October 06, 2017

October 6th - October 19th, 2017

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

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature 17th + Pear Photography: “Professional, Classy, Southern”...

When I would drive by the Craftsman-style-houseturned-business located on the corner of Clinton and Market just off the Square, I was...

Page 5

From The Vets' Museum The Missing Man Table...

On September 15, the Alabama Veterans Museum once again hosted the POW/MIA Recognition Day event, which included...

Page 10

Special Feature Born A Slave And Heralded An ‘Unsurpassed Soprano’...

Patti Malone To Grace Athens With Her Presence Once Again...

Page 18

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Storytelling 2017: Our City-Wide Family Reunion

By Ali Elizabeth Turner For the past eleven years, the City of Athens has been blessed to host what has become what the Southeast Tourism Society has called one of its “top 20 annual events,” and truth be told, it has grown into a giant family reunion. This year’s festival will be held once again under the big tent on the east side of the Courthouse, and the official festivities begin on Tuesday, October 24, and finish up on Saturday, October 28.

Continued on page 15

The 10th Annual Athens Limestone Hospital Foundation Pink Elephant Luncheon

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Derrick and Suzanne Brooks

Suzanne, a native of Athens and a 17 year breast cancer survivor, will be the special guest speaker

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On October 18, the Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation will be sponsoring their 10th annual Pink Elephant Luncheon, an event whose purpose is to raise funds as well as

Continued on pages 17

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October 6 - October 19, 2017

Publisher’s Point

Ray And Roy’s Excellent Adventure

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt D. A. Slinkard Holly Hollman Paul Foreman Sandra Thompson Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Shelley Underhill Rosemary Dewar Jerry Barksdale Paige Figueroa

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets' Museum . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Shelley . . . . 13 The Millennial Mind . . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 16 Special Feature . . . . . . . . 18 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . . 20

As we were staring down the deadline for this edition of Athens Now, I was in a quandary about what to do for Publisher’s Point. The news crawlers were running nonstop with regard to the Las Vegas massacre, as well they should. The expected gun-control arguments were being trotted out once again by those who appeared to have never handled a weapon, the President and the First Lady had just landed in Las Vegas, and while I had much to say about all of it, none of it worked.

Then I found the following story, and I knew that in this time of appropriate national mourning and hopefully, repentance, we needed a tale of pure and powerful David-and-Jonathan type love, and here it is.

udice. Ray and Roy didn’t care because they were best buds.

The United States Air Force became its own separate branch of service in 1947, and in 1948 President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which was the official death knell of racial discrimination in the armed services. Just nine years later, two poor kids, one white and one black, became Airmen as well as best friends. They met at Tachikawa Airfield in Tokyo. They and their families did everything together, including going to the movies, and they didn’t care whether anyone approved. Many didn’t, and were peevish in their prej-

Salmon, lost track of each other; Cahoon being transferred out while Salmon was in the States at a USAF track meet.

They didn’t speak for decades, but they carried each other in their hearts.

Salmon had tried to find Cahoon through the Air Force, and finally succeeded in tracking him down through the help of the editor of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Salmon had been diagnosed with cancer, knew he was running out of time, and wanted to be re-united with his friend before he passed.

Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Then, through a fluke, the two whose full names are Ray Cahoon and Roy

finally happened, and I have no more need to say a word, due to the power of the picture. Ray and Roy are honored warriors-ofthe-sky in failing bodies,

It is the flashing fire of Yah…” Rotherham translation When Ray Cahoon finally saw his friend Roy Salmon, he laughed and

Ray Cahoon and Roy Salmon reunited after decades

Last week the reunion

with tears of joy and the hugs that come from what we have come to call the band of brothers, an inexplicable bond of which I have had the deepest honor to taste; all of it was a feast for the onlookers.

To be accurate, they had already exchanged letters and phone calls, but it was the face-to-face that said it all.

They were not only service members who deserved honor from all of us, they were pioneers.

They proved that in all ways that are holy as well as whole, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.

said, “But Roy, you never told me you were black!”

Through tears, Roy managed to choke out his appreciation for his friend and his friend’s family: “These folks, I was a human being, and they treated me like I was…”

“Family,” said Roy. And this, dear readers is the true tale of Ray and Roy’s Excellent Adventure.

Let’s write our own.

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

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All Things Soldier

Rapone And Russian History

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

There is a brouhaha brewing over a confusing statement written on the inside crown of a West Point Cadet’s dress cover which states, “Communism will win.” A young Army soldier-turned-officer by the name of Spenser Rapone, who served honorably in Afghanistan and then graduated from the Academy in 2016, felt that it was important to express himself politically, and he is understandably in hot water. The slogan is bad enough, but wait, there’s more.

Here is what stands out to me. First, there is huge store put in the care of one’s dress uniform, especially for something as important as graduation.

Spit and polish for the shoes, creases that are so sharp they could double as weapons and cut you, and

brass that shines like gold on your cover’s medallion, your buttons, and your buckle. Soldiers spend hours getting ready for such a special occasion. In a word, you just don’t vandalize your cover, or officer’s hat. I don’t care if you used a permanent Sharpie to write the preamble to the Constitution on the inside of your cap, you are out of line, and I am glad someone is calling him on it.

Secondly, as West Point officer in your dress uniform, you carry yourself with proper decorum and grace. A fist, something that as a socialist I used to make fairly often more than 45 years ago, began to be used in 1917 by all

manner of groups whose ideologies are not consistent with those of an American military officer.

The Black Panthers used the fist, white supremacists used it, along with Mexican revolutionaries, Chinese government officials, the Communist Party of pre-WWII Germa-

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)

$7

No Spaghetti Day in Nov. or Dec.

October 16th

11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm

Musical Entertainment • 5-7pm 17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4

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munist system has killed more than 61,000,000, and with their brethren in other countries committing “democide,” the number is close to 94,000,000.

“Communism will win?” That’s your hope, US Army 2nd Lt. Rapone? ny, US Olympic Athletes in the 1968 Mexico City games, and others. I can’t tell you what is going on in this kid’s head and heart, all I know is that when I pulled the kind of stuff he has, I hated America, and I certainly could not make a pretense of taking an oath that I would defend the Constitution “from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Maybe he can.

Spenser either does not know the true history of communism, or he secretly agrees with the actions of the nations that have killed many times more than the Japanese and the Nazis combined. You can’t have it both ways. It is estimated that in Russia alone, from 1917 until present day, the com-

Enter Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is so disturbed by the lack of action on the part of West Point that he is calling for Spenser’s censure or dismissal. Here is a portion of his letter to them:

“It is extremely concerning that someone who so often expressed such hostile views towards the United States’ system of government was able to obtain a commission,” he wrote. “(His) revolutionary ideas were harbored long before he was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant. Were West Point administrators or faculty aware of his views and behavior?”

Good question, Senator Rubio. I hope we get our answer sooner than later.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Special Feature

17th + Pear Photography: “Professional, Classy, Southern”

by Ali Elizabeth Turner When I would drive by the Craftsman-style-houseturned-business located on the corner of Clinton and Market just off the Square, I was intrigued by the name on the sign: 17th + Pear. I knew it was a photography studio, and now I have the chance to introduce the delightful proprietors to you, as well as tell you the secret behind the name.

