Destination 2012

Greater Talladega: Destinations 2012

A Special Publication from the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce

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June 2012

April in Talladega Annual tour showcases homes and more

By Laura Nation-Atchison

T

he homes and their stories, the historic legacy left to enjoy made by early residents in the town and a celebration of all the things that make Talladega a center for so many things, they’re all part of it.

When it comes time for April in Talladega, there are so many things that come together to make it the event that it is.

Townspeople open their distinctive and historic homes for tours and guides, and homeowners share their knowledge of the homes and buildings, the people who built them and those who lived there.

Then there’s usually a tour of Talladega’s Oak Hill Cemetery, where people who were part of establishing the town “tell their stories” through actors and actresses. This is always a popular part of the weekend, led in recent years by Lisa Baggett of Pell City, whose family had deep roots in Talladega.

Luncheons and teas, entertainment and tours, it’s all part of the event that’s been held yearly since 1981.

Actually, tells Evelyn McGehee, who chaired the 2012 event, there were some events held in the 1950s, but then came a break in the activities.

The story of April in Talladega’s resurgence starts with the late Wilmary Elliott, who was tourism director for the Talladega Chamber of Commerce at the time, McGehee said.

“She asked Lucy Barnett and the late Billie Bliss to put on an antique show for the city,” she said.

While pondering the event, McGehee said Bliss and Barnett decided to pursue putting together a pilgrimage event.

McGehee said Talladega resident Jean McMillan was also heavily involved in those early years.

It was a year in the planning, and since then, the April in Talladega weekend has been an occasion to count on each and every year.

“The purpose of the tours was and is to showcase Talladega and its history, its homes and its beautiful buildings,” McGehee said.

Operated by the Pilgrimage Council of Talladega, the focus of the event is not to make a profit, but to commit the money it generates to the preservation and restoration of important buildings in the city, she said.

“All of the proceeds, under our bylaws, are to be used for that purpose,” she said.

The city of Talladega experienced a boom in the

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April in Talladega

early 1800s when the railroad came through town.

It became a commercial center with means for shipping farm grown goods, especially cotton, down the Alabama River to ports to the South.

With that came the need for professionals to come to town, doctors and lawyers and merchants and those who bought the goods for dispersion.

With that came the need for mercantiles and feed stores, and all the services and needs that develop in a growing population base.

Hence the large number of historic buildings, both commercial and as homes.

Many buildings have been lost, but Talladega does have a large number of homes and buildings that survived through the years.

An interesting aspect of the 2012 April in Talladega event was a project that documented the homes and buildings that didn’t survive, with photographs and newspaper clippings displayed at the Armstrong-Osborne Library.

Ed King and Joyce Howard of Talladega researched the project, with staggering results.

Probably as many historic buildings and homes and building still stand, which is impressive, as were lost to fire or lack of maintenance or destruction for other use for the property.

There’s another element of the event that Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mack Ferguson points out.

“This event takes so many people to put together and what they’re doing is creating community pride and passing a legacy to successive generations,” he said.

“It also showcases our total town, from The Alabama Institute for Deaf

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April in Talladega means luncheons and entertainment and a cemetery stroll along with other events.

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June 2012

April in Talladega

Some of the city’s most historic homes have been explored during the event.

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April in Talladega

Visitors for April in Talladega arrive at the home of Tom and Nancy Lutchendorf on South Street in the city’s Silk Stocking District. and Blind, Heritage Hall Museum, Talladega College, Oak Hill Cemetery, our churches, our library, the historic renovated Ritz Theatre and our downtown square as well as our homes and other buildings,” Ferguson said.

McGehee’s best estimate is that there are at least 450 people involved in making the event happen, with many of those doing more than one “job.”

“We are promoting Talladega,” Ferguson said.

“And the financial impact for our area is significant, also. We have many out of town visitors for April in Talladega, and they contribute through ticket sales, food and gas purchases and even lodging in some instances.”

This year, a group of “younger” Talladegans put together a new event that was a big hit.

“April on the Square” was held on the Saturday night of the April in Talladega weekend, featuring food and entertainment and arts and crafts.

“This was an event enjoyed by families of all ages and the volunteers who put it together were so upbeat. Their enthusiasm just carried through and was contagious for all.”

Ferguson continued, saying, “I’ve heard nothing but positives from our local citizens to our many visitors,” he said. “We’ve even had comments about having it more than once a year. Many would like to see the cemetery event held more than one night because it has been so well received.”

Ferguson said the April in Talladega weekend just 14

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June 2012

adds even more to the other events the city and its residents support.

“Promoting quality of life in our area is one of the main functions of the chamber,” he said. “This event equals any other events we have that enhance the quality of life here, including Sunshine Saturday (a fundraiser for the Arc of North Talladega County that provides services and programs for adults with developmental delays), our Veterans’ Day Program, our Antique Talladega Mardi Gras and our Christmas Parade and our Fourth of July celebration.”

Since its resurgence, other peripheral events have been added to the April in Talladega weekend.

Supporters of the AJ Powers Memorial Lodge/Plank Road Station have held an arts, food and entertainment festival on the lodge grounds in Winterboro, adding to the variety of things to do for April in Talladega.

“There are few places that have the history that we have in Talladega, from the founding of our town with the history of the Creek Indians and Andrew Jackson, to its antebellum plantation days, to the founding of Talladega College by former slaves,” McGehee said.

“And at one time, we had 22 trains a day coming through town. We have so much to show off and so much to be proud of. That’s April in Talladega.”

The tour weekend for 2013 is set for April 1213. Check the chamber of commerce website, www. talladegachamber.com, for updates.

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Camps and Conferences

Shocco Springs, Camp Mac and Camp Cosby stand the test of time

By EMILY ADAMS

Campers enjoy time on the lake at the camp’s water park.

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n a day when things are constantly changing, nothing has stood the test of time quite like Talladega County’s three camps.

Every summer, children and adults from around the state, country and even some from around the world, gather at these camps to learn new skills, 16

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June 2012

make friends and enjoy life away from the pressures of the “real world.”

“There’s an opportunity to learn at camp that you just can’t get at home,” said Camp Mac director of junior staff and horseback program Allen McBride.

“Campers get away from some of the pressures, and

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Camps

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Camp Cosby’s water park allows visitors to ski, swim and play. they can just be who they are.”

Camp Mac, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center and Camp Cosby have been hosting visitors since 1948, 1947 and 1922, respectively. In those years, the camps have evolved, expanded and found plenty of ways to keep people coming back.

“Any time you put children in the outdoors with the opportunity to do things with other kids their age and counselors that are highly trained and suited to what they are teaching, people will always enjoy that,” said Camp Cosby executive director Kevin Casey.

With a combined total of about 43,000 annual guests, these three camps have an impact that stretches far beyond county lines.

“Everybody needs a place to 18

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get away and recharge, and people come from around the world to do that here,” said Shocco Springs executive director Buster Taylor.

The camps also have an impressive economic impact on the county. A joint report from the camps in 2009 showed they bring in a total of about $9.1 million in annual revenue and $3.57 million in annual payroll.

“So much of the money that comes in goes right back out again in salaries, food, buildings and expenses,” McBride said. “A lot of that money is put back into the local economy. We’re bringing all of that money in from all these different places, and we’re spending the majority of it right here in Talladega County.”

McBride said he believes the June 2012

three camps are among the largest in the state.

“People don’t think about Talladega County as having camps, but three of the state’s largest programs are right here, and that’s a huge benefit,” McBride said.

“People are able to see this part of the country and experience what we’ve got to offer.”

Although the camps each provide exciting recreation and skillbuilding opportunities, they stand apart for their customized programs and unique environments.

Whether campers want a weekend church retreat or a monthlong stay in the National Forest, the perfect place is waiting for them at one of the county’s time-honored camps.

Camps

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While at camp, campers can choose from a variety of elective activities including archery.

Camp Mac Since 1948, Camp Mac has based its operation on the belief that children cannot become successful, productive adults solely by what is taught in the classroom.

E.A. McBride, who was superintendent of Talladega County Schools at the time, founded the camp based on that conviction, and current director of junior staff and horseback program Allen McBride said his idea is truer now more than ever before.

“Personally, I think if it was important enough in 1948 for them to start a summer camp, it’s infinitely more important today,” McBride said. “If all you knew today was what you learned in school, where would you be? It’s about providing a well-rounded education.

Children need an opportunity to learn outside the school environment.”

Camp Mac, located on Cheaha Mountain in the Talladega National Forest, remains family owned and operated. It provides a different experience than

the average summer camp by offering programs for third through ninth grades that last one to four weeks. McBride said they emphasize the month-long programs, because they give campers the opportunity to learn more.

“Camp is great for kids, regardless,” he said. “I’d rather a kid go for a day than never go at all, but when you’re there for four weeks, the level of what you can learn increases a lot. You’re not just going and doing something; you’re having a valuable experience and getting the opportunity to go further.”

McBride said that level of learning encourages campers to come back and build on those skills. In fact, 85 percent of their four-week campers return the next year, he said.

Camp Mac hosts about 240 campers each term, a number that has grown significantly since the camp began.

