Orleans that will focus

on sight seeing, history, touring, and FUN! This trip will feature Motor coach transportation, 4 nights lodging, 8 meals: 4 breakfast / 4 dinners, a Tour of a Louisiana Plantation, a relaxing Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi River, gaming at fabulous Harrah’s Casino or shopping on the Riverwalk, a visit the National World War II

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Museum, a guided Tour of New Orleans, and so much more!

The fee is $485 (double occupancy)/per person. You need to make a $75 deposit. Final payment is due March 1.

We will still offer our cake decorating classes.

In March we will offer Specialty Cakes – Part 1. In this class, learn how to make a cake to

Another class to watch for is Cooking 101. This class will teach the basics of cooking for beginners. Learn cooking terms, how to measure, substitutions, and so much more. Class is held in the Limestone Bay Kitchen at Athens State University. It is a great class for newlyweds or singles. This class will be taught by Dee Green of Mooresville’s restaurant Limestone Bay Trading Company. Ms. Green recently took over management of Athens State University’s newly renovated cafeteria.

Even if you don’t want to cook – you can travel. And if travel is not your thing, you will have lots of activities to choose from at the Center for Lifelong Learning. Watch the website – www.athens.edu/CLL or call our office at 256233-8260.

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Cover Story

Garnet’s On The Square: A Gem Of A Store

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

the desire of Garnet King, the owner, to have it be “a gem of a store.” Garnet’s will be located at 116 N. Jefferson, two doors down from Reliance Bank in Athens, and is going to be a marvelous addition to our downtown core.

Garnet King moved here when she was 16, and owning a store has been a lifelong dream of hers.

Her friend, Donna Ellis, who was helping with staging the store while I was there for the interview said, “Garnet is a treasure of a friend, and this is her time.”

Garnet wanted to make sure that the readers of Athens Now knew two things: how grateful she is to God, family, and friends for their help, (as well as the opportunity to serve the people of Athens), and to her parents, who many years ago put a blurb in the Athens News Courier for her birthday. It said, “Some people dream of diamonds and rubies, but to us a ‘Garnet’ was a dream come true and the best gem of all.”

Her son, Adam Clinard, who owns Complete Property Maintenance, her brother, Tom Little of TLC Construction, her daughter-in-law, Kim Clinard, and even her grandchildren have gotten involved in the project, as well as others. She made a special point of praising her husband, Mike King, for all his support. He had prayed about opening the store, as she has, and felt the “go ahead.” Of Mike she says, “He is

the love of my life.”

So, what is going to be at Garnet’s On The Square? I think the best description might be, “a classy smorgasbord.”

There will be privately owned booths that will have antiques, books, re-purposed furniture, items made from barn siding, paintings, and children’s clothing up to size 6. High end name brand furniture will be available, as will new craft items such as wreaths and wall art.

Garnet’s daughter-in-law, Kim Clinard, designed the charming store sign.

She makes coasters out of tile that have Scripture references on them. “If you don’t know what the Scripture says, it might inspire you to open your Bible,” said Garnet with a smile. For her part, Kim has taken pieces of barn wood,

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rugs, and paintings. “You could furnish a whole house here,” said Donna.

There are candles, recently published magazines at deeply discounted prices, and a custom made light fixture that has “really cool repurposing” figuratively written all over it. Adam took a wooden pallet and attached holders for

transferred an adorable picture of a child to the wood, and then will put wall art sayings on it for a custom creation.

She is also making furniture out of wooden crates, and will feature tables, bookcases and nightstands.

Other items in the “smorgasbord” include gorgeous drapes, lamps,

clay pots that can be used for a fresh herb garden.

The wall of one booth is comprised of real bamboo that is about 10 feet tall. The varied colors will make a lovely backdrop for all that will be displayed there. This booth will be called Cambridge and will feature items as unique as is the backdrop. Garnet also considers the store to be a gift shop, and loves to help people find just the right one at a wonderfully affordable price. Another way that Garnet describes the store, for those of

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you who spend time on the computer, is a “Pinterest store.” That is an apt description!

