Athens Now 6-5-2020

June 5th - June 18th, 2020

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Ronnie Marks standing before the Athens Bicentennial mural

The Chronicles Of Charles In Times Of Quarantine - Are We Really Isolated?...

Riots. Social Isolation. Social media. Televised sensationalism. This is the time to sit quietly and soak in nature, the only thing that hasn’t been...

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What Makes Ronnie Roll Be The Voice Of Reason...

Monday morning was different this time. Mayor Ronnie and I were trying to get our heads around the awfulness of what...

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Cooking With Anna Am I Enough?...

What a whirlwind the month of May has been. I have been working from home while the doctors try to figure out which autoimmune disease I may have, my...

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

Re-Elect Ronnie Marks As Mayor Of Athens

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Ronnie Marks is campaigning to be re-elected as mayor of Athens and would like your vote. He did not arrive at his decision lightly, knowing from experience that public service is something that is both costly and highly re-

Continued on page 15

Stateline Garage Door, LLC: Honest, Experienced, Affordable

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Since they were five years old, Ardmore natives Matt Teeples and Jacob Lewter have been fast friends. They were in Continued on page 17

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Matt Teeples (L) and Jacob Lewter of Stateline Garage Door, LLC

www.JuicePlus.com Page 2

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

Publisher’s Point Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

The George Gazette

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Sales & Distribution Degan Wilder

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Cayce Lee Anna Hamilton Joel Allen Nick Thomas Eric Betts Roy Williams Charles Joseph

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4

OK, this is me yelling: WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD WAS STRAIGHT UP SIN! Now, I have the rest of this page to fill up, and I will do my best to find something helpful and perhaps unique upon which to spend my word space. There are a number of strange things about the case, past the most important aspect of a man being murdered over the alleged use of a counterfeit twenty dollar bill.

Floyd and Officer Chauvin, who has thankfully been charged with murder, had worked security at the same club for 17 years. Whether or not they actually knew each other has not been established, but the fact they worked in the same place is admittedly odd.

Let’s move on to what we do know: cities all over America have been set on fire ostensibly because of what happened in Minneapolis, and several states

have had to activate their National Guard units. I am going to let you in on a little secret that I hope will not be taken as an attempt to diminish the gravity of what happened between an abuser and his victim who died a brutal death. There are people who for reasons which have nothing to do with the desire to shed light on a crime, secure justice, heal racism, or appeal to the positive side of humanity who actually WANT cities to burn. Why? Because they hate the dream that is America. The dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Pilgrims and Christa McAuliffe.

Why do I raise the possibility that cities are burning for reasons that are far different than being rightfully sickened and outraged? Because I have experienced it firsthand. A lifetime ago, when I would participate in demonstrations, I saw people try to manipulate demonstrators in order to incite violence. To be very specific, in Cleveland in

1972, my college comrades and I tried to shut down the county courthouse in protest to the mining of Hanoi Harbor. Throughout my activist “career,” I was steadfastly committed to the principles of non-violent protest, (with one exception which I will explain below) although I was surrounded by people who were not.

The demonstration was over, and we were a block or two away from the courthouse when a guy who had not been a part of our group came out of nowhere and started yelling, “Bring the war home! Bring the war home!” He then identified himself as a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, better known as the SDS. I remember standing there feeling so betrayed, and yes, frightened.

This was not what we were about, as goofed up as we were as young college students.

On another occasion, however, I was on the other side of it. There was a dem-

Quarantine Life . . . . . . 5 Calendar Of Events . . . . . 6 Chronicles Of Charles . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9

onstration on the Oberlin College campus, again, an anti-war demonstration, and this time we tried to burn down a marble memorial known as Shansi. It had been erected in memory of Oberlin students who had gone to the mission field in China and had been murdered in the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 because they were Christians and because they were foreigners.

For some reason it was not problematic to me to try and destroy it. Years later, when I myself was a missionary in Mexico, my actions of my youth were even more embarrassing to me. By that time, though, I had surrendered to grace, and grace makes all the difference.

What can possibly be gained by my telling you this stuff? Maybe someone will be helped by reading this and say, “Wow, that is some crazy stuff! What changed you?” The only One who can. The One who saw past my ability to be manipulated and to manipulate, to deceive and be deceived. The One who still decided I was worth loving enough to die for, and did it. And His love, dear readers, is the ONLY way we will douse the fires of rage as well as racism. Let’s get to it.

Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 16 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 18 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . 22

June 5 - June 18, 2020

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All Things Soldier

The Navy Nails A Terrorist And The Media Responded With Crickets

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Squeezed right between the COVID Capers and the murder of George Floyd was an incident that occurred at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas.

The acts of heroism that took out a terrorist have been responded to by the media with the sound of crickets, i.e. such a comparative level of quiet that the chirp of the country bugs at night is all one hears.

To recap briefly, on May 21, a twenty-year-old man from Syria by the name of Adam Alsahli tried to storm the North Gate of the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. He fired at a female sailor who was guarding the gate, and hit her. Thankfully, she sustained only minor injuries because she was wearing protective gear, but she was knocked down. In spite of that, she was able to quickly roll and hit the button that threw up a barrier and prevented Alsahli from entering the base.

The gate team then took out the would-be jihadist, and God only knows how many lives were saved that

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day.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi houses the four squadrons of Training Air Wing Four. The Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and foreign student pilots train at the base.

They use Truax Field on base and as well as outlying airfields for their training.

NAS Corpus Christi also serves as home to an Army depot which serves as the

primary maintenance facility for Department of Defense rotary-wing aircraft.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service also operates from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. In a word, a lot could have gone wrong here that would have harmed several branches had the sailor at the gate not been so quick-thinking.

It needs to be noted that Alsahli’s social media ac-

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counts weighed in as being in support of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The FBI is the agency running the investigation due to Alsahli being an “Arab male,” and they combined forces with Corpus Christi police to conduct a raid on his home. So far the attack is being called “terrorism related.” The Corpus Christi attack occurred a few days after US Attorney General William Barr released his conclusion that the shooting which occurred at the Pensacola Naval Air Base in December of 2019 was “an act of terrorism” as well; and in that case, Royal Saudi Air Force 2nd Lt Ahmed Mohammed Alshamrani was a part of AQAP. In the Pensacola incident, three sailors were killed. It was the messages on two IPhones belonging to Alshamrani that provided the proof of the link to Al-Qaeda. The Royal Saudi Air Force lieutenant

was able to get access to Pensacola because he was a foreign military student assigned there. Were these guys working together?

That has not been determined, and there is apparently a second person of interest in the Corpus incident with no details available at present.

The FBI office in Houston issued the following statement: "The heroic actions of the Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 2nd Class who risked her life and did not hesitate to engage the subject, as well as the actions of the Navy Security Forces, likely stopped what could have been a much more deadly attack.”

That team is going to receive a number of commendations and awards, and for that, I am grateful because clearly they deserve it. My question however is, “Why did such heroism go essentially unacknowledged?”