“In the 40s and 50s, they had maybe 40 to 60 girls and guys, but it’s over a long period of time that we have expanded it, and we did it a little bit at a time,” McBride said.

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Camps

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Although times have changed quite a bit, McBride said the idea of summer camp has never lost its appeal.

“So much of what kids do today is tied into technology,” he said. “When they come to camp, we don’t have cell phones and iPads; we don’t watch videos and we’re not texting everybody all the time.

Part of our saying is ‘real friends, real fun in 3D and HD since 1948,’ and that’s true. Kids learn to have conversations face to face, and more than that, it’s about the experience of not having mom and dad there every minute, not being able to pick up a cell phone and not having somebody fix things for you every time there’s a problem and just learning to have the confidence that you can take care of yourself. Those are the kind of lessons kids particularly need today.”

Camp Mac offers a one-week junior term for second through fifth grade, two three-week intermediate terms for third through fifth grade and two four-week senior

terms for third through ninth grade.

During their stay, campers partake in a variety of outdoor electives that include horseback riding, ropes courses, lakefront activities, wilderness skills, sports and much more. McBride said the activities build selfconfidence and self-reliance, often without the campers even noticing it.

“We put about 120 kids through our horseback riding program every morning. They learn to trot, lope, do barrel races, and then we play cow soccer,” he said of the game in which teams chase a cow to the other team’s goal on horseback. “You think its fun, but what’s really interesting is that when they get out there and start chasing cows, they forget about being scared or nervous about being on a horse. They’re actually getting better at a skill without even realizing it.”

In recent years, the camp has added to its horseback program, which has about 40 horses, with a new arena that provides “amazing shade” on hot summer days,

A camper learns to wakeboard, one of many outdoor activities offered at Camp Mac.

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Camps

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Camp Mac has an extensive horseback riding program with 40 horses and a newly-built arena.

The camp is known for its “cow soccer,” a game in which campers attempt to chase a cow into the other team’s goal while on horseback.

McBride said. Camp Mac also has another new feature with its Sky Ryder zip line. The line spans from one side of the lake to the other.

After a day spent learning outside, campers retire to their cabins, each of which provides a twin bed and storage space. In every cabin are three counselors selected by the previous year’s staff. Senior counselors are college-age; junior counselors are tenth to twelfth graders and counselors-in-training are ninth graders.

The camp maintains a ratio of one counselor to every five campers. Other staff includes 10 directors, a nurse and nurse’s assistant, three officer managers and a webmaster. Many counselors have 10 or more years with the camp by the time they become senior counselors. The camp reports that its staff had a combined 733 years of experience at Camp Mac in 2009.

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Campers from the state, country and even Spain, Italy and Ireland will attend Camp Mac this year. McBride said the variety of people that children are exposed to at camp is part of its life-altering experience.

“A lot of times at home, there is a social standing in schools,” he said. “At camp, everybody is wearing shorts and T-shirts. All that really matters is how well you get along with people. The status at camp comes from you – your achievements, accomplishments, the way you interact with people.”

Camp Mac helps children gain the independence and self-confidence they need when they enter college or the workforce later in life, McBride said.

“That’s the neat part about camp,” he said. “Kids come because it looks fun, but they come back because of the way it makes them feel about themselves.”

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Camps

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Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center, established in 1947, hosts Christian and nonprofit groups for camps, conferences and retreats. The conference center has more than 40,000 guests each year.

Shocco Springs Striving to be “a place apart” for more than 60 years, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center provides a peaceful location for Christians to train, learn and grow.

Executive director Buster Taylor referred to a Bible story in the book of Mark as the inspiration for the center’s mission.

“Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, and when they came back to make their reports, they were very tired,” Taylor said. “Jesus said, ‘Let us come apart to a desolate place to rest, because you haven’t even had time to eat.’ The principle being taught is that we all need time to get away and recharge. Our standpoint is to get people to come apart and recharge spiritually, but it’s also a place for anyone to educate, train, refresh and then some people come who do need to have an experience with Christ, and they can do that here.”

Unlike similar camps, Shocco Springs does not run

its own programs, but instead provides the facilities for groups to come and conduct customized camps and programs. An entity of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, Shocco serves nonprofit and religious groups. The center hosts anything from weekend retreats with 20 people to children’s and youth camps with more than 1,200.

Taylor said what sets Shocco apart is its strong Christian foundation.

“Our mission is to provide a distinctly Christian environment for spiritual transformation and renewal,” he said. “What distinguishes us from like places is that, in everything we do, we try to bring in Christ-like standards. That is part of our purpose for existence.”

While the conference center is open year round, nearly half of its 40,000 annual guests come during the summer months. The center hosts camps through a number of Christian organizations including Student Life, CentriKid, Global Youth and Mix and ReMix music camps. In the other seasons, Shocco frequently hosts training sessions, banquets and retreats for various organizations.

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Camps

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A camper is bounced off “the blob” at the aqua park on Shocco Lake.

Taylor said Shocco puts great effort into meeting the needs of every group to become the ideal host.

When the economy took a downturn a few years ago, Taylor said the staff developed four core competencies that they maintain to guide this effort: exceptional customer service, quality facilities, excellent meals and exciting recreation.

“We’re continually training people to be sure they know how to treat people better than what they expect,” Taylor said. “We keep the facilities up; we have recreation activities that stand up to any other camp, and we always feed people a good meal. If something else was lacking for them, but they have a good meal, that’s hopefully what they will remember.”

Shocco has recently added to its already long list of recreation activities, which includes low and high ropes courses, paintball, a lakefront water park, swimming pool, ball courts, paddle boats, mini-golf and more. It now offers the Muneris Experience, a program that is catered to individual school objectives to address perseverance, cooperation, respect, bullying, creativity and other topics. The center has also cleared more than six miles of marked nature trails around the circumference of its facilities.

“CentriKid, which does hundreds of camps around the world, has told us we are their No. 1 choice of camp sites because of recreation,” Taylor said. “Although all of our activities are fun, they are also meant to promote 24 | Greater Talladega: Destinations | June 2012

problem solving, leadership, self-confidence and all of these other characteristics you didn’t know you could get from recreation.”

Guests who stay overnight can choose from Shocco’s different housing environments. Three guest hotels have modern rooms and conveniences. Five of the eight lodges have conference rooms in the buildings. In a more secluded area, Adventure Camp has five campstyle cabins and is home to Robert Weaver Chapel and a dining room.

“Every year, we do major renovations to something on campus,” Taylor said. “We have a plan that every nine years, we will have renovated everything on campus. This year is Crestview. Last year was Shocco Inn. We have a schedule to maintain the excellence of our facilities because that is part of the experience when you come to Shocco.”

Good food is also part of the experience, Taylor said, and Shocco goes above and beyond to offer the best menu for any group.

“In the summer, we tend to make our menu more kid-friendly, and in the winter months, we serve heartier meals,” Taylor said. “We have special banquet menus and options for those with food allergies. Anything a group needs, our food services staff looks for a way to provide.”

The Food Service department serves buffet meals, salad and sandwich bars, desserts, refreshments, coffee breaks and picnics at the lake.

At the heart of campus in Bagley Center is the “Shoppe at Shocco,” a Christian bookstore and gift shop, a snack shop with an indoor game area and the customer service desk.

To help with the extra crowd in the summer, Shocco brings in about 40 resident summer staff members who work in various departments. The summer staff is housed in Twin Lodge and participates in weekly worship and recreation activities. The staff also does a number of mission trips throughout the summer.

Taylor said the environment at Shocco is spiritually, mentally and physically beneficial for guests and staff alike.

“When you come to Shocco, you learn that Christianity is more than walking down the aisle. It’s learning to live a lifestyle that defines the characteristics you want in a person, even those that aren’t necessarily categorized as spiritual,” Taylor said. “We strive to exemplify that in everything we do, and we have heard many stories about how people’s lives are changed here. It’s continually rejuvenating to know that we are able to provide the environment for those changes to happen.”

For more information visit www.shocco.org.

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Camps

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Campers spend time on Logan Martin Lake as part of Camp Cosby’s outdoor education program.

Camp Cosby The county’s only “traditional” summer camp, in that it hosts oneweek sessions, Camp Cosby has been following the same formula 26

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for fun since 1922. According to executive director Kevin Casey, they have kept that 90-year-old formula for one simple reason: it works.

“We have added to the area some over the years, but we June 2012

didn’t want to change it too much because we already have exciting things,” Casey said. “What we have is still valid. We don’t want to be involved in the technological world; we want to keep our camp at a fundamental level of outdoor fun

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Camps

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Horseback riding is an option at Camp Cosby, with more than 10 miles of trails and a 22-stall barn.

and skill-building.”

Casey said the camp provides the same life-changing experiences it did before cell phones or computers.

“A child goes to Disney World to have a great time, not to have a life-changing experience,” Casey said.

“At camp, there is that opportunity for a life-changing moment, whether little or big, that happens when you leave the comfort of your own home, leave your parents and come to a place where you learn to forge your own friendships and realize that you can do things on your own. Those things make children feel really good about themselves.”

