2018 July/August Franklin Living

July/August 2018 Vol. 8 Issue No. 4

A place of refuge Bedfords cultivate beautiful home

Thank You! ... To the men and women whose military service and sacrifices have protected our nation for generations.

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Interim Regional Publisher DANIEL HOLMES Managing Editor ALISON JAMES Staff Writer LAUREN WESTER

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Cooking with Sam

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A place of refuge

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Down to an art

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Looking Back

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What’s Happening

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Brewing business

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Honor, courage, commitment

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Faces of Franklin County

Franklin Living is published bi-monthly

by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2018 by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc.

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Money Matters

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Faith

P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com info@franklincountytimes.com

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Health and Wellness

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Faces of Franklin County

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What’s Hot

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Marketplace

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Why I Love Franklin County

Sales PEGGY HYDE AMARENT SPARKS TORI WAITS Contributors SAM WARF EMILY MAYS TRAE DURDEN SHERRY JOLLEY ERICA SPARKS Photography CHRISTOPHER WEBB CORTNEY GREEN Customer Service SOMMER MORRIS ____________________

ON THE COVER: Roger and Maudie Bedford have made their home a place where they can enjoy the outdoors.

To read their story, turn to page 7.

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FROM THE EDITOR

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ithin these pages we bring you the results of several months’ work, and if I do say so myself, I think it’s one of our best issues yet.

In this edition of Franklin Living, meet Byron Cheek, the man bringing a little extra caffeine – plus plenty of other yummy treats – to Franklin County with The Grind coffee shop. This new business has already attracted the attention of lots of coffee-lovers since it opened in May, myself included.

For a taste of pastoral bliss, you’ll want to read the story of Roger and Maudie Bedford’s Russellville home.

From their pet ducks, to their bountiful garden, to quiet evenings spent enjoying the lake, the Bedfords have truly defined their idea of rest and relaxation.

We couldn’t let summer go by without sharing the story of another Franklin County veteran. Phil Campbell’s James Sparks shares his story of service in the United States Navy.

And with the Franklin County Watermelon Festival fast approaching, we think you’ll really enjoy seeing what one man can do with these fruits. Christopher Webb has taken creativity to a whole new level with his unique hobby.

In addition, we welcome a new columnist to our ranks in this edition. Emily Mays is giving it to us straight with some good financial advice. Check out her column in each issue going forward to get your money matters in order.

We have all these juicy features for you in Franklin Living, not to mention our regular content in each issue, like Looking Back, Cooking with Sam, What’s Happening and Why I Love Franklin County. We hope you savor reading these stories as much as we have enjoyed putting them together.

Alison James

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FOOD

Cooking with Sam Recipes by SAM WARF

White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes Âź cup butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon thyme 3 cups 2% milk 10 3/4 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted 1 cup sour cream 8 cups thinly-sliced peeled potatoes 3.5 cups cooked cubed ham 2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large saucepan, heat the butter at medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until tender.

Stir in flour and seasonings until blended. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir two minutes or until thickened, then stir in soup.

Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream.

In a greased 13x9-inch baking dish, layer half of each of the following: potatoes, ham, cheese and sauce.

Repeat layers.

Bake covered for 30 minutes then bake uncovered 40-50 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender.

Avocado Dip

Texas Taco Platter 1 large onion, chopped 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained 12 oz. can tomato paste 15 oz. can tomato puree 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoons ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons salt 2 cans ranch-style beans pinto beans in seasoned tomato sauce 10.5 oz. package of corn chips 2 cups of cooked rice Toppings: 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 diced medium onion;

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1 medium head iceberg lettuce, shredded; 4 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1 can of ripe olives, sliced and drained; and 1 cup picante sauce In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.

Drain and add next seven ingredients.

Simmer 1.5 hours.

Add beans and heat through. On platter, layer corn chips, rice, meat mixture, cheese, onion, lettuce, tomatoes and olives. Serve with picante sauce if desired.

3 medium ripe avocados, peeled 1 cup mayonnaise 1 chopped onion 1 chopped banana pepper 1 tablespoon minced picked hot cherry pepper 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon seasoned salt 1 cup tomatoes, chopped very fine In a small bowl, mash avocados and then stir in mayonnaise, onion, pepper and seasoning. Chill until serving. Serve with vegetables or chips.

PHOTO CREDITS: Taste of Home, Feed Feed and Life in the Lofthouse.

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Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon 3 pounds beef stew meat 1.75 cups dry wine 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons dried minced onion 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon pepper 8 bacon strips, chopped 1 pound fresh mushrooms, quartered 24 pearl onions, peeled (about 2 cups) 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt Hot cooked whole wheat noodles or rice (optional) Place beef in a large resealable plastic bag. Add wine, oil and seasonings. Seal bag and turn to coat.

Refrigerate overnight.

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally.

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Discard drippings, reserving one tablespoon in pan.

Add mushrooms and onions to drippings; cook and stir over medium high until tender. Add garlic and cook one minute.

Drain beef, reserving marinade. Transfer beef to a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle beef with flour and salt and toss to coat. Top with bacon and mushroom mixture; add reserved marinade.

Cook, covered, on low 8-10 hours or until beef is tender. Remove bay leaf if desired. Serve over rice or with noodles.

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Peaches ‘n’ Cream Bars 8 oz refrigerated seamless crescent dough sheet 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 21 oz. can peach pie filling 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoons cold butter 1/2 cup sliced almonds Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll crescent dough sheet into a rectangle and press onto bottom and slightly up sides of a greased 13x9-inch baking dish.

Bake five minutes and cool completely on wire rack.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Spread over crust and spoon pie filling over cream cheese layer.

In a small bowl, whisk flour and brown sugar and cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in almonds and sprinkle over peach filling.

Bake 25-28 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Creamy Spinach Casserole 2 cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted 8 oz. package cream cheese, cubed 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 4 cups herb-seasoned stuffing cubes 2 packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat soup, cream cheese, milk and Parmesan cheese until blended. Stir in stuffing cubes and spinach.