June 5 - June 18, 2020

Quarantine Life

What We've Learned From Working At Home courtesy BrandPoint Content (BPT) - The recent transition to widespread working from home has shown that the experience has been both educational and eye-opening for many. Working at home means learning to cope with distractions, space constraints, managing time with family and learning new skills. And, according to new consumer research, it has also meant reassessing what is most important.

A nationwide survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of LG Electronics reveals the many ways working from home has challenged and surprised Americans.* Connecting with loved ones The most striking survey results show the importance of close relationships. Social distancing has caused many to reassess who is most important to them, and how much they may have taken friends and family for granted.

ones, followed by going out to a meal.

ers know when they're working.

Managing work-life balance

Mastering technological challenges

For many people, juggling priorities and obligations was difficult even before the switch to remote working. But having to work at home has shined a brighter spotlight on how we cope and find a healthy work-life balance.

Most people affected by the crisis say they have had to master (or learn from scratch) how to complete their work entirely from home, including the new norm of conducting video conferences from somewhere in their home.

Here are some of the tricks people have discovered:

Technology has been crucial to this adaptation. Almost half (47%) have discovered a new app or service they say they now can't live without - especially video chat apps that have helped them learn how to communicate better with colleagues and loved ones.

* Half said they take frequent short breaks to balance work and home responsibilities. * 37% are starting work earlier, while 17% are starting work later to manage schedules better. * 35% are learning to keep their whole household to a schedule. * 23% use visual cues (like signs) to let oth-

As one might expect, a majority of respondents admitted to making conference calls from a common area in their house.

However, some said

vices or technology, many said that they were spending significant time using it for family or relationship management.

For many, the time they've spent working at home has helped them appreciate how successfully technology has kept them connected on all fronts, including their work and personal lives.

* 39% plan to do more cooking.

Reevaluating life's priorities Overall, the experience of working from home has had everyone reassessing what - and who - is most important to them. Among those who said they've discovered new apps, digital ser-

An overwhelming number of survey respondents said that they plan to continue at least one of their new practices even after returning to a "normal" work situation, including:

* 43% said they're likely to arrange more family dinners. * 39% also said they would do more video chatting.

As a result of spending some more time at home, many have been rethinking their priorities, with nearly half considering buying or using fewer things. Some (16%) have thought about beginning a new career, and others are considering starting their own business (14%).

No matter what your work-from-home experience has been, chances are it's changed your attitudes about work and family life - and how to balance the two in ways that will stay with you long into the future.

The global health crisis has turned socializing into a more deliberate act. More than half (53%) of homebound people said they felt closer to loved ones than before the outbreak, and 27% even said that they felt much more connected than before.

*The LG WFH Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. adults, working from home due to COVID-19, between April 10 and April 15, 2020, using an email invitation and an online survey.

When asked what they want to do first when the crisis is over, the top answer was to visit loved

June 5 - June 18, 2020

they were stuck calling from a makeshift workspace in a lesser-used part of home. One-fifth of respondents admitted to calling from a basement or attic, while others said they took work on the go. The research shows 18% have called from their cars, and perhaps most surprisingly, 12% admit taking work calls in the bathroom.

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Calendar of Events Alabama Backyard BioBlitz June 5

We've pulled together some Tools for Explorers for you too that you'll find under our Explore by Themes.

Alabama Backyard BioBlitz is a statewide initiative that encourages public to explore and document the natural world from the comfort of their backyards. This year's theme is biodiversity -- the amazing collection of flora and fauna that ranks Alabama first in the nation and first in the Mississippi River region. To participate, download the free iNaturalist app from the Apple or Android app store and search for "Alabama Backyard BioBlitz" or you can participate via the desktop site www.inaturalist.org/projects/alabama-backyard-bioblitz You can expand your backyard adventure by exploring one of Athens-Limestone Alabama's nature trails or waterway like the Richard Martin Rails to Trails, Marbut Bend Trail, Limestone County Canoe & Kayak Trail, or Athens Swan Creek Greenway

Play Outside Day June 6

Families everywhere are encouraged to get outside the first Saturday of every month and play in public parks, enjoy trails, hit the waterways, explore greenspaces and just play!

Limestone County offers over 20 trails to explore including walking, cycling, horseback riding and kayaking – perfect for all ages. For more information: 256-232-5411

Opening Day at the Athens Saturday Market June 6

Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, music with Mike Cole and Jacob Greene, art, and crafts at the Green Street pavilion (409 West Green Street in Athens) from 8:00AM to 12:00PM. Happi Pappi Beignet truck will be onsite from 8:00AM-10:00AM. For health and safety, 6 feet separation between guest is encouraged as well as mask; guest will not be able to walk between vendor spaces but in one direction along the main aisle; and guest concerned about venturing under the pavilion will have the option of a pickup location that a volunteer will greet them and complete their shopping. athensmainstreet.org

1st Annual West Limestone Wildcat Diamond Club Bass Tournament June 6

Plant Sale and More June 6

Limestone County Master Gardeners at the Athens Middle School Green House (100 U.S. Highway 31N in Athens) from 8:00AM-2:00PM. A variety of house plants, garden plants, and more will be available for purchase. There will be a Silent Auction with winners announced at noon, a Rain Barrel Construction demonstration and Planting technique information with Master Gardeners.

Proceeds benefit Limestone County Master Gardener programs.

Community Food Distribution June 8

With New Life Assembly of God (16768 U.S. Highway 72 in Athens) from 10:00AM-1:00PM with over 1,000 food boxes to giveaway including fresh fruit and vegetables. First come, first served - while supplies last

Alabama Free Fishing Day June 13

A statewide event that allows residents and visitors to enjoy the outstanding fishing opportunities of Alabama's waters. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com

Athens Fireworks Show at the Athens Stadium (100 U.S. Highway 31N in Athens). No stadium seating. Viewable from adjacent properties including Central Church of Christ, Swan Creek Park, Athens Shopping Center, Athens High School.

Please respect private property and traffic right of ways. Bring your camp chair, lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the firework show after dark provided by Athens-Limestone County Tourism, City of Athens and Limestone County Commission.

For more information: Athens-Limestone Visitors Center 100 North Beaty Street in Athens from 8:00AM-5:00PM, Monday through Friday or 256-232-5411.

First Creek Boat Ramp at Joe Wheeler State Park (4403 McLean Drive in Rogersville) from safe light until 3:00PM. Payouts up to $5,450.00. Entry fee: $100.00 per boat (2 persons). For more information, rules, or to register: 256-874-4480

National Trail Day June 6

National Trail Day is a great time to get out and explore the over 20 trails in our community. Take a stroll and bird watch, be a community steward and pick up trash and recycling, or hit the waters of the Elk River and just paddle the day away.

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Red, White & Boom July 4, scheduled but not confirmed

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IT'S BACK!!!

VVA Spaghetti Day 3rd Monday Of Each Month June 15

Vietnam Veterans' Museum. 17915 W. Elm St. in Athens. Supports college scholarships for local high school students. Take out only for now. Cost is $8 a person, $4 for children under 12. Call ahead for large groups or take-outs. 256-431-3213.