In closing, Garnet had this to say about what her goals are for the store: “Every booth is diverse in style and offerings.

I have prayed that God would give me something I could enjoy as well as create a thriving business.

I wanted to open a place that would provide a varied shopping experience.

My hopes are that my customers will be able to not only discover a multitude of ‘treasures,’but also a friendly old town store atmosphere. I am trying to create booths that replicate mini shops so that each vendor can offer a creative variety of EVERYTHINGnew items, antiques, paintings, new and lovingly used children’s and ladies’ clothing, custom made jewelry and vintage items of every sort. What Garnet’s offers will change as my booth vendors create or find items to add to ‘their store.’” Come on March 1st for the grand opening and see what all this hard work, creativity and love are about.

Garnet’s On The Square - A Gem Of A Store 116 N. Jefferson Athens, AL 35611 Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am to 5pm Phone: 256-777-3310 www.garnets.com Facebook: Garnet’s On The Square Page 15

Health and Fitness

What Is High Blood Pressure?

by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure (HBP) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. (Also known as hypertension.)

Blood pressure is written as two numbers (120/70 mm Hg). Top or systolic number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom or diastolic number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. For adults with systolic pressure 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure 80 to 89, you have prehypertension. High blood pressure is a pressure of 140 systolic or higher and/or 90 diastolic or higher that stays high over time.

High blood pressure cannot be cured, but it can be managed. HBP usually has no signs or symptoms and that is why it is so dangerous.

1 in 3 adults have HBP; and many are not aware of it. Not treating HBP is dangerous because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. You can live a healthier life if you treat and manage HBP. Who is at risk?

•People with family histories of HBP

•African Americans •People over 35yrs old

•Stroke

•Overweight people

•Heart attack, angina, heart failure

•People who eat too much salt

•Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

•People with diabetes, gout, or kidney disease

What can I do about it?

•Pregnant women •Women who take birth control pills, who are overweight, had HBP during a pregnancy, have family history with HBP or have mild kidney disease.

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•Kidney failure

•People who drink too much alcohol

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What can HBP lead to?

moderate intensity aerobic exercise each week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity.) Make an appointment with a Certified Personal Trainer for a safe workout recommendation.

•Limit alcohol intake.

•Take medicine as prescribed. Never stop treatment on your own. If you have problems or side effects with your medicine, talk to your physician.

•Lose weight if you are overweight.

Talk to a health coach about lifestyle changes.

•Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. Eat a variety of deeply-colored fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, low fat or fat-free dairy products; lean meats and skinless poultry; fish with healthy omega-3 fatty acids; and nuts, seeds and legumes. Talk to a dietician about a healthy eating plan.

•Be more physically active.

(Aim for 150 minutes of

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Cover Story

Nutrition In The Xtreme, And Living The American Dream

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

community. They sponsor athletes from cheerleaders to bodybuilders. Pat Bellew, a local bodybuilder, is due to go national in 4 months, thanks largely to Josh. They are sponsors of the Sheriff’s Rodeo, and this past year were sponsors of the Pink Elephant Luncheon, which raises funds for battling breast cancer. The Alabama Veterans’ Museum is pleased that they are going to be sponsors for this year’s luncheon on March 22nd that will honor female veterans from the Vietnam era.

unashamedly “pumped.”

Here is what I had to say about my first impressions of these young, “xtremely” hard working entrepreneurs: “Josh and Shelley Cagle are my latest encounter in what’s becoming a long line of hardworking, savvy, free market capitalists who want the satisfaction of being their own boss and benefitting the community while they are doing it.”

What has happened since then is nothing short of yet another example of how blessed we are to live in America and pursue its dream. Last week Josh signed the contract on the ninth Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies store, this one to be located in Manchester, TN. The others are in Madison, Decatur, North Huntsville in Bender’s Gym, Florence, South Huntsville in Bailey Cove, Columbia, TN and Indiana. Josh is the owner of 4 stores, and the other 5 are owned by franchisees.