Spoon into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or until heated through.

You can cook half a cup of onion to add to the mixture just before it goes in oven.

Top with sliced almonds.

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Place of refuge

Roger and Maudie have made their Russellville home a place of serene beauty.

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Bedfords cultivate outdoor beauty Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by CHRISTOPHER WEBB

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n 200 acres north of downtown, one Russellville family has created their own North Alabama paradise. Ospreys and bald eagles fish the 12-acre lake, where geese and ducks find sanctuary. Deer wander along the wood line, and rabbits nest in the vegetable garden in peace. Fruit trees blossom and produce, and flowers bloom by the multitudes.

Roger and Maudie Bedford call this Russellville refuge home.

When the couple purchased the property 20 years ago, the previous owners had broken the dam for the lake for liability purposes. “They didn’t want people going out there and fishing and getting hurt,” Roger explained. He had the dam repaired and the lake expanded, and after building a house on the property in the late 1990s, the family moved to their new home.

“It’s the beauty of living in a great town like Russellville because it’s 3.5 miles and one traffic light to get to the law office.

I feel fortunate to have lived here all my life and raised my son and family here,” added Roger, calling himself “a good ol’ country lawyer.” The former senator and local attorney serves as county attorney for Franklin and city attorney for Red Bay, among his other career endeavors.

“It’s very relaxing to me to come in from being on the road in politics or practicing law and just sit by the lake.”

Of course, Roger and Maudie don’t “just sit” by the lake. They are both avid fishermen, and Roger frequently hosts family and friends to go fishing. He stocks the lake each year with tilapia in the spring – to provide feed for the bass, which are plentiful in the lake in multiple strains. Shellcracker, black crappie, bream and rainbow trout are also abundant.

When they aren’t fishing, the Bedfords can frequently be found enjoying the ducks. A duck pagoda floating on the lake provides six domesticated mallards a safe place to rest and lay eggs. “You can go down there and quack, and they’ll be on the other side of the lake, and they’ll swoop over because they know we have some cracked corn to give them,” said Roger. He purchased the mallards at the Northwest Alabama Cattle Auction. “I thought they’d look good out on the lake.”

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“We take care of our ducks and feed our ducks usually twice a day,” said Maudie, who now serves as director of the Southern Development Council after a career in radio.“It’s just become a part of our lives. They like cracked corn the best, so we give them cracked corn and sunflower seeds. If we don’t feed them, they come stand out in the road when we’re driving away. You have to be very aware when you’re going because they’ll block you from going until you bring them something.”

When the ducks first joined the family, the Bedfords realized bats and other predators would eat the baby ducks and geese, and there was no safe place for them to take shelter. One memorable day convinced Maudie that something had to be done.

“One day I was outside and heard this horrible commotion and saw this goose going down under the water,” Maudie said. “I paddled the boat out, and a turtle had a baby goose, and the mother and father were pecking the turtle, trying to make the turtle let go.” She hit the turtle over the head with the paddle until it let go – and the gosling lived. That was when the Bedfords decided to add some islands

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– created from floating Styrofoam, turf and an anchoring device – and the duck pagoda as a safehouse for the mallards, plus duck boxes for the wild wood ducks.

Six baby geese have made the lake their home this year, and a wild duck had eight or so babies on the lake. The only other danger these waterfowl face is from the Bedfords’ Labrador Retrievers, brothers named Bruni and Maximus. “They have learned they can chase the geese but not the ducks – that makes Maudie mad,” Roger said.

“The ducks know when we walk in the morning that we have the dogs, and they don’t get near us,” Maudie said. “When the labs chase the ducks, it just scares me to death. But so far, no problems with the labs catching ducks.”

Away from the lake, Maudie dedicates much of her leisure time to her garden.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP OF PAGE 8: The Bedfords’ labs, Bruni and Maximus, are part of the family. Maudie’s garden is her happy place. Ducks and geese find a place to call home on the Bedfords’ 12-acre lake.

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“I love my garden. Before we moved here, at the other house I tilled and had it out in the yard. I did a raised bed garden here,” Maudie said. “I get up really early and go out when it’s cool in the summer and work in it for an hour or two.”

She grows a variety of produce, including radishes, lettuce, asparagus, beans, blueberry bushes and tomatoes – 28 different kinds.

“There’s nothing like tomatoes in the summer,” she said. The property also boasts nut, berry and blossoming trees – “for the wildlife to enjoy as much as us,” Roger said.

Cherry, oak, pear and plum trees are among the varieties.

Maudie uses her harvest to make jams, jellies, pies and tomato ketchup, not to mention delicious home-cooked meals. “I love to cook; that’s probably the thing I do best in life,” Maudie said. “Having a garden just really goes along with that. Having had breast cancer, I’m really careful about eating fresh vegetables with no pesticides. I know where it all comes from.”

She is generous with her produce, sharing with friends and family who are thankful for the homegrown fruits and veggies. She also dedicates a portion for the wildlife: Deer and turkeys share the Bedford home, and the couple often feeds them corn, watermelons and any vegetables from Maudie’s garden that have gone to seed, along with leftovers, at the edge of the woods.

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Last year a rabbit nested in one of her raised beds – and that was OK. “There was plenty for everybody,” Maudie said.

Both Maudie and Roger were raised to enjoy the outdoors, animals and plants, and they both said they value that heritage that gives them an appreciation for their Russellville home. “It’s nice to walk and have room for your animals to run around and have a place to roam,” Maudie said. “It’s a lot of upkeep, but that’s what I’m used to.”

“I enjoy the opportunity to be away from the phone and away from the hustle and bustle,” added Roger. “If you’re sitting on a boat or in the woods when the sun comes up and the Lord starts to wake the world up – that’s just a special time to feel God’s grace.” He said one of his favorite activities is to watch the sunset with Maudie and the dogs and “just enjoy the beauty God has created. We’re all stewards of God’s creation, and I think it’s important we try to improve and preserve the great beauty that is Alabama and America.”

