LAKE CITY m a g a z i n e
J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 018 lakecityalabama.com
MAYOR LEIGH DOLLAR
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The Playground of the South
Alabama's Bald Eagles Thrive
Cold Water Means Great Fishing
Chef Crystal McKone
The unintentional outcome of the TVA's Dam at Guntersville
Once absent, the bald eagle soars proudly over Lake City again
Cold water immersion can cause immediate shock, be prepared
Local restaurateur keeps it fresh at the Old Town Stock House
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Our way of saying thanks for another great year
nd
annual
OpenrdHouse
Meet the Pros Boyd Duckett 37th Bassmaster Classic World Champion
Jordan Lee 47th Bassmaster Classic World Champion
Feb 3 from 9-6
3780 Brashers Chapel Rd. Guntersville, AL. 35976
Randy Howell 44th Bassmaster Classic World Champion
Gerald Swindle 2016 Bassmaster Angler of the Year
Tim Horton 2010 Bassmaster Angler of the Year
Seminars with the pros, lots of great door prizes, and a full day of fun for the whole family.
â„¢
Bring your Humminbird for a free update
more info: 256-660-5400 www.duckettmarine.com
Have a delicious Alabama BBQ lunch on us starting at 11:30 am THANKS TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR, DUCKETT MARINE HAS OPENINGS FOR KNOWLEDGEABLE, CERTIFIED MERCURY TECHNICIANS
LAKE CITY J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 018 lakecityalabama.com
m a g a z i n e
Lake City Events · 6
Safe Winter Fishing · 26
Mayor Leigh Dollar · 9
JaMoka's Coffee Company · 29
Playground Of The South · 11
The Property Brothers of Lake City · 32
Chef Crystal McKone · 16
Fire Hall Stew · 34
Alabama's Bald Eagles · 20
Lake City Calendar · 36
From Veteran's Day through the holiday season, we take you to the biggest events in Lake City.
Since she was a little girl growing up in Guntersville, Leigh Dollar had ambitions of serving as the city's first female mayor.
Once a farming community prone to flooding, FDR's New Deal changed Guntersville's landscape in more ways than expected.
The proprietor of Old Town Stock House in Historic Downtown Guntersville brings a taste of the "Big City" to Lake City.
The majestic bald eagle vanished from Alabama for more than 40 years but now thrives again around Lake Guntersville.
With some of the best winter fishing in the country, Lake Guntersville's waters can be unforgiving when temperatures drop.
Nothing beats a great local coffee shop to experience the essence of a community and warm your soul on a cool winter's day.
Brothers Lief and Mark Thornton talk about working and playing together as the sibling team behind Thornton Properties.
Try this easy variant of the classic Brunswick Stew for a hearty helping of Southern home-cooked goodness.
Learn where you can enjoy a free BBQ lunch with your favorite pro anglers, see bald eagles close up, attend a gallery opening, and catch a local play. All that and more in this issue's calendar. On the cover: Mayor Leigh Dollar This page: American Bald Eagle
A Short Note From The Desk Of The Publisher
E
ach January brings with it a certain wideeyed optimism for most people as they contemplate the possibilities ahead. It's a sort of metaphorical line in the sand, delineating new beginnings and providing another chance to finally accomplish those well-intended goals that seem to have eluded us by each springtime. The fact is, we often set goals for ourselves that we don't achieve because they are unrealistic or, at best, improbable, or we lack the support we need from those around us. So here's a thought. Instead of resolving to do something you've never had much luck at, try resolving to do more of something you enjoy, something you’re good at ... and if it's something you have a lot of support with, all the better. You may not end the year 20 pounds lighter, and you may not be jogging five miles a day by December, but chances are you weren't going to be anyway. Focusing on the things you love and want to achieve really ups your odds of success and happiness, and aren't they best parts of life after all? For me, I couldn't be more excited about
2018, because when Baby New Year shows up in Guntersville this year, he'll be carrying a copy of the first issue of Lake City Magazine. There is nothing I enjoy more than getting to meet the wonderful people this work has allowed me to cross paths with, and I look forward to getting to know so many more of you as each issue comes along. Also, I couldn't have asked for more support. It's a very special feeling to have our community as excited about Lake City Magazine as I am. And I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to those who have trusted me with their stories and their memories, and especially to the advertisers who made it all possible. If you enjoy this issue of Lake City Magazine, share it with others. Take them this copy or grab an extra. I've made it even easier (and greener) to share through our online edition, so send a link to those friends and family who you know love, or would love, our community as much as we do. We have a lot of great stuff in store for you in 2018, so keep your eyes out for each new issue all around, or you can even subscribe to our digital version for free and know you'll never miss an issue. Happy New Year Lake City. It’s going to be a great one! ~Patrick Oden
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LAKE CITY magazine
J A N U A R Y · F E B R U A R Y 2 018 lakecityalabama.com
PUBLISHER Oden Imaging MANAGING EDITOR Patrick Oden COPY EDITORS Miranda Oden Dee Weeder Advertising & Editorial contact@lakecityalabama.com 256-486-9000 Mailing Address 383 Gunter Ave. Guntersville, Ala. 35976 © Copyright: Lake City Magazine is published by Oden Imaging. No portion may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Editorial and advertising content are for information and entertainment, and do not constitute advice.
