LakeLife 24/7 LOGAN MARTIN & NEELY HENRY September & October 2022 Kids Kastle Comeback LAKE PLAYGROUND REMEMBERED, REMADE, REOPENED LoveIslandPirate’sStory COUPLE’S GIFT IS LAKE’S TREASURE LandingSouthside A NEW ERA FOR NEELY HENRY
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FEATURED STORIES 52 COMEBACKKASTLEKIDS A NEW ERA FORHENRYNEELY 8 30 STORYLOVEISLANDPIRATE 40 IN THE KITCHEN 38 PADDLEBOARDING 46 REMEMBER WHEN 56 HEALING WATERS 62 NEW SIGN 66 LAKESIDE LIVE 72 TAKE 5 82 GREAT ALABAMA 650 84 CATCHIN’THE COOSA ABOUT THE COVER Laurie Regan’s gift to husband Jim on his birthday – a Logan Martin island – has become a love story for the entire lake community. The landmark draws boaters from all around as a popular gathering spot, and the community gives back by helping maintain and improve it. Photo by Mackenzie Free SOUTHSIDELANDING Clarification: In the July issue of the magazine in a story on the history of The Ark restaurant, E.O. Thompson was listed as original owner. The owner was Allen Jasper Thompson. We regret the error and are happy to set the record straight. 4 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
ROXANN EDSALL Roxann Edsall is a freelance writer and former managing editor of Convene Magazine, a convention publication.industryShehas a degree in journalism(broadcast)fromtheUniversity of Southern Mississippi, worked as a television news reporter in Biloxi and as a reporter and assignments editor in Birmingham. After enjoying the lake for years, she and her husband, Steve, recently became full-time Logan Martin residents.
TONI FRANKLIN Toni Franklin is a graphic artist for Partners by Design, Discover St. Clair Magazine and LakeLife 24/7 Magazine She has 30 years in the printing industry as print production artist, manager and art director. She is a graduate of The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale and studied at Penn State and University of Alabama at Birmingham. A native of Pennsylvania, she has lived most of her life in Alabama.
KELSEY BAIN As the owner of Kelsey Bain Photography, Kelsey is a regular contributor of photos and editorials for our publications. An Alabama native and graduate of Auburn University, Kelsey now resides on Logan Martin Lake with her husband Adam and their daughter, Sawyer.
GRAHAM HADLEY Graham Hadley is a writer and vice president for the Creative Division of Partners by Design, creators of Discover St. Clair and LakeLife 24/7 Magazines. Along with Carol Pappas, he left The Daily Home as managing editor to become vice president of the Creative Division of Partners by Design Multimedia company. An Auburn journalism graduate, Hadley also served as the news editor for The Rome News Tribune in Rome, Ga.
CONTRIBUTORS
6 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
LakeLifeMagazine24/7® It’s How You Want to Live! It’s What You Want To Read!
ZEKE GOSSETT Zeke Gossett is a member of the B.A.S.S. Pro Tour, a fishing guide and former national collegiate fishing champion. He grew up fishing on the Coosa River with Logan Martin as his home lake. A graduate of Jacksonville State University, he earned his degree in recreational leadership with a minor in coaching. He operates a guide service on the Coosa River, Zeke Gossett Fishing.
SCOTTIE VICKERY Scottie Vickery is a writer with a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and was a reporter for The Birmingham News. Her first assignment was covering St. Clair and Blount counties. She has more than 30 years of writing and editing experience and her work has appeared in a variety of publications. She also has worked in the nonprofit industry.
MEGHAN FRONDORF Meghan is a nationally published photographer of 12 years. Specializing in travel and withAshville.native,photography.natureAnArizonanowresidinginSheismarried2wonderfulboys,and loves all things creative and artsy.
About LakeLifeMagazine24/7®
PAUL SOUTH Paul South, a native of Fairfield, is an Auburn graduate with a degree in journalism and a double minor in history. He also has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Although sports writing was always his first love, he had a versatile career as reporter, columnist and first full-time sports information director at Samford University.
LOYD MCINTOSH Lod McIntosh is a freelance writer and professionalmarketingoriginally from Trussville. He has contributed to more that 30 online and print publications. Loyd is also a former reporter and sports writer for several newspapers throughout the South east, including The Daily Home, and was the managing editor for The Cahaba Times and Upper90 Magazine
LakeLife 24/7® Magazine is a lake lifestyle magazine for Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes on Alabama’s Coosa River. It is published the first Friday of January, March, May, July, September and November and is distributed free of charge at various locations in St. Clair, Talladega, Etowah and Calhoun counties. For a list of distribution points, go LakeLife247Magazine.comto.Subscriptionsbymailarealsoavailableat$19.95peryear.Tosubscribe,simplygoonlineto:LakeLife247Magazine.com.
CAROL PAPPAS Carol Pappas is editor and publisher of LakeLife24/7® Magazine and Discover St. Clair Magazine. A retired newspaper executive, she served as editor and publisher of several newspapers and magazines during her career. She won dozens of writing awards in features, news and commentary and was named Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist at Auburn University. She serves as president/CEO of Partners by Design, the multimedia group that publishes Discover and LakeLife24/7® magazines Meghan is a pher of 12 years. nature photography. now residing ried with 2 wonderful things creative
MACKENZIE FREE Mackenzie Free is a Birmingham native now residing in Steele. She has been photographypracticingfor8years and been featured in several nationally publicized magazines. She is co-founder of Mac + Meg Collective.
ERYN ELLARD Eryn Ellard is a freelance writer living in Pell City. She graduated with her bachelor’s in journalism in 2010 from The University of Alabama. She has been published in The St. Clair News Aegis, Al.com and The Tuscaloosa News, which ultimately led to her securing an internship and becoming internationally published in Cosmopolitan Magazine in New York City.
JACKIE WALBURNROMINE Jackie Romine Walburn, a Birmingham native and freelance writer, is an Auburn journalism graduate who has worked as a reporter, editor and communicationscorporate manager. She’s had recent writing published in the Birmingham Arts Journal and Alalit.com. Jackie is currently seeking an agent and publisher for her first novel, Mojo Jones and the Black Cat Bone
HOBSONELAINE MILLER Elaine Hobson Miller graduated from Samford University with a journalism degree. She was the first female to cover Birmingham City Hall for the Birmingham Post-Herald, where was reporter, food editor and features writer. She is former editor of Birmingham Home & Garden magazine and staff writer for Birmingham Magazine
Spring is usually reserved for the time of year when talk turns to rebirth and new beginnings, but around these parts, something new is usually on the horizon all yearSuchlong.is the case with just about every story in LakeLife 24/7 Magazine® this time around. You might liken it to a renaissance for two of them – Pirate’s Island and Kids Kastle – longtime Logan Martin landmarks emerging from makeovers. Pirate’s Island, the tiny patch of land surrounded by water with palm trees swaying in the breeze, pirate’s flag flying high above and a chest stocked full for eager young hunters of treasure awaits. But regulars will probably notice some new features, and a general improvement project has taken hold. It’s all about community, its owners say. And the community has returned the favor with ‘work days’ and new additions at their favorite island spot. Meanwhile, in early August at Lakeside Park, kids rushed onto the new version of Kids Kastle, an unrivaled playground where imaginations can run wild, too. With swings and slides and climbing equipment in abundance, this 21-year-old landmark has been renovated into quite a destination point for making new childhood memories for generations to come. Of course, that’s not the only ‘new’ news around here. Lakeside Live is back at Lakeside Park, a music festival and car show with new and improved attractions to be enjoyed by the whole family. Over on Neely Henry, check out Southside Park – a lakeside wonder drawing crowds from near and far. It even played host to Neely Henry Lake Association’s annual Poker Run. Looking for a new watersport? Check out paddleboarding at GadRock, a new sensation growing by the day. This standup, surf-type board you paddle not only is great exercise for the body, the sights, sounds and feel of the water around you is good for the soul, too.Courtesy of a couple of soon-to-be Eagle Scouts in Lincoln, two lake spots on Logan Martin have new, custom-designed, custom-made signs, welcoming one and all to what they have to offer.
partnersmultimedia.com
‘New’ happeningnews all around
Carol A. PappasEditor
As usual, there’s plenty more in this edition of LakeLife 24/7 Magazine® – new and old alike. We’ll take you inside the kitchen of a great Cajun cook, along the route of the Great Alabama 650, the world’s longest annual paddling race, and to the hot spots on Logan Martin and Neely Henry for some of the best bass fishing around. Turn the page and discover them all with us! nationally published photogra years. Specializing in travel and photography. An Arizona native, in Ashville, AL. She is mar wonderful boys, and loves all creative andLakeLife247Magazine.comartsy.
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 7 EDITOR’S NOTES September & October 2022 Vol. 2, Issue LakeLife247Magazine.com3 Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher Dale Halpin Advertising Toni Franklin Graphic Designer Graham Hadley Vice CreativePresident,Division Brandon Wynn Director Online Services A publication of Partners by Design partnersmultimedia.com1911CogswellAvenuePellCity,AL35125205-335-0281
Southside
8 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE
Sunset is a highlight of weeknight sailing welcomes one and all New LandingSouthside S
ummer 2022 proved sweeter for the City of Southside as the village on the Coosa debuted its highly anticipated waterfront park. Lovingly coined Southside Landing, the park beckoned residents and visitors to its pristine property on May 1 – and it has been smooth sailing ever since.
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 9 Story by Katie Bohannon Photos by Mackenzie Free
The concept for Southside Landing arose when the previous mayoral administration took the initiative to purchase property for a boat launch, pier, bait shack and boat slips. When current mayor, Dana Snyder, entered her new position, she began discussing the plans formerly in place as one of her top priorities – determining to finish the park and open the space to the“Southsidepublic.
Residents frequented Southside Landing this summer, as the community embraced the waterfront park with an enthusiastic celebration of the city’s latest attraction. From boaters and fishermen enjoying the river to children laughing on the playground, people treasure the new jewel on the Coosa each day.Southside
People gather outside the highly-anticipated Blackstone Bait Shack opening soon.