The Bedfords have one son, Roger Bedford III, who works with the University of Alabama sports program in player recruitment and retention.

FROM TOP: The Bedfords spend lots of time outdoors to enjoy their lake and garden as part of being stewards of God’s blessings.

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Down to an art

Russellville’s Christopher Webb has made unique use of his artistic talents to create detailed watermelon carvings.

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Creative carving transforms melons into marvels Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by CORTNEY GREEN and CHRISTOPHER WEBB

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hen Christopher Webb’s sister-inlaw asked him to create a melon fruit basket for her wedding, he quickly decided he wanted to make something a little more impressive than a plainJane hollowed-out watermelon.

A Youtube search revealed videos of the respected Thai tradition of elaborate fruit carvings. Webb was sold. “I said to myself, I think I could do that if I just practice,” said Webb. He began to imitate the Thaistyle watermelon carvings, watching online videos of skilled practitioners to hone his own blossoming skills. “I learned tricks and developed my own way of doing them,” Webb said. Five or six practice melons later, and Webb was ready to carve a wedding-day watermelon: the image of two swans kissing, their necks creating a heart shape, flanked by roses. “I didn’t know how it would turn out. I just went with my gut.”

It was a raging success.

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Creating such an intricate design is a laborious process Webb finds to be almost therapeutic.

“Everybody went crazy over it,” said Webb. “They couldn’t believe people could do that. I guess they hadn’t seen anything like that around here … It actually turned out really well. I was surprised it turned out so well.”

That was six years ago. Webb, who is also crane operator for G&G Steel in Russellville as well as a photographer, quickly found himself with more requests for unique watermelon carvings. Thus began a hobby and side business that became a favorite artistic outlet.

“Whenever I do them, I put some headphones in and listen to music, and I can get in my own little world with it,” said Webb. “It’s just me and a piece of fruit. It’s pretty cool because I’m a very impatient person, but when I do that, I have to be patient, and it’s almost soothing. It’s a very soothing thing – almost therapeutic – because it forces me to be patient, slow down and concentrate. Everything else is just shut out.”

Webb orders his tools from Thailand: specialized carving knives and sets of

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scalloped-edged scoops. Each watermelon carving is a three- or four-hour endeavor.

“One of the hardest things is figuring out what depth to do the carving at,”Webb said.

“You have to be really cautious. If you cut too deep, it will basically ruin your whole design. I’ve had to learn as I went.”

Webb’s carved watermelons – as well as papayas, mangos, cantaloupe, honeydew and “anything in the melon family” – have been in demand at baby showers and birthday and anniversary parties, in addition to weddings. He’s completed about 40 commissioned creations now, employing many different designs. “I do some that look like owls – I have done a few of them for baby showers,” Webb said. Baby baskets are also a popular design.

Each creation is a one-of-a-kind. “It’s something I do for each individual;

you can’t mass produce them,” Webb said. “People like getting something different. Anybody getting married doesn’t want to have exactly the same thing somebody else has. They want it to be unique.”

Aside from having the proper tools, another key aspect of creating the elaborate designs is choosing the right fruit for the job. Webb is particular when selecting the size and shape of watermelon he wants to use, which is dependent on the design.

Lettering, like “Mr. and Mrs.,” requires an oblong watermelon. A simpler design, like a rose, might require a nice round melon.

Every creation involves intense attention to detail. “I’m a perfectionist,” Webb said, “so when I get done with it, it has to be perfect to my standards.”

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This exquisite design is one of Webb’s proudest creations.

His proudest creation to date featured a script letter B surrounded by intricate roses. “It took me nearly five hours. I had to keep going back and adding to it. When I got done with it, it blew me away,” Webb said. “I was really pushing myself, doing things I had never done. It was so gratifying because I had a vision and did it just like I envisioned.”

Webb said he aims to buy local fruit when it’s in season, patronizing farmers’ markets and fruit stands. With knife, scoop and melon in hand, he lets his creativity flow.

“I think it would surprise people to know it doesn’t take a lot of tools – just imagination and a knife,” said Webb. As to why his carvings have been so popular, Webb said he thinks it’s the uniqueness of each design that captures people’s attention. “There’s no ‘watermelon carving’ in the Yellow Book. It’s such a niche. People like the uniqueness.”

For Webb, “I like finishing it and knowing someone might enjoy it. That’s my favorite part – when I see people being satisfied and happy with it.”

Webb is married to Ashley, who works at Petro Chemical in Russellville. He has a grown daughter, Kristanie, and a 16-yearold son, Trevor, a student at Russellville High School.

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LOOKING BACK

Looking back photos courtesy of the Franklin County Archives

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

Russellville Parks and Rec Day Camp NOW THROUGH JULY 27 Russellville Parks and Recreation Department offers a summer day camp Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon for children ages 5-18. Camp is held at the Chucky Mullins Center and includes breakfast and lunch as part of the department’s Summer Feeding Program. Participants will enjoy trips to the Russellville City Pool, special guests and free play. The camp is free. For more information call 256-332-8770.

Russellville Parks and Rec Summer Feeding Program NOW THROUGH JULY 27 A Summer Feeding Program is available for children ages 1-18 through the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department. Breakfast is served from 8:15-9 a.m., and lunch is served from 11:15 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday at the Canteen and Eastside and Westside Apartments. Meals are free. For more information, call 256-332-8770.

Jam on Sloss Lake JULY 4 Sloss Lake in Russellville hosts this annual event of food and entertainment.

Coordinated by the City of Russellville along with the water and gas boards, Jam on Sloss Lake ends with a spectacular fireworks show.

Admission is free; food will be available for purchase. The day starts first thing in the morning with the Cotton Flats Cruisers car show, and musical entertainment – including headliner Darryl Worley – will continue all day until the fireworks about 9:40 p.m.

Summer Fun with 4-H JULY 16-20 The Franklin County 4-H program will continue summer programs in July. July 16-20 will be STEM Challenges Week for ages 11-15, featuring robotics, rocketry, programming and a drone obstacle course.

