Athens Now Alabama

May 17 - June 6, 2013

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Coldwell Banker Realty...

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Sunset Swim Club Gearing Up For The 2013 Season... In looking back a few years ago, one of the more spectacular stories to come out of the 2011 tornadoes was the destruction of Sunset Swim Club on Mooresville Road... Page 7

The Grasshopper: 40 Years In Athens, And Now On The Courthouse Square

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Since 1973, the Grasshopper has been a fixture in Athens, providing our city with some of the best children’s clothing and gifts available anywhere. It was started by Martha Smith, originally located on Hwy 72, and since the ‘80s was just off the Square on Washington Street.

In 2004, Joel and Sharma Hamm were expecting their second child, a girl, and Joel came up Continued on pages 16-17

The Ellis Academy A Mastery Learning School... In August of 2012, I was taking an enjoyable stroll through Ardmore’s Crape Myrtle Festival, when two polite and confident young ladies in school uniforms approached me... Page 9

Athens Rehab Spotlight The New Community Relations Team...

Tee Jackson and his wife Jackie have long been involved in the Athens community, both professionally and spiritually...

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May 17 - June 6, 2013

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Page 2 2013 April 25,

the valley star

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May 17 - June 6,Page 201317

Publisher’s Point

Why We Need To Fight For The Romeike Family

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Sales / Editing Deborah Huff

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Contributing Writers

Shelley Underhill Lynne Hart Jeanette Dunnavant Jones Deb Kitchenmaster Wanda Campbell Will Anderson Hollie Hollman Brian Black Deborah Huff

We have Tennessee neighbors who are in trouble, and it’s not because they have done anything wrong. It is because they did what is quintessentially American, and that is respond to Miss Liberty’s insistence that she be given the “huddled

(read that born again, Bible believing) Christians, and were alarmed by what their children were learning in the German public schools.

They began to homeschool their kids in 2008, and sought asylum in America rather than have their chil-

by trade.

The Romeikes also have the distinction of being the first Western European family to seek political asylum in order to homeschool, and are being defended by the Home School Legal Defense Fund.

Michael Farris, lead counsel

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 7 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 9 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 14 Athens Rehab Spotlight . . . 15 Cover Story . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 18 World According To Will . . . 19

masses yearning to breathe free.” In 2010 the Romeike family legally arrived here seeking asylum from the German government. Why? Homeschooling is illegal in Germany, and there can be no mention of God in the public schools. The parents wanted what we often take for granted, the right to educate their children according to the dictates of their conscience, and they came here so their children could have a home-based Christcentered education.

Uwe and Romeike are

Hannelore evangelical

dren taken away from them.

They were granted asylum by the Justice Department, working hard as music teachers to support themselves, paid their taxes, followed Tennessee homeschool laws, and were the model of what American immigration is all about. They were not on welfare, trying to blow up runners or those cheering them on, and love this country. Uwe sacrificed his career and greatest temporal treasure to get here.

He had a beautiful Steinway grand piano, which he sold, and he was a concert pianist

and founder of Patrick Henry College, a Christian College in Virginia, recently said that it would be “over [his] dead body” that the Romeikes would be deported, and he will continue to defend them.

Simply stated, this case is outrageous. Judges granted asylum, and are now taking it away, something that just does not happen. The Romeikes have legitimately experienced what America has to offer, and if the appeal is not granted, they go back to Germany, pay huge fines, and face having their children taken away from them.

The parents also face going to jail. What is even more remarkable is that allegedly one of the reasons for the overturning of asylum status is that we are worried about offending Germany.

Twenty-five years ago, when I was a homeschooling parent, I met a woman from Louisiana who had spent two years in jail for homeschooling her children. She had hidden her children in an elaborate underground network during the time that she was imprisoned, and was finally freed and reunited with her kids. That happened here in America, and thankfully the story had a happy ending. I have never forgotten her quiet courage, and she demonstrated why we need to support our German Tennessee neighbors.

Whether you homeschool, send your kids to private school or use the public school option, it is your responsibility to be on the watch that our guaranteed freedoms are consistently upheld, and as was said by Edmund Burke, “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” For more information on how you can support the Romeikes, contact the Homeschool Legal Defense Fund at www.hslda.org.

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

Horse Whispering . . . . . . . 20 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Security Savvy . . . . . . . . 24

May 17 - June 6, 2013

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All Things Soldier

The S.E.A.L.S, Somalia, And Mother’s Day

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

I am just back from a truly memorable Mother’s Day Weekend. I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony of a young woman who is like family to us, and she happened to be the first person in her family to graduate from college. She has a bright future ahead, and I have no doubt she will one day become a wonderful wife and mother, and will celebrate many happy Mother’s Days.

odd to think of learning about a successful S.E.A.L operation as a gift, but while in Iraq I had the indescribable privilege of living amongst them for 16 months. Consequently they as a

was kidnapped, and their captors were asking 45 million dollars for their ransom. Jessica thought she was going to be raped, then be killed, and had no expectation of living through the ordeal, let alone be rescued by the S.E.A.L.S.

While I was eating my breakfast in the hotel lobby, I was given a “Mother’s Day gift” courtesy of CBS. It was an interview with Jessica Buchanan, an aid worker who was rescued last January in Somalia by the same S.E.A.L. team that took out Osama Bin Laden. I know that it might be

Join us on May 27th at the Limestone County Event Center for the Alabama Veterans Museum’s Memorial Day Program, special guest speaker MG Lynn Collyar, Commanding General US. Army Aviation & Missile Command. Program begins at 10:30.

Contact Sandy at 256-771-7578 for more information.

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whole new bevy of friends and sons won my heart forever. They are my heroes, and hearing what they did for a little blond aid worker and her Danish colleague made me want to weep and holler, right there while eating my grits.

By way of background, Jessica Buchanan was in Somalia with the specific task of helping Somalian children detect the presence of and avoid land mines. On the way back from the village, she

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Her ordeal lasted for 93 days, during which time she became ill, vomiting violently, and laying for days on the desert floor, rolled up in a fetal position. And one of the toughest things for her was the idea that it looked like she would never become a mother.

The moment came when they came to her rescue, and while what they do is so often the stuff of legends, this remarkably tender and protective move I am about to describe

makes it difficult to write this piece dry-eyed. The S.E.A.L.S. had killed the captors and waited for the chopper to arrive and complete the extraction. Then they heard a sound, possibly indicating the presence of more enemies bent on Jessica’s harm. They asked her to lie down on the ground, made a circle around her, and then carefully lay down on top of her to protect her. They stayed there until the helicopter arrived. She ran to it, they tucked her in, gave her a folded American flag, and they were gone. She never saw their faces, never got to thank each of them personally, and they left on a separate transport.