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4 · LAKE CITY
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Subscribe to our FREE digital version at lakecityalabama.com/subscribe Don't worry, we won't share your email address or send you any junk, just a great magazine every couple of months.
LAKE CITY ¡ 5
L A K E C I T Y - W E ' R E B E T T E R TO G E T H E R
Veteran's Day In annual tradition, the brave men and women of Marshall County who have served and sacrificed for our liberties gathered this Veterans Day at Marshall County Courthouse. Lake City Magazine sincerely thanks all veterans and current military personnel for their service and sacrifices.
Festival of Trees Each year the Guntersville Museum kicks off the holiday season in Lake City with a reception marking the opening of the museum's Festival of Trees. Nearly 40 local groups provided and decorated trees, each representing their group, club, or organization.
6 ¡ LAKE CITY
L A K E C I T Y - W E ' R E B E T T E R TO G E T H E R
Children's Christmas Card Contest In it's 8th year, Mountain Valley Arts Council's Children's Christmas Card Contest strives to engage the artistic inclinations of Lake City's youth while promoting the arts in the community. The month-long exhibit opens each year with a reception to honor the kids who participate, and to present awards to the contest winners.
The Night Before Christmas Hosted by the Guntersville Merchant's Association, The Night Before Christmas is a popular local event in Historic Downtown Guntersville. Horse and buggy rides and photos with Santa are favorites, as are all of the great shopping, sweet treats, and live entertainment throughout downtown Guntersville.
LAKE CITY ¡ 7
L A K E C I T Y - W E ' R E B E T T E R TO G E T H E R
Christmas Parade Excitement fills the air each December as the annual Guntersville Christmas Parade approaches. Creative floats covered in festive holiday decorations bring joy (and candy) to young and old alike as the sun sets over Lake City.
8 ¡ LAKE CITY
Guntersville's Mayor
Leigh Dollar W
hen we think about the qualities that make for strong local political leadership, at the top of any list has to be an honest and sincere love for the community and a desire to serve. Guntersville’s Mayor Leigh Dollar not only embodies both of those qualities, but you could you could say she was born for the job. “When I was born, my dad was the mayor, so I like to say I was the First Baby,” Leigh says with an infectious smile. Guntersville was mostly lowland farms when the Barnett family first moved to town in the early 1900s, and though the city has become a very popular recreation destination, the city’s population still hovers just above 8,000 residents. Leigh’s roots run deep here, and it’s no wonder growing up in Guntersville seemed like growing up in a large extended family. She recalls her childhood as one that placed a high emphasis on community values.
And it’s the same values her parents, George and Dianne Barnett, instilled in Leigh that she and her husband, Shirl Dollar hope to impress upon their three sons, John Clay, Cale, and Cade, and their new grandson John Wilson. “You knew everyone and everyone looked after each other,” she says. “It (Guntersville) was like family.” After serving as mayor, Leigh’s father served as the City Attorney through her “growing-up-years.” For young Leigh, an only child, that meant being “dragged” everywhere. She recalls many nights spent in the Hembree home. Bob Hembree Sr. served as mayor of Guntersville following her father, and it would ultimately be Bob Hembree Jr., who encouraged Leigh to run for the office when he decided not to seek re-election in 2012. Her unique childhood also allowed Leigh to begin to see LAKE CITY · 9
and understand the workings of city government from a very early age. And from a very early age she knew she wanted to serve. In fact, Leigh began serving during high school at Guntersville High, where she was class president all but her sophomore year, when she was vice-president instead. “I’ve always wanted to run for mayor, since I was in high school, and it was never a secret,” Leigh says. “My husband knew in high school my goal was to be the first female mayor of Guntersville.” A CPA by profession, the University of Alabama alumnus returned to Guntersville to begin her career and family after graduating with her degree in accounting. But Leigh, driven and focused, never lost sight of her goal. And when the opportunity presented itself in 2012, she was ready. And Guntersville was ready for Leigh. She became Guntersville’s first female mayor in 2012. Not just a mayor, but a true ambassador for Guntersville, Leigh is quick to credit the city’s leadership for all they’ve done for Guntersville, both before and during her time in office. “Guntersville has always had good leadership, so the city was in good shape when I took over,” she says. “None of this would be possible without the support of the City Council and the amazing city team and employees that buy into our vision.” Now in her second term, Leigh has been able to have an impact on several key areas that are helping to insure Guntersville’s future, which include economic development, infrastructure, recreation, and beautification. In an age where the political sphere can, on the best of days, be mired in a partisan quagmire, it’s refreshing to know there are still those like Leigh who understand the notion of public service; giving of themselves for the good of the community and the joy of serving. “I was always taught to give back to the community that raised me,” she says. “I love serving Guntersville and the people of Guntersville.” And it shows.
Leigh Dollar, the second generation mayor and first woman to hold the position in Guntersville, stands in her office in the Guntersville Municipal Building on Gunter Ave.
10 · LAKE CITY
The Guntersville Boat Harbor, circa 1940s.
