A FAMILY PLACE ● CENTURY-STRONG FAITH ● SWEET SUMMERTIME
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GLOW UP
ALI LEE IS LIVING HER BEST LIFE AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
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TABLE of CONTENTS
6 THE GUIDE 9 A FAMILY PLACE Stephenson homestead sees eight generations
13 GLOW UP Ali Lee lives her best life after weight loss journey
17 SWEET SUMMERTIME Try these fun, easy recipes for busy families on a budget
20 GOING STRONG Hartselle Camp Meeting continues after more than a century 4 Hartselle Living
25 ONCE A TIGER, ALWAYS A TIGER Garrett Wade signs with Auburn
30 CARRYING ON THE FAMILY TRADITION 32 OUT & ABOUT
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HARTSELLE LIVING STAFF Interim Regional Publisher Daniel Holmes Managing Editor Rebekah Martin Staff Writer Lauren Jackson Contributors Dylan Schrader Joshua Berry Advertising Tori Waits
IN EVERY ISSUE 6 THE GUIDE 8 THE QUESTION 32 OUT & ABOUT
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Copy Editor Alison James
CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 407 Chestnut St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 info@hartselleliving.com Hartselle Living is published bimonthly Hartselle Newspapers, LLC. A one-year subscription to Hartselle Living is $16.30 for 6 issues per year. Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Hartselle area. To advertise or to get more copies, call 773-6566. Copyright 2018 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC
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THE GUIDE
9TH ANNUAL COTTON PICKIN’ BBQ COOK-OFF JULY 27-28
The 9th Annual Cotton Pickin’ BBQ Cook-off will take place at Sparkman Park. The Chamber of Commerce can be contacted at 256-773-4370 for more information.
MARTY HAGGARD LIVE JULY 14, 7 P.M.
Marty Haggard will be playing tribute to his father, Merle Haggard, at the Sparkman Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased at martyhaggardtickets.com. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate.
SUMMER MOVIE SERIES AUG. 3
Parks and Recreation will host a free summer movie at the football field. “Remember the Titans” will be the movie for August. Call 256-773-2581 for more information.
HARTSELLE POLICE DEPARTMENT INSIDE LOOK JULY 17, 9-11 P.M.
The Hartselle Police Department will offer an inside look at what it is like to be a police officer. The free event is for children 5-12, and participants must be registered by July 13. Call 256-773-8264 for more information.
DIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT JULY 20, 8 P.M.
Hartselle Aquatic Center will host a dive-in movie night. The movie can be viewed from the pool, and concessions will be available. The movie is free to 2018 season pass holders and $5 for non-pass holders.
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HARTSELLE CITY SCHOOLS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AUG. 7
Hartselle City Schools open to students for the first day of classes.
MORGAN COUNTY SCHOOLS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AUG. 8
Morgan County Schools open to students for the first day of classes.
HARTSELLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME AUG. 24, 7P.M.
The Hartselle High School football team will begin its 2018 season at the J.P. Cain Stadium.
THE GUIDE
VFW BUCKETS O’ FUN FUNDRAISER AUG. 25, 1 P.M.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10774 in Falkville will hold its Buckets o’ Fun fundraiser at 784 Culver Road in Falkville. Entry is $5, which includes 25 tickets, and the doors open at 1 p.m. For more information, call 256-784-5747. Proceeds benefit the special-needs Christmas celebration.
PAINTING CLINIC JULY 16-19
MONTHLY AND WEEKLY EVENTS CAMP CHAOS SESSION ONE JULY 9-13
Hartselle Parks and Recreation will be hosting two sessions of summer camp, with the first camp July 9-13. The camp is co-ed and is for ages 8-12. The cost is $50 per child. Activities will include swimming, fishing, arts and crafts and other games. Call 256-773-2581 for more information or to sign up.
KIDFEST AT DAYSTAR CHURCH JULY 15-18
The Hartselle campus of Daystar Church will hold Kidfest nightly at 6:30 p.m. July 15-18. Each night’s program includes comedy, puppetry, cool music, skits/drama, door prizes, an after-event block party, ministry and more!