For more information or to pre-register, call the Extension office at 256-332-8880.

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RECURRING EVENTS Historical Society Meeting The Spruce Pine Historical Society meets the first Tuesday of every month.

It’s free to join. For more information call Kim Adamson at 256-436-3992.

Rockin’ at the Roxy Hosted by The Kerry Gilbert Band, Rockin’ at the Roxy takes place the second Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Historic Roxy Theatre, 208 N. Jackson Ave., Russellville.

Proceeds benefit the preservation and restoration of the historic theater. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger. For more information call 256-335-4356.

Mountain Valley Hee Haw There will be live music at Mountain Valley Hee Haw in Phil Campbell on Highway 79 every Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m., featuring The House Band. For more information call 256-810-4840.

Bible Collection The libraries at Russellville First Baptist Church and Red Bay First Baptist Church are accepting donations of new and used Bibles (in good shape) and New Testaments to send to the Love Package Ministry (formerly Edwin Hodges Ministry). Bibles will be sent to foreign missionaries to use and distribute. Drop Bibles off Monday through Thursday during office hours.

Call 256-332-4085 for more information.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

RECURRING EVENTS Grief Support Getting Well Together, a grief support group, will meet each month on the third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville.

This is a free support group for anyone who would like to attend, provided by Kindred Hospice of Florence. For more information call 256-764-0873.

Shrine Club Meetings Meetings are held in Russellville on the second Tuesday each month at the Cutter Barber Shop; Spruce Pine 608 meets the second and fourth Thursday.

Meetings are held at 7 p.m.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group meets each Monday evening at 6 p.m. at the Russellville Recreation Center. Weighins begin at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to drop in for a free meeting visit or call 256-446-5962 for more information.

Masonic Lodge Meetings The following is the monthly meeting schedule for the Lodges in Franklin County: Belgreen 428 – first and third Monday; Burleson 143 – second and fourth Monday; Russellville 371 – first and third Tuesday; Newburg 388 – first Thursday; Order of the Eastern Star – second and fourth Tuesday; Phil Campbell 880 – first and third Thursday.

American Legion The post regularly meets the second Thursday of every month at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce in downtown Russellville, with the meal at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. For more information call Grant Atkins at 256-332-2332.

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The Great Pretenders JULY 26 The Franklin County Arts Council is sponsoring the 18th annual Evening at the Roxy during the week of the W. C. Handy Music Festival, July 26. Entertainment will be presented by local talent, featured as The Great Pretenders, at 7 p.m. Numerous local performers will take the stage. All proceeds go to the Historic Roxy Theatre.

Tickets ($5; children under 6 are free) will be sold at the door.

Vina JulyFest JULY 28 July Fest is set for July 28 in Vina. Hosted by – and benefiting – the Vina Rescue Squad and Vina Fire Department, the event will feature food, music, fireworks, a car show and more. Particularly popular is the annual Draw Down, the winner of which receives a $17,000 cash prize or a new car.

Tickets, only 325 total, cost $100. Tickets can be obtained at city hall, the bank or from any member of the rescue squad. For more information call 256-356-4996 or 256- 460-1539.

Franklin County Watermelon Festival AUG. 17-18 The Franklin County Watermelon Festival began in 1981 and is the largest festival in Franklin County. This spectacular family event offers two days of non-stop music, contests and entertainment, as well as arts and crafts, 5K run, antique car and truck show, tasty festival foods, tractor show, children’s carnival rides and a slice of free watermelon! The festival is a highlight of the year for local residents as well as out-of-town guests, who throng the streets of downtown Russellville for the two-day event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.Musical entertainment includes: • Aug. 17 – 6 p.m., The Midnighters; 7 p.m., Rewind; 8:30 p.m., 7 Bridges • Aug. 18 – 5 p.m., Kerry Gilbert Band; 6 p.m., LA Outlaws; 7 p.m., Joseph Baldwin Band; 8:30 p.m., Sweet Tea Trio

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Brewing business

The Grind provides gathering place for caffeine-lovers Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by CHRISTOPHER WEBB

B

yron Cheek has been in sales and marketing his entire career, but in May 2018 he branched off from his background as an insurance agent and his success in clothing retail to try his hand at a restaurant venture.

The Grind Café and Coffee Shop opened in Russellville May 30, and Cheek said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “The community and travelers have really enjoyed it so far,” said Cheek, a Tennessee native who moved to Russellville 10 years ago when he met his wife – and now business partner – Teresa. “We have a lot of people who will come and eat and just sit around and talk for 30 minutes. This gives people a place to come sit and talk, and people have enjoyed that. It’s a calm, laid-back atmosphere.”

The new coffee shop is located in the former Guthrie’s location in Russellville, 13760 Highway 43. Cheek said when his wife pointed out the building was vacant, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the two of them to establish the restaurant they had discussed for three or four years. “Since I’ve lived here, we’ve never had an established coffee shop,” said Cheek. “I just thought this would be a great location and would be something great for the schools, for young people – like a hangout.”

After two months of remod-

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eling and reconstruction, The Grind was ready. Originally Cheek said he planned to sell only coffee, cold sandwiches and fruit cups, but then they expanded the options to include hot sandwiches – and the plan continued to grow until a full menu was in place.

Of course, a major focus is still the coffee.

“I’ve always loved coffee, and I’ve always made specialty coffees at home,” Cheek said.

“I’ve visited coffee shops all over the country and out of the country, and I’ve always been intrigued with coffee.”

He describes himself as a selftaught barista, guided by a Tennessee mentor to learn the tricks of the trade. “It is just like anything else: If you take pride in what you do, you’ll get the best results from it. I really enjoy making coffee, and I can socialize with the customers while I’m making coffee and educate the customer on the types of coffees and what they have in them.”

Cheek said crafting a great cup of coffee requires quality beans and quality equipment.