How damming the Tennessee River turned a small Alabama farm town into
The Playground Of The South B
efore Guntersville adopted the nickname of Lake City, this popular recreation destination was known by another name to visitors who flocked to the peninsula city. For the better part of the twentieth-century, Guntersville was ‌ The Playground of the South. The moniker, first adopted when the Guntersville Jaycees formed in 1950, would linger through the era of the great American road trip family vacations. But now, almost 80 years after the vacationing
masses began flocking to Guntersville, there are very few still living that remember the days when there was no lake in Lake City at all. Long before the development of the interstate system in this country made over-road trucking the most common means of transporting goods, the country depended heavily on its rivers and rail system. However, the Tennessee River, which flows through Guntersville, was barely navigable in many areas. Though the idea of damming the Tennessee River about five
Left: Guntersville, just prior to the opening of the gates of the newly constructed TVA dam. Right: The newly formed Lake Guntersville, days later at full pool.
LAKE CITY ¡ 11
miles upstream from its current location was first suggested by the United States Army’s Corps of Engineers in 1914, congress didn’t make the funds available and the Great Depression made the project unfeasible. It wasn’t until Franklin D. Roosevelt’s aggressive New Deal programs shifted perspectives, and agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), that impractical projects like the Guntersville Dam became the very thing that would right the nation financially. With the formation of the TVA in 1933, attention was once again turned to the Tennessee River and a series of hydroelectric dams. The construction of these dams would provide jobs and electricity to much of the rural farmland in the South, while addressing the 12 · LAKE CITY
navigational issues of the river and the detrimental flooding that commonly occurred along its banks. While the idea meant relocating nearly 1,200 Guntersville area families from the more than 110,000 acres purchased for the project by the federal government, the initial resistance that mounted locally would eventually give way to the benefits that would follow. Construction of the Guntersville Dam was authorized in 1935, and began that December, employing more than 1,900 workers. More than 20,000 acres of timber had to be cleared, homes and graves had to be relocated, and the state of Alabama’s largest archaeological project to date was undertaken to preserve as many of the Native American artifacts as time and resources would allow. It would take just over four years to complete.
This group of historical images shows the massive undertaking required to create the beautiful landscape of Lake Guntersville.
On January 16, 1939, the gates of the TVA’s dam at Guntersville were closed and by January 27, Lake Guntersville was at full pool. Reports from the era say residents were fascinated by the process, and despite being the middle of winter, spent hours each day watching the water slowly rise. It didn’t take long before it started becoming clear, Lake Guntersville was going to be something special. On August 6, 1939, the dedication of the dam was celebrated with Lake Guntersville’s first boat race. The event drew an estimated 60,000 spectators to the city whose population numbered fewer than 4,500 at the time. So overwhelming was the crowd, in fact, local businesses ran out of food and fresh water.
The following year saw the organization of the Guntersville Yacht Club, and the buzz took hold about what would later be called “one of the fastest growing recreation areas in the country.” Like every other city in the nation, Guntersville found itself respectfully subdued and focused on the war effort through the early 1940s. However, once WWII concluded and our troops began to return home, there was a prosperous sense of adventure and accomplishment that suited Guntersville well. Restaurants and resort motels sprang up to accommodate those who flocked to “the most beautiful lake in Alabama,” and word continued to spread about Lake Guntersville … The Playground of the South was born. LAKE CITY · 13
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LAKE CITY · 15
Above: Scored and pan seared, Crystal's foie gras is served with buttered toast, salad of apple, celery leaves, figs, hazelnuts, and charred onion petals with a pomegranate black pepper gastrique. Right: Served with a beer and bag of chips, Old Town Stock House's Burgers are in limited supply and high demand..
Chef Crystal McKone Gets Fresh
A
s a little girl, Crystal McKone never imagined a life as a chef, much less the owner of such a well-loved and respected restaurant as Guntersville’s Old Town Stock House. But it just goes to show, sometimes those closest to us know us better than we know ourselves. Crystal was 26 years old, living in New York City and working as a commercial leasing agent when she recalled a comment her father Johnny McKone made to her while she was still in high school. “My dad told me he could see me owning a restaurant one day. I’m not exactly sure where that epiphany came from, and remember thinking it was odd at the time,” Crystal says. It was that memory of her father’s comment that prompted Crystal to consider a career change, and she began to ponder the idea of culinary school. She knew if she ultimately wanted to own her own restaurant she would need to know more than just how to cook, so she left the corporate world and began waiting tables and tending bar in the Big Apple and enrolled in the French Culinary Institute. “Culinary school is almost like military school,” she says. “There 16 · LAKE CITY
were several times I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m paying someone to talk to me like this.’” But Crystal responded as an elite soldier would; she kept her head down, focused on her training, and simply replied, “Yes, Chef.” The experience she gained in the service end of the restaurant business proved invaluable and, when her formal culinary education was complete, Crystal headed for Atlanta. Atlanta had a solid, yet growing, culinary scene and provided Crystal with an abundance of opportunities. Crystal was an instrumental part of several popular eateries and used the time to not only hone her craft, but to also learn all the other aspects of the restaurant business. From Sous Chef to Executive Chef to General Manager, her gained knowledge and experiences were all bricks in the path that would eventually lead her back to Guntersville. “My dad was the one to discover the opportunity in Guntersville,” Crystal says. “At first, I wasn’t sure if this was the move I wanted to make. Then I started thinking of how I could bring something new to an area that needed it and the idea excited me.”