B-W SUMMER HORSE CAMP JULY 16-20
This camp is for children who love horses. Each morning there will be an in-depth lesson about horses with quizzes and tests to follow. Lunch will be provided each day, and the afternoon will offer arts and crafts sessions that include nice keepsakes. There will also be a field trip on the last day of camp. Tuition is $500 for the week, which includes the cost of lunch. Call 256-606-2099 for more information.
Hartselle Parks and Recreation will be hosting a painting clinic for children entering grades one through 10. There will be two times to choose from: 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-3 p.m. Cost is $60 per child and includes all supplies. Students should be registered by July 11.
CAMP CHAOS SESSION TWO JULY 23-27
Hartselle Parks and Recreation will be hosting two sessions of summer camp, with the second camp July 23-27. The camp is co-ed and is for ages 8-12. The cost is $50 per child. Activities will include swimming, fishing, arts and crafts and other games. Call 256-773-2581 for more information or to sign up.
ALABAMA MAIN STREET ECONOMIC VITATILY WORKSHOP JULY 15
Alabama Main Street will hold a free economic vitality workshop at the Burleson Center Aug. 15 at 9 a.m.
ONGOING
HARTSELLE FARMERS MARKET The Hartselle Farmers Market Monday from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Hartselle Living 7
THE QUESTION
You know you’re from Hartselle when ... “When 75 percent of your wardrobe has a Hartselle sports logo on it.” -Marilyn Caudill Tabis
“When you remember when there was a Pearson at Pearson Animal Hospital.” -Laura Baggett
“When a typical Friday night in the 1970s and 1980s meant driving back and forth from the old Dairy Queen to the Sonic and back again!” -John Eric Burnum
“When you know everybody, and everybody knows you!” -Beth Emerson
“When you have driven over the humpy-dumpty bridge so fast your car left the ground.” -Jerry Burnham
“When you’ve scraped sawdust off your legs after kneeling to pray at Hartselle Camp Meeting - The Tabernacle.” -Susie Burgess
Like us on Facebook @hartselleliving for your chance to answer “The Question” in our next issue! 8 Hartselle Living
HOME& STYLE
A FAMILY PLACE Stephenson homestead sees eight generations WRITTEN BY LAUREN JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY
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At the end of a driveway lined with oak trees and draped with lights is the stunning home of the Stephensons. To the left of the driveway is a small pond, and to the right is a field where years ago the cows for the family dairy farm roamed. The home sits on property that has been in the family for eight generations, and in each room are items paying homage to the family members who lived there. In the living room is MiMi’s mirror and the picture she painted in college. The brick fireplace in the den came from a family home across the street that was torn down. In one of the bedrooms, the furniture was MeMaw’s. Throughout the home, touches of the family are preserved in the decorations – and in the members who currently reside there. Hartselle Living 9
HOME & STYLE
George and Dena Stephenson have lived in the home since 2007. Prior to moving in, they lived in the smaller but equally-charming house next door. When George’s parents wanted to move to a single-level home, they swapped houses, and George moved back to the home he had grown up in.
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The Stephensons have a book with family photos taken throughout the home, which also features quotes and stories from family members. For Dena, the book captures the history of the family and the things she loves most about the home. “I love that it is family. My children are the eighth generation to live in this place.
That is what makes me love the home more than anything,� said Dena. The house was built in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II. The large basement was hand dug by men with shovels and picks, and the windows had to be custom made because of the war.
Although the Stephensons have made the house their home, it still remains very similar to what it was before. “We just want to honor his family that built this house – particularly his mother, who conceptualized the place,” Dena said. Mary Stephenson, George’s mother, planted the oak trees that now line the driveway. She also painted the painting in the living room and owned the mirror above the fireplace. Behind the home, two dairy silos from George’s father, James, are still standing.
