Athens Now 6-16-23

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From The Vets' Museum

Berea Early Learning Academy: Planting The Seeds Of A “First Crop”

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Five years ago, Berea Baptist Church pastor Pat Lawrence was approached by our local Chamber of Commerce with regard to starting a day care center. Why, you may ask, would the Chamber ask a church to get involved in the “commercial care” of children? It turns out that the early indicators of the phenomenal growth in Athens-Limestone County that we

What Makes Ronnie Roll

A Super And Safe Summer...

Mayor Ronnie veritably burst into the room, brimming with enthusiasm about the previous day’s event, none other than the first Pryor Regional Airfield AirFest... Page 8

Clean, Green And Beautiful

Come Together... Athens and Limestone County are growing-rapidly. Everywhere you look, there are new neighborhoods under construction... Page 12

Continued on page 15

Katie Mucci Of Alfa Insurance: Newest Member Of The Thomas-Jones Agency

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

As a young child, Charlotte, NC, native Katie Mucci moved here to Athens with her family. As an adult, Katie worked for T-Mobile, had a job she loved, and the same applied to that company for whom she worked for 17 years. She also went through two disastrous events that caused her to learn firsthand what a difference can be

Continued on page 17

Alfa agent Katie Mucci with her husband, Zac, and her boys Jackson (l) and Jon Michael (r)

Publisher / Editor

Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design

Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers

D. A. Slinkard

Lisa Philippart

Anna Hamilton

Claire Tribble

Yvonne Dempsey

Eric Betts

Deb Kitchenmaster

Phil Williams

Roy P Williams

Jackie Warner

Mae Lewis

Judge Horton And The Scottsboro Boys, 90 Years Later

Ninety years ago, on June 22, 1933, one of the most famous, controversial, and critical judicial decisions of the 20th century was made in the second floor southwest courtroom of the Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, AL. This was none other than the brave act of His Honor Judge James E. Horton, when he set aside the guilty verdict of Haywood Patterson, one of the “Scottsboro Boys” who had been falsely accused of rape by two young white women. The alleged incident happened in Scottsboro, AL, and the trials took place in Decatur and Athens.

Horton was in his second term as a circuit judge, and his decision cost him his career. He was the son of a former slaveholder who became a probate judge, and his mother was the daughter of a Confederate general. Nonetheless, it was his mother who taught him the phrase that would guide him through a controversial decision that occurred smack dab in the middle of Jim Crow. She taught him as a boy, “Let justice be done though the heavens may fall,” and that is just about what happened.

Judge Horton was the quintessential Atticus Finch-type of lawyer and

judge. He was soft spoken and even tempered, rarely raising his voice to anyone. However, on the third day of the trial he got wind of a plan to lynch the accused and nearly hollered when he stated that he “had absolutely no patience with the mob spirit.” He denounced as “cowardly murderers” those who would have lynched the accused if they could. Judge Horton was convinced the young women were lying, and privately heard one of the doctors attending them attest to the fact that there was no medical evidence of rape. He also made it clear to those in the courtroom that he had not only assigned police protection to the accused, he had instructed the police to shoot to kill anyone who tried to bring them harm. Horton’s decision came as a shock to all, the defense and the prosecution alike. He stood on the steps of the courthouse and announced his decision, and it was a shot of blind and pure justice that was literally “heard round the world.” The story was carried in major newspapers. His Honor received a tsunami of telegrams both pro and con regarding his decision, and he kept them in a lard bucket. He also kept the fountain pen he used to sign the paper-

work describing his decision, and was defeated in the next election.

At the time of the decision, Judge Horton lived in the antebellum mansion that stood on the property that is currently the site of City Hall in Athens. He numbered every board in the building, disassembled the home and moved it by wagon out to Greenbrier, and today it stands across from the Toyota-Mazda plant. Horton spent the rest of his life raising prize-winning cattle and teaching his children to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” with their God. These days, a

bronze statue of the man (paid for by the citizens of Athens-Limestone County) stands not far from the spot where he changed history, and James Horton deserves an honored place in American history, forever. May his courageous chronicle never be disputed by those who would revise it.

All Things Soldier A Would-be Traitorous Terrorist

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

U.S. Army PFC Cole

Bridges of Ohio pled guilty this week to planning the murder of U.S. troops as a show of support to the Islamic State. I have to admit, for several years now, I have not been a huge fan of the FBI due to the now documented corruption that has been rampant through the leadership of the agency. However, in this case, a skillful undercover operative most likely saved lives by using social media and successfully documented several months of posts that clearly showed that Bridges had no intention of “protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

The agent posed as a woman whose brother might be interested in joining Cole in his plans, which included attacking the 9/11 memorial and other sites in New York, as well as blow-

ing up troops in the Middle East. Cole used material taken right out of Army field manuals and encrypted messages through various apps explaining his strategies.

Cole joined the Army in 2019, and in 2020 began to post jihadist-themed content on his social media sites. He went to Germany for a three-month stint and rotated back to the States. He changed his profile picture to a photo of him wearing traditional Arabic garb, including the red and white checkered headscarf known as a keffiyeh. Cole, who also went on social media using his mother’s name of Gonzalez, tried to claim that the Army had no idea of his true beliefs; only his family possibly suspected. No one seems to know how or when he got radicalized. It is possible that it happened while he was in Germany, where there is a substantial presence of a branch of Sunnis known as Salafists. Salafists make no apology for their support for ISIS as well as their intention to commit jihad against men, women, and children who are not Muslim.

Ultimately Cole dug himself deeply into a “holy war hole,” and had no idea that the person on the other end was with the FBI. He posted support of the statements of a Salafist imam who called for “war between Islam and Kufr,” (or infidels)

“Cole also allegedly made a video of himself in body armor

standing before an ISIS flag expressing support for ISIS. About a week later, he allegedly sent a second video in which he narrated a voice-manipulated propaganda speech in support of an anticipated ambush by ISIS on U.S. troops,” according to the Akron Beacon Journal, the newspaper in Ohio nearest to where Cole had lived.

When the FBI made their move and arrested Cole, they had enough evidence to utterly bury him. I have to wonder if he pled guilty because he was wanting to be martyred, or if he was afraid of it. There was a time not long ago when this kind of treachery would have resulted in the death penalty, and while actual sentencing is not until No-

vember, PFC Cole could get up to 40 years in prison. All I can say is, thank God for the FBI agent and the

nailed him. We can all breathe a sigh of relief, at least for today.

Army counterterrorism people who

The last few weeks have been busy ones for the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives. Now that schools are out and many people are traveling, we have had quite a few visitors. While we are blessed with our regular visitors and supporters stopping by often, some of our visitors are locals who have never been to see our museum, others haven’t been in a while, and several are just passing through on their way to other destinations. We’ve recently had visitors from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Ireland, Australia, and other faraway places. All were impressed by our

Latest News On The Alabama Veterans Museum’s Phase 2 Plans

museum and loved the Athens area.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that we have been in this building for two years this July. Much planning and work went into getting the museum moved and set up in this location, and if you haven’t seen it, drop in sometime for a tour. Our hours are MondaySaturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. And we remain free of charge but gladly accept donations.