LAKE CITY · 17
Above: Overlooking Gunter Avenue and Lake Guntersville in Historic Downtown Guntersville, the ever popular bar area at Old Town Stock House is a mix of great atmosphere, great food, and a great view. Below: Old Town Stock House's chocolate tart, a chocolate crust with chocolate ganache and a chocolate glaze, served with raspberries and port ice cream. Right: Chef Crystal McKone presents her pan seared New Zealand lamb served with a Parisienne gnocchi, assorted fall vegetables and a cherry gastrique.
Her father’s prognostication had come to fruition with Crystal opening the Old Town Stock House in Guntersville in 2015. Reluctant to classify herself, Crystal calls her culinary style “Southern American and exploring.” “Our menu is small … but we offer a wide variety with specials nightly,” she says. Choosing to use only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, the Old Town Stock House’s menu changes seasonally with availability and Crystal sources as many of her ingredients locally as she can. “Our lamb is from New Zealand, because sometimes you have to source things from where they’re the best,” she says with conviction. And speaking of the best, if you have the opportunity, try one of her amazing burgers. But you’ll have to come on a Tuesday and you’d do well to get there early. Crystal only orders enough for 24 burgers each “Burger Night” and once they’re gone they’re gone. “Mind you, we also offer our regular menu on Tuesdays,” Crystal adds. 18 · LAKE CITY
Crystal and her staff at Old Town Stock House do a great job of providing an elevated level of cuisine and customer service to the charming little town of Guntersville. And if it’s your first visit, don’t forget to ask about the day’s special and for a wine or cocktail pairing suggestion for your meal.
Crystal is a chef who refuses to become complacent and who continues to explore flavors and ingredients in an effort to continually surprise and delight her clients, so come back often … surprised and delighted you will be.
LAKE CITY · 19
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE
20 · LAKE CITY
WHERE EAGLES SOAR
LAKE CITY · 21
22 · LAKE CITY
C
hosen as the emblem of the newly formed United States of America in 1782, the bald eagle represented the great strength and freedom the colonists had fought so hard to establish. Yet the majestic bird, known for its long life, would be nearly wiped from the American landscape before conservation efforts were enacted. The clearing of forests where the eagles nested, the shooting of eagles by farmers afraid for their livestock, and fishermen who saw them as competition all played roles in the population decline of the bald eagle, but it was the widespread use of the pesticide DDT which is most commonly accredited with the near extinction of these enormous birds of prey. The bioaccumulation of the chemical in adult bald eagles caused them to produce very thin-shelled-eggs which cracked before their chicks could hatch. “The first clues of this decline were picked up on by amateur bird watchers who noticed the percentage of immature bald eagles had dropped from about 30 percent to 10 percent or less in local populations,” says Michael Ezell, naturalist at Lake Guntersville State Park. First listed as an endangered species in 1967, the bald eagle population of Alabama had been wiped out nearly 20 years earlier, with no bald eagle nests in the state since 1949. Though DDT was banned nationwide in 1972 and the Alabama Nongame Wildlife Program began attempts to repopulate the bald eagle into the state in 1984, there wouldn’t be a successful nesting pair of bald eagles in Alabama again until 1991. But thanks to the efforts of conservationists in Alabama and across the United States, the bald eagle once again began to flourish. In 2007, when the bald eagle was officially removed from the endangered species list and individual nest monitoring ceased in Alabama, there were more than 100 nesting pairs in the state. “Given that the bald eagle is a large, free range bird that can fly for hundreds of miles, breeding pairs, in a smaller area, give a more reliable count of their population,” says Michael. Living largely off a diet of fish, bald eagles like to nest high in the tree tops near rivers and lakes. As a result, Lake Guntersville has become one of the most prolific nesting areas in the state. The area now hosts several nests and plays host to migrating eagles as well. Bald eagles mate for life and share all brooding responsibilities. Breeding pairs commonly return to the same nest year after year, repairing or adding to the giant structures. Averaging 10 feet in diameter and weighing more than 2,000 pounds, these nests will be home to their chicks for several months. Laying one to three eggs in December or January, it takes about a month of incubation and roughly three months of development before the young eagles are ready to leave the nest. Because of the number of nests around Lake Guntersville, it’s common to see the majestic birds soaring through the sky with a LAKE CITY · 23
fresh catch in their talons, returning to feed their young. With easy trail access to view several bald eagle nests around Guntersville Dam and Lake Guntersville State Park, hundreds of birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers descend on Guntersville each week throughout the winter months for a chance to see the eagles in their natural habitat. For an even more intimate and educational experience, visitors can take advantage of the opportunity to attend the Eagle Awareness Program, which is hosted over five consecutive weekends in January and February at Lake Guntersville State Park. Highlights for those who attend the program are the eagles and other birds of prey brought in by the Alabama Wildlife Center, a leader in the rehabilitation of wild birds, and the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University. Presentations allow visitors the opportunity to attend educational programs to see and learn about these amazing creatures up close and personal. A tradition at Lake Guntersville for 33 years now, the event has been expanded in the past several years to increase awareness of other endangered and threatened plants and animals. “The Friday night programs offer opportunities to learn about everything from frogs, snakes, native and carnivorous plants, as well as the rivers of our great state of Alabama,” says Michael. This year’s event will begin the third weekend in January and continue through the third weekend in February, with each weekend offering different speakers and presentations. For more information on Lake Guntersville State Park’s Eagle Awareness Program, visit www.alapark.com/lake-guntersville-state-park-eagle-awarenessweekends 24 · LAKE CITY
Have you ever heard a reference to someone with great sight having eyes like an eagle? No matter how good a person's vision, according to scientists, it's an exaggeration of epic proportion. Imagine being able to read the lips of the quarterback from the worst seat in the stadium, or seeing in front of and behind yourself at the same time; or being able to see ultraviolet light. While it's enough to boggle the mind, it serves the bald eagle well. Their keen sight, along with their long talons and a love of fish, make Lake Guntersville the perfect place for a bald eagle, like the one seen above, to grab a little snack.