About 1,400 campers from ages 6 through 15 visit Camp Cosby, a branch of the Birmingham YMCA, for Sunday through Saturday sessions each summer. In addition, 45 schools bring students in the spring and fall for a two-night, three-day stay.

During camp, children move into a cabin and are lead through a series of activities by their cabin counselor. Camp Cosby, located in Alpine on Logan Martin Lake, offers customary camp activities like canoeing, archery, camping, ski boats, horseback riding and storytelling, among many other things.

Aside from the daily activities, Casey said morning and evening devotional time is an important part of the 28

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June 2012

camp as well.

“Our primary mission is building Christian personalities, and that’s the same for all YMCA programs,” Casey said. “We build the body, mind and spirit.”

The camp operates by the YMCA’s motto, “I Am Third.”

“That means put God first, others second and yourself third,” Casey said. “This reminds everyone to trust in God and look for ways to serve others. It’s part of creating the spirit of our camp.”

With Logan Martin Lake at its disposal, many campers take advantage of lakefront activities like skiing or playing on the water park. The camp also has more than 10 miles of trails, a 22-stall horse barn and plenty of other choices for campers.

“Our aquatic activities are probably what draw the most attention, and kids really want to do that,” Casey said. “The best part of camp though, is that kids decide for themselves what they want to do. Some want to do horseback riding, some want to do this or that and some just come to meet and be with people.”

This idea is part of Camp Cosby’s outdoor education program, which incorporates individual and group activities to build confidence and leadership.

Camps The camp also offers guided backpacking and canoeing trips and a “Do It Yourself” package that allows groups to choose which elements they want to participate in during their stay.

In the summer, campers benefit from the experience of 60 staff members. The camp has two counselors in each cabin for a ratio of one counselor to every six campers. Counselors undergo intensive training before camp and are selected from locations around the world, Casey said.

The most important part of camp, Casey said, is teaching children basic life lessons that they couldn’t learn in school.

“We want people to come here and get away from their computers and cell phones and build relationships face to face,” he said. “Parents’ goals in raising their children never change. Who wants to see their child stuck to a computer or watching TV all day? You want them to experience life.”

Casey said the cell-phone habit of most young people is hard to break, but by mid-week, they forget about it.

“They stop thinking about what everybody else is doing and focus on themselves and the people around them,” he said. “We challenge campers to help them learn about themselves and develop new outdoor skills and new life skills. They’ll make friends, learn to resolve conflict, learn teamwork. We want kids to leave with a good sense of who they are as a person.”

For more information visit www.campcosby.org.

and Conferences

Camp Cosby offers visitors a ‘fundamental level of fun’ without the distractions of computers and cell phones.

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Dell and Carolyn Hill are shown at the entrance to Selwood Farms where visitors test their shooting skills.

Selwood Farms Target practice on the farm

W

hether friends are out for a leisurely afternoon, or a father and son are spending time together, the Selwood Farms sporting clay course provides a few hours of fun, a chance to test shooting skills, and a time for fellowship with friends and family.

Nestled in a wooded area, the 800-acre Selwood

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By MARK LEDBETTER

Farms has a sporting clays course that covers 50 acres of serene woods that provides a relaxing, leisurely opportunity to enjoy nature, test shooting skills, enjoy fellowship, or discuss politics.

Selwood Farms once served as a subsistence farm, owner Dell Hill said. Sheep, hogs, poultry, cattle and turkey were raised for those that tried to help others in

Shooters are presented with disks that simulate live-quarry projected in a variety of speeds, trajectories, elevations, and dictances.

Photo by Bob Crisp

their transition from farming to industry.

Turkey became their main item especially during the days when the area held “Turkey Festivals.”

Hill said for several years the farm offered smoked turkey, ham, and other items through a mail-order market. The farmed ceased the mail-order business when regulations became more demanding.

Hill introduced shooting sporting clays in the 90s.

“We were the first in the state to offer sporting clays,” Hill said.

Sporting clays are round disks made of pitch and pulverized limestone that withstand being projected from trap machines but easily broken by lead or steel pellets.

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Selwood Farms

A shooter anticipates two targets that are automatically thrown, some coming in, some going away, some from the right and left, some rolling on the ground.

Photo by Bob Crisp The disks simulate live-quarry projected in a variety of speeds, trajectories, elevations, and distances. Two targets are automatically thrown, some coming in, some going away, some from the right and left, some rolling on the ground.

The 18 different stations provide 36 different scenarios that are regularly changed. Carts carry hunters over a maintained path from station to station.

Hill said the sport’s popularity has grown through the years. Seven to eight thousand take advantage of Selwood’s setting annually, Hill said.

Hill said most of their hosting is for corporate events.

Team sporting clay shooting provides an opportunity for corporate staff team-building or entertaining clients and vendors.

Non-profit groups also use an event as a fund raiser. Corporate sponsors will help underwrite the event while participant fees goes towards a project Women especially enjoy the Annie Oakley event, Hill said. The sport is not based on strength and many women can enjoy the sport on her terms, Hill said.

“Some are thrilled to hit anything.”

Generally the event can be completed in a few 32

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hours. Overnight accomcodations are offered for individuals that request it, Hill said.

Upstairs in the old farm house, five rooms accommodate individuals or groups that want to add staying overnight as an option.

Although not a restaurant, meals are offered or they can be catered.

In the fall, guided quail hunting is also offered.

Selwood Farms is located at 706 Selwood Road in Alpine Alabama.

Selwood Farm is located on Highway 76 between Childersburg and Winterboro in Talladega County. The farm is 45 minutes from Birmingham and Anniston, and 90 minutes from Montgomery.

From Sylacauga on Highway 280 go west to Childersburg, turn right on Highway 76.

From Birmingham on Highway 280, travel east to Childersburg, turn left on Highway 76, and go six miles to Selwood Rd and turn right. Go 1/2 mile to Stone entrance.

Reservations can be made by calling manager Paula Teague at 800-522-0403.

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An artistic staircase greets visitors at the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance.

Photo by Bob Crisp

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Heritage Hall

A Showcase of Southern Artists

By LAURA NATION-ATCHISON

C

onstructed in 1906, Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall was originally the Talladega Public Library. This beautiful example of Beaux Arts Classic style is attributed to Frank Lockwood (18651936), a Montgomery, Ala. architect who is most noted for his additions to the State Capitol.

Situated on South Street East in the heart of the National Register of Historic Places’ “Silk Stocking District,” Heritage Hall Museum provides the community an opportunity to take advantage of Alabama’s art, history and heritage Its location is approximately 15 minutes travel time from Interstate 20, which traverses central Alabama from east to west, and U.S. 231, which links Tennessee to the Florida Gulf Coast, passing through the heart of Alabama.

A new building to house the library was completed in 1979, with a public dedication ceremony held Sept. 30, 1979. In the months that followed, Talladega’s City Council established the Talladega Heritage Commission, delegating to it complete authority and control of the landmark JemisonCarnegie Main Library Building. On Oct. 7, 1981, the Council passed Ordinance No. 1130 and Ordinance No. 1133, thus giving the powers and responsibilities regarding the operation of a local museum and cultural center to this Commission.

The goals of the Commission included adaptive restoration of the building as a permanent not-forprofit institution and provision of access to quality arts experiences and the humanities.

The Jemison-Carnegie Foundation, a support organization, was then incorporated, specifically structured to include input from every area of community interest and activity. In addition to organizing fund-raising activities and membership, the Foundation sponsors the Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall Service Guild.

The purpose of the Service Guild is to enrich, stimulate and promote awareness, appreciation and knowledge of the Arts for children, adults, members and any others, through a program of arts education which may include lectures, films, exhibits, and tours. This organization provides volunteers for the Docent Program of Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall.

In recent years, Heritage Hall Museum’s exhibitions have included prestigious work, locally and nationally known, some dealing with art history, local history and others focusing on the finest art works of today. Currently, Heritage Hall is fast becoming nationally known for its provision of quality arts experiences for the public.

As Heritage Hall continues to gain recognition, the Commission, the staff, the support organizations and volunteers continue to see ways to make Talladega a better community.

The mission statement for operation of the museum is: “The purpose of the Commission is to acquire, establish, maintain and administer a public cultural facility consisting of a museum, art gallery, art center and any facilities reasonably related thereto, as the instrumentality of the City of Talladega.”

Tommy Moorehead, who has been the artist in residence for Heritage Hall Museum for 20 years, puts it this way.

“We try and focus on providing exhibits that will enhance the lives of our community,” he said.

One thing that is of particular importance is the museum’s outreach to young people, pursued in several ways.

There’s Arts Camp for Kids hosted each summer for youths, which incorporates visual arts, dance and theatre for children.

Moorehead has had the pleasure of seeing June 2012

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Heritage Hall

Changing exhibits keep the work of local and visiting artists fresh in Heritage Hall’s galleries.

Photo by Bob Crisp

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former Arts Camp kids return to visit, and tell about how the camp experience has enhanced their lives.

“Many of our Arts Camp kids have gone on to become art teachers themselves and artists in their own right,” he said. “This is especially gratifying to see how we have perhaps given them the tools for becoming productive adults.”

Camp is designed to not only promote artistic talent, but decision making and organizational skills as well, he said.