In addition, the Cagles are moving from the Hwy 31 location and will be opening a new store in the Publix Shopping Center toward the end of March. Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies now is a full-fledged franchise, with its own registered store color, signage, logo, font, and in about two weeks, a brand new nutritional product line.

Josh has had a great interest in nutrition for athletes since he began his own bodybuilding career as a teenager.

“There’s a lot of junk out there,” he told me, “and what

is on the label isn’t always what is inside the container.”

So, as the proactive entrepreneur that he is, Josh set out to formulate his own excellent line. He purchased raw powders from suppliers, and he knew what he wanted to be in the product. He did a goodly amount of research, as well as some trial and error to come up with the right ingredients in the right proportions. The result is a line called 316 Formulations, named after John 3:16 in the Bible. Both Josh and Shelley are strong believers, and while their businesses are flourishing, they are very careful to acknowledge God as their source of blessing.

Both Josh and Shelley have used Josh’s product, and are pleased with the results. Since

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Josh announced the launch of 316 Formulations on Facebook, they literally have hundreds of pre-orders.

The flagship product is called Rapture, and is the umbrella term for the pre-workout drinks.

The pre-workout drink for losing weight while exercising is called Rapture Lean, and the drink for adding bulk and preparing for competition is called Rapture Mass. The fat burner is called Accelerex.

It was important to Josh that the pre-workout drinks not give anyone the jitters, and he describes the energy boost that can be gained from using them as being “clean and very smooth.” Rapture also contains 5-HTP, which helps with focus. Another interesting feature is that the recommended serving size is the same for men and women.

Rapture was formulated here in Athens and is produced in what is known as a GMP certified facility. GMP stands for Good Manufacturing

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Practice, and means that everything about the facility is top notch. It is a certification that cannot be purchased. 316 Formulations is going to be stocked in all of the franchise stores, and will also be available to purchase online at www.316formulations.com.

I always feel that I can best tell an Athens Now client’s story if I get the chance to watch them in action with their own customers. While I was in the Madison store conducting this interview, some prospective shoppers came in, loaded with questions.

Josh answered them well, and then did something that impressed me. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, and offered to write out a workout regimen for each of them for free.

In addition, on the wall that has the menu posted for the smoothies is written the following: “Add 50 cents to your smoothie and we will match it to fund a scholarship for a local student athlete.”

There are a number of ways Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies gives back to our

To me, Josh, Shelley, and their dream are shining jewels in our community; proof that hard work, integrity, vision, and generosity are blessed by God and are what still make America great.

Come experience it for yourself.

Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies Old Athens location (until the end of March)

117 A Hwy 31 S, Athens

(next to Domino’s Pizza)

256-233-0005

New Athens location

22041 Hwy 72 E, Ste B (in Publix Center)

Athens 256-233-0005

Hours: M-F 10-6:30, Sat 10-5 Find us on the web at www.doitxtreme.com and www.316formulations.com Contact Us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/Xtreme NutritionandSmoothies Page 17

Like me on

The World According To Will

The Will Anderson Show on Talk Radio For Real Life M-F 4pm-6pm on WTKI and WTKE, 94.7FM and 92.9FM, and 1450 and 1490AM

Most Of Us Are Conservatives - So Why Do The Liberals Keep Winning?

by Will Anderson

Barack Obama’s 2012 Presidential election victory is the eighth wonder of the world. The economy was Carteresque, the world was—and continues to be—in disarray, and Romney (while not the ideal conservative candidate) was the evident adult in the race. So what gave?

The temptation is to attribute incumbent Obama’s victory to his skin color.

The case could be made that in the waning days of the battle the President came across as a victim of sorts, insinuating through his style on the campaign trail that a vote against him was a vote against racial progress. In fact, when he won, he said, “Tonight,

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Libertarian Gary Johnson more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union

moves forward.”

Unfortunately, one man or woman can’t singularly perfect the union, and for Obama to suggest that

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his re-election has somehow made America more authentic is, megalomania aside, preposterous.