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Cold Water Makes For A Great Day Of Fishing On Lake Guntersville ... UNLESS YOU FALL OUT OF THE BOAT
26 · LAKE CITY
L
ake Guntersville boasts some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the country, and is especially productive for anglers in the winter when the large fish spend more time near the water’s surface. The beautiful colors and abundant wildlife also make Lake Guntersville popular with recreational paddlers and boaters well into the cold-water season. A calm sunny winter day on the lake, especially with a modicum of physical activity, can feel pleasant enough in just a light jacket. Yet with water temperatures commonly reaching as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit in February, a fall into the water could have very serious consequences. It’s not so much a matter of whether or not a person is a good swimmer or how quickly Lake Guntersville’s highly trained and efficient rescue squad can reach you; it’s how an individual’s body
reacts to the initial shock of cold water immersion that’s typically the matter of life and death. According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety (NCCWS), it takes about 30 minutes before hypothermia becomes a concern, but the physiological effects of cold water shock can result in instant death. Being prepared can ensure you’re able to return to enjoy Lake Guntersville again, even if an accident happens. The NCCWS recommends caution when water temperatures fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, once water temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, water becomes extremely dangerous and can be immediately life-threatening. A USCG approved PFD and a drysuit are your best bets for survival. It’s also a good idea not to go out on the water alone and to carry a portable waterproof marine radio with you to call for help if needed. LAKE CITY · 27
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s true that old sayings can become a bit cliché, but they tend to become old sayings because they have merit, so consider this one as well. Knowing is half the battle. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the effects of cold water immersion. While the exact temperature varies based on the individual, most people who are unaccustomed to cold water will experience a maximum cold shock response somewhere between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that an unprotected immersion in this temperature range will cause most people to completely lose control of their breathing – they will begin gasping and hyperventilating as hard and fast as they can. Cold shock is over in a relatively short period of time, generally within five minutes, though breathing problems may persist for a longer time while you’re in the water. During the first several minutes of cold shock, and possibly for much longer, most people find it impossible to get their breathing under control. Breathing problems include gasping, hyperventilation, difficulty holding your breath, and a feeling of breathlessness or suffocation. Gasping associated with cold water shock isn’t just a little gasp, like the kind you’d experience if someone scared you. It’s a huge gasp that totally fills your lungs, and you may experience several of these gasps in a row. If your head is underwater when you gasp, you will immediately drown, and without the support of a PFD, you will head straight for the bottom. Before cold shock was identified as the cause, this phenomenon was known as Sudden Disappearance Syndrome. Gasping is immediately followed by hyperventilation - very rapid, out-of-control breathing. Swimming a short distance of only a few feet while hyperventilating is often impossible, even for good swimmers. When you’re breathing very rapidly, swimming strokes cannot be synchronized with respiration. The result is swimming failure and if you're not wearing a PFD, you're likely to drown. Cold water immersion also causes an instantaneous and massive increase in both heart rate and blood pressure because all the blood vessels in your skin constrict in response to sudden cooling, which is far more intense in water than in air. In vulnerable individuals, this greatly increases the danger of heart failure and stroke. The moment you hit the water, cold shock also causes a huge reduction in your mental ability and function. Panic, disorientation, and an inability to think clearly are common and dangerous results of cold shock. If you survive the cold shock phase, the threat shifts to physical incapacitation. When your muscles and nerves get cold enough, they simply stop working. This loss of muscle strength and control can happen very quickly. It’s quite possible to lose the ability to use your hands within 60 seconds, and use of your arms in minutes. Physical incapacitation is another way of saying that you’ve become physically helpless in the water because you can no longer control your arms, legs, hands and feet. With a little bit of knowledge and preparation, you’re much more likely to survive cold water immersion. Don’t let a great day on Lake Guntersville end badly because you weren’t prepared. Gear up appropriately for the conditions, try to avoid taking an unintentional dip, and enjoy some of the best winter bass fishing in the country. 28 · LAKE CITY
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Regulars to JaMoka's Coffee Company in Downtown Guntersville are quite familiar with the welcoming smile and light-hearted humor Brian Black is known for.