“All of our coffees are fresh ground each day. You have to start with the best coffee bean you can find. I researched and went through about 12 different coffee beans until I found what I considered the perfect medium smooth roast bean,” he said. “It gets the freshest flavor, the best flavor, from the bean if you make the coffee within 10-15 minutes of grinding the bean. Our coffee is really smooth and really bold, especially our lattes.”

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Opening a coffee shop was a dreamcome-true for Byron Cheek.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Grind offers baked treats in addition to a full menu. Cheek puts his barista skills to work. The atmosphere at The Grind invites guests to linger.

He said his personal favorites are The Grind’s signature caramel latte or vanilla bean frappe. “The latte is a hot latte with caramel sauce and two shots of espresso. It’s always been one of my favorites. The frappe is a mixture of vanilla bean, and it also has ground vanilla bean in it. It really tastes really close to a vanilla milkshake.”

In addition to coffees and real fruit smoothies that “are going like wildfire,” The Grind also offers a ribeye sandwich and smoked pork loin sandwich as signature menu items, along with a hand-pattied cheeseburger, hand-battered chicken tenders, homemade chicken salad sandwich and homemade pimento cheese sandwich. Pastries, salads and fruit cups are also on the menu, and for breakfast, customers can enjoy a breakfast croissant or sausage and cheese egg roll –

Cheek’s proprietary recipe.

“I hear people say all the time that they get tired of eating the same thing, so we just wanted to give them another option, another place to eat,” said Cheek, emphasizing that he is not out to take away other restaurants’ business. “The more you can offer a town, the more people will come to visit.”

Cheek said he feels positive about the café’s first months in business and hopes for a bright future in Russellville. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been really good, and we’ve been really blessed,” he said. “I just hope we continue to grow and we can keep our food quality and our customer service top notch.”

The Grind is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it is closed Sunday.

Sinclair-Lawrence & Assoc., Insurance For all Your Insurance Needs Call...

117 S. Jackson Ave. t Russellville (256)332-2061 20

2513 E. Avalon t Muscle Shoals (256)383-8335 FRANKLIN LIVING

Honor and courage James Sparks serves in U.S. Navy Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by CHRISTOPHER WEBB and CONTRIBUTED

It was 1977 when a young James Sparks heard the call of his country and decided to serve with U.S. Navy forces during the Cold War. Sparks had begun a welding job following high school, but the 19-year-old soon realized he wanted join up. Enlisting with the Navy was an easy decision. “It just seemed like the kind of thing where you could get around and see some of the world,” said Sparks.

“It seemed more interesting than the Army or the Air Force to me personally.”

Sparks was driven by the idea of helping protect the country from hostile forces. “As a youngster, I considered that really a threat. It seemed like a worthy cause.”

So, leaving his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sparks first traveled to his eight-week boot camp near Chicago – which was a whole new world.

“I hear they have softened it some nowadays,” Sparks said.

“You realize you’re not in Kansas.

You realize you don’t have any rights, and nobody cares how you feel about anything. But after they break you down, they begin to build you back up again.”

Sparks said he found at boot camp that everybody was treated equally – “equally nasty.” Overall, however, he described it as a “wonderful tool for teaching a young person” and a “great growing experience, discipline-wise.”

His next stop was Treasure Island, San Francisco, where

FRANKLIN LIVING

he was trained in firefighting and damage control before shipping out to Guam to serve aboard the USS Proteus AS-19.

A bus ride from the airport, along jungle roads through the night, took Sparks to his ship – where he would serve for the next three years. “The ship I was on was pretty darn cool. It was in World War II,” Sparks said.

The USS Proteus AS-19 was a submarine tender, a ship that served as a location for submarine repairs. “It did any kind of work that needed to be done on a submarine,” said Sparks. The ship boasted a foundry, machine shop, pipefitting area and more. “It was one big, floating shop.”

In addition to serving as a hull technician, Sparks was also constantly on call to guard against fires and flooding on board.

Submarines in need of service would come from across the West Pacific, many of them carrying missiles with multiple nuclear warheads, Sparks said. Their locations of origin – and destinations upon leaving the shop – were always confidential.

Also among his early duties, Sparks remembers a 30-day period assigned to mess cooking. “I peeled potatoes and made salads for 1,500 people,” Sparks recalled.

“You’d have to get up way before everybody … and then nobody leaves the galley until everything is cleaned up, so usually you’d go to bed at midnight or a little after. That was something you didn’t want to do.”

When not on duty, Sparks would pass the time exploring

Sparks is a U.S. Navy veteran, serving from 1977-1980 during the Cold War.

the island. He also learned to scuba dive, becoming certified in recreational diving, night diving and deep diving. “It’s pretty neat, to go that deep underwater and see some of those things,” he said. “In Guam there a lot of wrecks from World War II and World War I that you can go down and check out.” The time he had free from his duties varied greatly. “Sometimes I’d go on two dives a day. Sometimes, if there was work to do, you’d work for 24 hours in a row.”

When his term of service ended in 1980, Sparks returned to Cincinnati and to his former welding job. A few years later,

he married a Phil Campbell native, Sharon, and 15 years or so later, the couple returned to her hometown in Franklin County.

Sparks, now 60, has six adult children – Melody, Mary, Bethany, Joey, Micah and David. Although he faced some tough challenges during his military service, he also looks back on that period of his life with fondness. “Now that I look back at it – maybe as you get older you just remember the good things and you don’t remember the bad things,” he said. “I would think it’s an experience that every young person might want to do.”

21

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY June 16, the City of Red Bay helped kick off 100 Alabama Miles, a statewide initiative to encourage Alabamians to live more active, healthy lifestyles.

Photos by ERICA SPARKS

Working hard for you

Willodean Davis (256) 762-5671

Selling North Alabama

Mayor Charlene Fancher

Jessica Pike Kathy Senkbeil

Bonnie Gray

Assoc./Broker

Agent Assoc.

(256) 483-1158

(256) 460-8064

Kim Hanback

Marty Vandiver

Agent Assoc.

Agent Assoc.

(256) 856-0610

(256) 810-9292

Randy Gray Agent Assoc.