She choked back tears as she spoke of their gentleness with her, the fact that they would have taken a bullet for her, and that at that moment she was never prouder to be an American. Her Danish coworker said that he was lucky to have been kidnapped with an American.

And Miss Jessica? She came back to the States, and she and her husband now have a baby. Because of the S.E.A.L.S. Jessica Buchanan is now a mother, and because of CBS and the S.E.A.L.S., my Mother’s Day was even better.

May 17 - June 6, 2013

May 17 - June 6, 2013

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Calendar of Events 2013 North Alabama Four Ball Tournament May 25 - 27

Format: 54-hole two-man best ball event with one round at each of the following facilities: Valley Hill Country Club, The Ledges, and Canebrake Club. Eligibility: Any two male amateur golfers with certified USGA handicaps. - - Players 60 and older may play the senior tee set up. Cost: $650 per team. Entry Includes: golf, range, cart, and lunch at each club. Tee gift for each participant provided by: Tennessee Valley Training Center. Drinks are provided while on the golf course by: Michelob Ultra. Prizes: Prizes will be gift certificates from the club in which you win Schedule of Events: Saturday, May 25 - Valley Hill Country Club Tee Times Sunday, May 26 - The Ledges Tee Times Monday, May 27 - Canebrake Club Tee Times Practice Round Policy: Valley Hill: $40 cart and green fee week of tournament Canebrake Club: $40 cart and green fee week of tournament

Memorial Day Pool Party at Canebrake Club May 27 at 5:00 PM

Kick off the summer right at our Pool Party! Menu: BBQ Chicken, Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Chips, Chilled Watermelon, and Potluck Desserts - bring your favorite treat! $10.00 Don’t miss the giant waterslide! Live music by Tom McClung and Mad Dawg begins at 6:00 PM. RSVP required by Thursday, May 23. rsvp@ canebrakeclub.com | (256) 232-2412, ext. 7. *Members only - Not a Canebrake Club member? Visit http://www.canebrakeclub.com/ belong/membership/membership.html?menu_id=52 for membership information!

Alabama Veterans Museum Coffee Call June 1 at 8:00 AM

All veterans are invited to the museum for breakfast and a time of fellowship with fellow veterans. Contact 256-771-7578.

National Trail Day June 1

The monthly Cruise In is held the 1st Saturday night of each month - Apr - Oct. Bring your antique vehicle and park around the square.

Enjoy delicious dishes offered by our downtown restaurants. Come early and check out the great buys at the downtown businesses. Be sure and get you an ice cream cone at Limestone Drug or milk shake at Kreme Delight. Make it a family night. Contact Tom at 256-457-9179.

Junior Golf Camp at Canebrake Club June: 3, 5-7, 17, 19-21, 24, 26-28 at 9:30-11AM

Our Camp is right around the corner! To register, visit the Pro Shop or contact Micky Wolfe: micky@canebrakeclub.com or (256) 2322412, ext. 2. $80 per child (includes all instruction, tee gifts, and

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Bike MS: North Alabama June 8 7:30AM

Join us at the Athens- Limestone Health and Wellness Center for our 4th Annual Bike MS: North Alabama. The ride will begin promptly at 7:30am and we feature 25, 45, 75 or 100 mile routes along the NOAH bike trail. The ride is fully supported with rest stops every 10-12miles and a cook out celebration at the finish line. Please visit our website www.bikeMSalabama.org to learn more or to register for this great event. Not a cyclists? We need volunteers too so please visit our website or contact Jennifer Ely at 205-879-8546 or jennifer.ely@nmss.org to volunteer!

Bass Tournament Ingalls Harbor June 8 @ Safe light - 3:00 PM

Habitat for Humanity of Athens/Limestone County Bass Tournament will be held at the Ingalls Harbor with a mandatory safety meeting at 5:45 AM. To enter is $100. and a limit of 2 people to a boat call 256-230-6001. First place is $1000 Second $750. Third is $500. Fourth $250 and the Biggest Fish is $350. (Prize amounts are based on 50 boats participating.)

Mooresville Saturday Night!

June 8 at 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Join the Mooresville Merchants for our first Mooresville Saturday Night! Special activities at each business. FREE Family Bike Ride (Bring your own bike. Parental supervision and helmets required.

Route and distance determined by participant’s ability.) FREE Saturday Night Dance at the Dance Hall. FREE Ballroom dancing demonstrations. Steak and chicken dinners grilled at the Dance Hall (must be pre-ordered and paid in advance). Walking Tour of Historic Mooresville (fee). For more information: “Mooresville Saturday Night” on Facebook for more information or from any of these participating Mooresville Merchants: 1818 Farms, JaVa.Mooresville, Lyla’s Little House, Mooresville Mercantile, Our Towne Bakery, Southern Carnage Mobile Bicycle Services, & Town of Mooresville

Camp Hope June 11

Join the fun at Rail to Trails in Elkmont, AL Contact: 256-232-5411

Athens Cruise In on the Square Jun 1 at 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

refreshmentsy. *Members only.

Camp Hope, sponsored by Hospice of Limestone County, is a oneday camp for Limestone County kids ages 5 – 11 years who have experienced the death of a loved one. Each camper is paired with a volunteer buddy for the entire day. Campers and buddies hang out, do arts and crafts, play games, fish, and most importantly talk, listen and share feelings with one another. Camp Hope Volunteer Training will be 4/21/13 at 2-3 PM and 5/5/13 at 2-3 PM. To Register for Camp Hope go to : www.athenslimestonehospice.org

Ardmore Kids Day in the Park June 15 at 9:00 AM – noon

This community event for kids under 12 is hosted by the City and Town of Ardmore. Bring the kids to the Ardmore, TN John Barnes Park for a great day of fun, hotdogs, games and much more. Contact 9631-427-5523

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May 17 - June 6, 2013

Special Feature

Sunset Swim Club: Gearing Up For The 2013 Season

by Deborah Huff

One of the more spectacular stories to come out of the historic 2011 tornadoes was the destruction of Sunset Swim Club on Mooresville Road. The Swim Club had been opened for 17 years. The only thing left was the pump and filter, and there was even a car teetering on the edge of the pool. The buildings were flattened, the ladders to get in and out of the pool were twisted like pretzels, and it was a mess.