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James used the property for dairy farming until 1973, and George and his brother took over the business in 1974.The two brothers ran Stephenson Brothers Dairy until 1995. “Honestly it was a great life,” said Dena. “He was home with the farm all day while I was working. It was wonderful to raise the calves and produce the milk. It was hard work but wonderful.” The memories of the dairy farm remain along with the silos, captured between the pages of the family photo book. Among the old photographs of the cows and dairy equipment are other stories that can be passed down from generation to generation. “That was honestly the reason for the book. It was critical to me to get MiMi’s words,” Dena said. “I got concerned I would lose something if I didn’t write it down. The book helps to record those stories. The stories are so important.”
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Beyond the book, the Stephenson story is still being written. George and Dena are passing the love for the home down to their own children, and both their son and daughter appreciate being able to grow up where their father did. Although the property requires work to maintain, both of them enjoy it. Daughter Meeda Stephenson even had her wedding on the farm. “I hope it was a dream come true for my daughter because it was for me. It was the family carrying on the traditions,” Dena said. Dena said her husband never had any doubts about living in his childhood home. “He never questioned it,” she said. “When we realized we would stay, here he embraced it. He, like me, sees it as a great gift that we were entrusted with and hopes our children will live here just like we did.”
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HOME & STYLE
GLOW UP
Ali Lee lives her best life after weight loss journey WRITTEN BY REBEKAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY AND CONTRIBUTED
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Ali Lee said she remembers a time in her life when it was difficult to walk up a flight of stairs, and finding the motivation to wake up and face the day was a struggle. The wife and mother of three once weighed more than 300 pounds. It was the realization that she could no longer keep up with her family that spurred her decision to make a change. “I had gotten to the point where I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. I suffered with depression; I suffered with anxiety,” Lee said. “When I got to the point where I didn’t even want to go into my kids’ school, you know, it was hard. It was a struggle to walk up the stairs to pick up my kids from the PALS program. “When I was making excuses to not go and do things with my family … that’s when I knew,” Lee added. “That’s when I said to myself, ‘If I don’t do something now, I might not be alive to see my kids grow up or my future grandkids,’ and that scared me. It wasn’t a life, and it’s not a life for my kids.” Lee said her weight and self-esteem issues have spanned her entire life – and finally deciding to change was the best decision she’s made. “I struggled with my weight since I was in the third grade. I’ve always been the big girl, so I’ve never had that experience of getting to shop like a normal person, and I’ve always been the person picked on,” Lee said. It was during fall 2016 that Lee found people on social media who had similar struggles and was inspired by them to make a lifestyle change. She underwent weight reduction surgery the next February and has since lost nearly 150 pounds. “It’s definitely been worth it. There’s so much that I’ve sacrificed, but at the same time there’s so much that I have gained, too, because now I’m able to keep up with
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my family,” she said. “It was about being able to keep up with life and live a life worth living, and now I can do that. It was the best decision.” Lee said from the beginning she viewed the surgery as a tool to help her change her life. “It’s not a cure-all by any means,” she said. “It’s not a silver bullet. This kind of journey demands a lifestyle change. “This surgery isn’t just a cure for obesity; it’s a cure for thyroid issues and diabetes,” she added. “It’s not an easy fix either – there’s a lot of trial and error. That’s something that a lot of people don’t realize with this surgery, and that’s one reason I kind of kept it a secret.” Lee isn’t living a life of secrecy anymore, though. She won’t be hiding behind baggy clothes or shying away from attention. After her immense success, Lee said she wants to share her journey with the world and will talk to anyone who will listen about the benefits of weight loss and her surgery.