From the outset, we had plans for further expansion and improvements for our museum complex. We are excited to announce that Phase 2 of our plan is now under-

way!

Most area residents are familiar with the property between the museum and Pryor St. with the storage units and the small house at the corner that had housed an accountant’s office. The museum purchased the property and work is currently being done to dismantle the house and demolish the storage units. The plan is to create a beautiful area that will become a military park.

We have tentative sketches and plans for the layout of the park which will include a fire pit for flag disposal ceremonies, monu-

by Yvonne Dempsey Museum

ments and plaques for the various branches of service and military battles, walkway, benches, and beautiful landscaping. The helicopter will be repainted and be on display as well another vehicle or artifact. Museum director Sandra Thompson says that bids for the project should go out in August. “We really hope that we can have the park completed by Veterans Day this November,” she said. Work has also begun inside of our building to remodel the event venue. A new audio system will be installed, and the building will get a new, more energy-efficient

heating and cooling system. The stage and dressing/storage rooms are being dismantled and all of the wood will be salvaged and repurposed. This will open up the area, give more useable floor space, and allow for additional event seating. Instead of the large permanent stage, we will have a portable stage that can be set up when needed.

These are exciting days, busy days, and we look forward to sharing the finished projects with our friends, benefactors, and visitors as we continue our mission to honor our veterans and preserve history for future generations.

Calendar of Events

Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series

Fridays Thru June

5:30pm - 7:00pm. Free to the public. Merchants Alley 107 N. Jefferson St. Athens, AL 35611. Athens Main Street recently renovated a blighted alley in the center of downtown Athens. From pop to country to soul to classical, there is something for everyone and our patron demographic reflects the inclusion we hoped to achieve. We engaged 27 diverse local musical acts in 2022. From individual musicians up to 10-person bands, these acts included guitars, banjos, keyboards, violins, drums, dulcimers, even a harpist. We are looking forward to 2023 and bringing more talented local artists to Merchants Alley. For more information on AMS, visit their website at www. AthensMainStreet.org.

Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival!

June 22 - July 29

We have rides for kids along with great concessions and bingo! The rides are small ferris wheel, rocket ships, small swings, carousel, cars, train, roller coaster, parachutes, large swings and the scrambler. Concessions available include hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, french fries and cokes. Also available are the crowd favorites of cotton candy, snow cones and funnel cakes. Our concessions are very reasonably priced and each of the rides is just one ticket, which is 50 cents, with free admission. The Kiddie Carnival has provided family fun for kids and their families for several generations. The Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival is in Athens at 309 E Forrest Street. More information is available at our Facebook page: Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival

Coffee With CASA

June 22

Want to know more about CASA?! What we do, how to become a volunteer advocate, how you can help the most vulnerable

Senior Lunch Matinee Series Third Thursdays Monthly

We are back to full speed with our third Thursday Senior Lunch Matinees and first Saturday Early Dinner Shows, already scheduled through Dec 2023. Public events most often will sell out in advance, welcoming attendees from 17 adjacent counties, and 2 neighboring states. Our Senior Lunch Matinees provide guests with a complete lunch including drink and dessert, and a one hour live show featuring one of our roster of 8 of the best regional oldies groups and performers in rotation throughout the year. E-mail reservations are required in advance for all Lunch Matinees and Early Dinner Shows. web: www. yesterdaysevents.com

FB: www.facebook.com/YesterdaysEventCenter

children in your community, and have 30 mins to spare to grab a coffee? Join us for for Coffee with CASA on June 22nd @ Square Clock Coffee in Athens, AL! 12:00 -2:00 (Come & Go event).

Angela Petrilli and Friends at McCandless Hall

June 22

302 Bryan Street, Athens. Feed your soul with some rock, rhythm and blues with Angela Petrilli and Friends at McCandless Hall on the campus of Athens State University. Doors will open at 6pm and concert will start at 7pm. Some of you may remember Angela Petrilli from Roses and Cigarettes who performed in Athens in June 2018 at High Cotton Arts. Petrilli who is an electrifying guitarist and superb vocalist released her EP Voices last month. Voices is available on all streaming services. The concert is free, but donations to Athens Arts League will be accepted.

Bass Fishing Tournament

June 24

Ingalls Harbor, 802-A Wilson Street NW, Decatur. Launch will be at safe daylight. ACCEPTED SPECIES: Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth Bass

Coffee with The Sheriff

June 29

Meet The Sheriff for coffee the last Thursday of each month from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena.

Silver Sneaker Flex™ Classes

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Silver Sneaker classes available at Athens Limestone Public Library on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. Class is open to all. Donations accepted. For info: 256-614-3530 or jhunt9155@ gmail.com

Digital Literacy Classes

Athens-Limestone County Public Library will host a series of Digital Literacy Classes in conjunction with Calhoun Community College & Drake State Community & Technical College. Classes will boost your digital confidence & provide you with skills and training needed in today’s job market. Courses include: Computer & Internet Basics, Email, Windows OS, & Microsoft Word®. M-W 9:00 –12:00 or M-W 1:00 – 4:00. Classes start January 24th. Call us at (256) 306-2830 to learn more.

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See why more than 8.7 million people across the country† have chosen Humana Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone prescription drug plans.

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A more human way to healthcare™

* There’s no obligation to enroll.

† Humana Inc. First Quarter 2022 Earnings Release, April 27, 2022. Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language.English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 877-320 -1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 877-320 -1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文

，您可以免費獲 得語言援助服務 。請致電 877‑320‑1235 （聽障專線：711）。

What Makes Ronnie Roll A Super And Safe Summer

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Mayor Ronnie veritably burst into the room, brimming with enthusiasm about the previous day’s event, none other than the first (hopefully annual) Pryor Regional Airfield AirFest. He had to balance that with the fact that this is “serious season” in the realm of baseball for his grandson, Quinton, and it had been a busy and beautiful weekend all the way around.

The AirFest stunts had been amazing. There was a crop-duster type prop plane that had actually successfully landed on the top of a truck.

The Silver Wings crew parachuted into the Fest. There were rides available on a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter. Thousands of people were there, along with vendors, food, and fun, and I asked the mayor what was his favorite part of the AirFest. He had a couple; the first was watching the faces of the kids at all the sights and sounds. He said, “You know that sound that a Harley makes when it first starts up?” He asked this while imitating the wrist action and sound of the epic bike as it roars to life. “Well,” he continued, “there was this trainer plane that was both a prop plane and a jet. It is what they use when they are first training the Top Gun guys. It made that sound, did all these loops and dives, and it was so cool. It was my favorite plane!”

Speaking of Top Gun, the mayor had his mo-

ment with Maverick and Ice, the two Top Gun impersonators who are also actual pilots, only they are not fighter pilots. “Man, they looked just like them,” he said, and he meant Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer in the original movie.