It took a year to rebuild, but owner Angelo Azzarello and his son Vincent were able to open the one million gallon pool for the 2012 traditional summer season that starts each Memorial Day Weekend and lasts through Labor Day. They are gearing up for a successful 2013 season and want you to know why they are the best swimming value in the Valley. Sunset Swim Club boasts a pool that is 200 feet long and 80 feet wide, and is the largest outdoor rectangular pool in the state of Alabama. That is just the beginning of a long list of amenities. There is a baby pool, a basketball court, and you can play volleyball, water basketball, horseshoes, and ping pong. There are first come, first serve grills for cook outs. You just need to bring your charcoal, lighter fluid and meat.

For an extra fee you can have a birthday party for your kids, and there are two one meter boards off of which to dive.

May 17 - June 6, 2013

Something I also especially liked when visiting was the secure area that is set aside for members to bring and store their pool toys, air mattresses, etc, so they wouldn’t need to haul them back and forth all summer. They offer free swimming lessons for kids that start in June and end in July.

The swim classes are for the

littlest ones who need to get comfortable with blowing bubbles to beginners learning kicks and strokes to intermediate swimmers. “We offer free swimming lessons to make the Club a safer place for families to enjoy swimming,” said Vincent. And you can even take classes to learn how to be a lifeguard.

So, why should we get a family membership?

“Because we try to have a friendly family atmosphere,” said Vincent.

“You have a chance to

every morning, and stay completely on top of taking care of the chemicals,” he stated. “A mother who has a family membership told me that one of the things she especially likes is the cleanliness of the water, which we pride ourselves in,” Vincent commented.

There are concessions available, but families are welcome to bring in their own food if they choose. This is especially nice for large families who prefer to bring in their own coolers with snacks and drinks for the day.

So, from the baby pool to the high dive, Sunset Swim Club is just the place for you and family to enjoy swimming, playing, lounging and building wonderful memories for the summer.

There is a reason that families come back year after year--come see for yourself. Call or stop by to find out about season membership. Jump on in, the water for you and your family will be just fine!

meet new people and make new friends,” he added. “Since we are open until 8pm, you can come after work for a relaxing swim and spend quality time

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with your family. The lifeguards are excellent, and very vigilant,” added Vincent. “Families can come and do something together rather than just watch TV. We also clean the pool

Sunset Swim Club

14128 Mooresville Rd Athens, AL 35613 256-431-9566 www.sunsetswimclub.com Page 7

Tourism

There’s Lots To Do Outside!

By Jeanette Dunnavant Jones, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

As children, our parents would send us outside to play and not come back inside until we were called for supper. Today, children are texting, watching TV or playing handheld games.

What a waste! There is so much to do outside; and so much beauty to enjoy in our community.

We just added two trails to our Trails Brochure including the African-American Heritage Trail and the Athens-Limestone County Antique Shopping Trail. All of the trails are free. Brochures are available at our office.

We have 17 walking, hiking, canoeing/kayaking, bird watching and horseback riding trails. Take your family and enjoy one of these trails.

On May 17th, everyone should bring their lawn chairs or blankets downtown and enjoy a 2-hour concert featuring “Just Down the Road” bluegrass band at Singing on the Square. It’s a great family event. Come to downtown early and en-

joy a delicious meal at one of the restaurants. Casa Blanca is now open on the square.

Village Pizza and LuVici’s are still open on the square and just across the railroad tracks you find Washington Street Diner and Inez’s Soul Food on Washington Street.

On the south-west side of the square you can still get your ice cream at Kreme Delight.

If you come early, you can get hand dipped ice cream and floats at the Limestone Drug located on the north side of the square.

enjoy the movie, Eating Alabama, at the Farmers Market at dark sponsored by Spirit of Athens (the Athens Main Street Organization).

May 31st is National Tourism Day at the Ardmore Welcome Center. Everyone is invited to come to the Welcome Center and help celebrate. It will be a day of fun for everyone.

Visitors will be given free ice cream, Pepsi products, and various give away items from local tourist organizations. You will also be able to

Friday and Saturday night (May 17th & 18th) features one of our largest events – Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo. Bring the family and enjoy all the rodeo events - bareback riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, saddle Bronc riding, cowgirl’s barrel racing, and bull riding. Of course, the smaller kids love the rodeo clowns, chuck wagon races, and the kids’ calf scramble.

pick up information about our respective events and attractions. Over 2 million visitors sign the register annually and that is considered to be only a quarter of those who stopped.

We are fortunate to have the Ardmore Welcome Center in

On May 18th you can

our county.

Visit the Athens Visitors Center located at 100 Beaty Street North for information on the above events and other events and attractions in Athens-Limestone County or call 256-232-5411 or 256867-1438. Check out our website (www.VisitAthensAL.com) for information.

“Just Down the Road” Page 8

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May 17 - June 6, 2013

Special Feature

The Ellis Academy: A Mastery Learning School

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

In August of 2012, I was taking an enjoyable stroll through Ardmore’s Crape Myrtle Festival, when two polite and confident young ladies in school uniforms approached me with pamphlets advertising The Ellis Academy. I took one look at the brochure and gladly allowed myself to be led by these “shepherdesses” to the information tent where I met Dr. Diane Ellis Miles, the founder and president of the academy.

We “talked shop” for a good while, and I found myself wishing I had children in my home so they could have the chance to experience what I readily concluded is a remarkable place of learning. Dr. Miles and her son, Dr. Daniel Miles, are inarguably phenomenal educators. They, along with their faculty, are highly experienced, having lived, studied and taught in the States and abroad.

They have a vision for the children of the Tennessee Valley to receive a level of education that these days is normally experienced only by the “gifted,” and whose graduates will no doubt be world changers. They do so in an environment that is unapologetically Christian, classical, cozy, and if I may say, classy.

Does it stretch you to think of a kindergartner starting to learn core academic subjects right alongside computer programming and Greek? What about hospitality and etiquette?

Would you like to see your children reinforce their geometry skills through the fabric arts, or learn public speaking and elocution?

Then I joyfully invite you

May 17 - June 6, 2013

to be “stretched!”