Follow Ali’s journey on Instagram! @alilee_mua
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BEFORE
AFTER
Lee now shares her story on Facebook and Instagram in hopes of inspiring others to find their happiness and take control of their lives. “In order to be as open and honest and raw as I want to be, I just put everything out there,” she said. “I try to be as honest as I can and not fake about it. What you see is what you get with me, and it’s the only way I know how to let people know that I’m a genuine person who struggles with things just like everybody else. That’s my goal – to let other people know they’re not alone. No matter if you want to have weight loss surgery or you just want to be a better person in general, it starts with focusing on yourself and loving yourself and your life.” An advocate for healthy and happy living, Lee said she still works every day toward getting better and better. “What makes me keep going is knowing that if I stopped, I would get back to where I was,” she said. “This is not a forever fix; this is a lifestyle change. If you only change temporarily, you won’t have lasting results. If you don’t treat your body the way it needs to be treated, you will not have a healthy life, you will not feel good, and your body will not function right.” Lee said while she has bad days, she leads a happy life now that she has learned to love herself. “I’m happy now, and I feel like happy people live happy lives. There are a lot of things I’m able to do and a lot of hats I’m able to wear now, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this before at all,” she said. “It’s all because of this surgery.” Lee and her husband Caleb live in Hartselle and have three children: Lexi, 7, Hampton, 4, and Everett, 2. 16 Hartselle Living
That’s when I said to myself, ‘If I don’t do something now, I might not be alive to see my kids grow up or my future grandkids,’ and that scared me. It wasn’t a life, and it’s not a life for my kids. – Ali Lee
FOOD& DRINK
SWEET SUMMERTIME Try these fun, easy recipes for busy families on a budget WRITTEN BY TORI WAITS PHOTOGRAPHS BY TORI WAITS
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It’s that time of the year again. The days are long, the pools are open, the sun is hot, and children are home. Here in the South, there are a few rules for summer dining and entertaining. First, keep it simple. With all the children out of school for the summer, friends over to play and summer sports keeping us busy, very few of us have the time or energy to prepare complicated meals. Second, keep it cool. When temperatures climb into the high 90s and head toward the dreaded triple digits,
staying cool and hydrated is more important than ever. Icy drinks and fruit salads are an easy and delicious way to stay cool. Finally, keep it fun! Summer is the season of cookouts and pool parties, and the best way to celebrate is to have fun with your food and your family. Here are four recipes that will save you time, keep you refreshed and provide fun for the whole family. In fact, these four recipes could very easily be the menu for your next summer party. Hartselle Living 17
S’MORES BARS Summer is the season of campfires and family fun. S’mores and Rice Krispie treats were a summer staple for us growing up. Both are fun and easy to make. There aren’t many things more exciting to a 5-year-old than making parent-sanctioned messes filled with sugar. Well, S’mores Bars combine these two kid classics into a delicious treat appropriate for little hands and adult hands alike. Yields: 20 servings Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 2 0 minutes INGREDIENTS ● 3 tbsp. butter ● 1 package mini marshmallows
MIMOSA FRUIT SALAD The amount of fruit consumed in my family is directly proportional to the temperature outside. The hotter the summer, the more fruit we eat. With the Hartselle Farmers’ Market in full swing, summer is the best time to find fresh, local fruit. This recipe calls for several different kinds of fruit but can be adapted for any set of taste buds and your farmers’ market finds. Depending on the crowd you’re preparing this for, you can make this Mimosa Fruit Salad kid- or adult-friendly. Simply replace the Prosecco with your favorite non-alcoholic bubbly drink and follow the rest of the instructions. Yields: 8 servings Total time: 10 minutes
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● 7 cups Golden Grahams cereal ● 3 Hershey’s milk chocolate bars, broken into pieces ● Extra butter to grease pan INSTRUCTIONS Grease a 9x13-inch pan with butter. In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat 3 tablespoons of butter until melted. Add all but one cup of mini marshmallows and stir until melted and smooth. Turn the heat off and quickly stir in Golden Grahams until evenly coated. Press into 9x13-inch pan and top with chocolate pieces and remaining cup of mini marshmallows. Heat broiler and cook for two minutes. Let set at least 30 minutes, then slice and serve. Copyright 2018 Hearst Communications, Inc.