Back in the day when the studio was a home in downtown Athens, Clinton was the 17th street running north and south starting from the west side of Athens moving toward East Limestone. That’s where the studio’s owners, Lindsay Looney and Alison Bivens, get the “17th” portion of the title of their thriving photographic partnership. “Pear” is a play on the word “Pair.” Alison and Lindsay collaborated on the name, and the result is a business name that reflects the friendship, community roots, and playful style that makes 17th + Pear unique.

Alison’s Bachelor’s degree in English is from Athens State, and Lindsay started off in nursing school at UNA, with a desire to be a part of a trauma team. Lindsay’s unexpected diagnosis of a chronic medical condition made that dream no longer possible, and as is often the case with women of faith, when God closes a door, He opens a window. He most certainly has done that for these two, and making a living at what they love, as well as becoming best friends are only the beginning of their blessings.

They both have been fascinated with photography since they were children. Alison’s grandmother took literally thousands of pictures, and she says, “Almost every moment of my life is recorded,” something that became even more

precious with the unexpected passing of Alison’s sister, Taylor, in a tragic accident. Taylor was 21, and Alison is grateful for every picture she has. Taylor and the fragile nature of life is some of what inspires Alison today. Jeff, Alison’s husband, purchased a DSLR photo system as a gift for Alison, which is how she got her more serious start in 2011. She has filled up hard drives and the cloud with close to 10,000 photos, with no chance of slowing down anytime soon!

Lindsay started taking pictures when she was 5 or 6, and once she had to change career paths, worked for a local photographer. Lindsay did Alison’s maternity and newborn portraits, and Ali was thrilled with Lindsay’s work. Later, Alison helped Lindsay “second-shoot” a wedding, and the partnership and friendship we see today was born in August of 2014.

Both women are completely self-taught, yet with the help of today’s technology, they have been able to expand their knowledge and skills, learning

October 6 - October 19, 2017

all they can about the entire about the entire photographic process from manipulating camera settings to posing families. They have done so through all manner of online tutorials and workshops. They told me, “Photography is always evolving, and we are always learning. You never feel like you are done.” They have also done online courses with Twig & Olive, whose work they greatly admire, and whose live workshops costs thousands.

These gals have dreams; one is to learn under Twig & Olive at live events, and the other is to shoot a destination wedding in Ireland.

They have clients all over North Alabama, including Hazel Green, Huntsville, and Jones Valley. Because they both have children, including three year olds, they are especially experienced in capturing the best shots of kids by helping everyone in the family

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relax. They are fun and creative, and it shows up in their work. They also have the ability to exhibit a high degree of professionalism when dealing with weddings, and their work is stunning. Brides are beautiful, grooms are grand, and the beauty of the Big Day is captured forever.

Amongst the best photographers, there is an unwritten law of reciprocity and support of each other’s endeavors, something I found most attractive about 17th+ Pear’s working philosophy. They help out other photographers, and vice versa.

Lindsay said, “We emphasize community over competition.”

Indeed, there is enough to go

around in the busy world of photography, and “the Pear” is booked months in advance.

“We are the all-time team,” they said, and added, “We know each other so well that we can tag-team a shoot without really even having to think about it.” They describe their prices has being those that reflect quality as well as artistic ability. They finished our time together describing something else about their brand that I think is highly valuable. “We form long lasting relationships. We shoot baby after baby in the same family,” they said, and it is the same with weddings. Relatives book them for their special day after they see the albums produced from family weddings, and it’s the same with friends. “There is no higher recommendation than a referral from a satisfied customer, and we even get invited to birthday parties of clients who have become friends where we get to be the guests, and don’t have to shoot!”

If creative comfort blended with high artistic photographic ability is what you are looking for at a fair price, then book your appointment for a studio or location photo shoot with 17th + Pear today.

17th + Pear

100 North Clinton Street, Athens, AL 35611 256-701-3294 Facebook: 17th and Pear

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Calendar of Events tab, or call 256-233-8000.

VVA Chapter 511 Annual Indoor Yard Sale Oct 13th - 14th

17915 West Elm St, at the corner of Lucas Ferry Rd. and Elm St. Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14 from 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Also, Monday, Oct. 16 during our monthly spaghetti day fundraiser. Donations of clean, useable goods appreciated. For more info call 256-233-4899.

Athens Sportsplex (US31 and Elm Street in Athens) from 9am3pm. Registration: $20.00 per vehicle. Food trucks and drink concessions, Kids' Dug Out Playground, DJ & music. For more info: 256-777-0606.

Prayer • Elderly Assistance • Feed The Hungry Clothes • Scholarships • Empowering Women Volunteers Wanted & Needed Call for Details -256.233.5995 Meeting Time: First Saturday of Each Month at 1:30pm Food pantry open now. wewoa.org • E-Mail: wew5995@gmail.com

Swamp John's Dinner Oct 19th

Tanner UMC (19607 Huntsville-Brownsferry Road in Tanner) from 4pm-7pm. Plates are $11.00 each and include chicken, fish, shrimp or all three, slaw, fries and tea.

Gardening Questions Answered Every Tuesday

East Lauderdale Quilters 2017 Quilt Show Oct 21

Limestone County Master Gardeners Association (LCMGA) is available every Tuesday and the first Saturday of every month at Athens Limestone Public Library from 10am - 2pm to answer gardening questions.

SilverSneaker™ Stability class Every Thursday

11:30am – 12:15pm. This class will meet every Thursday at East Limestone Senior Center at 25820 Nick Davis Rd. SilverSneaker™ Stability is a group exercise class designed specifically to keep participants “safe on their feet”. This class will include standing and walking exercises that will be beneficial in decreasing the risk of falling. Chairs are encouraged for warmup and cool-down only. Donations for the class are accepted. For additional information, call Janet at 256-614-3530 or email at jhunt9155@gmail.com.

Adopt a duck for this rubber duck race taking place on 10/6 at 4 pm at Big Spring Memorial Park in Athens. You do not have to be present to win. Someone will take home the $1,000 ALC Grand Prize or one of 23 other prizes. $5 donation per duck, Dunkin' Donuts Quack Pack $25 for 6 ducks and coupon. Information and online duck adoptions at www.KALBCares.com under EVENTS Page 6

Limestone Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays (28755 Coggins Road in Ardmore, AL) from 8am-4pm. Two flight options: 8am or 1pm.

3rd Annual Athens "Sports-Plex" Car, Truck & Bike Show Oct 14

Premier Women's Organization & Food Pantry First Saturday of Each Month

Wacky Quacky Ducky Derby Oct 6th

3rd Annual Aim for Advocacy with the National Children's Advocacy Center Oct 13th

Rogersville, AL. Discipleship Center at Rogersville United Methodist Church, located at 51 Turner Lindsey Road, just off Lee Street. Admission is Free. Members Quilt Hangings to include 2016 Black & White Challenge Quilts, Special Display of Lillian Marlow's Vintage Quilts, Quilters' Boutique, Quilt Trunk Show by Gail Morgan, Demonstrations, Charity Displays for Project Linus & Quilts of Valor. For more information, contact Facebook page -East Lauderdale Quilters, or e-mail eastlauderdalequilters@gmail.com. Come and enjoy a day out and about! Directions: Travel West on Hwy 72 and just over Elk River Bridge, right at first traffic light, left at 4-way traffic light, drive straight as church is on right, but when Hwy 72 crosses turnaround, church will be on left.

Halloween Craft Fair Oct 28

9am - 2pm. Vendor booths will have Halloween themed activity!

Free admission. Bake sale. Unique gift shopping. Door prizes.

Face painting. BBQ plates. Proceeds will help a local family!