“When our Arts Camp assistants, who are usually high school or college students, are helping with camp, they gain all kinds of experience, from managing a classroom to guiding children through hands on projects and much more in terms of responsibility and maturity.”

Heritage Hall Museum hosts monthly art exhibits, featuring local, regional and national artists. It is also a venue for the Talladega County School System’s Annual Art Show each May. Docents provide volunteer support for the museum and art classes for both children and adults are held yearly. The museum’s gift shop offers an array of regional artists’ works for sale, providing an outlet for artists’ creations to the public, from jewelry and pottery to home decor items and an across-the-board offering of paintings and drawings.

“There is such a variety of talent in our area and this is a great way for people to get their hands on it,”

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Heritage Hall

Talladega’s old library building has new life as an arts and cultural center.

Photo by Bob Crisp Moorehead said.

In addition to Arts Camp, Moorehead goes out into the Talladega City School System’s elementary schools to provide art lessons for children who do not have professional art instruction in school.

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the public and may be reached by calling 256-761-1363.

Upcoming exhibits: May and June 2012, Talladega County Elementary Schools Art Exhibition July and August 2012, Bryce Lafferty Fine Art Exhibit September 2012, Marguerite Smith, Beverly and Wilfred Dick Fine Arts and Pottery Exhibit October 2012, Talladega Texaco Walk of Fame Inductee Portraits

November and December 2012, Dick Cooper

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January and February, 2013, Troy University Art Department

Group Exhibition March and April 2013, Meg McGehee Paulon, Asian Artifacts, Decorative Arts and Furniture Heritage Hall Museum is located at 200 South Street and hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Heritage Hall Museum offers several levels of membership to its patrons. Thanks to your support, the arts are alive and well in Talladega County. Individual Membership is $40, Dual Membership is $65, Family Membership is $75, Patron Membership is $125, Sustainer Membership is $250 and Benefactor Membership is $500.

The Service Guild of the Jemison-Carnegie Foundation of the museum has a purpose to enrich, inspire, and promote awareness, appreciation, and

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The museum’s gift shop offers everything from paintings to jewelry and lots of other one-of-a-kind items.

Photo by Bob Crisp 761-1364.

The class will take place in the basement art studios at Heritage Hall Museum. Students who have participated in the class previously will have the first opportunity to register, and any vacant slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. The museum will provide easels and tables and each student will be responsible for providing

their own art supplies. This is an unstructured open studio class, each student will also be responsible for their own subject matter, choice of medium, choice of style and general artistic direction.

The registration fee is $100 per person. For more information contact Heritage Hall Museum at 256-761-1364 or send an email to hhmuse@bellsouth.net.

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knowledge of the arts for children, adults, members and any others through a program of arts education which may include lectures, films, exhibits and tours. Further, this organization provides volunteers for the Docent Program of the Jemison-Carnegie Foundation and supports the aims and activities of the Jemison-Carnegie Foundation.

Docent membership is open to those interested in encouraging and promoting a knowledge and appreciation of the arts and humanities. Docents volunteer at Heritage Hall Museum at least one day per month and are eligible to participate in all guild functions to include Lecture Luncheons, exhibition receptions and other social events.

Interested parties can contact Heritage Hall Museum at 256-7611364 or by email to hhmuse@ bellsouth.net The Heritage Hall Gift Shop proudly features items made by many talented local artists. Included in the inventory are original paintings in oil and acrylic, jewelry, historical photographs, posters of the museum’s permanent collection, photographs of local area attractions and much more.

The gift shop is open anytime the museum is open.

Heritage Hall Museum will again be offering the Tuesday Night Adult Art Class. For dates and times contact Heritage Hall at 256-

Heritage Hall

39

Chamber board members, officers and staff are, in front from left: Melissa White, Keela Brown, Suzanne Lacey, Fran Pope, Tina Seals and Cookie Adair; in back, from left: Andy Whiddon, Ray Miller, Mic Barnett, Billy Sparkman, Mack Ferguson, Brian Gann, Chip Moore and Chad Woodruff.

Not shown are Joel Taylor and Grant Lynch.

F

ran Pope is the president of the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce and a full-time employee of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. Ray Miller, first vice-president, is retired director of Alabama Industries for the Blind and chairman of the

Talladega Airport board. Joel Taylor, second vice-president, is hospital administrator of Citizens Baptist Medical Center. Chip Moore, treasurer, is IT director of The First National Bank of Talladega. Dr. Andy Whiddon, past president, is owner of Lincoln Chiropractic and Wellness

Contents

More Than a ‘Grin’ Moment.........................................6 April in Talladega.............................................................11 Camps and Conferences...........................................16 Selwood Farms. ..................................................... 30 Heritage Hall.....................................................................34 Talladega Superspeedway......................................40 Get Behind the Wheel..............................................46 International Motorsports Hall of Fame.............48 TOP Trails......................................................................... 50 The Great Outdoors................................................... 54 At the Ritz.........................................................................64 Davey Allison Memorial Park/ Texaco Walk of Fame..................................................68 Hitting the Lake.............................................................. 70 Can’t make April in Talladega?............................... 74

Center. Other board members are Mic Barnett with MasterBrand Cabinets, Billy Sparkman with Alabama Industries for the Blind, Brian Gann with Central Alabama Community College, Chad Woodruff with law firm of Woodruff and Love, Keela Brown with Talla Floral, Dr. Suzanne Lacey with the Talladega County Schools System, Tina Seals with Seals Insurance, Grant Lynch with Talladega Superspeedway.

Melissa White is administrative assistant for the chamber, and Cookie Adair serves as receptionist.

The board is elected by chamber members at large for a three-year term and meet monthly to handle chamber business. The executive committee consists of the officers.

The chamber’s focus is on enhancing the quality of life it its communities to attract commercial and retail development to the area, along with assisting with industrial development.

Staff

Editor Jim Smothers Marketing/Advertising Director Pam Adamson Photography Bob Crisp • Brian Schoenhals Art Direction Jennifer Mashburn Graphic Design Fay Denton • Jennifer Mashburn Geraldine Osburn

Writers

Emily Adams • Kenny Farmer Elsie Hodnett • Aziza Jackson Mark Ledbetter • Chris Norwood Laura Nation-Atchison

Published by The Daily Home

in partnership with the

Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce

210 East St. S. • Talladega, AL 35160

(256) 362-9075

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Talladega Superspeedway A Huge Family Reunion

W

hile tempers may flare in the turns and on pit road, things are a little bit more laid back on the campgrounds and in the infield at the Talladega Superspeedway. The race is only part of the fun during race weekend at the track. Fans have the opportunity to learn about the history of auto racing, meet some of the sport’s

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By KENNY FARMER

biggest stars and enjoy the fellowship of what Talladega Superspeedway vice president of sales and marketing Brian Crichton calls “a huge family reunion.”

“The thing that we continue to hear from new people that come out here is, they all comment on the camaraderie, that everyone is neighborly,”

Cars racing around the Talladega Superspeedway is one of the most thrilling sights in all of sports.

Photo by Bob Crisp

as coming face-to-face with some of the sport’s biggest stars. In addition to the Spring and Fall Sprint Cup and Nationwide series races, fans can also learn about the history of auto racing at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, located across from the Superspeedway.

Fans that want to go the extra mile can sign up for the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, which allows them to experience the thrill of NASCAR racing from behind the wheel. Race Fever and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies get fans up close and personal with the biggest stars in racing history.

The fan experience The Talladega spring race weekend experience includes a host of events, beginning on Thursday night with the annual inductions into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The ARCA race takes place Friday, followed by Race Fever, a fundraiser for Talladega’s Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Saturday’s events begin with the Nationwide series race and are followed by a free infield concert. All these events are part of the weekend experience and lead up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday.

said Crichton. “They’ve never been to a racetrack before where you can’t go 15 feet without three people asking you to come over, have something off the grill or have a drink.”

“We had a reporter come (a few years back), and he said, ‘If I come there and just camped, and don’t bring any food or beverages, will I starve?” said Lynch. “I said, ‘No sir you won’t.”

“We hear that from people that travel the circuit – ‘Talladega Superspeedway is just so friendly’,” said Crichton. “They (local fans) just embrace everybody that comes here. It’s like a huge family reunion.”

Race weekends at the Superspeedway allow fans to get the full NASCAR experience, as well

Improvements Currently ongoing at the track is a $25 million grandstand renovation project in which every seat will be replaced with new, wider seats. Tower seats will be widened to 22 inches, while new lower level seats will measure 21 inches.

“They will be the widest seats in all of motorsports,” said Talladega Superspeedway chairman Grant Lynch.

Other improvements include the restoration of the facility’s restrooms and the installation of a ‘drip guard’ to prevent spills from making their way down to lower concourse level. All renovations should be complete before the spring race in 2014.

Free Campgrounds Talladega Superspeedway is the only track on June 2012

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Talladega Superspeedway

You can count on huge crowds for the spring and fall races at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Photo by Brian Schoenhals the NASCAR circuit to offer free campgrounds to its visitors. The campgrounds accommodate 30,000-45,000 campers and are open to the public five days prior to the race.