INGREDIENTS ● 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced ● 1 cup blackberries ● 1 cup blueberries ● 1 cup strawberries, quartered ● 1 cup pineapple, cut into small pieces ● 1 cup Prosecco, chilled (or 1 cup sparkling grape juice, ginger ale or your favorite fizzy addition for a kid-friendly dish) ● ½ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice ● 1 tbsp. honey ● ½ cup fresh mint INSTRUCTIONS In a large bowl, combine all fruit. Pour Prosecco, orange juice and honey over fruit and toss carefully to combine. Garnish with mint and serve. Copyright 2018 Hearst Communications, Inc.
ISLAND GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN This delicious pork tenderloin is impressive enough to serve at a party but simple enough for a Tuesday night meal. In other words, this is the perfect main dish for summer. Anything served in a cast iron skillet is an instant party-pleaser with built-in eye candy for your table. With a spice rub and brown sugar glaze, this mildly spicy pork tenderloin is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of taste buds. Bonus: Most kitchens should have these ingredients on hand already. Yields: 4 servings Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes Total time: 3 0 minutes
INGREDIENTS ● 1.5-2 pounds pork tenderloin (two small or one medium-large tenderloin) ● 2 tbsp, olive oil For rub: ● 2 tsp. salt ● 1 tsp. cinnamon ● 1 tsp. cumin
● 1 tsp. chili powder ● ½ tsp. pepper For glaze: ● ¾ cup brown sugar ● 2 tbsp. minced garlic ● 1 tbsp. sriracha or other hot sauce
INSTRUCTIONS IPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle an oven-safe pan or skillet* (such as a cast-iron skillet) with olive oil and preheat on the stove over medium-high heat until the oil is hot. Whisk together all rub ingredients. Sprinkle the rub mixture all over the tenderloin and use your fingers to massage into the meat. Place tenderloin in skillet and allow to brown for three or four minutes, turning the meat throughout to sear on all sides. Mix the glaze ingredients together and spread the mixture over the
tenderloin. Transfer to preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes until cooked through. Cut tenderloin into 1-inch thick slices. Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze from the pan all over the tenderloin just before serving. *If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can sear the tenderloin in a regular skillet then transfer it to a greased, rimmed baking pan or casserole dish for the baking portion. Recipe by Creme De La Crumb
SPARKLING HONEY LIMEADE Sweet tea is a Southern staple, but every once in a while you have a craving for something different. Whether your taste buds are calling for sweet or sour, this fizzy punch should hit the spot. Made with fresh lime juice and local honey, the sweet-and-sour flavors perfectly balance each other out. Whip up this punch before your next cookout and add some lime wedges and fresh mint leaves for a beautiful and delicious crowd-pleaser. The best part is, it looks like it should take much longer to prepare than the 10 minutes it really takes. Yields: 1 gallon Total time: 10 minutes INGREDIENTS ● 1 liter club soda or sparkling water, chilled ● 1 cup fresh lime juice ● ½ cup cold water ● ½ cup granulated sugar ● ½ cup honey (preferably light colored) ● Ice ● Fresh mint (optional) INSTRUCTIONS In a pitcher, whisk together the half cup water and sugar until sugar has dissolved. Pour in honey and mix until well blended. Stir in lime juice. Pour in club soda or sparkling water and stir once. Add in ice and mint. Copyright 2018 Cooking Classy Hartselle Living 19
FAITH & FAMILY
GOING STRONG Hartselle Camp Meeting continues after more than a century WRITTEN BY REBEKAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY REBEKAH MARTIN AND CONTRIBUTED
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Every summer for 119 years, believers in Jesus Christ have gathered together at the historic Hartselle Tabernacle to sing, fellowship and worship together during the annual Hartselle Camp Meeting. Organized in conjunction with a youth camp, the goal of the week-long revival is to proclaim faith in Jesus Christ and a lifestyle of scriptural holiness. An interdenominational gathering of Christians,
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Hartselle Camp Meeting has brought crowds to the open-air pavilion tucked away on Tabernacle Road. Camp Meeting president Rob Cain said even though the event is one of the longest-standing religious gatherings in the state, in some ways, it is Hartselle’s best-kept secret. He said he hopes more people through the years come to know and benefit from the long-standing tradition.