Ice and Maverick made Mayor Ronnie laugh when they pointed toward one of the food trucks and said, “YOU are going to go eat donuts; WE are going to go DO donuts! “A big shout out needs to go out to Adam Fox, his crew, and all the sponsors of the Air Show. They did a great job,” he said. We moved on to the discussion of personal safety in the summertime. The tragic, fatal hitand-run had occurred on Hwy 31 over the weekend, and with school out, Mayor Ronnie wanted to talk about being situationally aware regarding safety without quelling the fun that is supposed to be a part of summer for people of all ages. We talked about how it is a fine line between loving the feeling of the wind in your hair and being sure to wear a helmet when it is the appropriate thing to do. “Have the mindset,” he said, referring to being safe, and doing so if you are eight or eighty.

Speaking of being 80, the Athens Senior Center was sponsoring a Beach Day to kick off the summer season, and we laughed as we imagined truckloads of sand being brought to the parking

lot along with a portable wave pool. It didn’t happen of course, but there were leis and luaus, food and fun. Amy Golden and her volunteers al-

ways do such good work for the seniors of Athens-Limestone County, and this day was no exception.

Then that time came, as it always does. So, we prayed for the safety of our kids and grandkids, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

Mayor Marks with Top Gun Impersonators "Ice" & "Maverick" at the Pryor Field AirFest

The War On Masculinity

by Phil Williams

There is a war on masculinity in America right now. Evidence abounds.

The war on manhood was already well underway when Dylan Mulvaney showed up on a Bud Light can. But the fact that a biological male can be applauded as an “influencer” for prancing on video and celebrating “365 days to girlhood” is just further indication that something has gone awry. Inexplicable debate rages as to whether men should compete in women’s sports, a notion too often celebrated by many, yet embarrassing to most. The U.S. military says that only 23% of American men are currently fit to enlist in the military. Masculinity is taking hits daily. On the one hand men are called to feign being women. On the other hand non-feminine men are referred to as “toxic.”

In his book, The Warrior Ethos, bestselling author Steven Pressfield wrote of the “struggles every day to define and defend our sense of purpose and integrity, to justify our existence on the planet…” One chapter at a time Pressfield elaborated on such politically incorrect things as: duty, honor, country; a sense of humor under fire; courage; civility and love from a position of strength; aid and support to the weak; the emboldening of others.

Pressfield talks about a society willing to fight inner wars, outer wars, and to train up young men to be old warriors. Much of that is learned behavior, and truthfully not just for men. Women can have undaunted courage. Women can face crises with grace and poise. I’m married to a woman like that. I helped raise a woman like that. My son is like that, and he married a woman like that. But the war on masculinity is real.

Opinion writer Allie Beth Stuckey wrote a great piece entitled “Make Men Masculine Again.” In it she outed the left’s movement to neuter manhood, and to enshrine the beta male as the role model for civilized society.

In Stuckey’s words, when you try to make men more like women, you don’t get less “toxic masculinity,” you get more. “….bad men don’t become good when they stop being men,” she said, “they become good when they stop being bad.”

Stuckey went on to say, “The answer to toxic masculinity isn’t less masculinity, it’s better masculinity. … The growing problem in today’s society isn’t that men are too masculine; it’s that they’re not masculine enough…”

Stuckey pointed out that, “When men embrace their masculinity in a way that is healthy

and productive, they are leaders, warriors and heroes. When they deny their masculinity, they run away from responsibilities, leaving destruction and despair in their wake.” So well said.

No representation is made here that unless you can tote a gun, lift heavy weights, or grow a great beard you are not masculine. True masculinity is not defined by age, status, or outward appearance. It is a compilation of more esoteric things like character, warrior ethos, work ethic, care, and concern for others, self-sacrifice, courage. Real masculinity is the sum of seemingly little things:

- Like standing up to bullies.

- Like speaking out for your beliefs.

- Like sacrificing a little “me” time to play with your child.

- Like faithfulness to your wife.

- Like paying your employees before you pay yourself.

- Like checking on a friend in need. There is no poster boy for true masculinity. You don’t have to be the Marlboro Man, a member of Seal Team Six, or somebody who knows how to spit dip without getting it on your shirt. A man can be rough without losing his civility. A man can have calloused hands and still wear a tie to work every day.

A father can be physically separated from his kids and still be a dad to them.

True, the attitude of roughness and masculinity is often embodied in a mental image of harsh ruggedness. In my day I’ve known a lot of solid dudes. Action guys, operators, members of America’s elite special operations, first responders, dudes with grit and determination, and a lot of them did not fit the visual stereotypical mold. As he prepared to anoint the future King of Israel, the prophet Samuel was taken aback that it would be David, a small guy, the least among his family, from the least of the tribes. But God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “The LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” The quality of one’s masculinity is determined by the inner workings of the man.

It does not matter if you’ve never earned a medal. Masculinity is not built on wealth. It doesn’t matter if you have a physical disability, or have made mistakes in your past. Society will be better off if men act like men with a sense of masculinity that transcends their outward appearance. Doing so will resonate to all around them.

Returning again to the article by Allie Stuckey, she concluded by say-

ing, “The devaluation of masculinity won’t end well because feminine, passive men don’t stop evil. Passive men don’t defend, protect, or provide. Passive men don’t lead. Passive men don’t do the things we have always needed men to do for society to thrive. Rape, murder, war—they all have two things in common: bad men who do the raping, murdering, and warring; and weak men who won’t stop them. We need good men who will. It’s not masculinity that’s toxic. It’s the lack of it.”

We must win this war against masculinity.

Phil Williams is a former state senator, retired Army colonel and combat veteran, and a practicing attorney. He has served with the leadership of the Alabama Policy Institute and currently hosts the conservative news/talkshow Rightside Radio M-F 2-5 p.m. on multiple channels throughout north Alabama. (WVNN 92.5FM/770AM-Huntsville/ Athens; WXJC 101.FM and WYDE 850AM – Birmingham/ Cullman) His column appears every Monday in 1819 News. To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement go to www.rightsideradio.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.

Can you believe that we have been on a journey together for over six years in which I have been writing and you have been reading the motivational thoughts that come to my mind?

I am going to throw out there that a person must be careful what information they take in on a daily basis because there is a lot of bad information out there just waiting to bring you crumbling down. Remember, it is garbage in and garbage out. We live in a time period in which we are inundated with various messages expressing the desire to live a good life. There are many things that appear to be good, but just know that not all things that appear good will actually be good for you.

Golden Nuggets From God's Word

by D. A. Slinkard

The Bible warns us in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Who would think that a motivational quote could be bad, but I am here to tell you not to be fooled by the wolves in sheep’s clothing. I recently came across 35 inspirational quotes on following your heart, which in theory sounded good, such as, “Make mistakes, take chances, be silly, be imperfect, trust yourself and follow your heart.Anonymous” or “Follow your heart. Life is too short to be sidetracked by things everyone else wants you to do.”