“We have more land than any other racetrack,” said Lynch.

“We never, ever run out of free space,” said Crichton.

Lynch says the fact that many people stay at the campgrounds helps the flow of traffic during busy race weekends.

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“It helps traffic patterns by the fact that you’ve got so many people staying here,” said Lynch.

“They’re not clogging up the roads, getting in and out. A lot of them are walking or taking our tram system versus having to drive in or out every day.”

The campgrounds are not limited to RVs only.

“The camping includes RVs, tents, anything you want,” said Lynch. “Bring a sleeping bag, roll it out and sleep on the ground or sleep in your car.”

Talladega Superspeedway

When it comes to the fans at the Superspeedway, one thing is certain – they are going to enjoy themselves.

Photo by Cody Crisp

Traveling and accommodations The speedway partners with www. myracetravel.com to offer a high-end, ultimate racing experience. The package includes tickets, hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation between the hotel and track and pit passes. The goal of the company is to “provide fans with

“You don’t have to have an RV to have a free campsite,” said Crichton. “Roll out a tent, sit in your car, whatever you want.”

For fans traveling with family, the speedway also offers an alcohol-free family campground area. There are also several Chapel services on the Sunday morning prior to the big race.

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Talladega Superspeedway

Heritage Hall Museum Talladega, AL

200 South St. East 256-761-1364 www.heritagehallmuseum.org

Brad Keselowski celebrates in Victory Lane after the Aaron’s 499 in April 2012.

Photo by Brian Schoenhals

the ultimate NASCAR experience.” Myracetravel. com is the official travel package provider for the Talladega Superspeedway. For more information, call 866-990-7223.

Talladega Superspeedway also helps fans find affordable rates on hotels through a partnership with www.degarooms.com. Dega Rooms’ website offers traveling fans a one stop spot for locating affordable hotel rooms, complete with shuttle buses running to and from the Speedway. Group discounts are also available. For more information on hotel and shuttle packages, contact Dega Rooms at 877-452-3342 or visit www.degarooms. com.

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Visit our Gift Shop

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Talladega Superspeedway

With a friendly, student-oriented atmosphere, excellent college entrance exam scores, and a high percentage of graduates going on to college, Hope Academy is preparing students for the future.

Fans enjoy the view from atop their RV. Photo by Bob Crisp

Lynch says that 73-75 percent of ticket sales to the fall and spring races at the track come from out-of-state fans. He adds that the average distance traveled by a fan to the races is approximately 300 miles.

Why Talladega?

Lynch says that racing at the Superspeedway is a “sensory sport” and that a fan can’t get the full experience watching the race on TV – from the sight of the 2.66 mile track to the sounds of 43 cars blazing around the track at speeds nearing 200 mph to the feel of the wind as those cars speed by.

“It’s more than a race,” said Lynch.

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By KENNY FARMER

Glenn Jarrett gives instructions to participants before hitting the track.

Photo by Brian Schoenhals

G

reat experiences at the Superspeedway are not limited to race weekends. Fans can experience all the thrills of NASCAR racing with the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, which is held 70 days per year at the speedway. The adventure begins as participants receive one-on-one instructions before getting behind the wheel. From there, drivers are allowed to pass, draft and hug the trackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turns, reaching speeds up to 170 mph, in cars previously driven by Jarrett, Elliot Sadler and Tony Stewart. Safety is the top priority of the Racing 46

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Adventure as it boasts a 100 percent safety record.

Drivers can purchase racing packages, starting at 4 laps, for less than $200. Prices increase as more laps are added, but rates at the Talladega Superspeedway for the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure are less expensive than at other participating NASCAR tracks.

For more information about the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure call 1-888-GO-RACE-1 or visit www.RacingAdventure.com.

Above: The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure allows fans to get behind the wheel of cars previously driven by Tony Stewart, Elliot Sadler, Jarrett and others. Below: Safety is the top priority of the racing Adventure as it boasts 100 percent safety record.

Photo by Brian Schoenhals

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The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum features many one-of-a-kind exhibits, including the Dale Earnhardt Gallery.

Photo by Bob Crisp

International Motorsports

Hall of Fame

T

he International Motorsports Hall of Fame, created by the founder of NASCAR, Bill France Jr., is dedicated to the preservation of motorsports history and encompasses all styles of racing, honoring those who built and worked on the vehicles as well as those who drove them. The museum features cars from some of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, such as Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. The museum also features a rocket, a boat, motorcycles, quarter midgets, and much more.

The car responsible for what is known as “The Greatest Comeback in NASCAR History” is on display in the museum. In his 1985 Ford Thunderbird, Bill

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Elliot came from two laps down, without the aid of a caution flag, to win the 1985 Winston 500.

The museum also features the Dale Earnhardt Gallery. It has unique photographs, significant articles and original artwork featuring “The Intimidator.”

Earnhardt’s black No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sponsored by GM Goodwrench, is also on display in the museum. This car was used during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1983 and began inducting drivers into its hall of fame in 1990. The annual ceremony was held in Birmingham for the first six years, but was relocated to the Hall of Fame’s Speed Dome in 1996

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is located just outside the Talladega Superspeedway. It not only features vehicles used in NASCAR events, but cars used in all styles of racing.

Photo by Bob Crisp

Celebrate the legends of speed

and their machines

By KENNY FARMER

to accommodate larger crowds.

While the Speed Dome hosts the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, it is also available to host private events as well. The Speed Dome has been used for events such as car shows, boat shows, weddings, wedding receptions, proms, graduations, seminars, parties and live TV shows. The Dome has 22,000 square feet of floor space, a 50 feet by 30 feet stage, a dressing room and a kitchen. It can seat 1,500 for a dinner or 2,500 for a program or assembly. Those renting the Speed Dome after 6 p.m. will have free access for all guests to tour the Hall of Fame displays.

For rental information, contact the Hall of Fame office at 256-362-5002.

Visitors of the Hall of Fame and Museum can purchase tickets from the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift shop that will allow them to take a tour of the speedway. Tour guides provide special insight into the track and its rich history. Tours are available daily, except for Friday through Sunday of race weekends. Discounted tour tickets are available with a paid admission to the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame also houses the McCaig-Wellborn Motorsports Research Library which contains over 14,000 books and periodicals and more than 10,000 photos. For more information about the McCaigWellborn Library, call 256-362-5047.

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Welcome...

There are many great reasons to live in a small town. There are just as many reasons to choose a Community Bank for your financial needs.

For over 160 years, The First National Bank of Talladega has been proud to call this community our home. Our employees, management and directors live and work right here.

We are a strong supporter of our community, with corporate sponsorships and donations. We also encourage all employees to stay involved as individuals. From local civic groups, education and the arts - we understand that working together makes our community great.

We look forward to the opportunity to introduce you to our community and our bank.

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30242

TOP Trails

Riders are welcome as outdoors park begins development

By CHRIS NORWOOD

A

lthough it will take 10 to 15 years before it is fully developed, progress at the TOP Trails park in Brecon is steady, and impact is already being felt. Ground was broken to officially begin development in January 2012.

According to Park Board chairman and Greater

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June 2012

Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce director Mack Ferguson, some 245 people visited the park the weekend before Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, although that number has been down since due to rain and timber cutting.

Most of the visitors to the park now are using offhighway vehicles, but once the park is fully developed,

TOP Trails Park offers trails for hiking, horses and all manner of off-road motorized vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes. Photo by David Simmons.

there will be a lot more to do.

Plans call for a shooting sports area, equestrian trails, a recreational vehicle park, a half mile long zip line, camping, five lakes for fishing, hiking trails, archery, paintball and virtually anything else that can be done outdoors.

Camping areas will range from full RV hookups to primitive, wilderness experience, while the shooting area will include rifle and pistol ranges, clay shooting

and other shooting sports.

Of the five proposed fishing lakes, none have been prepared, although one has been laid out and designed.

There will be roughly 50 miles of trails on the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2,800 acres to begin with, and the board has recently purchased a mulching head that will allow to keep the trails clear after timber cutting. Work began in the spring of 2012 cutting new trails.

June 2012

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TOP Trails

Off-highway vehicles are only one of the outdoor activities offered at TOP Trails Park, just outside of Talladega.

Photo by Danny Hubbard.

The board has been awarded $1 million in reimbursement grants, and has already gotten $200,000 back. The board has also sold timber valued at $300,000 and has applied for an additional $900,000 for next year.

In June of 2012, 75 members of Carpenters for Christ from all over the country donated free labor to put up a welcome/environmental center in the park.

The board has also hired a security company to be on site 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Once the park is fully developed, Ferguson said he anticipates income of at least $18 million per year.

The master plan for development is being designed and implemented by former board chairman Chuck Roberts, of C.D. Roberts and Associates.

Although development of the park has been moving along at a healthy clip recently, the site has a long and somewhat convoluted history.

The park site was used to store the gunpowder that was manufactured in Brecon during World War II. After the site was closed and deemed safe for public use, it became part of a federal program that converts former military property into recreational sites.