There are enough people who have the vision who want to see the Tabernacle continue the way that is has. – Ron Puckett
“What we need to do is to raise the visibility of the Tabernacle, allowing future generations to experience the same life-changing impact that the proclamation of the gospel of Christ has had there for the past 119 years,” he said. Cain has served as the president of Hartselle Camp Meeting for more than a decade, but even when he began in that role, the pastor and preacher was no newcomer to the organization. “It was under the Tabernacle that I was saved and became a follower of Christ. That was 38 years ago, and I haven’t gotten over it yet,” Cain said. “That decision resulted in a life of full-time Christian service. I know of countless other students who began their journeys of faith under the rustic Tabernacle, as well – and God is by no means through using the Hartselle Camp Meeting.” Morgan County sheriff-elect Ron Puckett is one of those students. He also said he came to Christ as a teenager while hearing the gospel preached at the Tabernacle. Puckett said his years at Hartselle Camp Meeting undoubtedly prepared him to be a better person and Christian – and his faith has been strengthened in innumerable ways by his involvement then and now. “As a young Christian, you get fired up at youth events or church events, but one thing you can learn there is how to carry that over,” Puckett said. “You learn over time that the faith and the feelings you feel and the experiences you have at Camp Meeting can be the same faith and the same feelings and experiences that you can carry the rest of the 12 months of the year – how to sustain your faith, how to read the Bible better, how to have better devotions and how to walk closer to the Lord the rest of the year.” Hartselle Living 21
The historic Tabernacle that has housed Hartselle Camp Meeting for more than a century recently underwent a facelift complete with new pews, LED lighting and a completely rewired facility.
Puckett said the trend of camp meetings in Alabama is dying off, but he sees no slow down when it comes to the place where he became a servant of Christ. “There’s probably been many times that it could have just folded,” Puckett said, “but because you have people who are committed to serving the Lord and people who want to see the ministry of the Tabernacle continued, I think that’s exactly why we still
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have it today. No. 1, the Lord carries – he has allowed it. How could we do all that we do without the Lord providing? He still has his hand on the Hartselle Camp Meeting, and I think because of that, we continue to see good things happen – lives changed and souls won to heaven. “Things are going strong. There are enough people who have the vision who want to see the Tabernacle continue the way that is has,” he added. “You can really see that when we need something done. We have an outpouring of money and volunteers and supporters. That’s what it takes to make the Camp Meeting continue.”
SCHOOL & SPORTS
ONCE A TIGER, ALWAYS A TIGER Hartselle’s Garrett Wade signs with Auburn WRITTEN BY DYLAN SCHRADER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY Hartselle Living 23
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Garrett Wade has the build of a Major League pitcher. He is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. When he goes into his wind up, he looks like he could be pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays, the team that drafted him this year. It is only up close that one can see Wade has only just graduated from high school; it is then someone might notice how young Wade is and how much of his charmed life he still has ahead of him. Wade had a phenomenal senior season. He led the Hartselle Tigers to the Alabama 6A state tournament with a 1.02 ERA and a 7-2 record. Wade threw a perfect game against Collierville High School, which he said was his proudest moment of the season. “At any level, a perfect game is pretty rare,” Wade said. “It was pretty special to get to share that with my teammates – especially to do it here on the home field (Sparkman Park).” Wade said he was confident in his skills during the perfect game. “I could tell by the first inning that I had my best stuff that day, so I wasn’t too concerned about it,” Wade said. “We had a pretty comfortable lead, so I was trying to get outs like any other game, but it