I could literally devote this entire article to the gastronomic delights of which I have partaken at The Ellis Academy functions on more than once occasion, but suffice it to say, that each “Fabulous Friday,” all the students learn to prepare meals under the supervision of Freida Houck, and sit down at tables they have learned to set properly. Lest you think these kids are stuffy, at my table the kindergartner had pizza sauce all over her face, later jumped into a mud puddle, and the children of one family are interested in being a S.W.A.T team leader and forensic pathologist, respectively. One of the older ones, if she were an architect, would redesign the White House using pink plastic for building materials, and make it look like Barbie could live there.

One student came to The Ellis Academy functionally illiterate, and had been convinced she could not read.

Dr. Diane Miles assured her she would work with her, telling her “we will find the right doors and unlock them, and we will do it together.” She is now one of

their glowing success stories, and is reading fluently.

Recently the children went to Washington D.C. and had the chance to meet with Congressman Mo Brooks, and the staff of Senator Jeff Sessions. This year they also planted a vegetable

The Ellis Academy On A Fabulous Friday

and flower garden, and we tasted of the fruits of their labors at the Fabulous Friday luncheon. Posters are on the wall in the K-2 section which unashamedly discuss using onomatopoeia (words like crackle and snap to illustrate verbally when writing,) and in the dining area, the necessities and benefits of having good manners. The boy who wants to lead the S.W.A.T. team designed and made a sturdy fabric book bag that

Students demonstrating the “Robo-gator,” which they designed and built

had pockets for everything from polliwogs to protractors, and his sister was in the next room taking a test for her Greek class.

The day in the cottage begins at 8 am, and there is always Scripture reading, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer. The subjects and activities are divided into three main categories: Core Academic Disciplines, Project-Based Learning, and Arts. They include everything from English, Math, Humanities, and Science, to Building and Construction and Performing Arts. The Ellis Academy is a place where everyone can flourish, whether they have been labeled an average student or gifted. In my opinion this is because of the caliber of the teachers as well as the multi-grade educational approach. Talents mixed with hard work result in remarkable accomplishments, and they are celebrated and enjoyed by all.

The story of how the beautiful campus came to be the

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home of The Ellis Academy is an example of undeniably providential provision, and the future looks bright for growth and expansion.

Numbers of projects are in the works for this summer, beginning on June 7th with a “Mama’s T.G.I.F,” (a 9am-3pm day off for Moms held on Fridays,) as well as Day Camps which will last for three days at a time. The Day Camps will teach such things as how to prepare ancient foods and making miniature solar powered racecars. The Ellis Academy is taking applications for all the summer activities as well for school in the fall, and they have my heartiest endorsement in every regard.

For more information, contact The Ellis Academy at: 256-420-8312 info@TheEllis Academy.com Facebook: The Ellis Academy 347 Jade Road Toney, AL 35773 Page 9

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May 17 - June 6, 2013

What Makes Ronnie Roll

The End Of Watch, And Honoring Our Fallen Police Officers

by Hollie Hollman

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week.

According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, 40 officers have been killed this year, as of May 10.

Each year, there are approximately 60,000 assaults on law enforcement officers, resulting in nearly 16,000 injuries. Throughout U.S. history, over 19,000 law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

A Guard laid a wreath at the memorial.

“This is a way to thank those who are serving and have served, and to remember those who gave their life protecting our community,” Police Chief Floyd Johnson said.

Athens Police are working on a project to further honor those who gave their life in the line of duty. Six of the names

1941 Brackeen was sitting in a patrol car with his partner at the old bus stop at Clinton Street when a man approached their car and started an argument about a prior incident. The man pulled out a revolver and opened fire. Brackeen exited the car and exchanged shots.

Brackeen was shot three times but still attempted to chase the suspect before collaps-

the door. The suspect killed himself before capture. ● Dewey Wayne Dorsey Sr. End of Watch: Feb. 11, 1989 Dorsey died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident while transporting blood to Athens-Limestone Hospital. The hospital treated and released Dorsey, but a blood clot developed and

suspect shot and killed Eubank while he searched a house for a weapon.

Troopers ● David E. Temple

End of Watch: Sept. 13, 1979

A man shot and killed Temple

There are nine names on a law enforcement memorial in the northwestern lawn at the Limestone County Courthouse.

How the names got there are stories with tragic endings, but they are also stories that remind us there are those willing to protect and serve our community. One officer was transporting blood when injuries from a wreck led to his death. Another attempted to chase his shooter despite sustaining three gunshot wounds, but he collapsed and died.

On Thursday, May 16th at 5 pm, the Athens Police Department held a memorial service at the Limestone Country Law Enforcement Memorial that contains the names of those who died in the line of duty in this country. The service was in recognition of May 12-18 being National Police Week.

The guest speaker was Michele Russell Lopez, the widow of Sgt. Larry Russell, who was one of two officers killed by a gunman in January 2004.

The Athens Police Honor

May 17 - June 6, 2013

on the memorial worked for Athens Police. Russell and Officer Tony Mims both have flag poles and American flags on their grave sites, but the other four officers do not.

The department recently held a golf tournament to raise money to buy poles for the other four graves.

“Woodmen of the World donated the four flags to us, and we raised enough money to buy the flag poles, so now we are working on getting the flags on the graves,” Johnson said.

End of Watch for Limestone County Athens Police Department ● Bedford F. Brackeen End of Watch: March 24,

ing. The suspect was arrested near Nashville and convicted of first-degree murder.

killed him.

● Billy Daly

End of Watch: Friday, Jan. 2, 2004

End of Watch: Dec. 22, 1964 Daly was on his police motorcycle when a vehicle struck him at U.S. 31 and Forrest Street. He had been with the department for two years. ● Lt. Benton McLemore End of Watch: March 7, 1969 A suspect shot and killed McLemore after the officer responded to the suspect’s house to check on his welfare. The suspect was known to be mentally ill and shot McLemore with a shotgun after the officer knocked on

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● Sgt. Larry Wayne Russell and officer Tony Mims

The men responded to a 911 call made by a man with a history of mental illness. The man opened fire as each officer pulled into the driveway, killing Mims first and Russell second. The bullets pierced their vehicles and bullet proof vests. The suspect died in prison.

after the officer pulled up to him in Limestone County in an attempt to arrest him for a car lot robbery in Decatur.

The man leaned out of his car and opened fire on Temple. The man then got out of the car and walked to where Temple lay on the ground and shot him several more times.

The suspect fled the scene and led police on a chase through Madison. Police shot and killed him after he wounded another officer. ● Simmie L. Jeffries

Limestone County Sheriff’s Department

End of Watch: Friday, Dec. 21, 1984

● Chief Deputy James Henry Eubank

Jeffries died from an accident when his patrol car collided with a tractor trailer in Limestone County.