If a person is not careful, they could easily find

themselves agreeing to those “cute” quotes, but know that you must be selective in what you allow into your life. People ask me how I find my ability to stay positive, motivated, and have the right attitude when it comes to my daily approach to life. Honestly, my life has gotten better the more I rely upon Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It is through my relationship with Jesus Christ and studying His Word that my attitude has changed.

I can tell you without any doubt I would have fallen victim to those cute quotes listed above, but please take the time to read your King James Bible. In reading my Bible, I see in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful

above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” How many good Christians have fallen victim to heathen quotes, such as following the heart? If we examine the other quote about life being too short, we see the quote is actually advocating us to walk contrary to what the Bible tells us. Why would any believer want to do this? Remember, even salt looks like sugar! This article is to show that not all things that appear good are, and we can find great nuggets from the Bible. In fact, we will find many common phrases we use in the secular world such as John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Another great Scrip-

ture is from Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Now granted, oftentimes when we hear this, we do not have the first part of the Scripture attached as we just hear that a man will reap what he sows. What about when someone does a good deed and we call them a Good Samaritan – yet again taken from the Bible.

The more you dive into your Bible, I believe you will be surprised at the great motivations you will find from the infallible Word of God.

Several more phrases we use in our everyday lives come straight from the Bible, and I challenge you today to start your scavenger hunt. You never know where the roads will lead, but I can tell you of the positive impacts that Jesus Christ has had on my life.

Who I am today is much different from the individual I started out as in my Christian walk with God.

I appreciate everyone who has offered a kind word in regard to my writing. You are an inspiration to keep fighting the fight because we can all find the good in life, we just need to be on the lookout for it. The only thing about maintaining a positive attitude is knowing it takes work, just like anything else in life, and with that, I leave you with Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Amen.

D.A. Slinkard would love your feedback. You can contact him at da.slinkard@gmail.com

Athens and Limestone County are growing-rapidly. Everywhere you look, there are new neighborhoods under construction. This is great for Athens because more and more businesses are coming in as well. While the new faces are wonderful, the downside is that litter and dumping issues are growing rapidly as well. So why is litter and illegal dumping a problem? Litter looks bad when you are traveling down our streets and roads. Depending on what it is, it can pollute the ground and waterways. It affects animals -- they can become entangled, injured, and sick from litter and the effects of litter. It seems we are fighting a never-ending battle.

Last week, the 5th grade Vacation Bible School teacher from Athens First Methodist Church contacted KALB about a community service opportunity. It had to be something close, and something that the kids could accomplish in a short

Clean, Green And Beautiful Come Together

by Claire Tribble - Executive Director, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

amount of time, and safe, of course. So, we headed to Swan Creek Park by Athens Middle School to pick up litter. The kids split into small groups and headed in different directions.

The group of girls that I chaperoned were very shocked at the amount of litter they began to see when they stood back and looked around. They started to fill their bucket immediately with plastic wrapping, paper, socks, and all sorts of things. I cannot tell you how many times I heard, “Who just throws this stuff down?” All together, they collected about 80 pounds (4 bags) in about 45 minutes. The weight of the lessons learned was far heavier.

This isn’t the first group that has approached us to help with a cleanup. I had a cleanup scheduled for June 12 as well. Josh Wolfe, founder/ CEO of WolfeCo Media in Downtown Athens, reached out to me, and we planned a day for his employees to volunteer. This is how we start to make the changes that we all want to see -- community

involvement.

Cub Scout Pack #29 participated in our One-Bag Challenge last month. This group of young boys were able to collect 5 bags of litter from the Big Spring Park and track at Athens Middle School. Not only did they all get out and pick up litter, but they were winners in the One-Bag Challenge

Intech Medical of Athens recently sent a group of almost 30 employee volunteers to the TVA River Cleanup! We were so grateful to them for helping us clean up 8,820 pounds of trash on three roads along the Tennessee River. The enthusiasm that Intech brought to the cleanup was amazing because they were all VOLUNTEERS -no one was being paid to be there.

Shape Corp of Athens also contacted us back in December to coordinate a cleanup for their employees. The eleven volunteers that participated cleaned up 840 pounds of litter! While this is amazing, it’s sad that there is that much trash in a small location. We can do better as

a community to fight littering and illegal dumping!

Back in March, United Pest Control in Ardmore hosted its annual litter cleanup for Ardmore. They had around 60 volunteers made up of employees and the citizens of Ardmore. They were able to collect 1,000 pounds of litter that had been left on the streets and roads of Ardmore. We are proud to support this wonderful cleanup for them each year, and we are beyond happy to continue this partnership!

If you have a company, organization, school group, youth group, team, or even just a group of friends, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful would love to help you organize a cleanup anywhere in the city or county! There is always a job for everyone,

whether it’s nitty gritty, or holding the bag. No lesson is too small or insignificant. As always, we are here to help you find good cleanup locations, provide all cleanup supplies, and join in and help as well! We have fantastic support from the County Commissioners and City Council to assist us! Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is located at 125 East Street, Athens, Alabama 35611. We can be reached via email at KALBCares@gmail.com, or by phone (256)233-8000, or send us a message on Facebook. We are happy to help you in any way we can! Always feel free to call us to report illegal dumping and trouble spots!

Cooking with Anna My Cup Is Empty

by Anna Hamilton

I have an incredibly hard time resting. On top of not being a good sleeper, I feel guilty if I need to rest. As a woman and a Christian, the need to say yes and be available at all times is overwhelming. I know some people are great at being able to balance taking care of themselves and taking care of others. I feel deep guilt if I take time for myself, especially when I know someone needs my help. It is easier to continue to put myself on the back burner than actually stop and take care of what I need. Just writing that out seems ridiculous. I have a picture of a quote saved on my phone from American author Eleanor Brownn, “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first,” I know all of this to be true, so why is there so much guilt associated with taking time

Dilly White Bean and Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, minced

Juice of 1 small lemon, about 2 Tbsps.

2 Tbsps. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

2 (15 oz) cans of white beans, rinsed and drained

2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

3-5 radishes, cut into thin strips

2 Tbsps. fresh dill, stems removed, finely chopped

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions:

Add garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, salt, and pepper to a small mixing bowl. Whisk well and set aside while you chop the remaining ingredients.

for yourself? That guilt you feel, the guilt I feel, is not from God. God wants us to be the absolute best version of yourself and He knows that to do that, you must take care of yourself. That “runragged” feeling comes from Satan. It comes from a world that places unrealistic expectations on us. In order to take care of others in your life, you must take care of yourself.