(404) 858-7229

Lauren Wester and Emily and Lola Mays

Jorge Rendon

Kaylee Rickard

Office Manager

Office Manager

115 N. Jackson Ave. Russellville, AL

(256) 332-9920 Cell: (256) 762-5671 Rosalyn and Dr. Raynard Fabianke

22

Teresa Lawler, Melanie Dobbs and Cynthia Fowler

FRANKLIN LIVING

Setting and keeping a budget

B

udget. Does even saying that word make you cringe?

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Truth be told, it’s a lot easier to break a budget than make it. So what’s the deal? What makes budgeting so hard (or at least seem that way)?

Typically when we try to budget, we take an “all or nothing” mindset. Most of us wind up failing very quickly – and developing an aversion to this budget business just as quickly.

Oftentimes we set ourselves up for failure because we don’t actually know how much we have to spend. We have an idea of what is available but not a realistic picture.

Additionally, when we can buy just about anything with a few clicks, selfcontrol in spending becomes an afterthought.

Not to mention, everyone is so busy! We think budget means we have to stop and pull out the calculator, and nobody has time for that.

Everyone has trouble sticking to a budget – except maybe my mother, who considers it a personal challenge to beat her best power bill each and every month.

Before you start making strategic cuts to get your budget in line, take the all-important step of figuring out what you’re spending where. Sometimes we decide to “budget” and start cutting out the morning coffee run or eliminating eating out without taking into consideration how much we actually have to spend on these purchases to begin with – thus starting an endless cycle of failed budgeting.

To get your budget off on the right foot, start by breaking down your income and expenses. There are a lot of mobile app options available to help with this, or you can simply get a notebook and start making some lists. Keep up with what you’re spending on all your bills, such as mortgage/ rent, gas, groceries, eating out, cell phone/internet, television, entertainment and kids’ activities. Get real and get it ALL down. Keep in mind, it might take more than one month to track everything, and that’s OK! Knowing first what your disposable income is, after all your expenses, gets you the green light to start analyzing where you can make those strategic cuts in your spending habits. That’s precisely what we’re going to talk about next time.

MONEY MATTERS

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Emily Mays is vice president/senior marketing director at Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, working in finance for 13 years. She is an enthusiastic social media marketer, financial literacy advocate and go local supporter. She lives in East Franklin and has one daughter, Lola, 10.

FRANKLIN LIVING

23

FAITH

The audacity of adversity

I

GEAR with LED Light

A three-bladed fan built with advanced energy efficient technology including a DC motor and 18 watt LED Light

Shoals Lighting 2308Woodward Ave.,Muscle Shoals 256-383-1437 www.ShoalsLighting.com 24

t’s counter-intuitive to think about how adversity actually improves our lives, but it’s true.

No one wants to struggle through a tough time, but all of us have seen the positive result in the lives of others.

We’ve seen the muscles a friend has built over time by hard work. We’ve noticed the loving way a nurse treats her patients as she cares for their needs. We are all impressed by the patience an elementary school teacher has with our kids! None of those positive traits came about through a life of ease or free of adversity.

We’re afraid of adversity because of the unknown. It’s difficult for us to think about how trouble can be positive or to consider how God might be doing something great in our lives through the adversity – but that’s exactly what we should be doing!

We should be training our minds to expect the positive results of having dealt with or gone through a trial. This is what I call “the audacity of adversity.”

It’s a result of walking by faith, not by sight! When we trust that any adversity will make us stronger, we overcome the fear of the unknown – and we should have that trust because we see evidence of the reality all around us.

Adversities make us stronger, and that’s not something to fear, it’s something to be embraced!

One of the greatest pitchers in baseball history knew the secret to overcoming adversities. His name was Leroy “Satchel” Paige. Among his famous quotes you’ll find, “Love like you’ve never been hurt.” Satchel Paige played in exhibition games with white players ten years before Jackie Robinson became the first black Major League player. Satchel helped to integrate the sport and pave the way for a whole new outlook on race relations and community for our nation. This great pitcher wowed crowds with his abilities and stood strong in the face of racism and hatred.

He was asked how he was able to perform at such a high level in the presence of such resistance and violence. His answer: “You gotta love like you’ve never been hurt.” His faith that things were getting better through the adversity kept him from giving up.

So, what about you? The results of adversity prove to be strength, hope, love, patience and many other positive traits we’d all do well to acquire. Our families, churches and communities will look and feel better if we embrace adversity and keep our faith in a better future!

Trae Durden has been the preaching minister at North Highlands church of Christ in Russellville since January 2013. He is married to Leann Durden, and they have a daughter, Darcy Grace (15), and a son, Dalton (12).

FRANKLIN LIVING

HEALTH

Keeping it cool in the summer sun Courtesy of SHERRY JOLLEY, RED BAY HOSPITAL Photo by CHRISTOPHER WEBB

S

ummertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with actions that help the body cool itself to prevent heat-related illness.

What is extreme heat?

Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average.

Because some places are hotter than others, this depends on what’s considered average for a particular location at that time of year.

What causes heat-related illness?

Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat this might not be enough. In these cases, a person’s body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.

Some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include high levels of humidity, obesity, fever, dehydration, prescription drug use, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn and alcohol use.

Who is most at risk?

Older adults, the very young and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk.

However, even young and healthy people can be affected if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.

How can I prevent heat-related

FRANKLIN LIVING

illness?

Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Despite this, according to the CDC around 618 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year. Here are some ways to prevent these tragedies from happening to you and your loved ones: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.

1. Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks: These actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.

2. Replace salt and minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

If you are on a low-salt diet or have diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

3. Check for updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in the area.

4. Know the signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.

5. Use a buddy system: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.

Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave.

HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES Heat stroke • Warning signs: high body temperature (103 degrees or higher); hot, red, dry or damp skin; fast strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; losing consciousness • Take action: Call 911 right away, move the person to a cooler place, help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath and do not give the person anything to drink.