June 5 - June 18, 2020

The Chronicles Of Charles

In Times Of Quarantine Are We Really Isolated?

by Charles Joseph Riots. Social Isolation. Social media. Televised sensationalism. This is the time to sit quietly and soak in nature, the only thing that hasn’t been taken from us at this current time. Something not man-made. Something that is the right to absorb by every living creature on this planet.

I remember in high school as a young man, I searched desperately for peace from my tumultuous childhood.

There was so little to be found. So I began to get up very early in the morning and run. Just run. I would wake up on those cool fall mornings barely able to open my eyes. As I walked outside, the chill of the darkness would enter my lungs.

The humidity would hurt as it rushed through my lungs.

I would start off slow and build up to a sprint. Once I hit a couple miles, I would walk across the street to the National Wildlife Refuge.

sunshine as the sun would rise righteously over the distant river. The fog would lazily sit above the corn filling every gap with mystical white light reflecting off of the sun. In that moment each morning, I was reminded that God does exist.

God does care. And no man, woman, or child was meant to be an island. Love would

overflow as the awe of the magnificent creation struck the cord of my innermost being.

On my slow and steady pace back to the house, Rocky would follow me and then happily lead me while reflecting the same joy in his eyes that I now felt in my heart and mind. I would fill

his bowl with dog food and water and go inside for a refreshing shower. I would then iron my clothes for the day, pack my books, and walk quietly to the den to speak to my father before school.

As we pulled up to the school, I breathed in one last peaceful breath and walked through the large double doors of Decatur High School. My day began.

Sitting in class inundated with information, I couldn’t help but continue to visualize the sun shining across the water and the fog slithering undetected through the cornfield. From time to time, I would breathe in deeply as if I was still there without a thought or care in the world.

Finding peace of mind and soul in times such as these can be simple or complex.

I choose to make it simple.

Fishing has always been my zen. Being on the water without a care in sight is how I choose to get away from the force-fed drama of everyday life in today’s version of the book 1984 by George Orwell.

I don’t watch much television other than movies, and I continue to read for the joy of knowledge and the remembrance of lessons learned in society’ past progressions. I often go for a walk late at night and talk to God to remind myself of what really matters. There is no greater thing on this earth than peace in one’s soul.

When I returned to my house, I would let out my cocker spaniel Rocky to run and have his start to the day. Our slow descent to the edge of the cornfield overlooking the Tennessee River was something that I earned through a painful run each early morning. As we approached the field, I would lose sight as the morning mist coming from the river would fill my senses. Once I made it through the initial white cloud, I would see the cornfield and breathe in deeply, watching the beauty of God’s creation in one of its finest moments.

In that instant, my internal turmoil would melt away and my eyes would fill with

June 5 - June 18, 2020

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Be The Voice Of Reason

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Monday morning was different this time. Mayor Ronnie and I were trying to get our heads around the awfulness of what had happened in Minneapolis.

We talked about demonstrations gone wrong in Nashville as well as Birmingham. We commented on how weird it was to have COVID seemingly and temporarily vanish as quickly as it had arrived.

There had been a demonstration on Sunday at the Courthouse Square in Athens that, as the mayor explained, no one would have known about if there had not been some pretty vile communication via social media just prior to the event. Thankfully, the protest was peaceful, at least physically.

“We have got to be the voice of reason,” said the mayor. It was clear to both of us that people had legitimate reasons to be upset, “But how do we come together?” was the deep question on both of our hearts. We talked about the need for prayer, and not just casually, but

people of all colors in Athens coming together for serious, reconciliation prayer.

We moved on to other topics and even a bit of humor. In response to some of the re-opening of Athens, there was a line of cars on Sunday that went down the street as people waited to get

something tasty at Kreme Delite. The mayor jokingly asked someone if there was any chance that he could cut in line, and she shot back, “Oh, that could get you hurt!”

Not knowing how COVID is going to continue to affect us and how we gather together, the mayor told people on Facebook

that one way or another there will be a Heroes’ Day for kids, even if it has to be in parade form.

And, in spite of COVID changing the format of Relay for Life this year, over $12,000 was raised to help fight cancer. As we continue to adjust the way we celebrate, it was noteworthy that there was a social-distancing retirement party for Athens Fire Department Chief Brian Thornton, who served our city for nearly a quarter of a century. The mayor wished him well.

Before we set to prayer, the mayor asked me to include something he had posted on Facebook which summed up all of our grief and desires for our nation to get through this time. It is as follows: Like many of you, I have lived through, and seen,

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many troubling times in this country. From the horrible race riots in 1960-'70, and specifically 1967-1968 and serving in Vietnam, but honestly these current days trouble me to the point of tears.

While having coffee on the patio, I listened to the Gaithers, James Cleveland (Standing in the Need of Prayer), and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

If we expect to get better, we have to do better.

Thank God for Athens and Limestone County and all of us working together to "be better."

I ask all to "Stand in the Need of Prayer"…please stay safe!

Then it was time to pray, so we did, coming away from our time together with a deeper desire to “be the voice of reason.”

June 5 - June 18, 2020

Slinkard On Success

Choice, Commit, Continue

by D. A. Slinkard

I have been thinking about the world around me and what a bleak world it is for many people, though the perspective is not the same for others. Take for instance, there are some people who are wearing masks everywhere they go while others are not wearing masks.

Who is the smart one?

Who is the brave one?

Who is the dumb one?

The answer all depends upon who you ask and it proves one common factor -- Life is about perspective. What you think, what you believe, what you trust all dictates the direction your life is going to go in. I never thought I would quote Rahm Emanuel, but as he says, “Never allow a good crisis to go to waste.”

We need to stop the doom-and-gloom thinking.

Seriously, what is it getting us? Is it possible we are going to live in bubbles for the rest of our lives and be able to keep out every disease known to man? Nope. Not even close; yet we have allowed for our lives to be altered dramatically and the norm is absurd.

We do things to give us a false sense of security that ultimately puts us more at harm. You can wear a mask, but at least wear it the right way. Wearing it incorrectly does no good for you, for me, for anyone. If you are going to wear gloves, the same goes.

June 5 - June 18, 2020

I have already wasted two paragraphs on this fear mentality that we need to get over. This article is going to introduce you to 3 Cs. The very first “C” is choice.

We all have a choice to make, and we all make choices every day. Either you can allow the current situation to bring you down or you can make the choice to not allow fear to run your life. How many people have been crippled by Covid-19, not because of the disease but because of the mentality that comes with the disease?

Many people fail in life because they fail to make the correct choice in life. They choose to focus in on the negative, focus in on why they cannot achieve something, and this is why they get nowhere.

You need to have a defined destination you are wanting to achieve.

When you make this choice you are then able to go to the second “C” which is commit.

We live in a society that has commitment issues.

Whether it is gym memberships, marriages, or even cell phone contracts, we live in a time in which people are afraid to commit themselves. Too often people want to give up the moment life gets hard.

Why? You have made the choice of what you want to do with your life; now you need to commit. People give up because it is not easy.