In Genesis, the very beginning of the Bible, God creates everything we know in this world and beyond. After His work is complete, God rests. He took the time to recover from work. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day

continued on page 23

Add beans, cucumber, radishes, dill, tomatoes, and green onions to a large bowl. Add the dressing to the bowl and mix well until evenly incorporated. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

3 Tips To Add Fruits And Veggies To Your Diet

from Brandpoint Content

(BPT) - Most people know that fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy diet, but they may not know exactly how many, and the amounts, they should be eating daily. Some may believe they are on the right track but are surprised to learn they are underestimating the amount needed to meet nutrition recommendations.

A survey conducted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) confirms that Americans are largely underestimating how many fruits and vegetables they need to eat each day. Consumers surveyed estimate the daily number of recommended servings to be 3-4, short of the actual recommended 5 servings per day defined by the World Health Organization.

According to experts at IF-

PA's Foundation for Fresh Produce's fruitsandveggies. org, incorrect information online and during the shopping experience contributes to Americans' confusion over what, and how much, they are supposed to eat. Products across the marketplace can be marketed to make food and beverages appear more healthful than they are by depicting images of fruits and vegetables despite containing no or minimal amounts of them.

"Consumers constantly face an overwhelming amount of information online and in stores, whether the information is correct or not," said Emily Holdorf, a registered dietitian at the foundation.

"When people hear conflicting messages of 'eat this' and 'don't eat that,' they become understandably frustrated. By instead sharing a more

inclusive approach to eating nutritious foods, consumers will feel empowered to choose fruits and vegetables at more meals and snacks throughout the day."

IFPA and the foundation are working with the fresh produce industry and influential nutrition educators to help eliminate all barriers to consumption, including tackling misinformation.

"We are dedicated to finding solutions that make accurate nutrition recommendations easily accessible no matter what zip code an American resides in," said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. "We are exploring initiatives like providing dietary guidelines to shoppers in the store and asking the government to crack down on deceptive nutrition labeling. These are places where we can make a real

impact on how consumers think about their own nutrition and ultimately achieve a positive change at kitchen tables across America." According to WHO, eating the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet improves overall health and reduces risk of certain diseases including cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.

Many fruits and vegetables are plentiful in soluble fiber, which can lower LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation.

Even the colors of fruits and vegetables play a key role in health. The variety of colors within produce are known as "phytochemicals" that have been shown to potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and

diabetes.

"Diet-related diseases including heart disease, diabetes and hypertension add $1.4 trillion to the nation's debt to treat annually, yet even with more than a trillion dollars going toward treatment, these diseases are still among the leading causes of death in the U.S.," said Burns. "Fortunately, each of these can be prevented by having a healthier diet."

Here are three tips for getting started:

* Start small - Don't bite off more than you can chew with an extremely aspirational goal. Stir fruit into cereal or yogurt, add bagged salad to pizza night, top sandwiches with extra veggies, throw greens into your favorite pasta dish. Small wins build momentum and positive habits.

* Make it easy - Cut and prep fruits and vegetables up right away so they are quick to grab. Keep all forms of produce on hand for low- and no-cook ways to add fruits and vegetables to the meals and snacks you already have planned. The easier it is, the more likely it will get eaten.

* Focus on the flavorWhen something makes you feel good, you want to do it again. When something tastes good, you want to eat it again. Utilize dips, herbs, spices and juices to add flavor and enjoyment to fruits and vegetables. Eating healthy doesn't have to be boring!

"There are countless eating occasions that occur throughout our days, weeks, months. Asking, 'What fruit or veggie can I add to this?' is a great first step to adding more, one bite at a time," said Holdorf.

Berea Early Learning Academy: Planting The Seeds Of A “First Crop”

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

are experiencing now were already beginning then, and one of the problems that the Chamber was encountering was that people moving into the area were finding there weren’t enough day care choices, let alone early learning centers. “Corporate executives wouldn’t move here due to the fact that there were not enough facilities,” Pastor Pat told me recently. The leadership team at Berea, which is located at 16779 Lucas Ferry Road in Athens, began to dream, pray, plan, and move forward to prepare a set of classrooms that would be used throughout the week rather than just on Sunday. Then, COVID hit and for a while everything ground to a halt. But they knew that they were heading in the right, prayerful, and positive direction, and kept working on their dream until things could start up again.

What was important to everyone was that this would be a learning center, not a babysitting service, and that the 3-and-4-year-olds that will be what Pastor Pat calls “the first crop” would be exposed to learning as well as to the reality of the love of Jesus Christ. Pat’s grandchild is going to be amongst the “first crop” at Berea Early Learning Academy (BELA), and I can attest to the fact that Grandpa-Pastor is seriously invested in making “my BELA” a wonderful place to learn, grow, and play. Below you will find the mission statement of BELA,

which is also referred to as “my BELA,” because of the web address: www.mybela. org.

“Our mission is to develop young leaders with a Christcentered education at an early age. Every child has a special place in God’s plan, and our students will learn that God loves and cares for them.”

Berea Early Learning Academy is using Abeka curriculum for the foundation of their academy. Abeka has been around for over 40 years, and is the brainchild of veteran Florida Christian educators Dr. Arlin and Beka Horton. Here is what Abeka has to say about their Pre-K offerings: Abeka’s preschool curriculum features a traditional approach to teaching and learning, cross-subject integration, spiral review, and plenty of handson activities. It’s no wonder the Abeka program has helped thousands of preschools successfully prepare children for a lifetime of learning.

Abeka says further:

Love of Learning

The Abeka preschool curriculum turns play time into learning time, laying a strong academic foundation that prepares each child for the next level of their educational journey.

Biblical Worldview

Not only is there a preschool Bible curriculum as part of the Abeka program, our entire program has been developed from a Christian worldview, planting seeds of faith in children all through the year.

Age Appropriate

Abeka is an age-appropriate curriculum for preschool that

takes into consideration the differences in motor skills and cognitive abilities among preschoolers. With Abeka, they’ll experience early success at realistic learning milestones.

Engaging and Fun

Any early childhood education program should recognize that preschoolers yearn for hands-on activities. The Abeka preschool curriculum fosters preschool learning with colorful, durable resources that invite lots of child involvement. As their preschool learning grows through exposure to phonics, numbers, art, poetry, and the Bible, three-year-olds become students naturally and gain a strong foundation for kindergarten. The Abeka preschool program for K4 serves as a bridge between a preschool experience and kindergarten.K4 serves as a bridge between a preschool experience and kindergarten. Speaking of colorful, the learning rooms are indeed that. They are clean, bright, inviting, with real wood

cubbies and furniture, have colorful mats on the floor, and cheerful alphabets on the wall. There is even a display of aprons of every color in the rainbow that serve as a way to keep clothes clean, and when the art project is finished, go back to being wall art. The rooms also have experienced a complete overhaul after they were flooded due to a burst pipe during the winter, and are now better than ever. “We blessed God for the flood,” said Pastor Pat, and he spoke as a man who understands from experience that God does indeed work all things together for good.