Donate can food for local food banks! Vendors confirmed include: LulaRoe - Scentsy - Ashley's Tasty Treats - Avon - Perfectly Posh - Thirty-One - Bargain Babes Boutique - Mary Kay - Everything Crochet- Paparazzi - Matilda Jane - Plunder Designs - Usborne Books - Crafts. The TEARS Foundation of Alabama Tammy's Crafts. More vendor and event announcements soon!

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October 6 - October 19, 2017

October 6 - October 19, 2017

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Page 7

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Teach Your Goat

by Ali Elizabeth Turner The subtitle of this 3rd chapter in Steve Gilliland’s book called, Hide Your Goat, is “The Wisdom To Discern Where You Are Heading,” a poignant reference to the fact that as soon as we finished this interview, Mayor Marks was off to the beginning of the 5th year of the Mayor’s Youth Commission.

We took a moment to reflect how quickly the time had passed, and how hard it was to believe that some of the original kids were now old enough to be in grad school.

Interestingly, later in the day at the grocery store, I ran into one of my favorite kids from the first year. He said he’d been thinking about calling up Holly Hollman, who has helped the mayor since

Page 8

the beginning, to ask if he could come and speak to this year’s group. The young man wanted them to know how much the Mayor’s Youth Commission had affected his life for the good, and I told him I thought that would mean a great deal to Mayor Ronnie, Holly, and any others who had been a part of that inaugural endeavor.

Back at City Hall, Mayor Ronnie chuckled as he told me what it had been like to be grilled by a bunch of Cub Scouts, specifically Cubs from Pack # 236 who meet at Isom’s Chapel Methodist Church. They asked him all kinds of things such as, “Are

you going to build an aquatic center?”

Or, there was, “How do you deal with procrastination?”

He had wondered if that question had been coached, and he noticed that some of the boys had actual notebooks full of questions and raised their hands incessantly.

However, the question that meant the most to the mayor was, “What are you the most proud of?”

He told them, “It’s not City Hall, or anything you can see; it’s impacting the lives of young people. When you see young people have an understanding of good government and how it works, helping them to understand that a city is a business that needs to be run well, and teach them how to work together and serve others, that is something to be proud of.”

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The Mayor’s Youth Commission was the first of its kind amongst the Alabama State League of Municipalities, an organization of the 660 cities and towns and mayors that comprise Alabama the Beautiful. Mayor Ronnie is the president of the division for North Alabama, and just recently found out that other cities had

started up their own Youth Commissions.

Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar, Montevallo Mayor Hollie Campbell Cost, and Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon have followed Mayor Ronnie’s example, and now the League of Municipalities wants him to teach all the rest of the Mayors in the state how to do the same. The League’s request was the perfect answer for the Cub Scout’s question: “What are you most proud of?”

Then we took some time to talk about several hurting folks in our dear town. “So many are fighting cancers and other diseases,” he said.

So, we prayed, asked for “the wisdom to discern where you are heading,” and then it was time for Ronnie to roll….to the Youth Commission.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Slinkard On Success

Support System - How Good Is Yours?

by D. A. Slinkard

D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store What kind of support system do you have?

What kind of people do you have to lift you up when it feels the weight of the world is against you? If you cannot answer these questions, then why are you trying to go at life alone?

Life is all about having the right support system. Take your house, for instance, in which the wrong support system leaves you living in a home with a weak foundation. The storm comes and then you see how well you can pray!

Yes, I said pray.

Sadly, we live in a world that is afraid of offending someone, and we have backed ourselves into our little Christian corner with no way out, as we are surrounded in a world of sin. It amazes me how quickly our society has changed

even in my lifetime, and I think about the Good Book and the scripture of Hebrew 13:8 which states, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” If it was an abomination to God 2,000 years ago, then according to Hebrews 13:8, it’s an abomination today!

I write all of that to come full circle to the support system. The first part of that support system begins with having God in your life and the relationship you build with the man upstairs. A few articles back, I wrote about having the right priorities, and in having the right priorities, it is imperative to make sure you have the right people surrounding you.

The business books I read tend to suggest that if you want to know the character of a person,

just look at the five main people they hang out with.

I’m just going to say that these books haven’t been wrong, as they have been pretty accurate when it comes to depicting the character of an individual. I’m writing this to suggest that either you need to reconsider who is surrounding you or you need to get some people to surround yourself with. I’ve been surprised at the number of people who try to go at life alone without seeking out the guidance of others.

For myself, my support system starts with God and then it goes to my wife. I can tell you that if I am in the dog house, then my demeanor changes and before anyone gets any ideas, I am not blaming my wife.

I take full responsibility for the idiotic words that spew out of my mouth.

Folks, I get in the dog house because I deserve to be in the dog house.

Once I get out of the penalty box and I’m back in the good grace of my wife, my demeanor once again changes.

What I’m saying is that if you are not lifting each other up, then truly you’re just tearing each other apart. So make your spouse a part of your support system because they play more of an instrumental part of your success than you realize. Besides, if you are not lifting up your spouse, then you have a foundation that is weak.

Maybe this is why 50% of all marriages now end in divorce.

The next portion of my support system would be

Nick Garcia. He is a coworker that happens to be the store manager for another location within Staples. However, I am able to bounce ideas off of him because he understands the work atmosphere. The next person who is a part of your support system needs to be someone from within your industry. This person can either be a mentor or a friend, and when I say mentor/friend, let me clarify something. Your support system needs to be with members of the same sex because mixing the two sexes on this type of support system tends to hurt the support system with your spouse. Ladies, gentlemen, just don’t do it.

The next portion of my support system comes down to my neighbor Billy Taylor and my father-in-law Denny Urhahn. They have seen the sunrise and sunset more than me, and they have something that I have not yet gathered.

They have life experiences that I don’t have because they have lived longer, and we can all learn from those older than us. We need to humble ourselves to make ourselves ready to learn, ready to use a support system.

I challenge you to either reignite your support system or start up one and see how it changes your life. Remember, you’re only as good as the five closest people who surround you!

October 6 - October 19, 2017

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

The Missing Man Table

by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum

On September 15, the Alabama Veterans Museum once again hosted the POW/MIA Recognition Day event, which included what is known as the “Missing Man Table” ceremony. The speakers were Major Al Nuss, (Ret) and Command Sergeant Major Mike Criscillus, (Ret) and the ceremony was attended by veterans and civilians alike.

The Missing Table Ceremony began not long after the end of the Vietnam War, and is full of symbolism, which is explained below. It grew out of a concern for raising awareness of the plight of Vietnam POWs and MIAs. There is a protocol and an official script for the ceremony, which was developed

by the US Navy, but over time the observance has changed, and is not currently governed by the DOD. There is no designated time of the year to “set the Missing Man table”, and many branches of service use the birth date of their branch, or pause during a military ball to pay honor to their missing brethren.

Veterans’ Day or Memorial Day can be used as well to observe “Missing Man.”

the dining room. For large events of the Missing Man Table is set for six places: members of the five armed services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) and a sixth place setting reminiscent of the civilians who died during service alongside the armed forces or missing during armed conflict. Table is round

Major Al Nuss, (Ret)

•Inverted glass: represents the fact that the missing and fallen cannot partake.

The following official description and meaning of the Missing Man Table elements is taken from Wikipedia:

•The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. (The Bible has been removed from several displays at federal facilities due to pressure from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation)

•Table: set for one, is small, which symbolizes the frailty of one isolated prisoner. The table is usually set close to, or within sight of, the entrance to

CSM Mike Criscillus, (Ret) to represent everlasting concern on the part of the survivors for their missing loved ones.

•Tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.

The Missing Man Table Page 10

•Single red rose in the vase, signifies the blood that many have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America.

This rose also reminds us of the family and friends

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of our missing comrades who keep the faith, while awaiting their return.

•The red ribbon (yellow ribbon for Air Force ceremonies) represents the love of our country, which inspired them to answer the nation’s call.

•Slice of lemon on the bread plate: represents the bitter fate of the missing.

•Salt sprinkled on the bread plate: symbolic of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

•Lit candle: reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.

•Empty chair: the missing and fallen aren't present.

The Museum’s hope is that more citizens of Athens and Limestone County will join us for next year’s ceremony, and we would like to thank Major Nuss, CSM Criscillus, and Colonel Mel McLemore for their help in seeing to it that the fallen are not forgotten.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

October 6 - October 19, 2017

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Clean and Green

Litterati – There’s An App For That!

by Lynne Hart Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

Over the weekend, after a 2-day conference in Mississippi and a full day at the Grease Festival, I decided I would just relax.

OK, that’s where you laugh because my mind always seems to stray to our KALB mission and how we could be doing better.

tive map on their website Litterati.org that allows you to get down to street level to determine where and what has been picked up. I want our community to be covered in red dots.

In an effort to find new and fresh ways to tackle the litter problem in the Athens-Limestone communities, I searched my favorite place for inspiring information – TED Talks. That is where I discovered Litterati!

I am so excited about this app! Since this app is cell phone-based and can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it seems to be the perfect app to entice our youth to get involved with litter cleanups. That’s not to say that we adults don’t love the idea of our efforts being logged, tagged, and counted in real time.

Litterati is an app that allows citizens to photograph and upload photos of litter they find and, of course, pick up. Litterati uses the geotags associated with the photographs to track where litter is found and picked up. There is an interac-

According to Litterati’s website, geotags provide insight into problem areas, while keywords identify the most commonly found brands and products. This data will help Litterati to work with companies and organizations to find more sustainable materials and

•When your walk is complete, you can upload the photos you’ve taken.

Click on the photo in the lower left corner of your screen and it will take you to your photo gallery. You will be asked to select an existing tag or you can create a new one to describe the litter in the photo.

•When you are finished tagging, you then upload the photos. solutions.

The United States is the most active country using this app. So far, 447,618 pieces of litter have been photographed, tagged, and uploaded. The most prevalent type of litter tracked is plastic, with the second most common being cigarettes.

Recently during a litter cleanup walk in Oakland, California, a Coke can was discovered. This is not unusual, right? Well, this Coke can had a pull tab and a vintage design not seen in present-day Coke selections. Investigation into the design of the can indicated that this red and white diamond design was from approximately 1966.

This can had taken only a slight beating from the elements with some fading, rust, and minimal signs of decay.

What are we learning from this? Litterati, based on hard information provided by their users, works to encourage packaging companies and manufacturers to find and use even more environmentally responsible materials. A

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class of students did a survey of their campus and found that straw wrappers were the most littered item found. The school no longer purchases straws.

Problem solved.

I think it would be interesting to actually know what is out there and what is picked up. We’d love to have as many of our residents participate as possible!

How To Participate •Download the Litterati app for your iPhone or Android from the Apple Store or Google Play free of charge.

•Set up your account – very simple!

•Grab your cleanup supplies and take a walk.

•You have the option of clearing your photo gallery or you can retain your photos if you prefer.

I am anxiously awaiting additional information from the good people at Litterati so that we can make the best use of this app in our schools and the community at large.

We hope you will join us and would love your feedback letting us know what you think. I will include more details in our next eNewsletter. If you are not currently receiving our newsletter, please send us an email asking to be added to our contact list.

Let’s work together to make Athens and Limestone County beautiful!

•When you find litter, snap a close-up photo of it.

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com October 6 - October 19, 2017

Cooking with Shelley

Gluten-Free Corn Bread

by Shelley Underhill Corn bread without flour… I think so! Mrs. Margaret Miller did it best when she set out to master this cornbread recipe. And master it she did! Margaret was the first resident of Athens that I wrote about in the Athens Now. Sadly she passed away back in October and she is greatly missed.

She was a wonderful cook and she shared her recipes with many.

I had a chance to try some of that delicious cornbread a few weeks back. My first comment was “This is worth writing about.” My second comment was “Ya got any more?”

Let me know if you try it. I always love hearing from our readers, you can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com.

Gluten-Free Corn Bread What You Need:

1 Medium size cast iron skillet 2 cups corn meal - Alabama King 2 cups buttermilk 2 eggs

Directions:

1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup olive oil (hold 1/4 to the side)

Mix ½ cup oil with remaining ingredients. Heat ¼ cup oil in skillet. While the oil is hot, fold into cornbread mixture. Mix together. Pour mixture into skillet. Place in hot oven (425 degrees). Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Flip out onto paper towel on a plate or serving dish.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

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Page 13

The Millennial Mind

The Glory Of The American People

by Rosemary Dewar As much as culture seems to be splitting away from sound rationale, there is much to recognize as hopeful. After observing the overzealousness of the nationalists and the self-righteousness of the neo-communists, it is certain that they are few in number. Society is aware that it does not take many to cause serious unrest. If one is allowed to conquer the other culturally, the collateral damage affects the conqueror as well as the vanquished.

Even though there is plenty to be concerned about, I believe the best action is to step back and breathe. So much of this is has been seen before: riots and politically-influenced violence. It is as if the 1960s have been completely forgotten. The memory has gone the way of tall-tales and myths. America came out of a chemical stupor long enough to experience a cultural renaissance in the 1980s. I repeatedly hear from my hippie-converts to conservative mentors that they have seen this all before, and a revival is approaching. I am compelled to believe them.

They should be professing it more often.

The fear of division is not unusual. During the birth of the United States of America, the Founding Fathers anticipated the friction that came with the integration of opposing

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ideas. They did not want to mistake novelty for uniqueness.

Federalist James Madison stated, “...the most wild of all projects, the most rash of all attempts, is that of rendering us in pieces, in order to preserve our liberties and promote our happiness. But why is the experiment of an extended republic to be rejected, merely because it may comprise what is new? Is it not the glory of the people of America, that, whilst they have paid a decent regard to the opinions of former times… and the lessons of their own experiences?”

Learning is the key com-

ponent on how we are to move onward. The assertion that something ought to be censored for its possible dissonance inhibits the learning process. Each individual and their expression is novel.

Limiting what could be learned is a purposeful violation of discovery and advancement.

The deluge of tragedies like the Charlottesville protest, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and the Las Vegas shooting has reopened a genuine discussion of what American values are.

What are we supposed to be standing for? The standard that was sacri-

ficially built upon which the citizens of the United States rely is exactly what we are desperately attempting to preserve.

The starkest dilemma is that we are now presented with two generations that were never exposed to the concept that America had any fundamental values. In response to this idea, one cannot simply say, “Because I said so” or “Because God said so” or “Because the Bible said so.” In order to effectively expose these generations to this fundamental fact, we must be willing to take time to explain “why.” Furthermore, any action that obstructs the ability

to have this conversation is a direct threat to liberty.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin stated, “Without Freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.”

Whether a person is conservative, liberal, religious or not, once you assert that an individual ought to be forced to censor themselves in order to avoid challenging you, the result is that all will ultimately be censored.