End of Watch: Thursday, June 13, 1918

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Clean and Green

Farmers’ Market to Become Vibrant Community Gathering Place

by Lynne Hart

KALB, Spirit of Athens, and the City of Athens worked together to apply for a $20,000 grant from Keep America Beautiful and Lowe’s to make improvements to the Farmers’ Market in Athens and add a community garden to the market property.

I am pleased to announce that our project was one selected from 350 grant applications, and the only one from Alabama, to be awarded the $20,000 grant!

Plans include the removal of some of the asphalt, addition of curbing and landscaping, and the creation of on-street parking. A community garden will be added with raised beds allowing for persons of all abilities to work the gardens. A working windmill will also be added to draw water from Town Creek to provide irrigation.

The market will become a much more open and inviting place for activities such as art shows,

live music, educational programs, and community gatherings as part of the Athens Saturday Market sponsored

by Spirit of Athens.

Current Farmers’ Market

We intend for these improvements to our Farmers’ Market to support local farmers and nursery growers by providing a more pleasant through a voucher program. The community gardens will provide adults and students opportunities for community service and environmental education.

Plans for Market Improvements shopping experience for residents.

The market and the gardens will also encourage residents to eat healthy by providing access to fresh produce and education programs. We hope to assist senior citizens on limited incomes to include fresh produce in their diet

The planning committee is currently being assembled to make these goals and plans a reality. Local residents are encouraged to share any ideas for this project. We hope to make the Farmers’ Market and the Community Gardens a vibrant community gathering place, and we welcome everyone to share skills, ideas, knowledge, and volunteer hours.

Together, we are making things happen in Athens!

(256) 233-8728 KeepALBeautiful@att.net

Become a Fan

www.KeepAthensLimestoneBeautiful.com Page 12

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May 17 - June 6, 2013

Cooking with Shelley

KFC Cole Slaw Someone passed this recipe along to me and I just had to share it with you. Who knows

by Shelley Underhill

if its the real KFC recipe or not?

I just know that I really enjoyed it! Try it out on your family and

friends, and let me know what they say. You can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

What you will need: 1 head cabbage - shredded 2 carrots - grated 1 onion - grated Dressing 1 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup vinegar Mix together all dressing ingredients, pour over cabbage mixture and let sit for a few hours before serving.

May 17 - June 6, 2013

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Learning As A Lifestyle

The Mindset List In our multiple generation workplaces it is pretty funny to listen to the comments that come from coworkers – younger and older. As the older ones make a reference, the younger ones scrunch up their eyebrows and turn their head to the side and say, “Really?”

And as the younger ones make a reference, the older ones say with surprise, “What are you talking about?” Sometimes the references we use to explain what we need might as well be the recipe for Kryptonite to the other person.

lative look at the world that awaits a generation born two years ago. The book is published by John Wiley and Sons Publishing, and is available at the Turtle Creek Beloit College Bookstore. (http:// themindsetlist.com/)

has prompted conversation, in the classroom, at conferences and in the media,” Nief adds. “We hope the book will do the same thing, particularly among generations in the same family. We anticipate multiple generations

by Wanda Campbell what people did before remote controls, voice mail, and touchtone phones. We may revolutionize mealtime and bring back Tang and Ovaltine.” (http:// themindsetlist.com/book/) I love to look at the lists in this book. They are definitely a conversation starter. For example, the 2013 list says, “If the entering college class of 2013 had been more alert back in 1991 when most of them were born, they

In 2002, Ron Nief and Mindset List creators Ron Nief and Tom McBride.

Tom McBride wrote a book called The Mindset List that looks at ten of families gathering once generations, from the time “A rewarding aspect of again at the breakfast or of their grandparents, born the annual Mindset List dinner table to talk about about 1880, to a specu- is the way in which it

would now be experiencing a severe case of déjà vu. The headlines that year railed about government interventions, bailouts, bad loans, unemployment and greater regulation of the finance industry. The Tonight Show changed hosts for the first time in decades, and the nation asked “was Iraq worth a

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war?” (http://themindsetlist.com/lists/2013list/)

In the workplace or the classroom, knowing how to make references that are understood helps get the job done. One of the new online classes that we offer at the Center for Lifelong Learning talks about generations in the workplace.

The Business Coaching Certificate is a two month course on Mentoring and Coaching. Mentoring and coaching have come to be used more frequently in organizations to improve leadership competencies and provide employee support. It has benefits for the employer and employee. Part One of the Coaching Certificate is offered June 3-28.

Part Two of the Coaching Certificate is offered July 1-26. The course is only $245 for this valuable skill. You can register online or you can call us at 256-233-8260 to register today.

We currently offer more than 300 online courses that can help you learn for fun, brush up on business and career skills, or help you earn certificates needed to get a raise or promotion. For more information or to get an online course catalog, call 256-233-8260.

May 17 - June 6, 2013

Spotlight On The Jacksons: The New Community Relations Team At Athens Rehab And Senior Care

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Tee Jackson and his wife Jackie have long been involved in the Athens community, both professionally and spiritually. Coach Tee Jackson has worn a number of hats at Athens High School.

He’s coached everything, taught history and P.E., been the Vice-President as well as the Principal, and has a solid handle on the mandate that as believers, no matter what our vocation, we are “to put the Lord first.”

In 2013 he finished his career as an educator, retiring from the Giles County TN school system as the Director of Schools. Then a new door opened. Athens Rehab and Senior Care made a position available for Tee and his wife Jackie to head up the Community Relations team. That involves wearing a number of hats once again, as chaplains, liaisons to the rest of the community, lecturing, loving, encouraging, and in a word, ministering.

Speaking of ministering, Tee is ordained, and has been involved in the ministry of First Baptist of Athens for years.

Jackie spent 30 years in the health care field as an administrator, and worked for Dr. Frank Cauthen and Dr. Wendell Shannon, beloved local family practice docs here in Athens. She was their office manager. Her love for seniors and the subsequent sense of calling to minis-

Tee and Jackie Jackson ter to them came from her grandparents, Mary and Eunice Stockard. (Eunice was her grandfather.) They were happily married for 82 years, and both lived to be 99 years old. They even ended up in the Guiness Book of World Records as one of the longest marriages ever known!

“They were a wonderful example to me,” says Jackie.