Pastor Pat also told me that there are plans to get all new

playground equipment soon, and they are looking forward to the sound of littles enjoying life and getting fresh air. One can have a wonderful facility, but if there isn’t a loving, competent, experienced staff to do the teaching, it really doesn’t matter. And, it is the staff about which Pastor Pat is the happiest. “We prayed a lot about the teachers,” and he went on to tell me that Berea Early Learning Academy will be headed up by Siobahn Holt, who hails from Ireland, and brings with her years of experience loving and teaching “the littles.”

If this is what you are looking for as a place for your threeor-four-year-old, go to www.mybela.org, for more information and to download an application. The completed applications can be emailed to mybeladirector@gmail.com.

Katie Mucci Of Alfa Insurance: Newest Member Of The Thomas-Jones Agency

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1 made by an insurance company that truly cares about their customers and is also competent. The first was the 2011 killer tornadoes that changed life in Alabama forever, and her home needed extensive repairs. “The Alfa adjuster was in our driveway right after the storm, handed us $500 and told us to go get what we needed right away,” Katie told me. They endured being out of power for close to three weeks as well as all that went with that tough time in our state. Throughout that process, Alfa was there. The second event was an electrical fire that started in the garage, and blew up everything from her husband Zac’s motorcycle to the lawn mower and paint cans. Zac had been up when the explosions began, came and got her and

the children out, and they lost everything except two pieces of heirloom furniture. They were able to build a whole new house, and once again experienced the difference a reputable and responsive insurance company can make.

Eventually Katie found that standing for long hours on a hard surface began to take a toll on her knees to the point that she had to have back-toback surgeries. During the ten weeks she was off from work, with the encouragement of family and friends, she decided to “go for it” and become an insurance agent. After passing the exam on the first try, Katie chose to come and work for Matt Thomas and Randy Jones at the Alfa office located at 605 US-31 S, Ste. A-1, in Athens.

I first met Katie when she joined our BNI chapter in Athens, and was struck by her kindness as well as her com-

mitment to giving excellent service. If she didn’t have an answer, she worked until she got what her customer needed. I asked her why she chose Alfa, and she said, “I wanted to keep doing something that helped people.” As I sat in their office, I got to see firsthand how she did just that as she took care of people in need. “One of the things I have learned in the past eight months is that people are going through terrible things, and I want to be there for them,” she told me. The following is a bit of history of the insurance company that was started here in Alabama and is headquartered in Montgomery:

As an outgrowth of the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alfa Insurance Companies began in 1946 to provide quality fire insurance to federation members, who were primarily farmers. John Tucker Harris, a prominent Lee County farmer and past president of the Lee County farm organization, sent in the first pre-insurance application. Since then, Alfa has grown to offer an excellent array of insurance coverages including life, property and automobile to its clients and has also become known for superior customer service. Alfa and its affiliates now provide insurance and other financial services to more than 1 million customers in 14 states.

Here is some further information from the Alfa Insurance website:

Alfa Life Insurance Corporation currently has more than $27 billion in force and Alfa's property and casualty companies service over 700,000 policies. There are 353 service centers with more than 2,300

people dedicated to serving customer needs.

Their property, casualty, and life insurance companies and policies have an A rating with A.M. Best Company, which is the “go-to” ratings group for insurance companies.

Lastly, here is a brief description of some of the ways that Alfa supports customers and gives back to our communities:

The Alfa Difference and Alfa Cares

Our community makes us different – we’re more than an insurance company, we’re a family. We are committed to serving our community and serving you by providing personalized insurance you need with the local service you deserve…that’s the Alfa Difference

Alfa Cares grew out of an October 2015 campaign to raise money and awareness in the battle against cancer. Today, Alfa Cares is a year-round, company-wide initiative to rec-

Alfa agents worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the 2011 tornadoes

ognize and encourage benevolence and service. Providing for our clients means more than just selling insurance –it means going the extra mile to support the communities where they live and work.

Alfa® personnel work daily to support charities, promote education, and back area organizations with the goal of making our communities better.

Stop by today to get a no-obligation quote from a woman and a company who do what they do because they truly care -- Katie Mucci and Alfa Insurance.

Thomas-Jones Agency Alfa

605 Hwy 31 S, Suite A

Athens AL 35613

Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

kmucci@alfains.com

Cell 256 658 2619

More Conductors, Fewer Soloists

by Eric Betts

One of the great strengths of a leader is the ability to let their work speak for them and celebrate the good work and performance of others. Too many leaders today are addicted to being in the spotlight rather than highlighting the success of their team members. Great leaders do not set out to be famous, but to bring to the forefront the cause that they seek to champion. Perry Holly, who is a leadership coach for John Maxwell's leadership group, refers to the concept of soloist vs. conductor. There is room for solo acts in the community, but they too are largely the product of their community. However, solo acts are not best for organizations that seek to be productive change agents within their community. Leaders who have a soloist mindset often center themselves in the organization, while viewing others as merely backup singers to complement their talents.

Holly's illustration of moving from soloist to conductor is brilliant. The conductor spends most of the time with his back to the crowd, while showcasing those who are playing their instruments. The orchestra members are facing the audience, and are putting their gifts on display. As this occurs, it is the conductor that is helping them harmonize the myriad instruments to create a beautiful sound. The conductor's

face is not seen until the end, when turned to face the audience to receive applause. I have seen many conductors point toward the members of the orchestra and encourage applause. What great leaders understand is how to move from being a soloist to a conductor. A soloist moving to conductor needs to develop a mindset for wanting to see others shine more than themselves. This is a giant leap if one is always shining bright as a soloist, to move from the spotlight and allow the orchestra to be heard. Even within the orchestra, there are moments

when certain instruments are louder and others are more complementary. Holly also quotes Leonard Bernstein who said, “The most difficult instrument to play in the orchestra is second fiddle.” He adds that great leaders with a conductor's mindset help everyone and desire that everyone in the orchestra succeeds.

Maxwell expands on this concept when he says that humility is a rare trait among leaders. Leaders who possess humility, according to Maxwell, are not concerned with "showing off" their knowledge, strengths, and abilities. Such lead-

ers are never energized by being in the spotlight but in watching others around them grow, succeed, and advance. When it comes to the spotlight, they find their greatest joy in spotlighting the success and achievements of those in whom they have invested. Insecure leaders make great mistakes when they view the success of their team members as taking attention away from themselves.

Successful team members are never a threat to the leadership of the organization, but a testimony of the great leadership supporting them. Believe

ers of organizations are always going to be in the spotlight whether they crave to be there or not. Grabbing the spotlight is futile. Successful leaders know that they are always being watched and that they will be criticized in rooms where they are not present. Concerns about others being in the spotlight is unnecessary and oftentimes counterproductive. This represents a soloist attitude when the organization and community is in need of an orchestra. Decorated combat veteran and West Point graduate Dave Anderson, who co-authored Becoming a Leader of Character, says that great leaders know how to give credit to others and accept blame. He adds that great leaders do not put energy into standing out but automatically stand out due to their humility and generosity. Helping others shine and display their gifts is what drives their progress within their industry. This is why they are willing to share credit and bestow compliments on the team members around them. They rarely speak about themselves, but enthusiastically bring attention to those around them. Spotlighting others is not for the purpose of feeding egos, but to illustrate to the larger community the values of the organization, the changes being made, and the needs being met by the team.