A book could be written on the subject with the thesis being “Liberalism is trumping conservatism in election after election because libertarianism stubbornly refuses to be pragmatic.” In 2012, bona fide libertarians decided that Romney was inauthentic. Some chose to sit the election out, others chose to cast a vote for Gary Johnson, which was roughly the same as sitting it out.

No one thought Johnson could win.

A recent Gallup poll revealed that Wisconsin was the most conservative state in the union.

Alabama, surprisingly, fell from the number one spot to number ten. On the liberal side, our nation’s capital unsurprisingly came in first.

The numbers on both

sides though leave a question mark. Just over half of those who live in Wisconsin identify themselves as conservative; about thirty-eight percent of D.C. citizens call themselves liberal.

Where is everyone else?

Gallup’s other option was “moderate,” a vulgar appellation, but one that respondents, given no other options, chose.

So what is today’s “moderate?” A moderate is, first and foremost, anyone who thinks that there is no difference between the parties. Shame on Gallup for not offering “libertarian” as an option. My guess is that this option would have garnered the most votes.

Libertarian candidates are on the ballot every year, and enough conservatives who are fed up with the Republican Party vote for the libertarian candidate with the vague goal of making a statement.

Their vote is frustrating but understandable. Republicans in Congress have abandoned their conservative base, and conservatives have returned the favor by abandoning the Republican candidate in election after election.

The quixotic impulse is understandable ideologically, but it’s dreadful at the end of each Election Day. So what’s the answer?

Voters should be more pragmatic, and the Republican Party should return to its conservative roots.

February 21 - March 6, 2014

The View From The Bridge

I Did Not Sign Up For This!

by Jackie Warner Jackie Warner

Community Outreach “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters

We all come to this earth with a purpose unknown to us in many ways, but it is definitely there without a doubt for us to accomplish. Often we catch ourselves saying, “I didn’t sign up for this” and “Why me?” Actually you were signed up and didn’t even know it.

The things we encounter in this life are not totally by accident. I will say it again! The things we encounter in this life are not entirely by accident.

It is what we choose to do next that ultimately makes the difference in the fulfillment of our purpose.

My actions and your actions in times of trouble, pain, and sorrow are what determine the depth of our strength.

There is a story of a man I would like to share with you. He strived to do right, prayed to the Lord daily and kept himself from the evils of this world just as many of you do in your lives. One day he received word that there had been a major devastation and all ten of his children had been killed, seven sons and three daughters. Imagine how he must have felt.

Not one child, not even two of his children but all ten were now dead. Truly he must have thought “I did not sign up for this to happen in my life!”

At such a terrible, devastating, and sorrowful moment his next move, many would say, was unique and truly different

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from how our society today deals with matters of distress and hurt. The actions he took after receiving this news should encourage us when we are faced with despair, pain, and suffering to know that we are not in control.

When he was told the horrible news about the loss of all his children, he fell down (yes, he fell down) and worshipped saying “I came into this world naked and naked shall I return. The Lord gives and he takes. Blessed be His Name.”

think about all the things in your life that you have dealt with or are dealing with. Loss of a loved one, stress on your job, divorce, heartache, sickness, family troubles, disobedient children, unemployment, cheating spouse… Whatever it is or whatever it was, allow your next actions to be strengthened by what the man in this story decided to do. The man I speak of was Job. I only shared with you the loss of his children. He lost so much more, but chose

to fall and worship. (Job Chapter 1) As I close today, I would like to leave you with this verse: Job 22:21 “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee.”

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Career Development Facilitator The Bridge “Where Community Matters”

Would this have been your response? For many the answer would be no, but I challenge you to

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Horse Whispering

Here And There I am happy to announce Julia Wood as the winner of the Horse Whispering trivia that was in ATHENS NOW/ Dec 20 – Jan 2, 2014 issue.

Congratulations, Julia! It was fun to receive the many responses to the equine trivia. Julia was the first to respond; answering all the questions.

HERE is what Julia wrote:

NEIGHbor in Des Moines, Iowa. This ‘happened’ to be a timely article for her.