Let’s look at Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken; many people do not realize the obstacles he had to overcome. Once he received his first social

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security check, Colonel Sanders set out trying to sell his recipe. He was told “No” over 1,000 times until he finally got his first “Yes!” People see an end result and they believe it is the initial result because of the Facebook falsehood we live in. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, have created altered universes where it is merely a virtual reality. Not too long ago I saw someone on a social media site saying if they could get 1,000,000 people to give them a dollar they would email everyone a book on how to get a million bucks through the Internet. I wonder how many people fell for this tactic.

We have choices to make, then we must commit, and the final “C” is continue. We must follow this routine on a

daily basis and cannot stop. Water that stops moving becomes stagnant, and that is exactly what happens when a person stops moving in their own life. They become stagnant and the bloodsucking mosquitoes start hovering around just waiting to find the next opportunity to draw some more blood out of them.

We are already close to being halfway through this year, and what are you doing with your time? Are you going to allow Covid-19 to be your excuse or are you going to do something about it? It is your choice -- You need to commit, and then you need to continue this cycle. It is a tough world out there but you must decide whether you win or lose.

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Tourism

Tourism Seeking Community Help For Projects

by Cayce Lee

Social Media Specialist, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Athens-Limestone Tourism has several upcoming projects under development for 2020-2021, and they need help from the best resource around – the community! Tourism is seeking insights, tips, ideas, and information from every corner, crook, creek, and bend of Limestone County.

It’s hoped that citizens – the heartbeat of the community – can help a little in identifying points of interest, offering tips on when and how to best visit or experience a site, or maybe introduce the community to a littleknown treasure in our own backyard.

Items on the wish list for Athens-Limestone Tourism include creating a list of dog-friendly businesses and locations in Limestone County; help identifying natural, public spaces throughout the county for the State of Alabama’s “Year of Natural Wonders” and ways to best enjoy them through boating, painting, photography, or even just having a picnic; and identifying kid-friendly activities and dining options, including parents’ and kids’ tips to what meals on the menu might be considered “Kid Approved” when the project comes to a conclusion.

What are the dog-friendly spaces in our community?

“Many of our residents and visitors have dogs that are an active part of their life, “says Social Media Specialist Cayce Lee, “and they would like to involve their furry family member in all aspects of their daily routine, including dining, shopping, and relaxing.

It’s becoming an ever popular and growing request of Athens-Limestone Tourism; so efforts are underway to put together a list of places that welcome the entire family -- Fido included.

We just need a little help from the community identifying businesses, shops, restaurants, and outdoor spaces throughout the county that welcome our furry friends.”

The first round of the

search for Fido-friendly facilities led to adding Hyatt and Sims to list. The popular store in downtown Athens reached out and professed their love and open door for Fido. Miss Lee added, “We hope more stores and businesses throughout Limestone County will reach out to the Tourism Office and let us know they welcome dogs. People love their dogs … and they’ll spend to spoil their pooch, and they’ll spend at businesses that welcome them too. So it’s a win-win.”

The second project on the wish list seeking help from the community addresses spaces in our community that are open to the public that offer amazing views, pictorial settings, or an aweinspiring aspect that can

Lucy's Branch Marina offers not only scenic views, dining and music opportunities but escapes on the water, great for a day out with the family.

“It is not just a matter of identifying spaces themselves, but if there’s a best time of day to visit, like sunset, sunrise, or a time of year like spring or fall when things bloom or colors change,” continues Miss Lee. “Maybe there is something visitors should look specifically for, like the eagles on the Elk River, cranes at Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, or other migrating fowl; or a place that is good for photography, watercolor, or another artistic venture someone might enjoy. These are the things our communities can help us with identi-

fying because they get to live it day in and day out.”

The third research venture of 2020-2021 is identifying kid-friendly activities and restaurants with kids’ menus, specials, and what are kids’ favorite menu items.

“Our community families are our best resource for this special project – they’re experiences can speak volumes. When it comes to dining and trying to identify menu items kids love the most, we need to turn to the experts, our families and the kids themselves, to ask for help. Having that insider tip from community experts – like ‘Timmy of Elkmont age 9 loves the Chicken Tenders at Restaurant A and suggests your kids try the green beans and his favorite dipping sauce X’ – that’s what parents love to see and want to know … and we want to know too.” said Miss Lee. Anyone wishing to submit a suggestion for any of these projects are asked to email them to Cayce@VisitAthensAL.com with a subject line of either Dog-Friendly, Natural Wonders, or Kids’ Eats. Suggestions can be mailed or dropped off in person at the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center 100 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL 35611.

The first project on the wish list addresses a quality of life request:

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align with the “Year of Natural Wonders” campaign being promoted by Sweet Home Alabama in 2020, but has longevity beyond this yearly theme.

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

June 5 - June 18, 2020

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Clean and Green

Best Laid Plans Require Flexibility…

We Can Still Celebrate!

by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Just like every other business and organization across the country, our best laid plans have been disrupted by the stay-athome and safer-at-home orders. And like most everyone else, we are working around these obstacles and testing our flexibility.

Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO One of our biggest disappointments is that after postponing our Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO from April 25 to July 18, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the in-person event. We are especially disappointed because this was the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and it was to be the first one on the campus of Athens State University. Our amazing planning committee had so much in the works!

Once the decision was made, our planning committee went to work to find alternate ways for the community to celebrate our beautiful planet. The activities we will offer are meant to get people out into nature and appreciate the beauty that we miss when glued to our electronics. Details will be shared on the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Facebook page, on our website, and through local media. Here are activities in the works: • Guided walks at the Marbut Bend Walking Trail: The first will be a morning walk at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 27. Additional walks will be sched-

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uled, and we hope to have one or two evening walks to enjoy the night sounds.

Group sizes will be limited.

If you’d like to be part of the June walk, let us know!

• Earthy Art Contest: We will be inviting students and families to take a walk in their neighborhood, at a park, in the woods, at the river, anywhere nature can be observed. Then we want to see what kind of art can be created from things found along the way. Artwork can be framed, hung, free-standing, or anything that shows creativity! We are finalizing the guidelines and the cash prize amounts and will be releasing the information soon!

• Environmental Scavenger Hunt: We will be working with our entire Earth Day Planning Committee to develop the scavenger hunt. Watch for guidelines and prizes!

• Rain Barrel Painting Contest: This contest is still on track and it is not too late to get involved!

The deadline for painting a rain barrel is July 18. Details can be found on our website under the Events tab.

We are so grateful to our sponsors who have stuck by us through all of these changes: American Leakless Company, Indorama Ventures, Bank Independent, In-Tech Medical, Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, Clem Tire, Westrock, Redstone Federal Credit Union, and Aviagen. Their support of our organization is invaluable and appreciated more than we can say.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection We have waited 12 years for the opportunity for Limestone County residents to properly dispose of house-

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hold hazardous waste, and it is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 29 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Athens Middle School parking lot on Hwy. 31 (location subject to change).

ucts; household chemicals, such as pool chemicals, photographic chemicals, solvents, mercury thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent tubes (tubes ONLY).