The property was initially turned over to the city of Talladega, which did not develop it, and then to the Talladega County Commission. The commission 52

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Talladegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Historic Ritz Theatre The premier Performing Arts Center of East Central Alabama and a National Art Deco Landmark Support

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TOP Trails wanted to turn the property over to the Talladega County Board of Education, but since the program stipulates that the property must be used for recreational purposes, this was not considered an appropriate use.

When the county failed to come up with an alternate plan, various public entities submitted development plans.

The plan submitted by the city of Lincoln was named the winner.

The Talladega City Council, which had also submitted a development plan, protested the award going to Lincoln.

The question ultimately ended up in the state legislature, where the board that currently administers the property was created. Each city appoints two board members and there is one at-large member appointed to a three year term.

The first three year appointment was awarded to Lincoln, the next appointment will go to Talladega. The “TOP” in TOP Trails is shortened from Talladega-Lincoln Outdoor Park.

Although the board is independent, it still must follow the basic outline of the winning plan submitted by the city of Lincoln.

The northern bypass between Alabama 21 and Alabama 77 will offer easy access to the park when it is opened by the fall of 2012. Until then, the park is accessible through Talladega’s Brecon community by following Nimitz Avenue to Welch Avenue to Horne drive.

For more information, visit www. toptrails.net.

An equestrian trail system will be part of the completed TOP Trails Park and will include stables.

Photo by Danny Hubbard.

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The Great Outdoors

There are lots of ways to have fun in the forest

W

hether you are there to watch the leaves on trees turn brilliant shades of orange and red in the fall, or catch glimpses of a myriad of bird species, the Talladega National Forest has what any outdoor enthusiast or nature newbie is looking for.

The Talladega National Forest was created out of the Talladega and Oakmulgee Purchase Units after President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation on July 17, 1936.

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By AZIZA JACKSON

The forest was then made of four ranger districts: Oakmulgee, or the Cahaba Working Circle; Tuscaloosa, or the Pondville Working Circle; Shoal Creek and Talladega.

Now the Talladega National Forest is administered by three districts: Talladega, Shoal Creek, and Oakmulgee.

The Talladega Ranger District of the forest is home to a number of wildlife species, lakes, campsites and

Fall colors are reflected in Cheaha Lake on a crisp autumn day.

Photo by Bob Crisp

campgrounds and hiking trails to name a few.

“You can see folks in the forest year-round,” said Karen McKenzie, a district ranger for the Talladega National Forest. “Camping is really popular in the spring and the fall.”

The Lake Chinnabee recreation area is especially popular, with a 17-acre lake and small campground area.

The area has eight campsites and offers camping,

hiking, picnicking, and fishing for guests. There is a fee of $8 per night for camping or $3 per vehicle for day use. Lake Chinnabee is open from March 1 to Dec. 1.

Turnipseed Camp is a primitive camp located near the Cheaha Wilderness Area that offers camping and hiking.

McKenzie recommends that nature newbies try out Lake Chinnabee first as they get acclimated to the June 2012

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The Great Outdoors

A photographer lines up his shot beside Lake Chinnabee.

Photo by Bob Crisp

wild.

“I’d say Lake Chinnabee is a great start,” McKenzie said. “It’s a great area for hiking, fishing and picnicking. If you want to just get out and look around, that’s a really great place to do it.”

There are also several other hunter campsites spread out throughout the forest that are open year-round.

The two biggest hunting seasons at the forest is deer hunting in the fall and turkey hunting season in the spring.

Shepard’s Branch shooting range is an activity open for those looking to work on their aim or to get some practice in before the hunting season begins.

The range is located about eight miles southeast of Talladega on Highway 77 and offers four benches for firearms at 25, 50, and 100-yard ranges. The fee is $3 per vehicle and the range is open all year, sunrise to sunset.

The Kentuck ORV Trail is an off-road vehicle trail that is located at the Talladega

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The Great Outdoors

Colors are vibrant at Mt. Cheaha in the Fall.

Photo by Bob Crisp

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The Great Outdoors

Non-motorized watercraft are welcome on Lake Chinnabee.

Photo by Bob Crisp National Forest in Munford and provides riding opportunities for everyone on wheels, including mountain bikes, motorcycles or ATVs. Turn east off of Alabama 21 onto County Road 106/Macintosh Road and watch for signs to the trails.

The trail is open from April 1 to Dec. 31

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and has four loops that total 23 miles.

Some trails have easy terrain and smooth surfaces, other trails raise the level of difficulty with steep grades, tight turns, and rock and log obstacles.

There is a fee of $5 per operator and no fee for camping.

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More Than a ‘Grin’ Moment T

he most common expression I hear today when people are greeting one another is, “How are you doing?” Most of the time what I hear in response is “Fine,” or “O.K.” Recently I was in a produce store and met a young man in his late teens wearing an apron and stacking fruit in a display. As I approached, he paused his work long enough to look me directly in the eye and say, “Good morning, Sir. Welcome to our store. May I help you?” I was so taken back by his sincere greetings I paused long enough to shake his hand and thank him for his welcome and told him, “No, but thank you anyway, and how are you today?”

His response, as his greetings startled me. He said, “I’m Living the Dream.”

Think about that. Here I was in a produce store in an affluent resort city, picking up at my wife’s directive, the produce for our table with no expectations on my part that I would encounter anyone that would change my day… or life… for the better. I experienced more than a ‘grin’ moment. I have been measurably changed by an example of vision and thankfulness exhibited by a person that could not possibly realize the impact he has had, and I am convinced is having, on people’s lives. I was reared believing that happiness is a choice. This young man confirmed

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my belief.

As I have become immersed in the activities of your Chamber of Commerce, I have been immeasurably blessed by those in our community willing to invest their time and talents in having us “Living the dream.” These people I’m referring to remember the glory days of our area; recognize the assets and deficiencies we possess; and are willing to invest their time and talents for us to regain and surpass any previous state of success. They have a vision and they have a thankfulness for what we have and what we can achieve if we persist in our efforts.

We have City elections in Munford and Lincoln this fall along with several County positions to be filled. We are blessed to have very qualified people willing to serve their community to see that the community’s vision is realized. I personally want to thank each one of you willing to serve if elected to the position you are seeking.

Too many people volunteer for the position of criticizer; too few for the position of vision accomplisher. Your willingness to serve your community and your fellow man speaks volumes to us.

It is your Chamber’s desire that these quarterly magazines will provide our citizens, visitors and businesses the assets of our area for which visions are made and June 2012

Mack Ferguson, Chamber Director

thankfulness derived.

Our first issue is focused on our recreation, natural resources, attractions and quality of life.

After reading this issue, I cannot honestly think of any other area in which I would rather be “Living the Dream”.

Your comments are valued by your Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Chamber staff of Melissa White, Cookie Adair in Talladega and our volunteer staff in our Lincoln office and, of course, myself. Please share with us your ideas.

The Great Outdoors

Camping areas bring visitors close to nature in Talladega National Forest.

Photos by Bob Crisp

McKenzie said that the Pinhoti Trail is definitely a favorite among forest visitors.

“Some people like to start on the Pinhoti Trail in springtime and connect to the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and they can follow the Appalachian Trail all the way to Katahdin Trail in Maine,” McKenzie said.

The Pinhoti Trail is a great option for

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the more seasoned hikers, bird watchers, backpackers and all-around nature enthusiasts who are looking for a challenge.

“They definitely want to go on the Pinhoti Trail,” she said. “The Pinhoti Trail is longer and there’s a little more of a challenge. The mountains are a little bit steeper so you definitely want to be more experienced if you get off the

The Great Outdoors

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The Great Outdoors

Motorcyclists and four-wheeler riders hit the trails at the Kentuck ORV section of the forest.

Photo by Bob Crisp

beaten path.”

“You want to be a little more woods wise and be more a little more prepared,” she said.

There is a long list of other great scenic hiking trails that are free of charge including the Chinnabee Silent Trail that was constructed

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in 1977 by Boy Scout Troop 29 from the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind in Talladega.

The six-mile trail begins at Lake Chinnabee and winds beside Cheaha Creek, ending at Caney Head on top of Talladega mountain.

This trail has a moderate to difficult level.

There is also Lake Shore Trail, a two-mile nature trail around Lake Chinnabee; Cave Creek Trail, a four-mile trail in the Cheaha Wilderness Area; and Nubbin Creek Trail, a four-mile trail that crosses the eastern slopes of Talladega Mountain near the Cheaha Wilderness area.

The Odum Scout Trail is almost five miles long and runs through the eastern slopes of Talladega Mountain in the Cheaha Wilderness area and has a moderate difficulty level.

Skyway Loop Trail runs six miles and provides solitude for those seeking to get

away from the busy world.

It passes through the upland forests of eastern Alabama.

For those who might want to take a quick break and rest while getting some great views, the Cheaha Wilderness area offers visitors 7,245 acres and several breathtaking views of east-central Alabama.

The wilderness area is named after the nearby 2,407-foot Cheaha Mountain, and ranges from 1,100 feet along the bottom of the eastern slopes up to Odum Point that has an elevation of 2,342 feet.

The wilderness area offers a diverse array of plant life and tree life.

Visitors come from all over the country and even from different places across the globe; you never know who you might run into on a trail or on the lake.