Visitors enjoy the pier at Southside’s new waterfront park.Boaters soak up sun on the Coosa near the waterfront park.
Snyder elaborated on these potential improvements,
10 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Landing offers a little reprieve for everyone, including a boat launch, pier, playground, picnic tables and restrooms. Blackstone Bait Shack – a tangent of local beloved restaurant Blackstone Pub & Eatery – is in the process of opening soon.
Southside
Landing is the gateway to our city,” said Snyder. “It is a place to gather, play, read, relax, exercise and eat – any day of the week. It offers residents and visitors alike a place to enjoy our beautiful river and soon, a place to hang out, with food and drinks! We will continue to improve it yearly.”
Southside
describing the growth she envisions for the space and Southside overall. She foresees future developments on the horizon, including further retail establishments and restaurants, alongside additions to the playground or walking trail. She hopes to incorporate outdoor exercise equipment in different spots along the path for all ages to enjoy as a motivating factor for children and adults alike to practice healthy habits and exercise outdoors. Purchasing shades to cover the existing playground and the patio at Blackstone Bait Shack emerge as another endeavor. And Snyder is discussing plans for a possible kayak launch on the Landing’s back side, to provide easy access to present kayakers, while sparking an interest in the activity in others.
12 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
As locals soak in the sunshine during summer months and indulge in the recreation at their fingertips at Southside Landing, Snyder shared that the waterfront park transcends seasonal appeal. With city- and county-organized events scheduled from month to month, Southside Landing holds the potential to become a beloved tourist destination in Etowah County year-round.
A couple overlooks the Southside Bridge on the pier at the waterfront park. Residents make use of the new boat launch.
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14 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Southside
Southside on the move Southside Landing marks the beginning of a “New Southside,” according to Snyder, who discussed how the park intwines with the city’s innovative progress. As Southside Landing attracts tourism and creates a safe, pleasant space for residents, Snyder and her team strive to implement updates citywide.
Small tournaments have already launched from the Landing, with the city’s first sponsored tournament debuting on Sept. 17. Plans for Southside’s collaborative Christmas Boat Parade, hosted alongside Rainbow City, is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10.
Children frequent the new inclusive playground available at Southside’s waterfront park.
By improving its infrastructure and services, Snyder said, Southside will be ready for the future growth that is expected throughout its city
A family prepares for a day on the water during Neely Henry Lake Association Poker Run.
With the incentive of providing better and more efficient services to citizens and businesses, Southside recently upgraded its city’s software and procedures, including a pay scale that offers more incentive for employees.Apaving project – affecting over 30 city roads – is almost complete, coinciding with the city’s plans for initiating its own garbage service.
16 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
A new fire station, which will accommodate hosted alongside Rainbow City, is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10. the growing need of health and safety services and establish a place for the city’s first responders to serve residents and businesses is in the works.Next is the expansion of Southside’s police department.
Southside
Snyder announced that Southside almost has completed its strategic plan, which will provide the city and its officials with essential information in designing blueprints for future development and boosting economic success.
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Landing and treating it with respect.”
She invited residents and interested individuals to share their thoughts with her on the project, noting that her open-door policy remains intact, as does her passion for the lovely city she calls home.
in the near “Southsidefuture.Landing is here for residents’ use, because of the hard Work of the past and present administrations,” said Snyder, noting that the efforts of dedicated individuals who understood the park’s significance and brought such success to fruition.“The past administration took an opportunity presented to them and purchased the land with a vision for development of a boat launch and facility to provide public access to the Coosa River – our biggest asset for tourism and citizens. We want everyone to enjoy the park and have fun, while taking pride in Southside
Snyder welcomed the community to experience Southside Landing for themselves, celebrating the improvements taking place throughout the city and looking forward to those yet to come.
Southside 18 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 Water sports and recreational activities abound in Southside.
IN IN Story by ScottieKelseyPhotosVickerybyBain 20 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 Hartleys The Kitchenthe with
A sign at the water’s edge of Donna and Lee Hartley’s Logan Martin Lake home offers a greeting to visitors, as well as the couple’s only rules. “Welcome to our Cottage,” the sign reads. “Relax, Unwind, Enjoy.” September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 21 Kitchen with a Tableviewsetting for perfect meal
Lee and Donna Hartley with their dogs Tiny Princess and Pancho. Open great room
Reflecting their style
It’s a simple philosophy, but it’s one that the Hartleys have embraced in the four years they’ve lived in the cozy three-story retreat. They’ve renovated the home and created an outdoor wonderland where the retirees enjoy the peace and quiet, in addition to their brand-new hobbies. “It’s perfect for us,” said Donna, who has taken up gardening while Lee has become an avid kayaker. “It’s so peaceful, and we love just being still and beingTheappreciative.”Hartleys,who were high school sweethearts in Mobile and dated for a decade, have been married for 38 years. They lived in Moody for most of that time and had their eye on the Clear Creek home for years before making it their own. They first discovered it during the 15 years they had a camper at Powell’s Campground before deciding to downsize and make lake life a permanent state of mind during retirement.
Bedroom
“We rode all through these sloughs,” Donna said. “I kept telling Lee, ‘I want that house.’” Lee promised to make it a reality. “I kept telling her, ‘One of these days, I’m going to knock on their door and I’m going to buy that house for you,’” he said. When they finally got serious about looking, the house had come on the market, and he took her there one day. This time, however, they went by car, so Donna didn’t realize where they were. “Go down to the water,” Lee told her, and that’s when the realization that they were at her dream home finally dawned.
22 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Although she’d loved the house from afar for years, Donna and Lee both realized some changes were in store. “The inside was set up like a lodge, and I told Lee, “We’ve bought a Holiday Inn,’” Donna said with a laugh. “Everything was very vanilla, but we’d redone two houses and knew we could eventually make it ours.”
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Covered porch overlooks lake
“It’s more convenient now and much more usable now,” Lee said. The only missing is about 40 cabinets. “We had 60 cabinets in the kitchen in our old home and we’re down to about 20,” said Donna, adding that the home where they raised their daughter, Victoria, was about 3,700 square feet while this house is about 1,800. “When I say we downsized, I mean we downsized.”
24 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Now, the peninsula is gone, making way for a table that Donna loves to set with china that’s been handed down in Lee’s family for generations. The sink is in a large island, and the cabinets across the back of the kitchen have been extended. A quartz countertop and a subway tile backsplash have been added, and the result is a cheery, sunny space that’s perfect for gatherings.
One major focus was the kitchen. “It had to go,” said Lee, who is the cook in the family. “I like Cajun food the best. I love to cook it and I love to eat it. One of my favorite dishes is to put crawfish etouffee over a grilled steak.” He comes by it honestly. Lee, who followed in his father’s footsteps, worked offshore as chief engineer on supply boats and as a commercial fisherman for most of his career. As a result, “I lived in Louisiana off and on for most of my life. Dad worked over there and we moved there during the summer to be closer to him. I learned to cook when I was 13,” he said.
One thing they made sure they had room for was a collection of old mirrors that hold sentimental value for the couple.
The Hartleys in their yardlandscapedbeautifully
Family mirrors a focal point in home
Even their furniture was larger at their previous home – too large, in fact, to fit in their new space. “This house has all 8-foot ceilings and our other house had 10-foot ceilings,” Donna said. “We couldn’t even get some of my armoires in the house because the doors were so small. We had to enlarge the door just to get the appliances in.”
In order to work his magic, “the whole kitchen had to be reconfigured,” Lee said. The original design had a small peninsula with the sink under the kitchen window. “You couldn’t open the cabinets in the peninsula unless the oven door was open,” he said.
“Between his family and mine, we had a lot,” she said. “I just love old mirrors.” Their daughter gave the collection new life with chalk paint and wax, and Donna said the result is an even better reflection of their more casual, relaxed lifestyle.
Although the cottage has three floors, the lower level is home for Lee’s 98-year-old mother. His parents moved in with the Hartleys about 18 years ago, and Lee’s father passed away three years ago at 95. “Dad lived offshore all those
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“Hesaid.enjoyed it a year or so before he passed away.” Now, the arrangement gives Lee’s mom her arrangement gives her privacy, a separate patio and a beautiful view of the lake.
Although the yard is a focal point, there’s one feature in the water that catches the attention of boaters, especially boats filled with children. A whimsical cement dragon, which has been in the water for decades, came with the house and has become a favorite of the Hartleys. “I bet it weights 3 tons,” Lee said. A neighbor, who is an artist, is going to paint the dragon when the water level is lowered this fall, he said.
three or four times a week, cooking everything from steaks to marinated chicken or pork chops. “I grill a lot of vegetables,” he said, adding that he loves a good charcoal fire. “There’s more flavor when you use charcoal.”
Lee
The Great Outdoors
While the water is main attraction, the outdoor oasis the Hartleys have created has taken things to a whole new level.
The view is something they never get tired of, Donna said.
“When I retired, I took on planting flowers,” said Donna, who worked for AT&T for 30 years before leaving the corporate world a year and a half ago. “I’d never planted anything before but Lee bought me two landscaping books.”
26 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 years, but he never lived on the water and always wanted to,”
Donna loves color and she has since created beautiful beds filled with lantana, dwarf crepe myrtles, Mexican heather, daylilies and other flowering plants.
Lee set the stage for her gardens with all the yard work he did the first year they were in the home. He leveled the yard, laid sod, and removed bushes that were hiding the house. “He dug up 28 holly bushes,” Donna said. “You couldn’t even see the bottom porch or the railing.