The following items will be accepted: Paint and related products, such as mineral spirits, turpentine and thinners; automotive fluids, such as transmission fluid, brake fluid, and anti-freeze; lawn and garden poisons; household cleaners, such as oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, polishes, ammonia, and bleach-based prod-

KALB is grateful to the Limestone County Solid Waste Commission for funding this event, and to the Huntsville Household Hazardous Waste facility for their assistance.

Please contact us with any questions or comments. We love to hear from you.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8000 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com June 5 - June 18, 2020

Cooking with Anna

Am I Enough?

by Anna Hamilton

What a whirlwind the month of May has been. I have been working from home while the doctors try to figure out which autoimmune disease I may have, my husband and I have started a new business venture, we are in the process of moving into a new house, and we are in the very early stages of starting the adoption process. We are running around like chickens with our heads removed.

Most days, I have not felt like I am enough. I feel as if I am falling short in so many ways. I used to be strong, you guys, like really strong. This will be the third move for my husband and me. Before I could move furniture without a problem; I was able to keep up with my husband and be a helper to him. Since becoming sick, I have almost zero energy. We were moving in new furniture this week, and I felt I was more of a hindrance than a help. Bless my dear husband for being so patient.

I was lamenting my feelings of inadequacy to my mother, and she sent me a text with the most wonderful quote. I think it’s going to do me good to read this every morning and every evening. “Some days doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect— on any front—and doing what we can with what we have is

Italian Cauliflower Salad

the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.” Mr. Rogers My mom knew I needed to hear the wisdom of Mr. Rogers in that moment; she is one of the very best when it comes to bestowing wisdom. I can’t remember a time in my life where I have felt myself falling short of every goal I have set and feeling very insufficient. I just am not the same person I was, and I am having to try and accept and love the new person I am now.

My weight has gone the wrong direction over this past month as well, not helping my feelings any. Not feeling well has become a crutch, an excuse, for not eating as healthy as I should. Of all the things happening in my life right now, most are out of my control; but what I put in my mouth is in my control. I have to jump back into eating healthy, and hopefully that will restore a sense of normalcy in my life.

The recipe this week is a great salad. It is one that doesn’t feel like you are eating healthy, and it will please even your pickiest eater. I hope you enjoy this Italian Cauliflower Salad as much as I do.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:23-24

Ingredients: For the salad:

1 pound cauliflower florets 8 oz mozzarella balls 1 cup grape tomatoes 1 cup spinach 4 oz salami slices 4 oz pepperoni slices 1/4 cup sliced red onion 1/4 cup pepperoncini

Directions:

For the dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil Juice of one Lemon 1 tsp salt 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp basil 1 tsp rosemary 1 clove garlic, minced

Chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and place in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 3 minutes or until as tender as you'd like. Drain the liquid from the bowl.

Slice the grape tomatoes in half. Chop the spinach into small pieces. Cut the pepperoni and salami slices in half.

Add the tomatoes, spinach, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella,

June 5 - June 18, 2020

onion, and pepperoncini to the bowl with the cauliflower.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, oregano, basil, rosemary, and garlic until well combined. Taste and add additional lemon, herbs, or salt as desired.

Pour the dressing over the cauliflower salad and toss to coat.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

Cover Story

Re-Elect Ronnie Marks As Mayor Of Athens

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

take ownership in our city and share their ideas and concerns.

In return, they are teaching us to be open about giving youth a voice and challenging them to use their talents to make a difference.” Since that time, other mayors of cities in Alabama have asked him to help them start a similar program in their towns through the League of Municipalities.

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warding. Thankfully, he has the energy of a man many years his junior, and is ready for “four more years.” Given the growth of our area since 2010, and the fact that we are the fastest growing county in Alabama, he is going to need it. He told me, “Our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness, and that’s growth.

My aim has always been to help our city handle it well.”

Ronnie was born in North Alabama and moved to the Athens area as a teenager. He chopped cotton, got a degree in education, taught science, and served in Vietnam, where he received a field commission and seriously considered pursuing a career as an officer in the U.S. Army. He turned it down because he had a wife and child, and chose a different and varied path of public service. He has held several positions in our area and for the State of Alabama. They include serving on the board of Athens-Limestone Hospital, the Alabama Veterans Museum, the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Limestone County Economic Development Board, and the Council on Aging. Last year he was asked to serve as president of the Alabama League of Municipalities, and routinely gets calls from mayors all over the state who need someone with experience with whom they can talk. Ronnie has been married to Sandra for 52 years, and they have two kids and three grandkids.

Quinton, their grandson, lives with them, and they are members of Friendship Methodist Church. One of Ronnie’s favorite things to do is teach the adult Sunday school class, and over the years, on Mondays, he has told me about lively discussions which have occurred in those gatherings.

June 5 - June 18, 2020

Other accomplishments during Ronnie’s time as mayor include: • Helping the Athens Police Department become one of the first in North Alabama to adopt the use of body cameras • Removing condemned properties which had been eyesores, sometimes dangerous ones

Mayor Ronnie, Sandra, and 7 year old grandson, Quinton.

After Mayor Ronnie got home from Vietnam, he got his master’s degree in social work and spent many years working for DHR. He had to deal with the grim realities of child abuse and poverty in our state, and when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Governor Bob Riley asked him to head up the task force that dealt with the aftermath. The man has led men through literal jungles, dealt with the blighted property that was Pilgrim’s Progress, advocated for Athens’ securing funding for major projects in the financial maze of New York City, helped Athens fight cancer through Relay for Life, and made Athens laugh as a veteran cast member of Poke Sallet Follies.

Ronnie served as a member of the Athens City Council.

However, it wasn’t until former Mayor Dan Williams ran for and won the District 5 Alabama State House position in 2010 and appointed Ronnie as mayor, that he fully understood the rigors of the position.

It has been Ronnie’s vision for

• Developing the Sportsplex facility

Athens that has been kept ever before him, and there are five things that are his chief concerns: public safety, (which means more now than ever), quality of life, education, economic development, and improvement of government operations. And, it is the special energy and heart of the people of Athens that is one of the main reasons he is seeking reelection.

new

• Working with reorganized tax structures that have resulted in millions of dollars in new business revenue and

hundreds of jobs About his decision to run again for mayor, Ronnie said: After much thought, prayers, and discussions with family and friends, I am seeking another four-year term as mayor of Athens. Being mayor is truly one of the most humbling experiences I have had. I would be honored if the voters would allow me to have another term. I continue to have a high energy level, and my passion is stronger than ever to help lead Athens into 2020 and through the next four years.

And about his love for Athens, the mayor said: To me and my family, Athens is more than a home. It is also our heart. I love serving this city and am honored to serve as her mayor.”

If that is the type of leadership you want to see continue in Athens for another four years, then re-elect Ronnie Marks for mayor.

Paid political advertisement

by Friends of Ronnie Marks for Mayor

One of the things about which Ronnie is most proud with regard to his time in office is the creation in 2012 of the Mayor’s Youth Commission.