Targeting the individual beyond the bounds of the U.S. Constitution is discrimination. Any variant from this crucial core will decline into a tyrannical and fascist abuse of power.

The Judeo-Christian worldview presents the idea that an individual is not to pass judgment on his neighbor until they have taken the time to realize that they themselves have a fatal flaw or a blind spot. You may feel justified in your perception; however, you can be just as harmful as the person at whom you are pointing the finger.

Federalist and Founding Father, James Madison

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If you are intent upon the improvement of society and culture, you must be willing to engage in constructive dialogue. Any statement or answer that is unmeasured, either yours or someone else’s, must be tested in order to affect that improvement.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Cover Story

Storytelling 2017: Our City-Wide Family Reunion

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

October 6 - October 19, 2017

w.bobo70@yahoo.com for more information. Former local ‘tellers have included the late Dan Williams, Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, Athens City Councilman Frank Travis, City of Athens Attorney Shane Black, Charlie Hughes, and others.

Anyone can enter, and the Tuesday night event is a chance to get to know a side of “members of our family” that doesn’t always show up at their “day job.”

As previously mentioned, several things stand out about our festival, not the least of which is that out of 300 national events, ours is the only one where local school students, as well as homeschoolers, get to attend free of charge during the day Tuesday through Thursday.

Our state legislators, including Senator Bill Holtzclaw, Representative Danny Crawford, and Alabama State Speaker of the House Mac

McCutcheon, work hard every year to get funding to make that possible. And as someone who has had the opportunity to attend all of the “School Days” presentations, hearing the kids squeal with laughter as they are being taught priceless life lessons is one of my favorite parts of the festival. The phrase “They won’t know what hit ‘em” was never more appropriate, as is “just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.”

People and businesses alike pitch in to make the Storytelling Festival something that, according to Wayne Kuykendall, one of the festival’s founders, “has an 80-100K dollar financial impact on our community.” There is more than just financial impact to be celebrated,

though.

The purpose of the Athens Storytelling Festival is greater than making people laugh, or providing a safe place for families to enjoy themselves, or putting money in the coffers of local businesses and the tourism industry. Telling stories preserves cultures, gives a sense of history as well as future, and is the basis of everything from gathering around a campfire in order to roast marshmallows, to imparting divine truths.

Come and see what folks have come to love so much, and “hear tales that make you laugh and cry.”

Tickets can be purchased online at www.athensstorytellingfestival.com, or for more information, call Wayne Kuykendall at 256232-0400.

Geraldine Buckley

Bill Harley

Donald Davis

Many of our old favorite ‘tellers will be back, such as Donald Davis, Carmen Deedy (for the Tues.-Thur.

School Days presentation only) and Bil Lepp, along with Bobby Norfolk, who has won three Emmy Awards for his work. The ‘tellers all rave about the Athens event because of the legendary hospitality and honor that they experience each year, and our town has become one of their favorite stops as they travel the storytelling circuit.

New to this year’s lineup, but not at all to the craft, are Bill Harley and Geraldine Buckley. Bill is a two-time Grammy Award winner, as well as a commentator on National Public Radio. He is also the recipient of the Beverly Cleary Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award on the national Storytelling circuit. Geraldine hails from the UK and has “told” all over the world, including in New Zealand, Canada, Holland, South Africa, and Spain. Her trademark British accent and dry humor make her a favorite

wherever she goes, and interestingly, she has also served as a chaplain in Maryland at a men’s prison. She has taken three golds at the awards given by Storytelling World.

Once again, the Birminghambased musical and theatrical group, The Dill Pickers, will be performing. The Dill Pickers have been together since 1999, and got their start as part of the cast of the offBroadway musical Smoke On The Mountain. One of their trademarks, besides being able to do a number of styles of music, is that they each play several characters apiece in their full-length stage presentations.

For the fifth year, the Dan Williams Local Tellers Competition will be part of our “family reunion,” kicking off the festival on Tuesday night the 24th. This is a juried event, with the professional tellers serving as the judges, and the winner will go on to “tell” interspersed amongst them at Thursday night’s “Olio,” or “sampling,” of the ‘tellers’ whimsical wares. If you are interested in competing as a local ‘teller, please contact Wendy Bobo at

Bil Lepp

continued from page 1

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Page 15

Health and Fitness

Cost Of Diabetes In The USA

by Janet Hunt

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

With all the talk about healthcare, how much it costs this country, and whether it is a basic right or a privilege, I thought I would take look at the costs of Type 2 Diabetes. It is a disease that some studies indicate is preventable by lifestyle changes in as many as 90% of all cases From information published by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and ADA (American Diabetic Association), the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2012 was $245 billion, including $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity.

These costs are broken down as follows: •Hospital inpatient care (43% of the total medical cost) •Prescription medications to treat the complications of diabetes (18%) •Antidiabetic medications and diabetes supplies (12%) •Physician office visits (9%) •Nursing/residential facility stays (8%)

•Other (10%) People with diagnosed diabetes have average medical expenditures of about $13,700 per year, of which about $7,900 is attributed to diabetes. On average, people with diagnosed diabetes have medical expenditures approximately 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be without the diagnosis of diabetes. Then there are the indirect costs: •Increased absenteeism ($5 billion) for those employed

•Reduced productivity while at work ($20.8 billion) •Reduced productivity for those not in the labor force ($2.7 billion) •Inability to work as a result of disease-related disability ($21.6 billion)

what we need to do to reverse this trend. We need greener communities that encourage physical activities. We need school lunches that focus on healthy choices. We could tax the unhealthy foods that

lead to diabetes and our incredible health costs to offset these healthcare costs. We could educate people on the true seriousness of diabetes and its costs.

•Lost productive capacity due to early mortality ($18.5 billion) In 2012, an estimated 22.3 million people or 7% of the population in the U.S. were diagnosed with diabetes.

It is predicted that one in three people will be diagnosed with diabetes in 2050. With that, it is doubtful that medical costs will decrease.

I am not a politician, but if I were, I would recommend we focus on our lifestyle and

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October 6 - October 19, 2017

Cover Story

The 10th Annual Athens Limestone Hospital Foundation Pink Elephant Luncheon

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Because one in eight women will be faced with this horrible disease, the Foundation would like to help lower this statistic, and find better methods for detection, care, and increasing life span. This year Athens High School Choir will be singing, and the Athens Fire Department will be bringing the pink fire truck as part of the day’s events. The special guest speaker will be Athens’ own Suzanne Brooks.

Suzanne spent 25 years as a teacher in our schools and recently retired. It was in the middle of her teaching career that breast cancer stepped into the “ring” of her life, and Suzanne fought back.

She has been cancer-free for 17 years, and is going to share her story with the hope of gathering other warriors to fight, and encouraging those in the battle along with their families.

There was a time when breast cancer was considered to be the disease of only elderly women, affecting those who were 65-years old and above. Some oncologists say that with each passing decade, the age of women diagnosed by breast cancer has itself dropped a decade, with teenagers being stricken in the years 2000-2010. Sadly, two years ago an eight-yearold girl in Utah became the youngest person on record to have been diagnosed with it, and latest available information states that she is in remission.

In addition, it is now entirely possible for men to have breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2017, 2400 men will be stricken with the disease, and of those 2400, 400 will die. While it is true that 97%

of the women who actually die from breast cancer are over the age of 40, still the death toll this year for female breast cancer will be close to 40,000, and from every age group. Thankfully there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., and the Foundation is doing all it can to see that number increase.