The Heart Of Lake City Runs On JaMoka's Coffee
T
here are certain things that make small towns unique, and one of those is the thrill of finding a great little locally owned coffee shop. And one of the best things about living in a small town is when you have a place like JaMoka’s Coffee Company. It’s not the kind of place where you feel like you need skinny jeans or a man-bun to fit in, or where you don’t recognize a single tune on the stereo; rather, it’s a place you feel welcome and comfortable no matter who you are. That has a lot to do with the owners, Brian and Elizabeth Black.
Both in their 40s, Brian and Elizabeth met at Auburn in the early 90s and followed the tech boom to Seattle, Wa., where they had the pleasure of being in the right place at the right time to experience one of those great American awakenings. When you think of Seattle two things come to mind, grunge music and the birth of the new coffee culture, and they were there at the height of both. While Brian was busy putting his business degree to use in the telecommunication industry, Elizabeth, an artist, took a job as a barista at a local coffee shop. The young couple enjoyed exploring the city and the little LAKE CITY · 29
30 · LAKE CITY
Whether it's your favorite hot beverage or one of JaMoka's popular sandwiches and a cold drink, it's a great place to catch up, chill out, or chow down.
coffee shops that seemed to be springing up on every corner. Each had something special, that unique little thing that made an impression and would later find its way into the eclectic mix at JaMoka’s Coffee Company. It was a good time to be in Seattle, the couple enjoyed it very much, and Seattle was good to the Blacks. Still in their 30s, their good fortune had put the couple in a position to begin thinking about how they wanted to spend the rest of their lives. With the world at their fingertips, Brian and Elizabeth decided they wanted to return closer to family and, in the free-spirited nature of the couple, literally threw a dart at a map. Aiming for somewhere between his family in Greenville, Al., and her family in Lookout Mountain, Tn., they let it fly. “It landed up near Madison,” Brian says. “I wanted a lake, and this was the lake.” The couple found and bought their house in Guntersville online, and headed for Marshall County. Five and three years old respectively when they returned to Alabama, their kids Walter and Julieanne have pretty much grown up here, and for Caroline, their youngest, it’s the only home she’s known. The family fell in love with Lake City, and within a few
months Elizabeth had found the newly opened JaMoka’s Coffee Company in Boaz, along with a chance to help take Marshall County’s coffee culture to the next level. Eventually purchasing the business and expanding into Albertville and Guntersville, it almost seemed like destiny. There couldn’t have been a more perfect pair for the task; their life and cultural experiences made for just the right blend of Southern hospitality and the authentic local coffee shop vibe that they had connected with in the Pacific Northwest. But what truly makes JaMoka’s so special are Brian and Elizabeth themselves. Laid back and kind, they’re just good people. And good people attract good people. Loved by their customers, by their staff, and by those who proudly call them friends, Brian and Elizabeth bring something intangible to the community. It extends far beyond the support they have for local artists, the highly demanded sausage balls they sell out of every morning, or even the great coffee they serve. They foster a sense of place and a connectivity between the people who walk through their doors. They get what a great local coffee shop should be. LAKE CITY · 31
Brothers Lief (left) and Mark Thornton.
32 · LAKE CITY
There is no better place to work than Guntersville. Even on the worst day of work we get to drive around the lake and enjoy all the different views our beautiful city has to offer. ~Mark Thornton
Lief & Mark Thornton
The Property Brothers
Of Lake City
“W
e can go from a half-million-dollar real estate transaction to fixing a toilet in one day,” says Lief Thornton. “That’s what I love about it; you never know what the day will bring.” Lief and his brother Mark grew up in a military family but, being the youngest of six siblings, the two were extremely close. Though Mark had been born in Germany, and Lief in Arizona two years later, the boys spent most of their youth on the Thornton family farm in the little community of Pollards Bend, Ala. They were virtually inseparable and the world was their playground. “Fishing, hunting, and exploring were our Nintendo,” Lief recalls. “Mark and I would be gone all day playing and only came home when we got hungry.” Having divorced 5 years earlier, their father Robert Thornton retired from the military in the mid-80s and settled in Guntersville. The brothers, 12 and 10-years-old respectively, joined their dad and have called it home since. “This was exactly what we needed,” says Lief. “The farm was great, but we were wild Indians and needed a better school and discipline.” It was around this time, in 1985, that Robert started investing in rental property around the area and began what would ultimately become his legacy, Thornton Properties. With a military career behind him and plenty of work to be done around the rentals, Mark and Lief learned the value of hard work and a dollar. But unlike many of today’s youth, the brothers didn’t resent it. They appreciated the values and life lessons their dad shared with them. Lief fondly recalls those early experiences of working with Mark and helping their dad. “When we were kids he would drop us off at rental properties to mow the yards, and drop JJ’s hamburgers back by for lunch. I still love those hamburgers to this day.” By the time Mark and Lief left for the University of Alabama, the family business had taken hold of them. They found college jobs that played to those strengths and gave them an even stronger foothold for their future. Mark worked for a law firm where he learned about title searches and setting up deeds, and Lief managed a large apartment complex for a local real estate company.