Although they enjoy their outdoor living spaces, some of their favorite times are down by the water. Lee used to love fly fishing, but now he’s spending much more time on his new hobby: kayaking. “I’m in the water at 5:30 every morning,” he said. “I’ve been from here to the dam and back,” a total of about 8 Donna,miles.especially, loves listening to the birds – a sound she compares to a symphony. “It’s just delightful to sit out early in the morning before anyone is up and outside,” she said. “The water is so still and peaceful, and you can sit and listen to the birds and appreciate the be beautiful work of God. We feel so blessed and thankful.” The dragon landmark
Now that the hard work of creating their own little piece of paradise is done, the Hartleys are able to enjoy what they’ve created together. “We love to sit on the porch, even when it’s raining and we eat dinner out here a lot,” Donna said. They’ve also recently created an outdoor living room under the carport, complete with comfortable seating and a fountain, which Lee’s mother particularly enjoys. They’re planning on adding a television and creating a fun ceiling from either tin or old, colorful shutters, Donna said. “We sit out here in the mornings,” she said. “I’ve got my Diet Coke and he’s out here with his coffee.” Although they toyed with the idea of turning the space into an outdoor kitchen, they quickly decided they’d enjoy the extra living area more. “We didn’t want to have another kitchen to clean,” DonnaThat’ssaid.not to say they don’t enjoy cooking out; Lee grills
Ingredients:
1 cup Cajunoilseasoning to taste Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed roasted garlic
NOTE: Shrimp, lump crab or chicken can be used as a substitute for crawfish tails and fat.
1 pound crawfish tails
3 pounds crawfish tail, 2peeledbellpeppers, chopped
Directions:
2 onions, chopped 1 cup parsley, chopped 1 bunch of celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
½ cup crawfish fat
½ cup chopped parsley
- Susan Clark New Iberia, La. Cajun Seafood Gumbo
1 bunch green onions, sliced 15 cloves ½ gallon water
- Chef Jeff Warner St. Francisville, La.
2 pounds small shrimp
Etouffee served over steak, a favorite pairing.
Directions: In a gumbo pot, mix oil and flour on high to medium heat to make a chocolate-colored roux. Add onions, peppers, celery and garlic and sauté well. Stir in tasso and cook for 2 minutes, then add water. Stir well and cook for 1 hour, seasoning occasionally to taste. Add parsley and dried shrimp during this procedure as well. Add shrimp after gumbo cooks for an hour, then cook an additional 20 minutes. Add crawfish tails and lump crabmeat. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Add green onions, season, and serve over fluffy, white rice.
28 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September & October 2022
3 tbsp roasted mashed garlic
Crawfish Etouffee
2 cups green onion, chopped 1 cup flour
Cayenne pepper and salt to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning Louisiana hot sauce to taste
1 cup dried shrimp
1 cup flour
1 pound lump crab meat
1 tbsp paprika Water, as needed
1 cup oil 2 large onions, chopped 2 large bell peppers, 1choppedbunchof celery, chopped 1 pound pork tasso
Slowly stirring flour and oil over a medium flame, make a light, golden-brown roux. Add all of the chopped onion, garlic, peppers, celery and parsley; cook until onions are tender. Add crawfish and fat. Cook for 20 minutes. Add very little water, stirring slowly and adding just a little at a time. Etouffee should begin to thicken up. Once it’s thick, add salt, pepper, paprika and seasoning to taste. Serve over white rice and garnish with green onions.
Ingredients:
Cajun seasoning to taste
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30 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Pirates‘ Island September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 31 Story by Paul South Photos by Mackenzie Free and David Smith Pirates Island A Logangiftbirthdaywife’stoherhusbandnowaMartintreasure STORYLOVESTORYLOVE ‘
This is a Pirate Island love story. Don’t panic. This isn’t one of those cheap, 1980s bodice-ripper novels with Fabio and Morgan Fairchild lookalikes on the cover.
“Sadly, it was crepe paper. We had a big storm after we got it all Presidentdecorated.”of the Pell City Library Guild, Laurie was discussing Jim with a board colleague. “She said, ‘You know, my husband and I have an island.” As Laurie says, “That’s a conversation starter.”Thetwo women discussed the island and the possibility of the Regans buying it or sharing ownership with the sellers. But Laurie knows her husband. “An island is a one-owner kind of deal,” she says. He calls the island, “a labor of love.”
After all, this is a family magazine. This is a love story close to home – not set in Tahiti or Jamaica – but right here on Logan Martin Lake. It’s the story of how Laurie Regan’s birthday gift to her husband Jim turned into a gift for anyone who’s ever visited the 50 by 75-foot Pirate’s Island, a popular meeting place for families on the lake. It’s not unusual to catch the marvelous aroma of cheeseburgers – yes, in paradise – or frying fish, or to hear an island song of laughter as children raid the island treasure chest forThat’strinkets.just the way Jim and Laura want Pirate’s Island. They own the island, but it’s a gift to all who love the lake.
Laurie’s 2008 birthday present to her husband was not without its challenges, including a summer rain.
And that love, like the laid-back spirit of Pirate’s Island, is contagious.
And how did she wrap it?
The view on any given weekend
“I tell ya, wrapping it was a pain.”
32 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
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additions
But boys being boys, they’d dig deep in the chest to discover “gold.” And the chest was replaced by a small, metal box, adorned with a three-masted schooner and painted to give the look of weathered wood that’s there today.
Three barge loads of vines, overgrowth, broken bottles and trash were hauled away – Phase 1 of a simple mission, Jim Regan says.Palm trees and flowers were brought in along with hundreds of yards of sand and rip rap to protect the island shoreline against erosion. “Let’s try to make everyone fall in love with it,” he says. And over the years, they have. The Logan Martin community has made Pirate’s Island a regular summer stop. On a typical weekend, some 30 boats tie up there. On holiday weekends the fleet expands to more than 40 vessels.
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“I kissed the beach,” he says. “There was a lot more greenery back then. You could not walk across that island. It was totally overgrown.”Intheyears since, the island – and life on it – has changed. And the Regans’ gift became everyone’s joy.
“I always loved the island,” Jim says. “I’d take nieces and nephews out there to go seashell hunting.”
Whimsical
The island’s first chest was a bright orange Home Depot bucket, that would soon be replaced by a metal chest anchored by gold-painted rocks and filled with Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets.
In the wake of the toil and sweat invested to bring the island to its treasured state, Laurie Regan points outFrom a distance, it appears to be “shaped like a pirate ship.”
To orchestrate the surprise, Laurie enlisted the couple’s niece, Abby, who was soon to return to college at Belmont. She coaxed her uncle into “one last boat ride.”
The island features a grill, a kiddie pool, palm trees and flowers, a hammock and a treasure chest, filled with trinkets that will, in the years to come, trigger precious, lingering memories.
A month later, the unique birthday gift was bought, the deal sealed. It beats the heck out of a tie.
The island the day before was festooned with crepe paper and ribbon and balloons. Now, it was in tatters, thanks to a Logan Martin monsoon. But a Koozie she handed him rescued the surprise. It read, “Welcome to your island.” Immediately, Jim Regan dove off his pontoon boat and swam to the island – his island.
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The Regans recalled meeting a grandfather on the island, with grandkids crawling all over him with the water and joy flowing over him.
“It’s selfish in that you couldn’t possibly see this many wonderful, happy faces and families being together. It’s just a joy to go out and sit on the boat and watch them have such a wonderful time.
For Jim, Pirate’s Island is a thank-you gift in return for a blessed life. Pirate’s Island is the birthday gift that keeps on giving.“When you’ve been fortunate, there’s a pull to give back. And it does feel good to try to give something back,” he says.
“Whenever we run into someone on the island or run into someone who knows something about us and the island, they’re thankful. They’ve had great and meaningful times out there –and boy, it feels good.”
Kyle Anderson of Pell City, owner of Pro Handiman, LLC, has worked with the Regans improving the island and recently finished building a Tiki bar, complete with a thatch roof, and adding more sand and flowers. He calls the island, “a labor of love.”
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“(For kids) it’s a bit of a rest for their parents and they can play … It’s a pleasure. It really is.”
“This is our time,” the grandfather said with a big grin. It turns out the grandfather had visited Pirate Island many times. But one visit in particular shone like the midday sun.
“I always think of that when I think of Pirate Island,” he says.
“The guy asked his wife what she wanted to do for their 50th-wedding anniversary,” Jim recalls. Her response? “I just want to be on that island
And that love, like the laid-back spirit of Pirate Island, is contagious.Anderson remembers taking his young son, Asher, to the island after catching a 30-pound catfish. He showed him the process of catch-to-table. They fileted the fish and took eggs, flour and cornmeal to Pirate Island for a fish fry.
that sometimes wives give husbands gifts to keep them out of their hair – something like a new set of golf clubs.
A day in the (island) life
“(The island) was my equivalent to a nice set of golf clubs, “she says. And Laurie’s gift of love to Jim – and Jim’s labor with others to transform Pirate’s Island – has turned into a treasure for all who cherish Logan Martin.
Upthecreek…withawithapaddleboard Story by Loyd McIntosh Photos by Meghan Frondorf
“Paddleboards are like a surfboard. Nose at the front, tail at the back. The most stable part is the middle of the board where the handle is at, so that’s where you’ll stand up.” September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 39
Gadsden native Carrie Machen and a friend, Kate Wilson, initially conceived GadRock as an indoor climbing gym to support the growing rock-climbing community in Northeast Alabama and to promote the sport to a new generation. Machen also gained an interest in paddling sports while attending Auburn University and envisioned GadRock as a place to introduce the region to the joys of paddle sports.
Carrie Machen, co-owner of GadRock, a rock climbing and paddleboarding facility located on the banks of the Coosa River in Gadsden, is explaining the basics of paddleboarding to this newbie. The sun is finally peeking out from behind the clouds on a day that began with a storm producing sheets of rain of Old Testament proportions.Convinced that the weather is safe for a little paddleboarding, Machen continues her instructions. “Now the paddle. You want that blade to angle away from your body, you want one hand at the top of the handle, one halfway down the shaft,” she says.
“At first, I thought about kayaks but then I tried stand-up paddling for myself, and I loved it,” she adds. “There’s freedom in it. You can stand up or sit down on your boards and they’re lighter in weight than kayaks.” Machen went on to explain the many options in stand-up paddleboards, from entry-level recreational boards, competition boards, boards designed for fishing, and even inflatable boards which can be inflated and deflated quickly and are a cinch to travel with. “The inflatable paddleboards are very easy to transport. I’ve flown with mine before,” says Machen.