Assistant Director, Curtis Coleman Center for Religion Leadership and Culture at Athens State University

Trinity Summer Fun Fest

by Jackie Warner Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters

Horse Whispering DARLING

by Deb Kitchenmaster

The tune for the month of June is “DARLING.”

I was called to a barn where a horse in dire need was rescued from a farm site nearby. Darling, a gray Arabian mare, with a desire for LIFE in her eyes like I had never seen before, was lying in a warm, clean stall, unable to move. Someone had put a halter on this horse and turned her out to pasture. The pasture was peppered with machinery that was unsafe for any horse with a halter strapped to its head. The land was covered with snow and quite cold temperatures showed on the thermometer. The horse got her head too close to one of these machines, and her halter hooked on a protruding part. Pulling as hard as she could, she could not free herself.

The people overseeing her care failed to check on the horse and were unaware of her trapped condition. The snow continued to fall and the temperatures continued to drop. The lack of water, hay, and shelter weakened this horse and she, herself, dropped to the ground with the halter clinging to an unmovable object that horsepower could not overcome. When she was discovered, she was barely alive and sections of her body were frozen to the ground. When they freed her from her enemy (the machine) and got her to her feet,

there were sections of hair and hide that remained on the ground. People joined together and with the wisdom of a caring equine vet and the horse’s will to LIVE, Darling was nurtured back to LIFE. After recovering from her wounds, she was placed in a loving home, that made the day for two happy little girls.

Can you imagine the trauma trapped INSIDE this mare? Trauma is described as an injury (such as a wound) to living tissues caused by an extrinsic agent. Darling the horse, with the help of caring, loving people, came through this experience in her life. What about you? Did you know, we all have a DARLING inside of us? We do! It’s our soul. King David (in the Bible) referred to his soul as his darling.

Psalm 22:19-20 states, “But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my DARLING from the power of the dog,” The word DARLING means only one, beloved, soul. Some identifiable traits of trauma in humans are: startle response, shame, self-hatred, panic attacks, overwhelming emotion, chronic pain, headaches, eating disorders, substance abuse, self-destructive behaviors, little or no memories, depression, numbness, nightmares, and flashbacks. Horses with a history of trauma easily draw out the un-

resolved emotions and repressed memories of humans who have experienced trauma.

You might have met a horse that you were pretty sure did not have a brain, but that’s not true. However, the brain of the horse is different than a human’s brain.

The cortex (social/emotional control center), hippocampus (short term memory, causeand-effect), and amygdala (flight, flight, freeze, faint) functions of the brain are alerted when traumatized. If you can’t fight or run away from a particularly painful or horrifying situation, some part of your awareness withdraws, anesthetizing strong sensations, and distorting time, perception and memory.

Anger and forgiveness are NOT opposing forces: they are completely equal partners in the true healing of one’s soul (Darling). Real forgiveness is a process that creates true separations from torment and tormentors; and true separations require the boundary-restoring energy of anger. Forgiveness naturally follows the honorable restoration of your sense of self. You no longer have abandoned YOU. You come home to being at peace with you; all of you, strength and weaknesses included.

My hope is that this true story of Darling would bring awareness to you regarding your soul. What does it profit a man (humanity) if he

gains the whole world and loses his own soul (DARLING)? Lick and chew on what your darling is. Your DARLING is one, beloved, soul. Our DARLING consists of 7 functions. They are: consciousness, understanding, judgment,

imagination, mind, memory, and will (the feet of our soul). Where we will go, we will. Where we will not, we won’t.

Daniel Goleman

What did my client mean when she said, “I tend to be an emotional thinker”? I’m going to assume that by “emotional thinker” she meant that she tends to make sense of her experiences and makes decisions based on primarily how she feels emotionally. An intellectual thinker, however, would be more rational or analytical in the way she makes sense

Emotional vs. Intellectual Thinking

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

of her experiences and makes decisions. My client’s goal was to be more of an intellectual thinker. Here are a few suggestions I had for her that you may find helpful.

Let’s start by not making it intellectual vs. emotional. While emotions can be helpful in our thinking, the key is to listen and be aware of what our emotions are telling us. We can then use them when helpful, but not be afraid to disregard them when they are unhelpful. Likewise, analytical reasoning can be a very helpful tool in

many situations, but less helpful in others. Most big decisions will require a mixture of both types of thinking since they are not mutually exclusive. The trick, of course, is to adjust the balance depending on the demands of the situation.

If you want to be a more intellectual thinker, you might want to spend more time around those analytical thinkers. It helps to be around these thinkers in person if possible, but you can “absorb” online or through video or audio as well. For example, you might look for a handful of podcasts where the host is very logical in the way he/she thinks and communicates. If you commit to listening to those for just 30 minutes a day, that critical way of thinking will eventually rub off on you.

To think more rationally, you might try filtering your emotions through your values. When emotions lead to unhelpful decisions, it’s usually because our primary motivation is to feel better in the moment, rather than doing what will lead to our long-term best interest. In other words, problematic emotional reasoning is problematic because the behaviors it encourages don’t align with your values. What is more helpful is to filter your emotional decisions through the lens of your values. When your

emotions push you in one direction, ask, “Does this behavior align with my values or go contrary to them?”

So these are some big picture suggestions. I’ve also got a handful of more specific tactical suggestions to think less emotionally and more rationally.

1. Look for the evidence. Do I have real, verifiable data or experience suggesting this decision is good or bad?

2. What are the pros and cons? Before making that big decision, think about both the expected benefits and the expected costs of a decision.

3. Do your thinking on paper whenever possible. Doing your thinking on paper forces you to

clarify thoughts and be specific.

4. Schedule a time to think through a difficult problem. Don’t just do it on the fly or last minute.

5. Make it a habit to always generate the best possible counterargument to any decision you are contemplating.

6. Reflect on bad decisions. When a decision doesn’t turn out well, make time to compassionately reflect on how and why you made the decision and what led to the bad outcome.

“In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels.”

-

Lisa Philippart is a Licensed Professional Counselor, providing mental health services through her own private practice in Madison, Alabama.

The Alternative Approach Remember Xango? Now XanthoMyst

by Roy P. Williams

A few years ago a juice was released to the public that was made from the fruit and peel of the queen of all fruits called mangosteen. It was highly recommended for all age groups because it tastes so good even children could take it and receive the health benefits from the nutrients it contained.

It became very popular very fast because it supported the health of the human body so well that people could actually feel and report the results in just 30 to 40 days. For many children it practically shut down the symptoms of allergies, asthma, and even skin conditions very quickly. For adults with high blood pressure, breathing disorders, arthritis, auto-immune disorders, pain and inflammation, diabetes, and some cancers such as leukemia, the body responded very well.