Through expressions of gratitude and being encouraged she shared her horse story with me. This fall she came to the South! I asked Christine if she would share her experience with ya’ll. She was honored to do so. HERE

“When I went to Ms. Deb’s it was so much fun!! We sat in the barn... some sat on hay bales. Ms. Deb taught us all about horses. She told us the parts of the horse. She used a live horse so we could see the parts on him & on our picture. We wrote the names of the parts so we could remember. Then we all got to brush the horses. I learned a lot!!!

Although the requirements differed, 18 young ladies, ages 5-16, who came out to CORRAL CONNECTIONS, received their horsemanship badge from having spent time hearing and learning about horses. If you are in an equine group that requires time at a horse facility, please call CORRAL CONNECTIONS at 256-426-7947 and schedule a session.

the Lakes in KY. We hauled over 1700 miles. We spent over 100 hours in the saddle in 4 states in 15 days, averaging over 6 hours/

is her story.

“Over the course of 3 weeks my 8 year old Quarter Horse, Willie, transported this Iowa farm girl through some amazing country I’ve never seen before at the Cross Country Trail Ride at Eminence, MO, the Shawnee National Forest in South IL, and Land Between

THERE was a connection with another person because I was HERE writing and horse/human sparks ignited

This entire trip was full of firsts: my first encounter with a copperhead, seeing Cypress trees with knees, learning about tobacco sticks, riding into territorial ground wasps, zip lining, visiting a pawn shop, tasting liver, persimmon, wild grapes, and grits.

It’s not possible to choose just one beloved new place.

The 81 million gallons a day rushing through Alley Spring in Eminence and the barn red color of that grist

In the Aug 17-Sept 6, 2012, edition of Athens Now, I wrote about “CONFIDENCE”. This particular HORSE WHISPERING article ended up in the hands of a horse person in Iowa. THERE in my email box I received my first connection with a

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mill next to that multi colored clear water is unforgettable. Also the metal art was clever and “old West” shops felt

ture) is where qualifications were met to receive a horsemanship badge because of choices, decisions and interests INSIDE individuals.

day riding with 4 days of it in rain and 1 day in hail. And after a 20 mile trail ride from KY to TN and back, we woke up one morning in Eminence to a frosty 27 degrees.

Thank you for the horse brush & book.” :) Julia

by Deb Kitchenmaster

homey. The Blue Hole in KY held the prettiest of hidden treasures – rocks turned blue from the process used to create Iron Ore in the area.

The hues range from pale to teal, iridescent, purple, and striped. I’d love to live on the edge of the serene One Horse Gap Lake in Shawnee.

Lunch at Peter’s cave, taking in the tumultuous clouds at Crow’s Knob, the waterfalls at Jackson Falls and Jackson Hole, the Tin Whistle culvert and tunnel are just a few of my favorite things.

Everywhere we went the people were wonderful: the people at tack stores helping me with saddle fitting, the staff at the various campgrounds, other riders, and nonhorse people.

The time spent with new fiends and growing closer to current ones was precious.”

Christine and I want to encourage you to go THERE sometime.

HERE (at this time, at this point, at this junc-

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a new friendship.

The only difference between the spellings of here and there is the letter “t”.

The “T” reminds me of the cross where Jesus cried out, “IT IS FINISHED”!

May you keep hearing and learning about how much God loves you and how precious you are to HIM. Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections: Connecting with LIFE through a horse Animal B.E.S.T practitioner dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

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Medical Update

Show Your Heart Some Love: February is American Heart Month

By Rachel Clark, RN, BSN During the month of February, Americans see hearts everywhere.

Most Americans see it as a month that is dedicated to love. It is also American heart month, a time to show your anatomical heart some love in addition to the heart as you emotional center.

Cardiovascular disease (a fancy medical term that includes heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke) is the number one killer nationwide. It is also known as the “silent killer” as there are many times no warning signs or symptoms associated with heart disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control, it is also a leading cause of disability in the US and costs us over $300 billion annually in cost of healthcare, medications, and productivity.

word that will help keep you from feeling you are in over your head: JOLT, which stands for Just One Little Thing.