Readying adventurefor Launch
“I took a kayaking class at Auburn and kind of fell in love with paddling on the water. I’m not hardcore like a lot of people, but I do enjoy being out on the water,” Machen says.
“The most dangerous part of the handles is the ‘T’ part, so be sure that you’ve got a hand on that paddle at all times,” Machen explains, making a special point to emphasize that the upward thrust of the paddle as it moves through the water could force it to pop up and smack the rider in the chops if he/she isn’t careful. Unlikely to happen? Sure. Unpleasant when it does happen? Absolutely.“Thestroke is bending at the waist and thinking about pulling your body to your paddle. You want your paddle to be pretty straight,” Machen continues. “The paddle goes in as far as you can get with that stretch, bend at the waist, and it comes out at your feet. As you come back past your feet, you’re pushing the nose of the board into the water.”
Before there was a paddleboard, there was a vision
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Following a few more minutes of demonstration on dry land, it’s time to toss the paddleboards over and jump into the water. For the next hour, we paddle along the Coosa River, parallel to I-759, the laid-back gurgling of the water drowning out the traffic on the busy interstate.
Machen has been a certified paddleboard instructor for the past five years and enjoys introducing the sport to newcomers of all ages. While it may seem like a complicated activity to master, Machen says it’s quite simple once you get the hang of it. The most difficult aspects are learning to stand up on the board, which is optional by the way, and learning to climb back on the board when – not if – you fall into the water.
Maneuver Out on the water
“The Creeks are a lot of fun to explore,” she added. “Sometimes instead of going out to Neely Henry, which is fun to do, I like to go in the creeks that feed into Neely Henry and explore those. They are full of wildlife –herons, egrets, cormorants, turtles, bald eagles – and you’re able to get into some of the areas
opportunities for exploring the diverse and fascinating wildlife throughout the area.
“There are points along the trail in our area on Neely Henry and Logan Martin where there are islands in the water and you can camp,” Machen explained. “There’s a lot of boat traffic in some places, but if you stay close to the shore it’s not a big deal.
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46 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 A St. Clair News Aegis clipping shows various aspects after opening Crews by the hundreds showed up every day for work
late Faye
in her Kids Kastle Tshirt, worked the food tent
The Bivens,
Remember When –Remember When –Much like an armed force swiftly swooping in to save the day, this army of volunteers –2,000 of them – descended on a 3-acre patch of ground at Pell City Lakeside Park 21 years ago, building an entire playground in less than a week. Story by Carol Papps Photos submitted Kids Kastle – the kingdom an entire community built September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 47 News-Aegis clipping highlights movers and shakers
Lawyers, judges, bankers, clerks, factory workers, construction crewmen, hourly wage earners, parents, single people – they were all there, even the kids themselves. They were part of the force, armed with tools of the trade under the command of experienced contractors. Shift after shift all week long, they rolled up their sleeves and toiled until it was all done by Sunday afternoon. What rose from that patch of dirt was nothing short of a wonderland, a kid’s dream come true. There was a pirate ship, a swinging bridge, slides, swings, just about everything imaginable. And for 21 years, imaginations of generations of children ran unfettered in this magical place called Kids Kastle.
“I did about a year’s worth of research,” she recalled. She discussed prospects and plans with Leathers and Associates, a company out of New York that specialized in these projects.
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It all started months before when Elizabeth Bit Thomaston asked the pivotal question, ‘What if?’ She had visited Madison in North Alabama and saw a playground built by the community. She was so enamored with it, she wondered if it could happen in Pell City. It could. And it did. She was executive assistant to the Metro Bank vice president, the late Don Perry, at the time. She went to then-President Ray Cox, who also passed away several years ago, seeking his support. He told her if she would do the research and determine if the community would support, he would back her 100%.
Thomaston, with key help from now-retired Circuit Judge Bill Hereford, Michele Seay and Kay Adams, organized ‘the troops’ into committees – Public Relations, Tools, Food – about a dozen in all. There were captains commanding each. “To my mind, it was easily the best civic project I’ve ever been involved in,” said Hereford, a former mayor himself. “There were 2,000 volunteers. It was phenomenal,” Thomaston said.Businesses, individuals and organizations stepped forward with funding for various pieces of play equipment. Sponsored wooden pickets, bearing the names of families and children –even those who weren’t quite here yet, bordered the playground, significantly helping shoulder the cost. One picket bore the name “Baby Minor.” That would now be Abby Minor, the daughter of District Judge Robert and Christy Minor, a student at Auburn University. Christy was pregnant with her when the playground was being Thomastonplanned.canrelate. She was pregnant with Andrew, now 22, when she visited that Madison playground that sparked it all. Experience not required unless you were willingnesscaptainconstruction–justtoworkforthekids
“I felt like we could do it in Pell City. It’s the kind of community that would support it, that cared about kids.” She described that year of planning, strategizing, organizing and unleashing an army of volunteers marching toward a single goal as nearly a full-time job – all with the backing of Cox and Perry.The kids really designed it, she said. She and others went into every school asking students what they wanted. As the kids talked about their dream playground – pirate ships and castles –Leathers’ representatives were present to translate their imagination into a design.
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 49 He will join our team of dedicated healthcare providers and begin seeing patients September 1, 2022. • Residency, St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine • Doctor of Medicine, Cum Laude, St. George’s University School of Medicine Dr. Jackson will serve our community with the same compassion that guides healthcare at PCIFM.
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It was a legacy of love that lived on for more than two decades and now has new life thanks to the city and good corporate citizens making sure Kids Kastle remains central to countless childhood memories.
Many of those who played integral roles in its creation have since passed away, but Thomaston wanted to make sure they, too, are remembered. The money left in the original Kids Kastle account was donated in their memory to the city to help rebuild the park: Ray Cox, Don Perry, Ann Day and Bob Day, Curtis and Deanna Capps, Leo Lynch, Gene Morris, Judy Potter, Tim Sweezey, Faye Bivens, Doug Walker, Ed Pennington, Lance Stella, Frank Olson, Randy Mason, Forest Walls and Buddy Bowman. They, like so many others, gave of themselves because it was all about the kids. “It took us all – all of our families supporting us,” sheFormersaid.
To Robinson, the memory of it brings to mind an adage that suits the occasion like well-tailored clothing. It just fits.
Mayor Guin Robinson couldn’t agree more. “I have worked on a lot of community projects in my adult life, and I was proud to be a part of them. But this one had a special place all by itself,” he said with emotion evident in his voice as he recounted it. “It was a seminal moment in the history of our community. It was a coming together and becoming a part of something bigger than all of us. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere.”
It had been barely a month since terrorists crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania – a time of great tragedy for the country as a whole. Hope was a precious commodity in the days that followed the attack.ButPell City’s band of volunteers was determined hope would not be lost here at home. “The country was in turmoil,” Thomaston said. “Everybody was scared. We said let’s do this for the kids and show them all is not lost, that we see a future for our kids, hope for the future and they don’t have to be afraid.”
And a community coming together around a playground became the perfect pairing. “A playground is one of your first and lasting memories,” Robinson said. “The pickets the families purchased were so meaningful. The concept was brilliant. Everyone had a place at Kids Kastle. It was everyone’s equally.”
Time for work!
Robinson likened it to the early days of barn raising, where the whole community comes out to build their neighbor a barn. “The neighbor gets the barn, but what do you get?” It’s that community spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, expecting nothing in return. “It’s a reminder of why we lived there.”
“It was pretty amazing” – 2,000 volunteers, a $150,000-plus playground, generations of kids just being kids, letting their imaginations guide them in play, Thomaston said. “There’s never been a project like that in our community.
He talked of Thomaston’s vision and a community’s will to make it happen. “It’s part of Pell City’s DNA,” Robinson said. “Pell City really is a ‘can-do’ place. Everybody had their job, and no job was more important than any other job. I really can’t describe how special it was.”
All walks of life working side-by-side, reported for work on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with only one common purpose in mind – the kids. By Sunday, Oct. 21, they were holding an historic opening ceremony for the about-to-be-christened Kids Kastle.
“Who better to tell you what they want than kids? Artist Ann Day painted murals. Families with their own kids now would come back to the place they played as a child: the community-built Kids Kastle. When hands touch that, it becomes very personal.”
“Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless but because they’re priceless.” At the heart of the entire project was the people, theWhenvolunteers.officials and organizers worried whether enough workers would show up, “It grew each day,” he said. “Nothing ever wavered.” Inmates worked alongside bankers and lawyers – “there was pride on everyone’s face.” Calling it a “generational project,” Robinson spoke of its evolution over the years. First was letting the kids design it.
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Story by Eryn Ellard Photos by Graham Hadley ParkLakesideopensNewat
welcomeImpressivetonewKidsKastle
As an early August sun set on Lakeside Park, a new beginning officially rose for a 20-year-old landmark –the grand reopening of Kids Kastle. The project was first put into motion at the beginning of the year, and through months of collaboration and design work, along with long days in the triple digits by city employees, the new playground was ready – and so were hundreds of local children.PellCity Mayor Bill Pruitt gave the inaugural speech, saying that there were many in attendance who were kids back when the original Kids Kastle was built in the early 2000s. Now, those same children are all grown up and were there with their children.Seven-year-old Cam Williams cut the ribbon along with the mayor, and it was officially time to play. Several new features have been added to the park, including many new swings and rubber mulch walkways throughout, swings and features for disabled visitors, plus new slides. The layout and the “face” of the park remain the same. Pell City Parks and Recreation Director Bubba Edge said the city’s vision was to keep the original face of the park the same. “We wanted to keep the face of Kids Kastle the same as it has always been all these years,” Edge said. “It is something that all people recognize when they come to our city.” Edge noted that it was also important to keep elements of the old park the same because when people are looking to come to our city, one of the first things they look at is the city parks and things that are available for kids.
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New Kids Kastle just as much fun
KastleKids
With help from Cam Williams, Mayor Bill Pruitt cuts ribbon
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Pell City Councilman Jay Jenkins thanked all the employees who spent hours of their time, during inclement weather and in the blistering heat to get the project done on time. “Many of our employees were out here, often times when they probably shouldn’t have been, to make sure this thing came together,” Jenkins said.
hotdogs, pounds of popcorn and cold drinks for those in attendance with the police chief and fire chief manning the grill.