Over about a five-year period of time, millions of people used Xango and reported their results. Even many medical doctors like Dr. J. Frederic Templeman used it in their medical clinics with amazing health benefits reported. Unfortunately, the management of the company dissolved and the company collapsed. What didn’t change was the fact that over 23,000 medical studies and reports were released over the years. The

interest in mangosteen never went away, however there was no juice available. A few companies tried to distribute it in capsule with only a small impact on the overall market.

Mangosteen Today

Finally, early in 2023, a company discovered a way to take the fruit and pericarp from the mangosteen and extract the active ingredients that make it so beneficial for overall health using a new technology called nano-formulation, which makes the active ingredients ninetytimes more absorbable. This product called XanthoMyst is simply sprayed into the back of the throat and held for fifteen seconds. The particles are so small, that after fifteen seconds there is nothing to swallow because it is absorbed through the oral mucosa directly into the bloodstream.

As good as the fruit juice Xango was, only about 5 to 7 percent of the active ingredients were absorbed into the blood. With this new nanotechnology, the mist will change the way people take mangosteen forever. It has almost no taste at all and is so safe that if a child got the bottle and used all of it there would be no negative side effects. XanthoMyst can also be taken with any medications. As more people learn

the health-enhancing benefits, it is sure to become even more popular than Xango was.

We are already highly recommending it for all age groups to support natural health for anyone wishing to maintain good health and especially for all those diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, can-

cer, arthritis, auto-immune diseases, allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues, pain, low energy, headaches, and many more. It is a very powerful anti-inflammatory to help with pain, and free radical scavenger to support heart and immune health. It is so easy to use and very cost friendly.

Free Natural Health Seminar

To learn more or pick up your first bottle, go by Herbs & More in Athens, NHC Herb Shop in Killen, Reflections in Lawrenceburg, Health Unlimited in Huntsville, or call 256-233-0073.

Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

Cooking with Anna (continued from page 13)

My Cup Is Empty

by Anna Hamilton

and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.’’ Genesis 2:2-3 If the creator of everything knew to rest, what makes me think that I can keep going without rest? How silly!

Jesus knew that taking care of himself was very important. He knew that he needed time to rest and reflect without the noise and distractions of the world. At the end of Mark 4, Jesus makes the decision to get in a boat and retreat to the other side of the lake, even when he knows the crowd is still wanting to hear him speak. During his rest, a terrible storm pours rain down on the boat he and his disciples are on. Jesus continues to sleep on the boat that is tossing back and forth. Everyone around him feels like they need him to do something for them, but Jesus knows how important rest truly is. Once awakened, Jesus commands the wind and waves to be still, and everything is calm once again. Everyone is then able to rest. God wants us to use the times of rest to draw closer to him. When we rest properly, we can use the time for self-reflection. We can use that time as a time for prayer. We can use that time for sleep. We can use that time to strengthen our body with exercise so we will be fit to work for the Lord. We need to use that time to renew our mind. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test what God’s will is: his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” By taking the time to rest, your spirit is renewed and ready to serve God to your absolute best ability. When we don’t take time to rest, we will not be able to serve God with all our hearts and minds.

I am trying to make a mid-year resolution to take time for myself. To take time to rest and renew my body, mind, and spirit. To make sure I don’t run myself completely ragged. To know

that it is okay to say no, and it is okay to sleep! I hope you will take time to learn to rest as well. Take time to renew your mind and spend time with God.

This week’s recipe is a spring and summer salad that will be on your menu rotation every week. It is packed with garden fresh veggies and makes the perfect meal on its own or pairs perfectly with chicken, steak, pork, or seafood. Give it a try; I am sure you will love it!

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” I Corinthians 3:16-17

Ugly Before Pretty

by Mae Lewis

Years ago, I had the opportunity to intern with an elite interior designer and painter. This guy was über-talented. Seriously, he had a doctorate in color theory and his work was consistently featured in magazines like Architectural Digest. His business catered to celebrities and athletes, and as a young artist, I was painting the interiors of celebrity’s homes.

At the time our specialty was faux painting (pronounced “foe”) - meaning “fake.” It is a trompe l’œil effect (fooling of the eye) that emanates real texture such as stone, brick, and marble.

As a young artist, I struggled with some of the techniques, not understanding some of the artistic process. Faux paint-

ing is applied in several layers, each one building on the last to create dimension. In a texture like fake marble, there are so many paint layers, that I would often lose sight of the final vision.

I would be disappointed in how my work would look as I applied the first layers. When you slap brown paint on a brown background, it looks like mud -- not like marble! I was sure I had messed it up! I looked at my mentor with a face that said, “I screwed it up!”

I’ll never forget how my mentor looked at my face and said, “No, you are doing it right! It has to look ugly before it gets pretty!”

There were so many layers. I couldn’t lose sight of the fact that these were

just the first steps. That story stayed with me over the years as I have grown and developed not only as an artist, but as a human being. Most recently, my daughter was crying over a picture she had drawn for a friend. She had only colored in the first element, but she was disappointed in the way it had turned out in contrast to her expectation. I found myself repeating the words of my mentor -- ugly before pretty! -- and encouraging her to finish it and finish the steps before she cast judgment on herself. Later that night, I was discussing my father’s journey with my husband. I have written before of my father’s drug addiction, mental illness, and homelessness. In

2021, my father had hit rock bottom and was out of his mind.

Having him committed was the only option. I had worked with authorities and family to have him arrested and committed to an institution.

I’ll never forget the image of my father being arrested and realizing that I had tricked him into being arrested. It was in a Costco parking lot right in front of a full line of gas pumps: a captive audience witnessing my father’s arrest.

He began screaming my name at the top of his lungs. He fought the police. They tackled him to the ground and carried him, arms flailing and legs kicking, to their squad car. He continued screaming at me -- my

daddy -- my first love -the gentlest person in the world who had lost his mind, his heart, and his center.

It was ugly. Very ugly. I still tear up even now writing this. It was a very sad day.

But! That was just the first step. Dad was committed for 90 days (the max time in Arizona). He got cleaned up. He was diagnosed as bipolar and placed on court ordered medication. He got a place to live. He got a car.

Today he lives in a 5thwheel near friends. He is no longer on court ordered medication. He is no longer homeless. He will never be the same person again, but I have a relationship with him.

I wouldn’t even go so far as to call it “pretty” but it isn’t ugly anymore.

AND…I have hope that he will get well and make good choices. I have hope that even now, we are still in the ugly stages, and we may have something beautiful again.

But we wouldn’t have what we have today if it wasn’t for that ugly day, and those ugly steps.

As I was talking to my husband about this, I was reminded -- “ugly before pretty.” Sometimes life takes us through some really ugly stages, but they are just that -- stages, and each layer of ugly contributes to the overall beauty of life.

We wouldn’t have the beauty of today without the beautiful ugly of yesterday.