Because early detection is one of the keys for survival, Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation has raised funds specifically designated to provide scholarships for mammograms, as well as procure the newest technologies to find it sooner. ALH Foundation started the Pink Elephant Fund ten years ago because they wanted to make sure residents of Limestone County who either have no medical insurance or whose insurance does not cover mammograms

October 6 - October 19, 2017

would have the opportunity to have this test at no charge.

This has been especially helpful in recent years as insurance costs have sky-rocketed,

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or mammograms have been dropped from coverage altogether. However, this year they will be focusing on making it possible for the hospital to begin utilizing what is known as stereotactic breast biopsy, a much more accurate and minimally invasive outpatient diagnostic procedure.

In case you are not aware, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, something that is now signified nationally by everything from pink garbage cans to football helmets, and the ALHF Pink Elephant luncheon is the best way locally to make a statement. Individual tickets for the luncheon are $30 and, in addition, there are a number of opportunities to be a sponsor. If you would like to be a mammogram scholarship sponsor, you can do so for $125. You will receive one ticket to the luncheon, and will be designated as a “Pink Table Top” sponsor.

The “Tickled Pink” designation is for a donation of $500, which includes 2 luncheon tickets, event day recognition, and having name/organization posted on the Pink Elephant

Sponsor Board for the fiscal year.

The $1500 “Pretty In Pink” designation includes a luncheon table for 8, the same event day and Sponsor Board recognition, as well as inclusion in a full-page color ad in the Sunday News Courier. For $2500, the “Passionate Pink” sponsors will have 2 tables of 8, the same event day recognition, Sponsor Board recognition, News Courier recognition, name/ organization posted on hospital digital donor wall, as well as further recognition in Foundation marketing campaigns.

• With this opportunity to join the fight and honor those who have fought it, the Athens Limestone Hospital Foundation sincerely hopes you will come to the Limestone County Event Center on October 18 for the Pink Elephant Luncheon. For more information on purchasing tickets, being a sponsor, or getting a pink garbage can, please call Leah Beth McNutt at the Foundation Office at 256-233-9557.

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Special Feature

Born A Slave And Heralded An ‘Unsurpassed Soprano’

Patti Malone To Grace Athens With Her Presence Once Again

by Holly Hollman An Athens arts organization is working to commemorate the story of Patti Malone, who was born a slave in Athens, pursued an education and joined an internationally acclaimed chorale group.

Athens Arts League received approval for a $4,500 grant from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area to commission an oil painting of Malone, who died in the late 1800s while traveling with the Loudin Jubilee Singers. There are few photographs of Malone, and the painting will provide a commemorative piece to help share her story.

“I think of her as the First Lady of Music in Limestone County,” said Athens Arts League Board Vice President Diane Lehr, who wrote the grant.

“She has an amazing story that can inspire new generations of musicians.”

Once complete, the oil painting of Malone will be on display at Scout Music House, which Athens Arts League is raising money to renovate into a music venue. The structure on Washington Street once served as a recreational facility for Boy and Girl Scouts and then the Athens City Schools Central Office, but has been vacant for about five years.

The City of Athens owns the circa-1938 structure and leases it to Athens Arts League.

The Scout Music House venue will provide handson opportunities for students to explore various aspects of music from performance to recording to marketing as well as cultural events for the community and exhibits to honor Limestone County’s musical heritage.

Malone’s portrait will be on permanent display.

Athens Arts League Promotions Chair Holly Hollman said the League is collaborating with the Athens-Limestone Com-

munity Association on the portrait. ALCA, which oversees the historic Trinity site, will appoint a committee to review artists’ renderings and select an artist to create the oil painting.

“Patti Malone is an integral part of Trinity’s history, and we want the association to be pleased with her portrait,” Hollman said.

Athens State University art professor and Athens Arts League Board member Gail Bergeron and her students will assist with final approval of the finished portrait and document its historical

significance. Athens Arts League will schedule an unveiling once the portrait is complete.

Malone’s story starts on The Cedars Plantation in Athens where she was born into slavery, according to the 2000 Nashville Conference publication Leaders of Afro-American Nashville.

Her mother arranged with their former master for Malone to go to school at Trinity, which educated former slaves after the Civil War. The principal Mary Wells befriended Malone and sent her to further her education at Fisk University in Nashville.

Malone made her debut with the Jubilee Singers in Hamburg, Germany, in 1878, the publication stated. When the singers disbanded, Frederic Loudin organized the Loudin Jubilee Singers, and Malone toured with them in Europe and Australia. She bought property in Athens in the Village View area and named her home The Oaks. According to the publication, while Malone was on tour with the Singers in the United States, she fell ill and died in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1897. She is buried in Athens.

“Athens Arts League appreciates the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area for supporting our project and having a commitment to the arts and culture of our community,” Hollman said.

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October 6 - October 19, 2017

Jerry’s Journal

Lawn Warrior Rides Again

by Jerry Barksdale

www.jerrybarksdale.com I became aware of my unusual interest in having a beautiful lawn shortly after my marriage ended and I moved from Huntsville back to Athens in 1999.

At first, I didn’t recognize the symptoms.

Little did I suspect that I would soon become afflicted with “Lawn Warrior Syndrome/ Compulsive Disorder Overlay.” It’s a malady that targets mostly middle-age men, but can affect women.

Mama died in 1998 and I inherited a small house on Market Street.

The front yard was mostly crab grass and weeds.

Miss Mable Romine, a spinster, lived across the street in a fine brick house surrounded by the most beautiful Zoysia grass lawn in Athens.

It looked like a green carpet. Miss Mabel took great pride in her lawn. She was always inspecting it, sweeping it with a house broom, and picking up debris.

If a leaf floated down, she would run over and remove it. I would wave at Miss Mabel, but she ignored me. She didn’t approve of my lawn. I wanted to have a pretty lawn, too, and be accepted by Miss Mabel and my neighbors. I didn’t have a wife ordering me to vacuum, carry out garbage, wash windows, and scrub the bathrooms. I was free to work in the yard.

That was the beginning of my psychol-

ogy problem. I sprayed my yard with Round Up and killed existing grass, tilled up the soil, and raked up a ton of rocks. Miss Mable kept a watchful eye on my activity but didn’t say anything. I hadn’t considered how to dispose of the rocks. The City furnished a large, green plastic garbage can. Just what I needed. I filled it with a ton of rocks.

I was still in bed one morning when I heard the strangest sound— “Er-Er-Er-Er,” like an elephant trying to have a bowel movement. Then a crashing noise like a rock slide colliding with a tin building. I peeked out just as a cloud of dust rose above the rocking garbage truck.

The rocks were gone, but I did receive a visit from a representative of the Department of Sanitation. He asked if I put rocks in my garbage can.

“I allegedly did,” I said.

Next, I laid Zoysia sod, the same variety that Miss Mable had. A couple of weeks later, the sod turned green and beautiful. Miss Mabel was out in her front yard picking up debris when she yelled across the road, “Your lawn sure is pretty.” Finally she approved of me.

We all have a need to be accepted. I get a warm feeling when I insert my credit card and the screen flashes “approved.”

Later, I sold my little house on Market Street and moved to 407 Wash-

October 6 - October 19, 2017

fb.com/jerry.barksdale.7 ington Street. I hired my cousin’s husband, Chuck Farmer, to landscape and sod my front yard with fescue. It took a while.