Since that time, he and his staff have made a difference in the lives of high school students as they have learned about city government and how to be engaged citizens. “I am extremely proud of this program because we have been able to pair students with community service projects, teach them about our city departments, and give them the responsibility of overseeing a community grant program,” he said. He added, “These students are learning to

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Health and Fitness

How To Stand The Test Of Time

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

Let’s be real. Almost everyone wants to shed some weight, either 5 to 10 pounds or maybe more. The initial goal being to gain confidence and good health, maybe even reverse some serious health problems.

The key to doing this and making it worthwhile is for it to stand the test of time! However, let’s be honest, for most of us losing weight is hard. It takes dedication and long-term commitment to clean eating and exercise. These things just do not always fit in our busy lives easily, so naturally we look for shortcuts.

When we fail to stick to doing it the right way and do not see the results we so desire, inevitably desperation sets in, and we are tempted to turn to fad diets and dietary supplements.

Companies make their products and methods look so tempting through amazing promises and awesome advertising. The goal of improving our health slips away, and the quick fix becomes much more alluring. The fad diets and supplements vary; but they all usually have a few things in common -- they promise extreme-

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ly significant weight loss in a short amount of time! The scary part is not only is the rapid weight loss not sustainable, it can have some very harmful side effects.

Elimination of food groups is very typical in fad diets, as is the use of dietary supplements.

This may work for a while, but a few things begin to occur over time.

Since the body is being deprived of the nutrients it needs to function, it will begin to tell you in varying ways that it is not happy. You may experience fatigue, nausea/ vomiting, headaches, digestive issues, irritability, hair loss, and even

potential organ damage.

While you may lose the weight you have been wanting, as you get comfortable and begin to return to a more “normal” eating pattern, it will all inevitably come right back. This puts you in a yo-yo dieting pattern, hopping from one fad diet or supplement to another every few months, gaining and losing weight rapidly, and putting your body in a very unhealthy cycle both mentally and physically.

Another major consideration when it comes to supplements is that the FDA simply assumes all are harmless until proven otherwise.

This only occurs when consumers have issues arise and actually report them. Manufacturers do not even have to prove their products are effective before selling them!

This information alone is a reason you should be extremely careful, but there is more. Several supplements do not have a complete or accurate ingredient list and can even be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, other medicines, and other unknown chemicals. I believe it is safe to say that health is NOT the overall goal here!

The bottom line is that nothing can replace real food and what it does

for our body. The body craves what it needs, and all that it needs can be found in all-natural whole foods. Dietary supplements are simply not needed when real food is used properly.

Everyone has a certain amount of required nutrients their body needs daily; a balance of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fat, and greens is usually a winning combination. When you begin to replace these allnatural whole foods with protein powders and supplements (while they may be labeled “all natural”) the nutrients have been stripped away, and the body will have little to nothing to absorb for fuel and/or nutrients.

They are fillers at best and ultimately are providing you no benefit.

God made the earth to support us, don’t over complicate it!

The above just scratches the surface of why a sustainable, healthy lifestyle requires all-natural whole food. Nutrition can either make or break your life. This is something that I believe VERY strongly and continually educate myself in so that I can help others live their best life!

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

Cover Story

Stateline Garage Door, LLC: Honest, Experienced, Affordable

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

sports together, got through adolescence together, worked together, and are now in business together. Between the two of them, they have 18 years of experience in installing garage doors, and know how to do everything from standard installations and repairs on up to installing or repairing high-end doors on custom homes. Garage installation started out as a summer job while they were studying at Calhoun, and the desire to be the best at what they do is what got them to where they are today.

I asked them, “What caused you to go into business for yourselves?” Their answer was one that thankfully is often heard in our Athens Now interviews, and that is, “We wanted to own our own business, run it the way we felt was right, cut out the middle man, make a decent profit, and be able to pass savings on to folks.” It must be working, because these guys are busy, and their customers are happy. Here’s an example of some of their reviews: “Anyone needing a new garage door or a repair at a reasonable price with excellent customer service should contact Stateline Garage Door. Sooo happy with the work they did for us! Would recommend 100%.”

-Olivia C. “These guys came out on a Saturday morning after lightning struck my door opener. They were super helpful, honest, and very quick with a professional install. I would definitely recommend them for any garage door work or repairs!”

-Ben W. “Excellent service. Techs are friendly and explain

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my house and check out the need for a possible repair.

They nodded, acknowledging that this is a common fault amongst installers, and Stateline clearly wanted to be the exception. I explained that while the button on the wall of the garage clearly wanted to lift the door, something was preventing it, and there wasn’t anything visible getting in the way. everything to you. They worked quickly and efficiently.

And they left no mess after the install. Highly recommended!!”

-Rose P. I told Matt and Jacob that I always try, if it’s at all possible, to put myself in the position of being a potential customers. To that end, I kind of decided to put Matt and Jacob to the test with a situation we were genuinely facing in real time. We replaced our garage door about nine years ago, and contracted the purchase and installation through a local big-box store. The install itself went decently enough, and we have been satisfied with the garage door. But let’s just say with regard to the installers, there was not the warmth and the willingness to educate me as the customer that I had already experienced while chatting with these guys from Stateline.

It is obvious that Matt and Jacob genuinely enjoy what they

are doing, and they fully understand the power of wordof-mouth and referral advertising. I mentioned that while I had been satisfied with the install back in the day, because of the minimal sense of customer service, I would not seek out the installers again to come to

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“It could be mud daubers,” Matt said. My response was an incredulous, “What?”

“Yep, sometimes they build nests up in the housing and it can stop the door from lifting.

Or, it could be a part that has worn out,” he added. He told

me about the possible part replacement costs, depending on the need, and at no time did I feel like I was being “treated to the up-sell.” I was impressed, and I was convinced that Matt and Jacob had my best interests at heart, and what’s more, I could heartily recommend them to our readers.

I then asked, “I have choices, why should I come to you?”

The answer was quick: “We are affordable, honest, and experienced.”

Jacob and Matt went on to say that their work is guaranteed, and a one-year warranty is standard with each install. Regarding the materials, doors are covered from 15 years to lifetime. They talked about a “gorgeous door” that they were lined up to install, and they both broke into smiles at the prospect.

If you are in North Alabama or Southern Tennessee, and are in need of a garage door that brings with it experienced installers who genuinely love what they do, then contact Matt Teeples or Jacob Lewter of Stateline Garage Door, LLC, today for a free, no-obligation estimate.

www.statelinegarage doorllc.com Facebook: Stateline Garage Door Matt Teeples: 256-497-6747 Jacob Lewter: 256-998-3290

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Maxwell’s Law Of Connection

by Eric Betts Assistant Director, Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics at Athens State University

As the world we live in has endured the greatest pandemic we have ever seen, we have had to learn how to be flexible, adapt, and exercise patience.

Most of the world leaders have ordered their countries, provinces, and local communities to go into a “stay-at-home” mode for several weeks and months.