“A lot of people just like to drive through the national forest,” McKenzie said. “If you like to look at songbirds there are several points in the forest that are good for bird viewing.

“Hiking is very popular, camping too. A lot of people like to get their kids around a campfire and toast some marshmallows. It’s one of those fun things to do as a family.”

For more information about the Talladega Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest, call 256362-2909.

Surrounded by federal land in the national forest is Cheaha State Park, which offers its own charms, including a CCC-built tower at the state’s highest point. The park features a hotel, restaurant, cabins and chalets and a lake at the foot of the mountain for fun in the water. There is also a handicappedaccessible boardwalk to the scenic overlook at Bald Rock. Call 256488-5111 or visit www.alapark. com/cheaharesort to learn more.

The Great Outdoors

Hikers take snacks and water with them for a day hiking in the forest.

Photo by Bob Crisp June 2012

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The Ritz can accommodate audiences of 512.

Photo by Bob Crisp 64

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Bringing great performances to Talladega

By LAURA NATION-ATCHISON

T

hink thousands of youngsters getting inside for arts in education experiences, think big name artists and Pulitzer Prize winning plays, and you get part of the picture.

Add in the cooperation between a city and a band of determined volunteers, plus the restoration of an outstanding example of an Art Deco theatre and it all comes together.

It’s Talladega’s Ritz Theatre, owned by the city of Talladega and operated by its volunteer base, Antique Talladega.

It’s an anchor for the city’s historic downtown square, reclaimed and refitted to house professional performers such as Judy Collins and Mickey Rooney, Diahann Carroll and Mary Wilson, it’s been the stage for touring productions of plays of top caliber, from “Streetcar Named Desire” and “Jane Eyre” to “Driving Miss Daisy” and “ Porgy and Bess.”

From performances from the African Children’s Choir and the Vienna Boys Choir to visits from Ricky Skaggs and top Southern gospel, The Ritz Theatre is a venue operated with a mission in mind – to bring top entertainment and arts experiences to a city and its people and beyond. ”The mission of the historic Ritz Theatre is the economic input, the cultural and civic pride and the revitalization of our

historic courthouse square,” said George Culver, executive director for Antique Talladega. “The inherent potential of a nationally recognized Art Deco (circa 1936) and a population base of over 300,000 within a 40-mile radius was there, and the organization’s leadership took advantage of its strategic location along with the vital I-20 corridor just to the north to realize a successful, first class venue to provide the best quality entertainment in the region.”

The success of The Ritz Theatre and Antique Talladega was recognized with a Preservation Service Award from the Alabama Preservation Conference, made in May 2012, to Antique Talladega Board of Directors President Bill McGehee.

McGehee has been on board with the vision of restoring The Ritz since 1992, when a gathering of townspeople got together and realized the treasure they had right in front of them.

Ideas were tossed around in the beginning, and there was talk of using the theatre for an antique sales venue, but that really wasn’t feasible, McGehee said.

They knew they were onto something, but the direction it would take continued to evolve.

“Then along came George Culver, as our executive director, and he got us on track with the idea of providing world class June 2012

entertainment for the region and also, focusing on our Arts in Education commitment.”

The focus has worked, and The Ritz continues with its mission since its opening night in 1998.

“After a $1 million investment in restoration, renovation and adaptive use of the structure in 1997, The Ritz generated an amazing buzz as a result of the caliber of artists and performances presented,” Culver said. “It quickly became a high profile performing arts center serving East Alabama with a diverse variety of entertainment.’

Culver, a native of Munford, brought with him a sense of the area and also, a professional career and educational background that lended itself to the project at hand.

A graduate of the University of Alabama where he majored in American Studies, Culver went on to the esteemed Wharton School of Management in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a masters of business administration degree.

He was director of development and public affairs for The Actors’ Studio in New York, worked in the advertising industry and was director of acquisitions for Showtime/The Movie Channel.

He also produced an off Broadway hit, “I Don’t Want to be Zelda anymore,” written by Marty Martin, written about Montgomery native, Zelda Zayre Fitzgerald, wife |

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The Ritz Theatre is considered to be one of the best surviving examples of Art Deco architecture in the country.

Photo by Bob Crisp

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of award winning author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The Ritz now seats 512, and just this year, added genuine theatre seating acquired from Birmingham’s Virginia Samford Theatre.

The seats are true to the decade of The Ritz Theatre’s architecture, and enhance the décor and comfort level as well.

Also, along the way, there had to be other changes, adding updated restrooms and technical equipment, and in 2011, there were heating and cooling improvements being made to the tune of $160,000, which will be completed in time for the theatre’s upcoming 2012-2013 Season.

And speaking of the 2012-2013 Season, there are already lots of things lined up for fans of The Ritz, Culver said.

There’s a national tour of “Fiddler on the Roof” coming, Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues,” and a collaboration with Birmingham’s Red Mountain Theatre Company of “The Color Purple.”

The theatre will also host more classic films in the coming months and other performances are “in the works.”

There is also a re-launch of the theatre’s popular “Marquee Gospel Series” for the 20122013 Season.

Programs in collaboration with area schools have always been an important of part of the programming at the Ritz. Thousands of students benefit each year, whether it’s the annual residency of Missoula Children’s Theatre, a professional touring company targeting young audiences for which students are bused in, or hosting the annual production of the 175th Players Guild, the local high school drama club, Culver said.

“And because of its vital role in the civic life of Talladega and surrounding communities, The Ritz is always available to local organizations for charity fundraisers or public forums on issues important to the local citizenry,” he said. “The Ritz also has begun to avail the theatre more often for rental on dates when Ritz programming is not scheduled.”

While the Ritz, like most nonprofit arts and cultural facilities across Alabama, took some hits from economic challenges of recent years, The Ritz has survived beautifully and, due to strategic rebranding, is well poised to pursue its vital role in the cultural and economic life of the region stronger than ever, Culver said. For updates and ticket information visit talladegaritz.com.

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Davey Allison Memorial Park / Texaco Walk of Fame

The Davey Allison Memorial Park was built to provide an everlasting tribute to Allison, one of the members of NASCAR’s ‘Alabama Gang.’

Photo by Bob Crisp

Fans pick the drivers honored at the trioval walking path in downtown Talladega

By KENNY FARMER

T

he Talladega Walk of Fame, sponsored by Texaco, opened in 1994 with the induction of Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and the late Neil Bonnett, better known as the “Alabama Gang.” The purpose of the Walk of Fame is to salute NASCAR’s all-time stars and to provide an everlasting tribute to the memory and accomplishments of the late Davey Allison.

After the death of Davey Allison, several local businessmen decided they wanted to do something to honor the late driver, since the Talladega SuperSpeedway was considered Allison’s

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“home track.” Ken Allen, chairman of the park, said the idea began with the Davey Allison Memorial Park, but decided an annual event would bring more attention to the Allison memorial. The result was the Texaco Walk of Fame, located within the Allison Memorial Park.

Inductees into the Walk of Fame are determined by race fans’ votes. Fans can cast their votes at www.talladegawalk.com from April until July each year. The annual induction ceremony is held the Saturday before the fall race at the Speedway.

Previous inductees include

racing legends such as Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough. It also features current stars such as Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman.

The latest addition to the attraction is the Davey Allison Memorial Walkway, which is located in the center of the park. The walkway was created by commemorative, customized bricks that have been purchased by racing fans across the world. The bricks can be purchased through the Walk of Fameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, www.talladegawalk.com. The walkway began in October 2002 and is an ongoing project.

The park has also been used for other events such as weddings and informative outings. To inquire about the availability of the park, contact Teresa Allen at 256362-4261.

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Hitting the Lake

Poor House Branch Marina and Clear Creek Harbor provide public access to Logan Martin Lake

By KENNY FARMER & ELSIE HODNETT

W

hile auto racing may be one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about Talladega, there are many more activities the area has to offer. Some of those activities can be found on Logan Martin Lake. From boating to skiing, from swimming to camping, the lake has something for everyone.

And fishing? The lake is the site of bass tournaments more weekends than not, and catfish tournaments are growing in popularity.

Poor House Branch Marina in Lincoln offers

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everything you need to get out and stay on the water.

“This is something I always wanted to do,” said Mike Morris, owner of Poor House Branch Marina.

“My childhood dream was to live on the lake and own a marina.”

Morris said he lives about one-and-a-half miles away from the marina, which he purchased 14 years ago.

“When I bought Poor House Branch Marina, it was a small trailer park with a store,” he said. “There was a

Clear Creek Harbor offers boaters and campers access to Logan Martin Lake. The harbor is accessible from Renfroe Road/Alabama 235 about three and a half miles north of the dam.

Photo by Bob Crisp

gravel parking lot and two old gas pumps.”

Morris said in the 14 years he has owned the marina it has expanded to feature a four-bay shop with storage to accommodate 77 30-foot boats. Poor House Branch Marina also offers gasoline sales on the water and on land.

“We are one of two gas pumps on the water north of Stemley Bridge,” he said.

Morris said he sells new pontoon boats and provides repairs for all types of watercraft.