was definitely in the back of my mind.” Wade was honored with the 2017-2018 Gatorade Alabama Baseball Player of the Year award for his hard work on and off the field. Wade’s excellence on the field is well documented, but his ability in the classroom is not as well known. Wade maintained a weighted 4.24 grade point average and scored a 29 on his ACT. He was also a member of the Mu Alpha Theta math honors society. William Booth, his coach at Hartselle, describes Wade in superlatives. “He’s a super young man, and a great, great student,” Booth said. Wade will be pitching for the Auburn University Tigers next season under Butch Thompson. If this says anything about what might be possible for Wade in the future, the first overall pick of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, Casey Mize, also pitches for Auburn. “I’m excited about getting to work with Coach Thompson and learn under him,” Wade said. “It’s a pretty exciting time to be in that program because most of the guys are young, and I think we’ll be good going forward.” Wade started playing baseball when he was 4 years old in the Dixie Youth league at Sparkman Park in Hartselle – not far from where he threw his perfect game. “Dixie Youth is where I fell in love with the game,” Wade said. “It means the world to me to have had something like that to teach me the
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love of the game that young.” Wade started pitching when he was 9 and began playing on travel teams at age 10. Growing up, Clayton Kershaw was his favorite player. “I love the curveball he has,” Wade said. “He shows a lot of fire on the field, and I love that.” Though baseball was the main reason Wade committed to Auburn, he said it was not the only reason. “I love the feel of the campus there,” Wade said. “Obviously the coaching staff had a big part in why I committed there, but the campus has that smalltown feel like Hartselle, so I’m excited about that.” Though Wade is excited about going to Auburn, he grew up an Alabama fan. “I grew up a very, very big Alabama fan,” Wade said. “I visited both Auburn and Alabama, and I loved it in Tuscaloosa, but Auburn won me over. It took a little getting used to, adjusting from Alabama to Auburn, but I’m full-on Auburn now.” Outside of a future in baseball, Wade said he is not certain about what he wants to do. “I’m not for sure yet what I want to study, but I’m thinking exercise science,” Wade said. “I want to do something that will keep me around sports. I’m excited about the opportunity to go down there and go to school and play.”
We had a pretty comfortable lead, so I was trying to get outs like any other game, but it was definitely in the back of my mind. – Garrett Wade
It is possible Wade will be drafted in the early rounds of the MLB draft after three to four years at Auburn. He was ranked 139 in Baseball America’s top 500 prospects in 2018, so there is no telling what further training will do for his chances. Wade said he is grateful to the Hartselle community. “I’m just so thankful to be from this community,” Wade said. “There’s so many people who have impacted my life – not just in baseball.” Wade never takes sole credit for his accomplishments. He strives to be a humble man who raises everyone up with him. “I want to thank my teammates for everything that they’ve done from freshman through senior year,” Wade said. “Most of the seniors I’ve played with since I was 6 or 7 years old, so it was pretty special to share all of that with them. I’m just so blessed to go through this program and have a good experience going forward at Auburn and whatever is after that.” Wade said he is also is thankful to God and his coach. “I want to thank God for the abilities he’s given me as far as baseball goes,” Wade said, “and
Coach Booth has meant the world for me. There hasn’t been a time when he hasn’t gone out of his way to help me – that means everything to me.”
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Home Sweet A close-up look at the town you call home
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Can you identify these places around town? Submit your guesses to news@hartselleenquirer. com or drop them by the office at 407 Chestnut St. NW by 1Aug. 15. The answer and list of winners will be published in the next issue of Hartselle Living.
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Addison stands among friends and family at his homecoming block party.