Throughout this crisis, communities and families have been separated and isolated, and many have only been able to do their work through online platforms. There are hundreds of families who have mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers who reside in rehabilitation and convalescent homes, and are unable to visit them and make those personal connections due to COVID19. However, FaceTime and other video platforms have allow them to connect in a way that would have been impossible twenty years ago. Many who are in the workforce are disconnected from their co-workers, employees, and customers but have found creative ways to connect through technology.

etc.? Can you envision the emotional, mental, and spiritual hardship without these vehicles facilitating our desire to connect?

However, with all the various means and methods of reaching out and connecting, nothing has taken the place of personal one-onone connection. One of the lessons we have learned throughout this crisis is the inestimable value of personal face-to-face connection and public interaction.

Technology, at the moment, is feeding our hunger for connection. One of the things we have seen throughout this epidemic is leaders at local, state, and federal levels appearing daily to give updates.

These leaders recognize the value of connecting. The question surrounding successful leadership is, “How well are you connecting?”

-- particularly on an emotional and inspirational level. Author, writer, and world-renown leadership trainer, John Maxwell, has written a popular volume entitled, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. One of the laws he has developed within his work is called “The Law of Connection.”

He cautions leaders who desire to successfully bring others along with them in their vision. Maxwell urges them to first connect with the others emotionally by showing them that they are genuinely concerned

tremendously successful, wrote about the value of going beyond leading a group and taking on the need to connect one person at a time. He attributes this to his success.

Maxwell writes about him as he further defines the “Law of Connection.”

“For leaders to be effective, they need to connect with people. Why? Because you first have to touch people’s hearts before you ask them for a hand. That is the Law of Connection . . . You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion.”

“One key to connecting with others is recognizing that even in a group, you have to relate to people as individuals. General Norman Schwarzkopf remarked, ‘I have seen competent leaders who stood in front of a platoon and all they saw was a platoon. But great leaders stand in front of a platoon and see it as 44 individuals, each of whom has aspirations, each of whom wants to live, each of them wants to do good.”

Maxwell goes further to explain what he means by touching people’s hearts, and this is by building relationships one person at a time. In this case, he explains the experience of followers looking for ways to help the leader because they feel that the leader cares about them as a person and not just a worker.

Maxwell believes it is important to reach a person’s heart, and then they will gladly lend their hand.

“Good leaders work at connecting with others all of the time, whether they are communicating to an entire organization or working with a single individual.

The stronger the relationship you form with followers, the greater the connection you forge—and the more likely those followers will be to want to help you.”

Churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues, most of which have ministries based on fellowship and connection, probably have had the most difficult time. They, too, have found ways to connect through webcasts and social media. Could you imagine going through this quarantine phase without the benefit of Facebook, Zoom, Instagram, YouTube, FaceTime video,

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about their individual success and wellbeing, and have a desire and interest in their personal story. He says that they will achieve far more success in leading others, than those who fail to connect in this way.

He explains why this is extremely important:

The American general, Norman Schwarzkopf, who led in the first Iraq war effort and who was considered by many to be

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Maxwell encourages his students to remember to follow certain rules when it comes to connecting: • Leaders who succeed are those who know how to touch a heart before they ask for a hand • People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care • When it comes to working with people, the heart comes before the head • Focus on improving your communication skills to ensure you can connect • Mastering the law of magnetism (finding common backgrounds and interests) lays a strong foundation for connection

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Dog Barker

Stressed!

by Joel Allen

Hello folks! How is everyone holding up? (I know I keep asking that since all this started with the quarantine.)

Well, we have been through an interesting time. Watching history unfold before our very eyes can be stressful, and by saying that, how many of us have dogs? Are they not watching our every move? They sense when we are stressed and sometimes our dogs will act out, and then before we realize it, we up the ante and get upset with our family canine member for their actions. These are times when they do something we think they should know better than doing. And sometimes they do know better, but we punish them when, in actuality, we should be blaming ourselves. I know, twisted psychology here, but you’ll know it’s true after thinking about it. Here is an experiment: Try just randomly taking a picture of your dogs when they think

no one is watching, and I bet that in some cases, they will be watching our every move when they think we are not looking. It’s just an idea that could be very enlightening or make your dog look like a stalker, LOL. Stress comes in many forms and most of it is caused by what we do and say. So what can cause stress in our dogs?

It could be a crowded house with a lot going on. It could be people coming and going during a cookout. Someone moving in with the family.

The dog may find these new additions threatening to their usual way of life or over stimulating. Changes can have a positive or negative effect depending on how we allow the change to affect our lives.

Let’s talk about crowded situations where the dog does not know everyone that is coming into the house. In this case, I have seen where the family thinks they are preventing a

situation from occurring by sending the dog into another room or crating them. That is a good idea but it can do more harm than good because the dog loses a social tool by being removed from people.

They can hear the noise going on where people are laughing and talking. In these cases, I have seen the dog actually become anti-social toward anyone not in the immediate family, and future harmful incidents have been known to happen. What I would do in these situations is introduce the dog or dogs to the other people and animals (if there are any) and monitor their responses. I would also watch the people or animals involved because sometimes they can be the reason for your dog acting out. As I witness my dog getting along with everyone and a few rules set down for all to follow, I would ease up a little.

Remember, our dogs can tell

when we are stressed, and they will look for the bad person causing us distress if they perceive a threat.

Another stress that can cause problems is how we act when we come into the house. Are we going to bust into the front door and call out in our baby voice, “Hey, babies! How are y’all doing?!”

Sometimes that can cause a fight because the leader of your pack (which should be you, just saying) wants all of your attention and will jump on the other one it’s jealous of. Things will snowball from there because all will get involved, and it will not end pretty. Or will we take a deep breath before opening the door and remember not to overstimulate everyone by calmly walking into our home greeting all with love and patience? It’s your choice -- chaos and mayhem or peace and tranquility. I

even have a sign on my door that says, “Do not knock!

Call my cell phone.” I should buy that sign that says, “Do not knock on my door! If you do, then things will get real fast!”

Sometimes, we can be the reason for stress, as I have clearly pointed out. When Zues was alive, he was my Number 2, though he thought he was in charge; and when I would become irritated with another dog in my household, he would try and correct them too. He was so in tune with me that when another person or animal upset me, he would become overbearing toward them.

In some cases, it was funny; but I was careful how I influenced him with others.

Right now, many of us are stressed out because we have “cabin fever” and it seems like it’s taking forever to get everything opened back up.

And again, I must point out that our dogs can sense this in us. So, let us try to de-escalate their stress. Start taking time out for your dogs and increase your walks with them. Keep them focused on positive outcomes. What we do for them will also help us de-stress. Play fetch with them, even if it’s you who has to retrieve the ball. Y’all be careful and good out there.

“Remember to love your dogs because they love you. Maybe not the way you want them to, like chewing up your favorite shoes or what not, but that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the time you have with them always.”

Joel Allen 256-651-2211

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June 5 - June 18, 2020

Mental Health Minute

Untying Codependency

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“It's better to need someone because you love them than to love someone because you need them.”