Heat exhaustion • Warning signs: heavy sweating; cold, pale and clammy skin; fast weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache; fainting • Take action: Move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, put cool wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath and sip water. Get medical help right away if you are throwing up or your symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour.

Heat cramps • Warning signs: heavy sweating during intense exercise and muscle pain or spasms • Take action: Stop physical activity and move to a cool place, drink water or a sports drink and wait for cramps to go away before resuming physical activity. Get medical help right away if your cramps last longer than one hour, you’re on a low-sodium diet or you have heart problems.

Sunburn • Warning signs: painful, red and warm skin; and blisters on the skin • Take action: Stay out of the sun until sunburn heals, put cool cloths on sunburn or take a cool bath, put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas and do not break blisters.

Heat rash • Warning signs: Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples, usually on the neck, chest, groin or in elbow creases • Take action: Stay in a cool, dry place, keep the rash dry and use powder to soothe the rash.

25

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY A highlight of the summer in Phil Campbell is the Hoedown Festival, which provides an opportunity for fun and fellowship in the downtown Memorial Park.

Photos by ERICA SPARKS

Caymen Quinn, Nate Green, Cypress Quinn, Emily Glaviano, Brandon Baker, Carson Pace, Dylan Jean, Hunter Saint, Austin Jean and Todd

Brandi Fuller and Laci Reed

Junior and Brenda Silas

Joey and Denise Motes

Eugene Ergle

Tammy Dodge and Tina Stokes

Kaden Johns

Emmalin and Cheyenne Nix

Denise and Bill Ogle

Mayor Steve Bell

246 Cox Creek Parkway · Florence 1-800-755-3113 · 256-764-9661 raymillergm.com

Vic Ragsdale Sales Mgr.

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26

Hal Gist Sales

Marlon Miles Sales

Eric Raney Sales

Mike Miller Dealer Principal

FRANKLIN LIVING

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Katie Smith

Drake Blankenship and Raven Scott

Lynn Landers

Chase Kendrick and Kristy Fuell

Judy Ergle and Terry Buster

Angelita Jackson

Jerry and Charlene Abbott

Jennifer Ivey, David Sparks and Jessica Henderson

FRANKLIN LIVING

William, Rebecca, Bryson and Noah Burcham

27

WHAT’SS HOT WHAT

Show your hometown, Watermelon Capital pride with watermelon décor.

Audrey’s Gifts and Décor, $35.

Add a little color to your floor with a machine-washable rug from jellybean.

Audrey’ss Gifts and Décor, $32.99.

Audrey

Welcome your little one to the world with a cute door hanger Haus. Audrey’s from Glory Haus Gifts and Décor, $39.99.

Add a piece of Etta B. Pottery to your Ava’ss China and Gifts, collection. Ava $74.99.

Upgrade your jewelry wardrobe with a new piece from Pish Posh. Ava’s China and Gifts, $7.99-24.99.

This Mom & Me smocked outfit is an adorable choice to o wear to the Franklin County Watermelon Festival or anytime. Boys outfits are also o available. Audrey’s Gifts and d Décor, $43.99.

This darling farmhouse décor-styled birdcage is su sure to bring a delightful shabby-chic shabby chic note to your home. home Ava’s China and Gifts, $112.

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You’ll be the “hostess with the mostest” with a Secrets of the South cheeseball.

Ava’s China and Gifts, $7.99.

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Marketplace Franklin Living • 256.332.1881

Caregivers & Nurses ALWAYS THERE INHOME CARE Immediate need, Flexible hours, Benefits available. Call for more information 256-539-1400 www.alwaysthereinc. com

Economic Solutions & Services • Concrete Work Stained Concrete, Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks and much more! 256-3099035 *Free Estimates!* Your Vision - Our Team - Great Projects -

BLISS SKIN SPA PartTime Licensed Massage Therapist Wanted Please Call 256-6565527 or Send Resume to blissskinspabb@ gmail.com

Welder Training.

Short Term Licensing.

Call for Details 866432-0430 ESDschool. com”

Carroll Fulmer Now Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers. Over-the-road positions Available. Dry vans. No hazmat. Must have one year overthe-road experience and a clean MVR. Competitive pay and bonus package. Good home time. Call 800633-9710 ext. 2 Now Hiring Drivers.

Carry Transit. Decatur, AL Good Pay • Excellent Benefits & Home Time.

Must Have 18mos OTR Experience & Class A-CDL w/Tanker Endorsement. Apply: www.CarryTransit.com Lenders’ New 1st Time Homebuyer’s Plan at Clayton Homes, Cullman. You can be APPROVED! 256-734-1930”

FRANKLIN LIVING

Round Hay 5x5 (in shed, under cover) Mixed hay. $45/ roll. Square bale.

Mixed Hay. $5/roll or $4.50/100. Located in West Point ALABAMA 256-734-4202 Come Home to Holiday Plaza Apartments (Behind Foodland) Equal Housing Opportunity 256-332-2960 Come work with us as a Caregiver or CNA! Competative wages, Shift premium for weekends, Flexible Schedules, Friendly Staff, Endless Opportunities, Apply today at www. homeinstead.com/250 or call 256-883-3080 Box Trucks Needed A growing company needs independent contractors with vehicles to deliver office and medical supplies all over N AL. Clean BG/MVR/ drug test. Must be customer friendly!!

Weekly settlements!

Call Shasta @ LSO Final Mile. 256-461-0069 or email Shasta.Lanford@ lsofinalmile.com

1802 U.S Hwy 72 E. Athens 256-444-4040 NEW LOCATION!!

•PC•Laptops•Tablets •Mac•LCD •Cellphone screen repair •Virus and malware removal “Where Technology and the Outdoors intersect” 1802 U.S Hwy 72-E. Athens-256-444-4040 Available Now!!

•Vintage shotguns •Riffles•Pistols•AR platforms •Kysek Coolers Best selection of affordable outdoor equipment! “Where Technology and the Outdoors intersect” Now Booking!