With ceremonial duties out of the way, speeches made and the ribbon cut, children rushed into their new playground, already making new memories at the new Kids Kastle.
Pell City resident Rachel White said it was such a special occasion for her and her 4-year-old twins. “I can remember coming here when I would summer with my grandparents,” White said. “Now we live here, and my girls will get to have great childhood memories here, too.”
Healing by the Waters Community rallies around neighbors in need Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Richard Rybka 56 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 Golf carts main mode of transportation to this church
Pastors Tommy Hebert and David Eason gather at the river
Meanwhile, Lake Church pastor Tommy Hebert, who lives just across the lake, also awoke unexpectedly that morning. He heard something and walked outside and along his deck. When he reached the outside corner, he saw the fire across the lake. He called 911, then grabbed his boots and shirt and jumped in his golf cart, racing toward the burning home. Seeing the Sanders family safely outside, he and another resident, a retired firefighter from Il linois, battled the flames with hoses until the fire department arrived.
Their mission is simple: Love God and love people. Members at Lake Church at Logan Landing Cabin and RV Resort in Alpine are living out this mission in their community by staying connected and looking for ways to love their neighbors.
Faith in action
Thedog.12-year-old dachshund, officially named Oreo, was an owner surrender they rescued a decade earlier. “Boss,” as they most often call him, was rescued that night for the second time. By daybreak, the Sanders’ had lost their home and everything in it. Immediately, Newt started calling for estimates to remove the mess. “I had checked to get prices on the clean-up, and it was over $10,000. Insurance wasn’t even going to cover half of that,” Newt explained.
Just before Labor Day one year ago, they had the opportunity to do that in a big way. It was in the early morning, way before dawn on Sept. 3 when resident Brenda Sanders was awakened. She thought she was dreaming, but it turns out the nightmare was real. The home she shared with her husband, Newt, was on fire. He had fallen asleep in his recliner, so she ran to wake him. Her eyes confessing the terror of that moment, she tells the story. “He told me to get my purse with the car keys so we could move the car. He said it was too late for the house. About that time, the fire came into the living room from the outside wall. We got outside, and I ran to my neighbor’s house and yelled for her to call 911.”
Love thy neighbor Neighbor Bob Thornton lives next door to the Sanders. He woke up that morning to the sound of an explosion. He got outside in time to see another neighbor going into the burning structure to get the Sand ers’
“Before I knew it, there were people everywhere picking things up and putting them in the dumpster. They were like ants everywhere.”
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Hebert, who works in construction, had called some contacts and The first visitor arrives and pulls his vehicle straight up to the lake. For the next 25 minutes, they parade in, each vehicle slowly pulling up and easing in next to the one before.They’re here for church, but no one gets out of their vehicles. At this church, there are no pews. Members participate in church from the golf carts that brought them here. There are no walls, no building to this church. There is something more – a solidarity of spirit and community that serves as their cornerstone.
“As soon as we got outside, we saw neighbors com ing to help,” says Brenda. “They were all there for us, holding us, crying with us and praying with us.” This wasn’t the first time the church had been there to help them through tragedy. They’d just buried their grown son one week earlier.
The church has no staff and no bills to pay. “No one takes a dime. Every dime goes back to help people,” says Tommy. “We pay medical bills, groceries, funeral expenses, utility bills. We’ve even replaced water heaters.”
Pastor David and his wife, Deborah, know that pain all too well. They lost their son in a car accident just over a year ago. The Lake Church covered them with meals and support. “Tommy had asked me if he could pray for us that Sunday in church. He was going up to pray, but got really quiet, then asked me to come up and lead us in prayer,” said pastor David. “Tommy apologized for putting me on the spot, but from that point on, we got even closer. Then one day a few weeks later, Tommy told me I’d be giving the message in a few weeks. I still get pretty nervous every time. I have this cross in my pocket that I’ve almost rubbed the words off.”
They like to have fun together, too. The board plans activities outside of Sunday morning church to help build relationships within the community. They do barbeques, potlucks, holiday gatherings and dinners at localChurchrestaurants.services are held every other Sunday at Lake Church. Many residents are members of other churches, many a fair distance away. Newt and Brenda Sanders drive 37 miles to Newsite Baptist Church in Stewartville on the Sundays that Lake Church is not open.Sandra and Mike Dupree moved here four months ago. They are members of a church in Sycamore, but love going to Lake Church in their golf cart.
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Mike and Brenda Gardner are seasonal residents and Newt and Brenda Sanders beam when they tell story of church’s efforts after fire Oreo homeoutsiderelaxesnew
“We had probably 20-25 people out here who came to help with demo,” says Tommy. “But it wasn’t just demo labor. Lake Church members brought food and cards. They listened and prayed.”
gotten dumpsters and debris-removal equipment brought in. He and co-pastor, David Eason, rallied the neighbors.
“The church is not about the building; it’s about the people,” echoes pastor Tommy. “Most of the people in this community are over 50 and on a fixed income. So, we just try to help people and lessen their financial burdens. We want to be the hands and feet of God.”
The two now share preaching duties.On this Sunday, the prayer concerns take 10 minutes, as David lists out each family who has had hard times this week or continues to need prayers. “It’s not about us or anything that we’re doing,” he says. “It’s about what God can do through us.”
Fostering fellowship
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Having church within a residential community is a different model, explains Tommy. “We live with our congregation. We don’t go home from our church. We live it. But we get blessed more than we bless others.”
Tommy and David hope to inspire other lakeside communities to start their own lake churches. “There are groups of people out at the lake enjoying it and partying pretty hard. Maybe they don’t have a church,” said Tommy. “Many times, people are at the lake on the weekends in the summer and miss church,” adds David. “They could get together and worship in their own community.”
“We just love people where they’re at,” emphasizes pastor Tommy. “Life is just messy.” He admits his own path to the pulpit took a rocky route.
The Lake Church family has continued to lift up and help the Sanders family in their rebuilding efforts. They don’t have an answer to what started the fire, but Newt was able to purchase a new cabin and have it moved to the old home’s location.Final work on the deck and interior painting has just been completed. Newt still has the invoice he received after the demolition was completed. Eyes welling up with tears, he proudly recites it from memory. “Paid in full by God.”
Pastor Tommy prepares for worship Sanders’
Having given his life to Christ at seven years old, he says life’s challenges led him to run from God when he was 26. He moved to Florida and fully embraced the surfer life, referring to himself as a “real beach dude, complete with earrings and ankleWhenbracelet.”hecame back to Alabama, he met pastor Danny Duvall at Christian Life Church and rededicated his life. Danny mentored him then and continues to encourage him today.“They’ve
live in Trussville when not on the lake. “We’re out on the lake pretty much the whole summer, and we didn’t have a church out here,” says Brenda. “I was excited when they started having services out here. It’s so nice to be able to come as you are. You don’t have to be fancy or look a certain way. We’re all on the same level. It’s more of a family.”
just shared the teaching and the leadership in such a humble way,” says pastor Danny. “It’s not about personality or brand building. It’s about the Lord and the community. It’s a model that I wish most churches could see.”
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1-888-565-0411 1-256-549-0351 GreaterGadsden.com If you live, work, play, or enjoy the lake, please consider joining the Neely Henry Lake Association and help protect and preserve this wonderful natural resource! NeelyHenryLakeAssociation.com Facebook.com/NeelyHenryLakeAssociation Helping you fund Hyour elping you fund your homeownership hdreams. omeownership dreams. Wendy WBaker endy Baker -NMLS #371630 2871 Acton Road Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 (205) 296-9979 wbaker@1stfed.com NMLS #410785
wo parks needed signs. Two brothers needed Eagle Scouts Service projects. It was a perfect match. Hunter Smith, 17, created a welcome sign at Lincoln’s Landing, while his brother, Allen Hill, also 17, created an informational sign at Jackson Shoals Park on Choccolocco Creek. Both members of Boy Scout Troop 137 of Lincoln, the brothers designed the signs, raised construction funds, built their signs and led in the installations. Both signs were installed in July. The Lincoln’s Landing sign simply says, “Welcome to Lincoln’s Landing,” and has a laser etching of a bass at the top. The Jackson Shoals sign gives information about plants and wildlife in the“Botharea.boys did all the planning and implementations on their projects,” says their Scoutmaster Darren Britton, who is also police chief of Lincoln. “They did the research, got the approvals, did the fundraising and provided the leadership to carry out the projects.”Smith says he came up with the idea for a new sign at Lincoln’s Landing after observing the inadequacy of the original sign, which was nothing more than a banner. His project required him to draw the sign and present the design to Scoutmaster Britton and the City of Lincoln for approval.
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EaglE ScouT SErvicE projEcTS
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“The 3-by-5-foot sign is made of 3/16th-inch steel,” Smith says. “After I designed what I wanted, I got with Park Director Les Robinson, who gave me the Lincoln’s Landing logo. I sent that logo, along with my design, to Laser Cut Designs in Birmingham, and they cut it.”
Scouts gather at new sign
Evolve into signs for lake parks
Hunter Smith and Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 63 Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Graham SubmittedHadleyphotos
64 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Allen Hill went through the same process as Hunter Smith to construct the sign at Jackson Park. That one is made of vinyl-coated aluminum, framed in wood with a metal roof, and measures 4 by 4 feet. It cost $625 to build. Hill and Smith secured funds from most of the same donors: Laser Cut Designs of Birmingham, Griffin Laser Engraving of Lincoln, Midway Auto of Lincoln, Home Depot of Pell City and Lincoln Hardware. In addition, Lincoln Park Director Les Robinson contributed to Smith’s project, and Eastman Chemicals of Anniston bought the initial supplies for Hill’s project.“Mine was a personal donation, the park didn’t contribute anything,” Robinson says of Smith’s $450 Lincoln’s Landing sign. “Hunter and the Scouts who helped him install the sign did outstanding work, and I’m glad it turned out so well. Maybe we can get together with those guys on another project another day.”Lincoln
Tom Martin, the grandfather who raised both boys, is a do-it-yourselfer who guided them along in the work. “He did none of the work but made sure we did everything right and didn’t mess up,” Smith says.