Although both of them would follow in their father’s footsteps after college, those footsteps would lead them in quite different directions … for a while. For Mark, it was back to Guntersville to help his dad modernize and grow Thornton Properties. For Lief it was to Kosovo, where he served two tours of duty in the infantry. But the two remained close. When the days in Kosovo were at their worst, Lief remembers the feeling of hope and optimism the short and infrequent conversations he was able to have with Mark would bring him. “It would help ease my mind about my current situation,” Lief says. “Mark would say ‘Just come home Bro, I need your help here.’” The brothers make as much time as they can for the passions they share: a love of the outdoors and community involvement, both things they credit their dad with instilling in them from a young age. Now both married, and Lief with two kids of his own, they are grateful they’ve been able to work together all of these years. “In the beginning, we didn’t have much money so we did everything we could to save … mowing, repairs, etcetera,” Mark says. And though the business has grown to the point it’s become impractical for them to do it alone, they still enjoy getting their hands dirty together on new projects. “Mark and I will still do hard cleans just to get an idea of what a property will need and the enjoyment of working on a property we just bought,” Lief says. “Kind of like a new toy that needs some TLC.” They weathered the lean times, made the most of the real estate bubble by focusing on residential rentals, and have helped countless Guntersville families along the way. Building on their father’s legacy, Mark and Lief Thornton have parlayed what began 20 years ago as a few rental homes into a considerable empire in the Guntersville real estate market. With Thornton Properties’ management portfolio approaching 200 properties and with the addition of their real estate arm, Mountain Lakes Real Estate, in 2005, they clearly are the property brothers of Lake City. LAKE CITY · 33
34 · LAKE CITY
Fire Hall Stew &
Cheddar Jalapeño Beer Bread Down-home Southern cooking is a phrase that quickly conjures mental images of large tables covered with garden-grown vegetables and hearty homemade dishes. Known for a tendency to welcome guests by feeding them, it’s no wonder Southern hospitality often goes hand-in-hand with a home-cooked meal. For those looking for a quick and easy Southern classic that is especially satisfying on a cold winter's day, one of my favorites has always been a big bowl of Fire Hall Stew. Known commonly as Brunswick Stew, I grew up hearing it called Fire Hall Stew because the local volunteer firefighters in the small rural North Alabama community I grew up in would make huge batches to sell in the fall as a fundraiser. It was delicious and the community would eagerly anticipate it each year. My grandparents would save gallon jars and buy as much as their freezer could hold. Throughout my life, returning to visit my grandparents in the winter was made a little more special when the Fire Hall Stew and a bottle of Tabasco sauce would hit the kitchen table on a chilly afternoon. Typically made with smoked pulled pork, shredded chicken, and garden vegetables, it’s a stew that has almost as many variations as the Southern home cooks that prepare it. While it’s pretty common to see cornbread served with a Southern stew, for something a little different and just as easy, Cheddar Jalapeno Beer Bread makes a flavorful side that pairs perfectly with Fire Hall Stew. In the Southern home cook tradition, experimenting with different vegetables in your stew and different beers in the bread is encouraged and will result in a hearty winter dish your family will love. And in the spirit of Southern hospitality, try freezing a batch of your stew so you have some on hand when visitors come calling this winter.
Fire Hall Stew Servings: 8
Cheddar Jalapeño Beer Bread Servings: 10
Ingredients 4 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups frozen lima beans 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans diced tomatoes 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 3 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cups frozen corn 1 1/2 cups frozen sliced okra 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 2 boiled and shredded chicken breasts 1 pound smoked pulled pork
Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer or ale 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 min.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X5-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add 3/4 cup cheddar cheese and beer and stir just until incorporated. Pour half the melted butter into the prepared pan. Add batter. Pour remaining butter on top of batter. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Scatter jalapeño slices on top of cheese. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until golden brown on top.
LAKE CITY · 35
January & February
CALENDAR
For Lake City's most current and complete calendar of events, visit lakecityalabama.com/calendar
JANUARY 13
Fly-In Pancake Breakfast Hosted by the Guntersville EAA Guntersville Municipal Airport 405 Buck Island Road Guntersville, AL. Public and cameras welcome 8-9:30 a.m. $6 donation for breakfast supports local youth groups.
JANUARY 19
Clay Jones Band - Acoustic Show Hosted by The Brick Bar & Grill 373 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville 8 p.m. - Midnight - No cover
JANUARY 19-21
Eagle Awareness Weekend Hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park Activities Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Different presenters and programs each weekend day. Visit www.alapark. com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-EagleAwareness-Weekends for full schedules and details.
JANUARY 26
Indie Film Night Guntersville Public Library 1240 Obrig Avenue, Guntersville For more info contact 256-571-7595 6:00-10:00 p.m.
JANUARY 26-28
Eagle Awareness Weekend Hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park Activities Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Different presenters and programs each weekend day. Visit www.alapark. com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-EagleAwareness-Weekends for full schedules and details.
FEBRUARY 1
Art Exhibit Opening & Reception Child Outreach exhibit Public welcome Mountain Valley Arts Council (MVAC) 300 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville 5-7 p.m.