Chuck was a popular landscaper, and there was crappie fishing and then deer hunting, but when Chuck showed up, he did a magnificent job.

My front lawn was beautiful. I hired Pure Green to spray monthly, pulled stray grass and mowed it in one direction, then crossways and caught the clippings. People would stop and compliment me on my yard. I was happy and loved my lawn, never realizing that it was my sickness at work. I just thought I was having fun.

After retirement, I moved to a 9-acre farm on Elk River with about 6 acres of grass. I also purchased the seller’s riding mower.

My plan was to mow a strip on the inside of the pasture fence and keep it weed free, then bush hog the remainder.

I mowed one round along the fence and it looked so neat that I mowed another one. It looked even prettier. I kept mowing. At the end of the day I had mowed the entire pasture – and busted most of the rocks and whacked up fallen walnuts and limbs.

My neighbors called my mower the “rock crusher.” I tore up the mower – many times – so many, in fact, that I had to buy a trailer to haul it to a repair shop weekly. It finally died. Then I purchased a Craftsman from Sears. Same story.

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My neighbors Buddy Stokes and Ken Hill have zero turn mowers. While I was bumping along at snail speed, they were flying by at warp speed.

Show offs! The Craftsman began smoking, a little at first, then really bad.

My good friend (and sometimes red head) Pat urged me to buy a zero turn. I think she was embarrassed by my unmanly smoking mower.

Which do you think a woman will fall for -- a guy bumping along in a jalopy or in a fast, sleek T-bird? You get the picture.

We went to H & R Agri-Power on Highway 31 South and looked at mowers. Daniel Bates showed me an Exmark zero turn with a 52” cut.

He insisted that I drive it. I’d never seen a lawnmower that looked like a pre- historic beast. I cautiously climbed aboard and headed out. Wow! I felt like King Tut at the controls of a D-6 Caterpillar. It was fast -- twobarrel carburetor, seat belt, and roll bar. I would be the Cale Yarbrough of lawnmowers on Dement Road and the envy of my neighbors. I bought it.

An employee drove the new mower forward on my 56” wide trailer. I thought nothing of it until I arrived home and tried to back it off. The wheels wedged on the side. The mower was stuck. I read the owner manual. “Back up ramp and drive forward down.” Now they tell

me. I powered up and threw it in reverse. I almost took the tires off, but I unloaded – fast!

I was going backward and headed toward the woods. I shoved the control bar forward, slammed into a metal fence post, backed up, then hit two dogwood trees in succession, went beneath another tree, and the mower reared straight up. “Whoa!

Down Trigger! Down you fool!” The roll bar had caught on a limb.

The mower was dangerous, with a mind of its own. I started talking to myself. “I’d better get in the middle of the pasture before it kills me.”

There is no steering wheel, only two control bars, sort of like flying a B-17 on a bombing mission – and just as dangerous. It took off at warp speed. That’s when I knew why there are roll bars and seat belt. I was going in every direction at the same time, cutting a 52” swatch and slinging grass clipping and fire ants. The pasture looked like a UFO landing zone. Oh, I forgot to mention, the mower went rogue again and crashed through a patch of poke sallet.

My symptoms are worse, I know they are. Recently, someone stopped and asked a neighbor directions to my house, “You mean that nut that mows his cow pasture with a riding mower?”

That’s me folks - lawn warrior.

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Dog Barker

A Dog Story

by Paige Figueroa

His dark brown eyes, with the innocence of a new soul, crawled up in the warm arms of the human soul. He thought he belonged, his thoughts were of giving, his sweet puppy breath and wet tongue reaching through smells all new with finding a place in a human who shared his new found love.

Six months later – the first weeks of whimpering for momma and the wet spots in the night.

He created in the form of chewed shoes, garbage strewn all over, couch corners chewed, and the need for carpet clean-

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ers. For his owner, it was time for something along the lines of Dog Training for Dummies, and the downside of puppy’s poopies behind the chairs or under the table. For the puppy parent, there was the frustration of working 10hour days not counting the commute. Going out of town meant spending lots of money for a doggie hotel, not to mention the hundreds of dollars in vet bills for shots and the sock he swallowed.

The Commitment Four-legged “children” depend on you, look for you, are excited to greet you, and can be ashamed if scolded. This puppy

will lick your grime, sweat, and skin off when they are happy. Then there are the baths, nails, haircuts, ears, and of course THE glands. You know that old “scratchyour-buttocks-on-thecarpet trick.”

What about belly aches, diarrhea, dry hot nose, the limping paw? It’s all part of being a pet parent, with the never-ending responsibility to raise them up to be a part of your pack. Many times we consider what is best or works for us, not realizing they live 12 to 15 years to our 70 (if we are blessed). They are interactive creatures, and it doesn’t help them to be

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locked up in a crate 8 to 12 hours a day. Maybe you can consider doggie daycare, a dog walker, a dog sitter, or perhaps think twice about buying or adopting someone that might not fit in your program. Get fish, a cat, a gerbil, or a hamster if you need a critter.

Dogs are meant to be companions. If they are not companions they are hunters, herding dogs, retrievers, working class.

Some breeds are great at varmint control. Think about their purpose, and not just the human perspective.

Busy and Yappers Loving dogs should not just be about what they

do for us and what makes us happy. We need to have the courage to ask what we are taking away or adding to their lives.

Will we abandon them when they become an inconvenience or a burden?

Being a pet parent is a choice, and it is extremely important to make the right one. In the world of a dog, there is no divorce court, no alimony, no child support, just overcrowded shelters as the result of too many returns of adopted pets where the people made bad choices. Please think about all of these things before you take on the responsibility of being a pet’s parent. They are depending on you.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Mental Health Minute

My New Life As An HSP

s o k y . “And those who m were seen dancing

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

were thought inby those who could not hear the music.” e

? sane

d

Nietzsche

,Several years ago, I had ta client ask me if I was san HSP. At the time, I ywas too embarrassed sto inquire what an HSP ewas, so deflectively I kasked her why she wons dered. She told me that e our connection felt so g deep and empathetic that e it was almost like I could feel her emotions. Her words began my journey into understanding the trait called HSP, or highly sensitive person.

I am forever grateful to this client because my life now makes so much more sense to me, as I embrace the gifts and challenges of this characteristic of my personality. Let’s look at what it means to be a highly sensitive person.

The trait of high sensitivity is found in about 15-20% of the population and, surprisingly, equally divided in numbers between men and women. There are way too many of us for it to be a disorder, but not enough to be well understood by the majority of those around us.

This incredible trait is innate and can be found in over 100 species of animals, reflected by a certain type of survival

strategy…being observant before acting. The brains of highly sensitive people actually work a little differently than non-HSPs. We are more aware of subtleties because our brains process information and reflect on it more deeply. We can become more easily overwhelmed. When you notice everything, you are naturally going to be overstimulated when things become too intense, complicated, chaotic or unfamiliar.

The HSP trait is not a new discovery, but it has definitely been misunderstood. HSPs prefer to “assess” (I say this word all the time!) before entering new situations, and this has been misin-

October 6 - October 19, 2017

terpreted as shyness. But shyness is learned, not innate. In fact, you can be an introvert or an extrovert and an HSP. High sensitivity has been mislabeled as introversion, inhibition, fearfulness, and even neuroticism.