Mayor Lew Watson says the Lincoln’s Landing sign reflects the time and quality Smith put into them. “It’s wonderful,” Watson says. “Now we have a professional-looking sign. People have seen it and commented on how nice it is. It’s a welcome addition.”
Fellow Scouts Hunter Smiley, Christian Hunt and Riley Alvein helped with the construction of both projects, while former Eagle Scout Jacob Turner helped the boys get together the paperwork they need to process in order to become Eagle Scouts. Hill and Smith will be the 42nd and 43rd Eagle Scouts respectively, from Troop 137.
“The final result is not what these projects are about,” says Chief Britton, who has been scoutmaster of the troop since 2005. “The main part is the leadership involved in making it happen. Other than minimal adult advisement, they did everything.”
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RETURNSFESTIVALMUSIC SEPTLAKESIDEPARKON24THStory by Eryn Ellard Submitted photos The Second Annual Lakeside Live music festival will be headed to Lakeside Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m., bringing something for all ages – everything from cornhole to arts and crafts, and of course, enough live music for all the family to enjoy.Andadmission is free courtesy of Lakeside Live’s sponsors. 66 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September & October 2022 Live entertainment Competition Car show
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Event organizer Casey Cambron, said the proceeds from the event will go to local fire and police departments, as well as other local charities. He had high praise for the sponsors of Lakeside Live without whom this free, family event would not be possible. They, in turn, make it possible for proceeds to be reinvested in the community.Cambron’s passion for the festival dates back to childhood. His first music festival he attended as a child in Georgia, he fell in love with. “I loved the event, loved the atmosphere, and loved that these events give back to their communities. I could not wait to bring that here.”
“Lakeside Live is all about bringing people together. There will be something for everyone, young to old, and everything in between,” Cambron said. The main headliner of the show is Sweet Tea Trio, who will be performing at 6:30 that evening. This band plays mostly country music. Other bands that will be showcased are St. Clair County’s own – the WingNuts, Kudzu, Deputy 5, Stillbroke and the Leverton Brothers.
68 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 Combat Park Kids’ fun Targets
Lakeside Live will be hosting seven bands, all playing something for everyone’s taste –country to rock to oldies and everything in between. There will also be a classic car show for much of the day. Food trucks, serving everything from loaded nachos to sweet treats will also be taking care of those in attendance.
Alicia Bowers, a local resident who attended the festival last year said that she and her children really enjoyed it and cannot wait to see it again.“Itis hard to find things sometimes that the entire family enjoys. Most of the time it is only my big kids, or my smaller children that enjoy something I plan for us to do as a family,” Bowers said. “But the event is safe, and fun for all. We just really enjoyed ourselves.”
Tug of War Corn hole tourney More fun Battle of the Badges
“Everyone loves Sweet Tea Trio,” Cambron said. “They have an amazing sound and are always a great crowd pleaser, but all of our bands are extraordinarily talented and will bring a great atmosphere to the show.”
Other events happening at the show will include children’s axe throwing (with plastic equipment, of course), a maze for children and a cornhole tournament which is set to have $2,000 in winnings.Anotherevent Cambron said will be fun to see is a race called, “Battle of the Badges.” This is a competition between local policemen and firefighters to include a Tug-of-War contest, a Ski Walk challenge and a relay race, including sprints and wall climbing.
Taste of the Lake LOCAL JOE’S TRADING POST THE BEST BBQ AROUND Smoked meats of all kind Rainbow City 4967 Rainbow Dr. (256) 438-5179 Gadsden The GadsdenAlleyMall Southside 1640 Hwy 77 (256) 485-1411
January and February 2022Logan Martin & Neely Henry | May-June 2021 RESTAURANT DIRECTORY
When: Every Monday during summer months, 7 a.m. to noon Where: Hokes Bluff City Park, 5833 Gilliand St., Hokes Bluff Why: Find fresh produce from local growers.
Why: Enjoy music and more at Horse Pens 40 noted festival. More information at HP40.com
What: Leeds Farmers’ Market
Who: Horse Pens 40 Bluegrass and Arts Festival
What: St. Clair Farmers’ Market When: Every Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. Where: Avondale Walking Track, Cogswell Avenue, Pell City Why: Find local produce at monthly farmers’ market. Who: Farmers selling produce What: Moody Farmer’s Market
Who: Southside Farmer’s Market
What: Rainbow City Farmer’s Market
Who: Farmer’s Market
What: Glencoe Farmer’s Market
Who: Springville Library Writers’ Group
Who: Farmers selling produce
When: Every Tuesday through September, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Glencoe Police Department, 201 Chastain Boulevard, Glencoe Why: Find fresh produce from local growers. Contact tashiablackerby@cityofglencoe.net
Who: Farmers selling produce
When: Every Thursday through September 29, noon to 5 p.m. Where: 3rd Street NW and 5th Avenue NW, Attalla Why: Find fresh produce from local growers.
events
What: Farmer’s market at Southside City Hall When: Every Thursday through October Where: City Hall, 2255 Highway 77, Southside Why: Locally grown fresh produce. Who: Farmer’s Market
72 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 Take 5 Community Events September 7 to November 11th LakeLife 24/7 events compiled by Jackie Romine Walburn
What: Attalla Farmer’s Market
Who: Farmer’s Market
.
What: Gather for music, food trucks and games at First Saturday at Carver Square
SEPTEMBER -
What: Two-day bluegrass and arts fest in Steele When: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2 and 3 Where: Horse Pens 40, 3525 County Road 42, Steele
Who: Farmer’s Market
What: Hokes Bluff Farmer’s Market
When: Every Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m. Where: Downtown Leeds What: Find fresh local produce.
Who: First Saturday at Carver Square
What: Monthly support group, meeting every first Saturday When: September 3, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: Springville Library, 6315 U.S. 11, Springville Why: All writers age 18+ are invited.
Why: Find fresh produce from local growers.
When: Every Monday and Wednesday through September, 7 a.m. to noon. Where: Rainbow City Municipal City Parking Lot, 3700 Rainbow Drive, Gadsden
When: Every Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Where: Pavilion at Moody Park Why: Find local produce at weekly farmers’ market.
Submit to: Events@LakeLife247Magazine.com
Why: Free concert featuring TYME, a band specializing in 60s and 70s classic rock.
Where:p.m. Carver Square, Tuscaloosa Avenue, Gadsden
Who: Summer Concert Series at the Amp
Who: Downtown Gadsden Inc.
What: First Friday Downtown, family fun with live music, classic cars, food vendors plus dining and shopping at your favorite downtown places.
Who: Anniston Museums and Gardens
Why: Free concert. Who: College of Phoenix Rising
What: 10th annual Casting for Cancer Bass Tournament, a benefit for funds to help men of the community battling prostate or testicular cancer. When: Saturday, Sept. 3, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Coosa Landing, 200 Lake St., Gadsden
When: Friday, September 2, 6 to 9 p.m. Why: Live music throughout downtown.
Why: $15,000 payout guaranteed. $150 registration per two-person boat; $175 day of event; $25 for big bass and small bass. More information at 256-413-3215 or print registration forms at ManUpGadsden.com.
What: Performance by TYME, a group dedicated to 60s and 70s classic rock When: Friday, Sept. 2, 9 to 11 p.m.
When: Sept, 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Every Friday evening
Where: Greensport Marina and RV Park, Ashville Why: Family friendly bingo. Bring your owns snacks, drinks, and laughter! For those that like a bit more excitement, join in the cash pot for $1/card or 3 cards for $5.
What: Vices and Virtues: Wrath vs. Patience
Where: Mort Glosser Amphitheatre
Who: First Saturday at Carver Square What: Gather for music, food trucks and games at First Saturday at Carver Square
When: First Saturdays in the summer. Sept. 3, 5 to 9 p.m. Where: Carver Square, Tuscaloosa Avenue, Gadsden Why: Join friends and neighbors at this monthly summertime event. Who: Man Up Gadsden
Where: Berman Museum
What: Sundays at Berman – Codes and Ciphers
Who: Bingo at Greensport
What: Summer Concert Series at the Amp When, Friday, September 2, 9 to 11 p.m.
What: Monthly support group, meeting every first Saturday When: September 3, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: Springville Library, 6315 U.S. 11, Springville Why: All writers age 18+ are invited.
Why: Join educational interpreters to learn about different codes and ciphers used throughout history. Then spend some time writing and deciphering messages. Included in museum admission and free to members.
Who: Springville Library Writers’ Group
What: Greensport BINGO night
What: Live at Logan Martin sponsored by AmFirst Federal Credit Union. When: Sunday, Sept. 4 Where: Robinson Law Firm Stage at the Pell City Sports Complex, Stemley Bridge Road, Pell City Why: Third annual outdoor concert features the Black Jacket Symphony performing the Eagles’ “Hotel California” – plus a full set of your
When: First Saturdays in the summer; Sept. 3, 5 to 9
Why: Expect competitions in archery, live weapons, fighting, fencing, and siege, plus children’s activities, A&S competitions, classes and more at this public-included event. Feast on Saturday and Sunday. Registration: $30 for adult non-member, $25 for adult member, $20 for non-member daytrip, $15 per day for member daytrip. Children 17 and under free.
When: Each Sunday in September, 2 to 4 p.m.
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 73
Who: Downtown Gadsden Inc.
Why: Join friends and neighbors at this monthly summertime event.
Where: Downtown Gadsden
Where: Mort Glosser Amphitheater
When: Sept. 2-16, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Etowah County Fairgrounds, 31 Griffin Street SE, Attalla
Who: Black Jacket Symphony
Who: Anniston Museum of Natural History
Why: Each month at Saturday Alive!, explore a new topic and meet several of the museum’s animal ambassadors. Included with museum admission and free to members.