- Darlene Lancer In my last article, we discussed the definition of codependency -- understanding it roots, identifying its characteristics, and answering some questions to help identify codependent signs. Codependency is often thought of as a relationship problem and even considered by many to be a disease. The term was originally applied to relationships with those who struggled with addictions.

I believe it is a relationship problem, but the relationship that’s the problem is not with someone else… it’s the one with yourself.

That self-identity is what gets reflected in your relationship with others.

If we can accept this premise, then codependency is the underlying cause of all addictions.

The basic symptom of dependency is a reliance on someone else, a substance, or an activity (e.g. gambling). Instead of developing a healthy relationship with yourself, you make someone or something else more important.

Unfortunately, over time, your thoughts, feelings, and actions revolve around that person, activity, or substance, resulting in increasingly abandoning your own relationship with yourself.

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The codependency knot can be loosened and eventually even untied. Recovery requires a reversal of the unhealthy patterns in your life, leading to a reconnecting with your true self. Change is not easy and it takes time.

The process begins with self-discipline. The goal is to bring attention back to yourself. By doing this, you reestablish internal vs external “locus of control.” Your actions become motivated by your values, your needs, and your feelings…not someone else’s.

You learn to meet your needs in healthy ways. In relationships, it is almost impossible to completely separate because you depend on others and are required to compromise. But you can learn to detach and not control, become less of a people-pleaser, or diminish obsessing about others.

Self-discipline will allow

you to become more selfdirected and independent.

Denial is the trademark of addiction. This is true whether you are an alcoholic or in love with one.

Codependents deny their own addiction, whether it’s to a drug, an activity, or a person. They deny their feelings and needs, especially their emotional needs for nurturing and intimacy. This step requires self-awareness. You may have grown up in a family where your feelings and opinions weren’t respected, and your emotional needs weren’t met. Over time, you learned to ignore these feelings and needs rather than risk blame or rejection. This leads to low-self-esteem. In order to reverse these damaging habits, you must first become aware of them.

Negative self-talk is the most harmful obstacle to self-esteem. You may not

even be aware of the internal voices which degrade and criticize. Words are actions. Your thoughts have power and reflect your self-esteem.

Almost any type of healing involves self-acceptance.

This is not only a step but a lifelong journey. Before you can change, you have to accept both yourself and your situation. Have you heard the phrase, “What you resist, persists?” As you travel on your life journey, more about yourself, your limitations, and your losses is revealed which requires your acceptance. This is often called maturity. Once you accept reality, the doors of possibility open and change can happen. No longer do you self-blame or fight the truth. For example, when you feel sad or lonely, instead of making yourself feel worse, you learn self-compassion and self-

soothing techniques. You learn that you don’t have to please everyone. Treating yourself well allows you to be self-reflective without being self-critical.

As your self-esteem and self-confidence grow, you become more authentic and assertive. You are becoming you.

Acceptance without action will only get you so far. The next step requires new behaviors and action. This involves venturing outside your comfort zone by speaking up, trying something new, going someplace different, setting a boundary, saying “no” to your self-critic, or changing unhealthy habits.

Instead of expecting others to meet your needs or make you happy, you learn to take actions to meet them. Every time you try out something new or take a risk, you learn something about yourself, your feelings, and your needs. By creating a stronger sense of yourself, you build selfconfidence and self-esteem. And this builds upon itself in a positive response loop instead of the downward spiral of codependency of fear, depression, and low self-image. It’s time to respect and honor yourself and who you really are.

You can become the author of your life.

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

Truth & Freedom

by Roy Williams Almost everyone is concerned about the direction America is going. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you are on or what your financial situation is, if you watch the news you are probably concerned.

From the time Donald Trump was elected president, our nation has been in turmoil. Within three days of being sworn in, impeachment talk began. Russia this and Russia that was all we heard about. Collusion became a part of most people’s conversations for months.

After that started to lose momentum, and the economy began growing faster than it had in over 20 years, China allowed the Covid19 virus to escape from one of their labs.

Knowing just how contagious it was, they quarantined the whole area and managed to keep it from spreading throughout their country. But they continued to let people from that area to fly all over the world causing a world-wide pandemic.

At that point, the socalled experts in the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the FDA along with scientists and

medical professionals told us that we must home quarantine, wear masks, social distance from one another, and shut down our economy. President Trump had no choice but to listen to these experts and decide to go along with them by encouraging our citizens to cooperate, which most people did.

The Stock Market fell, thousands became unemployed, small businesses closed, and even churches stopped gathering. Millions of people world wide became infected, hundreds of thousands were hospitalized, and we aren’t even sure how many have died from this pandemic.

As the pandemic seemed to be leveling out and losing momentum in the news, George Floyd is murdered by a policeman. The video of this murder was so horrendous that it went viral in hours causing rioting in the streets all over our great nation.

It has become obvious that there are two groups involved in the movement that has occurred due to the murder. One group is a peaceful protesting, which is legal under the laws of the United States. The other is what should concern all of us. They are the ones

who are using this situation to destroy property, steal, and cause fear.

Antifa and other groups are trying to cause unrest and destroy our economy.

They hate America. They hate what we stand for.

They believe that all property and business should be owned and controlled by the government and at this point they will do anything they can to keep President Trump from getting a second term. A lot of the others that are rioting and destroying property are just common thieves.

We are fast reaching a boiling point in America.

Our nation is divided and neither side is willing to give an inch. The left believe that the only solution is socialism, government control, everybody sharing in the misery. The right believes in small government with very little interference in our freedoms.

One thing is becoming more and more obvious.

We are fast approaching the time when everyone will have to chose a side.

Are you for freedom or are you for government con-

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trol?

Our nation has elected people who keep on infringing on our freedoms with permits, ordinances, rules, and regulations that slow down progress and allows them to take more of our hard-earned money without them taking any risk or being held accountable when the systems they set up fail. They have removed God from our school systems. They block progress at every turn just to create more government jobs.

Using the fear created by a virus, they have infringed on our freedoms even more by restricting our travel, preventing gathering in groups, and shutting down small businesses while allowing large businesses to stay open. My question is this: Why are they doing all these things? Are they really just trying to protect us or are they just trying to issue even more restrictions to take more control?

As citizens of the United States of America, let me remind you that we cannot expect the government to solve our problems. We

cannot expect our police force to protect us from domestic terrorists. We cannot expect the pharmaceutical industry to cure any disease.

In reality, the very freedoms that we are so fortunate to live with in America are ours to protect. It is up to us to solve our problems and elect representatives that will support us in that effort. It is our responsibility to protect our property and our families, including using force to stop anyone trying to destroy our property or our lives. It is up to each of us to learn as much as we can about our bodies and support them in the best way we can so we have the opportunity to live to our- genetic potential without disease.

To learn more, go by NHC Herb Shop in Killen or Herbs & More in Athens or call 800-745-4408.

To listen to Roy’s podcast go to www.nhc19.podbean.com.

Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

June 5 - June 18, 2020

www.JuicePlus.com

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC June 5 - June 18, 2020

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