CARRYING ON THE FAMILY TRADITION WRITTEN BY LAUREN JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY AND CONTRIBUTED
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Serving in the Army has been a long-standing tradition for the Addison family – a tradition Sgt. 1st Class George Addison has continued in the past 22 years of his life. His father served, both of his grandfathers served, his younger brother just completed his term of service in the Army, and his sister is also serving. Addison, a tag and supply sergeant in the Army, returned home from deployment in Kuwait in June, marking the end of his second deployment in his military career. To Addison, joining the Army was something influenced by his family, a way of “carrying on our family tradition of serving our country.” When Addison returned home in June, he was welcomed with a block party from all of his neighbors: friends and family
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gathering with flags and signs to thank him for his service and welcome him home again. George Addison’s father, Ron Addison, said, “It is good to see people still willing to serve; the torch has been passed to a new generation. We are proud of all of our boys from Alabama.” When Addison returned home that Tuesday in June, he was surprised with two welcome home signs and a neighborhood decked out in red, white and blue. Balloons floated above every mailbox on the street, flag-covered banners adorned the front of several homes, and before his own house a giant sign welcomed him home. His friends and family lined the street as he was greeted by his neighbor on a golf cart and driven down the road of his cheering neighborhood.
“The appreciation of community and friends while I was gone was amazing. You definitely could not get through without it,” said Addison. The welcome home party had been planned by the Addisons’ neighbors, the Tidwells. Bridget Tidwell contacted Addison’s wife Ashley with the idea and then began going door-to-door with her husband to arrange everything. “I knew it was about time for him to come home and thought about ways to do something to thank him for his service and her as a military wife,” said Tidwell. Of course, Ashley Addison was behind the idea from the beginning. “I mentioned doing something to Bridget, and she just ran with it,” said Ashley. “I was so excited to see it all, I started tearing up. The community support is awesome.” The party was a surprise for returning sergeant. “I was surprised and happy,” he said. “I am grateful to have good friends and family.” Throughout his deployment, George was able to communicate with his family, despite the eight-hour time difference. They made phone calls and were able to send and receive text messages. They also stayed busy to help pass the time. “The hardest part was definitely when little things would happen and I wasn’t able to
call him because of the time difference,” said Ashley. Ashley and her daughter Caitlin Koebel laugh now as they remember a time when the electricity went out and they were not able to contact George. “The difference between this deployment and his last one is amazing though,” Ashley added. “We really were able to make phone calls every day and to send texts throughout the day.” The Addisons’ neighborhood has a Facebook page, which neighbors used to keep up with George while he was gone. “Everybody hated when George left, and we have all tried to keep up with him,” said neighbor Jeff Chunn. Although Beth Stultz is new to the neighborhood, she and her family joined the rest of the neighbors to celebrate George’s return. “It is really good to see the community come together to welcome him home,” she said. Aside from seeing his family and friends, George said he was most excited to be home to good food – specifically steak. He also said he was glad to have everything he needed in one area and to be able to watch all the different channels on TV. He plans on finishing his career with the military and is looking into getting a job at Redstone Arsenal on the civilian side.
Gloria Behan shows her patriotism as she helps welcome Addison home.
Parents Ron and Becky Addison are among the welcome home party.
Addison’s family celebrates his homecoming.
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OUT & ABOUT SUMMER READING AT WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE LIBRARY
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The WIlliam Bradford Huie Library hosted a month-long summer reading program. The theme was Libraries Rock, and children played games and made crafts to match the theme.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY LAUREN JACKSON 1. Lily Kate Garner 2. Joanna and Jacob Whitmire 3. Lianna Gibson 4. Payden Plung and Sharlett Galard 5. Daymien and Brantley Plung 6. Wilder Reese
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7. Stephen Harris 8. Jacob Whitmire 9. Sophia and Alice Cavanaugh 10. Isla Brown and Allison Hogan 11. Dakota Puckett and Patricia Poe 12. Gloria Behan, Isla Brown and Cooper Brown
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SUMMER ACADEMIES F.E. Burleson and Crestline elementary schools hosted summer academies in June. The academies are part of a partnership with Athens State University to provide summer learning for local students and future teachers.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY LAUREN JACKSON 1. Tamisha Key 2. Alli Lindsey 3. Lynleigh Welch 4. Asher Roden, Caleb Ramirez and Dalton Terry 5. Sarah Estrada 6. Whitney Seymour and Rebecca Payne
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Marketplace Hartselle Living • 256.332.1881
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