What: Award-winning bluegrass gospel group the Isaacs perform When: Friday, September 9, 7 p.m. Where: Historic Ritz Theatre, 115 Court Square N, Talladega Why: Grammy nominated family band. All seats $28. ritztalladega.showare.com
When: Sept. 10, 8 a.m. to noon Where: Etowah County Fairgrounds
Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022 favorite Eagles hits. Come close out summer with live music, food and drinks on the shores of Lake Logan Martin.
Who: Back Forty Beer Company, Gadsden What: Beer and Hymns When: Sept. 9, 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Back Forty Beer Company Why: Sing hymns with friends and enjoy beer and food. It’s All Requests. Three sets of six songs, with 15-minute breaks.
Who: Downtown Pell City What: Third Thursdays When: September 15, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; every third Thursday Where: Downtown Pell City Why: Enjoy extras downtown every third Thursday. Who: Theatre of Gadsden What: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof When: Sept. 16-18 and Sept. 23-25; 7 to 9 p.m. 2 p.m. on Sundays. Where: Ritz Theatre, 310 Wall St., Gadsden Why: Local production of Tennessee Williams classic. Tickets $15-$20.
What: Munford in Talladega County, founded in 2002, celebrates its birthday with family event. When: Sept. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Who: Gadsden Amateur Radio Club
Why: Entry fee $5 for 10 and older. Licensing exams on location by the local First United Methodist Church in Attalla and members of the WCARS VEC and Gadsden ARC group. Please contact Kip Williams, KJ4FHF (VE Lead) at KJ4FHF@gmail.com for inquiries.
What: Gadsden Hamfest
Who: Town of Munford 20th Birthday Celebration
Why: Celebration includes a Car/Truck/Tractor Show, live music, Munford historian speakers, a pet show, dunking booth, bouncy house and food and craft vendors.
What: Saturday Alive! When: Monthly event, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m. Where: Learning Lodge at Berman Museum and AM&G
Who: Gadsden Parks and Recreation and Noccalula Falls Park What: Art on the Rocks, an arts and crafts show When: Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Noccalula Falls Park Why: Arts and crafts. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for kids/seniors/military. If you are interested in being a vendor or exhibitor, please send us a private message or email cheryl@greatergadsden com. Park season passes will be accepted. Pets are not allowed.
Who: The Isaacs at the Historic Ritz Theatre
Who: Sand Mountain Corn Maze
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What: Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays through Nov. 1. Where: Sand Mountain Corn Maze, 8420 Cox Gap Road, Sardis City Why: Pumpkins and more. Admission $1 to $30. Who: Gadsden Museum of Arts What: 2022 Advancing Women to the Top Conference When: September 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Gadsden Museum of Art Why: A day full of workshops, speakers and programs designed especially for women aspiring to leadership. $75 per person; sponsorships available at $200. Who: Talladega Classic Car Club What: Classic Car Cruise-In When: Saturday, September 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Where: Classic Toys at 515 East Battle St., Talladega Why: Classic cars and trucks cruise in every 4th Saturday.
Where: Munford Town Hall and Grounds
Proudly serving Alabama communities in Pell City, Ragland, Odenville, Branchville, Cropwell, Alpine and Vincent. 2206 Martin St S Pell City, AL 35128-2356 Phone (205) 884-3470 (205) 473-9080 Fax (866) 666-8481 x MARKSMANSHIP PARK TALLADEGACMPThe Most Technologically Advanced Marksmanship Park in America Learn Safe Firearms Handling from the Experts! 4387 Turner Mill Road cmptalladega@TheCMP.orgwww.TheCMP.orgTalladega256.474.4408ext.460 The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park is a 500 acre facility open to the public that welcomes families, indviduals, clubs and organizations to learn, practice and compete! Pistol Instruction Shotgun Rifle3D Archery
Who: Forrest Cemetery preservation group What: A Walk Through Time When: Sunday, October 16, 2 to 5 p.m. Where: Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden. Parking is at the old Gadsden High School at Walnut and S 12th Street. Why: City trollies will transport patrons back in time to the cemetery to stroll at their leisure. Modern citizens dressed in period clothing portray some of Gadsden’s most interesting historic figures. No admission fee but donations all go toward the preservation of the cemetery.
Who: Gadsden Latin Festival
Who: Riverfest at River Rocks
What: 19th Annual Oktoberfest
Who: City of Moody
Who: Smith Tomato
What: Aviation Career Day When: October 8 Where: Pell City Airport Why: Learn about aviation career opportunities, view warbird aerial displays, walk through static aircraft displays, experience a helicopter ride in an UH-1 Huey. Free pancake breakfast and hot dog lunch for all.
Who: Hanger Party with the WingNuts
What: 6th Annual Fall on the Farm When: October 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Smith Tomato, 4575 Loop Road, Steele Why: Free family event with more than 80 food and arts and crafts vendors, free bounce house for children, live music and free face painting. Fun photo props.
When: October 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Moody City Park Why: Enjoy live entertainment, a mascot challenge, pony rides, arts and crats, kid activities and game, a dog pageant and car show.
Who: Belleview Baptist Church and Etowah Baptist Mission Center What: Run for Glory 5K When: October 1, 8 to 11 a.m. Where: Set atop beautiful Noccalula Mountain. All proceeds benefit the Etowah Baptist Mission Center. Why: All proceeds benefit Etowah Baptist Mission Center, a nonprofit that offers services to those in need in our community.
76 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
What: 12th Annual Cruisin’ for a Miracle Car Show When: October 1, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Moody City Park Why: The nonprofit car show benefits the Moody Miracle League, in conjunction with Moody’s Oktoberfest.
What: An all-day event that will have a market place filled with Latin vendors, free dance classes and more. When: October 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Venue at Coosa Landing, Gadsden Why: Cultural presentations, food trucks, inflatables and concerts featuring Willie Ziavino and C.O.T Band. $10 admission.
OCTOBER -
What: Concert and celebration
When: October 1, 1 to 10 p.m. Where: River Rocks, Gadsden Why: Live music from Drake White and Anderson East, with Kasey Tyndall. $35 admission. Tailgate area with the football games showing; games for kids and food trucks.
Who: Moody Miracle League supporters
Who: Pell City Aviation
What: The Wingnuts play to benefit scholarship foundation When: October 8, 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Pell City Airport Hanger 430 Why: The WingNuts top off Aviation Career Day with a hangar party concert to benefit the Sloan Harmon Scholarship Foundation. Tickets are $10.00 per person and are available in advance at the airport office or at the gate. Who: Weiss Lake Antique Power Association and the City of Hokes Bluff What: Allis-Chalmers G Tractor Show When: October 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Hokes Bluff City Park Why: See Allis-Chalmers and John Deere tractors. Admission $5.
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78 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
Who: 9th POWWOWNoccalulaAnnual
Who: Attalla Heritage Day What: Music, rides, giveaways
What: 2nd Annual Alabama Wine Festival
What: 2nd Annual Halloween Art Show
Who: Pumpkins in the Plaza
Who: Odenville Chamber of Commerce
Who: Theatre of Gadsden What: White Plains, Blue Mountain, a play When: October 28, 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Ritz Theatre, 310 Wall St., Gadsden Why: A new play written by Donna and William Thornton set in Alabama in 1959. Tickets $15 to $20.
When: October 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Downtown Attalla, 4th Street NW Why: Two stages of live music, rides for kids, a car show, $1,000 money tree.
Who: Rustik Bucket What: Rustik Bucket Vintage Market When: Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Venue at Coosa Landing, Gadsden Why: Do you like chippy, vintage, painted, primitive, handmade, art, clothing, jewelry, sweets, farmhouse-inspired, boho, traditional, food? Then you’ll LOVE Rustik Bucket Vintage Market. $5 admission for 12 and older.
Who: Wills Creek Winery and Vineyards
When: October 15 and 16, noon to 4 p.m. Where: Wills Creek Winery, Duck Springs Road, Attalla Why: Wine tasting and appreciation with more than a dozen wineries expected to participate. Tickets: Advance tickets, one day $40 for Saturday, one day $50 for Sunday, two day $60. On-line advance ticket sales end October 13. Tickets at the gate are $50 a person for one day and $70 a person for two-days. Designated driver tickets are available for $10 a person, includes $10 food voucher.
What: Celebration of Native
When: October 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden Why: Support Native American vendors and artists. Admission $8 for adults; $15 for family (limit of 5 members), $3 for ages 6-14 and 65+ and free for military members, first responders, EMTs, nurses and dancers.
What: 4th Annual Odenville Car Show
When: October 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: St. Clair County High School, 16700 U.S., Highway 411, Odenville Why: Cars, trucks and bikes … oh my! Join the Odenville Chamber of Commerce for the 4th annual show with food trucks, vendor booths, 50/50 raffle, live and silent auction and best of show awards.
GOOGLE IMAGES
Who:IMAGESMystical Art Show at Little Tree Art
When: Saturday, October 22, 6 p.m. Where: Little Tree Art, 20 Court Street East, Ashville Why: Wear your costumes and come out to see amazing art and art contests. Candy and refreshments will be served.
What: 1st Annual Fall Festival in Ashville When: Saturday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Ashville Plaza, 37177 U.S. Highway 231, Ashville Why: Games, bounce house, vendors, food trucks, face painting, maze and pumpkin carving contest.
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NOVEMBERWho: City of Ashville What: Bicentennial celebration When: Nov. 5, 9 a.m. Where: Ashville Why: Help the town and citizens of Ashville celebrate 200 years as a township. Who: KCBS and Smithfield What: 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbecue Competition When: Nov. 11-13 Where: Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden Why: Three full day of events including two days of contests. Annual banquet on Friday night.
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The word, “annual,” is key. The Yukon 1,000 may be longer, but it occurs every other year.
The Coosa River, along with its companion Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes, is a key stretch of the course. This year’s race is set for Oct. 1-11.
Paddlers compete in three divisions: male solo, female solo and two-person team. Racers can use kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards interchangeably.Thereareintangibles that have made the race so popular for paddle fans. Each year, spectator numbers grow.