Her experience working for the docs comes in handy in her new position, as one of her responsibilities is to help residents and their families through the maze that is Medicare, answering questions, explaining benefits, because, as she says, “regulations change daily.”

Limestone County has six Senior Centers, and the Jacksons visit each one once a month. They do events that are one part devotional, one part fun, one part educational, and even involve a door prize. They call on area physicians, attend Chamber of Commerce events, and in general make themselves available to the citizens of

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our town.

With specific regard to ministering to the residents and staff of Athens Rehab, they find spiritual care to be most satisfying. They begin each staff meeting with prayer, and they often have the residents ask for Tee and Jackie to pray with them. Tee also loves what he calls his “card ministry.” He has all kinds of business card size cards that have scriptures or inspirational sayings on them. If he stops by and they aren’t there, there is a special outsize one that he leaves for them when they come back to the room.

On a more practical level, a staff worker recently lost her home to fire, and Tee went to the site to offer support even before the flames were doused. No two days are alike, and the sweetness and joy that emanate from the Jacksons makes it obvious that they are “in the zone” in their new position at Athens Rehab and Senior Care Center. Tee and Jackie, welcome aboard!

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Cover Story

The Grasshopper: 40 Years In Athens, And Now On The Courthouse Square

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

with an “out-of-the-box” idea: “I am going to need to clothe my daughter anyway, so why not buy a store to do it?” On any level that is an unusual move, but to me the idea of the guy who is the “Like A Rock” Champion Chevrolet General Manager being the coowner of the Grasshopper is all the more intriguing.

Nevertheless, it has worked well, and now Joel can whip off the names of clothing, shoe and gift product lines

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just as easily as the names of Chevy, Jeep and Polaris products. The Hamm’s success has made it possible to move into the former location of Kids’ World on Marion Street, and the Grasshopper happily is really “hopping.”

This has been the best year yet, and this past March in the new location on Marion was busier than the previous December on Washington Street.

Joel and Sharma are more than optimistic regarding the future, even in this economy. They also find owning and running the Grasshopper to be fun, a

word that is not always heard when it comes to being an entrepreneur.

One of the things Joel and Sharma enjoy bringing to the Athens community through the Grasshopper is the sense of stability and continuity. It is not at all rare to hear customers say, when they come into the store, “My Mom/ Grandma used to bring me here when I was a little girl,” and they in turn are doing so

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with their daughter or granddaughter. A couple of times a week Joel goes

to the Grasshopper for lunch, and “enjoys seeing people from church, his kids’ school, neighbors and friends.”

Kids in the original shop were always invited to play while the adults shopped, and that tradition continues on today.

The shop is brightly colored and inviting, and the merchandise displayed well, both which serve as a fitting back drop for high quality clothing and gifts. Clothing ranges in size from newborn to size 10.

I always ask any Athens Now client why I should come to them, and with no shortage of children’s apparel stores in our area, I did so with Joel. He replied with his trademark candor, “We may not be the cheapest, but our quality is the highest.” They have hand smocked dresses starting at $36. They have “the best selection of shoes, bows, and baby gifts,” and they also carry beautiful dolls.

Some of the shoe lines

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its customers is allow them to take home several outfits, pick what they want to purchase when it’s convenient for them, and then bring the rest back. “Nothing is worse than trying to get a cranky child to try on clothing,” says Joel, (possibly from experience?!) The Grasshopper is just “local” enough that customers can be treated with the kind of service that is a throwback to an era when people’s word meant something, and customers could be trusted. I asked him how that has worked out, i.e., taking that kind of risk, and he continues to be glad to do it. Some of Grasshopper’s new projare Puddle Jumpers, Lamour, and Robeez, (an infant shoe that is designed to resist being kicked off and lost.) “Our value, selection and customer service are what bring people back, year after year,” they say.

Other name brands include Paty, Hello Kitty, Douglas, Ty, LaJenns, Corky and Company, Flap Happy, and more.

Grasshopper’s has a saying, and that is, “They’re only little once, and they’re worth

May 17 - June 6, 2013

it.”

One of the things the Grasshopper will do for

and Kathleen’s Korner, as well as the other shops on the Square. “It’s great for business, and we like being near “neighbors,” they say.

Joel’s wife Sharma works on Fridays, and is in charge of ordering. She is also the one who goes to market, and together they make the Grasshopper a fun and quality place to get just what you are looking for when it comes to children’s clothes, shoes, gifts, and more. Joel says, “At the end of the day, good busi-

ness is about good relationships, and we will keep on building both.”

The Grasshopper 107 South Marion Athens, AL 35611 256-232-7277 Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm

ects include increasing clothing selections for boys as well as more shoe choices for both boys and girls.

The Grasshopper also has a fashion jewelry product line, and carries picture frames, baby gifts as well as gifts for baby showers and other events. They love the location on the Square, enjoy being next to the Shoe Gallery, and in the vicinity of The Crowning Touch, the Center for Lifelong Learning

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Health and Fitness

Smarter Snacking For Spring And Summer Courtesy Brandpoint Content

Grilling is another great cooking method for the warmer months. Marinated meats, shrimp, and even chicken wings can easily be grilled and topped with various seasonings. Opting for main dishes that are usually accompanied by vegetables can also make finding room for fresh ingredients simpler.

(BPT) - The air turns mild and warm, people gladly shed winter coats, and the days grow longer - everything about spring is lighter and brighter. Since the warmer months bring about many occasions to enjoy the best of backyard cookouts and boardwalk fare, the season’s more indulgently delicious offerings may cause us to consider departing from our wellness goals.

It is possible, however, to eat smarter this spring and summer by finding more wholesome options - without sacrificing the robust flavors and fun of the warmer months.

Lastly, for a refreshing seasonal beverage, simply add slices of lemon or lime to a pitcher of ice water for a fresh splash of citrus flavor.-

Grocery alternatives

these healthier alternatives to tempting summer treats.

Today, many of the foods we enjoy are offered in lighter, better-for-you versions that don’t compromise flavor.