Rather than thinking you have to make multiple major changes at once, taking it one small modification at a time will have tremendous effects on your heart health.

Other things you can do include partnering up with someone else, don’t get discouraged, and reward yourself! Let’s face it. No one wants to make major changes on their own and we all need a little accountability and encouragement from

time to time! It is easy to get discouraged with changes when we are focusing on the negative, so reward yourself through the process as you make those small changes. Set goals, and when you reach them, celebrate!

Prevention is key when it comes to cardiovascular disease. At a recent lecture I attended in regard to Whole Food Nutrition, an MD said “Your body never forgets how to prevent what you don’t yet have.”

So what are some things you can do to help prevent cardiovascular dis-

ease? The list below is just a few things you can change (http://www. cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/).

such as coconut oil, olive oil, and avocodos

•Work with your healthcare team-get a check up at least annually

•Regular exercise- at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days a week

•Monitor your blood pressure-remember there are no symptoms of high blood pressure most of the time, so check it regularly •Monitor your cholesterol- have it checked at your annual exam •Eat a well balanced diet with lots of FRESH, RAW fruits and vegetables with moderate

•Maintain a healthy weight- through diet and exercise

•Don’t smoke- if you currently smoke, you should quit; if you don’t, don’t start •Manage other chronic health conditions such as diabetes Happy Heart Month!

Keep your heart healthy.

And remember: JOLTJust One Little Thing.

There are many risks associated with CVD. Some of them you can alter, others you can’t. Modifiable risk factors include diet, exercise, tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Non-modifiable risk factors include gender, family history, age, and ethnicity.

As you begin to take the journey toward better cardiovascular health, it is important not to get overwhelmed. At a conference recently I heard a

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February 21 - March 6, 2014

Security Savvy

Drive-Through Safety

by Brian Black, Operations Manager of Madison Security Group 203 Us Highway 31 S, Athens, AL 35611 Why is the entrance to most drive-through windows adjacent to the exit for the in-house part of the restaurant? It’s dangerous for two major reasons. First, most of the time people using the drive-through are trying to hear the orders from their passengers or looking for their purse or wallet, distracting them from watching for people walking toward the entrance. Second, the patrons leaving the restaurant are not paying watching for vehicles because of their children or trying to manage their purchases and keeping their children in tow. It is human nature to think that leaving a restaurant would be safe and being hit by a car would be the last thing on your mind.

through. Reason for this may include those inconsiderate people who drive up with a car load of people and then starts deciding what they want.

Or, the register could be acting up (everything is computerized) which would stop the process entirely. This idle time is when you become bored and start using your smart phone. Before you know it, you have bumped the car in front, OOPS! Or, you turn around to take control of the children and your foot slips and again OOPS! Try to stay focused on where you

are.

Finally it seems that the drive-through has become a popular stop for those who have been drinking and are trying to sober themselves up.

Be aware. If you see a person acting as though they are under the influence, don’t be afraid to call the authorities. You could save someone’s life, so be aware. I have noticed that the drivethrough has changed from a person picking up a small order or a drink to people putting in an order that would feed a small army. This does

cause some people to become angry and start to act out. If that is the case, don’t get involved.

Don’t put yourself or your passengers in a compromising position.

You can always try to get a description of the per-

son, the type of vehicle and tag number, and then let the police know what happened. As always, stay aware and keep yourself safe.

I have driven into a drivethrough and had people leave the restaurant and walk directly in front of my vehicle, causing me to stop abruptly. I have learned to keep my eyes open so that hopefully, I won’t injure anyone.

Safety doesn’t just fall on the driver; it’s up to people coming out of the restaurant to pay attention, especially when they have children with them. We all know that children are so excited to be there they will run in front of a moving vehicle without a moment’s hesitation.

Another situation regarding a drive-through is the waiting. It seems that more often than not, you end up waiting a lengthy period of time at a drive-

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