“No. 1, people in this state are always supportive
So it is for The Great Alabama 650. It is the world’s longest annual paddle race at 650 miles over 10 days, attracting an international field of 20. It is a celebration of Alabama’s waterways and the wonder of the human spirit.
Story byPaul South Submitted and Archive photos
While boos and razzing may be college football and NASCAR cultural commonalities, a discouraging word is never heard in this under-the radar-butgrowing competition.
Therecompletely.”are20paddle races across the globe that are designated as qualifying races for the Great Alabama 650. Racers have to compete in one of those events in the past five years in order to take on Alabama’s rivers. The ability to complete those races is an indicator of a paddler’s ability to finish in Alabama.
Alabama’s most grueling sporting event is longer than the big races at Talladega and takes more time to win than the Iron Bowl.
PADDLING650TOWARDOCTOBERRETURN 82 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | September and October 2022
The Great Alabama 650 is the Iron Bowl, Talladega 500 and marathons all rolled into one 10-day event, the world’s longest annual paddle race.
As for The Great Alabama 650, the race course runs from Weiss Lake in Northeast Alabama to Fort Morgan on the Gulf Coast.
“Immediately, once the race starts, no one is really able to see each other, so we were able to put it on when all the other races were having to postpone or cancel
ALABAMA
The small field – and the built-in social distancing of the event – allowed the race to carry on in the dark days of the coronavirus and its variants, Wingo says.
“I always feel really confident that once they finish one of these qualifiers, they have a decent idea of what they’re going to experience in this race,” Wingo says.The event showcases the Alabama Scenic River Trail, the latest chapter in the state’s love affair with its rivers, from the Tennessee to the Tensaw, the Coosa to the Cahaba. As every Alabamian of a certain age might recall, Alabama’s rivers played a key role in the state song written by social reformer Julia Tutwiler.
Last year the team of Paul Cox and Joe Mann shattered event records, finishing the race in four days, 17 hours and eight minutes. Salli (cq) O’Donnell won the women’s solo competition with a time of four days, 22 hours and 39 minutes.
Birmingham native Greg Wingo has been race director of the blossoming event since its inception in 2019. The event may have been one of the few international sporting events not hampered by the pandemic. In its brief history, paddlers have come from the United States, Canada and Europe.
Its competitors toil, sometimes night and day, in all kinds of weather, from waters coursing through the Appalachian foothills to Mobile Bay. In some stretches, the only spectators may be a leaping largemouth bass, a great blue heron or the occasional trail angel, good Samaritan volunteers along the course who offer help, water, food and cheers.
“From Northport, Ala., to Norway, you can be involved in The Great Alabama 650,” Howell says.
So, racers that come to do this race find out pretty quickly … there’s no easy gimme to this race … It’s a vastly more different race than any in the world. No other race can give you all the things this race has.”
September and October 2022 | Logan Martin & Neely Henry LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE 83
Paddleboarder
The race itself – as it relates to the competitors – is unique, and not only because of the distance.
He adds, “In the last few years, once people started to realize it was happening, it did start to snowball and grow, especially in the first third of the race when you’re going through some major population bases on the Coosa. There’s just a huge turnout year after year along the different lakes.”
Wingo sums up the race and its athletes. “There is a section of endurance athletes that thrive on events like this.”
On the Coosa, Gadsden’s Riverwalk near Buffalo Wild Wings is a great spot for spectators, and the Alabama Power-built park near Logan Martin Dam is a portage, also a great spot. Area portages are at mile 88 of the race on Neely Henry and mile 135 on Logan Martin.
Keeping momentumup
“There are elements of this race that don’t exist anywhere else. And so, the racers themselves will talk very positively about the experience of being in Alabama, and I think the more that people who live here hear that, they get more excited about it … That has really helped it grow and grow.”
For more information on The Great Alabama 650, go to alabamascenicrivertrail.com
Fans can also follow the race – and racers – on its website, that has drawn more than a million hits, many of them from schoolchildren who follow their favorites through tracking devices on the racers, Alabama Scenic River Trail Board President Sam Howell says.
Another feature: Paddlers encounter every type of water, from calm Coosa waters to whitewater near Wetumpka. There’s tidal water on the coast and bay water. Competitors are allowed to change boats depending on the water. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, they never know what they’re going to get, “About 85% of this race is flat water, with essentially no flow whatsoever. When the racers come to do this race, they’re not getting the assistance of the river flowing at four or five mph to give them a break and allow them to be able to move. If they stop paddling, they stop moving. And in a race that lasts up to 10 days, no movement means lost time. Very few races in the world are of such duration.
Tandem
“We have an amazing group of people along the river that want to be out there throwing competitors a banana or a beer or whatever … That’s another thing that truly makes us unique,” Wingo says. And as for grit, consider Texan Martha Avila Adame. She is a breast cancer survivor who competed in last year’s race, even without a lateral muscle in her back, a pivotal body part for any paddler.Coxand
And Alabama Scenic River Trail Communications Director Laura Gaddy remembered her post-race encounter with Floridian Salli O’Donnell, the women’s solo winner who has developed a bit of a fan base at the 650. Where the thumb met the palm of one of O’ Donnell’s hands, Gaddy noticed a battle scar – a blister the size of a half-dollar.
“Trail angels” pitch in to help competitors at portages along the route, fans cheer and paddlers push through the changing waters, often going days without sleep.
of people that come into their state to experience it, whether they are coming here to support the World Games … or whether they’re coming here for Talladega, or coming here for a football game,” Wingo says. “Whatever it is – I guess the easy answer is Southern hospitality – there’s just something about the people who get excited when people visit this state and are here to enjoy it.”
Mann slept a total of six hours on the way to their 2021 tandem win.
But The Great Alabama 650, like every other endurance race, has more than its share of grit and goodness.
THECATCHIN’COOSA
by Zeke Gossett Photos submitted Logan Martin A
s we move into the fall of year, there will be a lot of changes taking place day to day on the Coosa River. As the days shorten, and those cool, autumn nights start to roll in, the fish begin to make their moves.Acouple of things start to happen. First, the shad begin migrating into creeks and fish will follow them. Second, a lot of schooling action is set in motion during these two months due to the shad being up near the surface most of the time.
84 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | Sept & Oct 2022
Moreover, another phenomenon will begin. The fall turnover will usually finish during this time period. With all of these factors to consider, this is how I approach fishing on Logan Martin. Topwater baits become a staple in my arsenal this time of year. Whether it’s a buzzbait, walking style topwater bait or frog – I use them all at some point throughout a day of fishing Logan Martin. Typically, topwater baits work best in low light conditions, such as cloudy days or early in the morning. I also look for schooling fish pushing bait. When I locate schooling fish, I will use a walking style topwater bait to get these fish to bite. This style of topwater fishing is awesome to use in these conditions because it allows me to fish fast and make long casts in case fish start schooling far away from me. I also like to fish seawalls and grass this time will be a lot of changes taking place day to day on the Coosa River. As the days shorten, and those cool, autumn nights start to roll in, the fish begin to make their moves.Acouple of things start to happen. First, the shad begin migrating into creeks and fish will follow them. Second, a lot of schooling action is set in motion during these two months due to the shad being up near the surface most of the time. Moreover, another phenomenon will begin. The fall turnover will usually finish during this time period. With all of these factors to consider, this is how I approach fishing on Logan Martin. Topwater baits become a staple in my arsenal this time of year. Whether it’s a buzzbait, walking style topwater bait or frog – I use them all at some point throughout a day of fishing Logan Martin. Typically, topwater baits work best in low light conditions, such as cloudy days or early in the morning. I also look for schooling fish pushing bait. When I locate schooling fish, I will use a walking style topwater bait to get these fish to bite. This style of topwater fishing is awesome to use in these conditions because it allows me to fish fast and make long casts in case fish start schooling far away from me. I also like to fish seawalls and grass this time of year especially if Zeke gets what he goes after
Fishingstructurearound Along the bank
86 LAKELIFE 24/7 MAGAZINE Logan Martin & Neely Henry | Sept & Oct 2022September & October 2022
The main types of cover I focus on in the creeks are grass, wood and rocks. I normally focus on channel swing banks as well. This allows fish to use every bit of the water column if they choose to. They can either stay shallow or move deeper if they want to do so.
The fall turnover is usually right around the corner or is already happening at this point. What that means is the oxygen levels in deeper water are beginning to get depleted. These two factors cause the shallow water areas to become more active with baitfish, which in turn draws the bass in to feed on them.
. Follow him on @zekegossettfishingFacebook:
there is a little wind blowing on it. One factor that we need to consider is the crazy Alabama weather. It can still be scorching hot andMymuggy.favorite way to approach these kinds of days is to fish deeper and main river docks. I feel like the fish feel more comfortable with this type of cover due to the fact they can move up and down the water column easier. If the fish are shallow, they will hang closer to the back of the docks, but some days they tend to be out on the end docks. It just varies day to day. My favorite bait to fish during these conditions is a finesse jig in any crawfish color. When I fish the back of a dock, I focus on fishing my bait on the bottom. When I fish the end of a dock in the deeper water, I really like to let the jig freefall right beside the post of the docks and the fish usually will bite before it ever hits the bottom.Trythese tips for some early fall-time fishing on Logan Martin.
A few baits I like to try in these areas are a buzzbait, finesse jig or squarebill crankbait. These three baits give me options throughout the water column. If it is cloudy and windy, I tend to reach for the buzzbait and cover a lot of water. If it’s more of a slick, calm, sunny day, I like to pitch and flip the jig around wood and grass. The squarebill crankbait allows me to cover a ton of water in order to find some active fish. Give these tips a try on Neely Henry and hopefully, you’ll have some successful early fall fishing.
Editor’s Note: Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide.
Neely Henry Bass fishing at Neely Henry can become strange during these two months. After the first few cool nights, the fish will start feeding up for the winter. I really like to focus on the backs of creeks when this happens. First, you want to make sure there are baitfish that have moved into these areas. Most of the time the baitfish will be up near the surface of the water column, and you can see them flickering on top. Make sure you keep an eye open for schooling fish in this scenario as well.
Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com
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