And it seems to be valued differently in different cultures. In the United States for example, HSPs are told “don’t be so sensitive,” so we tend to have low self-esteem issues and suppress or ignore our compassion and understanding.

is a psychologist who made this discovery of high sensitivity and published her findings in her international bestseller, The Highly Sensitive Person. In my next article, we will summarize some of the mental, physical, psychological, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics of the HSP. I look forward to sharing with you more about this fascinating attribute. Until

next time…..Lisa

Lisa Philippart LPC is the only HSP-trained therapist in Alabama!

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

Are you highly sensitive?

I encourage you to complete the self-test to find out! Take a few moments and go to www.hsperson. com which is Dr. Elaine Aron’s website. Dr. Aron

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Medical Update

Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Tell Their Stories Through Art And Photography courtesy BrandPoint Content (BPT) - This post is brought to you by Eisai Inc. When most people think of breast cancer, they think of the pink movement, and often times, "beating" the cancer. A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), a late stage of the disease in which the cancer has spread beyond the breast, is different. There is no cure and, until recently, the number of people living with MBC in the United States was basically unknown.

A new study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates more than 150,000 people are living with metastatic breast cancer.

Although the MBC population is larger than ever before, an estimated 17 percent increase from 2000 to 2010, the implication is positive as it means people are living longer in spite of their diagnosis and sheds light on the increased need for more services and research focused on MBC. The NCI study brings attention to a growing community of people with MBC whose meaningful lives and stories are largely unheard. To give voice to those living with MBC and bring to life the reality of living with MBC, #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project was cre-

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ated by METAvivor, an organization dedicated to funding research focused on the metastatic breast cancer, in partnership with Eisai Inc. #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project uses art to empower people with MBC

to share their experiences, educate others about this disease and encourage donations for more MBC research.

"The metastatic community really wants to be involved in research.

The more people we can educate about metastatic disease, the more money we can raise for research that will ultimately help us to live longer and better-quality lives," said Leslie Falduto, who lives with metastatic breast cancer and participated in the project.

"Participating in #Thi-

sIsMBC Serenity Project was a very powerful moment for me. I felt confident. I felt like art.

I felt good about what I was doing for my community and I felt good about myself."

use of vivid color and symbols painted directly on their body. Next, Keith Dixon captures the mood and emotion of the patient's personal journey through underwater photography.

The 16 people living

"It is important for wom-

with MBC chosen to participate in #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project tell their stories through the powerful and artful combination of body painting and underwater photography. Created by Ren and Keith Dixon, a married couple who have both lost loved ones to metastatic breast cancer, the storytelling begins in an interview with Ren Dixon, the body painting artist. After discussing their MBC experience, Ren visually represents each person's experiences through the

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en and men to see that you can live a life, a fruitful and loving life, with metastatic breast cancer," said project participant Sheila McGlown.

"I think #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project brought out the boldness in me.

It allowed me to express myself and my life experiences in a way I never thought I would be able to and it made me proud - proud of being a voice for young women, proud of being a voice for African-American women, proud of being a voice for veterans and proud

of being a voice for the breast cancer community."

From July 2017 to October 2018, one patient a month will be showcased, through images and video from the photoshoot, on MBCinfocenter.com and METAvivor's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts (@ metavivor). The images will also be featured at an art gallery reception in New York City and made into a calendar. These calendars are available for free with a donation to METAvivor, which can be made at www. metavivor.org/store/.

Donations will go to METAvivor to support research specifically for metastatic breast cancer.

A fundamental component of #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project is the belief that women and men with MBC should live their lives as fully as possible and take advantage of all resources available to them. Many educational resources and helpful information about metastatic breast cancer exists at MBCinfocenter.com.

To support METAvivor's ongoing commitment to funding MBC research, which could help those living with this disease, consider making a contribution at https://secure.metavivor.org/page/contribute/thisismbc.

October 6 - October 19, 2017

Foreman’s Forum

Fighting For Your Life!

by Paul Foreman “Do you feel lucky?” is the infamous line from the original “Dirty Harry” movie. The hero, Harry Callahan, played

by Clint Eastwood, has interrupted a bank robbery during his lunch break. One of the bank robbers is down, but still alive. The robber’s gun is lying next to him on the sidewalk and as Dirty Harry approaches, the robber glances toward his gun. During the shootout, Dirty Harry had fired his .44 Magnum, numerous times.

He says to the robber, “In all the excitement did I fire five or six times?”

The bad guy is not sure and decides to back off and take his hand away from his gun. Dirty Harry lowers the hammer and is about to take the robber into custody when the robber says, “I need to know.” “Need to know what?” Dirty Harry asks. “Your gun, is it still loaded?” Dirty Harry points the .44 Magnum right at the guy’s head and pulls the trigger, “CLICK!” The gun was empty.

lence.” You are a whole lot safer if you are professionally trained in the safe and proper use of a gun, than you are with an empty, unloaded gun.

The fake news along with the far left anti-gun crowd are constantly misquoting statistics about children being killed by guns. The truth is, a vast majority of children being injured or killed takes place in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Detroit where juvenile gangs rule the streets. If you take these three cities out of the equation, the statistics showing children being injured and dying from firearms, drops dramatically. Check on true firearms stats by going to the Center for Disease Control’s web

site and other sites like the NRA. If you have children in your home, yes, you do need to take some common sense security measures to make sure the children don’t have access to them. Are your children well trained in firearms safety? What about their friends who may be visiting in the home? In most states, you can be charged with a crime if a juvenile gets access to your firearm and uses it.

There are numerous very well engineered gun safes on the market that will keep unauthorized hands away, yet still allow fast and easy access when you or another trained person needs the firearm

You might also want to think about a product line of furniture known as “Hiding in Plain Sight.” This style of furniture can still provide quick and easy, locked access to your firearms.

They have wall-mounted cabinets, shelves, bookcases, coffee tables, mantles, bed headboards, and just about anything else you can think of. They all have hidden compartments to hide both handguns and rifles. They have either built-in locks, RFID

chips, or hidden latches so you can access your firearms quickly and still keep them safe from unauthorized people.

You really do NOT want to be like Dirty Harry or the bank robber and depend on “feeling lucky.”

You need to feel safe and prepared when it comes to self-defense and security. Being prepared will make you feel safer, and being properly trained to safely and correctly use a firearm is a huge part of feeling safe instead of just feeling lucky.

As many of you may already know, due to my present battle with cancer, I am not currently doing firearms and self-defense classes.

I really miss doing them and will certainly do my best to answer questions if you e-mail me at Captureman@PaulForeman. com

As for the classes, I have a gentleman to whom I am referring people, who is also an NRA certified Firearms Instructor. Give me a call, I love to talk firearms and self-defense.

Paul Foreman is a retired deputy sheriff from Lee County Florida, now living in Athens. Paul is an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor. For questions about self-defense or firearms training. Paul can be reached at his web site, www.Paulforeman.com, or email at Captureman@ PaulForeman.com To join the NRA and protect your 2nd Amendment rights, go to Paul’s web site and click on the NRA Eagle.

Yes, there was a gross display of firearms safety rules being violated, but this was Hollywood.

Is your gun loaded? I am constantly talking to people who say they do not feel safe with a gun in their home, let alone a loaded one. GET TRAINED on safe and proper gun handling!

Guns do NOT go off by themselves. There is NO such thing as “Gun Vio-

October 6 - October 19, 2017

in a “self-defense” situation. Those big massive gun safes are great for safe storage of your “long guns” and other valuables. They are not so good for quick access when some thug is kicking in your back door.

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