FEBRUARY 2-4
Eagle Awareness Weekend Hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park Activities Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Different presenters and programs each weekend day. Visit www.alapark. com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-EagleAwareness-Weekends for full schedules and details.
FEBRUARY 3
Duckett Marine 2nd Annual Open House 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free BBQ lunch served 11:30 a.m. Meet and learn from pro anglers, and get an autograph. A must for any fishing fan.
FEBRUARY 9
Opening Night - Legally Blonde Tickets go on sale Jan. 15 The Whole Backstage 1120 Rayburn Avenue, Guntersville For complete schedule of dates, show times, and tickets, contact 256-582-7469
JaMoka's Coffee Company HOT COFFEE WI TH A COOL VIBE
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36 ¡ LAKE CITY
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Lake Guntersville . The Area's Only Lake Front Hotel
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LAKE CITY · 37
January & February
CALENDAR
FEBRUARY 9-11
Eagle Awareness Weekend Hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park Activities Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Different presenters and programs each weekend day. Visit www.alapark. com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-EagleAwareness-Weekends for full schedules and details.
FEBRUARY 10
6th Annual Polar Plunge Registration from Noon - 1:00 p.m. Plunge at 1:30 p.m. Hosted by Guntersville Lady Civitans Meet at Guntersville City Senior Center Plunge will take place in Lake Guntersville at the beach behind the senior center. $50 minimum pledge / donation to participate. Pizza and drink will be provided for participants. Monies raised will benefit Every Child's Playground. For more information contact bpanazze06@aol.com
FEBRUARY 10
Fly-In Pancake Breakfast Hosted by the Guntersville EAA Guntersville Municipal Airport 405 Buck Island Road Guntersville, AL. Public and cameras welcome 8-9:30 a.m. $6 donation for breakfast supports local youth groups.
FEBRUARY 16
Clay Jones Band - Acoustic Show Hosted by The Brick Bar & Grill 373 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville 8 p.mm-Midnight - No cover
FEBRUARY 16-18
Eagle Awareness Weekend Hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park Activities Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Different presenters and programs each weekend day. Visit www.alapark. com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-EagleAwareness-Weekends for full schedules and details.
FEBRUARY 23
Fishing Tournament Rat-L-Trap Tournament Guntersville City Harbor 201 Blount Avenue Guntersville, AL. For more info www.rat-l-trap.com/tournaments.php
FEBRUARY 24
Fishing Tournament FLW / BFL Bass Tournament Choo Choo Division Waterfront Ramp at Goose Pond For more information 270-703-5441 or alan.gray@flwfishing.com
FEBRUARY 25
Back the Blue Luncheon 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Guntersville Recreation Center 1500 Sunset Drive Guntersville, AL. Admission is free Donations benefit Buddy Bags program. Buddy Bags are given to first responders to help comfort children at the scene of an accident, arrest, etc. For more info contact 256-649-0134
Ten vacation cabins with 1,2,3 and 5 bedroom floorplans. Located on 80 acres with 3 ponds and views overlooking beautiful Lake Guntersville. Kudzu Cove on Buck Island is a favorite for weddings, family vacations, reunions, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts. For a convinent and relaxing getaway, visit Kudzu Cove.
For More Information & Reservations · www.KudzuCove.com 1576 Buck Island Rd. Guntersville, Alabama · 256.571.5548 or 256.571.5915
38 · LAKE CITY
(left to right) Monty Davis Emily Andrews Andy Oram
Andy Oram Monty Davis
Emily Andrews
Relax. We’ve done this before. Experience is the difference with our expanded mortgage team. Whether you’re buying your first home or you’ve been down this road before, there’s no substitute for an experienced lender. Because a mortgage is not just a loan, it’s a process, and at Citizens Bank & Trust our team navigates the details with proven know-how. Buying or even refinancing a home should be rewarding, not stressful. With Monty Davis, Emily Andrews and Andy Oram you get the reward of a great rate. And the confidence that says: Relax, we’ve done this before. Guntersville Office Emily Andrews, NMLS# 484977 • (256) 505-4600 • eandrews@citizensbanktrust.com Arab Office Monty Davis, NMLS# 419958 • (256) 931-4600 • mdavis@citizensbanktrust.com Albertville Office Andy Oram, NMLS# 484979 • (256) 878-9893 • aoram@citizensbanktrust.com
BAN K & T RU S T Small Bank. Big Difference.
®
visit us at citizensbanktrust.com Albertville 256-878-9893
Arab 256-931-4600
Cullman 256-841-6600
Elkmont 256-732-4602
Guntersville 256-505-4600
Hazel Green 256-828-1611
New Hope 256-723-4600
Rogersville 256-247-0203
Three times the clarity is just one advantage of 4K technology. With 55” surgical monitors plus four times the light and resolution, we didn’t blink twice when Sony and Olympus asked us to be first in the country to install their breakthrough ultra high-definition system. They could have one anywhere, so why Marshall Medical? Excellent surgeons and a proven track record made us the clear choice to be first for this advanced capability.
First in the whole U.S. for ultra hi-def 4K surgery. National credibility and technology that matters — to learn more visit us at mmcenters.com/technology.
256.571.8925 (256.753.8925 for Arab area residents) • mmcenters.com