“I’ve been an Avalon pontoon boat dealer for eight years, and a Honda Marine outboard motors dealer for eight years,” he said. “I really enjoy selling pontoon boats.”

Morris said customers can launch for a fee, and also fish from the pier for a small fee.

“We have a lot of people fishing from the pier during crappie seasons, February through March,” he said. “We are a real good area to fish for crappie during those months.”

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Hitting the Lake said. “We have an average of 60 boats with 120 people every year.”

The multiple weigh-in tournament adds another element to a typical bass fishing tournament.

Anglers can choose to weigh in up to six times during the tournament. There is a five fish weigh-in limit, after which the fish must be released.

Tournament participants must then decide which strategy is best. If the angler has five largemouth bass caught by the first weigh-in and believes he will have the heaviest weight of all the participants, he can choose to go to the marina and have the fish weighed for a chance at the first cash prize. However, if he does not have the heaviest total weight at that time, he must release his fish and start all over.

Some anglers may bypass a weigh-in in hopes of catching a few more “big ones” and increase their chance of winning at the next weigh-in.

Corporate sponsorship of the Day After Thanksgiving Tournament guarantees a payback of $5,000, regardless of boat entries.

An angler could get lucky enough to win every weigh-in, win the big fish prize and win the prize for total weight on the day, earning $5,000 in total cash prizes.

Bass fishing on Logan Martin is an attraction year-round.

Morris said the convenience store offers a wide variety of lake-related of items.

“We have everything needed to get and stay on the water,” he said.

Morris said he hosts a fishing tournament once a year, the Day After Thanksgiving Fishing Tournament, which offers multiple weigh-ins.

“We are the only ones to offer the multiple weighins, where they weigh in every two hours minutes,” he

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Hitting the Lake

Poor House Branch Marina offers a variety of services to boaters as well as access to the lake. It is on Stemley Road/County Road 207 about six miles south of I-20 and 2.3 miles north of Alabama 34.

Photo by Bob Crisp The Day After Thanksgiving tournament is not the only fishing tournament Talladega County has to offer. Clear Creek Marina recently hosted the American ProCatters Monster Tournament, which awarded $16,000 in total prizes.

Presbyterian Oaks Apartments I, II, III

408 S. 5th St., 21 & 23 Ironaton Rd. • Talladega

Talladega’s Premier Senior Living Where communities are built, apartments become homes and residents are like family.

Clear Creek Harbor, located at 270 Marina Drive on the Coosa River, also offers camping, fuel and a restaurant. Clear Creek has both short and long-term camper rental sites, as well as a limited number of tent sites. For those camping for an extended period of time, Clear Creek has them covered with an option for boat storage. Boats can be re-fueled at the marina’s gas pier. For additional camping or boating information, call 256-375-0355 or 256-268-5959, or visit www. clearcreekharbor.com.

The Willow Grill, located on the Clear Creek property, provides anglers, boaters and campers with a homecooked southern menu, which includes hamburgers, steaks and catfish. Breakfast and homemade desserts are also available. The Grill is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. For more information, call 256-268-9317 or 256-375-5190.

Ophelia Blue, LLC

Seniors 62 years and older.

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Call Today Presbyterian Oaks I - 256/362-5218 Presbyterian Oaks II - 256/761-2469 Presbyterian Oaks III - 256/362-2202

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Can’t make April in Talladega?

A walk or a drive through Talladega’s historic areas can also be a treat.

Talladega’s Silk Stocking District is an L-shaped area of approximately 113 acres located to the south of the courthouse square. It is an area with a concentration of homes built in the late 19th century and early 20th century listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official listing of places considered worthy of preservation for their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. Fifteen structures date prior to 1870, with the majority built between 1885 and 1915.

Styles range from simple cottages to elaborate Queen Anne and Eastlake houses. Maps are available at the Chamber of

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At 93-years old, Herman Libbe’s life is golden.

“Being able to remain in his home is very important to him,” says Herman’s daughter Penny Patterson. “Always There makes that possible.

For over a year, Always There’s Amelia Gibson has nurtured a special relationship with Mr. Libbe that transcends helping maintain his home and preparing his meals. They have become friends. In fact, when the dapper Mr. Libbe takes his two walks per day, he carries his cane in one hand and Amelia on the other.

Like many adult children of aging parents, Penny has a busy personal life, which presents challenges in her ability to offer constant attention to her father. Always There offers Penny a solution - call it a silver lining - to that cloudy issue. “My father is not always easy to deal with. I tried other companies in the area, and Always There has been by far the best. I couldn’t be more pleased with their dependability and service.”

For more information about Always There, call 205-824-0224, or visit our website at www.alwaysthereinc.com for a free online assessment of your needs.

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June 2012

Commerce, just off the square in a former railroad station building.

Talladega’s courthouse square features the state’s oldest courthouse in continuous use, a structure originally built in 1838, and the art deco Ritz Theatre, which has been renovated for use as a performing arts venue.

Talladega College is the state’s oldest historically black college, founded in 1867. A landmark classroom building on the campus, Swayne Hall, was originally built in the 1850s with help of slave labor. It is a building that remains in service as the symbol and spirit of the beginning of the college.

For more information: www.talladegachamber.com and www.talladega.edu

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Who sends a replacement when my regular caregiver calls off sick?

Is the company insured, licensed, and bonded?

Are caregivers employees of the company or merely independent contractors?

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The City of Lincoln

T

he City of Lincoln’s general government has six employees including city clerk, building inspector and finance and revenue employees.

The court has one employee, the city magistrate. The police department has 18 employees, the fire department has 29 employees, the street department has three employees, the library has two employees, the water and sewer department has 10 employees, the wastewater treatment plant has four employees and the parks and recreation department has four full-time and eight part-time employees.

Mayor Lew Watson said the big project for the remainder of the year is the Blue Eye Creek Fishing Trail which will offer an easily accessible place to fish. The trail includes a bridge that will go from

From left, Lincoln Councilmen Kurt Kuykendall, Chris Watson, Billy Pearson, Mayor Lew Watson, Councilwoman Sadie Britt and Councilman Bud Kitchin.

the old downtown Lincoln area across Blue Eye Creek.

Blue Eye Creek varies from a couple of feet deep up to eight feet deep in some places. The creek is approximately three feet deep where the bridge will span. Five fishing stations are planned, with concrete trails for handicapped

accessibility to connect them to the bridge.

The council also approved plans for a deck and covered patio area, with a parking area.

The city is also redesigning its website, www.lincolnalabama.com, which offers additional information on Lincoln.

The Town of Munford

T

he town of Munford continues to make large strides in improving the lives of its residents.

Since being incorporated in 2002 the town has seen an expansion in its recreation department and volunteer fire department, and the establishment of a court system, preschool and grocery store.

Larry Ward serves as the town’s judge, Luke Montgomery serves as the town’s prosecutor, and Jeff Rutledge serves as the town’s first police chief.

Court dates are scheduled on the third Thursday of every other month.

Town Clerk Peggy Bussie also serves as the magistrate and court clerk.

Another new addition to the town of Munford is the Little Lions

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Munford City Council, Left to Right: Seated, Mayor Lynn Swinford, Councilman David Dabbs. Standing, Councilman Shane Turner, Councilman Lee Garrison, Councilman Wade Champion, Councilwoman Kaye O’Connor.

Preschool run by Casey Stephens.

Since August of 2011, Little Lions ages three-and-a-half to four have met from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday to learn fundamental lessons in letters, numbers, and shapes.

Munford’s recreation June 2012

department continues to grow, with several sports being added to an already successful basketball lineup.

For more information about the town of Munford, call 256-3582582.

The City of Talladega

T

he City of Talladega operates under the Council-Manager form of government and strives to provide a high level of service to the nearly 17,000 residents. City Manager Brian Muenger supervises the planning, building inspection and code enforcement, totaling five employees and one seasonal code enforcement employee.

The Finance Department has five employees. The Municipal Court has a staff of three. In public safety, the Fire Department has a force of 28, while the Police Department has 45 full-time officers and detectives, and one part time employee. The Department of Public Works has a staff of 21 including the animal control staff. The Department of Community Appearance has 23 employees.

The Water and Sewer Department has a staff of 60 full-time and four part-time employees. The Parks & Recreation Department has a staff of 18 full-time and nine part-time employees.

he City of Talladega is separated into five wards represented by council members Dr. Horace Patterson, Jarvis Elston, Donnie Miller, Ricky Simpson, and Joe Ballow. The Mayor of the City is Larry Barton.

The City Clerk has one full-time assistant, the Department of Human Resources has two employees, and the Department of Purchasing and Safety has two.

Upcoming projects include a redesign of the Veterans’ Park, including new pedestrian bridges to extend the length of the track. The park will also have new lighting so that the track is usable in the early mornings and evenings. These improvements are expected to compliment the pavilion redesign and new playground equipment that

have been installed. Within the next two years the city plans to replace several bridges and have a major street resurfacing project to improve the infrastructure.

The city is also proud to be a recent recipient of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Grant, which will help to improve the walkable infrastructure in the historic Silk Stocking District.

To keep abreast of all the exciting developments in Talladega, please visit www.Talladega.com.

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