When shopping, look for

For example, “figurefriendlier” frozen yogurt is now available in an assortment of varieties beyond basic vanilla - from

LIFESTYLE CHANGE & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CLASS A Four Week Class (Friday at noon) to Help Create Healthy New Habits WHEN: May 17th – June7th @ 12pm - 1pm WHERE: Janet’s Fitness Studio in Athens COST: $50 per person or $80 per family* STRATEGIES FOR LIVING A HEALTH LIFESTYLE łSetting SMART Goals łObstacles and Support Systems łHealth Risks łFood and Activity Diaries łExercise to Maximize Weight Loss łNutritional Labels and Portion Sizes łFood Choices and Dining Out For more information or to sign up:

256-614-3530 Jhunt1@pclnet.net www.janetsfitnessindustries.com Classes/workshops can be tailored to your group at your preferred times. *Limitations/Restrictions applied

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fruit flavors to ice cream classics like chocolate or mocha. Healthy toppings, such as fresh fruit or dry nuts, add an extra dose of variety and texture to this warm-weather dessert.

to your liking is one simple way to more healthfully enjoy a traditionally calorie-laden food.

By being creative and open to new ideas, it’s possible to snack smarter this spring and summer - and find more wholesome alternatives, both at home and in the grocery store.

For another smart snack option, look to Baked Naturals Tortilla Chips from Pepperidge Farm.

Available in Simply Tortilla and Nacho Cheese varieties, these gluten- and preservative-free chips taste great and are always baked, never fried. Made with quality ingredients like stone ground corn and 16g whole grain per serving, Baked Naturals Tortilla Chips contain 43 percent less fat than the leading tortilla chip. Log on to www.pepperidgefarm.com to learn more.

At-home food prep Some popular food preparations - like frying tend to add calories and fat, but baking is a great alternative for summer that still allows flavor to shine through in your best dishes. Serving up homemade oven fries seasoned

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The World According To Will

The Will Anderson Show M-F 6pm-8pm on 800 and 1230AM and 106.5FM WBHP

Will Republicans Seize The Political Opportunity That Benghazi Provides?

by Will Anderson It’s a vulgar question, I know. But as I’ve often said, sometimes good politics and good policy intersect.

This is one of those times.

Good policy in the case of Benghazi would be to impeach the President.

Remember, when Bill Clinton was impeached, the Left protested that it was preposterous because it was “all about sex.” The ex-President’s perjury didn’t bother his party, and, perhaps more importantly, it didn’t bother the press, who adored Clinton in a familial sort of way.

He was a charmer who advanced their agenda with a wink and a smile, beating the Republicans every time he and they went head to head.

Benghazi has nothing to do with sex, of course. It’s about national security, transparency, a cover-up (not unlike the one which properly did Nixon in), and, most importantly, the death of four Americans. The question of whether or not their lives could have been saved is an impossible question to answer, but the salient point is that the Obama administration didn’t even try; they were too busy figuring out a way to minimize the political impact that Benghazi would have on their re-election effort.

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Some Republicans (Darrell Issa comes to mind) are pressing for answers—not because they are preemptively launching a campaign against Hillary’s 2016 ambitions, but because they want to fill in the blanks in what we already know is an untruthful narrative being promulgated by the administration.

Others in the Repub-

lican Party, when directly asked whether or not they’re accusing Team Obama of a cover up, are reluctant to answer the question with an unambiguous “yes,” choosing instead to enumerate the details of the Big Lie, ranging from the two orders that the military not respond to the attacks to the twelve changes in Susan Rice’s

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talking points.

If I were asked whether or not I was accusing the administration of a cover up, my answer would be short and sweet: “I’m connecting the dots. Anyone who doesn’t see a cover up here isn’t.”

That’s not a political answer; it’s the responsible one. Republicans in Congress need

to be responsible—even, Heaven forbid, if it benefits them politically.

Will the press do their job and cover the cover up?

A week or two ago, that would have been a debatable question. And then the revelation about the administration seizing the phone records of the Associated Press came to light. That was a game changer. The fondness for and blind trust in President Obama that helped him through two election victories (the second of which was most unlikely, given the economy’s frail state) is gone. The media monolithically had his back, as they had Clinton’s, and he has paid them back by demonstrating that he has no regard for the 1st Amendment.

Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, insisted on Tuesday that national security concerns mandated that the leak be investigated.

Suspending judgment on how focused this administration has been on foreign policy, Holder’s words—and the administration’s actions—have evinced that as long as Obama is in charge (and he is, despite Jay Carney’s insistence to the contrary), it will be risky for the press to do its job.

And as ideological as they are, journalists are journalists first.

Which means that the Republicans have the opportunity to do the right thing on Benghazi, with reasonable assuredness that the press, having broken up with the President, will be on their side.

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Horse Whispering

Respect

by Deb Kitchenmaster “classroom of respect.” I explained to the group that all I wanted her to do was face me when she changed direction.

The fog was so dense that school was delayed for two hours, and travel was risky for the group that was coming out for a scheduled “round pen” session. Whenever I do a round pen, I bring a horse out into the pen, (which is like a portable metal corral,) and teach a life lesson.

The fog had lifted some, but it was still hazy. The group arrived safely, came into the yard, and set up their chairs outside of the pen. I discussed some logistics with them, and then brought in a mare by the name of Annie. Annie came from a bloodline that was “hot,” i.e. somewhat nervous, and prone to much for-

Time after time I would draw her to me, but she would choose to turn away from me, face the rail and go on from

ward motion. The mare had been ridden on trail rides, turned loose in open fields to run, run, run, and had a mind-set of run, run, run! Seeing as she was the alpha horse of her present herd, she knew how to take over in any situation.

My goal this day was to

develop a relationship of respect. First I needed to give respect, then I expected and would demand respect from this strong-willed mare.

My plan of action was to turn the horse loose in the round pen without any tack. I held in my hand a lasso. Annie was familiar with longeing, and knew how to go around and around in circles with a halter on and a chain over her nose. But I wanted an “inside connection.”

Using body language, I sent her to the rail. I would ask for a transition, and simply desired for her to go a different direction. Each time I requested a transition, Annie always turned her hind quarters to me when she changed direction. Thus each of us inside and outside the round pen entered into the

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sun broke through the haze with brilliance. Every one of us, whether we were applauding or smil-

ing from ear to ear, stood in awe of the timing of this moment!

there. The entire group was engaged in the session, rooting for her to “get it.” Annie had much potential, but to develop it a shift needed to take place inside her mind.

This very change was what I was going for with everything in me!

Then it happened! She “got it,” and during the transition when she faced me for the first time, the

Months later I received a letter from one who was in this session. There had been a misunderstanding between her and one of her friends that had the potential of ending a friendship. This session gave her the tools to face her friend and be reconciled!

A whisper from a horse can change how we relate to our “NEIGH” bor!

Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections: Connecting with LIFE through a horse Animal B.E.S.T practitioner dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

May 17 - June 6, 2013

Artistic Discovery's Find the Artist in YOU : )

Summer ART Camp

Doodle

June, July & August

@ Good Shepherd UMC

1418 Old Railroad Bed Road - Madison, AL 35757

Artistic Discovery is a traveling studio.

We offer upbeat, creative classes for all who want to learn.

This year, kids will have the chance to create like never before.

They will create an art journal (doodling, sketching, and watercolor painting) documenting their artistic progress as they learn about the basics in sketching, color wheel usage and mixing colors.

They will also create a brand-new painting each day reinforcing the material they learn.

Cost: $85.00 per child per week Daily Rate: $25.00 per child (discounts will be given for sibling groups, please email info@artisticdiscovery.org for code) Please Pre-Register @ www.artisticdiscovery.org Each Month will have a different Theme.

Watercolor

JUNE: "Wild about You" Date: June 10-13 Time: 9-11:30am Ages 5-8 Time: 12:30pm- 3pm Ages 9 & up June 14th @ 6pm - Gallery Date: June 17-20 Time: 9-11:30am Ages 5-8 Time: 12:30pm- 3pm Ages 9 & up June 21st@ 6pm - Gallery JULY: "Furry Friends" Date: July 15-18 Time: 9-11:30am Ages 5-8 Time: 12:30pm- 3pm Ages 9 & up July 17th @ 6pm - Gallery

Paint

Date: July 22-25 Time: 9-11:30am Ages 5-8 Time: 12:30pm- 3pm Ages 9 & up July 26th @ 6pm - Gallery Gallery night is Parent and Me paint night.

Parents get to have fun painting with their children. $25 fee

May 17 - June 6, 2013

AUGUST: "Masterpiece Maniacs" Date: August 5-8 Time: 9-11:30am Ages 5-8 Time: 12:30pm- 3pm Ages 9 & up

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Medical Update

Creating The Perfect Sleep Environment This Spring Courtesy Brandpoint Content

(BPT) - Everyone, including moms and doctors, can agree that a good night of sleep is necessary for good health, high energy, and an individual’s overall well-being.

Not getting enough good sleep - or rapid eye movement sleep - can affect the mind and body’s ability to react appropriately to outside factors, the National Sleep Foundation reports.- Creating the perfect sleep environment is the first step toward ensuring a good night of sleep. March, the first month of spring, is also National Sleep Awareness Month, and it aims to remind everyone why a good night of zzz’s is so important. One in four adults in the United States experience occasional sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up feeling un-refreshed at least a few times per week, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Fortunately, you can implement these tips this spring, and create a comfortable sleeping environment in your home for both you and your family. * Eliminate distractions - Electronics.

Noises. Lights. Many items, such as laptops, TVs and cellphones, commonly found in bedrooms can cause distractions and prevent a person from entering REM sleep. Re-

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move these items from the room. Also, consider running a fan or white noise machine to create a soft sound barrier,

which will help muffle unexpected sounds like a person flushing the toilet or an engine rumbling loudly on the street outside. * Establish comfort Creating a sleep-conducive environment is an important factor in making the most out of every minute you sleep. Cuddle up each night with soft linens and create a calming atmosphere in the

bedroom. To do this, try adding Downy Infusions Lavender Serenity liquid fabric softener when washing your sheets and

sleepwear this season, to make your linens and sleepwear silky, soft and soothing. It will help lull you right into bed. With Downy you can wake up to a great scent and start the day off on the right side of the bed.

ing a warm bath, reading a chapter in a book or journaling. The National Sleep Foundation advises against watching

TV or using electronics as part of this routine because electronics can

hinder quality sleep. * Stay active - Sleep is needed to give the body energy to get through its daily activities. Conversely, daily activities are needed to tire the body out for a good night of sleep. Consider adding physical activities into your daily schedule so you can settle into bed between the covers each night, tired and ready for a good night of sleep.

Nobody enjoys walking around in a mental fog or having no energy during the day, so be sure to create the perfect sleep environment in your home for you and your family this spring. It will help you get the most out of every minute of your zzz’s.

* Be routine - The human body reacts favorably to familiar and repeated movements. So consider following a routine every night, whether it’s tak-

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Security Savvy

The Trouble With Tablets, Texting And Tweeting

by Brian Black of Madison Security Group Since the weather is now getting warmer, let’s talk about how to better secure your house from the outside. When talking about protecting your home, you must think of it in layers. No one element is enough for securing your home from intruders.

Let’s start with window security. I have mentioned in the past that a good deterrent is to have thorny bushes in front of windows. This is the time to plant those bushes. A personal favorite is the holly bush, but another is the rose bush. These bushes are easy to plant and can grow fairly quickly. Just remember that with any plant it will take time to take root and thrive, but once they do, they will give you years of beauty and protection. Depending on the type of plants you get, you will need to give them room to grow but you do not want to leave a big gap between the window and bush. A gap of 12-18 inches should be enough; the main thing is to keep the gap small enough so the bush cannot be used to hide behind by an intruder.

ultimate in fencing, you could use decorative rail or bar fencing. For the best security, the privacy fence option is the most economical. But whichever option you choose, make sure that you keep objects away from the fence that can be used to jump over the fence.

Outside lighting is a must. This is a good time to replace the bulbs with brighter bulbs, and be sure to follow manu-

facturer’s guidelines for maximum wattage. When determining how much lighting you should use or where to place lighting, you must think like an intruder. This is hard because we normally don’t think in those ways, but this is your best defense. Look for the areas in which someone might try and hide. These are the areas that need to be lit. There are many different types of lighting that can be used; halogen, flo-

rescent and even incandescent lights are all good options, and it’s all a matter of preference. One of the most popular types of lighting, and one that has great curb appeal, is a post light. These are normally found at the beginning of sidewalks or close to the front door, and they work very well at lighting the area.

The last thing I would suggest is getting a storm door that has a 5 star se-

curity rating. Some of these doors have multiple locking points and the glass is nearly break proof. But like I have said in the past, once you feel secure, that’s when you’re most vulnerable. Security for your home is an ongoing process, and you must re-evaluate your defenses continually.

I hope these suggestions are helpful; have fun working in the yard this summer, and be safe.

Another security device you can add is a privacy fence, and the ideal fence would be flush to the ground and six feet high.

You could also use a chain link fence, but these are typically only four feet tall and can easily be jumped.

If you want to go for the

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