Spring, Summer, and Fall. Estate, Antique, Farm Equipment and Real Estate Auctions.

Call Auctioneer Chris McNatt • ASL#1474 • TSL#5074 • Firm 2652 • 256-874-3786 Glass Installers & Construction Laborers. Experience preferred but not required. Starting pay between $12 and $15 per hour, or higher, depending on experience. (256)3539181 Soon the Mark of the Beast Will Be Enforced. Free Book & Bible Study. PO Box 171 • Samantha, AL 35482 205-339-4837 Lake and Pond Fish Stocking: Bass, Bluegill, Shell Cracker, Grass Carp, Catfish, Minnows & more!

Aerators & Fountains.

CALL FOR PRICES! WE DELIVER! 615-977-0752

Smith Motors Two locations on Hwy 31, Decatur Lot #1 256-350-9938 Lot #2 256-350-9937 smithmotorsautosales. com Town Hill Mini Storage 160 Units Vacancies All Sizes 256332-9928 Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park 4D Barrel Race January 6th Free, Donations Only!

Practice Run 12:00 Event starts at 2:00 Call for info 205-935-3499 Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205) 561-8118 & get your career started!

WARRIOR MET COAL NOW HIRING Located in Brookwood, AL Immediate need for experienced: •Underground Miners •Electricians •Maintenance Foreman •Supervisors Apply online: www.warriormetcoal. com WCA • Roll Off Drivers needed for our Alpine, AL location. Class A or B CDL is required along with one (1) year of verifiable equivalent commercial truck driving experience.

Must have a valid and safe driving record. We offer competitive wages & a comprehensive benefits package which includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term

Disability, Paid Holidays and PTO. Please apply through our website at www.wcawaste.com EOE M/F/D/V DRIVERS Hanna Truck Lines is seeking Professional Flatbed Drivers. 53 cpm No surprises: Starting pay (all miles): 51 cpm, 52 cpm at 6 months, 53 cpm at 1 year. 100% Outbounds loads Preloaded & Tarped. 75% Inbound No Tarp. Late Model Peterbilt Trucks.

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Contact recruiting at 1-800-634-7315 or come by HTL office at 1700 Boone Blvd, Northport. EOE Opies Transport, Inc. NOW HIRING Class A Truck Drivers. Needing to find a home? We are it. Apply today!

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29

Why I Love Franklin County:

Katernia Cole-Coffey Katernia Cole-Coffey followed in the footsteps of her late father, mother, sister, uncles and aunts when she became a member of the 4-H Club. Her beginnings in 4-H propelled her into a career with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System – which ultimately led her to the coordinator’s seat for the Franklin County Extension.

Cole-Coffey is a Lauderdale County native and graduate of Lexington High School; the University of North Alabama (Bachelor of Science in human environmental sciences with a minor in marketing); and the University of Phoenix (master’s degree in management). She is the daughter of the late Wilberforce “Will” Cole and Georgia Leatrice Echols Cole and is married to Willie Henry Coffey, a cast house operator at Constellium.

She has worked in Franklin County since July 2008.

What does your role as coordinator of the Franklin County Extension involve?

The Cooperative Extension System is basically a network of people in every county across the United States that is responsible for spreading research-based science and innovation to families, communities and farmers. When it comes to the people of Franklin County, I work with all agents and specialists, giving the citizens knowledge through research-based information, enabling them to improve their lives and economic well-being.

I am recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues and opportunities facing the citizens of Franklin County through university programs and knowledge. As a county Extension coordinator, I build and strengthen relationships with key business, government and education leaders and citizen stakeholders.

What makes your job meaningful?

The Alabama Cooperative Extension helps people in all 67 counties in the great state of Alabama adopt new ways of living, working and creating livelihoods so prosperity and health are increased across Alabama. Even though agriculture is the root of the system, we offer programming in forestry, wildlife and natural resources, human sciences (family and consumer sciences), economic and community development and 4-H and youth development.

What is your favorite place to visit in Franklin County?

I really do not have a favorite place per se, but I have enjoyed visiting the various cities, communities and surrounding areas: Belgreen, East Franklin, Hodges, Red Bay, Russellville, Phil Campbell, Tharptown, Vina and anywhere in between. There is a lot of history, and it is good to share it with others.

Why do you love Franklin County?

There is a sense of community; people unite together. Everybody knows everybody. I also enjoy all of the outdoor activities, local festivals and events, great opportunities, places of historical significance and local businesses – I love to shop!

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Photo by CORTNEY GREEN

FAST 5

1. Favorite hobby: Collector of Christmas ornaments, antiques, fine linens and glassware.

2. Favorite foods: Chicken and dressing, chicken salad and caramel cake 3. Goals: To improve the lives of the people in Franklin County with Extension programming and to always do my best at anything I do 4. Church: Northside Church of Christ, Center Star, is the church that I have attended since I was a little girl. I have served as Sunday School teacher and church janitor.

5. Something people might not know about me: I do not like surprises, so, no surprise birthday parties for me!

FRANKLIN LIVING

:KROHVDOH WR 3XEOLF

Grow With Us

www.alabamacentral.org Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in any of our 28-county service area is eligible for ACCU membership.

TIFFIN Motor Homes 105 Second Street NW Red Bay, AL 256-356-8661

7UHQW 5LFKDUGVRQ With 11 years under his belt working in cabinetry for Tiffin Motorhomes in Red Bay, it’s not a stretch to say Trent Richardson is something of a cabinet expert.

“I started in building cabinets, and I’m now a lead man,” said Richardson, who was referred to the Tiffin position by a cousin.

“I’ve done numerous jobs working with cabinets.”

The best aspects of the job for Richardson include having the ability to help others, particularly when he is called to fill in for someone as needed – and being able to handle needed repairs on a Tiffin product.

He said he also values the good pay and benefits.

Richardson lives in Russellville. When not on the job, he said he enjoys numerous outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing and rock crawling. He also uses his spare time in fixing up trucks.

www WLI¿QPRWRUKRPHV FRP